Selected journalism & essays

Publications

Reporting, criticism, interviews, and essays on literature, culture, society, and the environment.

The HinduAUG 07, 2026Why Kashmiri artist Azim Hassan paints home, memory and loss from China

Outlook IndiaFEB 21, 2026The Audience Is Present

SAR-CLIMATEFEB 20, 2025High-altitude Adaptation: Climate Change in India’s Palani Hills

Times of IndiaMAR 30, 2024What a hit film can teach us about saving our hill stations

Down To EarthMAY 13, 2023The ripple effect: A report from Kodai's beloved lake

Scroll.inJUL 18, 2021On top of the world: How writers seek solace in hill station literature

LivemintMAY 16, 2021Rediscovering home in the pandemic

New InternationalistAPR 06, 2021Scientific internationalism

Foreign PolicyMAR 25, 2021China's Vaccine Diplomacy Is a Mixed Bag

The CaravanNOV 01, 2020COVID-19 denial spreads to India

The CaravanJUL 15, 2020A travelling exhibition celebrates Muslim women pioneers of the twentieth century

Foreign PolicyJUL 10, 2020China-India Border Closing Threatens Businesses

South China Morning PostJUN 16, 2020Missing China': Indian expatriates stranded by coronavirus

Open MagazineAPR 03, 2020Return to the Magic Mountain

Mumbai MirrorMAR 01, 2020Once upon a crime

Open MagazineDEC 11, 2019Runs in the Family

Open MagazineSEP 20, 2019Margaret Atwood: The New Testament

Open MagazineJUL 05, 2019Elif Shafak: 'I defend a pluralistic, liberal democracy'

Open MagazineMAR 06, 2019Nayantara Sahgal: Dissenting Note

Al JazeeraJAN 13, 2019Months after devastating floods, Kerala residents wait for help

CNN TravelJAN 01, 2019Two weeks in India

Open MagazineOCT 18, 2018Anita Desai: Insider Outsider

The HinduDEC 02, 2016On the brink of change

Open MagazineAPR 16, 2015A Higher Place

Open MagazineAPR 15, 2015The Absent Traveller

Open MagazineMAR 18, 2015Love, Sex and the City

Open MagazineMAR 13, 2015Remembering Suzette Jordan

The SpectatorJAN 01, 2015Our Revolutions: The Great Indian JLF

The SpectatorJAN 01, 2015The Way Forward: India's Publishing Boom and Its Authors

Open MagazineOCT 29, 2014Bards of the Desert

Open MagazineOCT 03, 2014Turning a new page

Open MagazineSEP 03, 2014The Return of Raja Rao

Open MagazineAUG 14, 2014“Let there be diversity in political expression”

Open MagazineJUN 12, 2014Upgrade downgrade

LivemintAUG 01, 2012Presidential Wheels: Living la vida limo

The CaravanJUL 01, 2012Making It

New York TimesNOV 30, 2011Life in Limbo for Chin Refugees

The NationalJUN 19, 2010The Gulf Wives of Kerala