Q. Who are you and what are you best known for? I’m Anita Shah, known for a number of things in the legal and corporate world (I am a qualified solicitor) but probably most notorious for my participation on The Apprentice back in 2009. I call it a guest appearance as I was the first …
West of No East
While researching a photoessay on the first decade of the 21st century, Tarsem discovers a photograph of Rubina, a former university friend now working as a campaigner. Unable to comfort his wife who has just recovered from her second miscarriage, and cope with the spectre of restructure and redundancy at his office, he contacts her. …
Zaiba Malik
Investigative journalist and author, Zaiba Malik talks to The Asian Writer about her memoir, We are a Muslim, Please.
Snap
By Shruti Parija Snap went the bond that begun in great revelry With the umbilical cord The bond that was meant to nurture To care, to love, to understand The yesteryears were proof enough That the bond God forged was beleaguered Bit by bit, Piece by Piece Unstrumming the strings of my essence Untying the …
Three Times Married
By Najma Yusufi Yasmeen Begum divorced her first husband for the better prospect of the second. He died. She then married again. The third marriage was still going because he had a title and hadn’t let her kill him, yet. His title was something she had always craved. She became Mrs Khan of Hoti. My …
Judgement Day
by Farah Ghuznavi I’m not crazy, you know, even if they’ve sent me to you for an assessment! My husband wants me committed to a Rest-and-Reprogramming facility “for self-protection”. For his own protection, Jai means… The consequences of marrying a much younger man chrystallised with my daughter’s arrival; Jai didn’t want to be a grown-up, …
Anjali Joseph wins Desmond Elliot Prize 2011
Anjali Joseph was tonight (Thursday 23 June) named as the winner of the £10,000 Desmond Elliott Prize 2011 for Saraswati Park, published by Fourth Estate. The Prize is awarded annually to the best first novel and Anjali Joseph’s portrayal of modern-day India was selected for its enchanting narrative and assured style. Edward Stourton, Chair of …
Rani Moorthy
Q. If the story of your life was turned into a play what would the title of that play be, and what would be the hook? I don’t take myself that seriously so I’ll give you a tongue-in –cheek one. “Larger than Life” …a plus size guide to conquering the world. Q. How did you …
Introducing Nasrullah Anwar
Q. Who are you and what are you best known for? My name is Nasrullah Anwar. I was the first of my siblings to be born in England. My parents are from Jehlum, Pakistan. My father worked in the cotton mills in East Lancashire and then as a maintenance officer at my boarding school. I …
Tanika Gupta
The Theatre Issue: The Asian Writer caught up with playwright Tanika Gupta, who recently adapted Dickens’ Great Expectations for the stage.