BY SURABHI KAUSHIK
Dheepa Maturi is a New York–born, Midwest-raised Indian-American writer who explores the intersection of identity, culture, and ecology — especially through the lens of hope in the face of ecological grief. Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, her essays and poetry have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. In her gripping new novel 108: an Eco-Thriller, Maturi weaves ancient wisdom, environmental urgency, and the spiritual journey of an Indian-American heroine into a suspenseful tale of global stakes.
In this conversation with NRI Pulse, Maturi discusses the inspiration behind the novel, the cultural layers embedded in the story, and the powerful message of hope she hopes readers will carry with them.
The premise of 108: an Eco-Thriller is both urgent and captivating. Was there a particular moment or issue that sparked the idea?
You may have heard the saying: write the book you want to read. Most of the environment- and climate-related stories I read were despairing and dystopian, and I began to wonder: are those stories causing us to lose hope? Are they causing us to believe that total climate catastrophe is a foregone conclusion? Instead, I wanted to put a hopeful story into the world, one that showed our intelligence and efforts preventing climate catastrophe before it happened, not just surviving it after the fact. I wanted a story showing that, as individuals, we have power, and as a collective, we can have a tremendous impact.
The title 108 carries a sense of mystery and significance, especially in spiritual or cultural contexts. Can you share the meaning behind the title and how it ties into the story’s eco-thriller aspect?
At the level of the story, the number of 108 is the key to an archaeological and mythological mystery. In a larger context, though, this number has tremendous significance in Eastern spiritual traditions: it is tied to the mathematics of Earth and the cosmos, and also to the human system. The book connects all of these levels in order to inspire the protagonist and empower her and her allies to act.
Your female lead Bayla, an Indian-American character, is a refreshing and powerful choice. How did her cultural identity shape the narrative, and what does she bring to the eco-thriller genre that readers might not expect?
It was such a joy to write a protagonist who shared my lens on the world, who understood living in the space between cultures as well as struggling for belonging. Bayla has to grapple with all of this in order to find her own personal power and address the challenges she faces. Additionally, her dedication to a yoga and meditation practice allowed me to infuse Eastern spirituality into a global thriller. It allowed me to present Earth as a sacred entity worthy of respect and reverence, rather than a mere backdrop to our lives and a “supply cabinet and sewer,” in the words of environmentalists. And I’ll admit that it felt enjoyable and even subversive to shape an Indian-American yoga practitioner into the heroine of a global thriller!
Eco-thrillers often walk a fine line between entertainment and activism. What emotional or intellectual response do you hope your readers have after finishing 108?
Writing this story as an eco-thriller gave me the opportunity to highlight an environmental issue that doesn’t get enough press: soil erosion and extinction. Topsoil, the 12-inch deep, planet-wide “skin” that provides all of our food and nutrition, has degraded precipitously in recent years, such that a food crisis will occur in a matter of decades. I know such issues are challenging to face and grapple with, so I hoped that presenting the issue in a page-turner, with a ticking clock, high stakes, terrifying antagonist, and compelling heroine, would raise awareness and inspire conversation and action.
What kind of research went into writing this novel — scientific, cultural, or otherwise? Were there any discoveries during your writing process that surprised you?
There were three strands of research I pursued for the book. As mentioned above, I studied soil erosion and extinction. Second, I consulted Fritjof Capra’s The Systems View of Life textbook to gain insight into ecological interconnectivity. Third, I read Lynne McTaggart’s The Intention Experiment regarding the science behind intention, attention, and thought. All three directions led me to scientific papers, documentaries, and creative writing on these topics. What surprised me most during my research was the number of people, businesses, and movements working assiduously to bring about positive environmental change.
Finally, if 108 had just one key message — one idea you hope sticks with your readers long after they close the book — what would that be?
My primary message is that we mustn’t despair. Despair fools us into thinking nothing can be done and works in favor of polluters who harm the planet and governments that don’t wish to take necessary action. However, the assumptions that it is too late to address the climate crisis, or that it is simply unsolvable, are utterly untrue. In fact, we have enough time, technology, and ingenuity to take positive steps and solve the crisis. The only thing missing is willingness. It’s our responsibility to acknowledge environmental losses, express our distress and grief, and speak for the planet.
