Rise of the New Penmasters: Authors to Watch in 2026

Rishabh Kamal is an Advocate practising in the courts of Delhi, born in Prayagraj with roots in Varanasi. A law graduate from Chanakya National Law University, Patna (2013), he spent his formative years across Jharkhand due to his father’s service as a PCS officer and later IAS. After brief IAS preparation, he began criminal practice in the Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi (2015–2017). Shifting to Delhi-NCR, he worked in district courts and served as a Law Researcher at Delhi Judicial Academy (2018–2019). Since 2021, he worked as Legal Aid Counsel with DLSA at Juvenile Justice Boards, gaining strong expertise in juvenile justice, criminal defence, and diverse civil matters.Connect at @rishabhkamal

Megha Bajaj

Megha Bajaj is a National bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and founder of WoW (Wonders of Words). Her acclaimed book The Breakthrough has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide and earned her recognition among the 50 Most Influential Authors and 25 Most Influential Women of Mumbai. An inspiring speaker for global platforms, schools, and leading organisations, Megha has transformed over 1,50,000 students and thousands of adults through her writing and life-skill programs. Her latest book, Love Multiplied (111 Times), brings together 111 heartfelt stories by adults and children, celebrating love in its raw, real, and deeply healing forms.Connect at @authormeghabajaj

Jasbirr Grover

Jasbirr Grover is a UK-based South Asian writer and interdisciplinary artist whose practice expands contemporary poetry through a methodology combining reflective writing, doodle-based visual art, and multilingual narrative. Her work engages with themes of identity, heritage,belonging, faith with ancient scripture, ancestry, and diasporic memory within contemporary arts and cultural discourse.She began her creative career during the COVID-19 pandemic with Know Ur Unique Self, a hand-written and handcrafted debut which informed her cross-modal approach between poetry and visual arts.Her debut poetry Reflection of Life: Unseen, Unspoken, Unstoppable, reached Amazon’s Top 10 in Women & Spirituality.Connect at @authorjasbirr

Dhaval Birajdar

Dhaval Birajdar is an academic professor working at DJ Sanghvi college of Engineering and fictional author who skillfully connects the realms of research and storytelling. Through his work, he explores the powerful intersection of knowledge and imagination, creating narratives that are both intellectually stimulating and creatively immersive. His crime-thriller novel Mumbaii Expeeriment delivers a dark, suspenseful journey filled with mystery and gritty drama. A series of gruesome murders shakes the city, each more horrifying than the last. What begins as a routine investigation for John and his team soon becomes a chilling pattern of terror. Atmospheric and relentlessly tense, the novel keeps readers captivated until its final revelation.Connect at @authordhavalbirajdar

Dr Parvathy Ananthanarayanan Mangala 

Parvathy's writing using pen name "Ram SwaRajya" reflects truth, Dharma, and the quiet strength of Indian women. Through simple language and deep emotion, the author highlights women’s struggles, courage, and silent victories, rooted in Bharat’s timeless wisdom. In *When Vinitha Asked: “If I Am a Wife and a Daughter-in-Law… Can I Not Be a Daughter Too?”* , Vinitha’s journey becomes a powerful voice for emotional fairness. As a devoted wife and daughter-in-law, she also refuses to abandon her parents after marriage. Guided by wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita, she challenges old expectations and shows that daughters can honor both homes with dignity and love.Connect at @parvathy0302

Anoop Kumar Gupta

Anoop Kumar Gupta, Superintending Geologist at ONGC and author of “Competitive Exams ka Chakravyuh Kaise Todein,” envisions nationwide awareness about the declining health and rising suicides among competitive exam aspirants. An alumnus of IIT Bombay and BHU, he has cleared 8+ major exams and interacted with 500+ students and families in Kota and Delhi. He was invited to All India Radio for an interview on his groundbreaking book and student well-being mission. His research highlights alarming mental and physical disorders, urging collective action aligned with the Supreme Court’s National Task Force (2025).Connect at @anoop_kumar_gupta_akg

Joydeep Sinha

Joydeep Sinha is an award-winning Indian Executive Chef, culinary innovator, author, and speaker with over 20 years of experience in the food and hospitality industry. Known for his passion for flavourful cooking and creative gastronomy, he currently serves as Executive Chef at a leading culinary establishment in India, overseeing menu development, kitchen operations, and team leadership. Beyond the kitchen, Joydeep is a TEDx speaker and the author of Life of a Chef, a reflective work on the chef’s journey. He also shares culinary insights through YouTube and social media. Recognized with honours like the City Excellence Awards 2025, he continues inspiring audiences worldwide.Connect at @chefjoydeep

 Mahesh Rajmane

Mahesh Rajmane, a Pune-based author and filmmaker, blends technology with philosophical horror. With a background in software engineering, his work reflects a deep fascination with systems, patterns, and unseen forces shaping human lives. Influenced by philosophy, science fiction, and horror, he expanded into cinema, directing two Marathi horror films and running the YouTube channel Horror Flux, known for original unsettling short films. His debut novel Khandav explored myth and psychological terror in the Western Ghats. His second book, The March of Progress, offers a chilling autopsy of humanity’s surrender to comfort, obedience, and the rise of ruthless artificial intelligence.Connect at @horrorflux666

Karan Kashyap

Karan Kashyap’s Go Start Up is built on intensive engagement with startups across India and Europe, offering young founders a strong foundation to shape their legacy. Entrepreneurship often comes with high risks and constant dilemmas, where personal and organizational values become essential guides. Kashyap emphasizes that values provide clarity, resilience, and direction during vulnerable moments. He highlights how successful unicorns like Spotify, Swiggy, and upGrad thrive by protecting culture and fostering positive environments. A Forbes contributor covering investors and economic policy, Kashyap’s work explores geopolitics’ impact on businesses. In 2024, he was recognized among Europe-India business leaders.Connect at @krn_kaashyap

Dhritiman Chakraborty

Dhritiman Chakraborty is a corporate leader, author, and executive coach who strongly believes in continuous self-development. With over twenty-four years of leadership experience across industries, he has guided large teams and gained deep insights into professional growth, mindset shifts, and the power of feedback. His writing journey began in 2020 with 10 Mantras to Discover Your Best Version, followed by several impactful books on focus, career success, and personal branding. His latest work, Built by Feedback, shares inspiring stories of growth. Through coaching, seminars, and institute visits, he helps professionals build self-awareness, resilience, and leadership skills.Connect at @dhritiman_coach

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