Author, columnist, and yoga guru, Ira Trivedi, is a truly global South Asian who has lived and worked in four countries, nine cities, and three continents. She moved to the U.S. as a kid and after completing high school in Virginia, under graduation at Wellesley and MBA at Columbia, she flirted with the big, bad world of Wall Street, before chucking it all and moving to India.
Her fiction and nonfiction books have been translated into many languages and she contributes to several publications. Listen as she talks about her findings for her book on Love and Gender in India. She reminisces about being a part of the first ever International Yoga Day celebrations in New Delhi. A true yogi, Ira started a not-for-profit Namami Yoga, to teach yoga and life skills to underprivileged children.
EkWomen showcases South Asian women in the diaspora with inspiring stories. Ira is an example of reverse diaspora. Someone who lived in the US and moved back to India. Many listeners will resonate with her candid views on fitting in as a child when she moved to the States and as an adult living with parents after returning from the West. She reveals how pivoting during Covid taught her so many lessons. Ira’s writing journey also evolved from her first book that she finished in record time to her latest that took five years to complete. As a young, unmarried woman of a certain age, Ira provides her rationale on marriage, women and the Indian outlook.
Yoga has become very fashionable. In a weird way, something so intrinsically Indian, returned to us via the West. Ira discusses her views on how yoga is therapeutic and the importance of yoga for women. She admits to her issues with body image and facing up to it. Ira believes westernization in India is causing many young women to have similar issues. Ira also opens up about mental health, the #Metoo movement and how men play a crucial role in changing attitudes. The podcast ends with a rapid fire round and there is a surprise at the end but we will let you discover that for yourself.
