The Stories I Tell...

My writing, I believe, reflects the sweep of my interests and I draw on my capacity for storytelling to produce engaging narratives that go beyond mere rapportage.

I write on a broad range of subjects spanning people, communities, arts, popular culture with emphasis on gender, social change, empowering journeys, human trafficking, concerns of sex workers, the LGBT community, prevalence of FGM in India, new age educational reforms, small town India, censorship, and impacts of the virtual space. 

I've had the pleasure of meeting key people from the world of social work, cinema, music, theatre, art and politics.

Starting my journey, I graduated from Presidency College in Calcutta with a Master's in English Literature. I spent two years keeping listeners engaged as a certified radio jockey for All India Radio. In the summer of 2006, I dove into journalism at The Telegraph, where I spent nine transformative years.

As a features writer I wanted to be a good storyteller and develop best ways to do that where facts and people’s lived existence mattered. I'm most proud of stories that have led to decisive action in under-served communities and brought support to persons pushed to the edge.

In 2015, my human interest features culminated in ‘The True Legends Awards,’ an annual platform by The Telegraph to honour unsung heroes. I moved to Mumbai the same year where I joined The Times of India, focusing on human interest, popular culture, and social change with a national lens.

A standout moment was when my series on FGM in India was cited in a landmark Supreme Court of New South Wales verdict, helping secure justice for Dawoodi Bohras in Australia. Another impactful story in 2016 led to the arrest of an abuser in a Mumbai shelter, pushing the police to act.

In 2020 I received the Chevening Fellowship and was part of a 14-member cohort from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh selected for the South Asia Journalism Programme on 'Good Governance and the Media in a Changing World: Society, Politics and Reporting in a Time of Turbulence' at the University of Westminster, London.

At the heart of my work is drawing attention to the human impact of issues. In this age of instant information, it’s crucial to find fresh ways to uncover the rare core of stories, steer conversations, and deepen our connection with readers.

AWARDS

Oct, 2023: Best English News Feature by the UNFPA supported Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity for a story titled 'Why trafficking survivors need more than rescue’ on why trafficking survivors continue to remain incredibly vulnerable even after rescue.

Nov, 2022: Best English News Feature by the UNFPA supported Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity for a story titled 'No shelter for homeless women for whom each day is fraught with risks’ that highlighted the ordeal of women living on the streets of Mumbai.

Nov, 2020: Most Committed Journalist For Advocacy in Early Childhood Education - Hall of Fame Conferred Awards by Early Childhood Association India

Dec, 2013: Best English News Feature by the UNFPA supported Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity for my four-part series titled ‘She Survives’ that chronicled rare tales of prostituted and trafficked women