The launch of Indian Voices - 1

Mayank: Old, Fat, Bald, Blind

Andy Warhol declared in 1968 that in future everyone would have his or her 15 minutes of fame.

Thanks to Jasmine D’Costa, I had my 15 minutes of fame on April 7 at the Canadian launch of Indian Voices 1 in Toronto was quite simply the best literary event in Toronto in a long time.  

I was among the four authors who read at the launch, the other three were Shameeda Saffee, Meena Chopra and Farzana Doctor.

Several Toronto-based authors whose stories have been published in the anthology were also present; several friends – all of them who have helped in some way – cheered us on.

Ruksana's Journey in Indian Voices 1

The audience comprised some A listers

• Preeti Saran, Consul General of India in Toronto (quotable quote: “Not only does the Empire Writes Back, it even plays back,” – a reference to India’s World Cup victory and the audience went wild)
• R. Venkatesan, Commercial Consul
• MG Vassanji, eminent , multiple award-winning writer
• Pankaj Mehra, Director, Scotiabank
• Nurjehan Aziz, publisher TSAR Books
• Gavin Barrett, Poet and Partner, Creative Director of Barrett & Walsh
• Sunil Rao, Editor, South Asian Focus
• Binoy Thomas, Editor-in-chief, Weekly Voice
• Dawn Promislow, author
• Nonica Datta, historian
•  Bhupinder Virdi, publisher Starbuzz Weekly
• Niranjana Iyer, literary critic, blogger

... and many others...the list is endless...if I've forgotten to mention someone, my sincere apologies.

A strong contingent of Brazilians was also present thanks to the simultaneous launch of Hearts & Souls, a collection of poems by Leo Paradela.