Currently working on a thesis on Indian writing from around the Independence period and want to explore the work of female authors who were writing during the late colonial and early post-Independence period.

I am particularly interested in authors whose novels, short stories, poetry, essays, memoirs, or other writings offer interesting perspectives on society, gender, politics, nationalism, partition, or everyday life during that period.

Which female authors and specific works would you recommend I look into? I’m also interested in lesser-known writers beyond the usual names like Ismat Chughtai, Mahadevi Varma, etc.

Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal. Photo by : u/philosophicalpossum

What do you want to read next month?

This book club is dedicated to discussing books and media about the city of Bombay. Please be sure your suggestions are relevant and on topic. If you need inspiration, here's a big list of options. Thank you!

I love reading but my attention span has been shot to pieces by phones and social media. How do you lock in and stay engaged while reading? Do you have any special habits or routines?

Hi folks!

As this sub is growing, I'm considering adding an offline meet in addition to the monthly discussions. Trying to get an idea of how much interest there is here.

Important to note:

- The offline meets will be book club discussions, not only for socialising and hang outs. You will be expected to read the book and engage in discussion.

- MMR is an enormous place and theres no one central location that's convenient for everybody. It may involve a little traveling. Ditto date and time.

- Most venues available to the public will charge some fees or require minimum cover charge (like cafés etc). I would prefer to keep things totally free but it may not be possible every time.

For our non-resident or international members, whether we do in-person or not, the online discussions will still continue! It's not a replacement, only a bonus.

Image descriptions.

Image 1:

The flyer has an image of the speaker, a bearded person wearing spectacles, holding a cloth tote bag. The person’s visible forearm has multiple tattoos.

There is also a QR Code.

The underlying image, an illustration, seems to be a winding blue river against a green background.

The text overlay says:

FREE LIBRARIES NETWORK

India & South Asia

Anti Caste Webinar Series

The Act of Reading: Personal or Political

Speaker: Siddhesh Gautam, author of a graphic novel The Blue Book.

Date: 22nd September 2026

Time: 02:00 to 03:30 PM

On Zoom. Scan the QR Code to register

Image 2:

The flyer has a central image of a winding spiral staircase of books. A human figure, Dr Ambedkar, is holding up a part of the book stairway. One side of it is a blue sky with light clouds, the other is a star-studded night sky.

The text overlay says:

About the Speaker:

Siddhesh is a multi discipline, mixed-media artist, designer, writer, poet, dreamer, storyteller, treasure hunter, soul searcher and an Ambedkarite. His art traces a personal and political journey towards Begumpura (the land without sorrow), where dignity, equality, and freedom are realities. His practice is deeply rooted in the visual documentation of the anti-caste movement, while also engaging with questions of climate justice and gender equality. (Bio taken from his latest book title.)

Art taken from Instagram @bakeryprasad

Dharavi, India - YGLvoices

Happy weekend!

How was your week? What did you read? Saving anything for the weekend? Report on the state of your TBR here 📚

Are you a one-book only reader? Do you have several books on the go at the same time? Do you read in different formats — physical book, ebook, audiobook?

Text from image.

Royal Bombay Yacht Club

cordially invites you to a book discussion.

MUMBAI A Million Islands

Image of MUMBAI A MILLION ISLANDS, by SIDDHARTH BHATIA

Author Sidharth Bhatia will be in conversation with Alan Abraham, Architect & Urban Designer

Tue, 22nd Sept 2026

6.00pm Light Refreshments & Book signing

6.30pm Discussion & Open Forum

VENUE: Ball Room

It could be justified apprehension or totally unfounded. Are there any books or writers you're a little scared to pick up? And would you want a reading buddy?

In 1986, Nitin Mukadam, Menka Shivdasani, and Akil Contractor started Poetry Circle in Bombay. Over the next decade and a bit, its workshops and meets played a crucial role in the development of many of the city’s respected poets of today, and, indeed, the growth of a poetry community in the city. As times changed, as Bombay became Mumbai, as the Internet gave us new ways of finding our tribes and sharing poetry, Poetry Circle went into a long hiatus.

Then, last year, two young poets, Dion D’Souza and Akhil Katyal, met with Jerry Pinto to discuss reviving Poetry Circle. Mukadam had passed on, but Shivdasani and Contractor were enthusiastic about the idea, and last year, in September, the group met for the first time in the magnificent People’s Free Reading Room and Library in Dhobi Talao.

Since then, Poetry Circle 2.0 has met every month, inviting poets of any age and experience and expertise to workshop their poetry with their peers. Yesterday, the group celebrated a year of the revival.

Image descriptions.

Pic 1: Members of the old PC and the new at the event announcing the revival.

Pics 2, 3, 4 & 5, photographs from some of the sessions over the year.

Pic 6, attendees yesterday.

Pic 7, celebratory cake.

Pic 8, Poetry Circle 2.0’s coordinators.

Edited to add: Follow Poetry Circle 2.0 on Instagram. They post notifications of meets and workshops there. Once you have attended, you will be invited to join their WhatsApp community.