How does a towering personality become a mere footnote in national memory? In this episode of The Reading List, we sit down with historian and biographer Narayani Basu to discuss her new book, A Man For All Seasons: The Life of KM Panikkar, and explore why such a remarkable figure has faded from public memory. India’s first ambassador to China, advisor to the princely states, pioneering architect of maritime policy, prolific writer, and poet; Panikkar shaped modern India and its place in the world. With stories of diplomatic intrigue, literary brilliance, and a life dedicated to public service, this episode brings back into focus the legacy of a man who continues to influence India in ways often unseen.

How does a towering personality become a mere footnote in national memory? In this episode of The Reading List, we sit down with historian and biographer Narayani Basu to discuss her new book, A Man For All Seasons: The Life of KM Panikkar, and explore why such a remarkable figure has faded from public memory. India’s first ambassador to China, advisor to the princely states, pioneering architect of maritime policy, prolific writer, and poet; Panikkar shaped modern India and its place in the world. With stories of diplomatic intrigue, literary brilliance, and a life dedicated to public service, this episode brings back into focus the legacy of a man who continues to influence India in ways often unseen.

The Reading List by Bahrisons Booksellers

The Forgotten Statesman: KM Panikkar with Narayani Basu

What happens when swiping right feels just as exhausting as sitting through another rishta? Author Radhika Agrawal’s Red Flags and Rishtas: A Desi Rom Com is a sharp, witty take on modern love, heartbreak, and the relentless pressure to “settle.” In this episode, we unpack the comedy (and the chaos) of matchmaking today, from stereotypes in Indian romance writing to the impossible expectations women still face. Radhika opens up about writing, friendship, and why letting go of unrealistic standards might be the only way to find your match. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an arranged set-up, felt the burnout of dating apps, or just wanted a love story that feels real, this conversation is for you.

What happens when swiping right feels just as exhausting as sitting through another rishta? Author Radhika Agrawal’s Red Flags and Rishtas: A Desi Rom Com is a sharp, witty take on modern love, heartbreak, and the relentless pressure to “settle.” In this episode, we unpack the comedy (and the chaos) of matchmaking today, from stereotypes in Indian romance writing to the impossible expectations women still face. Radhika opens up about writing, friendship, and why letting go of unrealistic standards might be the only way to find your match. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an arranged set-up, felt the burnout of dating apps, or just wanted a love story that feels real, this conversation is for you.

Matches & Meetings: Rishta Roulette with Radhika Agrawal

From Punjab’s first encounters with outsiders to the upheaval of Partition, meet the women who defied tradition, colonial rule, and societal norms to shape history. In this conversation with Harleen Singh, author of The Lost Heer, we uncover stories of queens, rebels, and protectors, women who ruled and resisted, even when confined by purdah or erased from history books. From early education reforms to royal negotiations and hybrid cultural identities, this is a journey through colonial Punjab you won’t find in school textbooks. Watch or listen now to discover the voices history tried to silence.

From Punjab’s first encounters with outsiders to the upheaval of Partition, meet the women who defied tradition, colonial rule, and societal norms to shape history.In this conversation with Harleen Singh, author of The Lost Heer, we uncover stories of queens, rebels, and protectors, women who ruled and resisted, even when confined by purdah or erased from history books.From early education reforms to royal negotiations and hybrid cultural identities, this is a journey through colonial Punjab you won’t find in school textbooks.Watch or listen now to discover the voices history tried to silence.

Hidden Heroines of Punjab: Power, Resistance, and Survival with Harleen Singh

As India races to modernise and liberalise its economy, who is left behind? In this episode of The Reading List, journalist Neha Dixit unpacks the unseen story of India’s working class through the life of Syeda, a home-based worker whose story mirrors that of millions. From exploitative labour practices to systemic injustice, from communal tensions to quiet acts of rebellion, The Many Lives of Syeda X reveals what India’s development looks like from the margins. This is an eye-opening episode about endurance, dignity, and what it really takes to survive and hope in modern India.

