Author Feature:

Shashi Tharoor: A Renowned Politician, Diplomat, and Author

Shashi Tharoor: A Multifaceted Leader

Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician, author, and former diplomat known for his eloquence, intellect, and progressive thought. Born on 9 March 1956 in London, he was raised in India and educated at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and later at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (USA), where he earned a Ph.D. at the age of 22.

He served at the United Nations for nearly 29 years, rising to the post of Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. In 2006, he was India’s official candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General and finished a close second.

In 2009, Tharoor entered Indian politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala—a seat he has retained in three consecutive elections. He has served as Minister of State for External Affairs and later as Minister of State for Human Resource Development. He is widely respected for his views on foreign policy, education, and social justice.

Tharoor is also an acclaimed author, having written over 20 books, including The Great Indian Novel, Inglorious Empire, Why I Am a Hindu, and Pax Indica. His writings often explore India’s identity, colonial history, and global relevance. He is known for his rich vocabulary and engaging narrative style.

Beyond politics and writing, Tharoor is a cultural icon. His speeches, both in India and abroad, reflect his deep knowledge and commitment to democratic values, pluralism, and civil liberties.

A true global Indian, Shashi Tharoor represents a unique blend of intellect, diplomacy, and public service, inspiring youth to think critically and act responsibly in shaping India’s future.

His famous book :

An Era of Darkness 

An Era of Darkness by Shashi Tharoor is a powerful critique of British colonial rule in India. The book exposes the economic exploitation, cultural damage, and human suffering caused by the British Empire. Tharoor challenges the glorified view of colonialism and dismantles myths about British “gifts” like railways and education. Using sharp arguments and historical evidence, he reveals how India was looted and impoverished. The book is based on his famous Oxford Union speech and is written in a bold, accessible style. It urges readers to rethink colonial history and reclaim India's narrative with pride and clarity.

"BAN PLASTIC",Essay by Nethikar Mounika. B.Sc - FSCCa, 3rd Year.

On June 5, 2025, as India celebrated World Environment Day with the theme “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution.” I remember Prime Minister Modiji's words hitting me hard. “Every plastic bottle we toss away is like a scar on our planet's heart.” It felt so real, especially after seeing clips of a massive cleanup drive along the Ganges. Leaders, students and even kids were out there pulling out plastic bags, bottles from the river. It was messy, emotional and made me rethink - how did we let our sacred rivers, whom we worship get so choked with trash? That day I felt some contribution of any sort must be done from our side.

Plastic Pollution isn’t just about dirty rivers, though. It’s everywhere. An article from Hindu, not so long ago mentioned India throws about 5.8 million tonnes of plastic every year, and the smoke from that messes up the air, it is scary to think about breathing in those toxins, but we actually do. Many Indian Cities like New Delhi, Noida, Durgapur, Patna, ect. often appear in top 10 of World AQI (Air Quality Index) rankings. Microplastics being the major component of the pollution.

In landfills, there are piles of plastic bags and wrappers that don’t break down, leaking chemicals into the ground, from where we grow our food. From a year the major hot topic has been microplastics - they are everywhere in water, food, air even in our bodies causing major health problems.

But there are people fighting back, which gives hope. Like Matti Malhar Kambe, a young man from Mumbai - who recently received the National Creators Award 2024 has been doing incredible work with his group “Beach Please”. They clean up Beaches, make for funny videos to get people’s attention and promote things like Bamboo straws, cloth bags so on. Malhar’s mantra - Refuse, reuse, rethink has become a rally cry. He has become an inspiration for GenZs.

The World is starting to wake up too. Back in 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, 175 countries got together and promised pledged to make a treaty to stop plastic pollution by 2040, by cutting down on making new plastic recycling more and get rid of single use stuff. Still it is not easy, India banned single use plastics in 2022, which was effective for certain time but no proper implementation and no proper alternative like plastic introduced plastic same back. Globally only 9% of plastic gets recycled.

The rest just sits in landfills or gets dumped in places like India from rich countries. The Global Waste Trade is reality, this unfair treatment, must stop. But I believe we can change things. Cities like Indore is doing amazing work with community cleanups, making it the cleanest city each time. As Amit Ray, an Indian author said “A plastic pollution-free world is not a choice but a commitment to life”, Let’s honour the commitment for our rivers, our soil, our air and our next generation.

Author Feature: Rochelle Potkar

Author Feature

Rochelle Potkar

Writer, Poet, Playwright 

About the Author:

Rochelle Potkar is a prize-winning poet, author, and screenwriter based in Mumbai. Her published works include Four Degrees of Separation, Paper Asylum (shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020), Bombay Hangovers (also available in Hindi), and Coins in Rivers, which was shortlisted for The Wise Owl Literary Award 2025.

An alumna of the Iowa International Writing Program and Charles Wallace Fellow at the University of Stirling, she has been invited multiple times as a creative-writing mentor to the Iowa International Writing Programs. She also teaches poetry at the Himalayan Writing Retreat.

Rochelle was conferred an honorary Doctorate in Literature by Sanskriti University, Mathura, presented by former President of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind. Her first screenplay was selected for the NFDC India Screenwriters Lab and was a quarterfinalist at the Atlanta Film Festival. Two of her projects featured in the Top 30 Book-to-Box Office selection at NFDC Film Bazaar 2023. Her short scripts 'Catharsis,' 'Salad,' and 'Ali Guli Maane' have won accolades, with 'Salad' (Shezari) set to release in September 2025.

