DESIblitz Festival hosts Mir and Chowdhury for 2023

The DESIblitz Literature Festival has announced its line up for 2023 with authors including Saima Mir and Ajay Chowdhury as well as Nick Wells, founder of Flame Tree Publishing.

DESIblitz.com is an award-winning news and entertainment platform that showcases the British South Asian cultural scene including arts, culture and books. Its festival takes place from 20th to 29th October across venues in Birmingham.

The headline event will be a 25th anniversary panel with the cast of “Goodness Gracious Me”. Actors including Kulvinder Ghir and Nina Wadia will be joined by original script writer Sanjeev Kholi to discuss its legacy and why it was a watershed moment for actors from the British South Asian community. 

Broadcaster and writer Mir will discuss Muslim female-led crime novel The Khan (Oneworld) alongside theatre director and crime author Chowdhury talking about his latest crime novel The Detective (Vintage). Historical fiction novelist Melissa Addey will also appear to talk about her historical fiction series covering histories in Morocco, Ancient Greece and India and will discuss her latest release.

Additionally children’s author Bali Rai will appear alongside Costa Award-winning children’s author Jasbinder Bilan of Asha and the Spirit Bird (Chicken House).

Non-Fiction headliners include Dr Shahed Yousaf, a prison doctor who will present his memoir Stitched Up (Penguin, August 2023) featuring a “a cast of unforgettable characters,” organisers said.

“At a time when medicine is a highly sought-after career for Indian women, it is hard to imagine what it was like for the pioneers. Lady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India’s First Women in Medicine by Kavitha Rao (Jacaranda Books) tells the story of how women were bound by the restraints of family, caste and society, and how fiercely they fought to escape,” organisers added.

Poetry is a big theme of this year’s festival – the seventh incarnation of the event – and poets reading their work at the festival include Angela Rideau, Abda Khan, Charnjit Gill and the Jaag Collective, among others.

Publishing insiders will also talk about how to open up the trade. Organisers said: “Tying in with the festival’s theme of opening up the UK publishing industry to writers from the South Asian diaspora, the festival will host a panel discussion about representation in the UK publishing industry.” Speakers include Habiba Desai, founder of Fox & Windmill – the UK’s first independent publishing company for British South Asian writers – as well as Wells, founder of Flame Tree Publishing.

Festival director Indi Deol commented: "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.   

“Mark your calendars and join us for a transformative experience that will leave you inspired, enlightened and connected."

Deol set up the DESIblitz Literature Festival because he wanted to create a platform that would establish writing as a viable career among British South Asian communities. 

Tickets are available via Eventbrite, the DESIblitz Literature Festival website and through partner venues. For more information, visit desiblitz.com/literaturefestival.