Uttorsori: The Generation Next Festival celebrated virtually over eight hours
The 7th season of Essex Indians UK's flagship event 'Uttorsori: Generation Next Festival' went virtual this year on the 21 June. Started in 2014 to encourage children and young adults to become a part of the cultural heritage and focus on project related to global causes, the event has grown from strength to strength over the past years. The one-of its...
Too Desi Too Queer: a special section of films at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival
The 10th Edition of the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) will be showcasing a refreshing new section this year named “Too Desi Too Queer” as part of its special tenth anniversary and celebrations for India's 'decriminalisation' of its LGBTQ+ and transgender population. Sponsored by Thrive LDN / GLA, Brixton Reel Film Festival, Queer Asia, University of Westminster, Club Kali...
SAJDA Season 3: A tribute to Indian maestros to launch this month
Where words fail, music speaks It is said that music is the universal language of mankind, and music gives a soul to the universe. The annual music and arts festival SAJDA, aims to do that, while being a living bridge between India and the UK, through the showcase of Indian performing arts, unsung heroes from different genres, dying art forms...
Death
Oh death Is it always on time Is it not a resultant crime When dignity is denied When a system fails the time Oh soul Why do you go away I Am a patient Be patient and stay My body is young not fray Oh breath The pulse is beating quite fast It’s slowing do try and last The huff and puff I gasp The support...
The pride in overcoming body shaming
"The fear within us is our biggest enemy; get that out to conquer the world" There was a time when I wondered how ladies wearing bikinis and bodysuits be so fit? The fitness indicated their amazing mental and physical health, and the ability to be fit enough mentally to embrace themselves. That is my understanding, based on my personal experience. I...
LIFF 2021: Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition
This year sees the London Indian Film Festival adopt a hybrid format, fuelled by having to go online under last year's COVID lockdown. What this means is that the Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition is available to watch at home, for free, right now. Go here to sign up and “buy” your free tickets: LoveLIFFatHome You can watch the films...
Kaushalya UK’s upcoming project will share stories to empower and uplift women around the world
An upcoming anthology of women titled ‘The New Woman’ - a project lead by Ritu Sharma, is a collection of 34 stories of women who have undergone transformation through adversity, spread across five continents,. The book will be launched on 27 July. Under the umbrella of Ritu's organisation Kaushalya UK, the anthology will showcase "women who have been broken by...
Stories of immigrants from Kentucky Refugee Ministries in Lexington
I recently had the opportunity to work with an organization based in Kentucky called Kentucky Refugee Ministries. The company works with refugees who relocate to Kentucky, trying to help them get their way around their new homes. KRM (Kentucky Refugee Ministries) works to provide them with resources like jobs, medical appointments, and homes, getting a driver’s license or learning...
Triumph of good over tear-gas: an extraordinary story of Hong Kong Bengali Association’s Durga Puja
‘Wherever you go, a bit of Calcutta will go with you. I know, because it’s happened to me. And every Puja, I am overcome by the magic of Bengal. It’s a feeling that’ll never go away.’ Vir Sanghvi ‘If you want a city with a soul: come to Kolkata’ True that! The Kolkata virus never quite goes away, and the infection...
Bhavna Juneja: US-based entrepreneur, empowering women and revolutionising real estate in India
Being an entrepreneur isn't just something you do, it's something you are. It's not something which everyone could, or indeed should, do. However, some individuals clearly thrive on the challenge and love to change the world for the better. Bhavna Juneja is one of those individuals. Bhavna is Global Vice President-IT Services Life Science & Infrastructure at Infinity, a Stamford...
