Details
I am an author, speaker, and activist with a unique life journey—from being born in India and raised in Japan to residing in the UK since 2000. A computer science engineer by way of background, my passion is dance and writing. After moving to London in 2000, I ran a Bollywood dance company, Threebee, alongside working at UBS in their IT department. As the creative director of the company for 10 years, some proud moments include my troupe featuring as a semi-finalist in Britain’s Got Talent 2010 and being invited by the London Olympics team to audition for the closing ceremony in 2012.
A new passion emerged when I wrapped up the dance company to prioritise family life. The lack of representation in children’s books inspired me to launch the Dev and Ollie series of picture books based on festivals in India. The books are popular in schools and libraries all over the world. I was awarded the Asian Women of Achievement Award for Arts & Culture in 2016 and invited by the late Her Majesty the Queen to Buckingham Palace for the UK-India Year of Culture in 2017.
My awakening during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 led me to pen my raw and honest memoir, The Black Rose, based on my experiences of colourism. At the delicate age of six, I found herself in a boarding school for over two years as my parents embarked on a new chapter, relocating from India to Japan in pursuit of a fresh start. Throughout this period, I endured relentless comments from my relatives, who insisted that my fair-skinned parents deliberately left me behind due to embarrassment over my dark complexion. This prolonged exposure to such perspectives insidiously ingrained colourist notions in my mind, eventually leading me to succumb to skin-whitening products for more than three decades. Released in December 2022, The Black Rose has resonated globally, earning recognition in publications such as Psychology Today (US), She The People TV (India), and Brown Girl Magazine (UK). It also resulted in nine speaking engagements in 2023, all of which organically stemmed from readers recommending me to their respective schools and organisations.
I have had the privilege of addressing diverse audiences, ranging from large corporate firms to community organisations and schools. Engagements at events like Capital Group's International Women’s Day, South Asian Heritage Month at Linklaters, and Festival of Lights at Man Group, to name a few, reflect the breadth of my impact. My voice has also reached various BBC radio channels (such as BBC Radio London with David Grant and BBC 5 Live with Nihal Arthanayake), solidifying my position as a prominent anti-colourism activist in the UK.
SELECTED TESTIMONIALS:
'I would thoroughly recommend inviting Shweta Aggarwal, and Dev and Ollie, into your school for a Colour Carnival. Both children and staff enjoyed themselves immensely, learning in a fun and unique way. I don't think any of us have ever experienced an author visit like it! Thank you Shweta, Dev and Ollie' – Headteacher at Gunter Primary School, Birmingham
'On Tuesday 1st November, Ruislip Gardens PS welcomed Shweta Aggarwal for an exciting day of storytelling. The children were excited by the thought of meeting a real author.We looked forward to exploring a story from India and learning more about the culture and festivals celebrated there - we were not disappointed. From the youngest children in Reception to the oldest in Year 2 there was engagement with the story characters Dev and Ollie and the theme of kite flying. Adults and children enjoyed the storytelling and on returning to their classroom my Year 1 children wanted to write their own kite stories and poems based on what they had heard. All the children loved the kites that they made at the end of the session and who would think that paper and string could bring such excitement!' - Curriculum Leader at Ruislip Primary School, London
'Shweta kindly agreed to present to Capital Group on the topic of colourism as part of our 2023 International Women’s Day event. Capital Group is committed to advancing DE&I, and raising awareness of colourism, particularly how it disproportionately affected women was very aligned with this objective. She was highly collaborative during the event format planning, provided a tailored slide deck and script for us, and engaged our group through an interactive Q&A session during the hybrid part of the event (i.e. both in-person participants and virtual attendees). Shweta also proposed the idea for a more intimate discussion to continue in person after the formal presentation, and this worked very well as it encouraged associates to share more personal stories in a safe space. The event was really well received, and we believe it has helped to shine a light on an often overlooked form of discrimination.' - Capital Group for International Women's Day, London
'We really enjoyed having Shweta’s visit to our school! Her talk on colourism was very insightful, at times shocking, and a very important learning experience for our students. Shweta did an assembly and then stayed to do a book signing at break time, where students were able to talk to the author, get their books signed and ask any questions they had. Shweta’s story acts as an invaluable lesson to young people today, and gives a voice to the people who silently experience colourism both globally and within our community.' - Henrietta Barnett School for World Book Day
'We were delighted when Shweta agreed to be our keynote speaker for Linklaters’ South Asian Heritage Month, which celebrates cultures, histories, and communities, and helps us to better understand the diverse heritage that continues to shape the UK and South Asia. She hosted an open and honest conversation with attendees about her journey, the impact of colourism, and how we can all empower people to take pride in their heritage and culture and be agents of change. Shweta struck the perfect (and fine) balance between conveying a powerful and hard-hitting message, yet in an inspiring, encouraging, and non-judgmental tone. She successfully tailored the content of her speech and PowerPoint slides to ultimately celebrate and lift up those who may be struggling with the impact of colourism. The session was engaging and thought-provoking and provided a safe and open space for audience members to share their own experiences.The event has sparked plenty of discussion, which highlights the importance of continuing the conversation around colourism. Thank you, Shweta, you are a brilliant speaker, activist, and author!' - Linklaters for South Asian Heritage Month, London
VISITS TO SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES: I am happy to discuss your requirements and suggest ideas for booking readings, workshops, and q&a sessions accordingly.
TV & RADIO APPEARACNCES:
- London Live TV for World Book Day 2016
- BBC Radio London for both Dev & Ollie Books and The Black Rose - 2023
- BBC Three Counties, BBC Manchester, BBC Lancashire, BBC Leeds, and BBC 5 Live for The Black Rose - 2023
FEATURES:
Brown Girl Magazine - The Black Rose
Psychology Today - Childhood Through the Lens of Colourism
The Times of India - Top 5 books for Holi
