Growing up in Canberra in the late 1970s, Shankari Chandran and her family faced the lingering shadows of the White Australia Policy. While the policy had been formally abolished, its echoes still affected their place in the community. In this difficult landscape, writing emerged as Shankari’s sanctuary, a way to reclaim her narrative and place herself at the centre of her own story.
Writing from a young age has always been a powerful form of therapy for me. Even though my early work was raw and fraught with angst, it was my way of confronting a sense of displacement. My early essays on identity were essentially me wrestling with the question, 'Who am I?'Shankari Chandran on confronting identity through her early work
Shankari’s quest for identity, a common journey for many South Asian Australians, fueled her passion for writing. Her novels—Song of the Sun God (2017), The Barrier (2017), Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (2022), and Safe Haven (2024)—are more than just stories; they are vital reflections for South Asian creatives, capturing their experiences and dreams.
SBS Spice host Suhayla Sharif hosts Shankari in our Sydney studios to delve into the stories yet to be told and to explore the evolving landscape for South Asian Australian storytellers.
Tap the audio player to listen to the full interview.
SBS Spice breaks new ground with English-language content for young South Asians in Australia by exploring what makes us tick or ick. Find us on your podcast apps such as the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or LiSTNR and follow us on Instagram @SBSSpice.
