Posts by

Usha Akella

Author

  • Usha Akella

    Usha Akella has authored 12 books that include poetry and two musical dramas published by Sahitya Akademi, Spinifex Press, Mantis Editores Press, Kelsay Books, etc. She was a finalist for Austin’s Poet Laureate in 2025. Three of her books are translated into Spanish, Romanian and Macedonian. She holds an MSt. in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge, UK. Usha was selected as a Creative Ambassador for the City of Austin in 2019 & 2015. She is the founder of Matwaala (www.matwaala.com) launched in 2015 to amplify diaspora South Asian poets. She is also the host of www.the-pov.com, an interview website. She has participated in several international poetry festivals, and is published in approximately 150 literary journals and anthologies.

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  • In the air of Varanasi

    In the air of Varanasi

    “When faith is as thin as muslin… perhaps grace will bring you to Varanasi.” Presenting the Wood Rose Poetry Prize finalist for Spiritual Poem by an eminent poet who founded Matwaala to amplify voices of South Asian poets. Read more