Female Indian artists shine in this powerful mash-up episode from Season Six of the True Fiction Project! I’m Reenita Hora, your host, honoring the voices of female Indian artists who use writing to explore identity, culture, and creativity. From the sacred symbolism of the Narmada River to the reflections of Indian mixed-media artists like Laila Khan Furniturewalla, these stories reveal how words become art. We’ll explore themes of Indian cultural identity, resilience in art, and the historical depth of the Vermilion Harvest novel, shaped by the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. This collection of conversations of fiction and historical fiction highlights the brilliance of female Indian artists who write to empower and inspire.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How female Indian artists use storytelling to share culture, resilience, and creativity
The spiritual inspiration behind Narmada River rituals and its influence on artistic writing
Insights from Indian mixed media artists like Laila Khan Furniturewalla and her creative journey
How the Vermilion Harvest novel explores history through fiction, including the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy
Why celebrating Indian cultural identity through literature empowers communities and future generations
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to the True Fiction Project, focusing on female Indian artists from Season Six
02:15 Rachana Devidayal explains the creativity that flowed from the sacred Narmada River and other elements of her heritage
06:45 Laila Khan Furniturewalla, daughter of Pharaoh Khan, is an Indian mixed media artist who focuses on heritage and art. Hear Laila O Laila
14:23 Traci DeForge interviews Reenita’s publisher about her novel Vermillion Harvest Playtime at the Bagh, discussing how real life can inspire historical fiction
17:00 Excerpt from Vermillion Harvest Playtime at the Bagh about forbidden love and the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, read by Reenita Hora
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The introduction to the True Fiction Project highlights female Indian artists, storytelling, and Indian cultural identity
Rachana Devidayal shares her journey as a female Indian artist, inspired by the sacred Narmada River, rituals and resilience in art
💎 Laila Khan Furniturewalla, an Indian mixed media artist, reflects on heritage, creativity, and the legacy of female Indian artists
💎 Exploration of the Vermilion Harvest novel, its connection to the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, and the power of female Indian artists in historical fiction
ABOUT THE GUESTS:
Laila Khan Furniturewalla - Website
Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Reenita Malhotra Hora - Website
