Indian Tales That Connect Kiwi-Indian Children To Their Roots

A yellow-and-black auto rickshaw, a familiar sight on Chennai’s streets, comes alive with bright pink, green, and blue patterns as the monsoon rains fall. This vibrant ride belongs to Asha the Auto Driver, a children’s book character whose stories have travelled all the way from India to New Zealand.

Author and educator Aruna Shekar created Asha as part of her effort to bring Kiwi-Indian children stories that reflect their heritage while fostering pride and a sense of belonging.

“Books are powerful tools for identity,” she told The Indian Weekender, adding that for Kiwi-Indian children, reading about their homeland helps build connection and confidence.

Shekar said she hopes her stories also allow children to share their heritage with friends in New Zealand, encouraging inclusivity and cross-cultural understanding.

To capture the vibrance of Indian cities, she explained, she draws on her own memories: the fragrance of jasmine, bustling markets, and the tastes of local food.

Her books have been translated into several Indian languages. 

A growing collection of Indian-themed stories

Asha the Auto Driver, which Shekar said has been very well received, was followed by ‘It’s So Hot!’ and an upcoming release, Meera the Fisherwoman, due out in October. The new book portrays a fisherwoman mother who “goes where no woman has” in her struggle to provide for her family.

“Many stories come from my memories of Indian summers, school days, festivals, and family routines,” she said. “When I write, I often picture myself back in Chennai or in small towns I’ve visited. These experiences give my stories authenticity and warmth.”

Shekar has lived in New Zealand for four decades, working in teaching and leadership before turning her passion to storytelling. She said her goal is to build reading habits early while giving children characters they can relate to.

“When we were growing up, we rarely saw characters who looked like us in books,” she said. Representation gives children something to “dream and imagine.”

Her picture books feature Indian protagonists and contexts,
bridging both worlds Kiwi-Indian children inhabit. She has also
donated copies to rural schools and charities in India and New Zealand. “Books should be accessible to every child,” she emphasised.

Illustrations that bring stories to life

Shekar credits illustrators with giving her characters a vivid, relatable presence. Chennai-based artist Sandhya Prabhat designed Asha with details such as a khaki shirt over a bright saree, a gajra pinned to her braided hair, and the pinkish Chennai sky as she rides through the city in her auto.

Prabhat captures the rains, Marina Beach, and the railway station with accurate and beautiful details.

‘It’s So Hot!’ was illustrated by graphic artist and cartoonist Charbak Dipta, whose style, Shekar noted, is very different from her other books.

Heartwarming response

The reception to her books has been “very encouraging and heartwarming.” Parents told her that children proudly point to an auto rickshaw and say, “I’ve seen that in India!” Others said the stories spark conversations about family memories.

A child sits on his mother’s lap, reading Asha the Auto-Driver at Mt Roskill Library/Photo: Supplied

“Some children point to a picture and say, ‘I’ve been to Marina Beach.’ For me, that’s the greatest reward — to see books becoming a bridge between generations and cultures,” she said.

Awards and availability

So far, Shekar has authored seven picture books, with two more currently being illustrated. Asha the Auto Driver remains her best-seller, with the English and Tamil editions selling out in recent months. The book is also available in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada through Tulikabooks.com.

The title has won the Bangalore Literary Festival Award and the South Asian Book Award (SABA).

Most of her books range between 24–30 pages, some with activity sections. In New Zealand, prices are $20 for larger books and $15 for smaller ones, with discounts available for bulk purchases.

Copies can be ordered via email at AShekar.phd@gmail.com, as well as on Tulikabooks.com and Amazon.

Shekar also won an award in the International Search for Excellence Contest by publisher Katha, India, for a story about animals.

Of all her works, Asha the Auto Driver holds a special place in her heart.

Asha represents resilience and joy in everyday life. "She’s inspired by women I’ve seen in busy cities who go about their duties with strength and kindness,” Shekar said.