Multi-faith celebration marks 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak
Multiple faiths truly came together in Edinburgh at an event held to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It was a ground-breaking evening arranged a Muslim organisation, supported by a Hindu organisation, and hosted by the Christian Lord Provost. It was attended by all faiths and was a wonderful showcase of...
KASHISH 2024: A Sleeping Dragon is awoken
SLEEPING DRAGON12 min | 2023 | UK | EnglishDirector: Rob Falconer Director Rob Falconer returns to KASHISH with a short documentary that brings a beautiful snapshot of George Hodson, an artist, writer, and long-term HIV/AIDS survivor to vivid life. Those of you who watched Legendary Children at last year's festival will undoubtedly recognise George. The film is a piece that...
Not Namaste Trump but Phir Milengey: H-1B visas suspended, what now?
It looked like things were getting as close as could be between US President Donald Trump and Narendra Modi but a worldwide pandemic and a scourge of resulting unemployment in the States has put a spanner in the works of ‘Namaste Trump’, as an executive order signed this past week will suspend new visas for foreign workers, including the...
Lockdown Diaries: Feeding the feeders – CORO India distributes food supplies to wage earners amidst the coronavirus lockdown
It's been a long time since I sat down to write something. But if one's part of something magical, then that story needs to be told. My story begins with the announcement of the Corona lockdown by the Indian government. We all knew it would come one day, but still we were all shocked when it did arrive. Most of...
The pride in overcoming body shaming
"The fear within us is our biggest enemy; get that out to conquer the world" There was a time when I wondered how ladies wearing bikinis and bodysuits be so fit? The fitness indicated their amazing mental and physical health, and the ability to be fit enough mentally to embrace themselves. That is my understanding, based on my personal experience. I...
KASHISH 2020 announces Rs 2,00,000 grant for outstanding LGBTQ+ theme films
Call for submissions open to KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2020 KASHISH, Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest and India’s most mainstream LGBTQ film festival has launched a submission call for the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2020 that offers Rs.2,00,000 to emerging Indian filmmaker to make a LGBTQIA+ short film between 10-15 mins. The grant is supported by Lotus...
Kumartuli saga 2020: the hands that shape the Gods
The word ‘unprecedented times’ perhaps has found a new definition, since the Coronavirus pandemic hit different parts of the world since December last year. Among all the turmoil caused, the pandemic has changed the Durga Puja festival, the biggest celebrations for Hindu Bengalis around the world, where they gather for five days to seek the powerful matriarchal blessings of...
We can’t breathe: George Floyd death strikes global chord
The recent death of George Floyd, a 46 year old African American has caused anger and protest around the world. It is not enough to call it a death for it was certainly a custodial murder by the police officers, one of whom was seen pinning Floyd down with his knee. As with Eric Garner murdered by police in New...
Rumana Rahman: leading diversity, excellence in British American Tobacco
Striving for success is the way to a fulfilling life, at least that's how Rumana Rahman sees it, and when you hear her life story it's clear that it has certainly worked for her. Rumana is the Regional Director of Human Resources for the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region of the prestigious British American Tobacco (BAT) and one of the youngest...
Satyavad – a framework for a new future based on Indian principles
Samajwad (socialism) has had a chequered past in India. Back in the early 1870s, a group in Calcutta contacted Karl Marx with the purpose of organizing an Indian section of the First International! Marxism made quite an impact in Indian media at the time of the Russian Revolution. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal were amongst the prominent...