About the book: 

The D’Costa Family

Set in Goa, this darkly comic family drama unfolds after the death of Don Theodore. His widow, Rita, who never loved him, tries to install their son Jason, a gravedigger, as the next Don, bribing tenants and manipulating relatives. Meanwhile, daughter-in-law Annette juggles a secret lover, stolen jewels, and a shooting. Inspector Gaitonde stumbles on a bizarre secret under Jason’s graveyard.

Amid collapsing real estate dreams and a chaotic interfaith wedding, Rita slowly realizes the absurdity of the patriarchal power game she played and instead finds unexpected solidarity. The novel is packed with wit, emotion, and wild twists, satirical yet moving, sinister yet hilarious.

Link to the Book

PS: Presently, the book is available in Paperback, Hardcover and eBooks versions via Amazon Now. the wider distributions will start only later this year. 

Author Feature:

Anusha Subramanian

About the author:

Anusha Subramanian – India’s Young Literary Prodigy

Anusha Subramanian is one of India’s youngest published authors, celebrated for her debut novel Heirs of Catriona, which she wrote and released at just 12 years old. Her journey is both inspiring and unique, showcasing how young minds, when nurtured and encouraged, can produce remarkable work.

From a young age, Anusha was drawn to books, especially in the fantasy and adventure genres. Inspired by global authors like J.K. Rowling, she began writing her own stories filled with magic, mystery, and imagination. Her debut novel, Heirs of Catriona, tells the story of four girls chosen to protect a magical world called Catriona. With elements of fantasy, friendship, and bravery, the book reflects Anusha’s strong storytelling skills and creativity far beyond her years.

Published by Red Turtle, the children's imprint of Rupa Publications, Heirs of Catriona was well-received by readers and critics alike. It stood out not just because of the young age of the author but because of its structured plot, engaging narrative, and imaginative world-building.

Anusha’s success story became an inspiration for many young readers across India. She has been featured in interviews, book events, and school discussions, where she motivates students to write, read, and explore their creative abilities. Despite her early fame, she continues to focus on learning, reading, and improving her craft.

Her story proves that passion, encouragement, and discipline can help young people achieve extraordinary goals. Anusha Subramanian remains a role model for budding writers, showing that age is no limit when it comes to imagination and hard work.

Source:

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Author feature:

About the Author:

Anishka Awasthi is a rising Indian author, poet, and digital storyteller who has made a significant impact through her heartfelt writing and emotionally rich content. Widely followed on platforms like Instagram, Anishka has carved a space for herself among contemporary writers who connect deeply with the emotions of today’s youth. Her writing explores themes of love, loss, healing, personal growth, and empowerment, making her voice particularly resonant for readers who are navigating the complexities of relationships and self-discovery.

Anishka's style is intimate, poetic, and often vulnerable. She writes in both English and Hindi, allowing her to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Her work often feels like a personal conversation — comforting, raw, and real. Many of her poems and short prose pieces delve into the pain of heartbreak, the journey toward self-love, and the bittersweet nature of memories. In doing so, she gives words to emotions that many struggle to articulate, which is a major reason for her growing popularity.

Her Instagram presence (@anishkaawasthi) serves as her main platform, where she regularly posts her writings, spoken-word videos, and motivational thoughts. With every post, she creates a safe space for her followers — a virtual diary that invites readers to reflect, feel, and heal. Her content is widely shared and often goes viral, especially among young readers who find comfort and clarity in her words.

Though she is primarily known for her digital writing, Anishka Awasthi is also gradually making her mark in the literary world. While she may not yet have a full-length published book, she has contributed to anthologies, e-zines, and various online poetry platforms. There are hints from her audience and posts that she may be working on a debut book or poetry collection in the near future — something eagerly anticipated by her fans.

More than just a writer, Anishka is often seen as a voice of emotional resilience, encouraging her readers to embrace their emotions and find strength in vulnerability. Her words have become a form of healing for many, and she continues to inspire a generation that seeks connection and meaning in a fast-paced, digital world.

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 Author Feature:

Nikita singh

About the author:

Nikita Singh is a bestselling Indian author known for her emotional and youth-centric romantic novels. Born on October 6, 1991, in Ranchi, she grew up in cities like Patna and Indore. She completed her graduation in Pharmacy and later pursued an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School in New York. Her passion for writing began early, and at the age of 19, she published her debut novel Love @ Facebook, which gained instant popularity among young readers.

Over the years, Nikita has written several successful novels that explore themes like love, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery. Some of her most popular books include Accidentally in Love, Someone Like You, If It’s Not Forever (co-authored with Durjoy Datta), The Promise, Like a Love Song, Every Time It Rains, Letters to My Ex, and The Reason is You. Her writing style is simple, relatable, and emotionally engaging, which makes her stories appealing to a wide audience, especially the youth.

With more than a million copies of her books sold, Nikita Singh is regarded as one of the leading voices in modern Indian fiction. Through her books, she continues to inspire young readers to understand relationships and embrace emotional growth.

Source:

Poem by B Gauravi Goud

"A Drop on the leaf"-

by B.Gouravi Goud from Bsc. Zcfs II nd year

A single drop on the morning leaf,

Clings to the edge, silent and brief.

Born from the sky in a whispering fall,

It holds the world in a sphere so small.

It shimmers bright in the soft sunbeam,

A quiet echo of a fading dream.

No thunder speaks, no lightning near 

Just gentle stillness, pure and clear.

It knows it can’t forever stay,

The breeze will call it soon away.

Yet in that pause, before the flight,

It lives a lifetime in the light.