Bharati Mukherjee was an Indian-American author known for her novels and short stories that explore themes of identity, immigration, and cultural conflict. Born on July 27, 1940, in Kolkata, India, she moved to the United States in 1961. Her works often reflect her experiences as a woman navigating between two cultures. Mukherjee gained prominence with her books such as The Tiger's Daughter and Jasmine, which highlight the struggles and triumphs of immigrants. She received several awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught creative writing.