Chanakya's Scribe

Sumedha Verma Ojha, author, translator, columnist, speaker and cultural activist was born in Patna and went to school in Bihar and Jharkhand. She studied at Delhi University and joined the Indian Civil Services in 1992 but switched careers after a sabbatical in 2006 and now writes, speaks and lectures across the world with a focus on Indian and US universities. She is engaged in research on ancient Indian History, Sanskrit and Prakrit works with a focus on a gendered understanding of the past. Her books include the Urnabhih historical fiction series set in Mauryan India which has been picked up for turning into a movie and a 2016 translation of the Valmiki Ramayana. She also works in the area of conservation of cultural heritage with a focus on the intangible heritage of oral traditions. The Los Angeles Library system has accredited her as an author and part of its South Asian outreach. She contributes articles on history and culture to many newspapers and and also works as a media consultant providing inputs in ancient Indian history. She lives in Geneva, Switzerland, with her husband.