The city of Guwahati witnessed a luminous literary evening at The Write Circle, an initiative of Prabha Khaitan Foundation. The session featured acclaimed author Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan in an engaging and heartfelt conversation with Simalisha Baruah, Ehsaas Woman of Guwahati. The evening commenced on a gracious note by Tanushree Datta Gogoi, Ehsaas Woman of Guwahati.
Addressing the contemporary concern of children growing up in an age dominated by screens, Srinivasan responded with clarity and conviction. “As a children’s writer, you have a challenge and a responsibility,” she observed. “The challenge is to keep children engaged.” She articulated her belief that children’s literature must balance education and entertainment, noting, “Is it education or entertainment? It’s a little bit of both.”
She emphasized the importance of inviting children into the reading experience rather than instructing them from a distance. Speaking about her poetry book that introduces poetic forms to young readers, she explained how she combines structure with humor to sustain interest. “If I merely left it with that, children might find it boring,” she admitted candidly, before describing how she follows technical explanations with playful, mischievous poems that bring the forms to life.
The author also reflected on her philosophy of shared humanity, stating, “We all are part of a shared humanity, shared global world.” This sentiment, expressed with quiet conviction, became one of the thematic anchors of the evening. Through her retellings of global folktales and her exploration of idioms across cultures, she illustrated how stories transcend geography and connect diverse communities.
When discussing her much-loved book India Alphabet, she described the country as “a subcontinent with diversity and color both in food and topography and people and language and everything.” Her admiration for India’s cultural richness was palpable. The book, she explained, was conceived not only for Indian-American children but for all readers, fostering cross-cultural understanding from a young age.
One of the most moving segments of the conversation centered on her biography of her mother. Reflecting on the experience of writing the book, she shared, “The book was a very moving experience for me.” She described structuring the narrative in alternating voices, blending first-person and third-person perspectives to capture both intimacy and historical context. In a touching revelation, she noted that her mother, now elderly, occasionally turns to the book to revisit memories.
Her journey as a voiceover artist added yet another dimension to the evening. She recounted how a simple radio essay recording led to a flourishing career. “You never know when something will happen,” she reflected, reminding listeners that opportunity often emerges unexpectedly. The anecdote culminated in her winning a National Award for narration.
A particularly memorable moment arrived when Srinivasan recited her poem, “How many sounds can a C make?” The playful yet instructive verses demonstrated her ability to transform grammar into lyrical entertainment. Her journey as a voiceover artist added yet another dimension to the evening. She recounted how a simple radio essay recording led to a flourishing career.
As the conversation drew to a close, through eloquent dialogue and profound insights, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan reminded the audience with a Q&A session that storytelling is, indeed, a lifetime in the making. Closing remarks by Tanushree Datta Gogoi, Ehsaas Woman of Guwahati, and the felicitation of the author by Dipanjol Deka marked the close of the evening.
This session of The Write Circle was organized with the support of Ehsaas Women of Guwahati; in association with Oil India; Hospitality Partner, Vivanta.
