Neem Dreams — Inez Baranay

Set in southern India in the mid 1990s. Four strangers are on quests related to India's neem tree. Meenakshi runs a village-based women's project. Pandora is an eco scientist looking for a story. Jade wants natural products for a New York store. Andy hopes to find a cure for HiV/Aids. The neem has been used since ancient times for household, medicinal and agricultural purposes and now is the centre of the clash between tradition and modernisation. When first published in India in 2003 Neem Dreams was widely acclaimed for the accuracy of observation and the pitch perfect depiction of the various characters.