Surviving the Nepal earthquake in 2015: a memoir of a calamity

This is a topic I have written on countless times in my life. And over time, although the topic has remained the same, the days and the events have changed. During my school years, it progressed from the day I got scholarship in fifth grade board exam to being placed at the top of the list in HSC and...

Why everybody should read the Harry Potter series at least once in their lives 

The Harry Potter series is renowned across the world for its good writing and fantasy world. But it also teaches us a lot of life lessons and helps us understand the importance and the power of love and friendship. Here are some lessons which the Harry Potter series taught us. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: This is an underlying...

Rahul Nangare, First Secretary (Trade) – a tenure of protecting heritage and championing diasporas

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better, and this cannot be more true than of Rahul Nangare, the First Secretary (Trade) at the High Commission of India (HCI) in London. Rahul received the prestigious 'Specially Distinguished Record of Service Award' from the President of India for his outstanding work over a prolonged period of service,...

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...

Shalmali and Sandip Soparrkar to perform at the KASHISH 2021 Closing & Award Ceremony

As the 12th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival, comes to a close on September 5th, get ready to witness a grand spectacle at the KASHISH 2021 Closing & Award ceremony on September 5th 6.00pm on the festival’s social media handles @kashishfilmfest The evening features performances by Shalmali, Sandip Soparrkar, Aneri Chaudhary,...

Immunity boosting Indian soup Rasam becomes hot favourite for Covid patients in New York hospitals

At a time when the entire world is looking up to the US for a “medical miracle” to contain Covid, those in New York, New Jersey, and Princeton are betting on a South Indian staple to beat the virus — the humble 'rasam'. Behind the “viral trend”, obviously, is a chef from Tamil Nadu. The idea came during the middle...

Bengali film Brihonnola garners great response at KASHISH 2021

BRIHONNOLA Dir: Dibyadoot Roy Chowdhury 117 min | 2018 | India | Bengali, Hindi | Narrative Feature Screened on Friday Aug 20th at KASHISH 2021 Inspired by true events, a Bengali feature based on people of different sexual orientation "Brihonnola, one body; two souls,” was one of the three Indian feature films screened at KASHISH this year. The film received good response for its hard-hitting...

India by the Bay – celebrating Indian culture in Hong Kong

Co-Presented by Teamwork Arts, in partnership with Asia Society Hong Kong Center and supported by the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong, India by the Bay returns for its sixth edition from February 14 to 19, 2020. The cultural landscape in Hong Kong has developed rapidly in the past decade with new venues, programming, art fairs, music concerts and it was the perfect time to introduce...

Ratha Yatra in Edinburgh draws huge crowds

In an incredible Ratha Yatra festival organised by the Edinburgh Hindu Mandir and Odhisha Society of Scotland (OSS), nearly a thousand people gathered in Edinburgh to celebrate the 4th edition of the festival on 7 July. The event was made big this year with people coming in from Glasgow, Dundee, New Castle and Manchester. The Isckon Leshmagaow were also a...

Ketan Dattani speaks on how to rebuild in the post Covid economy

No event in recent history has affected us as profoundly and pervasively as the pandemic. It signifies a completely unprecedented circumstance, as novel as it is life-changing. The virus has not only infected thousands, but has thrust us into an economic recession. How long, how deep and how many are impacted by the recession will be influenced not just by the...