Author Interview with Bhawana Sethi

 

Meet our Author Bhawana Sethi: Author, Educator, and Home Chef.

Our Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Palak Chauhan, had the pleasure of interviewing Ma'am for her book, The Adventures of Dabba and Jalebi.

Author Bio

Bhawana Sethi is a compelling literary voice who seamlessly blends her two decades of experience in education with a profound creative passion. Following a long career in Delhi, she continues to nurture young minds by teaching phonics from her apartment in Bangalore, embodying a lifelong commitment to learning and development.

Literary & Creative Achievements

Children's Fiction Debut: Bhawana Sethi makes her foray into children's literature with the delightful book, The Adventures of Dabba and Jalebi: Dabba and the Disappearing Dosas. The story introduces the curious girl Jalebi and her mischievous best friend, the orange tiffin box Dabba.

Poetry Collection: She has also debuted her poetry collection, Tapestry of Soulful Stanzas, a heartfelt exploration of devotion, nostalgia, love, and everyday reflections.

A gifted and versatile author, Bhawana actively participates in writing community challenges while conceptualising further children's fiction projects.

Whether she is inspiring students, crafting captivating narratives, or finding creative joy in the kitchen as a Home Chef, turning everyday ingredients into culinary delights, her vibrant enthusiasm illuminates every endeavour.

Follow her creative journey on Instagram: soulful_articulation.

Author Interview Questions - 

Q1. What inspired you to create the characters Dabba and Jalebi?

Ans - The inspiration comes from the magical, everyday curiosity of childhood. Dabba represents that exciting moment at school when children wonder what surprise their mother has packed for lunch, it is a box full of love and secrets. Jalebi is named after the sweet treat almost every child loves; she is just as sweet and full of energy. As an educator, I wanted to turn this simple daily routine into a world of friendship, laughter, and life lessons that every Indian child can see themselves in.

Q2. How did you come up with the unique world and setting of the story?

Ans - The setting grew from my desire to turn the comfort of an Indian home into a playground for the imagination. I looked at the world from a child’s perspective, where a simple kitchen counter feels like a mountain and a lunch table is a stage for high adventure. By infusing the story with sensory details, like the aroma of fresh dosas and the warmth of a busy household, I created a world that feels familiar and homely, yet filled with the magical possibility that even your tiffin box has a story to tell.

Q3. Which part of the book was the most fun for you to write and why?

Ans - As an educator, I have always loved the funny, unfiltered way children think, and giving a voice to a tiffin box allowed me to play with that humour. Creating their banter, where a shiny steel box offers advice and a sweet, curious girl responds with wonder, felt like a burst of pure joy. It was the moment the story transformed from an idea into a living, breathing friendship, making the wholesome flavours of the book truly come alive.

Q4. Do Dabba and Jalebi reflect any real-life personalities or experiences?

Ans - Yes, they are a reflection of my two decades as an educator and the beautiful cultural rhythms of an Indian childhood.

Dabba represents that universal moment of school day curiosity. I have watched countless children eagerly huddle around their tiffin boxes,

dying to know what surprise their mother has packed. I gave that box of love a voice to capture the excitement of those daily mysteries.

Jalebi is inspired by the hundreds of wonderful children I have mentored. She is named after the sweet treat almost every child loves eating, sweet, a bit twisty in her thinking, and full of energy. Through her, I share the life lessons I have taught in the classroom, turning everyday experiences like a "disappearing dosa" into a journey of friendship and discovery.

Q5. What message or lesson do you hope children take away from this adventure?

Ans - I hope children learn to embrace their natural curiosity and see that every problem is just a chance to be creative.

Through the adventures of Dabba and Jalebi, I want them to understand that even the most ordinary things, like their daily lunch, can be full of magic and life lessons. Most importantly, I want them to feel the power of friendship and self-love, knowing that their unique voice is special. For both kids and parents, I hope the story encourages more meaningful conversations and shared laughter over the simple joys of life.

Q6. How do you balance humour and storytelling in your writing for young readers?

Ans - I balance them by leaning into the natural curiosity and playfulness of a child's mind. Humour is the sugar that makes storytelling easy to digest. I use funny, relatable situations, like a tiffin box that has a mind of its own, to keep children laughing. While they are giggling at Dabba’s personality, the story quietly weaves in life lessons and values. By keeping the language simple and the banter between the characters light, I ensure that the message never feels like a lecture. For me, a happy reader is a learning reader, so I always let the humour lead the way to the heart of the story.

Q7. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this book?

Ans - The biggest challenge was simplifying the complex. As an educator, I have so many life lessons I want to share, but the real task was keeping the language short, simple, and light. I had to ensure that while the story was fun and wholesome, the message did not get lost in the humour. Another challenge was making a stationary object like a Dabba feel active and alive. I had to use my imagination to give a steel box enough personality to carry a whole adventure. Overcoming these hurdles actually made the story much stronger and more magical.

Q8. Can we expect more adventures of Dabba and Jalebi in the future?

Ans - Yes, absolutely. I am planning a full series of children’s storybooks under the heading The Adventures of Dabba and Jalebi. The first book, as you know, is Dabba and the Disappearing Dosas.

I am thrilled to share that the second book is already in the final stages of publishing. It is called The Mystery of the Blue Paw Prints. There are so many more secrets and surprises hiding inside that little tiffin box, and I am currently deep into planning a third adventure as well.