Author Interview with Antra Dubey | Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta – A Tale of Love, Loss & Banaras
In this exclusive interview, author Antra Dubey opens up about her debut novel, Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta. She shares her journey as an entrepreneur-turned-writer, her inspiration behind choosing Banaras as the backdrop, and her reflections on love, grief, and redemption.
Meet Antra Dubey – Author of Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta
Q: You are an
entrepreneur armed with a degree from the prestigious Queen Mary University of
London. When did you realize your love for reading and what inspired you to
start your writing journey?
My love for reading began very early. Books were always my safe space, where I could step into different worlds and understand emotions in a way real life sometimes couldn’t offer. Over time, that love naturally turned into the urge to tell my own stories. As an entrepreneur, I spend much of my time creating, building, and problem solving. Writing became another form of creation for me, but instead of strategies and plans, it was about shaping emotions and memories into words. It gave me the balance I needed. Business challenges keep me sharp, while writing allows me to pause, reflect, and connect with people on a deeply personal level.
Studying at Queen Mary University of London also exposed me to diverse perspectives, which enriched the way I see human relationships and inspired me to finally put my own thoughts into a book.
Writing for me is not separate from being an entrepreneur, it’s just another extension of my creative spirit.
The Inspiration Behind Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta
Q: Your debut novel Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta, is tribute to the rich textural culture of India which amalgamates with sensitive storytelling of 2 souls, Maya and Swadesh, who found love amidst aiming for redemption. Please tell us how did you envision such an emotionally raw theme for your debut novel and and what pulled you towards exploring Banaras. Thanks to your book, I found myself immersed in the soulful lanes of Banaras though Maya and Swadesh's experience?
Antra: Thank you so much for sharing that, it means a lot to know the story took you into the heart of Banaras. The idea for Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta came from a very personal space. I have always been fascinated by the way places carry emotions, and Banaras, with its layered history and timeless spirituality, felt like the perfect backdrop for a story about love, grief, and redemption.
I envisioned Maya and Swadesh as two souls trying to heal, and I wanted their journey to be emotionally raw because that is how life feels when you are navigating loss and longing. The Banarasi Dupatta in the title is not just fabric, it symbolizes memory, tradition, and the stains of emotions we carry forward in our lives.
What pulled me towards Banaras specifically was the way the city holds contrasts of life and death, devotion and despair, tradition and change all coexisting in one space. It mirrors the complexity of human relationships. Through Maya and Swadesh’s story, I wanted readers to walk those narrow lanes, feel the ghats, and sense how a city itself can become a silent character in a love story.
Character Development – Maya & Swadesh
Q: Maya is a very layered character who has been vivacious, loved her family deeply to becoming absolutely reserved and guarded due to personal tragedy. Tell us about your inspiration behind the character development of Maya and your thought-process to create Swadesh who can complement Maya
Antra: I wanted to portray someone who once radiated warmth and connection, yet gradually built walls around herself because of a tragedy she could not control. Her journey reflects how grief reshapes not just our emotions but also our relationships with the world around us. Maya was born out of the idea that a single event can alter the entire rhythm of a person’s life.She is layered because real people are layered. We carry our past selves within us even when life forces us to change.
When it came to Swadesh, I knew he had to be someone who could balance Maya’s guarded nature without trying to “fix” her. He is light-hearted, spontaneous, and full of life, which creates a natural contrast to Maya’s restraint. But beneath his charm lies a deep understanding and patience, which allows him to slowly break through Maya’s defenses. My thought-process was simple: Maya represents the weight of memory, while Swadesh represents the possibility of new beginnings. Together, they show how love is not about perfection, but about two people holding space for each other’s wounds and hopes.
What’s Next for Antra Dubey?
Q: After such a soulful, stirring and culturally rich book like Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta, what are your plans for the future. Any genre that you would like to attempt?
Antra: For me, it’s not about the genre as much as it’s about the story. Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta was my way of blending culture with raw emotions. Going forward, I plan to keep exploring stories that feel deeply human, whether that means staying within contemporary drama or experimenting with new forms. The only constant will be emotional honesty.
A Message for Readers
Q: Any message for your readers? What would you want your new readers to takeaway from Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta
Antra: When I think about what I want readers to take from Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta, it really comes down to just one thought, that life is never just about joy or just about sorrow, it is always a delicate balance of both. Love and loss walk hand in hand, yet even in our most fragile moments, healing is always possible.
Sometimes all you need to heal is to accept what has happened and move forward, instead of endlessly seeking closure. That idea stayed with me while I was writing Memory Stains On Banarasi Dupatta. Life doesn’t always give us neat endings, but it does give us the strength to carry our experiences with meaning.
If the book leaves readers with hope, with a sense of connection, or even with the courage to see beauty in the marks life leaves on us, then I feel fulfilled as a writer.
Final Thoughts
Memory Stains on Banarasi Dupatta is more than a love story, it’s an exploration of memory, tradition, and healing. Through Maya and Swadesh, Antra Dubey has given readers an intimate journey into the soulful lanes of Banaras, where culture and emotions intertwine.
📖 Ready to immerse yourself in Banaras through Antra’s storytelling? Grab a copy here:
Comments
Post a Comment