Mumbai-based author, educator, and movement artist Dipna Daryanani exudes a serene conviction when discussing kindness—a quality she has keenly observed woven into the fabric of daily life. Her eagerly anticipated debut picture book, About the Friend in My Heart, released by Red Panda, the children’s division of Westland Books, centers entirely on this profound virtue. Dipna believes that while kindness is innate in every individual, it sometimes requires a subtle prompt to truly blossom.
“Humans possess an inherent capacity for kindness,” Dipna explains. “Occasionally, our hearts simply need a small encouragement to let that kindness shine through.” Her book thoughtfully highlights those minor, often unnoticed actions that embody the very spirit of generosity. These include simple acts like expressing gratitude, exchanging a warm smile, or savoring the first delicious mango of the season with a thankful spirit.
This November, Dipna is set to captivate young minds at the Vizag Junior Lit Fest, hosted at Hawa Mahal in Visakhapatnam. Over two engaging days, she will lead five unique sessions, featuring interactive readings, imaginative storytelling performances, and special parent-child workshops that beautifully blend yoga, creative movement, and introspective reflection.
The genesis of About the Friend in My Heart dates back to the unpredictable year of 2020, a time when the world was adapting to new forms of connection and stillness. Dipna recalls, “The pandemic presented a peculiar and challenging period for many, including the Indian publishing sector, where attempts to reach out to publishers often felt like shouting into an empty space.” Despite these hurdles, what might have been a tale of repeated rejections transformed, through her narrative, into a poignant testament to understated kindness.
Fast forward to 2024, during a literary festival in Kerala, Dipna encountered a fellow Mumbai author. This author, after hearing Dipna’s journey, graciously offered to introduce her to an editor. This pivotal connection ultimately paved the way for her collaboration with Westland’s Red Panda imprint. “It was a genuine act of kindness from someone I didn’t know,” she reflects, adding, “The entire experience mirrored the very essence of the book—how kindness gently weaves its way from one heart to another.”
Brought to life by the vibrant illustrations of Sonal Vaswani Gupta and meticulously edited by Sanghamitra Biswas, the book serves as a gentle invitation for young readers to explore the depths of kindness, both in how they treat others and themselves. Dipna emphasizes that the artwork was designed with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. “Our goal was for children to recognize themselves within these pages, celebrating their unique identities. The book features characters with glasses, various skin tones, and even one child with vitiligo,” she elaborates. She shares that two of her dearest childhood friends live with vitiligo, which deeply influenced her early understanding of acceptance and individuality. “True acceptance,” she notes, “is indeed a fundamental aspect of kindness.”
With a rich background spanning over 17 years in early childhood education and more than a decade immersed in dance and theatre, Dipna imbues her writing with a profound insight into a child’s world. As the visionary behind Move With Joy, a creative movement program for young children, and a co-founder of the eco-conscious clothing label Love the World Today, her diverse endeavors consistently return to a core principle: the importance of connection and compassionate care.
At the much-anticipated Vizag Junior Lit Fest, Dipna’s sessions will beautifully showcase this holistic philosophy. Her interactive reading events will encourage children to actively engage with the narrative by listening, moving, and expressing themselves through delightful creative exercises. “My aim,” she shares, “is to reveal to children, through engaging stories and gentle activities, how kindness resides within each of us—manifesting in our words, our actions, and the mindful attention we give to the world around us.”
Among her festival offerings, ‘The World Can Wait’ promises an enchanting outdoor musical storytelling performance, complete with live accompaniment, designed to gently remind attendees of the simple pleasures found in slowing down. Her ‘Posture with Love’ workshop will foster connection as parents and children explore movement through yoga and playful activities. Additionally, ‘The Magical Garden,’ a poignant story drawing inspiration from her special relationship with her grandfather, will celebrate the power of memory and imagination. The festival will culminate with ‘Move with Joy,’ a dynamic movement session tailored for older children, encouraging them to think, feel, and articulate through physical expression.
For Dipna, these communal gatherings extend beyond mere literary engagement; they are vital opportunities for fostering community. She muses, “In today’s fast-paced world, kindness serves as an essential anchor. We frequently prioritize material provisions for our children, inadvertently neglecting the core values that truly provide them with stability. Our current era undeniably calls for a return to these fundamental human principles.”
While About the Friend in My Heart is slated for its official launch later this November, attendees of the festival will have an exclusive chance to obtain advance copies.
You can catch Dipna’s inspiring sessions at the Vizag Junior Lit Fest, taking place in Visakhapatnam on November 8th and 9th at Hawa Mahal. To register for these engaging events, please visit Tanishq (VIP Road), Book Magic Library, or Pages Book Store.