Shikha (Saklani) Malaviya dwells between the possibilities of multiple cultures, histories, languages and genres. Born in England, raised in Minnesota and India, she is a poet, writer, and publisher. Her latest book, Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems (HarperCollins India), reimagines the groundbreaking journey of India’s first female physician and the first Indian woman to study medicine in the US in the 19th century. Longlisted for the KLF Poetry Prize and named a Hindustan Times New Reads Pick, it was also featured in Open Magazine, Mint Lounge, Hindustan Times Podcast and more. Her earlier collection, Geography of Tongues, explores themes of immigrant identity and belonging. Shikha’s poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and featured in Prairie Schooner, PLUME, Catamaran, SWWIM and other distinguished journals. She is co-founder of The (Great) Indian Poetry Collective, curator at the South Asian Literature & Arts Festival, a Mosaic America Fellow, and a member of The Writers Grotto. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

When she’s not writing, Shikha loves to watch quirky mysteries, pull weeds from her native garden, walk her little dog with ears that look like satellite dishes and drink chai with an obscene amount of ginger.