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. 

Indian Voices Volume I

Indian Voices is a heart-stirring compilation. An amazing repertoire of prose and poetry penned by Indians from different corners of the world brings to life the unique characteristics and myriad feelings associated with this pulsating and colourful country.

Experience new expressions from across borders speaking the same language; moving words which encapsulates the amazing geographical breadth and cultural diversity, vividly capturing the unimaginable depth of emotions that power your senses. Empathize with familiar situations, normal people, their despair and ecstasy as you get drawn into real-life dramas, keeping you involved and engrossed as accomplished and emerging Indian authors string together thoughts in a masterful manner.

Indian Voices provides continuing newness, a renewed vision of words and history, and makes all of it accessibly well beyond the confines of India. It is a captivating affair which takes charge of the reader and lingers long in the mind, allowing imagination to rule. We invite you to join this soul-stirring journey.

Publisher: CP Thomas www.42Bookz.com 

Editor: Jasmine D’Costa

Poets & Writers in the anthology

Aamera Jiwaji, Akhil Katyal, Alpa Patel, Anjali Purohit, Annie Zaidi, Aparna Kaji Shah, Ashoak Upadhyay 

Basanta Kumar Kar, Bharat Trivedi, Braz Menezes 

Chandru Bhojwani, Chriselle Almeida

David Vaz, Debotri Dhar, Deepak Unnikrishnan

Edwin Vasan

Farzana Doctor

Girijaa Updahyay

J. A. Kasturi, Janice Goveas, Jessica Borges, Jude Fernandes

K. A. Patel, Keith Garebian, Kevin Lobo, Koushik Roy

Latika Mangrulkar

Mayank Bhatt, Meena Chopra, Menka Shivdasani

Najaf Nazir Parkar, Najia Sabeen Butt, Nikesh Murali, Nikhat Fatima

Oindrila Mukherjee

Pervin Saket, Philomena Saldanha, Pratap Reddy, Priyanka Sacheti

Rajesh Macwan, Rochelle Almeida, Rujuta Paradkar

Shaoli Chaudhuri, Saloni Meghani, Sam Mukherjee, Satyam S. Moorty, Shachi Kaul, Shameda Safee, Shaphali Jain, Sheela Jaywant, Shelly Bhoil Sood, Shobha Nihalani, Shweta Ganesh Kumar, Shweta Virmani Mehta, Somnath Mukherji, Subhashree Kishore, Sudha Balagopal, Sudha Menon, Susham Bedi, Sweta Srivastava Vikram, Syed Afzal Haider

Vandana Kumari Jena, Veena Gokhale, Vibha Batra

Waheed Rabbani