5.29 Shastri & Jai: Redefining Gender Stereotypes in Indian Diasporic Writing

Books and Beyond with Bound

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature.
In this special episode of Books & Beyond, Tara and Michelle talk to two Indian diasporic writers – Shastri Akella and Jai Chakrabarti, about their books that break the mold of conventional storytelling and offer nuanced perspectives on gender stereotypes.
Being Indian writers based out of the US, how do they explore themes of gender, sexuality, and identity in their works? How do they challenge the stereotypes and expectations of Indian culture and society? How do they celebrate the diversity and complexity of the LGBTQ+ community in India and beyond?
They discuss Shastri’s “The Sea Elephants” – a queer coming-of-age novel about a young man ‘Shagun’ who joins a street theater troupe and discovers his feminine side. And Jai’s “A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness” – a collection of stories that explore family, culture, and identity across borders, featuring characters who defy gender norms and embrace their true selves.
Tune in to have your perspectives challenged!
Book mentioned in this episode :
The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
The Gathering by Anne Enright
Close to Home by Michael Magee
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkein
Authors mentioned in this episode :
Salman Rushdie
Fareed Zakaria
Aanchal Malhotra
Bernard Malamud
Michael Cunningham
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound edit by Kshitij Jadhav

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.