Remembering Chiku, our squirrel child
This poem's been inspired by real events and has been written to make children understand the power of compassion towards animals. It is meant to encourage them to love them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I heard the crows scream out quite loud And ran outside to see, There lay on the grass in our Mumbai backyard Tiny balls of three! It was early hours, we were barely awake But...
Rainbow Lit Fest’s ‘Digital & One’ 2020 to see coming together of over 50 leading authors, scholars, artists
To mark a year since its journey began and to underline the significance of oneness, the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive has organized a two-day online series called 'Digital & One'. Being held over the weekend of December 5 & 6, the event will see the coming together of over 50 leading authors, poets, activists, scholars, filmmakers,...
Of poetry and lockdown diaries
As a writer, raconteur and storyteller, I like to find my material, my stories in the real world. I then imbue them with a setting, a context and characters that find a voice to cut across the real and bring to life a message in my work that needs to be repeated constantly. My most recent work which came...
KASHISH 2023 announces new Ismat Chughtai Award for best Indian woman filmmaker
The 14th KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival, announced institution of a new award from this year - the Ismat Chughtai Award for Best Indian Woman Filmmaker, instituted in memory of eminent Indian Urdu novelist, short story writer, liberal humanist and filmmaker Ismat Chughtai, by her grandson and filmmaker Ashish Sawhny. “I am delighted...
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,...
HFB’s close to two decades of Diwali celebrations at the House of Commons
The most important and widely celebrated Hindu festival of lights Diwali, had its nineteenth festive gathering at the House of Commons on 23 October. The Terrace Pavilion was transformed into a vibrant and colourful space, full of light and laughter, prominent guests with scrumptious Indian festive food - a true and wonderful manifestation of the spirit of Diwali in...
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...
I Can’t Breathe
At a time of global pandemic, it is telling to see the large gatherings of protestors across America. Personal safety has been thrown aside in a quest for justice. The deep upset and anger caused by the death of George Floyd has been felt far and wide, and it's certainly not just African Americans that can sympathise with the systemic...
Teacher turns author to keep Gujarati alive for future generations
Growing up in a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual London has been a key factor in shaping my identity. I am British – born and bred. A true Londoner. And I am as Indian as they come. My childhood was an Indian one, from the food, the language, the weekend activities, to the way I interact with people; my experiences have...
The master publisher CB Patel
CB Patel, Editor of Asian Voice, one of the leading publications of the Asian diasporas in the UK, rarely ever speaks about himself. We were fortunate enough to catch up with the 82-year-old dynamic, humorous, pragmatic entrepreneur who gives us an upbeat view of the future in an exclusive interview. You've been a big Modi supporter. What are your reactions...
