Laleeta Tongo is a writer, artist, and creative thinker originally from Maharashtra, India, now based in Richmond, Virginia, USA. She came to literature through family — her grandfather, the late Shri Sharadchandra Tongo, was a well-known Marathi novelist, and his legacy quietly shaped her relationship with words, stories, and the power of a well-told tale.
With over 15 years of experience as a content developer and curriculum designer for multinational companies, Laleeta brings both professional expertise and deep personal passion to every entry on this site. As a published poet and author, she understands what makes a work of literature resonate — not just its plot or its prizes, but its language, its silences, and the world it comes from.
Go Basics Literature was born from a simple observation: that South Asian and diaspora literature is one of the richest traditions in the world, yet clear, well-written, accessible guides to its writers are surprisingly hard to find. This site is the answer to that gap.
"My grandfather, Shri Sharadchandra Tongo, was a Marathi novelist. Growing up with that legacy meant literature was never just academic — it was part of how my family understood the world."
Published Works
The Big World Studios
Go Basics Literature is a project of The Big World Studios — a creative media production company co-founded in 2017 by Laleeta Tongo and filmmaker Swapnil Kumawat. TBWS specialises in film production, commercial storytelling, miniature set design, and visual artistry, working with top production houses and brands across India.
Beyond commercial work, The Big World Studios has always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire and connect. Go Basics Literature extends that belief into the digital space — building a resource that brings South Asian and diaspora literature's richness to readers, students, and curious minds around the world.
Why This Site Exists
- South Asian and diaspora literature is one of the richest traditions in the world — yet reliable, well-written guides to its writers in English are surprisingly hard to find online.
- Students preparing for UGC-NET, JRF, and university literature exams needed a resource that was accurate, readable, and actually enjoyable to use.
- Global readers discovering this literature — through Booker Prize winners, Netflix adaptations, or world literature courses — deserve context that goes beyond Wikipedia summaries.
- As the granddaughter of a Marathi novelist, Laleeta felt the particular gap around regional and Dalit writers, who are often underrepresented in English-language literary resources.
"Every great writer deserves a reader who understands where they came from."— The guiding principle of Go Basics Literature