Aatish Taseer on losing OCI status, exile and the fragile idea of home

In his latest book, A Return to Self, writer Aatish Taseer turns the loss of his Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status into a journey of self-exploration, using travel as a mirror to probe identity, belonging, and exile. Blending memoir, history, and sensory observation, he examines the delicate space between estrangement and intimacy, and freedom and constraint.

Aatish Taseer's book, A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile, was published in India on July 30, 2025, by HarperCollins India. (Image: Aatish Taseer)