About Namita Gokhale
Discover the Words, Stories, and Ideas That Define a Literary Life
Namita Gokhale is an acclaimed Indian author, publisher, and literary curator whose work spans fiction, non-fiction, mythology, history, and cultural commentary. With a writing career that began in 1984 with the groundbreaking novel Paro: Dreams of Passion, she has since authored sixteen celebrated books, carving a unique niche in the Indian literary landscape.
Gokhale’s fiction is known for its rich prose, layered narratives, and deep understanding of female agency, cultural memory, and spiritual inquiry. Her Himalayan trilogy, culminating in Things to Leave Behind, is hailed as a powerful meditation on identity and transformation against the backdrop of India’s shifting social order.
Author, Publisher, Literary Visionary
A Life in Literature
Namita Gokhale’s literary journey is as multidimensional as her work:
Author of Sixteen Books
From A Himalayan Love Story and The Book of Shadows to the mythological Shakuntala: The Play of Memory and The Book of Shiva, her writings span diverse genres and themes.
Champion of Myth, Memory & Modernity
She curates narratives that explore mythology, womanhood, and the shifting boundaries of time and belief.
Writer for All Ages
Her recent young adult novel, Lost in Time: Ghatotkacha and the Game of Illusions, introduces ancient Indian lore to a new generation of readers.
Publisher & Translator
As the founder-director of Yatra Books, Gokhale is a strong advocate of literary translation, bridging linguistic and cultural divides within India’s diverse reading public. Her work promotes regional voices and democratizes access to storytelling across boundaries.
Festival Curator & Cultural Leader
Namita Gokhale is a co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the world’s largest free literary gathering, celebrated for its democratic ethos and global reach. She is also the founder of Mountain Echoes, the Bhutan Literature Festival, where Himalayan cultures and contemporary literature converge.
Literary Impact
Her curated anthologies, such as In Search of Sita and Himalaya, bring together voices across generations and geographies to reflect on gender, spirituality, and place. The Himalayan Arc – East of South East, explores the literary and cultural dynamics of the eastern Himalayas and continues her commitment to diverse narratives.
Discover More
Namita Gokhale continues to write, edit, and speak at global literary platforms, inspiring new generations of writers and readers alike. Her work has left an indelible mark on India’s literary and cultural consciousness.
From Paro to Lost in Time: Tracing the Literary Journey of Namita Gokhale
Over the course of four decades, Namita Gokhale has carved an indelible space in…
How Namita Gokhale Helped Shape the Jaipur Literature Festival
The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) has been hailed as "the greatest literary show…
Inside the Himalayan Trilogy: Exploring Identity and History in Namita Gokhale’s Fiction
Acclaimed Indian author, publisher, and literary visionary Namita Gokhale has long…
Follow Her Journey, Voice, and Vision
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