Ari Gautier Gautier is the author of Carnet secret de Lakshmi, Le Thinnai and Nocturne Pondichéry, three French-language books that creatively blend several languages including French, Tamil, Sanskrit, English and Pondicherry Creole. Nominated for he prestigious French literary award Le Prix du Printemps du livre du forum de Saint Louis, Ari has gained international recognition for his works that provide insight into India's history, the city's multicultural dynamism, the Indian caste system and the impact of French rule in Pondicherry. His first book Lakshmi's Secret Diary, translated into English by Sheela Mahadevan, will be published in August by the prestigious Columbia University in the USA. Gautier has currently finished a new collection of short stories that is awaiting publication.

After a few years spent in France, he currently lives in Oslo.