Editorial: Fiction – ULR Issue 14, Witness
Stories collectively unveil how tyranny and pervasive surveillance subtly deform individual lives,…
Read more →The Matchbox – September ’24: Editorial – Keki Daruwalla, In Memoriam
A large notebook, a schoolgirl's memory of a border, and a void that cannot be filled — Smita Sahay opens this tribute to Keki Daruwalla.
Keki Daruwalla leaves behind a profound impact—both through his accomplished literary works as well as personal connections. He was not only a poet but also a man who embodied fairness, compassion and empathy. His kindness and generosity were legendary; he took time to nurture young talent, encouraging them to find their voices.
The last time I saw him, I had got him a rather large notebook, requesting him to start writing his autobiography. Amused at the size of the notebook he had remarked, “Yes, that should be able to contain it!”. I forgot to tell him that I had studied Love Across the Salt Desert as a schoolgirl, and that it had forever changed the way I perceived the India-Pakistan border. Or love.
Writers share some of their favourite memories in their tributes below as they come to terms with the throbbing void Keki leaves behind
Smita Sahay
Smita Sahay served as Associate Editor for 'Veils, Halos & Shackles: International Poetry on the Oppression and Empowerment of Women'. Her works have appeared in national and international journals, newspapers and anthologies. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Usawa Literary Review, and the Poetry Editor for SPEAK, the Magazine. A visiting faculty of Creative Writing at Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, she is an ISB alumna, class of 2015. A survivor of C-PTSD, she is also the founder and Somatic therapist at Calm Space Healing, a trauma-informed therapy and healing practice.