Amruta Kaustubh Kumbhalkar is an accomplished author with a rich tapestry of educational and professional experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics from Mumbai University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication Studies from the Xavier Institute of Communications, and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) from Cambridge University.
This diverse educational background has equipped her with a unique blend of technical, communicative, and teaching skills, all of which she channels into her writing.
Amruta’s professional journey is as varied as her educational one. She has worked in Building Automation with Johnson Controls India, edited scientific research papers at Cactus Communications, developed content for e-learning at Tata Interactive Systems, and contributed to e-commerce content writing for Groupon and 24/7.
Additionally, she has taught English to adults at Kings Learning and now offers private lessons. Currently, she dedicates her time to writing books, a passion that has been a constant thread throughout her diverse career.
Currently residing in Bangalore with her husband, in-laws, and a collection of beautiful fish, Amruta balances her professional pursuits with her personal interests. One of her significant interests outside of writing is astrology. She is currently pursuing an online Post Graduate Diploma course in Vedic Astrology from MCVA, Udaipur, formalizing a long-held passion.
Amruta’s literary influences include renowned authors like Ruskin Bond, Gerald Durrell, R.K. Narayan, and Linda Goodman. Her favourite books reflect her diverse tastes: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, Sun Signs by Linda Goodman, and the unforgettable The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. Gerald Durrell stands out as her favourite author, whose works continue to inspire her own writing.
Her goal as an author is ambitious yet heartfelt: to touch the hearts and minds of millions of young readers, kindling a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. Amruta dreams of reaching at least 4 billion people in her lifetime, fostering an inclusive relationship with nature through her stories.
Amruta’s debut book, Wildhood Awakened, transports readers to the 1990s, where 12-year-old Suraj Thakur faces the challenges of moving from urban New Delhi to the rural landscapes near Chilika Lake in Orissa. The book is a heartfelt exploration of adapting to change and the wonders and dangers of nature, written in a style accessible to children aged 8 to 14 years.
Amruta is active on social media, where she engages with her readers and shares her journey. You can find her on Instagram (@amruta_kaustubh), Twitter (@authoramruta), and LinkedIn (Amruta Kaustubh Kumbhalkar).
We at bookGeeks had a lucky opportunity for a candid chat with the author. Here is what she has to say about her love for books, her writing, and all things literary.
| Tell us something about yourself. Who is Amruta as a person? What are her likes, and dislikes? |
| I’m curious, sensitive and a good listener. I love to enjoy whatever I’m doing. When I was in college, a friend’s mother once remarked, “You seem very quiet. But there is so much laughter in your eyes!” I hope she can say that about me even today. If an idea makes sense to me, I’ll pursue it and stick with it, no matter what. I finish whatever I set out to do. And I put my heart into it. To me, that’s the only way to do anything. I like to learn something new every day and grow. I value authenticity and meaningful relationships. Being an introvert, my close circle is small but the friendships have endured. I feel inspired being around people who are knowledgeable, open-minded, and passionate about what they do. Children hold a very special place in my heart. I feel a connection with animals too. Any unkindness or mistreatment of either makes me see red. |
| Tell us something about your work in the professional sphere, if any? Does it ever influence or inspire your writing? |
| My education and work experience have helped my writing in unexpected ways. I studied Electronics Engineering, which helped me to think in pictures and write in plain and concise language. I wasn’t always like that. Then I studied Mass Communication, which helped me to interview people and gather information for my book. While the book is a work of fiction, it is based on real life experiences of the people living there. And lastly, I have taught English to adults. So that makes me aware of language proficiency levels. I’m glad that most people belonging to different age groups found my book easy to read. |
| Your latest book, Wildhood Awakened is set in the 1990s. Can you tell us a little about it? What can the readers expect from book? |
| Wildhood Awakened is a story of a childhood in the wild. As I mentioned, it is a work of fiction based on true events and experiences of people living around the Chilika Lake in the early 1990s. The main character, twelve-year-old Suraj Thakur is suddenly awakened to a new reality when his family moves from their comfortable city life in Delhi to the remote town of Balugaon in Odisha. The government colony where they now live is actually the beginning of a forest. The town is situated around the Chilika Lake. So now he slowly experiences what it’s like to live so close to Nature. There are no shopping malls or fancy restaurants. He understands that he now shares the land with wild animals, birds, insects, critters, snakes… all kinds of creatures. In the forest area, there are frequent power outages. A wild animal could be lurking around somewhere. Sunny meets some local people too and he finds them mysterious and inspiring. He has two younger sisters whom he needs to always look out for. This is an environment where you need to be very alert and aware of your surroundings – all the time. But this is not something to fear. It’s about understanding that human beings are also part of Nature, not separate from it. A harmonious coexistence is important. Every creature in the forest from the tiniest worm to the largest animal is performing its role in the food chain. That’s why they all matter. Overall, Wildhood Awakened takes you back to quieter times with fewer choices and small joys. There are many stories to share. So, one book is not enough! 🙂 |
| The juxtaposition of city life and life in the wilderness is a prominent theme in the book. What motivated you to explore this theme? |
