Sarita James
Sarita James is a freelance writer and strategy consultant based in New York City. A former editor of Harvard South Asian Journal, Sarita writes personal essays often reflective of her experiences as a scientist and second-generation immigrant. She is currently working on her first book, and she is represented by Lane Zachary of the literary agency Zachary Schuster Harmsworth.
Sarita is a graduate of Harvard College and Oxford University's Said Business School. As a high school senior in 1994, she won the grand prize at the International Science and Engineering Fair. As a college senior in 1998, she made USA Today's list of the country's top twenty students and co-chaired The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, Harvard's umbrella organization for ethnic and minority groups on campus. Sarita's past work experience includes time with Microsoft Corporation (where she authored two patents), McKinsey & Company, and non-profits from Abu Dhabi to Zimbabwe.
Sarita's grandfather, the Indian journalist K.P. Joseph continues to be a major influence.
Articles by this Author
Mom, Dad, Let Me Find My Own Husband
- By Sarita James
- Published 08/11/2008
- Relationship And Marriage
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MY Suitable Boy was seven years older than I with a gentle Superman wave of hair at his forehead and broad shoulders that defied the reedy build of our South Indian heritage. The son of a family friend, he often visited us in our northeast Indiana town, a few miles east of the Dan Quayle museum. Affable with dinner guests and handy with sports scores, he was adored by my parents. And I realized quickly, despite my parents' denials, that they wanted me to marry him. . . . . "Suitable boy" is a term used by Indian families to describe a strong marriage candidate — someone who comes from the right religion, region, community and family background. Within my circle of American-born cousins, however, we used the term only to tease each other about our parents' marriage schemes.