Archives: Authors

Ashok Ferrey is the author of seven books, all of them variously nominated for the Gratiaen Prize (Sri Lanka’s premier literary prize), the State Literary Award and the DSC Prize. His last book, The Unmarriageable Man, went on to win the Gratiaen. His first book, Colpetty People, remains Sri Lanka’s top-selling book twenty years after its first publication. Former host of The Ashok Ferrey Show on Sri Lankan television, Ashok builds and renovates houses and is the only non-architect to have been nominated for a Geoffrey Bawa Award for Architectural Excellence – for his last building the Cricket Café in Colombo.

Born in Colombo, raised in East Africa, educated at a Benedictine monastery in the wilds of Sussex, Ashok Ferrey read Pure Maths at Christ Church Oxford, ending up (naturally) in Brixton, converting Victorian houses during the Thatcher Years.
He describes himself as a failed builder, indifferent mathematician, barman and personal trainer to the rich and infamous. His earlier Colpetty People and The Good Little Ceylonese Girl as well as Serendipity were shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize, Sri Lanka’s premier literary award.
Today Ferrey continues to design houses, and is a guest lecturer at the Sri Lanka Institute of Architecture. His hobbies include pushing the car when it’s out of petrol and de-ticking the dogs. Oh, and vegetable shopping at Raheema’s.

Gail Omvedt has an MA and PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been living in India since 1978, and was a senior fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. Among her numerous books focusing on social and economic issues are Buddhism in India (2003), Dalit Visions (1995), Dalits and the Democratic Revolution (1994), Reinventing Revolution (1993) and Cultural Revolt in a Colonial Society (1966). She has also collaborated with Bharat Patnakar in translations from the Marathi into English.

Ashok Ferrey is the author of five books, all of them nominated either for Sri Lanka’s Gratiaen Prize or its State Literary Award. His last book, The Ceaseless Chatter of Demons, was also longlisted for the DSC Prize. By day, he is a personal trainer.

Pankaj Bhadouria is the winner of MasterChef India Season 1. A school teacher who quit a job of sixteen years to participate in the first season of the show, she has hosted the TV shows Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka, Kifayati Kitchen, 3 Course with Pankaj, Rasoi se-Pankaj Bhadouria ke Saath Sales Ka Baazigar and Health in 100. She was the first MasterChef winner across the global franchise to write an official MasterChef cookbook. Pankaj has written two more cookery books, Barbie: I am a Chef and Chicken from My Kitchen.
Pankaj is the face of the brands Knorr, Brooke Bond Taaza (HUL), MasterChef Travels with Cox and Kings and Eastern Masalas, a leading spice brand from south India.
In August 2012, she launched the Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy where she shares her love for the culinary arts with cooking enthusiasts, indulging in what she does best-teaching.

Sanjana Kapur is an author and editor with over fifteen years of experience in children’s publishing. She has written several books for children, including the award-winning Who Stole Bhaiya’s Smile? Sanjana has also hosted quiz shows and children’s events in schools across India. She makes futile attempts to make sense of the world but ends up making baba ganoush instead.

Aparna Kapur talks fast but writes slowly. Her recent books include What the Dark Sounds Like (illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi) and I Won’t Wash My Hair (illustrated by Ogin Nayam). She loves ice cream.

Fali S. Nariman is a leading constitutional expert and a practising lawyer. He is the president emeritus of the Bar Association of India.

Anna has twenty years’ experience in developmental work, counselling, coaching and mentoring. She is the first Certified Training and Supervising Transactional Analyst from Asia accredited to the International Transactional Analysis Association with a specialisation in counselling. Anna is also certified in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Art Therapy. She practices counselling privately and has worked with leading organizations like Titan Watches, NDTV, First Source Solutions, 247 Customer Ltd, WNS and with Catalyst Management Systems as a consultant.
Anna is also trained and certified in Mind, Body, Work. She has trained with Dr Brian Weiss and Louise Hay in Mind-Body Healing Work.
She currently works with Titan Watches, Mahindra Retail, LG Software, Foodworld Ltd, Health and Glow Ltd, Arvind Mills and Indian Institute for Human Settlements. Anna is the chairperson of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, a not for profit organisation, founded by actress Deepika Padukone, spreading awareness on mental health and offering support.