Stella & Ethiraj College
I find college visits especially engaging because they allow me to go deep into the heart of my work. While school visits often centre on the story and its narrative arc, college conversations open up space to talk about process, inspiration, and purpose. These visits give me the freedom to step back from the text itself and reflect on why the work exists and what it is trying to say.
Students are particularly curious about my writing process—whether I write in one stretch or over a long period of time. I am always honest about the fact that my process is slow and layered. I revise my manuscripts constantly, and sometimes a single book takes more than a year to come together, especially when research is involved. This often leads to rich discussions about patience, discipline, and trusting one’s creative rhythm.
Much of my inspiration comes from Kodaikanal and from the environmental and social issues I witnessed while growing up there. The purpose of my work, as I share during these visits, is to encourage readers to see Kodaikanal and India’s mountains as more than recreation spaces, and to engage with them as living ecosystems with stories, histories, and vulnerabilities of their own.
The questions students asked were thoughtful and nuanced, touching on publishing, recognition, and staying true to one’s voice. When asked about gaining recognition, I emphasised the importance of being honest with oneself and one’s work, trusting that recognition followed authenticity. Engaging with a houseful audience at Stella Maris College and Ethiraj College, two of Chennai’s most prestigious institutions, was deeply rewarding, and I was grateful to the Chennai International Centre for making these meaningful conversations possible.
