1.8: Arshia Sattar – India’s Best Ramayana Scholar

Find Out Why The Ramayana Has Fascinated Her For Over Three Decades.Tara and Michelle speak to Arshia Sattar – writer, translator, editor and founder of Sangam House, a writing residency. We talk about mythology, religion and narrative. We discuss perspective, retellings and originality. We discuss our favourite characters, the importance of perspective and its modern-day implications. We discuss gender and feminism – and how its portrayal must adapt to the changing times. We talk about Sangam House and how it came into creation. We also talk about objectivity, research and authenticity – how do you keep your retelling authentic to both yourself and the original text? Why translation? Why the Ramayana? What do translation and swimming have in common? What does Arshia’s writing desk look like? Tune in to find out!'Books and Beyond with Bound' is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D'costa talk to some of the best writers in India and find out what makes them tick.Arshia Sattar is an Indian translator, facilitator, author, and director. Sattar obtained her PhD in South Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago in 1990. Her translations from Sanskrit, The Ramayana of Valmiki and Tales from the Kathasaritsagara, have been published as Penguin Classics. She has also written books for children, including The Adventures of Hanuman. She is the founder of Sangam House, India’s most prestigious writing residency.You can get your copy of her books here: https://www.amazon.in/Books-Arshia-Sattar/s?rh=n%3A976389031%2Cp_27%3AArshia+SattarTune in every Wednesday for a new episode.Follow Bound on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @boundindiaFollow our podcast on Instagram: @boundpodcastsYou can check out our website at https://www.boundindia.com/podcast/Applications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.Cohort size: 50 seatsFirst round of acceptances: 15th June 2026Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.