Crossroads: Stories from South Indian Lives

This first book of fiction by Padmini Natarajan is a collection of stories mostly about Tamil Brahmin lives. It tells the tales of South Indian middle class families and individuals trying to harmoniously bridge traditions with modern day lives and demands. The stories reflect the changes and adaptations that people have introduced into work-life balances, gender issues and community living. The stories are vignettes featuring hot topics about cleaning up neighbourhoods, young love and senior citizen yearnings, love marriages and arranged ones, about relocating cities, single women angst, family and corporate life..a kaleidoscope of the colours of urban living. Some of the stories have been published over the years in various magazines and web sites; others are new tales. About the Author: Padmini Natarajan is a story-teller, poet, columnist, blogger, editor and journalist contributing to Chennai newspapers, national magazines and websites. She has specialized as a Culinary Editor and explored the lives and kitchens of the Tanjore and Palghat Brahmins and contributed content and edited and collaborated on Cookbooks. She won the Gourmand Special Jury Award in Paris in 2009 as co-author of Classic Tamil Brahmin Cuisine. She has been a teacher and worked in the field of Education in various capacities. Her other passion was acting on Tamil and English stage and in Indian cinema, ads and TV. She is a wordsmith, a voracious reader, crossword buff, a music maniac who listens to Golden Oldies and has a strong Facebook presence. Nowadays she is an armchair activist and world traveller from the safety of her home.