Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

US Pakistani poet Fatimah Asghar will explore identity at London show

by LAUREN CODLING

AN AWARD-WINNING poet has revealed the challenges which come with sharing her personal stories within her art form, as she prepares to perform in the UK next Thursday (21).


Fatimah Asghar is a poet, performer and screenwriter. Her debut poetry collection, If They Come For Us, focuses on the impact that the 1947 partition of the subcontinent had on her family, and her experiences of living in modern-day America as a “queer Muslim woman of Pakistani-Kashmiri heritage”.

The 29-year-old regularly uses her own stories for her art, but admitted she sometimes questions her choices.

“Will my family be mad? Am I doing justice to the people who I am writing about? What does it mean to have people know these things about me?” she said, talking about some of the uncertainties she has experienced.

Occasionally, her writing is so intimate that many people who don’t know her feel entitled to her personal life and space, Asghar explained. And although she understands there is a certain familiarity within her writing, and she is grateful for the connection, she is learning to set better boundaries.

“[I’m doing this so] I don’t get trampled by the world around me and still can stay soft enough to write what I need to,” she told Eastern Eye.

Next week, Asghar will perform her debut collection for the first time in London. She is excited to read in the UK, and is hoping that audiences will relate to her work. “So much of my work is about south Asianness in diaspora, so I feel as though folks in Britain will be able to connect to that,” she said.

Born in New York City, Asghar lost both her parents at an early age. She had previously said that writing helped her to “build a home” and feel less lonely, so Asghar used the art as an outlet.

However, she revealed that she kept her work secret.

“Mostly it was stuff that I kept to myself and then threw away so no one could read it,” she recalled.

As she grew older, Asghar saw someone perform the spoken word for the first time. She was moved by how they could fully embody their own story.

“So much of my writing had been a thing I did in secret, something I ran from,” she said.

“And here were people who were so willing to own their stories that they stood on stage and allowed the audience into their vulnerability.”

When she went to college, Asghar met a friend who asked her to attend a poetry group with her. It was the beginning of a new world for the critically acclaimed writer.

Since then, she has released a variety of work which has been published in Teen Vogue and Huffington Post. She is also the co-creator and writer of Brown Girls, an Emmy-nominated web series on the friendships between women of colour.

Among an assortment of themes, Asghar’s writing covers borders, immigration and identity issues.

When asked why, now more than ever, it was important for audiences to hear these stories, Asghar stressed that it is not a case of the topic being particularly timely. She believes America has always had a terrible relationship to borders, to history and to the people that it erases and exploits.

“These stories are important because they have always been important,” she said.

“Because our sense of security is based in the very faulty definitions of nation states, which can, and have, shifted at any moment.”

Now based between Chicago and Los Angeles, Asghar continues to showcase her work to audiences across the US. Whenever she performs, the poet is pleased by the number of ethnic women who come to see her shows.

“It means a lot to me when I go to shows in the middle of nowhere and they are consistently packed with young women of colour,” she said.

When her editor, Nicole Counts, came to Asghar’s book release in Chicago, she commented on how it was one of the youngest literary spaces she had ever been to, and the audience was full of “queer people of colour”.

“I think that’s the thing – folks will gravitate to things they feel centered in,” Asghar said.

“And it means so much to me when I see people come out to these events, show up for me and for the book. I can’t express how grateful I feel.”

Fatimah Asghar performs If They Come For Us next Thursday (21) at Hall Two, Kings Place, in London

(Lead pic credit: Priyanka Podjale)

More For You

Andaz Apna Apna

Aamir Khan and Salman Khan in Andaz Apna Apna

From chaos to cult: The mad journey of ‘Andaz Apna Apna’

Beloved Bollywood entertainer Andaz Apna Apna has delighted generations of film fans and is now regarded as a cult classic of Indian cinema. Its producers have consistently maintained that the comedy did well when it was released, but as the film was over budget, it did not make any profits at the time.

Over the years, however, this light-hearted movie – first released on 4 November 1994 – found its largest audience through home entertainment, in such a spectacular way that it is rightly regarded as one of the finest Indian comedies ever made.

Keep ReadingShow less
Priyanka Chopra Teams Up with John Cena, Idris Elba in 'Heads of State'

An elite MI6 agent played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Getty

Priyanka Chopra fronts action thriller ‘Heads of State’ with John Cena, Idris Elba

A dynamic of action, comedy, and political misadventure is set to hit Prime Video this summer with the release of Heads of State. The newly launched trailer teases a fast-paced, explosive ride featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, John Cena, and Idris Elba in lead roles. The film is slated to premiere globally on 2 July 2025.

Directed by Ilya Naishuller, the filmmaker behind Hardcore Henry and Nobody, Heads of State is billed as a cross between Air Force One and Midnight Run. The film places mismatched world leaders at the centre of a chaotic crisis that forces them to work together, despite their egos and rivalries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rahul Bhatt Faces Backlash Over Comments on Alia and Pooja Bhatt

Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire

Instagram/ Maheshfilms

Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt

Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.

The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Harvey Weinstein

He has denied all allegations and continues to maintain his innocence

Getty

Harvey Weinstein's retrial begins with accusations of 'psychological hold' on victims

The retrial of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein began in New York on Tuesday, after his 2020 rape conviction was overturned by the state’s Court of Appeals. Weinstein, 72, is being re-tried on charges of rape and sexual assault, which originally led to a 23-year prison sentence. He has pleaded not guilty.

The original conviction was quashed on grounds that the trial court allowed testimony from women whose allegations were not directly tied to the charges, which the appeals court ruled deprived Weinstein of a fair trial.

Keep ReadingShow less
Charli XCX Leads 2025 Ivors Nominations Honouring British Songwriting

'Brat' known for its sharp lyricism and bold production

Getty

Charli XCX leads 2025 Ivors nominations honouring British songwriting

Charli XCX, Lola Young and RAYE are among the key artists nominated for the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievement in British and Irish songwriting and composing. The nominations, announced ahead of the ceremony on 22 May in London, highlight a strong showing of both established and emerging talent across various musical genres.

Charli XCX’s album Brat has been nominated for Best Album, marking a significant moment in her evolving career. The record, known for its sharp lyricism and bold production, is one of the year’s most talked-about releases. She is joined in the category by Lola Young, whose debut album This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway also received a nomination. The project has been praised for its raw emotion and introspective songwriting.

Keep ReadingShow less