BIOGRAPHY

My career as an author started in 1997 when my first book, The Walled City, was published by East West Books, Madras. Till then I had been a sculptor, an art critic for leading English dailies and a professor of the history of art. The Walled city, which has so far been translated into French and Gujarati, brought in much of the imagery that I had practiced as a visual artist and received critical acclaim. This was the story of three generations of Bene Israel Jewish women living in the city of Ahmedabad, India.

The book was translated into French by Sonia Terangle titled La Ville en ses Murs, and published by Editions Philippe Picquier.

Second edition released in 2004. The French version was also shortlisted for the Premier Liste de Prix Femina in France. In Gujarati, it was translated by Renuka Sheth.

In the USA, the novel has been republished by Syracuse University Press in 2002. At Syracuse university press USA, I am listed in the Library of Modern Jewish Literature. Book of Esther, taught in the course of Gender and Literature Post-colonial South Asia and beyond, at department of English, George Washington University. USA. 2004.

MY FATHER's ZOO was written on the life of my father Reuben David. It is dedicated to my father Reuben and mother Sarah. My daughter Amrita is a film maker in France. Son Robin is a journalist with Times of India and has written a book CITY OF FEAR. Son in law Nathaniel is a journalist with Le Monde in Paris and I am a grandmother of two grandchildren.

OTHER WRITINGS
Co-ordinated MEET Review No. 6, titled New Delhi-Bucharest, on Indian Literature in 2002, for the Maison des Ecrivains et des Traducteurs, St. Nazaire, France.
Extracts from Book of Esther, published in French in Les Annals de Villa Mont Noir, Centre Departmental de Residence d’Ecrivains Europeens, France. 2001.
Extract from By The Sabarmati in French published in Globe Memoires, 2000.
Extract from Book of Rachel, translated in French for a catalogue published by the French ministry of culture and
Salon de Livre, Paris, for a conference of Indian writers Les Belles Etrangers in 2002.

WRITER IN RESIDENCE
I was writer in residence at Villa Mont Noir, France in1999-2000 and at St. Nazaire, France 2001-2002 where I co-ordinated a review magazine on Indian literature for Maison des ecrivains et Traducteurs.
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