Sheer coincidence or a repeated trend of Delhi riots during US Presidential visits
This story is a personal opinion piece by our contributing writer, inspired by the Delhi riots. It was first published in AltMedia News on the 29th February 2020. There is a stark, almost eerie, sense of déjà vu between the sequence of events leading to then US president Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to India and the recently concluded President Trump’s...
Celebrating excellence of Bengal across the world in the UK
20 July, 2022 will mark the third year of the Bengal Pride Awards at the House of Commons, London, dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the Bengali ethnic community from India and Bangladesh. The Bengali community has been, for decades, contributing to growth not just across South Asia but right across the globe. This is nowhere more evident than in...
KASHISH 2020 to screen India’s first gay film ‘Badnam Basti’, lost and found after 49 years
Register for KASHISH 2020 at http://mumbaiqueerfest.com/attend/ Director Prem Kapoor's 'Badnam Basti', India's first gay film released in 1971, only to be lost to obscurity for around five decades, and found in a Berlin archive, will be screened at KASHISH 2020. Considered as one of first Indian films to explore same-sex relationship, Badnam Basti was made in 1971 and features a...
Proud of the Rainbow Pride
The Mumbai Pride March 2020 (#mumbaipride2020) organised by the collective called the Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) and Humsafar Trust was held on February 1, 2020. Traditionally, since the last ten odd years, this march by the LGBTQIA+ has been held from the August Kranti Maidan, the same iconic park from where Mahatma Gandhi started the QUIT INDIA movement in...
India Association of the Triad hosts a spectacular Diwali Celebration
The India Association of the Triad (IAT) proudly hosted its highly anticipated 'Diwali – A Festival of Lights' event at the Meridian Convention Center in November, in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. This vibrant event brought together over 600 community members from the Triad cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and beyond. Festival of lights Diwali, also known as the Festival of...
Touching Chords, Raising Questions: What Will People Say?
Culture and tradition weave the tapestry of our identity. Every community takes pride in the customs they follow and the values they adhere to. It is hoped that these beliefs are practiced by one generation after another. But can the legacy be comfortably handed down at the crossroads where the winds of a new culture blow against the existing...
Ethical and inclusive fashion drives London Organic’s Founder
We live in age that is thankfully becoming more aware of the need to be sustainable, ethical, and inclusive. These are all qualities that Saumen Kar, Director at London Organic, brings to his fashion, beauty, and public relations firm. London Organic strives to help those who want to break into the fashion world. We're not just talking about designers though,...
Shortlist for 20th Asian Achievers Awards showcases business and community stars that have created impact globally
The shortlist for the prestigious Asian Achievers Awards for this year has been announced, and it contains business executives, Hollywood actresses and music stars that have found fame across the world. South Asians in the UK today occupy leadership positions across a range of fields, including politics, business and civil society. The Awards recognise the outstanding work of such individuals...
International Mother Language Day – the challenges with immigration
In 1999, following an initiative by Bangladesh, UNESCO declared that 21 February would be International Mother Language Day, and it's been observed every year since the turn of the millennium. The date has significance because it was in 1952 that thousands amassed in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, to protest against the suppression of their native language. Preserving culture The goal for this day...
Lockdown Diaries: Apsara Reddy fights against heightened abuse and vulnerability during curfew in India
Apsara Reddy is the first trans-gender Indian politician, who has led the way and been an inspiration to thousands in the community in India and across the world. The inspirational leader was appointed the National General Secretary of All India Mahila (Women's) Congress, in January 2019 by the Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The lockdown period imposed by the government of...
