Robert Arnett (March 1942-Sept 2021)
The Late Robert Arnett is the author and photographer of the internationally acclaimed book India Unveiled: Spirit, Tradition, People that has won 3 national book awards. He is also the author of Finders Keepers?, a children's book set in India, illustrated by Smita Turakhia, that has won 5 national book awards.
A native of Columbus, Georgia, Arnett had a Master's Degree in History from Indiana University. While serving nineteen months in Turkey as one of the youngest Commanding Officers in the Signal Corps, he taught History of Western Civilization for the University of Maryland, European Division.
Along with Smita Turakhia, Arnett initiated the School Library Book Project to place India Unveiled in all high schools and middle schools and Finders Keepers? in all elementary and middle school libraries in USA as resource books to supplement curriculum. The project is donor based. Both books are each in over 14,000 public school libraries, classrooms, and public libraries in the USA.
Arnett lectured widely throughout North America, including The Smithsonian Institute, The Kennedy Center, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford Universities. He also gave numerous presentations at schools, libraries, community organizations, temples, and churches.
Arnett mounted a traveling India Photo Exhibit comprising of 35 selected photographs from India Unveiled. Seven sets of the exhibit were acquired by universities and foundations to provide an educational display for facilitating a dialogue between students, their teachers, and the community.
He has been interviewed on National Public Radio, Voice of America, South African Broadcasting Corporation, and various television programs.
Smita Turakhia
Smita Turakhia is the editor, associate photographer, and designer of India Unveiled: Spirit, Tradition, People by Robert Arnett. Turakhia is also the illustrator of the multi-award-winning children’s book Finders Keepers? by Robert Arnett. Finders Keepers? has been translated into Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Japanese.
Her portfolio includes illustrations for The Journey to the Truth, an award-winning DVD that depict the messages and metaphors of the Bhagavad Gita in the Warli folk style of India.
Turakhia was a featured illustrator at The Kennedy Center and has given presentations on Indian culture at the Smithsonian Institution, book festivals, and many schools and libraries. Through her presentations, she gives the audience a greater understanding and an appreciation of the deeper meaning behind India’s culture, customs, and religion.
Turakhia and Robert Arnett initiated the School Library Book Project to place India Unveiled in all high schools and middle schools and Finders Keepers? in all elementary and middle school libraries in USA as resource books on India to supplement curriculum. Both books are each in over 14,000 public school libraries, classrooms, and public libraries in the USA.
Turakhia was born and grew up in Mumbai, India, where she graduated from Mumbai University. After she moved to the United States, she studied fine arts for two years at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. She now resides in USA with her husband.
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