She was born into a
Bene Israel Jewish family in
Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. She won
Sahitya Akademi Award in 2010 for
The Book of Rachel. Her father,
Reuben David, was a hunter-turned-veterinarian, who founded the Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden and the Balvatika near
Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad. Her mother, Sarah, was a school teacher. After her schooling in Ahmedabad, She was at
Maharaja Sayajirao University of
Baroda, as a student of Fine Arts and Art History. There she met Sankho Chaudhary, a sculptor, who taught her sculpture and Art History. She has authored several books; and also been an editor and contributor. Her books are related to Bene Israel Jews in Ahmedabad. ==Bibliography==