Tweeting after the event, Nayanika said: “It was wonderful to be invited by the Head of English at Westminster, one of the leading schools in the UK, to do a session for the KPMF Creative Writing platform, which they run for state-school pupils as well as their own. We spoke about my novel, ‘Across the Line’, which is rooted in the Partition and about Churchill and Mountbatten’s roles in this cataclysmic upheaval. It was fabulous to see the youngsters engage with this chapter that is erased from most history books. In 1931, Gandhi was invited to Westminster by its pupils which must’ve created a stir in imperial Britain. Good to see the spirit of open-mindedness kept alive at the school. Cannot wait to read the Creative Writing that emerges from the session.”

Dhruv (Upper Shell, AHH) said: “The session with Nayanika Mahtani was very informative – both regarding her creative writing techniques and the history of India’s partition. Her books had interesting premises, and the movie in which she was involved focused on relatable yet somewhat under-acknowledged issues (to do with family) which she was keen to explore.”

KPMF is the Kartik Prabhu Memorial Foundation, working to commemorate the spirit of Kartik – a Westminster pupil and talented young writer – by celebrating the interests he loved. https://www.kartikprabhu.org/