My favorite thing in the world is rediscovering the books I loved as a child with my own children. I’m always amazed by how much I remember, and how much I’ve forgotten. Some of my most memorable conversations with my children revolve around people we’ve never actually met; characters who exist only on the pages of the books we read together. Incidents from school remind us of scenes from novels, and fictional characters often help us make sense of real people and real life. Many of the happiest moments of our family life have been shaped by the stories we share.

Stories have also been at the heart of my professional life. For more than twenty years, I have worked as a journalist in India and the United States, reporting on topics ranging from child rights and the environment to immigration and identity. I spent a decade with The Times of India before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I wrote extensively about South Asian communities and worked with an organization dedicated to bridging political divides through storytelling and dialogue.

Over the course of my career, I have reported from India, the United States, Australia, China, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, and have received awards and fellowships for my work. I have also served on the managing committee of the Mumbai Press Club and on the board of the Bay Area chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. I hold a master’s degree in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London.

When my oldest child was a toddler and I was expecting my younger one, I discovered Literary Masters. Through their mentorship and training, I learned to facilitate rich, engaging conversations with parents and children.

Returning to my hometown, Mumbai, has given me the opportunity to bring that experience full circle. As a parent who often laments the quality of much contemporary children’s publishing, Literary Masters has introduced me to some of the finest books a child can read and I am delighted to share them with families in India.