Matwaala Celebrates A Decade of South Asian Literary Advocacy

India-West News Desk

CHICAGO, IL — Marking ten years since its founding, Matwaala Mehfil 2025 reflects the steady evolution of a literary collective focused on South Asian diaspora poetry and community engagement.

Launched in 2015 by Usha Akella and Pramila Venkateswaran, Matwaala was created to expand the visibility of diasporic South Asian poets within the American literary landscape. Over the past decade, it has developed into a platform that brings together emerging and established voices through readings, conversations, and collaborative programming.

Its activities have included in person and virtual poetry readings, book launches, anthology celebrations, annual new books showcase, memorial readings, youth initiatives, and community reading projects. Some years have also featured a poet of honor, recognizing contributions to both creative work and poetry advocacy.

More than 125 poets have participated in Matwaala programs since its inception. While the collective has featured widely recognized writers such as Salman Rushdie, Meena Alexander, Vijay Seshadri, Ravi Shankar, and Indran Amirthanayagam, its focus has remained on creating space for a wider range of poetic voices.

The organization’s work has been supported by Poets & Writers and developed through partnerships with institutions including New York University, Stony Brook University, Hunter College, and Asian American Writers’ Workshop.

The name Matwaala reflects a sense of immersion in poetic expression, and the collective has emphasized collaboration across identities and communities as part of its approach. According to its founders, the initiative is rooted in the idea that literary spaces can be shaped through collective participation and sustained engagement.