Interview with Laaleen Sukhera: If Jane Austen Were Alive, She'd be Vastly Amused

Laaleen Sukhera

What inspired the founding the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan and the Emirates?

I found likeminded friends in Islamabad, which is where it began, who were equally hooked. We were a pretty eclectic group and we grew rapidly to other cities and regions. Today we’re called the Jane Austen Society MENAP – Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.

How did your personal love for Jane Austen's work begin, and what about her novels continues to captivate you?

This beautifully bound and illustrated omnibus of Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Persuasion was my twelfth birthday present from my English aunt and I couldn’t put it down. I’ve grown up with heavy does of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and classic fiction along with whatever biographies about zany people I could get my hands on who lived in the era. I found multiple vintage writings on Beau Brummell at my university library, for insteance.

The frivolities of Regency societyhas always reeled me in – it’s utterly captivating. But it’s also the way Austen’s characters and her words change the older you get and the more you re-read the pages. They evolve with you in your journey of life and experiences.

As a tween I related to Catherine Morland and her love of mystery. As I grew older and became a writer, it was Lizzie Bennet, and then after my divorce, Anne Elliott. And now I’m more of a middle-aged matchmaking Emma Woodhouse with a startup that also matches people off!

The society focuses on celebrating the Regency era through events rather than discussing the literature itself. What do you find most appealing about immersing yourself in that time period?

We actually discussed her works a great deal early on – I’ve been doing this for twelve years now in multiple regions – and still do at talks and panels. At our society meetups, we incorporates readings, quizzes, even games. But I do find that dressing up annually really makes it enjoyable for everyone, especially when you get into character. One time I was Caroline Bingley and it was such fun to be a detestable snob with my friends!

Could you share how you choose venues in Dubai that resemble settings from Jane Austen's time? What specific features do you look for?

A lovely afternoon tea menu and some decorative aesthetics that evoke the past. A pillar or two, gilt mirrors, or even a neutral contemporary style with interesting art works as a canvas for our merriment and eccentricities. There are so many beautiful hotels, cafés, and restaurants to choose from here, we’re spoilt for choice.

Tell us about your afternoon tea events. What can attendees expect, and how do you recreate the authentic Regency experience?

Some gatherings are a little more authentic and literary than others but on the whole it’s Cosplay and a chance to catch up with familiar faces and make new friends. I try not to make it daunting for people unfamiliar with the genre so that it’s inclusive.

Afternoon tea is something many of us grew up with, we just add touches to make it more special and whimsical.

How important is the dress code for your events, and how do your members embrace the Regency-era fashion?

It’s Regency inspired but not mandatory. Bridgerton’s success led to #Regencycore going mainstream, but we take it a bit further than than. At our recent gathering, our members represented multiple eras that also included Victorian, Edwardian, and Steam Punk in addition to Regency.

What aspects of Jane Austen’s world-like the fashion, social etiquette, or lifestyle-do you find most enjoyable to bring to life at your gatherings?

We love an excuse to dress up and admire one another, pirouette a bit before settling down to the business of tea and scones. We also have lively discussions, whether books, writing, music, theatre, the opera. It’s discussions like these that led to the publication of Austenistan six years ago.

How do you balance the modern environment of Dubai with the traditions of Jane Austen’s time when planning your events?

Dubai has lovely venues for afternoon tea. It’s not all razzle and dazzle here as social media implies. The UAE has wonderful people of depth and brilliance, and it’s incredibly cosmopolitan and friendly.

For our very first tea party we had a live harpsichordist. It doesn’t get more magical than that!

Has the society attracted a particular type of person? Who are the members, and what do they love most about being part of the group?

Our typical member is fond of books, enjoys historical eras particularly the Regency, and is curious, intellectual, and playful. The ladies are from every continent. And some gents too! Dubai and Abu Dhabi gentlemen are wonderful in that they attend even when they aren’t very familiar with her books, they’re gutsy and good sports!

Are there any upcoming events or special plans for the society that you’re excited about?

We’ve just hosted our annual afternoon tea and we’re always happy to welcome newcomers even if they’re not familiar with her work. We’re represented at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2025 – to be announced next week. It’s a Discovery Talk titled ‘Laaleen Sukhera on 250 Years of Jane Austen’.

How do you think Jane Austen’s world and values resonate with people today, especially in regions like Pakistan and the Emirates?

The fact that Austen’s heroines are protagonists in their own stories and that they are brilliant in their own right despite societal restrictions and obstacles – well, all that is very relatable in Asia and the Middle East, in Muslim countries and indeed much of the Global South. And who doesn’t love social commentary with a happy ending.

In your opinion, why does Jane Austen’s legacy continue to inspire people worldwide, more than 200 years after her works were written?

Her work and her world is perennial. It never gets stale or goes out of style. From screen adaptations to the theatre to fan fiction to pop culture, Jane is an icon. We think of new ways to appreciate and understand her characters and her wit. And there are aspects that continue to be relatable no matter how much we’ve progressed over time. I recently attended Austentatious in Soho, London, which was improv comedy and pretty brilliant. And in 2018, Bloomsbury published Austenistan that I curated, edited and cowrote.

Is your society affiliated with the Jane Austen Society International or other Jane Austen societies around the world? If so, how do you collaborate or engage with them? Do you participate in any international Jane Austen events, such as festivals or conferences, and how do your members connect with the global network of Jane Austen lovers?

I was a speaker at JASNA 2016 (the Jane Austen Society of North America) on the international panel in Washington DC. The global Jane Austen community is vast yet tightly knit. Even if we can’t be there in person, we attend remotely. Thanks to Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Instagram Live etc – we can be there in spirit and I’ve managed to attend talks and gatherings in Brazil, Italy and Chawton through the power of technology!

Lastly, if Jane Austen were alive today, how do you think she would react to the enthusiasm surrounding her work in places like Dubai? In your opinion, which place she would visit first? 

I think she’d be vastly amused. She’d visit our spas, libraries, gardens and sand dunes, and perhaps attend the British Chamber’s Christmas Ball this year!