Works
- Chowdhary, Zara (2024). The Lucky Ones. Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0593727430.
Zara Chowdhary | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chennai, India |
| Occupation | Writer, producer, educator |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | University of Leeds (MA) Iowa State University (MFA) |
| Genre | Memoir, creative nonfiction |
| Notable works | The Lucky Ones |
| Notable awards | Shakti Bhatt Prize (2025) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Zara Chowdhary is an Indian writer, producer, and educator. Her debut memoir, The Lucky Ones , was published in 2024 and received critical acclaim. She is the winner of the 2025 Shakti Bhatt Prize.
Chowdhary was born in Chennai, India. She earned a Master of Arts in Writing for Performance from the University of Leeds and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University. [1]
Before becoming a full-time writer and educator, Chowdhary worked in film, advertising, and media production for over a decade. Her work has been featured on Channel V, National Geographic India, and Turner Classic Movies. [1]
Chowdhary is currently a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she teaches courses in Hindi, South Asian cultures, protest poetry, and creative nonfiction. [1] [2] Her writing has been published in various anthologies and journals, including New Moons edited by Kazim Ali, Flyway Journal, and Cotton Xenomorph. [1]
Chowdhary's debut memoir, The Lucky Ones, was published by Crown Publishing Group in 2024. [3] The book is a personal account of her experience as a sixteen-year-old during the 2002 Gujarat riots. [4] The memoir explores themes of trauma, family, and the rise of Hindutva in India. [5]
The Lucky Ones received widespread critical acclaim. [6] It was named one of the ten best nonfiction books of 2024 by Time magazine, [7] [8] and was included in best-of-the-year lists by NPR, Esquire , and Ms. [8] [9] The book received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly . [3] [10]
In 2025, Chowdhary was awarded the final iteration of Shakti Bhatt Prize for The Lucky Ones. [4]
Chowdhary resides in Madison, Wisconsin, with her family. [2]
