We were lucky to catch up with Mishika Narula and Sri Ramesh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mishika and Sri, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Books & Brands is our annual campaign that bridges the worlds of South Asian brands and literature to inspire more purposeful and impactful gift-giving. We launched this initiative not only to foster community and support the work of other South Asian creatives, but also to promote the act of giving books as a thoughtful addition to other presents. In a world where materialism often overshadows the value of thoughtful gifting, our Books & Brands series underscores the importance of meaningful and personal presents, fostering a culture of gratitude and connection. It also taps into our communities to share the work of small businesses with BGB, and BGB with those small businesses.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Brown Girl Bookshelf (BGB) is a platform and global community dedicated to elevating South Asian literature and creative work. In a digital age where content discovery and community-building are predominantly online, we started BGB to address the need for authentic representation of South Asians in the literary world.

We have been friends since college, and during the pandemic, our phone calls often centered around the books we were reading. Through these conversations, and amid the societal conversation around Black Lives Matters, we became more conscious of the lack of diversity in our reading. We set out to actively find more books by authors of color. Soon, we discovered platforms for many minority groups, but not a major platform dedicated to our own identities as South Asians.

When we officially launched BGB in August 2020, we thought there were only a handful of books by South Asian authors. However, the reality revealed that dozens are published annually. Today, we are the largest platform exclusively dedicated to South Asian literature on social media and our website/newsletter. In three years, BGB has grown into a global community of nearly 30,000. We’ve shared more than 300 books, published 180+ reviews, compiled a database of 150+ articles, and organized a volunteer reviewer program with nearly 100 participants. Our platform showcases a diverse array of South Asian stories, bridging the gap felt by both readers and authors.

In the broader context of the book industry, we continue to push to challenge the status quo. While there has been movement to improve diversity in publishing, large publishing houses still market to white readers, especially as marketing budgets for new authors are slim. A few publishing houses dominate the industry, which can hinder independent publishing houses who often champion diverse work. Even within the the South Asian book space, the most popular narratives often perpetuate stereotypes, failing to capture the true diversity within the community. BGB confronts these issues by celebrating a wide array of South Asian stories. As thought leaders, we advocate for meaningful improvements in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the literary landscape.

We are proud and humbled by several achievements over the years. We were honored to be featured by Goodreads, and our monthly newsletter was acknowledged by Substack as a standout publication. We have also have the privilege of serving as guest speakers on podcasts that celebrate trailblazing South Asians and South Asian literature

Additionally, this year we have entered the space of literary festivals. At the Aangan Literature Festival in New York City, Mishika curated a warm and intimate conversation on family expectations and generational trauma with three South Asian memoirists. At the South Asian Literature and Arts Festival in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sri hosted a discussion with two contemporary novelists that challenge and subvert traditional narratives surrounding South Asian women. This Diwali season, we’re delighted to host a special literature event in collaboration with New York City’s first AAPI woman-owned bookstore, Yu & Me Books. This free event will include three thoughtfully curated panels featuring 10 South Asian authors, along with a pop-up stall by a South Asian celebrity chef.

However, our most cherished accomplishment is the remarkable community we’ve built across different coasts and even countries. What truly warms our hearts is when members of our community, whether they are authors or readers, reach out to share their thoughts on our book recommendations or express how our work has positively impacted their writing journeys.

We deeply believe stories have the power to drive social change, and we are committed to amplifying a wider, more inclusive selection of narratives that reflect the rich tapestry of South Asian experiences. Looking ahead, we envision BGB as a beacon of representation and a catalyst for meaningful improvements in the book industry’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Through our continued growth and innovation, we aim to make South Asian literature more accessible and relevant, ensuring that every South Asian can find themselves in the stories we promote, and that the publishing industry recognizes the value of authentic representation.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

BGB began with a simple goal to share books by authors of color, and later South Asian authors specifically. Today, we have an ambitious mission to disrupt the established norms by amplifying a diverse range of voices and stories within the South Asian community. We firmly believe that South Asians are not a monolith, and our goal is to portray the rich tapestry of South Asian narratives. We want every reader, regardless of their background, to discover reflections of themselves in books and writing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As we’ve evolved, BGB has become a hub that draws in a vibrant community of South Asian authors, readers, small business owners, and creatives. Our continued drive is fueled by the enthusiasm and active engagement of our community members. We are also fueled by the support of our family and loyal and supportive friends, both old friends and the community of friends we have built through forming BGB. The messages, comments, and notes of encouragement we receive from guest reviewers who have discovered their new favorite book through volunteering for us, people who have taken our book recommendations, from our friends who champion our work, and from meeting and hearing from our favorite authors are the most rewarding aspects of this work for us.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.browngirlbookshelf.org
• Instagram: @browngirlbookshelf
• Facebook: @browngirlbookshelf
• Twitter: @browngbookshelf
• Goodreads: @browngirlbookshelf
• Substack newsletter: www.browngirlbookshelf.substack.com