Sreelekha Chatterjee is an award-winning writer, poet, and editor. She has a postgraduate degree in science from Calcutta University and is also a trained singer with a degree in music (Geeta Bharati). Through her creative writing, she delves into the countless facets of human experience and aims to capture the ordinary, often overlooked aspects of daily existence, transforming them into subjects of reflection. Her short stories have appeared in various national/international journals and magazines like Kitaab, Ink Pantry, York Literary Review, Borderless, Usawa Literary Review, Mad Swirl, SugarSugarSalt Magazine, and in numerous print and online anthologies such as Fate (Bitterleaf Books, UK), Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul series (Westland Ltd, India), Wisdom of Our Mothers (Familia Books, USA), and several others. Her poems and stories have been published in over 20 countries and translated into Korean and Romanian languages. She lives in New Delhi, India.

INTERVIEW

MG: What got you into writing fiction? 

SC: I was born and brought up in an environment where everyone used to read books. Right from the very beginning, the habit of reading was inculcated in me. I can’t pinpoint any single instance that inspired me to write. I guess it was the influence of the authors whose books I read, my family members, and also, the urge to be read that encouraged me to write. During my initial writing days, when I was in school, I would write poems and short plays. On holidays, my friends used to come over to my place, and we would enact those short plays with dramatic use of voice and record them. It used to be a lot of fun.

The incentive to write comes from somewhere inside, and the worldly inspirations embolden our words to be expressed in numerous creative ways. I believe authors get the motivation to write based on their level of consciousness, understanding, perception, and reaction to the daily events in their lives. With time, my level of maturity has changed as well as the necessity to respond to occurrences that need to be heard, and based on that, I started writing short stories, while continuing to write poems. Published widely, I have more than 100 short stories available in national and international journals, magazines, and anthologies.

MG: Tell us more about your short story "Where Dark and Light Coalesce." What inspired it? What makes it unique?

SC: Our lives are intricately designed with light and dark phases, triggering the dual nature of our existence, with both positive and negative experiences contributing toward our growth, resilience, and appreciation for life. The main character of the story experiences sorrow, loss, and challenges—both in his personal and professional arenas—looking for a sign from nature to choose the right path. Toward the end of the story, he emerges stronger with this newfound clarity.

Folklore transcends through generations in a very distinctive manner, stressing the importance of Mother Nature and that we are indissolubly connected. It is not a static collection of stories but a living tradition that educates on core values and the consequences of good versus bad decisions. The story reminds us that the phases of joy and sorrow are nothing but a part of a continuous cycle of change and growth.

MG: You are also a poet. How would you describe your poetry?

SC: For me, poetry is a spiritual practice, a religion that I believe in. It’s a hybrid style that combines contemporary and spiritual elements, offering a unique perspective on modern life.

MG: What poets and writers inspire you and why?

SC: As a child, I was introduced to the stories, poems, plays, and songs of Rabindranath Tagore. His impact as a prologue to the world of literature was profound. To date his work offers a gateway to spirituality, humanism, and lyrical beauty. Other writers like Jhumpa Lahiri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Kankana Basu, Ashapurna Devi, Alice Munro, Amitav Ghosh, Han Kang inspire me with their unique styles that explore complex human emotions and contemporary social and environmental issues. Every author—known or unknown—leaves a lasting impression on my mind, controlling my emotional journey and transforming me as an individual and a writer in the process.

MG: What are you currently working on?

SC: I am currently working on my poetry collection about the changing environmental scenario due to global warming and indiscriminate use of natural resources, massively affecting our lives.

MG: What’s the best writing advice you've ever received?

SC: Once I wrote a poem on Mother Teresa and was very fortunate to share it with her and receive her blessings. She asked me to continue writing to give joy to others. I wouldn’t call it writing advice but definitely a reason—a profound, lasting source of drive—that motivates me enough to write.

MG: Where can we find you online?

SC: You may connect with me on Facebook, X: @sreelekha001, Instagram: @sreelekha2023, and Bluesky: @sreelekha2024.

Read "Where Dark and Light Coalesce" by Sreelekha Chatterjee