South Asian Awareness Network

theatlantic: See More Photos From Our In Focus Gallery of...

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:52:40 -0400

See More Photos From Our In Focus Gallery of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

[Images: AP, Getty, Reuters]

“On her, it’s a bold new look; on me, it’s a symbol of my...

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:51:02 -0400

“On her, it’s a bold new look; on me, it’s a symbol of my failure to assimilate. On her, it’s unquestionably cool; on me, it’s yet another marker of my Otherness, another thing that makes me different from other American girls.

Beyond Bindis: Why Cultural Appropriation Matters

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:41:00 -0400

Beyond Bindis: Why Cultural Appropriation Matters:

But will I celebrate the “mainstreaming” of a South Asian fashion item? Nope. Not when the mainstream doesn’t accept the people who created it”

Why isn't New Orleans Mother's Day parade shooting a 'national tragedy'?

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:52:00 -0400

Why isn't New Orleans Mother's Day parade shooting a 'national tragedy'?:

“I’ve learned to redefine what constitutes an American tragedy. American tragedies occur where middle America frequents every day: airplanes, business offices, marathons. Where there persists a tangible fear that this could happen to any of us. And rightfully so. Deaths and mayhem anywhere are tragic. That should always be the case. The story here is where American tragedies don’t occur.

American tragedies don’t occur on the southside of Chicago or the New Orleans 9th Ward. They don’t occur where inner city high school kids shoot into school buses or someone shoots at a 10-year old’s birthday party in New Orleans. Or Gary, Indiana. Or Compton. Or Newport News. These are where the forgotten tragedies happen and the cities are left to persevere on their own.” — Dennis

A Story That Needs to be Heard: Syrian Refugees Cross Into Uncertainty

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:04:00 -0400

A Story That Needs to be Heard: Syrian Refugees Cross Into Uncertainty:

At the Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan, more than 100 thousand refugees face dusty days and cold nights in an uncertain existence with no end in sight.

"Look at the hands from the trains. If you are late for work in Bombay, and reach the station just as..."

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:55:00 -0400

“

Look at the hands from the trains. If you are late for work in Bombay, and reach the station just as the train is leaving the platform, you can run up to packed compartments and you will find many hands stretching out to grab you on board, unfolding outward from the train like petals. As you run alongside, you will be picked up, and some tiny space will be made for for feet on the edge of an open doorway…But consider what has happened: Your fellow passengers, already packed together tighter than cattle are legally allowed to be, their shirts drenched with sweat in the badly ventilated compartment, having stood like this for hours, retain a sympathy for you, know that your boss might yell at you or cut your pay if you miss this train and will make space where none exists to take one more person with ten. And at that moment of contact, they do not know if the hand that is reaching for theirs belongs to a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Brahmin or untouchable or whether you were born in this city or arrived only this morning or whether you live in Malabar Hill or Jogeshwari; whether you’re from Bombay or Mumbai or New York. All they know if that you’re trying to get to the city of gold, and that’s enough.

Come on board, they’ll say.
We’ll adjust.

”

- Suketu Mehta

Bangladesh Elects it's First Woman Speaker

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:42:42 -0400

Bangladesh Elects it's First Woman Speaker

Bangladesh Factory Lacked Permits

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:33:38 -0400

Bangladesh Factory Lacked Permits:

alumalu:

Rescuers in Bangladesh succeeded in freeing 31 people from the rubble of a factory building the day after it collapsed, killing at least 258, as Dhaka city officials reported that the structure had been built without proper permits on unstable land.

My heart is aching. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Not only did this factory have no legal building permits, but workers who raised concerns about building cracks were not taken seriously. According to other reports, the businesses in the factory supplied products to huge American brands, including Dress Barn and The Children’s Place. As of yesterday, Wal-Mart was still “investigating” whether or not it also received supplies from the factory.

humanrightswatch: JH (a pseudonym) is a survivor of sexual...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:32:50 -0400

humanrightswatch:

JH (a pseudonym) is a survivor of sexual abuse by Sri Lankan security forces while in detention.

© 2012 Private

From Resume Bullet to Life's Passion - Raviteja Nori

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 19:11:38 -0500

Unlike many others, I wasn’t exposed to this organization because I was passionate about social justice, politics, or really anything special. The truth is, my first-year here, a friend told me about an organization that was looking for Small Group Facilitators. I didn’t know what social justice was - I didn’t even know what dialogue was. I saw the position and thought about how my resume would benefit from this bullet point:

South Asian Awareness Network, Small Groups Facilitator 2011

“led small-group dialogue at annual South Asian social justice conference”

Perfect, I thought. This is just the kind of things med schools are looking for. That may or may not have been true, but I did get selected. Over the next couple of months, I interacted with other students, heard their stories, shared some of mine, and made connections. Connections I still hold to this day.

