4.14 Taran N. Khan: An Unconventional Travel Story In Kabul

Find out how she walked through Kabul for 8 years for her part-memoir and part-travel guide. Taran shares how she picked the angle of being a flaneur - someone who explores a place on foot - for her book, Shadow City. And how she navigated the streets as an Indian woman. Tara loves women's travel accounts! Michelle loves how the book covers interesting details about Persian culture, music and poetry. Did she face restrictions as a woman traveller? How different is Kabul from an Indian city? Why does Taran write about libraries and graveyards? Tune in to find out! Taran N. Khan is a journalist and author based in Mumbai. Her works have been widely published in India and internationally, including in Guernica, Al Jazeera, the Caravan and Himal Southasian. Her writing has also received support from the MacDowell fellowship, the Jan Michalski Foundation for Writing and Literature, and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, among others. From 2006 to 2013, Khan spent long periods living and working in Kabul. '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. Follow us @boundindia on all social media. If you want to write exceptional non-fiction, Tara has a few mentorship slots available for this year. Email her at [email protected] with your ideas and what you are looking for. 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.