Saiswaroopa Iyer

Saiswaroopa Iyer is a best-selling author celebrated for her evocative retellings of epic heroines. Her acclaimed novels Draupadi and Rukmini reimagine two of the Mahabharata’s most compelling women, bringing their voices, choices and dilemmas into sharp contemporary relevance. As a Stree Shakti awardee (2022), she is known for her ability to combine meticulous research with narrative intensity, carving a niche as one of the foremost voices in Indic mythological fiction. 

Alongside her literary journey, Saiswaroopa has over a decade of professional experience across academia, startups and venture capital. Currently, she serves as Program Lead—Writing, Courses, and Communication at INDICA, where she is setting up the Writing Centre and spearheading initiatives to nurture the next generation of authors and communicators. She is also associated with Chanakya University, where she taught creative writing, communication, and entrepreneurship, mentoring students to discover and refine their voices. Saiswaroopa is the curator of LitTales by The Verandah Club, India’s largest immersive literature and cultural carnival for children. 

Through her books, teaching, and program leadership, Saiswaroopa continues to explore the transformative power of stories—whether through epic retellings, contemporary fiction, or by empowering others to write their own.