Prachi Sharma, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, credits her upbringing in the small town of Lumla for shaping her into the person she is today. Her father, Satya Prakash Sharma, was a senior government teacher who dedicated his life to educating students in the remote corners of the state. Her mother, Manju Sharma, also taught in the same region, instilling in their children a love for books and learning. This emphasis on education created a home environment where books were not just mere objects, but a way of understanding the world and passing on knowledge to future generations.
Sharma’s educational journey in Arunachal Pradesh played a significant role in her development. She excelled in her studies, becoming a Class 10 state topper, an achievement she attributes to the dedicated teachers and the supportive environment of her hometown. This love for books was passed down through generations, with her mother writing a book to preserve their family’s traditional vegetarian recipes, and Sharma herself authoring several books, including a tribute to her mother and a children’s book featuring their rescue dog.
The family’s literary legacy continues with the next generation, as Sharma’s son published two picture books at the age of six, and her nephew wrote a superhero story at eight. Today, Sharma lives in California, where she runs The Sapling Press, a platform that helps children become published authors. Her work is a testament to the values instilled in her by her teacher-parents in Arunachal Pradesh – the belief that every child has a story worth telling.
Sharma’s family has been featured in India Currents, a respected Indian-American magazine in the US, highlighting their journey and the impact of their Arunachal Pradesh roots on their literary pursuits. Reflecting on her journey, Sharma acknowledges that her experiences in Lumla’s classrooms and her parents’ teaching in the remote corners of the state laid the foundation for her future endeavors.
In her words, ‘Arunachal made me. Wherever the books travel, that is where they started.’
