Best-selling Indian-Australian author, keynote speaker and winner of the 2022 Merri-bek ‘Honouring Women Award’ has won a 2023 Global Stevie Award for Women in Business in the category of Social Change Maker of the Year – Disability.

The Stevie® Awards are the world's premier business awards.  They were created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.  In short order the Stevie has become one of the world's most coveted prizes. 

“I am absolutely thrilled to be announced as a finalist in this year’s Stevie Women in Business Social Change Maker of the Year category,” Chakraborty said.

“I have made it my life’s mission to help women and those from CALD communities with non visible disability to engage fully in life, work and relationships free from discrimination.

“Non visible disability can be a difficult issue to navigate. I have found therapy and strength in writing, the arts and helping others. I share my story and my journey in the hope of uplifting others and bringing greater awareness to the need for more patience, tolerance, understanding and support.”

Chakraborty is no stranger to awards. She has won community awards as well as many literary awards for her novels including her last one, Dirty Little Secrets.

Literary achievements

Nandita is the author of three highly acclaimed books; her first novella, ‘Meera Rising was published in 2017, followed a year later by ‘Rosemary’s Retribution’. The two novels were both finalists at the American Best Book Awards; and were also semi-finalists at the New York Screenplay and LA International Screenplay Awards.

Her latest book, ‘Dirty Little Secrets’, was released in 2022 and is a step away from her fictional works. Written as a memoir that crosses the oceans between Australia and India, Nandita recounts the harrowing online love scam that nearly tore her life apart.

“It is empowering novel for women of all races and cultures and highlights the relevance of social acceptance and on overcoming adversity,” Nandita said.

Lifechanging moment in time

“Overcoming adversity seems to be a central theme in my life. Recovering from the shock of the scam was a big hurdle to overcome. But there is also another huge episode in my life that took months and rehabilitation and recovery,” Nandita revealed.

“I guess you could say that my life took on a very unexpected twist of fate in November 2011 when I had an accident during a rock-climbing expedition in Central Victoria. It should have been a fun day out with friends, but it turned into a disaster. I made the mistake of detaching and removing my harness. There was a small gap between the rocks. I miscalculated and mis-stepped I plunged 40 metres down a ravine.

“I was airlifted to the hospital with multiple head and body injuries. After all the surgeries and months of rehab, I was left with a permanent disability. Following the accident, I still have cognitive issues and impaired concentration; and I get migraines and experience chronic fatigue.”

Advocating for ABI

“Today I am a strong advocate for people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and people with a non-visible disability,” Chakraborty said.

“A person can get hurt in the face, scalp and skull without necessarily injuring their brain. But when the head is struck hard, the brain slams against the inside of the skull, causing physical injuries such as bruising, swelling, bleeding, twisting or tearing of tissue. Recovery is a slow process and often a full recovery cannot be expected. In my case the process has been even more difficult as a migrant woman.

“My work and awards are helping me to shine a spotlight on other women so that we may come together as a community and support one another through thick and thin.”

www.nanditachakrabortyauthor.com.au