The first South Asian group to be selected to perform at GlobalFest, Riyaaz Qawwali specializes in evolved form of "Qawwali," a form of Islamic poetry stemming from Sufism. The group contains US settled immigrants from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Click here to read the article. Click here to watch a performance.
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Based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman who was a physiotherapy student, this haunting documentary is part of BBC's Storyville series. Alreadly overwhelmed by controversy and banned in several instances, the documentary is rocking the epicenter of politics and the debate around the treatment of women across the world. The documentary has been banned on Youtube at the request by the Indian government as one of the rapists who is currently detained was interviewed. As soon as it is available, a link to view will be posted
Recently, a French cartoon has been going viral in India editing the statement "India, country of sacred cows" to "India, country of massacred women." Why is it popular? The sale and possession of beef is banned in the western state of Maharashtra, which arguably gives more protection to cows than women. Click here to read more.
Tufts Professor Ayesha Jalal recently spoke at the Lahore Literary Festival, at the session called Living with Internal Differences: The South Asian Dilemma. She exposed ideas such as nationality, but not to the extent of limiting diversity, and how education should not be affected by religious or political institutions. Click here to read more.
"Tehani, 8, Yemen. “Whenever I saw him, I hid. I hated to see him,” Tehani (in pink) recalls of the early days of her marriage to Majed, when she was 6 and he was 25. The young wife posed for a portrait with former classmate Ghada, also a child bride, outside their home in Hajjah."
An effort to create a temple for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently scrapped, as the Prime Minister protested against such a practice. Supporters of the project believe him to be an "incarnation of God," but not an unusual claim as there is a practice of honoring politicians, celebrities and sports heroes with idols and temples in India. Click here to read more.
Only 12 percent of Indian women has access to basic menstrual sanitary napkins, often resorting to scraps of old saris or locally available goods such as plastics. Dilip Kumar, a 24 year old man, has moved to change this, by organizing information sessions and distributing sanitary napkins to this disadvantaged populace. Click here to read more.
A novelist is seeking Rs. 1 crore from the creators of the recently made popular film, PK, which he accuses his based off his 2013 book, Farishta. He specifically cited, among many other similarities that the film stole his idea that the "profession of religion is not natural but is man-made and artificial." Click here to read more.
With the conclusion of the 18th SAARC Summit, India's and China's relationship continues to be tense. However, some would argue that: "bringing China into SAARC could create a win-win situation for India, China, and all of South Asia. Unfortunately, the current Indian leadership appears unable to think about long-term outcomes and appears to lack the courage to stand up to domestic nationalism." Click here to read more. However, there are real concerns with China joining SAARC as "China will get a veto in SAARC affairs as SAARC decisions are taken unanimously. China may therefore block projects that may offer strategic and economic advantage to India. After all, China did restrain both the Asian Development Bank and lately even Japan, from supporting projects in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. China is also opposing Indian oil exploration projects in what it considers disputed waters off Vietnam in the South China Sea. " Click here to read more.
- Manal |