Neha Kirpal

The reviewer is a freelance writer based in New Delhi. She writes on books, art, culture, travel, music and theatre

Neha Kirpal

Girls Who Said Nothing and Everything: A journey towards selfhood

In a sense, the book is a kind of quiet revolution, reclaiming the voice and identity of Indian girls across generations

Updated On: 13 Nov 2025 | 11:00 PM IST

On the Brink of Belief: A book on gender, religion, and the margins

A new anthology brings together 24 queer and trans writers from South Asia exploring faith, identity, and belonging under the editorship of poet Kazim Ali

Updated On: 17 Oct 2025 | 10:01 PM IST

Fly, Wild Swans: A memoir of China's ideological paralysis under Mao

In many ways, the book is Ms Jung's tribute and love letter to her mother, her "guardian angel"

Updated On: 09 Oct 2025 | 11:55 PM IST

Ink Over Algorithms: Book explores AI's impact on creativity, ethics

Storytelling is deeply human, and Manjima Misra's book examines how AI can enhance the craft and the ethical questions it brings

Updated On: 30 Sep 2025 | 10:46 PM IST

Dance of Freedom: How Bharata Natyam became India's quintessential dance

Padma Shri Leela Samson traces the journey of Bharata Natyam through its origins, controversies, costumes, and philosophy, while reflecting on its enduring inclusivity and timeless appeal

Updated On: 19 Sep 2025 | 10:33 PM IST

Dapaan: Kashmir's stories of conflict, resilience and remembrance

After 35 years of armed conflict, Kashmir abounds with stories-heard and unheard-of loss, laughter, haunting, and place-making, but also of defiance against the state

Updated On: 16 Sep 2025 | 8:36 PM IST

The Call of Music: Recording journeys of resilience for the sake of art

In her latest book, reputed Hindustani classical vocalist Priya Purushothaman traces the experiences of eight singular voices in Hindustani classical music that have deeply inspired her

Updated On: 28 Aug 2025 | 11:24 PM IST

One in a Billion: Sonal Holland's journey of popularising wine in India

If you believe in an idea and know it makes sense, don't give up - for Sonal C Holland, believing in her idea meant putting wine on India's map and inspiring a whole new community of wine lovers

Updated On: 17 Jul 2025 | 10:34 PM IST

Kulpreet Yadav's Dial 100: A taut true crime ode to India's overworked cops

Crime is never pleasant to read about or watch - let alone experience. But true stories remind us to stay alert and recognise the warning signs of danger

Updated On: 03 Jul 2025 | 10:03 PM IST

New book revives R D Karve's work on sex education, women's rights

In the foreword, author, journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Kumar Ketkar describes Karve as "a maverick, a rebel and a social revolutionary born ahead of his time."

Updated On: 12 Jun 2025 | 11:04 PM IST

'Shamans of the Himalayas' captures valley life in words and images

Having personally lived in Manali briefly during my childhood, vivid descriptions of the valley and its people particularly spoke to me

Updated On: 20 May 2025 | 11:40 PM IST

Farewell Karachi: Bhawana Somaaya's tribute to family and lost home

The author elaborates on her role and experiences as a film journalist - a career that she confesses happened purely by accident

Updated On: 05 May 2025 | 10:14 PM IST

'Classical Music of India': A rich resource for connoisseurs and learners

The book is a great resource for music connoisseurs and music lovers as well as anyone who appreciates music and is interested to learn more about it

Updated On: 28 Mar 2025 | 10:56 PM IST

Exploring nature's wonders and warnings in Ranjit Lal's latest book

Filled with data, insights, and anecdotes, and accompanied by colourful illustrations, Ranjit Lal shines a light on how endangered nature is

Updated On: 12 Mar 2025 | 10:42 PM IST

Bollywood's versatile genius: Karma's Child captures Subhash Ghai's journey

Between 1976 and 1999, Ghai made 15 films, 11 of which were blockbusters, and one of which (Karz) attained cult status

Updated On: 14 Feb 2025 | 10:36 PM IST

Becoming Bangalore: Roopa Pai's book explores the city's history, culture

The book is an introduction to the city as seen through the eyes of one of its own

Updated On: 04 Feb 2025 | 10:03 PM IST

'Mad about Cuba': Exploring the unique connection between Cuba and Kerala

Cuba is a metaphor in Kerala for communist values, but there is another, lesser-known reason for Malayalis to feel a special affinity for Fidel Castro

Updated On: 27 Jan 2025 | 10:28 PM IST

Viewfinder: Palekar's memoirs capture his story, a bygone Bollywood era

Palekar believes that it was a series of serendipitous accidents that led him through most of his life

Updated On: 17 Jan 2025 | 11:24 PM IST

India's many voices: Conversations on culture, democracy, and dissent

Can writers, artists, or citizens exist in a political vacuum? This collection of conversations by Githa Hariharan delves into culture, democracy, and dissent

Updated On: 19 Dec 2024 | 10:47 PM IST

Love, challenges, and diplomacy: An Indian woman's journey in Islamabad

In her book, Ms Ghanashyam provides a first-hand perspective of her experiences in these three years as an Indian woman living in "enemy country"

Updated On: 05 Dec 2024 | 12:31 AM IST