Book Discussion: THE BEAST WITHIN by Rudraneil Sengupta. The author in conversation with Sharda Ugra at Champaca Bookstore, Vasanth Nagar | 21 June 2025, Saturday | 5:30 PM

We’re delighted to host author Rudraneil Sengupta at Champaca for the book discussion of his new book, THE BEAST WITHIN. The discussion will be a conversation between Rudraneil and journalist Sharda Ugra, as they dive into the themes of the book- crime, caste, identity, and the many layers of life in Delhi.

Here are the details of the event:

Date: 21 June 2025, Saturday

Time: 5:30PM

Venue: Champaca Bookstore, Vasanth Nagar

About the book:

THE BEAST WITHIN takes readers into the murky, complex world of the Delhi Police and the many political and social layers of the city. Written with the insight of years spent reporting from within the force, Rudraneil Sengupta brings to life a compelling, gritty narrative that reads like a binge-worthy crime procedural. The book explores caste, regionalism, identity politics, power, grief, and the divides that mark Delhi’s landscape—from Outer Delhi to its elite South. At its heart, THE BEAST WITHIN is a gripping examination of the machinery and human cost of policing in India.

About the speakers:

Rudraneil Sengupta is an Indian journalist and author, best known for his work in sports journalism and his acclaimed book Enter the Dangal: Travels through India’s Wrestling Landscape. Formerly the deputy editor of Lounge, the weekly feature magazine of Mint, his journalistic work has explored gender, human rights, and the social complexities of contemporary India.

Sharda Ugra has been a powerful voice in Indian sports journalism for over two decades, with a career spanning Mid-Day, The Hindu, and India Today. She has written for Radio Australia, contributed to research projects by the British Sports Council, and is a recipient of awards from the Sports Journalists Federation of India. She also co-authored John Wright’s Indian Summers, the memoir of the former New Zealand cricket captain.