Book-A-Table supper club · 22 August 2026

Independence: a Bengali lunch on banana leaves

On 22 August 2026, a week after Independence Day, Book-A-Table read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Independence over a Bengali lunch served on banana leaves. There was begun curry, dal in a clay handi, crisp chops and papad, and a mishti doi cheesecake, under an indigo kantha and tricolour bunting.

The book: Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
When: 22 August 2026
Where: The sisters' home, Bengaluru
Format: A Bengali spread with a moderated discussion

Shachi and Kriti smile behind a banana-leaf Bengali buffet with kantha backdrop and Book A Table sign — Shachi and Kriti with the Independence spread

The bookWhy Independence

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Independence (2022) follows three sisters, Deepa, Jamini and Priya, in a village in Bengal as India moves towards independence and Partition in 1947. Each of them chooses her own kind of freedom, and pays for it.

A novel about three sisters, read by two. The table was laid with banana leaves, terracotta handis and blue-and-white bowls, finished with roses and a jasmine garland, and the tricolour went up in the doorway.

In the glassFrom forest to bottleVanaha Artisanal Forest Gin, set out on its own side table with soda and a bowl of fresh limes, for long, cold drinks through a Bengali afternoon.More from the bar cart →

Empty buffet table dressed with banana leaves, clay pots, blue floral bowls, roses and indigo kantha backdrop — The table, set and waiting for its guests

Overhead view of Bengali dishes on banana leaves: dal in clay pot, aubergine curry, croquettes, papad — A Bengal-inspired spread, laid out on banana leaves

Crumb-fried golden croquettes piled in a blue-and-white bowl with red and yellow roses — Crisp, golden chops straight from the kadhai

Close-up of aubergine curry topped with chopped coriander in a blue-rimmed bowl — Slow-cooked begun, finished with fresh coriander

Golden syrup-soaked sweets in blue mosaic bowl on banana leaf with roses and lime — Something sweet to end on

Mishti doi cheesecake slab topped with crunchy crumble and dried rose petals on a board — Mishti Doi Cheesecake, scattered with rose petals

Smiling guests serve themselves papad, rice and egg chops from the banana-leaf buffet — Plates up — guests at the Independence buffet

Kriti in a mustard dupatta gestures while leading the book discussion in the living room — Kriti opening the conversation

Laughing guest in foreground with others seated around a coffee table stacked with books — Laughter in the living room

Banana-leaf table with terracotta pot, blue-and-white bowls, roses, jasmine garland and Book A Table sign — Jasmine, banana leaves and a kantha backdrop

Questions about this supper

When was the Independence supper club?

Book-A-Table's Independence supper club, based on the book by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, took place on 22 August 2026 at the sisters' home in Bengaluru.

What was served at the Independence supper club?

Begun curry, Dal in a clay handi, Golden crumb-fried chops, Egg chops, Steamed rice & papad, Syrup-soaked mishti, Mishti Doi Cheesecake. Described from our photos of the day.

Will there be another edition like this?

Each book is a one-off, but every edition is announced to the waitlist first. Join the list to hear about the next one.

Independence: a Bengali lunch on banana leaves

The bookWhy Independence

ContentsWhat was on the table

Questions about this supper

When was the Independence supper club?

What was served at the Independence supper club?

Will there be another edition like this?

The next book is still under wraps.

The bookWhy Independence

ContentsWhat was on the table

Photos

Questions about this supper

When was the Independence supper club?

What was served at the Independence supper club?

Will there be another edition like this?

The next book is still under wraps.