| When I spoke to the people who had spent some years of their life near the Chilika Lake, I was amazed at how much they had enjoyed their childhood or teenage there. They quickly learned to adapt to life in a remote forest area. Even today, as adults, they adapt very quickly to their environment. I see this as a valuable life skill. These are in fact people who had lived in larger Indian cities before. As they narrated their experiences of, I couldn’t help but feel that as city dwellers, we live very comfortable and sheltered lives. We are spoiled for choice. That could be one of the reasons for boredom and depression. Having no connection with the natural world can feel lonely. Given our busy schedules and demanding jobs, I wonder how many of us actually have the time or inclination to tell our children about our own childhood and teenage years. Perhaps if we did, the children may able to connect with us better. My own nephew who is three years old was very fascinated by their stories. He prefers to hear stories of wild animals over fairy tales. We live and work in cities now. But not all of us grew up in big cities. Many of us grew up in smaller cities and quiet towns. Let’s celebrate that! I also thought that if those people could adapt as children, it’s possible that children today may also be able to connect with Nature if they are exposed to such experiences from time to time. |
| Wildhood Awakened beautifully captures the sights and sounds of nature. How did you approach writing these sensory experiences? |
| Some of this comes from personal experience of passing through or visiting forest areas. And some of it comes from watching nature documentaries, reading books on the natural world and talking to the people who lived near the Chilika Lake. They had vivid memories of these natural sights and sounds. I simply immersed myself in their stories and tried to put their memories into words. Fortunately, that paid off! |
| How do you envision the impact of Wildhood Awakened on young readers? |
| I would like my young readers to look at forests and wildlife with a sense of wonder and inclusion. Just like them, the main character Suraj Thakur has been a city dweller - as were the people whose life experiences the book is based on. The idea was to give young readers a glimpse of what life in the wilderness can be like. It’s a different reality from the urban reality. It’s also very different from visiting a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. Here you need to live in harmony with wildlife. In the course of writing this book I discovered how much these experiences had shaped the lives of the children who grew up there. Somewhere the understanding that you are a part of a larger web of life can put things in perspective. Then you don’t have to teach them separately to protect forests and conserve wildlife because it becomes part of their life. So, protecting and conserving it comes naturally. Every creature, from the tiniest earthworm to the jackals and the big cats, is playing its part in the food chain. Without them all, human life is not sustainable. Rich, healthy soil and rekindling our connection with the earth is very important for a healthy and happy life. The understanding that even without too many choices and not as many comforts, you can still be happy because there is so much to explore! Also, you have to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Not afraid, just aware. In such an environment people also need to look out for each other, help each other. Life becomes easier that way. |
| What challenges do you face as a writer, and how do you overcome them? |
| When I started writing this book, I realised that a topic like this one has its own realities, vocabulary and range of emotional experiences. So apart from talking to people, it’s important to immerse yourself in literature of that kind. This is my first book. So, I often struggled with finding the right beginning of each chapter. But I continued to write whatever came to mind. And I found that reading or listening to unrelated but interesting topics allows my brain to relax and think better. I also attended some writing sessions where I went with an outline of my chapter and then wrote in free flow for an hour or more. That’s when I understood that even creativity needs structure. Another challenge was sticking with deadlines. It can be stressful but I had to keep in mind that this is not my only book. So, I should not worry about perfection. It’s important to get things done in time. Even if I think my book is perfect today, I may not think so tomorrow. So, perfection will come with practice. I also kept telling myself that unless I enjoyed writing my book, my reader would not enjoy it either. So, I made sure I had a lot of fun in the process. The last one of course is marketing! And I believe I’m not alone. I’m seeing now that it’s not enough to just get my book out there. It’s equally important to stand behind it. That’s necessary for your readers to trust you. Sales and marketing can be stressful too. What the audience wants to read about is most important. Given the times we live in, I felt this book needs to be written. So, I went ahead and wrote Wildhood-Awakened. And I hope that through platforms like bookGeeks it will reach more readers. |
| Are there any themes or topics you are particularly drawn to as a writer? |
| I’m drawn towards the natural world and human nature. While I was studying at Xavier Institute of Communication, I wrote a short story called “Of Birds and Bees” which was also based on childhood memories in my grandfather’s garden. It was about pollination. The story was featured in the college magazine and my professors and colleagues enjoyed it. They said it was so vivid that it could be made into a film. I wrote another story about people suffering from Alzheimer’s. That was appreciated too. I remember, even as a child, I was always fascinated by cartoons based on forest themes. The Jungle Book, The Smurfs, The Berenstain Bears, and The Yearling. At present I’m learning Vedic astrology, which is also connected with nature. So, you never know! Someday I could write a book based on that too. |
| One quote that never fails to inspire you. |
| Our very own “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family). And that includes animals, birds, marine life, insects, plants and microbial life. Human well-being is not separate from the well-being of all these creatures. |
| A few words for bookGeeks |
| bookGeeks is an absolute delight to work with! Professional, passionate about books…and it’s got that personal touch. Your blogs are delightful. Please continue doing what you are doing. We love your work. |
You can buy Wildhood Awakened: Stories of a Childhood near Chilika Lake by Amruta Kaustubh using the link below.
