Hello, I’m Prasanta. I’m a writer, poet, artist, photographer, and mom of three fabulous kids. I write about culture, identity, race, and belonging. Most days, you can find me reading or writing, with a cup of chai in hand. When it’s warm and everything is blooming outdoors, you may find me out on a walk with a camera in hand.

I was born under an Asian sun, raised in the Appalachian foothills surrounded by emerald hills, and currently live in the Midwest, staying warm indoors while snow piles up outside. I generally consider the south “home,” as it is where I spent most of my formative years, and where I feel most connected to the land, but the answer is truly complex and layered.

I no longer have my southern accent, but make no mistake, it comes right back when I talk to someone from the south. Ever hear an Indian girl with a southern accent? Come on over to my front porch. I’ll make you chai or coffee (I like that, too), and we’ll talk about all the things. More than anything, I like to move out of small talk and get real and honest, and dive into talking about what truly matters.

I write about culture, identity, belonging, race, and what it feels like to be an outsider. I didn’t read a book by an Indian American or anyone like me until I was grown, and didn’t have a friend like me, who was born in India but had grown up in the U.S., until I was an adult. I often felt like I was straddling between two cultures, seeking belonging and acceptance.

I occasionally write about parenting, food allergies, and the intersection between science and spirituality, too. I call myself a life-long learner because there is so much to know in this amazing, broken, and beautiful world, so much I don’t know, and am eager to learn. I wrote my first poem when I was in first grade, and never stopped writing. You may find some poems sprinkled now and then on these pages here.

I care about people, about you, about the issues of our day, and speaking up about them. If I say you are my friend, then I am your friend, and will stand by you. I look forward to walking alongside you through these pages and sharing some of this journey with you here at The Mudroom.

Click here for a piece I wrote for The Mudroom a few years ago, called “See, Say, Spell, Repeat.”

You can also connect with me on my website, Twitter, or Instagram.