Then came the conference. The mere 8 hours of training did NOT prepare me for what I was about to experience. Over the 2-day conference, I experienced phenomenal speakers such as Sam Singh, who spoke of the importance of finding a passion and sticking with it. Though the speakers were fantastic, there was something else that struck me - the opportunity this conference gave students like myself. The opportunity to talk about social justice issues such as the gender inequalities in education in many South Asian countries. This wasn’t school. This was life. I listened to my peers tell their stories and share their experiences, finding similarities and differences despite seemingly identical or distinct identities. I was speechless.

Despite having attended a high school that prided itself on its academics and diversity, I had not once witnessed a conversation half as powerful as the ones I saw happening. It got me thinking about the things we forgo in life, simply because we are too focused on what we think matters more. I walked away from that conference, motivated to pursue dialogue and learn more about social justice. And I did.

We all have our own stories about finding that organization/class/friend(s) that really made us feel welcome here on campus. SAAN was mine. It may or may not be yours, but you will never know if you don’t come see for yourself. This conference doesn’t change who you are. It gives you a vision of who you want to be. What you decide to do with that vision is entirely in your hands.

But do yourself a favor. Give that person who looks back in 10 years the satisfaction of having checked out the largest student-run South Asian conference and having decided for yourself whether or not it had something to offer you.

SAAN Taught Me How to Make a Difference - Nadira Ahmed

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:32:07 -0500

When I registered for the SAAN conference my freshman year, I knew nothing about SAAN. I didn’t even completely understand what social justice was. But I had a friend on board and she convinced me that this conference would be perfect for me. So, I took a leap of faith and put down $35 dollars and gave up a weekend to attend something that I really knew nothing about. But those $35 dollars and two days were the most important of my life because they changed it completely.

You see, the thing is, most of us probably pride ourselves in being pretty open minded. After all, we live in the 21^st century, a time of vast social and cultural advancements. But what we may not realize is that those advancements wouldn’t be possible without people, people bold enough to imagine a more equitable future and actually do something about it. And we don’t realize the stigmas and stereotypes that we hold. Things that are everywhere in the media, that we hear at home or in our neighborhoods, things that have become ingrained in our subconscious that we later attempt to trick ourselves into not believing. Until we learn to accept that those things do exist in our subconscious, talk about them, and until we are given reasons to believe otherwise, those things won’t go away. They don’t just disappear. Our brain has no natural immune system to boot out negative thoughts, it has to be done consciously. The SAAN conference is the perfect medium for this all to happen and its where it happened for me (and is continuing to happen even as a member of the e-board).

At the SAAN conference, I was able to confront those stereotypes that I had fought so hard to ignore and I learned to do something about it. I learned how to put my dreams of equity into action. How I, a small, insignificant college student, can create a lasting impact. While we might think that it is beyond the great majority of us to create social change, to create a more just society, I would like to tell you that you are wrong. One person can make a difference, and that capacity exists within all of us. We simply have to want it. Let the SAAN conference show you how you can make a difference in the lives of others and even your own. Come to the SAAN conference where you can teach and be taught about social justice. Take a leap of faith, like I did. You won’t be disappointed.

Many Ways to Fight for Social Justice - Nikhil Shah

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:47:49 -0500

As a freshman, I knew nothing about SAAN. To me it was just a random organization that had a conference in January, and that one of my friends happened to be involved with it. I went to the conference solely because he kept telling me to sign up, and essentially left me with no choice. At that point in my life I had a small understanding of Social Justice. I knew about LGBTQ rights, and immigration, I knew about the struggles with women’s rights and the lack of conversation about sexuality in South Asia. However, I didn’t know much about these topics, and so when he told me about the conference I thought to myself, “Ok, maybe now I’ll be able to learn more.” Unfortunately I got very sick the weekend of the conference, and was only able to make it to one workshop. At this workshop I didn’t learn about LGBTQ rights, didn’t learn about the struggles of women’s rights in South Asia. Instead I learned the one thing I had no previous knowledge about; How to get involved. The workshop was about the use of photography, and after listening to the speaker I began to realize that there is no one-way to get involved. Social Justice doesn’t have to be fought for through protests and demonstrations. People can be activists through mediums they are passionate about.
The following year at the conference I was a facilitator, and the workshop that has impacted and inspired my life the most was a workshop on music and hip-hop, and how social justice can be fought for through it.
Art forms aren’t traditional ways that people will fight for Social Justice. However, art has the power to inspire people the way other mediums don’t. Powerful pictures, Strong lyrics, these have the power to stick with people, to resonate in their minds and force them to think about things that they might not have thought about. SAAN has taught me that I don’t have to protest to make a difference, I don’t have to be out there “Fighting the power” if I want to effect change. Doing what I enjoy, and fighting for social change doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. SAAN has inspired my life, let it inspire yours.

