Zilka Joseph, an Indian American poet, hails from a Bene Israel Jewish family in Mumbai, India. She grew up in Kolkata, got her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Calcutta, her MA in comparative literature from Jadavpur University, and a postgraduate degree in teaching from the University of Calcutta. Zilka taught English at St. James’ Boys School in Kolkata before emigrating to the USA. She won a Fellowship to pursue an MFA program at the University of Michigan and received the Michael R. Gutterman Award for poetry and the Elsie Choy Lee Scholarship at the Centre for the Education of Women. Currently, she lives in Ann Abor, Michigan, and mentors aspiring poets in creative writing workshops. She also works as a freelance editor and manuscript advisor.