Pune Author Aleifiya Bagasrawala Honoured with National Excellence Award for Debut Book “Two Scents”

Pune, 23rd February 2026: Pune-based author Aleifiya Bagasrawala was recently conferred the prestigious National Excellence Award by Maharashtra Cabinet Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha at an event organised by Florian Foundation for Leaders in Social Impact. The accolade was presented in recognition of her impactful debut book, Two Scents: Notes of a Young Widow, arriving just weeks after its official launch.

The award acknowledges Bagasrawala’s significant contribution to personal narrative writing and her thoughtful engagement with the social realities faced by widowed women. The memoir delves deeply into themes of love, loss, healing, and widowhood. Uniquely structured like a fragrance, the book explores the different phases of grief, identity, and renewal. It combines storytelling and poetry with symbolic perfume recipes as expressions of emotional healing. Additionally, the book features an epilogue that examines the historical social position of widows in India.

Two Scents has already garnered significant attention and support from prominent public figures. Philanthropist Dr. Manju Lodha penned the foreword for the memoir, and the book has received a strong endorsement from noted educationist Dr. Ajeenkya D Y Patil, Chairman of the Ajeenkya D Y Patil Group and Chancellor of Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune. Bagasrawala personally presented copies of her newly released book to both Dr. Lodha and Dr. Patil.

Since its release, the debut memoir has drawn readers from diverse fields, including wellness expert Mickey Mehta, actor and mentalist Umesh Pherwani, actress Ridhima Tiwari, and representatives of social organizations like Raah – A Literacy and Cultural Centre, emininent Dr. Phiroz Poonawala – Trustee, Empress Garden, Pune ; Social Activist – Rabia Patel, and Filmfare host Ms. Simran Ahuja.

Speaking about the honour, Bagasrawala expressed her gratitude, noting that the recognition encourages her to continue writing and sharing stories that reflect both personal experiences and broader social realities.

Coming from a background in brand strategy and higher education, Bagasrawala worked with several academic institutions before transitioning into writing. Two Scents: Notes of a Young Widow is currently available for purchase on Amazon and through select distributors.