Equal rights for LGBT+ communities in India and Hong Kong still remains a far-cry
Leading publications in India and Hong Kong have recently reported on the legal challenges against discrimination of LGBT+ people in these countries. The battle for civil rights is far from over in India, where the Supreme Court de-criminalised same-sex relationships and discrimination against the entire Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, through Article 377 in September last year...
What’s this Big Deal about English-Vinglish?
“Many cool,” said the guy who comes to mow our lawn in the summer and fall. It took us a while to figure out what he meant. It was an unusually breezy afternoon, and when he gestured by putting his arms across his chest, it struck us that he was trying to say that it was very cold that...
Kashmir’s Children of a Lesser God
I wonder if Medoff drew his inspiration from Kashmir when he chronicled the fascinating drama capturing the intensity of conflicting ideologies of speech and deafness and in the process creating tension and discord in their ever-developing romantic relationship. James, ‘the adamant and energetic school teacher’ pitched against the ‘ever defiant yet independent’ deaf woman Sarah, persistent to crack the ice,...
The Kashmiri Imbroglio: whose freedom, whose azaadi is it?
London 15.08.2019 After winning the elections in 2019, the BJP led government of India wasted no time to bring in the required legislative bill ‘J&K Reorganisation Act 2019”, that has provisions to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, one to be called Jammu and Kashmir, and the other Ladakh. The introduction of the bill was...
Satyameva Jayate, Laissez-aller and India
When distant memories have crystallised in time, frozen, a story can begin. When the whiffs of half-forgotten glories rustle through the leaves of the Tree of Life, say the Kalpavriksha or Shajarat al-Kholoud or Etz Chaim, the poetry of existence commences. Tales and bardic narrations that trip and traipse and wander around, as if in a stupor, in the by-lanes...
Indian Independence Day Celebrations ‘Bharat Meri Jaan’ at Kings Cross
The Inspiring Indian Women (IIW), UK's largest women's group to bring together women from across the world and work towards bigger goals has, once again spread the feelings of patriotism and Indian culture, right in the heart of London through India's independence day celebrations, in a recent event at the Kings Cross Station. The initiative, designed to capture the attention...
Tribute to Sushma Swaraj, the transformational leader who achieved so many firsts
People are still struggling to come to terms with the biggest loss of Indian politics. Sushma Swaraj played a prominent role in Indian politics. People will always remember Sushma Swaraj as a dynamic leader. She set new standards in politics. She lived with Indian traditional values while she made her mark in global politics. She was one of the most...
Trupti Patel: the first woman to become the Hindu Faith representative and Trustee to the Interfaith Network UK
The world is changing, with an ever-increasing desire to improve the inclusivity and diversity across all walks of life. One positive sign of this was when Trupti Patel was voted in as the first female President of The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) back in 2014. She has now become the first women Hindu Faith representative and Trustee to the...
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Manchester’s dance students win prestigious award
At a recently held UK-based dance contest held at the Balaji Temple in Birmingham, acclaimed choreographer Sonia Sharma's students won the 1st prize for Best Cinematic Dance in a competition organised by the National Council of Kerala Hindu Heritage, UK. The winning dancers aged between 11 to 14 years represented the Greater Manchester Malayalee Hindu Samajam. The winners - Kirun Biju,...
Grand launch of the 2019 Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Glasgow
The ancient Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan that celebrates the love between brothers and sisters was celebrated this year among the Armed Forces and Scotland Police to symbolise their work of protecting (raksha) the UK borders and the civil society, thereby showing gratitude and brotherhood among the organisations and civilian groups. Organised this year by the Hindu Forum of Britain...