As India races to modernise and liberalise its economy, who is left behind? In this episode of The Reading List, journalist Neha Dixit unpacks the unseen story of India’s working class through the life of Syeda, a home-based worker whose story mirrors that of millions.From exploitative labour practices to systemic injustice, from communal tensions to quiet acts of rebellion, The Many Lives of Syeda X reveals what India’s development looks like from the margins.This is an eye-opening episode about endurance, dignity, and what it really takes to survive and hope in modern India.

Other Side of Development: Women Workers and India’s Unequal Promise with Neha Dixit

What does it mean to inherit more than just money, like expectations, silence, and systems that need rethinking?In this episode, author Keshava Guha joins Aashna Malhotra to discuss The Tiger’s Share, a novel that explores how family duty, gender, class, and climate intersect in the heart of Delhi.They reflect on generational divides, evolving gender roles, and a rising nationalism that seeks applause over accountability, and what it takes to imagine a better India, even when change feels difficult.Whether you’re drawn to political fiction, layered family dynamics, or big questions about the world we live in, this is an episode worth tuning into.

What does it mean to inherit more than just money, like expectations, silence, and systems that need rethinking?In this episode, author Keshava Guha joins Aashna Malhotra to discuss The Tiger’s Share, a novel that explores how family duty, gender, class, and climate intersect in the heart of Delhi.They reflect on generational divides, evolving gender roles, and a rising nationalism that seeks applause over accountability, and what it takes to imagine a better India, even when change feels difficult.Whether you’re drawn to political fiction, layered family dynamics, or big questions about the world we live in, this is an episode worth tuning into.

Cost of Silence: Family, Climate, and Changing India with Keshava Guha

In this special episode of The Reading List, author Aanchal Malhotra steps into the spotlight for an intimate conversation with her sister and host, Aashna Malhotra. For the first time, she shares the creative journey behind her debut novel The Book of Everlasting Things. Together, they explore how memory, fragrance, and family shape her storytelling, and how Aanchal’s background as an oral historian and printmaker adds depth to her fictional world. From childhood nostalgia to the legacy of Partition, this is a heartfelt episode about stories that linger long after the last page. Don’t miss this candid, heartfelt episode.

In this special episode of The Reading List, author Aanchal Malhotra steps into the spotlight for an intimate conversation with her sister and host, Aashna Malhotra. For the first time, she shares the creative journey behind her debut novel The Book of Everlasting Things. Together, they explore how memory, fragrance, and family shape her storytelling, and how Aanchal’s background as an oral historian and printmaker adds depth to her fictional world. From childhood nostalgia to the legacy of Partition, this is a heartfelt episode about stories that linger long after the last page. Don’t miss this candid, heartfelt episode. 

Stories That Stay: Memory, Inspiration, and the Art of Storytelling with Aanchal Malhotra

In this episode of The Reading List, author Amitabha Bagchi joins Aashna Malhotra to talk about "Unknown City", an epistolary novel that explores memory, emotional growth, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we’ve been.As his protagonist rereads decades of emails with the significant women in his life, Bagchi shares how fiction can become a space for personal reckoning, and how learning to listen, as a writer and a person, shaped his approach to character and plot.Whether you're drawn to layered storytelling or curious about how feedback can deepen your writing, this episode is full of insight, honesty, and inspiration.

In this episode of The Reading List, author Amitabha Bagchi joins Aashna Malhotra to talk about "Unknown City", an epistolary novel that explores memory, emotional growth, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we’ve been.As his protagonist rereads decades of emails with the significant women in his life, Bagchi shares how fiction can become a space for personal reckoning, and how learning to listen, as a writer and a person, shaped his approach to character and plot.Whether you're drawn to layered storytelling or curious about how feedback can deepen your writing, this episode is full of insight, honesty, and inspiration.

