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Tanika Gupta, Nish Kumar, Vinay Patel and Nikesh Shukla discuss the pursuit of creative freedom, literary acts of defiance, and the stories they are expected to tell. Chaired by Nomia Iqbal.

Nikesh Shukla was told by publishers that his characters were not ‘authentically Asian enough.’ ‘Not all writers of colour want to write about race,’ Shukla says, ‘they want to write sci-fi, or creative non-fiction about beekeeping.’

For the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival, our speakers discuss the pursuit of creative freedom, literary acts of defiance, and the stories they are expected to tell. Tanika Gupta has written for theatre, radio, film and television. Her stage plays have been performed at the Royal Court, National Theatre and Young Vic. Nish Kumar is an acclaimed comedian, actor and presenter. He is host of the satirical news programme The Mash Report on BBC 2. Vinay Patel is a writer for stage and screen. He has written for the Bush Theatre and the latest series of Doctor Who, and his work has been nominated for three BAFTAs. Nikesh Shukla is the author of three novels, editor of the bestselling essay collection, The Good Immigrant, and co-founder of The Good Literary Agency.

Their discussion is chaired by journalist Nomia Iqbal.

This event was part of the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival 2019.

Recorded on: October 15, 2019
Recorded at: Asia House