The first anthology of poetry in the country written by people with south Asian roots has been produced by a Bradford publisher.

The Redbeck Anthology of British South Asian Poetry will be launched at Bradford Library on May 18.

It is the brainchild of publisher David Tipton, who runs Redbeck Press in Aireville Road, Bradford, and Sheffield-based poet and writer Debjani Chatterjee.

The book has 74 contributors, including Bradford poets Mohammed Hafeez Johar, who works for Bradford Library Services, and Shripati Upadhyaya, a founder of the South Asian arts organisation, Kala Sangam, and a clinical psychologist with Bradford Community Health NHS.

Mr Tipton said: "This is the first book of its kind in the country - it is a groundbreaking work."

He said he had been toying with the idea for some time and was delighted when Debjani Chatterjee, who had been thinking along the same lines, approached him with the scheme.

Contributions had come from all over the country and included many new works.

Debjani Chatterjee said she was thrilled that, after two years of preparation, the book had been completed.

"I had the idea for a long time. I'm a full-time writer and, in giving readings around the country and holding workshops, I have met a number of South Asian writers.

"I approached a number of publishers with the idea of an anthology.

"Some said they were very interested but questioned whether the time was right and others thought the idea good, but felt they were too small a press to take on the work without funding.

"When I approached David, he jumped at the chance because he too had the same idea. We were thinking on the same lines.

"Bradford is a very exciting part of the country for this project where there are a substantial minority of people with south Asian roots and there is a good multi-cultural scene."

The writers were from a variety of backgrounds including many women. The 1,500 copies are for sale at £9.95 and each also contains biographies of the contributors.

The book will be available at the launch, at Salts Mill's 1853 Gallery, and at Waterstones in Bradford and Reids in Keighley.

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