RAJI WRITES

It isn’t often that the stars align to find three books that are beautifully written, fit the theme of a panel discussion I am planning, and whose authors are available on the date I am planning the event! Before I introduce the event, here is the context. Silicon Valley Reads chose as its 2026 theme Bridges to Belonging. The kickoff event was held on January 15, 2026, with three featured authors in conversation with Sal Pizarro of the San Jose Mercury News: john a. powell (

The Book I was excited to receive in the mail Salman Rushdie’s latest book, The Eleventh Hour , a quintet of stories (Random House, 2025). In Late, my favorite story in the collection, a retired Cambridge academic of South Asian descent wakes up one day and discovers he is dead. I loved the novel and immensely creative plot, and was moved by the compassionate portrayal of the Cambridge don as he recalls his life and interacts with a young student who alone can see him. The Mu

Silicon Valley Reads chose as its 2025 theme “Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World.” I moderated a session presented by...

The South Asian Literature and Arts Festival returns in 2023, this time at Menlo College in Atherton. It features over 60 Artists and...

I have moderated book discussions and author interviews in the past few years, and even participated in a Readathon! The recordings are...

Silicon Valley Reads had chosen “Journey to New Beginnings” as its 2023 theme. One of the books selected to showcase this theme is The...