EBFP 2023 Judge
meira chand

Meira Chand is of Indian-Swiss heritage and was born and educated in London.  She has lived for many years in Japan, and in India.  Her multi-cultural heritage is reflected in her 9 novels, which explore issues of identity and cultural dislocation. In 1997 she moved to Singapore and is now a citizen of the country. 

Her iconic novel of Singapore, A Different Sky (2010), based on meticulous historical research, follows the lives of three ethnically different families in the years leading up to Singapore’s independence. On its publication, the novel was a book of the month choice by the UK bookshop chain Waterstones, and in the US, was on Oprah Winfrey’s recommended reading list, and was also long listed for the IMPAC Dublin literary award.

She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Western Australia and is involved in programmes in Singapore to develop the literary arts and nurture young writers.  She writes a regular monthly column for the Straits Times. Singapore’s hit stage production, LKY The Musical, was developed on a story she wrote. 

More about Meira Chand and her books can be found on her website, www.meirachand.com. 

2023 Judging Panel