"Playing the flute is like doing yoga. You never feel tired. You feel peaceful instead because the flute gives you energy," says Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia in this interview with me for Hindustan Times. www.hindustantimes.com/books/pandit...

Here's my review of Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories written by Banu Mushtaq and translated from Kannada to English by Deepa Bhasthi. Hindustan Times published the review. It can be accessed here. www.hindustantimes.com/books/review...

I refuse to be a cheerleader for war anywhere in the world. May humans learn to resolve conflicts without killing. The cycle of revenge needs to be broken if we want future generations to live in peace.

"When I sing Sufiana kalaam, I forget my gender. I sing from my soul, from a space where labels and classifications cease to matter," says singer Barnali Chattopadhyay in this interview with me for Hindustan Times. We met in Jodhpur. www.hindustantimes.com/books/barnal...

In his new book titled Shattered, Hanif Kureishi speaks on behalf of every person who has felt disempowered by the medical-industrial complex that treats their body as an object to be inspected rather than respected. Here's my review for The Hindu. www.thehindu.com/books/books-...

May every Indian and Pakistani eager to wage war take a moment to reflect deeply on the short and long-term consequences for our region and for humanity. We have shed so much blood since 1947. I say: No more! May every trace of hatred be transformed into goodwill.

Here's my review of Dr. S. Jaishankar and Samir Saran's new book Raisina Chronicles: India's Global Public Square. It was published in today's print edition of Business Standard.

I hope that Indian journalists will let families of the deceased grieve with the dignity and privacy they deserve instead of thrusting microphones in their faces. It's okay to let go of a story, an exclusive, a sound bite. It's hard to heal from such violent and unexpected loss.

Happy #WorldBookDay! Here's my piece for Hindustan Times on the vital role that librarians play in nurturing a love of reading among children & teenagers. Librarians at the Neev Literature Festival spoke about what goes into creating a safe, welcoming space. www.hindustantimes.com/books/essay-...

I had fun reading Annie Zaidi's latest novel The Comeback. Here's my review for OPEN Magazine. openthemagazine.com/lounge/books...

"For the Russian colonial venture, it is important to destroy Ukrainian voices and Ukrainian culture and not just take over Ukrainian territory," said @yarotrof.bsky.social in this interview with me for Hindustan Times when we met at the Jaipur Literature Festival earlier this year.

Here's my review of the Dalai Lama's new book Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People. It was published in Business Standard.

I enjoyed writing about the 2025 edition of Jaipur Bookmark, the annual publishing conclave that runs parallel to the Jaipur Literature Festival. www.hindustantimes.com/books/report...

Sabin Iqbal's novel Tales from Qabristan revolves around a boy named Farook who loses his father to lung cancer. As he prepares for the burial in a daze, childhood memories rush forth to fill his void and the novel. Here's my review for OPEN magazine. openthemagazine.com/lounge/books...

I interviewed Michael Hofmann, translator of Jenny Erpenbeck's International Booker Prize-winning novel Kairos from German to English. We met at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode earlier this year. www.hindustantimes.com/books/michae...

Ram Navami seems like a good day to start reading my treasured copy of Svayambhudeva's The Life of Padma (Volume 1). It's a Jain retelling of the Ramayana, edited and translated from Apabhramsha into English by Eva De Clercq for Murty Library @harvardpress.bsky.social.

Hearty thanks Chintan! That review's a real joy to read. May the world follow your lead ... we all have lots to learn from the Bishnoi! @profilebooks.bsky.social

I loved reading @martingoodman.bsky.social's book My Head For A Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi, the World’s First Eco-Warriors. Here's my review for Business Standard.

Here is my #Ramzan special reading list for #children and all lovers of children’s literature. In these books, #Muslim protagonists take centre stage and don't appear as tokens, sidekicks or afterthoughts. #kidlit #Ramadan splainer.in/sections/202...

I am pleased to see my interview with @andrewquintman.bsky.social cited in @donnalynnbrown.bsky.social's PhD dissertation Reconstructing tradition and social engagement in Buddhist studies: The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. www.hindustantimes.com/books/andrew...

What a terrific opportunity!

I interviewed Deepa Bhasthi about Heart Lamp for Hindustan Times. She translated this short story collection by Banu Mushtaq from Kannada to English. www.hindustantimes.com/books/deepa-...

My hunch is that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar would have despised what Columbia has become and stood up for Mahmoud Khalil.

I interviewed Banu Mushtaq for Hindustan Times. Heart Lamp, her book of short stories translated from Kannada into English by Deepa Bhasthi, is on the International Booker Prize longlist. www.hindustantimes.com/books/banu-m...

Inspired by some of my favourite writers and my passion for food, words, science, language and history I'm starting my own publication on Substack. Please feel free to like, comment, subscribe and share : open.substack.com/pub/ytejas/p...

The New York Review of Books is seeking an online editor

Himal Fiction Fest 2025: How do you picture Southasia hundreds of years from today? We’re looking for original, short speculative fiction that delves into the possible futures of Southasia. Details here:

"Can India really claim to care about Palestine and Palestinian lives when its economic ties with Israel directly harm them?" @chintanwriting.bsky.social on how India’s position on Israel–Palestine is determined by a careful calibration of geopolitical ties:

I think my art will improve and I’ll feel happier with my art if I get out of the mindset of whether it “looks right” and instead focus on what feels right

I enjoyed my first visit to Kozhikode for the Kerala Literature Festival 2025. Here's my report for Hindustan Times. (Edits: Manjula Narayan) www.hindustantimes.com/books/report...

🔮⏳ The year is 2500. How do you imagine Southasia will be hundreds of years from now? That is the theme of this year’s Himal Fiction Fest, which we are hosting from 9-20 June. Our deadline for submissions is 1 April.

I interviewed Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo about her book Poor Economics for Kids, illustrated by Cheyenne Olivier and published by Juggernaut Books, for Business Standard. We met at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. (Edits: Veenu Sandhu) www.business-standard.com/economy/inte...

I am glad to have written this piece for @himalmag.bsky.social with excellent editorial support from @romangtm.bsky.social and @shwethasrikanthan.bsky.social. It is always so gratifying to work with them because they nudge me towards clarity and sharpness.

"The driving force behind India’s Israel–Palestine policy right now is Modi and his BJP, but the long-term trajectory of India’s engagement on the issue shows that the Indian state may not untangle itself from Israel anytime soon." Chintan Girish Modi:

Hello! I've just signed up and I'm excited to be here to share my work, meet some wonderful folks and learn new things in a digital environment that is hopefully safe, friendly and inclusive.