George Chacko

George Chacko is an award-winning author and speaker. Born in Thrissur, India, in 1951, Chacko has published over a dozen books, each one exploring the boundaries between cultures, art and politics. His works include nonfiction books, novels and stories, and he is best known for his work on multi-cultural identity, for which he was named one of the Pulitzer Prize Finalists in 2006.

Chacko grew up in Kerala and he was exposed to various religions and customs during his childhood, which would later become important themes in his works. He attended Tamil Nadu's IIT Madras to obtain a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering and then made his way to the United States in 1978, when he earned his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and his Ph.D. in Communication from Boston University.

Chacko's works often explore the themes of race, culture, identity, and relationships. His first novel, “Crossing the Cultural Divide,” was published in 1989 and explored the lives of a family from India coming to the United States. In 2000, Chacko released his second novel, entitled “The Charioteer,” which centered on a Hindu man’s struggles to assimilate into post-colonial Malaysia. This book was the recipient of the South East Asia Literature Prize in 2001.

Chacko is also an active speaker and has served as a keynote speaker at many events, including the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, & Immigration at University of California, Los Angeles. In 2005, Chacko was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2006.

Chacko was made a part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning South Asian Literary Association in 2008 and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010. His three-volume series, “The South Asian Diaspora: A Collection” was published in 2011 and focuses on the experiences of South Asians living in the United States.

In his writings, Chacko demonstrates his method of “rice-bowl” storytelling, where characters from different cultures and walks of life intersect in unexpected ways. His works have been translated into several languages and read worldwide.

In addition to his writing and speaking engagements, Chacko also serves on the board of the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). The main goal of SAADA is to promote better understanding and appreciation of the South Asian American shared culture and heritage.

Chacko continues to write fiction and non-fiction stories to explore various aspects of the South Asian diaspora, race and culture. He has released many acclaimed books, including “Global Connections: Voices from the South Asian Diaspora in America,” “Mixed-Roots Stories,” and “Hell at Noon.”

Chacko is a prolific author and an important voice in the South Asian-American literary world. Through his writing, Chacko brings the stories of South Asian immigrants and their experiences to life. He is a Nobel Prize winner, an acclaimed public speaker, and a renowned writer.