Aaditya Sengupta Dhar

Aaditya’s first ‘book’ was a handwritten, stapled encyclopedia of ancient civilizations he wrote when he was eight, and seeing it displayed in the school library motivated him to keep writing. He wrote his first fantasy novel Secret Tails (2018) when he was ten years old. His next novel, Legend of the Broken Blade (2022), won critical acclaim, being selected as one of the ‘Top 15 must-read books of 2023’ by The Morning Standard. Aaditya also aspires to use his writing to make a positive difference. His 2020 eBook, Underdogs, raised awareness of the importance of helping underprivileged children unleash their potential, with all sales proceeds donated to Save The Children India. His 2021 book, Back from the Brink, was based on research funded by a micro-grant he won from MIT Solv[ED] and highlighted the largely unknown issue of urban animal extinction and how we can make a difference through simple, everyday steps. The Teen’s Guide to Saving the World (2023), inspired teens to create a positive impact in their communities and won Silver at the Non-Fiction Book Awards in the US. His latest novel Kaalchakra (2024) aims to make modern Indian youth feel that while we live in an increasingly globalized world, we should take pride in our cultural roots and heritage. A short story on this theme won a Gold Finalist Award at the prestigious Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2023. When he’s not writing, Aaditya can be found working hard on his schoolwork, following Cricket with a passion, and practicing Karate, in which he holds a black belt. Aaditya is fifteen years old and lives in Mumbai.