About The Author
Antra Dubey is an Indian author and an entrepreneurship graduate from Queen Mary University of London. An avid reader who naturally found her way into writing, she blends the mindset of an entrepreneur with the sensitivity of a storyteller, capturing the nuances of human emotion and everyday life. Her debut novel, Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta, marks a meaningful step in her literary journey.
Get your copy here – https://amzn.to/4pI3JlX
Interview
Q) Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta is such a beautiful title. What inspired it?
The title Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta holds both the beauty and the pain that shape the story. Memories are never spotless, that’s what I believe. They leave behind traces, like stains that remain on a beloved fabric. A Banarasi dupatta, with all its colours and richness, became the perfect image for Maya’s (the main character) life. She wears it with grace, and people see only its beauty, but behind it, she hides the sorrow that she cannot show. For me, the dupatta became more than clothing; it became a symbol of memory that never fades, of appearances that protect us, and of the strength it takes to carry both together.
Q) How did Banaras become such a central part of the story? Did you visit the city while writing?
I have visited the city many times, and while writing Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta, I kept going back to those memories. In Banaras, life seems to flow with the Ganga; people find peace on its banks, joy in its festivals, and devotion in every ritual. The narrow lanes and vibrant bazaars are full of colour and noise, yet the same city also becomes the place of the final goodbye, where people come hoping for moksha. It has everything: happiness, pain, faith, and release. That mix of opposites made Banaras feel like the only place where this book could begin.
Q) Maya and Swadesh are so different yet so connected. How did these characters first come to you?
Maya and Swadesh came to me almost like two opposite notes of the same song. Maya bears her past like a burden; she is reserved and guarded, while Swadesh brings lightness and warmth wherever he goes. At first, they felt like complete contrasts, but the more I wrote, the more I realised that their differences were exactly what drew them together. Maya needed someone who could notice what she hides, and Swadesh needed someone who could ground his free spirit. Their connection was never forced, but it grew on its own as if they had been waiting to meet each other.
Q) The book balances trauma, healing, and hope so delicately. Was that a conscious choice from the start, or did it evolve as you wrote?
As the story grew, I realised trauma never stands alone. Wherever there is suffering, there is also a search for healing, and wherever there is loss, there is always a small thread of hope. I had not planned this balance from the beginning; it revealed itself as the characters found their way. Most of us carry wounds we do not speak of, yet through moments of care, love, or even chance encounters, we find strength to move forward. That is what I wanted the novel to reflect: the truth that even in the hardest chapters of life, hope still lives.
Q) The last chapters are especially heartwarming. Did you always know the story would end this way?
I did not begin with a set ending. What I did know was the feeling I wanted to leave with the reader. As the writing moved forward, the story found its own direction, and by the time I reached the last chapters, the conclusion felt natural. More than anything, I wanted the book to close with comfort and a sense of hope, so that readers could leave the story believing that even after loss, life still holds the promise of new beginnings.
Q) Was there a personal experience or memory that shaped Maya’s journey?
Maya’s journey is not drawn from a single event in my life, but from a feeling I believe most people have experienced in some form. We all have memories that stay with us, some we try to hide and some we live with. The story itself may be fictional, but the emotions it brings are not. That sense of holding pain inside, of finding ways to cover it, and then slowly learning how to live again, is something many of us understand. Maya became a way to give shape to those unsaid, unspoken feelings that connect all of us.
Q) Which character do you personally relate to the most – Maya with her guarded walls, or Swadesh with his openness?
I see parts of myself in both of them. With Maya, I relate to the way she protects herself and how difficult it can be to let people in. With Swadesh, I connect to his way of finding joy in small things and bringing lightness to serious moments. Both sides are human, and I think most of us shift between them. Sometimes we build walls, and sometimes we reach out freely. Writing these characters helped me understand those parts of myself more closely.
Q) Writing about grief and healing can be intense. How did you take care of yourself while writing this book?
Yes, writing about grief and healing was intense because I had to spend long hours with emotions that are not easy to write about. To take care of myself, I made sure to step back whenever it felt overwhelming. I would spend time with family, read lighter books, or simply allow myself to rest before returning to the story. That balance helped me continue. It was a demanding process, but it also gave me a deeper connection to the characters and their journey, which made every moment worthwhile.
Q) What was the most challenging part of writing Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta?
The most challenging part of writing Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta was holding together the different moods of the story. The book moves through themes of grief, healing, love, and acceptance, and bringing all of them into one flow took time. I wanted each part to feel natural and connected, without losing the emotional depth that runs through the novel. It was indeed difficult to balance the shifts, but it was what made the process worth it.
Q) Can you share a little about your writing routine—were there specific rituals, places, or even cups of chai that kept you going?
I don’t follow a very strict routine, but I try to keep myself surrounded by things that motivate me while writing. I am a huge Asha Bhosle fan, and listening to her songs often helps me set the mood before I begin writing. Music creates the right atmosphere for me to connect with the emotions of the story. Chai is always there; it gives me comfort and keeps me steady through long hours. When I feel tired, I step out for a short walk or spend time with family, and those breaks refresh me. Even small things like keeping a tidy desk or having a notebook close by for sudden thoughts made the process smoother. All these little habits gave me the focus and patience I needed to complete Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta.
Q) Did you face any “writer’s block” moments while writing, and how did you move past them?
Yes, I did face writer’s block while writing. It was not that I ran out of ideas, but because I was chasing perfection in the beginning, and the more I tried to polish every line, the less it felt like my own voice. That pressure stopped me from moving forward. The change came when I let go of that need for perfection and chose honesty instead. I allowed the words to come as they were, even if they felt raw at first. Once I did that, the story flowed more naturally, and I felt connected to it again.
Q) If readers could take away just one message from Maya and Swadesh’s story, what would you want it to be?
When I think about what I want readers to take from Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta, it comes down to one thought: life is never only joy or only sorrow, it is always a fragile mix of both. Love and loss move together, yet even in our most difficult moments, healing remains possible. For me, healing begins when we stop searching for perfect closure and start accepting what has already happened. Life rarely gives us tidy endings, but it does give us the strength to carry our experiences with meaning.If this book can leave readers with a little more hope, with a sense of connection, or with the courage to see beauty in the marks life leaves behind, then I feel it has done its work.
Q) How do you hope this book will make readers feel once they close the last page?
I hope they carry with them both the spirit of Banaras and the emotions of Maya and Swadesh. The city, with its ghats, bazaars, and the Ganga, holds both celebration and farewell, just as life holds both joy and sorrow. Their story is a reminder that even the heaviest days pass, and the sun always breaks through the clouds. If the book leaves readers with that sense of resilience, of knowing that struggles and happiness can live side by side, then I will feel the story has found its purpose.
Q) What’s one line or moment from the book that is closest to your heart?
It’s hard to choose just one, but what stays closest to my heart is that every chapter begins with an old Hindi song. Those songs carry so much history and emotion, and they gave rhythm and mood to the entire book. The other part that is very personal to me is the acknowledgement. It may seem small, but for me, it holds the deepest gratitude, because without the people I have mentioned there, this book would never have been born.
Q) What’s next for you as a writer? Are there new stories or themes you’re excited to explore?
For me, writing has never been about choosing a fixed genre; it has always been about telling stories that feel alive and true. Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta was my way of bringing together culture, grief, love, and healing in one journey. Looking ahead, I hope to continue writing stories that hold the same honesty, stories that remind us of our shared emotions and connections, whether they stay in the space of contemporary drama or take me toward something new. If each book can make even one reader feel seen or understood, then I know I am moving in the right direction.
Get your Book Reviewed by Vidhya Thakkar – Connect us Now
