The physical setting of my story—the South Indian State of Kerala—has been popularized by well-known English writers such as Shashi Tharoor, Dr Abraham Verghese, and, of course, Arundhati Roy. My story is not just set in Kerala; it is dedicated to the beautiful city of Kochi, a place so unique and charming that ancient mariners referred to her as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’.
How am I connected to the city, and how did it impact my story?
I was born in Kochi—then called Cochin—and went to school and college there. I worked there until I was 28, when I came to New York on a job transfer. Kochi is one of my favourite places on earth for multiple reasons: her natural beauty with backwaters, tall coconut palms, the cultural richness and the diversity of her people — to name a few. Growing up in a middle-class Hindu family with limited means, I got to walk all over the city, so I know the city like the back of my hand. Even after migrating to the US, the city and the people of Kochi have drawn me back almost every year.
For all the reasons listed above, I absolutely loved creating this story against the backdrop of Kochi.