Utpal Sandesara grew up in a Gujarati-American household in New Jersey and attended college at Harvard. His mother’s experience as a Machhu flood survivor led to his interest in the research that became this book. He now attends the University of Pennsylvania, where he is jointly pursuing an MD and a PhD in anthropology. In his free time, he enjoys learning languages, reading world literature, and riding the bicycle Tom built for him.
Tom Wooten attended college at Harvard. A keen interest in environmental issues and development led him to collaborate with Utpal Sandesara on this book. Since 2008, Tom has lived and worked in New Orleans, where he studies community recovery efforts. He also teaches writing at KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts in New Orleans as a Teach for America corps member. His forthcoming book is called We Shall Not Be Moved: Rebuilding Home in the Wake of Katrina.
