Lockdown Diaries: Migrants miseries multiply in India as government continues with its mum’s the word

The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the open secret of the Indian economy, and its inability and failure to support the backbone of the industrial prowess - the 114 million strong, ductile and undemanding work-force and migrant labourers that have been left in the lurch during the eight-week-long lockdown (as we go to print.) Mass exodus The workplaces are shut or denied...

KASHISH 2020: 52 films compete for a total cash award of Rs 1,80,000

The 11th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival, has decided to go online this year as KASHISH 2020 Virtual from July 22 to July 30. The festival will screen 157 films from 42 countries out of which 52 films compete in the 9 competition categories that includes Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best...

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...

Bridge India takes on the challenges of tackling Covid across India

India is grappling with the COVID-19 situation, while Indian-diaspora-driven organisations across the world have stepped up their efforts to help Indians tide over this most challenging time. UK-based Bridge India, a non-profit think tank dedicated to the discourse on public policy, is one such organisation that has done phenomenal work in the past week. The esteemed Members have reached out for support...

Short story: “Swan song”

The phone rings rudely and raucously, rousing me from my restful slumber at the unearthly hour of 4 by my bedside alarm clock. I reach for it irritably, then pause. It can only be her. No one else would ever call me at this hour. Yet it cannot possibly be her. She has been gone from my life for over...

Dalit organisations in the UK demand justice for Manisha Valmiki

The brutal gang rape and death of 19-year-old Manisha Valmiki, belonging to a lower caste from Hathras in the the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, and the police action thereafter has sent shock waves all over the world. This brutality committed by perpetrators from an upper caste, as caste motivated hate crimes, must be condemned in the strongest...

Diwali – a beautiful festival

Diwali is a beautiful Hindu festival, it's a festival of lights. On Diwali, we light candles and decorate the house with flower decorations, rangoli, clean cushions, and festive lights to show that lights always overcomes darkness. This amazing festival takes place in the time span of October to November, when the weather starts getting nicer and cooler, especially in India. We've...

Commemorating the sacrifices of five million Commonwealth forces 75 years after VJ Day

A solemn Monday morning on 9 March at the Memorial Gates in Constitution Hill saw a gathering of eminent community leaders to commemorate the sacrifices of the five million servicemen and women from the Commonwealth countries who had served during the First and Second World Wars along with the Royal Armed Forces. This year, the Commonwealth Day marked the...

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...

Sajda Fest UK presents vocalist Pt Jayateerth Mevundi to pay homage to Pt Bhimsen Joshi

Sajda Season 3 will have its last free, online concert in homage to Bharat Ratna Shri Bhimsen Joshi as part of his birth centenary celebrations. The evening will consist of a performance of Abhangs, Bhajans, classical compositions and light classical pieces. Pt Mevundi will mesmerise the global audience by drawing on his repertoire of bhajans in a few different languages...