Rama Rau, Santha (1923–)

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Rama Rau, Santha (1923–)

Indian travel writer and novelist. Name variations: Santha Rama Rau Wattles. Born Vasanthi Rama Rau, Jan 24, 1923, in Madras, India; dau. of Benegal Rama Rau (diplomat) and Dhanvanthi Rama Rau (social worker and women's rights advocate); educated at St. Paul's Girls' School in London; Wellesley College, BA, 1944; m. Faubion Bowers, 1951 (div.); m. Gurdon W. Wattles, 1970; children: (1st m.) Jai Peter.

Published 1st book, Home to India (1945); when father was named India's 1st ambassador to Japan (1947), traveled with him to Tokyo to serve as his hostess; her travels with husband Faubion Bowers became the basis for such books as East of Home (1950), This Is India (1954), View to the Southeast (1957) and My Russian Journey (1959), which were praised for their vivid portrayals of each country's people; published 1st novel, Remember the House, an examination of the upper class in Bombay (1956), followed by 2nd novel, The Adventuress (1971); adapted Forster's A Passage to India for the stage (1960); with Gayatri Devi, co-authored A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur. Won Mademoiselle Award (1947); received National Association of Independent Schools Award for My Russian Journey (1960).

See also Women in World History.