Vikas Kumar Jha (b. 1961) is a journalist by profession and has worked for magazines like Maya and Outlook, and is currently devoted to full-time writing. His first novel was titled Bhog, and his collection of Hindi poems, Is Baarish Mein. He has also written two critically acclaimed plays in Maithili, namely, Jamputra and Sonmachhariya, and a non-fiction narrative on the criminalization of politics in Bihar.
McCluskieganj received the Katha UK Award in the House of Commons in 2011.
Mahasweta Ghosh was Vikas Kumar Jha’s teacher of English in his college days. She has recently retired as University Professor and Head of the Department of English, Patna College, Patna University. This is her first work of translation.