Citizen By Descent

"The two constants in my life have always been my passport and my anxiety, they have travelled the world with me."

Citizen by Descent is a collection of illustrated autobiographical essays exploring the ideas of home, belonging, identity, anxiety, and being a third-culture kid. Born and raised in Dubai with an Indian passport, Kritika always felt like a nomad. In the past decade alone, she has lived in 8 different houses in three different countries, all the while trying to settle down. But none of them ever fully felt like home, there was always a piece missing. The book attempts to answer the age-old question of the diaspora, “Where do I belong?” Kritika’s response to that question is a timely reminder that a sense of belonging is not so much found as made. Each essay is brought to life by stunning illustrations from 11 different international artists like Gaurav Ogale, Ichraq Bouzidi, Annette Fernando.

Additional Information

Citizen by Descent is a collection of autobiographical essays exploring themes of home, mental health, identity, and the unique experiences of a third-culture kid. Born in Dubai, educated in the UK, and now in India, the book chronicles a life in constant motion, searching for roots amidst the journeys. Each essay is brought to life by stunning illustrations from a diverse group of international artists. From Gaurav Ogale to Hanifa A. Hameed to Annette Fernando to Ichraq Bouzidi (to name a few); I have been fortunate to work with the best of the best as their illustrations bring the text to life in a way that makes the movement through the book less like a formal narrative and more like a living exhibition.

Genre: Autobiographical Essays (illustrated)
Themes: Home, mental health, identity, third-culture experience
Sample Essay: How Did You End Up Here  (Featured in Usawa Literary Review)
Format: 240 pages, Hardcover
Published: October 22, 2023 by Independently Published
ISBN: 9789359800585 (ISBN10: 9359800589)
Language: English