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#6: On Othering: Minding the Human Gap with Ritu Hemnani
Award-winning author Ritu Hemnani joins us for a powerful conversation on writing as a tool for empathy and social change.
We begin with her poem, "Mind the Gap," which hijacks the London Underground's warning to frame the xenophobia faced by Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritu reveals how this mundane phrase becomes a metaphor for prejudice, bystander silence, and the fear of being targeted.
We explore her cinematic craft, moving from nostalgic Chinatown memories to a tense tube car confrontation, and how her drama background fuels her character-driven empathy.
The discussion expands to her mission as a children's author. She shares her journey to publication with the Partition-inspired verse novel Lion of the Sky and picture book Gope and Meera, driven by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in a book.
Ritu also offers practical advice for writers and a sneak peek at her upcoming narrative non-fiction picture book, 'Their Story is Our Story.'
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Ritu’s live reading of “Mind the Gap.”
- How a TEDx Talk secured her HarperCollins book deal.
- Why writing for children is her toughest and most important audience.
- Writing tips, from daily habits to breaking through blocks.
- Our Local Linguo segment on the Cantonese phrase 「請留意月台空隙」.
Featured in this episode:
- Ritu Hemnani: Website | Instagram
- Books Mentioned: Lion of the Sky | Gope and Meera: A Migration Story
- Publication: Imprint by The Women in Publishing Society (Hong Kong)
Episode Credits:
- Host & Producer: Julia Besnard
- Guest: Ritu Hemnani
- Audio clips: "President Trump Calls Coronavirus 'Kung Flu'" BBC clip; "Coronavirus: Racism towards Chinese people in the UK on the rise" video by The Telegraphh UK.
- Hong Kong Lit Club is a production dedicated to promoting the writers of Hong Kong. Follow us on Instagram.
Subscribe now on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If this conversation moved you, please share it with a friend and leave us a rating and review!
View all episodes
By Julia BesnardAward-winning author Ritu Hemnani joins us for a powerful conversation on writing as a tool for empathy and social change.
We begin with her poem, "Mind the Gap," which hijacks the London Underground's warning to frame the xenophobia faced by Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritu reveals how this mundane phrase becomes a metaphor for prejudice, bystander silence, and the fear of being targeted.
We explore her cinematic craft, moving from nostalgic Chinatown memories to a tense tube car confrontation, and how her drama background fuels her character-driven empathy.
The discussion expands to her mission as a children's author. She shares her journey to publication with the Partition-inspired verse novel Lion of the Sky and picture book Gope and Meera, driven by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in a book.
Ritu also offers practical advice for writers and a sneak peek at her upcoming narrative non-fiction picture book, 'Their Story is Our Story.'
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Ritu’s live reading of “Mind the Gap.”
- How a TEDx Talk secured her HarperCollins book deal.
- Why writing for children is her toughest and most important audience.
- Writing tips, from daily habits to breaking through blocks.
- Our Local Linguo segment on the Cantonese phrase 「請留意月台空隙」.
Featured in this episode:
- Ritu Hemnani: Website | Instagram
- Books Mentioned: Lion of the Sky | Gope and Meera: A Migration Story
- Publication: Imprint by The Women in Publishing Society (Hong Kong)
Episode Credits:
- Host & Producer: Julia Besnard
- Guest: Ritu Hemnani
- Audio clips: "President Trump Calls Coronavirus 'Kung Flu'" BBC clip; "Coronavirus: Racism towards Chinese people in the UK on the rise" video by The Telegraphh UK.
- Hong Kong Lit Club is a production dedicated to promoting the writers of Hong Kong. Follow us on Instagram.
Subscribe now on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If this conversation moved you, please share it with a friend and leave us a rating and review!