Archives: Authors

Sima Taparia has been a matchmaker since 2005 and resides in Mumbai. With more than two decades of experience in the matchmaking field, Sima’s expertise lies in understanding her clients’ preferences, cultural backgrounds, and personal values, enabling her to make a compatible match. Her documentary A Suitable Girl won an award at the Tribeca Film festival in 2017, and Sima stars on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated hit reality show Indian Matchmaking, which portrays the Indian values that have been an important part of her culture for thousands of years. She is also featured on Netflix’s Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and Bigg Boss.

Dr Viju Jacob is the executive chairman of Synthite Industries Pvt. Ltd., the world’s largest producer of value-added spice extracts, powders, essential oils, natural flavours, and fragrances. A member of a distinguished family of Indian industrialists and philanthropists, he joined the business in 1983, bringing over 40 years of expertise to the spice industry. Under his leadership, Synthite expanded globally, diversified into hospitality, realty, and renewable energy, and championed sustainable sourcing benefiting thousands of farmers. Holding a PhD in Business Management from the University of Colombo, Dr Jacob continues to represent Indian spices on the world stage.

Kalyani Patnaik is an acclaimed educator and dynamic school leader who has received many awards to her credit as best principal and woman of substance. She was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Educational Excellence by the Indo-European Excellence Award. She spearheaded several initiatives, her favourites being the Creative Writing and Reading Club, TEDx, and the HFS MUN, held exclusively and with a different class every year. An advocate of cultural integration and heritage, she recently initiated a global culture club named Virasat, aimed at nurturing cross-cultural appreciation among students. Having travelled extensively across India and the world, Kalyani Patnaik brings global perspectives and best practices into her educational philosophy, enriching her institution and the communities she serves.

Prabhudas Gandhi (1901–1995), grandnephew of Mahatma Gandhi, and son of Chhaganlal Gandhi, was a Gujarati writer, translator and Gandhian activist. Spending his childhood at Phoenix Ashram in South Africa, he absorbed Gadhian ideals of satyagraha, service and simplicity early on. Returning to India in 1914, he studied at Gurukul Kangadi and Shantiniketan, before joining Kochrab Ashram as one of its first inmates. He participated in major movements—Champaran, Bardoli, Quit India—and was repeatedly imprisoned. His works include Jivan nu Parodh, which was awarded the Narmad Suvarna Chandrak in 1948. His life reflected Gandhian values in action—literature, reform and service.

SAJITHA MADATHIL is a writer, and film and theatre actor, and writer.