South Asian Heritage Month (2026)
Adults
The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan
Lyse Doucet
ISBN 9781529151022
When the Inter-Continental Hotel opened in Kabul in 1969, it reflected the hopes of the country - a glistening white edifice that embodied Afghanistan's dreams of becoming an affluent, modern power. Five decades later, and the Inter-Continental is a dilapidated, shrapnel-damaged shell. It has endured civil wars, terrorist attacks, the US occupation, and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. But its decaying grandeur still hints at ordinary Afghans' hopes of stability and prosperity. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, has been staying at the Inter-Continental since 1988. She has spent decades meeting its staff and guests, and listening to their stories. And now, she uses their experiences to offer an evocative history of modern Afghanistan.
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
Shehan Karunatilaka
ISBN 9781914502071
Colombo, 1990. Maali Almeida, war photographer, gambler and closet gay, has woken up dead in what seems like a celestial visa office. His dismembered body is sinking in the serene Beira lake and he has no idea who killed him. At a time where scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers and hired goons, the list of suspects is depressingly long, as the ghouls and ghosts with grudges who cluster round can attest. But even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to try and contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to a hidden cache of photos that will rock Sri Lanka.
The Far Field
Madhuri Vijay
ISBN 9781914502071
In the wake of her mother's death, Shalini, a privileged and restless young woman from Bangalore, sets out for a remote Himalayan village in the troubled northern region of Kashmir. Certain that the loss of her mother is somehow connected to the decade-old disappearance of Bashir Ahmed, a charming Kashmiri salesman who frequented her childhood home, she is determined to confront him. But upon her arrival, Shalini is brought face to face with Kashmir's politics, as well as the tangled history of the local family that takes her in. And when life in the village turns volatile and old hatreds threaten to erupt into violence, Shalini finds herself forced to make a series of choices that could hold dangerous repercussions for the very people she has come to love.
Sejal Sukhadwala
ISBN 9780712354509
Sejal Sukhadwala probes the complex intersection of tradition and colonialism through the fascinating history of curry, from its association with Ayurveda - one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems to its enduring popularity in contemporary British culture.
Chetna Maroo
ISBN 9781529094640
A deeply moving exploration of an immigrant father's attempts to raise his family as a single parent, while consumed by his own grief and loss and struggling to recognize those of his children too.
Children's Fiction
Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Nakul P
ISBN 9780241562550
Meet Uma - Uma the amazing, the adventurous, the seriously awesome superhero! Together with her Nani, and Chip, her unicorn side-kick, she goes on rescue missions, standing up for what is right and generally spreading happiness in Sparkleopolis, the super-sparkly, colourful city where she lives. Until one day the colour and sparkle start seeping out of Sparkleopolis. This must be a job for Uma! 'Super Uma' is a feel-good tale celebrating accessibility, teamwork and kindness.
Nikita Gill
ISBN 9781839944628
The stories of the Panchatantra have been read aloud and shared for thousands of years, kept alive by generation after generation of storytellers. In this captivating collection of ten animal tales, reimagined with warmth and wit by Nikita Gill, you'll meet mighty elephants and courageous mice, cunning crocodiles and clever monkeys, talkative tortoises and little lapwing birds. Discover a world of wonder, wisdom and friendship, of helping others, speaking out and finding courage.
Adiba Jaigirdar
ISBN 9781444973471
Aspiring journalist Nadia Islam hates that she's missing out on spending Ramadan with her best friend to go to Bangladesh. But the trip unexpectedly puts her reporting skills to the test. Her journalist aunt - Nadia's khalamoni - is in Bangladesh too, but not just for Ramadan or Eid, like Nadia. She's there to write a story on the increasing climate change problem in Bangladesh and how people are being affected by it. The more Nadia learns from her khalamoni, the more eager she is to help.
Manjeet Mann
ISBN 9780241647622
Rizu lives a comfortable life in the gated middle-class suburbs of Delhi; her biggest worries are getting her homework done and keeping up with the mean girls at school. That is, until she's accused of being a witch and the hysteria that follows triggers a chain reaction that ends in tragedy and life as she knew it changes forever. Alone and fearing for her life, Rizu runs away and joins a group of pink sari wearing, stick wielding women, known for their revenge vigilantism. Together they can help Rizu take back her life and seek justice against those who wronged her.
Children's Non-Fiction
Donna Amey Bhatt, Vikesh Amey Bhatt
ISBN 9781805137481
A unique exploration of the rich and complicated history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain. There are many ways of telling the same story, and how you tell it depends on your point of view. Some stories are so complicated, or difficult to explain, that they're not often told at all. Like the story of how a company ended up running a country, or how one man drawing a line on a map could change the lives of millions of people forever. This book aims to piece together the interesting, surprising, and sometimes very sad story of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain, and how these countries have shaped one another over the centuries.