I’ve always wanted to write a book for young brown women. I guess the catalyst was that I kept being approached for advice on social media — young women desperately need non-judgmental mentors. In Besharam, you cite Rupi Kaur and why her poems resonate with young, brown women all over the world. I would argue that their work is just as simplistic as Kaur’s, but she’s the one we pile on and criticise, because a young brown woman is the easiest target. Writing about her was important to me — we have to uplift our trailblazing brown women, instead of crushing them with dissent and mean-spirited critiques.

Source: Indian Express April 21, 2019 18:33 UTC