Nandita Chakraborty
Nandita Chakraborty (born October 12, 1975) is an Australian author known for her novellas in English. Inspired by Hindu mythology[1], her strong Bengali values[1] and her life[2], she employed a naive art style of writing to explore questions of identity, sexuality, religion, race, cross-cultural love in Indian and Australian societies[2]. Her novellas often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. [3]She is known for writing about her experience of Indian-immigrant experience in Australia. Her stories are usually based in various cities of India and Australia.[2]
Her debut book, Missing Peace: Love, Life and Me (2013) was a self published memoir about her failed attempts at love, the repercussions of online romance gone terribly wrong and dealing with personal cross-cultural conflicts of identity and trust. [3]This memoir was her personal diary and was published only for close friends and family. Her second book, Meera Rising (2017) was a romance novella that was selected at the International Book Awards 2019 as a finalist for Fiction: Novella[4] and at the American Best Book Award 2018 as a finalist for Fiction: Novella.[5] The characters of her novella were heavily inspired by Meerabai, a 16th century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of the god, Krishna; and her life. [6]Her third book Rosemary's Retribution(2018) was also a historical romance novella that was selected at the American Book Fest 2018 as a finalist for Fiction: Novella[5] along with Meera Rising(2017). [5]
In 2011, Chakraborty suffered a traumatic brain injury from a horrific rock climbing accident that led to permanent cognitive impairment and disability.[2]Her initial recovery took 9 months, however in 2016, she faced the impacts of her disability by finding herself lost and devoid on the streets of Melbourne. [7] After further rehabilitative therapies, Chakraborty's psychologist, Dr Joseph, motivated her to pick up writing to cope with her ongoing rehabilitation from disability and mental health issues. [7] Apart from writing Chakraborty works as a part time librarian at Moreland City Libraries, Coburg and also writes feature articles for Melbourne's leading Indian Newspaper - G'Day India.[8]
Early and personal life[edit]
Chakraborty was born in Kolkata, India to a conservative but creative family. Due to her family's association with the arts, she would be surrounded with well known artists that sparked her imagination. However at the age of 7, Chakraborty and her siblings were admitted to a boarding in Meghalaya, India for their primary and secondary education. [8]She started writing at the age of 9. [3] She wrote a letter to the former Primer Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. His reciprocation to her letter encouraged her to pursue writing and literature. [3]
Chakraborty and her family moved to New Delhi, India permanently. Chakraborty began to pursue her degree in Political Science at Sri Venkteswara University and whilst also studying Fashion and Visual Merchandising at night school. [8] However, an stronger inkling in Fashion and Visual Merchandising lead to what became Chakraborty's career in the late 1990's and early 2000's.[1] The thirst for creativity personally and professionally led her to writing poetries and short stories again. [1]
Chakraborty immigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 2000 and experienced her own sort of cross-cultural love story with an older Anglo man. Together they opened their fashion boutique. Whilst working and living together, her understanding of the desire for belonging and being understood deepened; however, that wasn't enough to live the happily ever after. Chakraborty survived a difficult divorce.[9]
Following her divorce, Chakraborty fell victim to an online scammer whilst trying to experience love online and long distance. Chakraborty was blackmailed and humiliated. She gave away most of her belongings and came back home to New Delhi to start a new chapter. Chakraborty started maintaining a personal diary for understanding the steps she took to get out of her misery, about relationships with people, both new and old. She enrolled at a Yoga and Wellness studio in Delhi called the Missing Peaces. Chakraborty began to find peace in the solidarity and practice of yoga.[10]
In 2008, Chakraborty under the mentorship of Rosalie Ham, completed a short course in creative writing at RMIT. Chakraborty was a part of several book clubs and participated in various writing competitions. She started featuring writing for local newspapers, magazine in Melbourne.[8]
Chakraborty briefly returned to India in 2010 to find her footing in life. However, she was invested in the life of Meerabai, a 16th century Hindu mystic poet and a devotee of god, Krishna. She travelled across northern India to understand her way of life and in search of meaning of love. [6] The seeds for her first novella, Meera Rising (2017) were sown.
In 2011, Chakraborty fell 40 metres while rock climbing, traumatically injuring her brain subsequently resulting in permanent cognitive impairment, blind disability and vestibular migraine. [8]Her initial recovery took 9 months, however in 2016, she faced the impacts of her disability by finding herself lost and devoid on the streets of Melbourne.[7] After further rehabilitative therapies, Chakraborty's psychologist, Dr Joseph, motivated her to pick up writing to cope with her ongoing rehabilitation from disability and mental health issues. [7] Apart from writing Chakraborty works as a part time librarian at Moreland City Libraries, Coburg and also writes feature articles for Melbourne's leading Indian Newspaper - G'Day India.
In 2018, Chakraborty studied at Screenwriting at RMIT and has written various screenplays for film and television.[11]
Missing Peaces: Love, Life and Me[edit]
On 19th September 2013, Chakraborty self-published her diary Missing Peaces: Love, Life and Me (2013) for her close friends and family, as an insight on her journey to self development. [1]
Meera Rising[edit]
Chakraborty released her sophomore novella Meera Rising in 2013. The novella drew strong inspiration from Meerabai and her personal life. The novella moves between events in New Delhi and Melbourne City, and explores the nuances involved in being trapped between two conflicting cultures with distinct religious, social and ideological backgrounds. Indian Link said in its review that “Nandita’s story, like that of her protagonists, is about bouncing back. For those open to receiving guidance within the pages of her books, Nandita has one simple message for all: you need to love yourself first in order to find a higher form of love.” [3]
Rosemary's Retribution[edit]
Rosemary's Retribution is the third novella written by Chakraborty, released in 2018. The novella revolves around a woman realising a horrific truth about her parent's past in Kolkata, 1975. SBS said that, “Coming from the writer of “Meera Rising,” I blithely agreed to review Nandita Chakraborty’s second book “Rosemary’s Retribution” which I guessed would be interesting but found it to be a gripping story that shows the writer’s creativity has blossomed full bloom. It makes compelling reading for any reader with a curiosity about cultures and differing values but values the concept of infinite love above all.” [2]
Recurring themes and background setting[edit]
All of Chakraborty's books have been set in metropolitan cities in India, that usually hold a significance to Chakraborty's life, and Melbourne, Australia. In all her novellas, identity, sexuality, love, cross-community and cultural isolation, acceptance and human nature are the common themes.
Novels[edit]
- Missing Peace: Love, Life and Me (2013)
- Meera Rising (2013)
- Rosemary's Retribution (2018)
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Indian Australian author Nandita Chakraborty's 'Rosemary's Retribution' is a cross cultural love story". SBS Your Language. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Nandita Chakraborty: A creative tale of survival". SBS Your Language. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Mirabai modernised". Indian Link. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "International Book Awards - Honoring Excellence in Independent & Mainstream Publishing". www.internationalbookawards.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "American Book Fest". americanbookfest.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Interview: Nandita Chakraborty". SYN Media. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jabbal, Preeti (October 16, 2017). "Mirabai modernised". IndianLinkNews. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "ABOUT". Nandita Chakraborty. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "Nandita Chakraborty - Coverfly". writers.coverfly.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ Mancuso, Christina. "Nandita Chakraborty Releases New Memoir, MISSING PEACE". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ by, Posted. "2019 fall QUARTER FINALISTS". NYC Screenplay. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
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