Renowned Author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Shares Journey with Empowering Women through Writing, Philanthropy, and More
“Read a lot! Unless you read, you cannot become a good writer. Books have been wonderful teachers for me.” Today’s woman dreamer, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a woman to know in the arts & literature world. She has published 20 books including Palace of Illusions and The Last Queen, and her short stories have been published in The New Yorker, Vogue etc. She is also dedicated to giving back. We are excited to share this inspiring interview in our Women in Philanthropy series, in collaboration with Akshaya Patra. Enjoy!
You are an award-winning author, poet, activist and teacher, and have written 20 books including the Palace of Illusions. Your short stories have also been published in New Yorker, Vogue, Best American Short Stories, and your work has been translated across many languages. Tell us what inspired you to be a creative writer and what made you the woman you are today?
Immigration made me into a writer. I came to USA at the age of nineteen for further studies. Due to a family financial crisis, suddenly there was no money for me to go to college. I found myself in a strange country. All the things I had hoped for--higher studies and a career-- seemed out of reach. I turned to writing as a solace, to remember my birth-country which seemed so far away, and to make sense of the unfamiliar, exciting and scary country in which I found myself. I looked carefully at the women around me. Many were brave souls struggling against difficult circumstances. I started volunteering in the field of domestic violence. All of this inspired me to write my first books, and to become who I am today. I still do activist work in domestic violence. It has really shaped my life philosophy and led me to focus on strong heroines.
2. You have highlighted dynamic and strong female characters in your work. How do you believe writing and story-telling can empower women?
When we see ourselves and our communities portrayed in Art and Literature, it is a special feeling. We see that we are visible, that we are an important part of society, of the world we live in. We see that our joy and sorrows, our struggles and triumphs are meaningful. Our problems cease to be our individual problems--they become shared issues. In a strange, almost magical way, we draw strength from heroes and heroines who look and sound like us. When we cheer them on, we are cheering ourselves on, too. I have experienced this myself, when I read books with South Asian protagonists. I hope my books can do this for someone.
3. You are also going to be the keynote speaker at the Akshaya Patra gala in Austin this fall. What inspires you about Akshaya Patra's mission? Why do you believe it is important to give back?
It is crucial to give back. That is how we express our gratitude to the universe for the blessings that enrich our lives. I think of it as a human duty.
Also, it makes us happy--try it out and see for yourself!
Akshaya Patra's mission is particularly meaningful for me because, growing up in India, I saw a lot of hungry children. A lot of children who had to start working at a very young age just so they could get enough to eat. Their parents made them drop out of school because they couldn't afford to feed them unless they were bringing in money, too. By feeding schoolchildren, AP enables them to remain in school. And to do well in their studies. Who can study when they are hungry? The meal that AP provides for the children changes their lives, offers them a brighter future.Also, have you seen the AP films, the faces of the children as they are eating? The simple joy. That itself makes it worthwhile for me.
4. What is your advice to budding young writers on getting started?
Read a lot! Unless you read, you cannot become a good writer. Books have been wonderful teachers for me. Also, make time in your day to write. Simplify your life so you have this writing time. Finally, find a group of writer friends you can share your work with. Feedback from other writers can really help you. It has certainly helped me.
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My next big dream is always the novel that's in my head, the one I'm writing, or planning to write! Right now, that is a book about India's independence movement, how this turbulent and exciting time affects a family of 3 sisters in Bengal. How they learn, through triumph and heartbreak, what freedom really means. I've titled it INDEPENDENCE.
Thank you Chitra for sharing your inspiring story with us. We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Bio: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author, poet, activist and teacher. She is the author of 20 books including Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, Oleander Girl, Before We Visit the Goddess and Palace of Illusions. Her latest novels are The Forest of Enchantments, a feminist retelling of the epic The Ramayana in the voice of Sita, and The Last Queen, the story of Maharani Jindan, the indomitable queen regent of Punjab who fought the British in many ingenious ways. Divakaruni often writes about contemporary life in America and India, women’s experiences, immigration, history, magical realism and mythology. Her work has been published in over 100 magazines and anthologies, including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, Vogue, Verve, Elle, Oprah’s O magazine, Best American Short Stories, the Pushcart Prize Anthology, and O Henry Prize Stories. Her books have been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Bengali, Hungarian, Turkish, Hindi and Japanese, and have been bestsellers nationally and internationally. Her awards include, among others, an American Book Award, a PEN Josephine Miles award, a Premio Scanno (also known as the Italian Nobel) award, a Light of India award, a SALA award, 2 Pushcart prizes, an Allen Ginsberg poetry award, a Rona Jaffe Award, a Barbara Deming Memorial Award, and a Houston Literary Award. In 2022, The Last Queen received the Times of India Best Fiction Award and the Best Book Award from The International Association of Working Women.
WHO WE ARE
Women Who Win is an award-winning 501 (c) (3) community-based women empowerment organization, focused on educating and enriching women throughout their careers and personal lives. The platform offers its members key development opportunities including mentorship, networking, volunteer projects, as well as opportunities to share their expertise and journeys. A minority-owned and women-owned organization, Women Who Win was founded by three South-Asian women based in the Greater Boston area. The organization is on a mission to build a community of like-minded women, and contribute to the overall mission of global women empowerment and accessibility.