Hey everyone! Welcome to this week's episode of the True Fiction Project. Today I’m honored to talk with Sathya Saran and learn her story about rising in the editorial world in India that was typically dominated by men. Sathya shares her experience in journalism and explains how she turned around and brought success to the magazine’s Femina India and Me Magazine for the DNA, Daily News and Analysis. Tune in to learn how she flew high, even when her wings were clipped. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [2:16] Sathya shares how she got started with her career path.  
• [8:10] What led to hostility that Sathya experienced in journalism?  
• [9:07] Who is Dr. Mulk Raj Anand and what did meeting with him lead to?  
• [10:34] What was so important about the magazine Femina?  
• [11:55] Sathya shares how she turned Femina magazine around.  
• [18:20] What happened after Sathya left Femina?  
• [21:43] Sathya shares her journey of writing her first book. 
• [23:13] What was the Me Magazine for the DNA, Daily News and Analysis?  
• [28:52] Sathya shares what led her to focus full time on her books.  
• [30:50] Sathya discusses her journey of sharing with others how to write.   

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• If you love what you do, and do it with confidence and do it with integrity, it will reward you in some way.  
• Take a chance on yourself! Sathya went outside the box, challenged the norm, and created wild success.  
• Fly high, even if your wings are clipped! 

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Fiction Credits: 

Read by Sathya Saran 

 

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Sathya Saran's Twitter  

Sathya Saran's Instagram  

Sathya Saran's LinkedIn 

 

HOST RESOURCES 

Website 

LinkedIn  

Tiktok  

Instagram  

Facebook  

Twitter (X)  

Substack  

Threads  

LinkTree  

BIO: 

Best known for her long association with Femina, which she edited for 12 years, Sathya Saran is currently Consulting Editor with Penguin Random House India. 

Sathya Saran is also the author of a diverse variety of books. The Dark Side reflects her love of the short story, while the critically acclaimed biographies, Ten Years with Guru Dutt Abrar Alvi's Journey; Sun Mere Bandhu Re The Musical World of SD Burman and Baat Niklegi toh Phir The Life and Music of Jagjit Singh bear testimony to her love of cinema and music. 

Sathya has also written the hugely appreciated biography of Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia. 

Sathya teaches fashion journalism at NIFT Mumbai, Kangra and Srinagar. She has been a stage actor with Veenapani Chawla. 

Passionate about writing, she conceptualised and curates the first of its kind Writers Conclave titled The Spaces between Words the unfestival sponsored by JSW at Kaladham near Hampi. 

Sathya has written a tv serial titled Kashmakash on marital problems. 

Her column in Femina and Me magazine is now continuing to gain new fans as a guest column in Dainik Jagran. She also writes a column for the New Indian Express. 

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