Aatish Taseer is the author, most recently, of A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile, as well as the memoir Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey Through Islamic Lands and the acclaimed novels The Way Things Were, a finalist for the 2016 Jan Michalski Prize, The Temple-Goers, short-listed for the Costa First Novel Award, and Noon; and the memoir and travelog The Twice-Born. He is also the translator of a volume of Saadat Hasan Manto’s short stories from Urdu, Manto: Selected Stories. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He is a Writer at Large for T: The New York Times Style Magazine. Born in England and raised in New Delhi, educated in the US and previously a journalist in the UK, he now lives in New York.

Things referenced in episode:

• During the episode, he speaks about his exile from the India he long considered home. Speficially, Aatish’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card was revoked after his 2019 TIME Magazine essay about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew the government’s ire
• Just days ago, Aatish wrote about life after exile for TIME Magazine: “In Exile, I Lost India but Gained a Home”

This episode is sponsored by Queen City Diwan, which leads travel adventures, immersive experiences, leadership retreats and religious pilgrimages.Queen City Diwan is excited to share its fall schedule, including an October ‘umrah in Saudi Arabia, a January trip to Andalucía just for college students—and, over Thanksgiving break, we’re planning an incredible tour across three countries. Learn more on our website. Avenue M is produced by Bespoken Live with music by Zach Swelber, who plays in Circle It and Mosant.