An educator, a jurist, a diplomat and a journalist - four diversely talented sons of a Chitrapur Saraswat family, and their journey through life as-it-was, in the late 19th century and first half of 20th century. What were the defining social and political events in pre-independence India, what did it mean for social equity, for women's status, for rule of law, these questions form a starting point for this book.

Here is a story of the Benegal family, hailing from a little-known coastal community in southwestern India, who could as well be called global citizens in many senses. This is an informal history of their lives and times.