Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet, born in India and based in the United States. Her work is known for exploring a range of themes, including the Indian experience, contemporary America, women, immigration, history, myth, and the joys and challenges of living in a multicultural world. Divakaruni has made her mark by publishing in over 50 magazines, including The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her work has been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi, and Japanese, showcasing its global appeal.

Divakaruni's educational journey began in India, but she later moved to the United States to continue her education. She earned a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. To support herself during her time in the U.S., she held various jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. Divakaruni's career has seen her settle in various states, including Illinois, Ohio, and California, before ultimately making Houston her home. This series of moves has influenced her writing, as she often incorporates her experiences of these places into her work.