A bowl of traditional Goan Vonn to celebrate Easter
Growing up in the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai in India, I very unwittingly was initiated into our rich heritage of Goan and Indian traditions. Goa - The Portuguese ruled over this beautiful state of sun and gorgeous beaches for almost 450 years up until 1961! That meant that our Goan cuisine and the states religious beliefs had Portuguese influences as...
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...
Swarnavel Eswaran’s first feature film Kattumaram (Catamaran) gets a standing ovation at BFI during LIFF 2019
Kattumaram (Catamaran), the coming-of-age tale of Tsunami-survivors in a small village where a conservative maternal uncle supports his orphaned niece and nephew while they struggle with their simple but complicated lives, has been very well received by London film-lovers. As a part of the London Indian Film Festival, LIFF 2019, Kattumaram had its European Premiere at the iconic BFI...
Satyameva Jayate, Laissez-aller and India
When distant memories have crystallised in time, frozen, a story can begin. When the whiffs of half-forgotten glories rustle through the leaves of the Tree of Life, say the Kalpavriksha or Shajarat al-Kholoud or Etz Chaim, the poetry of existence commences. Tales and bardic narrations that trip and traipse and wander around, as if in a stupor, in the by-lanes...
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 Kapoor Brothers of the Scottish hospitality industry acquire Princes Street Suites
One of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the UK, Edinburgh has a brand new addition to its luxurious hospitality and accommodation sector. The Edinburgh Collection have acquired the luxurious Princes Street Suites on 1 April 2019. An award-winning Aparthotel that won the 2019 Scottish Hotel Awards’ Family Hotel of the Year category in Edinburgh and the Lothians for...
Cambridge physicist-activist-student-leader believes India can help mankind
He is a scientist, poet, writer, four-time elected student leader at Cambridge University, and activist. Dr. Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar has led a varied life which currently sees him as a postdoctoral affiliate at Trinity College studying the foundations of quantum mechanics under Professor Brian Josephson, who is an all-time great of Physics and a Nobel Laureate. Having been born in...
KASHISH 2021: Halwa breaks stereotypes empowering older women
HALWA Dirs: Gayatri Bajpai, Nirav Bhakta 15 min |2019 | USA | Hindi, English Screening on Friday, September 3, Program 4 in the Short Film Package, Halwa is a vital short film that strives to break the cliches around older Indian women. The story concerns an elderly, docile housewife, Sujata Chopra, stuck in a lonely marriage overseas with a controlling husband. On the eve of...
Tribute to the champion of multi-culturalism Burjor Jal Avari MBE – 1938 to 2019
Burjor Jal Avari MBE, my brother was a pioneer in fearlessly promoting multi-culturism in the UK. His true moment came in 1987 following the race riots in various towns and cities of the UK. He passionately felt that the peace and tranquillity of the UK society must somehow be continued to be  preserved by drawing together lessons from history....
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...
