Literature Across Borders: fourth year
This is our fourth year of Literature Across Borders, a project which pairs students from 黑料正能量 with peers at Ashoka University and the University of Hyderabad in India. Through the project, the students trade notes on books published for young readers in both countries. Discover what students from both universities learned through their reading and discussions in Year one, Year two and Year three.
You can read more about this in which published two proceedings pieces – the first a series of and the second a of how the project was conceptualised, planned and delivered. Our co-founder, Meghaa Gupta, also has a detailed piece on all aspects of the work in .
Set one: The Night Diary, Torn Apart: The Partition of India and Across the Line by Nayanika Mahtani
In our first set of books for this edition we looked at the Partition of India as portrayed in fiction.
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark—first by train, later on foot—to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity...and for a hopeful future.
Torn Apart: The Partition of India by Swapna Haddow
It’s October 1947 and two young boys find themselves thrown together during the dramatic changes of Partition. As the new India and Pakistan are born, can the friendship between these two children rise above the tensions between the two countries? A thrilling and moving account of the largest movement of people in history, telling both sides of the story through the voices of children at the heart of Partition.
Across the Line by Nayanika Mahtani
1947
New Delhi. Cyril Radcliffe’s hands are clammy, partly from the heat but mostly from the enormity of the task assigned. Mopping the sweat off his brow, he picks up his pen, draws a deep breath–and a dark line. Rawalpindi. A barbaric frenzy of rioters fills the streets, disrupting a game of pithoo between Toshi and her brother, Tarlok, shattering their lives unimaginably.
2008
Rawalpindi. Cricket-crazy Inaya is sneaking out behind her father’s back for net practice when she discovers that she is not the only one in her family keeping a secret. New Delhi. Jai accidentally stumbles upon an old, hidden away diary in his kitchen. The date of its last entry: 17 August 1947.
As Jai and Inaya’s unlikely worlds collide, another story unfolds. A story that started with the drawing of a line. A story that shifts the truth in their lives.
Student discussion
For the full conversation, the student dialogue is hosted on the .
The dialogue is moderated by LaB co-founder Meghaa Gupta.
The participants are as follows:
- Kahini Majumdar is a first-year student of MA English in the University of Hyderabad. She is interested in postcolonial fiction and memory studies in literature.
- Baivaw Jha is a first-year MA student at the University of Hyderabad. Their interests include eco-criticism, postcolonial thought, and climate narratives.
- Srijan Bhattacharya is a first-year student of the MA English program at the University of Hyderabad. He has a particular interest in Black American literature, Bengali theatre, and Jazz.
- Laura Elizabeth Jacquemond is an American living in France. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Hull, UK and is currently working towards another MA in Writing for Young People at 黑料正能量, UK.
- Siobhan Andrews Kapoor is an MA Creative Writing student at 黑料正能量 currently writing her first novel, which is set between India and Britain in the 1900s.
We were delighted to facilitate a conversation between authors Swapna Haddow, Nayanika Mahtani, and Veera Hiranandani. To watch the dialogue hosted by Meghaa Gupta, please visit our .
Pair two: The Boy at the Back of the Class and Dear Mrs Naidu
In our second pair of books for this edition we looked at children fighting for social justice in schools.
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf
There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He’s nine years old (just like me), but he’s very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn’t like sweets - not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite! But then I learned the truth: Ahmet really isn’t very strange at all. He’s a refugee who’s run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help. That’s where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we’ve come up with a plan. . . Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense.
Dear Mrs Naidu by Mathangi Subramanian
Twelve-year-old Sarojini’s best friend, Amir, might not be her best friend any more. Ever since Amir moved out of the basti and started going to a posh private school, it seems like he and Sarojini have nothing in common. As she struggles to keep her best friend, Sarojini gets help from some unexpected characters, including Deepti, a feisty classmate who lives at a construction site; Vimala Madam, a human rights lawyer who might also be an evil genius; and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a long-dead freedom fighter who becomes Sarojini's secret pen pal. Told through letters to Mrs. Naidu, this is the story of how Sarojini learns to fight - for her friendship, her family, and her future.
Student discussion
For the full conversation, the student dialogue is hosted on the .
The dialogue is moderated by Laura Elizabeth Jacquemond. Laura Elizabeth is an American living in France. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Hull, UK and is currently working towards another MA in Writing for Young People at 黑料正能量, UK.
The participants are as follows:
- Nishtha Devalbhai Bhuptani is a first year masters student at Ashoka University and a former English educator.
- Vagmita is a fourth year English and Creative Writing student at Ashoka University, currently pursuing an undergraduate thesis on vrat kathas, tales of Hindu religious folklore.
- Mariya is a first-year University of Hyderabad student interested in examining how modern children’s literature confronts systemic injustice. She previously led a college writing club, crafting poems and leading discussions centered on child psychology.
