Sujata Bhatt's anthology "Brunizem" was published in 1988. |
She was born in Ahmedabad, India, and later moved to Pune with her parents. |
Her close-knit extended family played a significant role in her upbringing. |
Inspired by her grandfather and uncles, who were writers, she chose to pursue writing. |
Since childhood, she has been known for storytelling among her siblings, cousins, and friends. |
Sujata began telling stories in Gujarati and later wrote poems in English. |
At five, she moved to New Orleans due to family financial issues, returning to Pune at age eight. |
By twelve, she moved to Connecticut for her education, as her father wanted her to study science. |
Despite studying science initially, she later pursued philosophy due to her passion for literature and poetry. |
To read Sartre and Lorca in their native languages, she learned French and German in college. |
One of her famous poems, 'Search for My Tongue,' was influenced by her meeting with Swami Anand. |
Apart from "Brunizem," she published several other collections on various themes. |
Her poetry delved into women's experiences with childbirth, pregnancy, and desires. |
Sujata translated Gujarati poems into English for the Penguin Anthology of Indian Women Poets. |
Her work was performed by dance companies in the UK, Scotland, and Hong Kong. |
Her literary works have been translated into over 20 languages worldwide. |
She has traveled extensively and lived in Europe, the US, and India. |
Sujata believes her need to become a poet stemmed from being away from her homeland. |