Sharjah Book Fair 2025: How two 22-year-old authors chronicled India's tribal heart in their debut book

Dubai: At just 22 years old, Niranjana Sunil and Arya Kulkarni have achieved something remarkable: a published book that's turning heads.

Their debut, Later, They Invited Us Home, launched at the Sharjah International Book Fair, and it's received much praise, including from a Hollywood writer.

What started as a university graduation project became an extraordinary year-long journey across India, living with three indigenous tribal communities. The result is a meticulously crafted travelogue combining poetry, prose, sketches, illustrations and photographs all created by the duo themselves.

The two young women, both studying in India, travelled to Wayanad in Kerala, Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, and North Sikkim, spending time with the Paniyar, Baiga and Lepcha communities. For Niranjana, a UAE resident, and Arya, the shift from comfortable university life was jarring.

"We had stayed in air-conditioned hostel rooms with food served to us three times a day," Niranjana recalls. The sweltering heat in some regions and bone-chilling cold in others tested them physically, but the emotional challenges were even more complex, as they constantly worried about overstepping boundaries and making others uncomfortable.

The book's title holds the key to their breakthrough. Initially, they arrived with notebooks full of questions, eager for answers. The communities sensed the eagerness and withdrew. Everything changed when they stopped trying so hard.

"Eventually we just started sitting around them, being around them, and let conversations flow naturally," explains Niranjana. "This made them open up to us more."

Tea invitations followed. Then lunch. Then afternoons spent in people's yards, watching children play, observing daily life unfold naturally. The tribal communities weren't subjects that these two were studying, they were people to learn from.

The lessons ran deep. In cities, they were familiar with sustainability initiatives. However, witnessing how these communities cared for nature was entirely different.

"The way these people care for nature, it's like caring for a little sibling," they write. "It's so raw and grounded, it's hard not to be moved."

A few themes that the book explores are environment, nature, people, belonging, expression, and human condition.

Perhaps surprisingly, their most profound moments came during technical failures. No mobile range. No WiFi. No way to contact home. Instead of panic, they found clarity.

"Some of the best ideas I got were when I sat with my thoughts for longer periods of time," reflects Arya.

Completing the book in just one year was no small feat. The pair juggled multiple roles, interviewing in languages they weren't fully fluent in, taking photographs, recording audio, shooting video, all while taking detailed notes. Nights were spent transferring files and charging equipment.

"Ironically, writing the book was not really the hard part," admits Niranjana. "Our experience was so magical that everything just poured out of us."

What proved difficult was curation, deciding which sections went where, maintaining authenticity whilst creating a cohesive narrative. They credit their complementary skills: Arya brought emotion, Niranjana brought structure.

The book's impact is already being felt. Matt Witten, writer for acclaimed series including House and Law & Order, purchased a copy, calling it "lovely."

However, for the authors, the real goal is accessibility. They plan to sell the book at lower prices in India, making it affordable for anyone seeking comfort in our fast-paced world.

Their message to readers is simple but profound: disconnect from screens, look at the people around you, watch the sunset, and sit with your thoughts.

"When you put yourself out there and take initiative, many people will be there to help and support you," says Arya. "Do things that are personal to you, things that matter to you."

At 22, they've learnt what many spend lifetimes discovering: That writing a book isn't really about writing a book at all. It's about being brave enough to step into discomfort, open enough to receive what strangers offer, and patient enough to let magic unfold naturally.

The writer is a trainee at Gulf News.