In a recently concluded monthly session for Likhawat, we spoke to children’s books authors, Suma Subramaniam, Jyoti Gopal, and Vidya Murlidhar. The South-Asian authors were on a LIVE chat with Peerbagh talking about the power of stories, and the impact of narratives on our identities. They also shared their upcoming writing projects which sound super exciting.

The authors talked about how stories across culture have impacted them in their lives. They talked about the nuances of their lives and of their children as third-culture kids. We heard about how children or parents are often straddling two or more worlds at home or outside, and how they all form various authentic pieces of us. We also heard wonderful stories on the responses children have on their stories.

Desi books of course, don’t just belong to one culture. A good story is a engaging no matter what culture. They serve as windows, doors, and sliding doors to South-Asian culture.

In the end, we had some reader questions on the change in publishing and the moment South-Asian authors and books are having right now, and the work we still need to do to have true representation and diversity reflected in our books.

When is the next South-Asian author panel?

The next Likhawat panel will happen on June, 22nd. Stay connected via our Instagram to be the first to know when the authors for the panel are announced. Sign up for the Journal newsletter here to get the registration delivered directly to your inbox.

If you would like to recommend an author or panelist for this series, drop us a note pronto! Likhawat is also a part of our Blue Sky creative confidence program, and if you’re interested in being a part of our program, you can apply directly. 

To support our work and promote South-Asian authors in our local communities, please don’t forget to share this with your local communities, friends, and family. Our impact as a nonprofit is only made possible with the support of our community. 🙂