How do you write a novel while holding down a full-time job, raising a family, and navigating the chaotic pulse of Mumbai? On 9 November 2025, as part of Mumbai LitFest 2025, we hosted a panel with three acclaimed authors, Amrita Mahale, Jane Borges, and Pronoti Datta. The conversation, chaired by our own Supriya Nair, touched on the “exhilarating” artistic freedom of walking the city streets and the rigorous discipline of giving up weekends for words. The writers reflected on how unpaid labour, professional careers, and the city itself shape their stories. They also foregrounded the importance of friendship and community as vital support systems for sustaining creative work.

 

Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.

 

Our Guests:

Amrita Mahale (Real Life: A Haunting Literary Mystery Set In The Himalayas | A Story Of Obsession, Silence And Control)

 

Jane Borges (Bombay Balchao),

 

Pronoti Datta (In the Beginning there was Bombay Duck - A Food History of Mumbai /Half Blood)

 

Moderator:

Supriya Nair

 

Find the Lab on social media:

Instagram

Linkedin

 

Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in

 

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

How do you write a novel while holding down a full-time job, raising a family, and navigating the chaotic pulse of Mumbai? On 9 November 2025, as part of Mumbai LitFest 2025, we hosted a panel with three acclaimed authors,<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrita-mahale-1474497"> Amrita Mahale</a>,<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-borges-6aab1814/"> Jane Borges</a>, and<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pronoti-datta-4298b2171/"> Pronoti Datta</a>. The conversation, chaired by our own<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/supriya-nair-b01912164/"> Supriya Nair</a>, touched on the &ldquo;exhilarating&rdquo; artistic freedom of walking the city streets and the rigorous discipline of giving up weekends for words. The writers reflected on how unpaid labour, professional careers, and the city itself shape their stories. They also foregrounded the importance of friendship and community as vital support systems for sustaining creative work.
&nbsp;
Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at<a href="https://www.godrejdeilab.com/"> https://www.godrejdeilab.com/</a>.
&nbsp;
Our Guests:
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrita-mahale-1474497">Amrita Mahale</a> (<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Real-Life-Haunting-Himalayas-Obsession/dp/0143475827?s=bazaar">Real Life: A Haunting Literary Mystery Set In The Himalayas | A Story Of Obsession, Silence And Control</a>)
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-borges-6aab1814/">Jane Borges</a> (<a href="https://www.amazon.in/BOMBAY-BALCHAO-PAPER-BACK-Borges/dp/9395073209/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UHPXGCRWMT68&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q86PcVf-tDn7Lx29cTlVXjU0wtBGOfuDL5X7tkWvdyQHiixy3CHhHsfGIkzUxaNxae5A8cbgTZU_Bb0aIyd_I9ku5UDKbJUTpZ1sZFsC3PE.VSoujks4pbmvB03Pc_b82ryv4WkooNqdAGrkNWEfmfg&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=Bombay+Balchao&amp;qid=1770039192&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C338&amp;sr=8-1">Bombay Balchao</a>),
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pronoti-datta-4298b2171/">Pronoti Datta</a><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Beginning-there-was-Bombay-Duck/dp/9363363198/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PG2Q6RCBE8FG&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LqaDmNfZQPIsumNtz5DQHxEC1ko3gdhSJGPcxRfkSqE.p2nJQWk5aF5_G-MnzHybX2Ob6p5B3vTyjQqu19nX6OI&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=In+the+Beginning+there+was+Bombay+Duck&amp;qid=1770039216&amp;sprefix=in+the+beginning+there+was+bombay+duck%2Caps%2C372&amp;sr=8-1"> (In the Beginning there was Bombay Duck - A Food History of Mumbai</a> /<a href="https://www.amazon.in/HALF-BLOOD-Pronoti-Datta/dp/9354470254/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1I547ONDNOC1J&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qzCJ5v49bfAhwof6UrmrPwFUcNiAT_xOul0vFWC4zCSV7xUoX73_5-7XEB8ZCUSGNP7EqM9r-rD9f-BkZzUFrLXp8bzAhRVJEGZEFNJmtTsKUgek8BOfsnHi6OB1L0ZiFlAYH3izvPnLET8K9Ti3RYdD-xzPYML9-gW3xopvfDH_LyVCRM3reYbPfpmdOpOzmZEzKdSVso0KeMd3Xj67SIW0NJyggmIIuofZXRaaEpM.ZAGew6vavX9LClyX0mSEwSgPSGKqxgVeS8KsU22Wi0I&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=Half+Blood&amp;qid=1770039235&amp;sprefix=in+the+beginning+there+was+bombay+duck%2Caps%2C329&amp;sr=8-3"> Half Blood</a>)
&nbsp;
Moderator:
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/supriya-nair-b01912164/">Supriya Nair</a>
&nbsp;
Find the Lab on social media:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/godrejdeilab/?hl=en">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/godrej-dei-lab/?originalSubdomain=in">Linkedin</a>
&nbsp;
Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in
&nbsp;
This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at<a href="http://www.maedinindia.in"> www.maedinindia.in</a>
Creative Director:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en"> Mae Mariyam Thomas</a>
Project Manager:<a href="http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome"> Shaun Fanthome</a>
Head of Audio Production:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en"> Kartik Kulkarni</a>
Sound Editing &amp; Mixing:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/"> Nihar Temkar</a>

India Included by the Godrej DEI Lab focuses on how diversity, equity and inclusion is helping us reimagine work and workplaces in India. Hosted by Parmesh Shahani, each episode features changemakers transforming corporate spaces, redefining accessibility, challenging cultural narratives, and advocating for inclusivity in business and work.

They talk about the daily work of overcoming structural barriers, the future of doing better business, creating space for yourself and others, viewing accessibility as innovation, and harnessing cultural representation for real change. We’re striving for an India where everyone can prosper, because everyone belongs – and we want you to join us.

India Included by the Godrej DEI Lab focuses on how diversity, equity and inclusion is helping us reimagine work and workplaces in India. Hosted by Parmesh Shahani, each episode features changemakers transforming corporate spaces, redefining accessibility, challenging cultural narratives, and advocating for inclusivity in business and work.
They talk about the daily work of overcoming structural barriers, the future of doing better business, creating space for yourself and others, viewing accessibility as innovation, and harnessing cultural representation for real change. We&rsquo;re striving for an India where everyone can prosper, because everyone belongs &ndash; and we want you to join us.

India Included by Godrej DEI Lab

India Included by the Godrej DEI Lab focuses on how diversity, equity and inclusion is helping us reimagine work and workplaces in India. Hosted by Parmesh Shahani, each episode features change-makers transforming corporate spaces, redefining accessibility, challenging cultural narratives, and advocating for inclusivity in business and work.

They talk about the daily work of overcoming structural barriers, the future of doing better business, creating space for yourself and others, viewing accessibility as innovation, and harnessing cultural representation for real change. We’re striving for an India where everyone can prosper, because everyone belongs – and we want you to join us.

India Included by the Godrej DEI Lab focuses on how diversity, equity and inclusion is helping us reimagine work and workplaces in India. Hosted by Parmesh Shahani, each episode features change-makers transforming corporate spaces, redefining accessibility, challenging cultural narratives, and advocating for inclusivity in business and work.
They talk about the daily work of overcoming structural barriers, the future of doing better business, creating space for yourself and others, viewing accessibility as innovation, and harnessing cultural representation for real change. We&rsquo;re striving for an India where everyone can prosper, because everyone belongs &ndash; and we want you to join us.