South Asian books and the social good: Ruminations between the co-founders of Brown Girl Bookshelf

In August 2020, friends Mishika Narula and Srisruthi Ramesh created Brown Girl Bookshelf (BGB), a platform and growing community dedicated to celebrating South Asian literature. What began as a shared love of recommending books to one another has since evolved into a dynamic space that spotlights the richness and complexity of South Asian narratives, both within the subcontinent and across the diaspora.

With curated book lists, original reviews, and thoughtful commentary, BGB has become a trusted source for readers seeking stories that reflect the nuances of South Asian identity. As the platform marks its five-year anniversary, Narula and Ramesh reflect on the books that shaped them, the storytelling that continues to draw them in, and the moment they realised they were building something bigger than just a bookshelf.

Mishika Narula (MN): Let’s start where we always do – with a book. Do you remember the first book I recommended to you? Do you remember how you felt about it?

Srisruthi Ramesh (SR): Yes, A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza. I remember going into it with really high expectations, since we usually align on book taste, and honestly, I was a little nervous it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But it absolutely did. It was such a gorgeously written,...

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