The Moment I Fell In Love with SAAN - Kanchan Swaroop

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:35:00 -0500

The moment I fell in love with SAAN occured during my freshman year when I was a conference participant and I heard comedian Rasika Mathur talking about what it was like to be a misunderstood South Asian kid who wanted to be unique. But the moment I truly understood why I was in the organization was not until I experienced the conference as a member of the Central Planning Team. It’s sometimes easy to get so bogged down in work and stress that you forget why you’re doing the things you do. It’s been such a busy year already that I myself sometimes forget why I applied to be chair of this organization. And that’s when I know that I need to take a step back. I know that I need to just stop and think about why I’m doing this and remember how many reasons there are. Only then can I make someone else realize how valuable and inspiring this conference is. So this is why I am in SAAN: I do it because when I joined, for the first time in my life, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. I felt passion that I had never felt before—passion for fighting for people, passion for educating people, and passion for learning from people. I came to college unaware about many issues in the world and figured I would get through my four years here cruising along in the shadows. But when I got involved with SAAN, I realized that this was no way to go through college or even life itself. I realized how important it is for me to be heard, to challenge what I believe is wrong, and to educate people about issues that are close to my heart. I do this so that there will be a day when I will never have to hear about a girl in rural India who gets sick because she didn’t have access to proper healthcare, or a 13 year old bullied boy who hurts himself because he can’t handle it anymore, or a Muslim man who gets discriminated against because of his religion.Everyone has a right to equal opportunities, to be treated the same way no matter their gender, race, or sexual orientation, and to live in this world without fear. That is why I dedicate myself to this organization and its values.

SAAN Sparked My Activisim - Darsh Balakrishnan

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:19:00 -0500

I joined SAAN as a junior who was interested in social justice. I hadn’t had much experience in the field, but I knew I wanted to make a difference on campus. What impressed me most about the organization was the amazing conference they hold at the beginning of the new year. The speakers come from a wide range of backgrounds, each with their own story and share an amazing session with participants of the conference! Their passion, commitment, focus and enthusiasm motivated me beyond bounds! As a South Asian American, my eyes opened up to many issues that affected my community that I was previously oblivious to. Through SAAN, I’ve been able to channel my energy into making an impact on the South Asian community as well individuals on and off campus.

As a community, SAAN is an inclusive and collaborative organization. I’ve made my best friends in college at SAAN and I’ve had several dialogues which I will remember for a very long time. Starting with Mental Health Issues and Islamophobia to LGBTQ and women’s rights, SAAN has continuously helped highlight these issues encouraging individuals to become allies of social justice. SAAN is been the most significant reason I’m interested in social justice activism.

Darsh Balakrishnan, SAAN 2013 Programming Chair

SAAN Was My Bridge - Tushar Shetty

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:05:00 -0500

When I first stepped into the realm of the South Asian Awareness Network, I had never heard the words social change, racial privilege, or even gender queerism. As any freshman, I was very eager to jump on any opportunity for experience in an organization. But I was in for quite a show as I became a small groups facilitator that year. All of a sudden the words dialogue, debrief, and affirmation became part of my everyday vernacular. I was thrust into a diverse crowd that challenged my preconceived notions on gender privilege, religious freedom, among others. To be honest, it was quite overwhelming at first, but what helped me push myself was the support and positive encouragement from all the members of SAAN. At the conference that year, my eyes were opened to the diverse array of activists around the country, and the causes they support. Ignorance may have been my bliss before, but now that I had a glimpse at the many injustices happening around me, I could no longer keep quiet. I could no longer live in my little bubble of privilege.

It may not sound like much, but that year catalyzed my further involvement with SAAN. Fast forward two years. As the chair of SAAN, I’ve been graciously given the chance to guide others like I had been guided before. I am not the most knowledgeable. I can’t quote statistics on how many people are malnourished in India. I don’t know how to solve the environmental problems around polluting poor areas. But what I do have is the mindset to listen to others, broaden my perspective, and encourage them to do so too so that one day we can solve these problems together.

At Ethos 2013 we will be exploring personal narratives. Each story is as important as any other, as they can come together to form a broader perspective on social identities. SAAN was my bridge into becoming a more cognizant activist, and I hope it can be others’ as well. Join me this MLK weekend at the SAAN conference and start your bridge to something better.

