Vatsala Lakhotia Holani

About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program

My journey began, like the best stories do, on a midsummer’s night, when I had a sudden and compelling premonition that if I didn’t apply for the programme immediately, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I had been staring at the Attic web page on and off for a good three months, without doing anything about it.

Laughing at myself, I sent off my stories at midnight, and then slept the sleep of those who can do no more. What I didn’t know was that I had just made the deadline by a few hours – or that it would allow me to walk with my heroes.

The Attic to me was the beginning of a Quest, and I thought of the seventeen of us as the Knights of…well, rectangular tables with grommets. My mission was to find my voice and hone my skills. The Twin Obstacles of Insecurity and Indiscipline were met and challenged; the Monster of Grammar was fought and even defeated; the Mentor, Anita, bestowed the gift of Crafting.

It is rare to meet the kind of givingness I have encountered in every member of the Attic. The company of good people is an inspiration on its own. In the wild spaces of my imagination, there is a place forever marked ‘Attic Dreams’.

Vatsala’s Bio

Vatsala is a Bachelor of Design (Lifestyle Accessories) from NIFT, New Delhi and has completed her B. A. English (Hons.) from Delhi University. As a design and advertising professional, she has worked with over 50+ global brands. A four-year stint as contributor and part-time correspondent for HT Next and HT School Times saw her interviewing public personalities like the then President of India Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, Sri Arun Jaitley, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, sarod player Ayaan Ali Bangash and Delhi Metro MD Dr. E. Sreedharan , while writing on issues like education, design and culture.

Vatsala Lakhotia Holani | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic