Beyond the Boulevards (A Short Biography of Pondicherry)

Pondicherry, the South Indian coastal town, union territory and former French colony, is a city unlike any other in India. Here, the game of petanque is as commonplace as a mini-thali sambar-rice lunch, or the briny tang drifting out of Goubert Fish Market first thing every morning... The French sport's slower pace and quieter sounds reflect a different cultural trajectory compared to the rest of the country. Indeed, it is one of many aspects of Pondicherry life that make the city wholly distinctive. Everywhere you look there are elements of the place that are local and foreign, unusual and traditional, all at the same time.

Besides its hybrid identity, the city is also an important spiritual centre, a hub for alternative education, a quasi-extension of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, an ecological and environmental bastion-and, thanks to a liberal liquor license, a party town. Tapping into every aspect of Pondicherry, in Beyond the Boulevards, Aditi Sriram captures the substance of a city that is a contrast of colours, languages, religions, and cultures.

Aditi Sriram teaches writing at Ashoka University. She completed her Master's in Creative Writing from The New School in New York City in 2013. She has not lived in Pondicherry, but grew up hearing about it from her family whose roots are in the city. Her inspiration has been the Pondy locals who shared their life stories with her. This is her first book.