The Lights of Shantinagar

'Refreshing, emotionally aware and astutely narrated ... storytelling at its most novel' Saurabh Sharma, queer writer and cultural critic

‘Vivid, engaging and truthful’ Shelley Weiner, acclaimed novelist and journalist

'Wise and wonderfully observant, The Lights of Shantinagar illuminates the lives of women on the cusp of change' Sara Lippmann, author of Jerks

'A beautiful tale, beautifully told on the physics of family. Nidhi's prose is utterly charming and intelligent in equal measure. An eloquent new voice' Zahra Barri, author of Daughters of the Nile

'Nidhi Arora is an incandescent writer. Sensory and meditative, her writing is infused with the gift of attention and illuminated with gentle insights. Nidhi is both a student and a master of the moment. The Lights of Shantinagar is intensely meditative and draws the reader into its own world, offering acceptance and insights that sparkle' Natasha Badhwar, author of My Daughters' Mum

Aspiring quantum physicist Sumi is newly married and has moved into her husband’s family home. Here she observes that the beguilingly tranquil middle-class town of Shantinagar is not very different from her beloved quantum world: the happenings in one house are cryptically entangled with those next door, objects mysteriously disappear and unexpected interactions reveal surprising truths.

As the line between right and wrong begins to blur, new discoveries force the residents of Shantinagar to reflect on what they truly know about themselves and the ones they love. Meanwhile, Sumi must blend logic with love to make sense of her new circumstances.

The Lights of Shantinagar is a warm and lively portrait of family life set in modern India where new philosophies are reshaping old traditions and one woman’s astute observations can change everything.