Namita Gokhale

Namita Gokhale Biography

Namita Gokhale is an Indian English writer from Lucknow, UP who has authored books like A Himalayan Love Story, The Book of Shadows, Shakuntala, the play of memory, Paro: Dreams of Passion, The Book of Shiva, In Search of Sita – Revisiting Mythology, Gods Graves and Grandmother and Mountain Echoes. The novel Priya: In Incredible Indyaa and collection of short stories, The Habit of Love are her recent works.  Gokhala is also a publisher; Namita Gokhale editions, a signature imprint published in association with Roli Books.

Gokhale conceptualised the International Festival of Indian Literature, Neemrana 2002, and also The Africa Asia Literary Conference, 2006. She is currently the member-secretary of Indian Literature Abroad, an initiative by Ministry of Culture, Government of India to translate and promote contemporary Indian literature to other foreign languages. She has published 6 novels, some collection of short stories and several non-fiction works. All her works are in English language.

She was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 1956. She spent her childhood days at Delhi and Nainital. She got married to Rajiv Gokhale when she was eighteen. Following a conflict over the bias against Indian literatures in the curriculum, Gokhale discontinued her studies. Later she published articles with the film magazine “Super” of Mumbai. Her first novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, was of satire genre published in the year 1984. ‘Gods Graves and Grandmother’ told about street life in Delhi.

She lost her husband at a younger age. She was in her middle 30’s when Gokhale was diagnosed of cancer. A Himalayan Love Story, The Book of Shadows and Shakuntala, the play of memory belong to such memories of Namita. Along with the author, William Dalrymple she founded Jaipur Literature Festival in 2006 and she remained its director. She is currently the member-secretary of Indian Literature Abroad (ILA).

Published: N/A

Updated: December 24, 2013