Meet Durga Ekambaram

We recently connected with Durga Ekambaram and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Durga, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

The word itself carries many meanings. Commonly “purpose” is defined by success or recognition. But for me, purpose is having something to look forward to. At present, that is my fifth book, whose manuscript is about twenty percent complete. Finishing it within the next few months and publishing it soon would certainly be an ideal goal.
Yet the true purpose behind all my creative pursuits is not success or fame but it is the gratification I find in the process. I have always worked without pressure, valuing the journey and the time it demands just as much as the final result. Over the years, through the many journeys I have taken in both art and writing, I have come to understand that each path is unique, with its own challenges and surprises. Embracing success and failure with equal feeling and appreciating these experiences, is always the true purpose behind my work.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a mixed media artist and an author, who writes “Pride and Prejudice” fanfiction. Both creative paths unfolded almost by chance, driven by my innate desire to keep my passion for art and literature alive. I have exhibited my work in galleries at local art organizations and greatly enjoy creating large-scale chalk murals during the summer. I also love collaborating with nonprofits and teaching traditional Indian folk-art forms. I currently have four books published on Amazon, and I am now working on my fifth.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most important qualities which have helped in my creative careers, is value for time, accepting criticism and embracing failures. I have always respected and valued time, both my own and that of others. I am certain this has helped me stay prepared for unexpected interruptions and challenges. When it comes to criticism or feedback about my work, there was a time when I would become defensive and brush it aside. But over the years, I have learned how important it is to absorb feedback just as openly as praise. I now feel I have the temperament to evaluate it thoughtfully and see whether it can help me sharpen my skills or improve my work.
As for failures, I firmly believe that not just professionally, but in life itself it is very important to embrace your failures as much as you celebrate your success.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I am ever so grateful for the opportunities my parents gave me throughout my childhood. Though I did not fully appreciate them at the time, I now realize how deeply the exposure to Indian traditional dance, music, and art has shaped me as an artist.
Most impactful of all was the way they nurtured my love for reading. I still remember my dad taking me to one of my favorite bookstores in my hometown and buying me the books I treasured the most. I never imagined on those days that I would one day become an author. And I am very certain that if I had not read so much at a young age, I would never have been driven to write a book of my own.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strokes_durga/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@durga-artist-author
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/author/durgaek