The Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival is back in May and what a programme they have in store! The Chatterjis Blog will cover the event as official bloggers for the festival which includes writers from over 17 different Asian countries. In addition to a regular festival format a new series, Extra Words will introduce debut authors from Pakistan, Nepal and Thailand.
The festival officially opens on 6th May with high profile writer, Hanif Kureishi who will talk about his new book The Last Word. There are a few pre-festival events in April that sound fabulous too. On 10th April there is an event called Separations discussing what happens when a country suffers from political divisions. Featuring Korean writers Kyung-sook Shin (2011 Man Asia Prize winner) and Krys Lee and Pakistani writer Qaisra Shahraz whose work focuses on women and partition it should be a lively evening. Why Do Indians Vote? Democracy in India is another pre-festival event taking place on 30th April about the time Indians go to the polls. The question will be explored by eminent writers and thinkers, Mukulika Banerjee (Why India Votes), Patrick French (India- A Portrait) and Lord Meghnad Desai.
Tickets are currently on sale to members but they will be made available to the wider public relatively soon.There are too many wonderful events during the festival…more dates for your diary:
8 May: Kamila Shamsie – A God in Every Stone
In conversation with Arifa Akbar, The award-winning Pakistani author discusses her latest novel, a story of friendship, injustice, love and betrayal, played out on a global canvas.
9 May: Brigid Keenan – Packing Up – Further Adventures of A Trailing Spouse With Claire Armitstead. The author of Diplomatic Baggage ( a very funny book) is both charming and witty so I’m sure it will be a delightful lunchtime event.
9 May: Cracking Up – The Evolution of British Asian Humour
Anil Gupta, Saurabh Kakkar, Shazia Mirza discuss the topic with Sathnam Sanghera. Asia House continues its popular British Asian evenings with an
entertaining look at Brit-Asian humour, its development as a mark of cultural identity and how it has evolved since Goodness Gracious Me.
12 May: China – 25 Years After Tiananmen
Jonathan Mirsky, Michael Bristow, Jonathan Fenby (Will China
Dominate the 21st Century?) With Rob Gifford
Twenty-five years after the People’s Army crushed protestors in Tiananmen Square, this event remains a taboo subject in China. The panel looks at the legacy of Tiananmen in today’s China.
13 May: Changing Sexual Mores
Shereen el Feki (Sex and the Citadel), Sally Howard (The Kama Sutra
Diaries) With Moni Mohsin. Sex is entwined with religion, tradition, gender and politics across Asia making the perfect lens for examining the region’s
complex social landscape.
16 May: Talk/Demo 12.00 / Lunch 13.15
The Vietnamese Market Cookbook, Van Tran and Anh Vu
Talk, demo and lunchtime tasting of one of the world’s up and coming great cuisines with the creators of BanhMi11, whose award winning street food can be found at their shops, food stalls and pop-up diners across east
and central London.
And there are soooo many more events so please do take a look at the Asia House website.
The event is sponsored by the Bagri Foundation is a UK registered charity whose principal aims include the advancement of literacy, education and the arts, as well as the appreciation and understanding of Asian cultures.
Bubbly
The Chatterjis Blog 
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