Empowering stories: Anuja Varghese on representation and her award-winning book Chrysalis

For Anuja Varghese, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management ’19, writing stories is about more than entertainment — it’s about empowerment. Growing up with a mother who was a teacher, reading books and novels was a common practice in Varghese’s home; but, rarely, if ever, did she see herself reflected in the characters. This lack of representation is something she actively challenges within her own stories, including her award-winning short story collection, Chrysalis (external link, opens in new window) .

“For many years, I defaulted to writing straight white main characters in my stories because that’s what I had grown up with,” Varghese said. “But when you never see characters who look like you in the stories you love — you start to question if those stories are for you.”

Though Varghese spent many years writing, it was only ever for fun. Her journey as a professional writer began later in life, after suddenly discovering she was laid off in 2019. She took classes and attended workshops and eventually began publishing her writing, while still working full-time as a fundraising professional in the non-profit sector. 

Her short stories in Chrysalis are infused with fantastical elements inspired by many of the fairy tales she read growing up. From horror stories to magical realism — she centres brown characters in genres where they’re traditionally left out as a way to show they belong in all stories. Despite mainstream media making some advancements in the representation of brown women, Varghese says there is a long way to go.

“It’s still rare to see South Asian queer and trans women, or polyamorous women, or women in positions of power,” she said. “And even rarer still to see these women get to be sexy and dangerous and embody Main Character Energy.” 

This event is produced by Alumni Relations, in association with Positive Space for Pride Month.