Introduction: A Landmark Literary Dialogue
In the evolving landscape of global literature, the voices of the South Asian diaspora have moved from the periphery to the center stage, offering nuanced perspectives on identity, heritage, and the complexities of belonging. This shift was palpable during the 2022 Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), where a highlight of the virtual sessions featured a profound conversation between two influential figures: Canadian actor, comedian, and author Lilly Singh, and American novelist Neel Patel.
The session, held on the third day of the festival, focused on Patel’s debut novel, Tell Me How to Be. The book holds the distinction of being the inaugural selection for Lilly Singh’s newly formed book club, a testament to its resonance and emotional depth. Through their dialogue, Singh and Patel unpacked the layers of the South Asian experience in the West, the burden of familial secrets, and the transformative power of representation in media and literature.
Chronology of the Event: From Virtual Screens to Global Hearts
The Jaipur Literature Festival, often described as the "greatest literary show on Earth," transitioned to a hybrid format in 2022 to accommodate global audiences amidst the tail end of pandemic restrictions. On the third day of the festival, the virtual stage was set for a meeting of minds that bridged the gap between Hollywood entertainment and literary fiction.
Lilly Singh, known globally for her trailblazing career as "Superwoman" on YouTube and her tenure as a late-night talk show host, has increasingly used her platform to champion South Asian creators. Her interview with Neel Patel was not merely a promotional stop but a deep dive into a narrative that Singh admitted "loved that much" that she couldn’t wait to share it with her audience.
The conversation began with Singh’s personal reflection on the book, which she described as an "extremely emotional" journey. She navigated the interview from the perspective of an avid reader, questioning Patel on his motivations, his fears regarding the book’s reception, and the specific audience he hoped to reach with a story that is as much about the silence between generations as it is about the words they finally speak.
The Narrative Core: Tell Me How to Be
At the heart of the discussion was Patel’s novel, Tell Me How to Be, a story that weaves together the lives of a mother and son, both of whom are tethered to secrets that threaten to unravel their relationship.
The Protagonists: Akash and Renu
The novel follows Akash, a struggling songwriter living in Los Angeles, who returns to his childhood home in Illinois to help his mother, Renu, sell the family house following the death of his father. Akash is a character caught in the crosshairs of his own identity—struggling with his sexuality, his career aspirations, and the weight of being a "good Indian son."
Renu, meanwhile, is far from the stereotypical, one-dimensional immigrant mother often portrayed in Western media. She is a woman with a rich, complicated history, haunted by the memory of her first love and the choices she made to conform to societal expectations.
The Theme of Secrets
Lilly Singh highlighted the "steamy" and "raw" nature of the book, cheekily asking Patel if he was intimidated by the prospect of his own family—or the wider South Asian community—reading the more explicit or controversial segments. Singh noted that her own mother had read the book because of the book club, leading to a humorous yet poignant discussion on the "shame culture" that often permeates immigrant households.
Patel’s response was one of artistic honesty. He explained that during the creative process, an author is "just in the story," focused entirely on the truth of the characters. It is only upon the book’s release that the reality of public consumption sets in. This vulnerability is what gives the novel its power; it refuses to sanitize the South Asian experience for the sake of "respectability."
Supporting Data: The Landscape of South Asian Representation
The conversation at JLF 2022 did not exist in a vacuum. It was a reflection of a broader statistical and cultural shift in the American literary and media landscape.
The "Lahiri" Effect
During the session, Patel cited Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri as a pivotal influence. For many South Asian writers of Patel’s generation, Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies (1999) and The Namesake (2003) served as the first time they saw their specific domestic lives treated with literary gravity in the United States. Patel noted that until he read Lahiri in college, the idea of being a professional writer seemed like an impossibility.
Bollywood vs. Reality
Patel pointed out a significant gap in representation during his upbringing. While Bollywood provided a "nice escape," it often failed to mirror the lived reality of a brown boy growing up in the American Midwest. The data of the 1990s and early 2000s shows a dearth of South Asian protagonists in Western television and film who weren’t relegated to caricatures (like Apu from The Simpsons). This lack of mirrors led Patel to write Tell Me How to Be as a way of validating his own existence.
Official Responses and Reflections: In the Author’s Words
The interview provided a rare glimpse into the psyche of an author who is navigating the transition from a short story writer (Patel’s first book was the acclaimed collection If You See Me, Don’t Say Hi) to a novelist.
Writing for the Self
When Singh asked who the book was written for, Patel’s answer was strikingly intimate: "Honestly, I wrote it for myself." He elaborated that there was a significant emotional burden he hadn’t realized he was carrying until he began writing in the voice of Akash. "I wrote it for anyone who felt what I felt—that I did not belong here and who I was, was wrong."
This sentiment of "not belonging" is a recurring theme in diaspora literature, but Patel’s approach is unique because it intersects ethnicity with queer identity. By centering a gay Indian-American man, Patel addresses a double-marginalization that is often ignored in both mainstream Western and traditional Indian narratives.
The Power of Literature
Patel expressed surprise and inspiration at the overwhelming response to the book. He attributed this to the "enormous power of literature" to foster connection. The fact that readers from various backgrounds—not just South Asians—connected with the story of a mother and son trying to find their way back to each other suggests that while the details are specific, the emotions are universal.
Implications: The Future of Diaspora Narratives
The dialogue between Lilly Singh and Neel Patel at JLF 2022 has several significant implications for the future of the publishing industry and the South Asian community.
1. The Rise of the "Influencer" Book Club
Lilly Singh’s endorsement of Patel’s book signifies the growing power of digital influencers in the literary world. Much like Oprah’s Book Club or Reese Witherspoon’s "Hello Sunshine," Singh’s "Lilly’s Library" has the potential to catapult diverse authors into the mainstream, ensuring that stories about marginalized communities reach a global audience. This democratization of literary criticism allows for a more diverse range of "must-read" titles.
2. Breaking the "Model Minority" Myth
Patel’s characters—messy, secretive, and often at odds with their environment—challenge the "model minority" myth. By showing South Asians who fail, who struggle with addiction, and who have complex sexualities, Patel is expanding the boundaries of what a "South Asian story" can be. This paves the way for future writers to explore even darker or more unconventional themes without the pressure of having to represent the entire community in a positive light.
3. Intergenerational Healing
The session highlighted the importance of dialogue between generations. By discussing the book with Singh, Patel opened up a conversation about how South Asian families can move past the "log kya kahenge" (what will people say) mentality. The novel suggests that the only way to move forward is through radical honesty, a message that resonated deeply with the JLF audience.
4. The Globalization of JLF
The success of virtual sessions like this one demonstrates that the Jaipur Literature Festival has successfully evolved into a global platform. By featuring American-born authors of Indian descent in conversation with Canadian-Indian celebrities, the festival is acknowledging that "Indian literature" is no longer confined to the borders of the subcontinent; it is a global phenomenon.
Conclusion
The conversation between Neel Patel and Lilly Singh at the 2022 Jaipur Literature Festival was more than just a book promotion; it was a cultural moment that underscored the necessity of authentic storytelling. Through Tell Me How to Be, Patel has provided a voice for the voiceless and a mirror for those who have long felt invisible. As Singh noted at the end of the session, the emotional weight of the story stays with the reader long after the final page is turned, serving as a reminder that the search for identity and acceptance is a journey we are all, in some way, navigating together.
As the literary world continues to embrace diverse voices, the insights shared by Patel and Singh will undoubtedly serve as a touchstone for the next generation of writers and readers seeking to understand what it truly means to belong.
