Gautam Raghavan

Gautam Raghavan is an American author, commentator, and former presidential adviser who has made his mark in the literary and political worlds. Born in Madras, India, Raghavan came to the United States when he was two, settling in Los Angeles and then graduating from Harvard Law School before moving to Washington, D.C. to begin his professional career.

After more than a decade as a top White House aide, Raghavan’s fourth book of fiction, Before the Sun Bursts, gained widespread acclaim in 2017. His work is often described as “weaving together an intricate web of secrets and lies” and explores themes such as race, identity, and immigration. He has been praised for his realism and the honest portrayal of his characters.

Raghavan believes that contemporary literature has a unique platform to address and analyze important issues of the day, including voter suppression, gun control, health care, and immigration. In addition to his novels, he often uses his writing to discuss timely societal topics. He has written for various publications, including Slate, The Nation, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Recently, he wrote about a landmark Supreme Court case concerning the right of a transgender person to use the bathroom in accordance with their gender identity and discussed the current state of civil rights movements in the US.

Raghavan’s novels look to answer important questions while connecting readers to characters that are often overlooked. In his debut novel, The Arrangement, Raghavan tells the story of an Indian-American immigrant trying to maintain his traditional values despite the secular influences of the western world. The novel follows Ash, who wrestles with issues such as identity, family, and love through his cultural and religious values, making his struggles all the more poignant. His latest novel, Until the Day I Die, follows a young woman as she grapples with the aftermath of tragedy and seeks redemption in spite of her dark secrets.

Raghavan’s most recent book is a heartwarming true story of friendship in the midst of grief and loneliness, co-authored with Ty Mckenzie and released in 2020. The book, A Little Bit of Sunshine and a Whole Lot of Water, tells the story of two disparate friends making their way through the quirks of young adulthood, politics, and everything else life throws in their path.

Raghavan’s work has earned him awards and nominations from The Washington Post Book World and The New York Times Book Review and he is a sought-after speaker at universities, libraries, and other book-related events. He is one of the top South Asian authors writing today and is inspiring a generation of readers with his unique style of story-telling and commentary. Readers everywhere have been moved by his work, which has become a cornerstone of contemporary South Asian literature.