Revisiting the Past: On Regret, Reflection and Writing Complex Characters with Amitabha Bagchi

In this episode of The Reading List, author and mental health advocate Amrita Tripathi joins us to discuss “The Other Sister”, a novel that gently explores the emotional weight of modern life—anxiety, identity, belonging, family dynamics, and the growing influence of social media. It’s a heartfelt, insightful conversation on how literary fiction helps us voice what’s often left unsaid, and how mental health stories are beginning to find their place in India’s cultural and literary landscape.If you’ve ever struggled to put your inner world into words, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone—and that stories can help light the way.

In this episode of The Reading List, author and mental health advocate Amrita Tripathi joins us to discuss “The Other Sister”, a novel that gently explores the emotional weight of modern life—anxiety, identity, belonging, family dynamics, and the growing influence of social media. It’s a heartfelt, insightful conversation on how literary fiction helps us voice what’s often left unsaid, and how mental health stories are beginning to find their place in India’s cultural and literary landscape.If you’ve ever struggled to put your inner world into words, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone—and that stories can help light the way.

Fiction That Heals: Writing, Everyday Life, and Mental Health with Amrita Tripathi

In this episode of The Reading List, author Anirudh Kanisetti takes us beyond kings and battlefields into the everyday rhythms of life under the Chola Empire. With rich research and vivid storytelling, he brings the past alive, not just through court politics and royal ambition, but through emotion, conflict, and the choices of ordinary people. From family feuds to the surprisingly savvy PR moves of nobles, this episode invites you to see Indian history in a whole new light. If you’ve ever wondered how the past still echoes in our language, buildings, identities, and daily life, this is a thoughtful and refreshing way to revisit it, and maybe even rethink your own story.

In this episode of The Reading List, author Anirudh Kanisetti takes us beyond kings and battlefields into the everyday rhythms of life under the Chola Empire. With rich research and vivid storytelling, he brings the past alive, not just through court politics and royal ambition, but through emotion, conflict, and the choices of ordinary people.From family feuds to the surprisingly savvy PR moves of nobles, this episode invites you to see Indian history in a whole new light.If you’ve ever wondered how the past still echoes in our language, buildings, identities, and daily life, this is a thoughtful and refreshing way to revisit it, and maybe even rethink your own story.

History with a Heartbeat: Reimagining the Chola Dynasty with Anirudh Kanisetti

Who decides which stories get published and which are left out? In the debut episode of The Reading List by Bahrisons Booksellers, host Aashna Malhotra speaks with Aakriti Mandhwani, author of Everyday Reading, about the rich world of Hindi periodicals in post-partition India. From feminist debates in letters to the editor to the pocketbook revolution that redefined publishing, they unpack how print culture shaped North India’s middle class and why they still matter today.

Who decides which stories get published and which are left out? In the debut episode of The Reading List by Bahrisons Booksellers, host Aashna Malhotra speaks with Aakriti Mandhwani, author of Everyday Reading, about the rich world of Hindi periodicals in post-partition India. From feminist debates in letters to the editor to the pocketbook revolution that redefined publishing, they unpack how print culture shaped North India’s middle class and why they still matter today.

Everyday Stories, Extraordinary Influence: Middlebrow Magazines with Aakriti Mandhwani

For over 70 years, Bahrisons Booksellers has been connecting readers with the stories they love. Now, we’re taking the next step with The Reading List, a new podcast celebrating Indian authors and the vibrant voices shaping today’s literary landscape. Hosted by Aashna Malhotra, each episode brings thoughtful conversations with Indian authors about creativity, storytelling, and the heart behind every great book. If you love meeting the people behind the pages, you’ll feel right at home here. Follow along; your next great conversation starts here.

For over 70 years, Bahrisons Booksellers has been connecting readers with the stories they love. Now, we’re taking the next step with The Reading List, a new podcast celebrating Indian authors and the vibrant voices shaping today’s literary landscape. Hosted by Aashna Malhotra, each episode brings thoughtful conversations with Indian authors about creativity, storytelling, and the heart behind every great book.If you love meeting the people behind the pages, you’ll feel right at home here.Follow along; your next great conversation starts here.

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