To read is to learn, to read is to empathise, to read is to grow. Reading and its benefits are numerous, and one of the undeniable significance of reading is that it instils empathy; it forces us to experience life from different cultures, genders, races, classes, and so much more. As a Malaysian, indulging in Malaysian literature has always been a source of comfort and belonging.
The Malaysian representation in the literary landscape is so diverse that it only adds to the distinctiveness of our country’s being. In this country, to be a Malaysian Indian woman is such a rare identity. Discovering stories from this perspective will always remain special and personal. To honour this representation, here’s a list of 7 Malaysian Indian women building our literary legacy.
Sharmilla Ganesan
Sharmilla Ganesan is a Kuala Lumpur-based culture critic, writer, and content specialist. A veteran of radio and print journalism with a focus on arts and media, she also co-founded The Cipta Seni Incubator to mentor local creative talent. As a published fiction author, her short stories appear in anthologies such as The Best Asian Speculative Fiction, A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic, and The Principal Girl. She was also the winner of the 2022 Malaysian Short Story Writing Competition.
Geetha K
Geetha K is a published author, trained memoirist, and former educator specialising in socially conscious narratives. She has authored two books, The Seat (2020) and Racket Boy (2024), with two additional titles in development. An active participant in international publishing networks and book fairs, she focuses on cross-cultural storytelling and global literary engagement.
Shivani Sivagurunathan
Shivani Sivagurunathan is an established author with two decades of published fiction and poetry. Rooted in a Malaysian context and anchored by metaphysical themes, her work blends the local and concrete with the universal and abstract, echoing the magical realism of South American masters like Gabriel García Márquez and Mario Vargas Llosa. Her short stories and poetry have appeared in international periodicals such as Cha: An Asian Literary Magazine, Agenda, and Construction Literary Magazine. Her notable book publications include All About Monkeys (2013), Yalpanam (2021), and What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? (2022).
Saras Manickam
Saras Manickam is an award-winning Malaysian fiction writer and creative writing instructor, popularly known for winning the Asia regional category of the 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize with her story “My Mother Pattu.” Her work is defined by original characterisation and real-world insight, cultivated over a diverse professional background as a schoolteacher, teacher-trainer, copywriter, corporate trainer, editor, and author of textbooks and coffee-table books. In May 2023, Penguin Random House SEA published her debut short story collection, My Mother Pattu.
Deena Dakshini
Deena Dakshini is a Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysian Tamil multidisciplinary artist, actor, poet, and filmmaker whose work examines feminism, cultural dissociation, and the neurodivergent experience. Her creative projects often explore identity and cultural history, including her lead performance in the solo play Tali Tukang Gantung, which addresses Malaysia’s death penalty. As a director, her stage and film credits include ‘haiku: a neurodivergent harmony’, Gasing, and Kairu. Beyond her individual creative practice, she is the founder of Toolis Malaysia, a local platform dedicated to spoken-word poetry and artistic expression.
Melizarani T. Selva
Melizarani T. Selva is a Malaysian spoken word poet, journalist, and poetry instructor. Her debut collection, Taboo (2015), achieved top-10 bestseller status on MPH Online, and her poetry has been translated into French by Éditions Jentayu and into Bahasa Malaysia by the National Institute of Language and Literature. She has performed in six countries, including featured appearances at TEDxGateway in Mumbai. Currently, she runs Kuala Lumpur’s monthly poetry series If Walls Could Talk, organises the bilingual poetry slam Slamokrasi, and teaches performance poetry across national and international schools.
Viji Krishnamoorthy
Viji Krishnamoorthy is a Kuala Lumpur-based author born in Ipoh, Perak, to a Tamil father and Hokkien Chinese mother. Educated in Kuala Lumpur, Madras, and the United Kingdom, she previously worked as a freelance writer for various magazines. Her debut novel, 912 Batu Road, was longlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award.
Through their distinct voices, mediums, and perspectives, spanning poetry slams, stage performances, short fiction, and sweeping novels, these writers prove that Malaysian literature is as rich and multifaceted as its people. By championing their work, we not only expand our own capacity for empathy but also ensure these vital Malaysian Indian women’s stories continue to elevate, reshape, and anchor our collective cultural legacy.
