The mystery of Snowa Borno: A Finnish woman who writes in Hindi, or a male writer’s nom de plume?

The dark jacket copy of the 2022 edition of the Hindi book Ek Jogan Zindagi bears an image of two people: a man and a woman sitting next to each other. The light, resembling a renaissance painting, falls on their faces, illuminating their visage, while the military green and maroon of their clothing almost disappear into the black background. They are smiling, looking into the camera lens.

It can be deduced from their clothing that the image was taken during winter, or perhaps somewhere up in the mountains. Nothing besides the two figures is visible. Their gaze, and consequently, the image itself, seems fixed and timeless, as if these two people are looking at us from another dimension that cannot be reached. They are Snowa Borno and Sainni Ashesh.

Snowa Borno appeared like a mysterious dream on the Hindi literary scene in 2008 with the publication of her short stories in prominent Hindi literary magazines. Almost 20 stories written by Snowa Borno were published within one year in publications like Hans, Pahal, Vagarth, Naya Gyanodaya, India Today, India News, Sarita, Outlook, Kathakram, Pakhi, Vasudha, Vipasha, Iravati, Shesh, Parvat Raga etc. One of her memoirs won the first prize in a writing competition organised...

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