Books

The Secret Master
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PREVIOUS EVENTS

Chennai: 6 June 2026 (Launch)
At the Lab@Shanta, launch by Westland Books and Prakriti Foundation, the final one in a six-city tour. I was in conversation with the Carnatic music singer, writer and activist T.M. Krishna, after which Vishal Moghe, a senior student of Arun Kashalkar's, gave a khayal recital, accompanied by Sumith Naik and Tejas Katoti.
>> Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NelauiBHDdo&t=455s.
>> Recital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smwj2C3usEs&t=86s.

Mumbai: 14 May 2026
At the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, event organised by the institution's Amateur Music Association, consisting of a discussion between Abhay Tole-Trivedi, dancer and researcher, and me, preceded by a brief address by Arun Kashalkar, and followed by separate khayal renditions by Aasavari Gondhali and Mandaar Valuskar, both Arun Kashalkar's longstanding students.
>> Part 1: Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0IBXBaWMtQ&t=4s.
>> Part 2: Address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU_We5lIdkk&t=3s.
>> Part 3: Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS6GqcI5YjY&t=1213s.
>> Part 4: Recital 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nTtDtw7MT8&t=10s.
>> Part 5: Recital 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8LfKoqNfCA&t=7s.

Bangalore: 10 April 2026
At Courtyard Koota, a presentation by me, followed by guided listening of a recital by khayal singer Mukul Kulkarni. A clip from my narrative:
>> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-MiSejG8fgQ.

Mumbai: 29 March 2026
At Khaki Lab, Fort, a talk by me on the genesis, structure and genre of my book, after which I wove in historical narrative and aesthetic ideas about khayal into a recital by khayal singer Sugandha Laturkar.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9JbqtkmvU&t=3914s.

Kolkata: 17 March 2026 (Launch)
At Jadunath Bhavan Museum and Resource Centre, a unit of the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, the fifth launch by Westland books, including an introduction by historian Prachi Deshpande, followed by a presentation by me, then a conversation between khayal singer and music scholar Ranjani Ramachandran, and me.
>> Part 1: Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZud-lAb4EU.
>> Part 2: Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44lVhs4lmrU.
>> Part 3: Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3OjUKqscLo.
>> Part 4: Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNv6pljnSr4.

Guwahati: 26 February 2026
At Lihaaz, a talk by me, followed by a recital by khayal and thumri singer Sabarni Dasgupta, the organisation's founder and guru.
>> Felicitation by the chief guest Nupur Burogohain. Video recording not available.

Dibrugarh: 21 February 2026
At the Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival, a conversation between publisher Trisha Niyogi and me.
>> https://www.youtube.com/live/k2jrjJMf_fY?si=DIBuHhfPgPL86YVK.

Hyderabad: 6 February 2026
At the History Literature Festival at the Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet, a conversation between writer, editor and thumri singer Vidya Rao, and Priya Purushothaman, khayal singer and author of The Call of Music, and me.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCOxTS_-C2k&t=15703s,
from the timestamps 3:05:00 to 4:35:30.

Pune: 24 January 2026 (Launch)
At the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, the fourth launch of my book, followed by a conversation between animation filmmaker Chetan Sharma and me, followed by a recital by khayal singer Ravindra Parchure.
>> Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLqT1o-mhY&t=1s.
>> Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCt9gZCEtMw&feature=youtu.be.

Pune: 23 January 2026
At the Jaipur Gunijankhana, hosted by founder and khayal singer Radhika Joshi, a talk, followed by a recital by khayal singer Samarth Nagarkar.
>> Radhika Joshi and me. Video recording not available.

Bangalore: 6 December 2025
At the Bangalore Literature Festival, a conversation between arts writer and curator Sadhana Rao and me.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ7TBl-9U18&t=2093s.

Singapore: 23 November 2025
At Temple of Fine Arts, unveiling of the book at an event celebrating Arun Kashalkar's contribution to music.
>> https://youtu.be/sKKcALEyllk.

Bangalore: 8 November 2025 (Launch)
At the Bangalore International Centre, the third launch of my book by Westland Books, including a discussion with scholar and writer Tejaswini Niranjana, followed by a recital by khayal singer Mukul Kulkarni.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAmYhB4Slc&t=3543s

New Delhi: 29 October 2025 (Launch)
At the Alliance Française auditorium, the second launch of my book by Westland Books, including a discussion with writer and journalist Mrinal Pande, followed by a recital by khayal singer Mukul Kulkarni.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqqZOIv_RBw

Sonipat: 28 October 2025
At Ashoka University, a conversation between teaching fellow Vighnesh Hamampura and me.
>> Video recording not available.

Mumbai: 15 October 2025 (Launch)
At the G5A Centre for Contemporary Culture, the first launch of my book by Westland Books, including a conversation between writer and journalist Namita Devidayal and me, preceded by a brief address by Arun Kashalkar and a short khayal recital by teenage prodigy Swara Joshi.
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTg41WZy_mQ&t=1001s