LONDON - Aug. 17, 2019 - The award was in recognition of the positive action taken to enrich the curriculum with more creative works by writers and poets from the BAME background. It was conferred by the Word Masala Foundation on 13th August, at its celebration of new books by diaspora poets, The Pearson spokesperson responded with, "We are happy that the work done by Katy and her team is being recognised not just by students and teachers but by the voices we want them to hear." At the same event in the High Commission of India's Nehru Centre, the Word Masala Debut Poet 2019 was conferred upon Reshma Ruia with her collection pencilled in for October 2019.


At this second outing of This Glorious Noise event, apart from the founder-poet- editor Yogesh Patel, who was recently a Poet-of-Honor in New York, many Indian diaspora poets read their work. The event offered unfamiliar themes and diaspora experiences that affect us.

A poetry film 'Swimming with Whales' by Yogesh Patel (https://youtu.be/QuiRfnFaYkU) shown at the event also added a dimension to think about the genre generally not available in the education system.

Yogesh Patel: "I believe strongly that there is every reason for celebrating such efforts with awards. There is also a need to define diaspora literature. Is it only about the diasporic experience? Does it have to bring in its narrative deliberately the cultural elements of the heritage country? If it is so, then why the writers from the other background can also not be included in it? That raises another spectre: Does it mean it has to be related to the skin colour an in the acronym BAME? Why then must they only write about being an immigrant or being in a minority? This leads to a fascinating real debate. In the end, all things should be a guide and not a hard rule! Who decides or judges how it is to be the diasporic literature? The idea of the background of the individual works for me, but I also need to understand that if we go down that route for what are we looking?"

Yogesh Patel adds that to discuss this further as agreed by the Pearson team he will be meeting them to explore, help and understand their initiative further.

The driving principles of Word Masala Foundation (www.skylarkpublications.co.uk) about promoting diasporic literature are thus in harmony with the recognition that is bestowed on Edexcel.

Contact
Yogesh Patel & Word Masala Foundation UK