The line-up for the seventh annual DESIblitz Literature Festival has been announced today, and there is something for everyone to look forward to.
The DESIblitz Literature Festival was established by Indi Deol, the founder of the award-winning news and entertainment platform for all things British South Asian, DESIblitz.com.
‘Our mission at the DESIblitz Literature Festival is to continue bringing together diverse audiences, transcending boundaries, and celebrating the richness of cultures. With 90% of our festival events free to attend, we open doors to all, fostering inclusivity and accessibility. At the heart of our festival, we champion new and emerging voices, amplifying their stories and perspectives.’
Indi Deol, DESIblitz Founder
The mission of the DESIblitz Literature Festival is to create a platform establishing writing as a viable career for young people from an Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan background, by showcasing the talent of established British South Asian writers.
This year, the headline event of the DESIblitz Literature Festival is a ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ 25th Anniversary Panel, with actors Nina Wadia and Kulvinder Ghir, and scriptwriter Sanjeev Kholi.
The group will gather to discuss why the show was a watershed moment for British South Asian actors, and to reflect on the sitcom’s legacy many years later.
Other featured events will include a talk with journalist and broadcaster Saima Mir, all about her critically acclaimed Muslim, female-led crime novel ‘The Khan’, and a discussion with crime writer Ajay Chowdhury on his latest crime novel ‘The Detective ‘, which was published by Penguin Vintage in April. Historical fiction novelist Melissa Addey will also be attending the festival to discuss her latest release, having written several fiction series covering histories in Morocco, Ancient Greece, and India.
There will also be several events running for children, including a visit from Bali Rai, whose popular children’s book Rani & Sukh has been described as a “true mash-up of Shakespeare, Bollywood and Punjabi folk tales”, and has since become a GCSE set-text. His latest novel A Sudden Storm comes out in October, and we’re very excited to hear what he has to say to future generations of British South Asian writers. Jasbinder Bilan, the Costa Award-winning children’s author of Asha and the Spirit Bird, will also be hosting an event for budding young writers.
The DESIblitz Literature Festival also has a focus on bringing writing, storytelling, and culture from South Asia to schools across the UK with the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus. The Truck Art Bus was decorated last year by world-renowned truck artist Haider Ali and has so far visited eleven schools. The truck will be at the festival this year with a programme of storytelling from a range of South Asian cultures.
If fiction is not your bag, there will also be some excellent non-fiction writers joining us at the festival, including Dr Shahed Yousaf. A prison doctor dedicated to caring for people on the margins of society, Yousaf’s memoir, ‘Stitched Up’ introduces us to a cast of unforgettable characters, including killers, con men, and auto-cannibals. On the other side of medical non-fiction, an exciting and emerging genre in world literature, Kavitha Rao’s ‘Lady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India’s First Women in Medicine’ tells the story of women in the medical field. Bound by the restraints of family, caste and society, Rao’s book details how fiercely they fought to escape.
Further non-fiction writing comes from Nash Ramji, who arrived in the UK as a Ugandan refugee in the 1970s and went on to become one of Leicester’s leading law practitioners and a justice of the peace. His novel, ‘The Price of Honour’ is inspired by the true story of an honour killing that he presided over.
Poetry lovers will also find plenty to enjoy amongst the works of Angela Rideau, Abda Khan, Charnjit Gill, Jaag Collective, Rupinder Kaur, Shamim Azad, Sharena, Lee Satti, Sumera Farman, Anisa Butt and Suna Afshan.
The event is not limited to written word, with live music and dance performances taking place throughout the festival, including a performance from Channi Singh OBE, the ‘godfather’ of Bhangra in the West. Punjabi music composer Harbans Singh Jandhu will also be in attendance alongside Kulwant Singh Bhamrah from the traditional Bhangra street band Apna Sangeet. Up-and-coming Punjabi folk singers the Grewal Twins will also put on an exciting show, as will the master of bhangra dancing, Sukhi Bart.
Tying in with the festival’s theme of opening up the UK publishing industry to writers from British South Asian backgrounds, the festival will host a panel discussion about representation in the UK publishing industry. Speakers will include Habiba Desai, the founder of Fox & Windmill (the UK’s first independent publishing company for British South Asian writers), and Nick Wells, founder of Flame Tree Publishing.
Indi Deol says: “We invite you to explore the vibrant tapestry of storytelling, where renowned authors, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive workshops, and mesmerising performances await. Mark your calendars and join us for a transformative experience that will leave you inspired, enlightened, and connected.”
The DESIblitz Literature Festival will kick off on Friday 20th October and will run until Sunday 29th October 2023. Events will take place across a variety of venues, including B Music (formerly Symphony Hall), the Exchange Building, the Police Museum, Aston University, and libraries in West Bromwich and Handsworth. Events will be ticketed via Eventbrite, but primarily free, in line with the festival’s ethos of making literature accessible.
Tickets will go fast, so it is worth getting hold of them quickly. For more information, and to grab your tickets, head over to: https://desiblitz.com/literaturefestival/
We can’t wait for this iconic literary festival to make its return to Brum, so mark your calendars, and we’ll see you in October!
