What do Drishyam, grandmaster chess, and political history have in common? An abundance of plot twists!
Today, for pop-culture and cinema buffs, October 2nd is synonymous with cracking the murder-mystery code of the Drishyam franchise. But beyond the screen, this date carries immense historical weight across the globe. It marks the birth anniversaries of two revered statesmen who shaped India’s destiny: Mahatma Gandhi, whose principles inspired the global International Day of Non-Violence, and Lal Bahadur Shastri, the visionary Prime Minister whose pragmatic policies revolutionised India’s agricultural landscape and food security.
If decoding political power plays feels like trying to solve a 1,000-piece puzzle blindfolded, The Bombay Circle Press is here to make it fun—the literary way.
The Discovery of India by the Bombay Circle Press
Indian civilization must, at some point in your life, be studied through the lens of at least one–or, if you’re up for the challenge, then all–of its chief architects. Our preference right now: Dr Jawaharlal Nehru. Penned between 1942 and 1945 during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort, this 1946 classic is part history, part philosophy, and part personal memoir. Nehru interweaves the story of India, from the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and sacred Vedic texts to the socio-political impact of successive foreign powers and the British colonial rule. All through the book, Nehru manages to beautifully capture the trait that has come to define the people of India: resilience. If you’ve ever been curious about the soul of India, then look no further.
India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
The truth is: India defied the odds to survive and thrive as the world’s largest democracy. The basis for this statement is well-supported, once you have read India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha, a massively researched and masterfully written epic. It chronicles the socio-economic-political upheavals and transformations that have shaped the nation since Partition. Guha’s nuance is his speciality. He executes a fine balancing act of faithfulness in writing when invoking descriptions of leaders like Nehru, followed by the common man, both performed with equal consideration– a truly egalitarian approach. Thereby, making this a definitive guide for anyone curious about the triumphs and struggles of post-Independence India.
Lal Bahadur Shastri: Prime Minister of India 1964–1966 by C. P. Srivastava
Not all political biographies are created equal. Not all are written with tact.
However, Lal Bahadur Shastri: Prime Minister of India 1964–1966 by C. P. Srivastava, his close aide and a former bureaucrat, proves itself as an absorbing firsthand account. It chronicles the rise of a man who went from being disenfranchised to a luminary figure, leading the nation as India’s second Prime Minister, all the while retaining his humility, sincerity, and simplicity, making him one of the country’s most beloved political figures–after all, he did coin the legendary slogan: “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, honouring the soldiers protecting the borders and the farmers feeding the country.
The Making of Netaji by The Bombay Circle Press
If we had a required reading, without which entry to class would be prohibited, The Making of Netaji would be our choice. As the inaugural volume in The Index Series by The Bombay Circle Press, this collection presents Subhash Chandra Bose’s journey in his own words through a chronological compilation of his speeches, letters, and writings spanning from 1912 to 1945. It balances iconic rallying cries like “Give me blood, and I promise you freedom!” with deeply personal correspondence exchanged with his mother, exposing the early inner turmoil and intellectual evolution of a privileged youth who left higher studies behind to lead the Azad Hind Fauj. It is an indispensable, firsthand account of the blood, sweat, and conviction that built a revolutionary legend. If you want an unvarnished look at how one of India’s most fiery freedom fighters was forged, this is unskippable.
The English Problem by Beena Kamali
A self-assured, ambitious debut novel that is a web of 
duty, responsibility, consciousness, and acceptance? Sign us up!
The English Problem, an intimate historical fiction, is your answer. The novel follows an 18-year-old, Shiv Advani, who is handpicked by Mahatma Gandhi to study law at London’s Inns of Court and prepare for a future as a leader in liberated India. Leaving behind a young bride carrying his child and a life bound by duty, Shiv enters a seductive world of British privilege and freedom that challenges his true mission. Set against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle, it is a lyrical exploration of identity, duty, and the personal cost of belonging as a young man fights for his own liberation. Trust me, 452 pages will breeze by because Beena’s emphatic prose will entrance you from start to finish.
Why Politicians Lie About Trade by Dmitry Grozoubinski
Frankly speaking, if there’s one word that can have you spinning in circles, it’s this: trade. Defined as “the buying, selling, or exchanging of goods, services, or financial instruments between people, companies, or countries.” Basically, an endless maze, which means it is fodder for politicians to revel in. Don’t you worry, to unveil the truth, Dmitry Grozoubinski, a former trade negotiator, wrote a sharp and surprisingly funny guide demystifying the $32 trillion-a-year international trading system without bogging you down in dry academic jargon.
Grozoubinski unpacks complex trade deals, roadblock tariffs, and protectionist rhetoric to show how cross-border trade directly impacts everyday essentials like food prices, job security, climate action, and national defence. An illuminating read for anyone looking to discern reality beneath political posturing and decode the hidden mechanics shaping our existence.
The next time you have to solve a mystery, or strategise chess, or offer your expert political assessment, remember The Bombay Circle Press Bulletin helped keep both your right and left hemispheres active through their recommendations. So, follow along for more!