- Shivani Mahakul is a second-year MA student at the University of Hyderabad, exploring literature as a space where poetry, memory, and questions of identity quietly intersect.
- Hannah Durkan is a children's author from Leeds. She enjoys writing fantastical adventures, including her middle grade series, Zeina Starborn. She is in the second year of MA Writing for Young People at BSU.
- Andy Coombs is a Sweden based YA author and PhD researcher at BSU (Story as Process: Using Fiction to Foster Imagination, Empathy and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI) exploring stories, imagination, empathy and critical thinking.
Pair three: The Royal Rebel: The Life Of Suffragette Princess Sophia Dul and The Incredible Story of Savitribai Phule: The Fearless Reformer
In our third pair of books for this edition we looked at biographies of women activists in the nineteenth century.
The Royal Rebel: The Life of Suffragette Princess Sophia Dul by Bali Rai
Rebel, Princess, Suffragette: this is the incredible true story of the life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, a forgotten heroine of the early twentieth century. Born in 1876, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab, and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. After her father lost control of his empire and was exiled to England, Sophia had a privileged but troubled upbringing that left her unsure about where she belonged – in India or England. Sensitive to injustice, she became a suffragette and fought hard to win the vote for women.
The Incredible Story of Savitribai Phule: The Fearless Reformer by Swati Sengupta
One of India’s first woman teachers and female reformers, Savitribai Phule faced incredible opposition to her work when people attacked her not just with words but even with stones and dung. But nothing could stop her. This is the enduring story of a woman who looked at age-old injustices and prejudice in the eye, and overcame them with courage and the power of learning.
Student discussion
For the full conversation, the student dialogue is hosted on the .
The participants are as follows:
- Patsy Quinnis a second-year on BSU's MA in Writing for Young People. She lives in England and tutors neurodiverse students in English and History.
- Alison Woodhouse is a writer and teacher in the third year of a funded PhD in Creative Writing at Bath Spa. The House on the Corner (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2020). Family Frames (V. Press, 2021)
- Samridhi Vohra is a student of MA English at the University of Hyderabad. Her research interests lie in folk literature, art history, and comparative literary studies.
- Jaitra Kumar is a second-year student of Masters in English at University of Hyderabad.
- Angana Sinha Ray is a first year English PhD student at Ashoka University.
This dialogue is moderated by LaB alumna Mehak Bakhshi, who recently completed an MA in English at Ashoka University.
Pair four: The Girl who Talked to Trees and Tracing Roots: Stories about Trees
In our final pair of books for this edition we looked at richly illustrated narratives blending fact and fiction on trees.
The Girl who Talked to Trees by Natasha Farrant and Lydia Corry
Olive’s best friend is a four-hundred-year-old oak tree, and it is in danger. As she tumbles into its magic world, she makes it a promise. From deep roots to high branches, a Persian garden to an underwater forest, from tulip trees to wild apple to vengeful box, she listens to the trees telling stories for all time. And she keeps her promise.
Tracing Roots: Stories about Trees by Mallika Ravikumar and Swati Kharbanda
For centuries, people have sought to make sense of the world around them through stories, and this holds true for trees as well. Why does the coconut have eyes? How did a cobbler prove his wisdom with a tiny seed? How did a jackfruit tree help Birbal solve a robbery? Thatha takes Samar, Maya, Shyam, and Nisha all over India and beyond through 12 stories that span several cultures.
Student discussion
For the full conversation, the student dialogue is hosted on the .
The participants are as follows:
- Joanna Burridge is in the second year of an MA in Creative Writing at BSU, focusing on developing poetry about nature and the environment, plus life experiences, including health challenges.
- Gaura Sharma is a first-year PhD student at Ashoka University. Her research project looks at devotional Bhakti poets with a special focus on the effect of “longing” in Rajasthan poet Mirabai’s songs. Her areas of interest also include hermeneutics, devotional poetry, and Children’s Literature.
- Tarini Yasheswani Achariya is a second-year student of MA English program at University of Hyderabad.
- Sai Soumya is a first-year master’s student at University of Hyderabad; she is well-read on Indian mythology hoping to strengthen the foundations of culture through literature and contemporary scholarship.
The dialogue is moderated by Rupert Barrington. Rupert is a graduate of the MA Writing for Young People at 黑料正能量 and an alumnus of LaB, having participated in the inaugural year and contributed to our articles in LEAF journal. He is also a documentary film-maker: recent projects include Green Planet.
Gaura Sharma is a first-year PhD student at Ashoka University. Her research project looks at devotional Bhakti poets with a special focus on the effect of “longing” in Rajasthan poet Mirabai’s songs. Her areas of interest also include hermeneutics, devotional poetry, and Children’s Literature.