AUTHOR FEATURE:

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an acclaimed Indian-American author, poet, and professor known for her deep, evocative storytelling that blends Indian culture with universal human emotions. She was born in 1956 in Kolkata, India, and later moved to the United States for her higher education. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the University of Houston. Her works often explore themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of people caught between two cultures.

Divakaruni’s writing is widely recognized for its lyrical style, rich imagery, and emotional depth. A significant aspect of her work is her focus on women’s lives — their challenges, relationships, and journeys toward empowerment. She often gives voice to female characters who have been overlooked in traditional narratives. Her use of magic realism, where elements of fantasy blend seamlessly with everyday reality, adds a unique charm and mysticism to her stories.

Some of her most celebrated works include The Palace of Illusions, a retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective; The Forest of Enchantments, which reimagines the Ramayana through Sita’s eyes; and The Mistress of Spices, which portrays an immigrant woman’s magical connection with spices that heal people. Other notable novels like Sister of My Heart and Before We Visit the Goddess beautifully capture the emotional bonds between women across generations and cultures.

Her contribution to literature has been recognized through several awards, including the American Book Award, PEN Oakland Award, and Bay Area Book Reviewers Award. Her books have been translated into over 29 languages and some adapted into films and plays, proving her global appeal. Through her works, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni continues to inspire readers worldwide by weaving together myth, magic, and the realities of modern life with a compassionate and empowering voice.

Sources : 

1. Official Website: www.chitradivakaruni.com

2. Poetry Foundation: poetryfoundation.org/poets/chitra-banerjee-divakaruni

3. Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitra_Banerjee_Divakaruni

"Silent Chaos", a poem by Sharanya Jayachandran from BSc BTCFS I year

I cry, but the tears refuse to fall.
I scream, yet silence swallows me whole.

I ache to be unkind, to lash out,
but my own heart whispers no.

I long for eyes to find me,
yet I remain a stranger in my own skin.

I crave to be asked,
but not broken apart by questions.

I stand in the crowd,

smiles and voices surrounding me,
yet inside, I drift into empty space.

I reach for the ones I love,
but the distance between me and myself keeps growing.

I want to be honest,
but the lies I tell myself are easier to hold.

I am me,
but I am not myself.

 Author Feature:

             Nidhi Dugar Kundalia

Nidhi Dugar Kundalia is an Indian journalist and author from Kolkata, best known for her deeply empathetic and evocative narrative nonfiction. A graduate of City University London, she has worked with leading media outlets before dedicating herself to long form storytelling. Her writing sits at the crossroads of journalism and literature as she blends reportage, oral history, and human observation to document the changing face of India.

Her debut book, The Lost Generation: Chronicling India’s Dying Professions (2016), explores the lives of people who belong to professions that are slowly disappearing in modern India. Through a series of real life portraits, from a letter writer in Mumbai to a professional mourner in Rajasthan, Kundalia captures the fading echoes of India’s traditional occupations with rare sensitivity. The book serves both as social commentary and as a tribute to those who live on the margins of the country’s economic and cultural transitions.

In her second book, White as Milk and Rice: Stories of India’s Isolated Tribes (2021), she travels across India to document lesser known tribal communities. With a blend of journalism, travel writing, and cultural anthropology, she brings to life the voices of the Onge, Konyak, and other tribes whose traditions and stories are slowly being erased by modernization. Her writing is marked by quiet compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for the people she writes about.

Published by Penguin India, Nidhi Dugar Kundalia’s work has been praised for preserving vanishing worlds with both journalistic accuracy and literary grace. Through her books, she reminds readers of the importance of listening to those whose stories often go unheard in the rush of modern life.

Sources: 

1.   Penguin India Author Page

Nidhi Dugar Kundalia — Penguin Random House India

2. Listed author on Goodreads: Goodreads — Nidhi Dugar Kundalia

Penguin India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Eshé Magazine, Goodreads