2.2: Ira Mukhoty - Reviving Forgotten Stories

Find out why she is fascinated by 200-year old women and how she brings them to life in her books.Tara and Michelle speak to Ira Mukhoty, who is known for her fascinating stories about extraordinary women. Ira tells us about her favorite historical figures and how she wants to make history accessible and interesting for everyone. She shares the experience of releasing a book during the pandemic. What is it like to excavate these histories and why does she call herself a medieval detective? What is her creative process? How does travel inspire her to write? Ira answers these questions and shares some fun stories that you definitely won’t find in your history textbooks! Michelle is especially excited to know more about the Akbar and Birbal stories. And Tara loves all things history!'Books and Beyond with Bound' is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D'costa of Bound talk to some of the best writers in India and find out what makes them tick.Ira Mukhoty is the author of Heroines, Daughters of the Sun, and Akbar: The Great Mughal. Living in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, she developed an interest in the evolution of mythology and history, the erasure of women from these histories, and the continuing relevance this has on the status of women in India. She writes rigorously researched narrative histories that are accessible to the lay reader. She lives in Gurgaon with her husband and two daughters. You can get your copy of her latest book here: https://www.amazon.in/Akbar-Great-Mughal-Ira-Mukhoty/dp/9389836042/Tune in every Wednesday for a new episode.Follow Bound on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @boundindiaFollow our podcast on Instagram: @boundpodcastsYou can check out our website at https://www.boundindia.com/podcast/Applications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.Cohort size: 50 seatsFirst round of acceptances: 15th June 2026Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.