On Thursday 16th July 2015, the launch of the anthology, Desi Girls: Stories by Indian Women Writers Abroad was launched, at The Nehru Centre, London.
The anthology was launched by Baroness Flather, life peer of House of Lords who is also a Trustee of Vatayan. The chief guest on the occasion was the award winning journalist and author, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who has penned Refusing the Veil and Exotic England.
The book is a compilation of 22 short stories written by Indian women who reside out of the Indian diaspora, and is edited by the renowned award winning author, Divya Mathur, founder of Vatayan: Poetry on South Bank.
The book launch had a great turnout, with people from all walks of life attending the event, including aspiring writers, book-lovers, to academias and politicians.
There were also dramatised readings presented by actress Shalini Pieres; Pervaiz Alam, Professor and Dean with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Apeejay Stya University, India; actor Karl Rhodes and filmmaker Chaand Chazelle.
There was also a powerful rendition of a song which emphasised on the theme of women empowerment. It was performed by the young and upcoming singer, Uttara Sukanya Joshi.
