Writer Who Led Racism Row Now Regrets Her Actions
Author Monisha Rajesh, once known for condemning fellow writer Kate Clanchy, has shared an emotional video asking people to stop reviving the controversy that first made headlines years ago.
The Original Controversy
Rajesh was among the first critics of Clanchy’s acclaimed 2020 memoir Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, which received the Orwell Prize for political writing. The book drew backlash in 2021 after readers accused Clanchy of using racist and demeaning language to describe some students she had taught during her thirty years in education.
"F***ing chocolate-coloured skin!?! Jesus, this is making me rage and prickle all over."
Rajesh posted this reaction on social media, later intensifying her criticism by referring to Clanchy as “KKKlanchy.”
The Recent Twist
Four years later, the debate has resurfaced with the BBC’s upcoming six-part podcast An Anatomy of a Cancellation, which revisits the heated dispute that polarized the literary community. In an unexpected turn, Clanchy’s former publisher Pan Macmillan issued a public apology, describing the handling of the situation as “a regrettable series of events” and expressing regret to Clanchy and others affected.
Rajesh’s Emotional Appeal
In her recent video, Rajesh tearfully urged people not to bring up the past, signaling a clear shift from her earlier harsh stance toward reconciliation and reflection.
Author’s Summary: Monisha Rajesh, once a vocal critic in a literary racism dispute, now pleads for forgiveness as the controversy resurfaces with a BBC podcast and an apology from Clanchy’s publisher.