-Tushar Shetty, SAAN 2013 Chair

SAAN Changed My Life-Harsha Nahata

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:17:57 -0500

SAAN changed my life. If you let it, it’ll change yours. I was lured to SAAN as many of us are… by the promise of free food. But I soon realized that there was much more to SAAN than just Taste of SAAN. At the conference my freshmen year, I remember being mindblown by all the speakers. One that especially stood out was Sam Singh, the former mayor of East Lansing and now the first Indian American state representative in Michigan. In addition to his long list of accomplishments, he had taken time off to fulfill a childhood dream — to travel the world, hitting over 25 different countries on all seven continents. He talked to us about making time in life to do what we truly want, those things we imagined ourselves doing at the age of 12, those dreams that often get pushed aside in the daily bustle of life. It was inspiring to say the least. And Sam Singh is just one of many speakers that have made an impact on me over the years. I still remember a workshop on LGBT issues that forever changed the way I see gender norms and expressiveness. Or a performance by Brownstar that allowed me to uncover poetry skills I never knew I had. Or a presentation from Thinkprogress editor Faiz Shakir that showed us how much the media influences the way we think. From former Congressman Hansen Clark to comedian Dhaya Lakshiminarayanan, every speaker I’ve heard at the conferences has changed the way I think in some way for the better.

But the true beauty of SAAN is the way it brings people together. Needless to say, some of my closest friendships have come out of the conferences. Beyond that, however, SAAN gave me a place to talk about things that simply aren’t often talked about. These are issues that we all think about at some point, but rarely discuss. After all, the cultural stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS or sexual assault aren’t exactly topics of conversation for the dinner table. But SAAN provides a safe space to engage in this dialogue, and that too with peers. It’s not just a conference. For me, SAAN has been a place, to challenge my beliefs, to understand the subconscious judgments I don’t even realize I’m making, to learn about injustices I didn’t even know existed, to be inspired to change something about the world. And above all, to build a network of people who care just as much as I do.

-Harsha Nahata

SAAN 2013 Community Relations Chair

My SAAN Experience-Rohit Nallani

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:15:00 -0500

Joining SAAN as a Small Groups Facilitator last year may have been one of the best decisions I’ve made at the University of Michigan. Not only did I become a part of an outstanding organization centered around spreading awareness of the South Asian identity and social justice issues, I learned valuable facilitation and interpersonal skills.

During the Conference, I listened to various speakers discuss issues such as political action and change, undocumented immigrants, and power of photography in spreading awareness. I was able to draw upon my own experiences with such issues and what I had learned in classes and throughout my life to pose questions to which participants were able to consider and respond to. As the weekend progressed, participants became more comfortable and opened up more.

Before I was a Facilitator, I don’t think I really had a complete idea of “social justice,” but now I think I do. I’ve come to understand many of my own social identities and have changed some. I know now that there is nothing wrong with being uncomfortable in different situations and that I actually learn and gain more from these kinds of experiences.

Without my initial involvement in SAAN, I don’t think I would be as aware of many of the stigmas, fears, and prejudices associated with certain social identities nor would I have the ability to discuss and explore those ideas. I am a better listener, speaker, and leader due to my experience with the organization. I have attempted to use my new knowledge and expertise in other organizations, and I think I get along better with people since I try to listen more and give them a chance. SAAN showed me that one could gain a lot from listening to those different from them and to welcome, rather than shun, diversity.

-Rohit Nallani

SAAN Community Relations Chair

India gang rape victim's father: I want the world to know my daughter's name is Jyoti Singh Pandey

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 18:45:51 -0500

India gang rape victim's father: I want the world to know my daughter's name is Jyoti Singh Pandey:

deafmuslimpunx:

Rest in Peace.

US media portrays rape culture as a foreign problem. Here’s why they’re wrong.

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:35:26 -0500

US media portrays rape culture as a foreign problem. Here’s why they’re wrong.

breakingnews: Delhi gang-rape victim dies in hospital in...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:10:21 -0500

breakingnews:

Delhi gang-rape victim dies in hospital in Singapore

BBC News: The 23-year-old woman gang-raped on a bus in India’s capital Delhi has died at a Singapore hospital, doctors say.

“The patient passed away peacefully at 4:45am on 29 Dec 2012,” a statement from the hospital said. The patient’s family had been by her side, it added.

The 23-year-old had arrived in Singapore on Thursday after undergoing three operations in a Delhi hospital.

Follow updates on the story at Breaking News.

Photo: A young woman, one hand covered in fake blood, takes part in a protest earlier Friday in Calcutta against the gang rape of a student. (Piyal Adhikary / EPA via NBC News)