P. Sivakami is hailed as the first Dalit woman to write a novel. A feminist writer and social activist, she has penned six acclaimed novels, more than a hundred short stories, two poetry collections, and several essays and articles.

Born in Tamil Nadu, India, she obtained her master’s degree in history. She served the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu State Government for 28 years as a member of the Indian Administrative Service. She took voluntary retirement in 2008 to serve the poor and the disadvantaged. She is the founder of Dalit Land Rights Movement, The Women’s Front, South India Dalit Writers and Artists Forum, Forum for Indian Women intellectuals, and Founder President of the political party Samuga Samatuva Padai (Party for Social Equality). She served as an advisory member for the Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier National Academy of Letters. She was awarded a Fulbright fellowship in 2017 to research the effective participation of women in the political process and governance in the U.S.