Simran 'Sabi' Chawla

Simran's story

Simran, also known by her nickname Sabi, is the author of Searching for Home: Stories of Indians living abroad (Hachette India 2018) and Indian Weddings (Schiffer 2011.)

Born and raised in northern Virginia, USA, Sabi moved to England in 2010 and lives with her husband in London. She has a journalism degree from George Washington University and a creative writing postgraduate degree from City University London. After spending years at National Geographic in her early career, she moved into marketing and brand management for higher education. She has worked at the world’s leading institutions including Harvard University, King’s College London, University College London and Imperial College London Business School.

Sabi writes around her work schedule, usually in the mornings and on weekends. She is fascinated by the Indian diaspora, and how her own experiences as the daughter of Indian immigrants in America is similar and different to other experiences around the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washingtonian, Elle India and The Guardian.

My Work

Past. Present. Future.

INDIAN WEDDINGS

Following in the footsteps of tradition, Indian American couples are marking their impressions on an inherited culture. Through a mix of approachable text and scintillating photography, this book is a visual guide to Indian American weddings today. Resources include beauty and shopping tips, budgets, and schedules to help anyone who is planning an Indian wedding. But beyond that, this book will inspire couples to recreate the beauty of the rich Indian culture, one that is famous worldwide for its wedding celebrations.

Available on Amazon

Searching for Home: Stories of Indians living abroad

In an age when India is one of the strongest emerging markets and a developing superpower, tens of thousands of Indians leave the country each year to seek new lives on distant shores. What are they looking for and what do they really find?

Simran Chawla documents the contemporary Indian immigrant experience in various corners of the world – from Alaska to the UK, Europe to Africa, the Americas to the Middle East. In this book, she tells the story of families like the Singhs who farm in the heartland of Italy just south of Verona; discovers the lucrative Indian wedding industry in the Gulf and beyond; watches a cricket match between diamond traders in Antwerp; and explores the heartbreaking price of living illegally in London.

Searching for Home tells the stories of people who, though separated by thousands of miles, share experiences that continue to bind them to their homeland.

Available on Amazon