Roopa Pai

Roopa Pai is a third-generation Bangalorean who has carried on a very public love affair with her city for as long as she can remember. This computer engineer is also one of India's best-known children's writers, whose many bestselling books are enjoyed as much by adults as by children.

For over 20 years now, she has also been leading children and adults on heritage walks around her beloved city and state, as part of her work with BangaloreWalks, a company she co-founded. She has recently translated 100 poems of the celebrated Kannada poet K.S. Nisar Ahmed into English; the collection will soon be published as a book.

Roopa refers to her city as Bangalore when she is speaking English and Bengaluru when she is speaking Kannada (and absolutely detests people calling it 'Luru'). She is happy calling herself a Bangalorean or Bengalurean, however, in every language.