Anu Menon, Juhi Pande, Meghna Pant & Neil Bhoopalam
Anu Menon, Juhi Pande, Meghna Pant & Neil Bhoopalam

Mehghna Pant is the perfect multitasker. She’s a financial journalist by day and a writer by night. And, like all successful women she juggles her different responsibilities pretty well. Her first book, One and a Half Wife was launched at Kitab Khana this week. I love that the diasporic novel talks about issues like re-marriage, divorce, and immigration which are so relevant to people’s lives right now.

Meghna Pant at the launch of her debut novel One and a Half Wife
Meghna Pant at the launch of her debut novel One and a Half Wife

The fast-paced and insightful novel is the tale of Amara Malhotra, an Indian immigrant in the U.S and her return to the small town of Shimla after her marriage falls apart. I always love a book about a woman who is strong and independent.

Juhi Pande, Anu Menon aka Lola Kutty, Meghna Pant & Neil Bhoopalam
Juhi Pande, Anu Menon aka Lola Kutty, Meghna Pant & Neil Bhoopalam

But what makes it more fascinating is that Amara grapples between her family’s age old beliefs and her friends who encourage independent thought. That is something a lot of women have to deal with.

One and a half wife
One and a half wife

Meghna tackles contentious issues with great sensitivity. So inspiring. The launch of the book was followed by an interactive session with Anu Menon aka Lola Kutty, Neil Bhoopalam (looking super cute in a Papa Smurf green tee) and VJ Juhi Pande.