The SEEMA Magazine November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN IN THE FRAY SWING STATES SPECIAL PLUS

FOOD, FESTIVALS & MORE

The

Times They Are

A-Changin’ DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KAMALA HARRIS

ELECTION 20 SPECIAL 20

FEATURES ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Pramila Jayapal DISTRICT 1 & 4

CALIFORNIA

Jhansi Kalapala

Ranjana Rao

DISTRICT 48

WASHINGTON

Priti Dave

BOARD OF EDUCATION

WASHINGTON

NEW JERSEY

SAN RAMON MAYOR

CALIFORNIA

NEW JERSEY

CALIFORNIA

Nithya Raman

NORTH DAKOTA

OREGON

LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 4

SOUTH DAKOTA

IDAHO

CALIFORNIA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA 64TH DISTRICT

CALIFORNIA

UTAH

Susmita Nayak

COLORADO

SAN RAMON MAYOR

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

Habir Bhatia

Sabina Zafar

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

SANTA CLARA CITY COUNCIL

NEW JERSEY

WASHINGTON

WYOMING

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair

BOARD OF EDUCATION

FREMONT UNIFIED BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 6

MONTANA Aparna Madireddi

Parul Patel

BOARD OF EDUCATION

MINNESOTA

Aarti Kaushal

Vandana Slatter

DISTRICT 7

ARIZONA

KANSAS

NEW MEXICO

OKLAHOMA

SAN RAMON MAYOR

TEXAS

Naz Mahika Khan

Nisha Sharma

Sameera Rajwade

Radhika Kunnel

CALIFORNIA

Hiral Tipirneni

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

Satinder Kaur Kang

Sudha Kasamsetty

FREMONT MAYOR

TRUSTEE AREA 4

CALIFORNIA

11TH DISTRICT

UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

CALIFORNIA

2 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

SAN RAMON CITY COUNCIL

Vedica Puri

SAN FRANCISCO SUPERIOR COURT SEAT 17

CALIFORNIA

DISTRICT 2

Farah Khan MAYOR OF IRVINE

CALIFORNIA

DISTRICT 6

Pooja Sethi

AUSTIN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10

TEXAS

Donna Imam

Dimple Malhotra

TEXAS

TEXAS

DISTRICT 31

DISTRICT 10

Rupande Mehta Smita Nadia Hussain DISTRICT 25

BOARD OF EDUCATION

NEW JERSEY

NEW JERSEY

Smitha Raj

Ramya Kasthuri

Padmaja Chinta

Nishita Desai

NEW JERSEY

NEW JERSEY

NEW JERSEY

NEW JERSEY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Sonal Patel

BOARD OF EDUCATION

NEW JERSEY

Padma Kuppa DISTRICT 41

MICHIGAN

MAINE Sara Gideon

Lakshmi Kode Sammarco

SENATE FROM MAINE DEMOCRAT

VERMONT NEW MAINE HAMILTON COUNTY CORONER HAMPSHIRE OHIO MASSACHUSETTS NEW YORK

WISCONSIN

PENNSYLVANIA MARYLAND

NEW JERSEY Kesha Ram DISTRICT 6-4

VERMONT

KENTUCKY TENNESSEE

ARKANSAS ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI

NORTH CAROLINA

Raaheela Ahmed DISTRICT 5

SOUTH CAROLINA

MARYLAND

GEORGIA

Anjali Boyd

LOUISIANA

ELECTION TO THE DURHAM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR

NORTH CAROLINA

Meg Hansen

STATE SENATE FROM BENNINGTON COUNTY

VERMONT

South Asian Women in Politics

Manga Anantatmula

©SEEMA

OHIO

WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA

MISSOURI

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DISTRICT 11

VIRGINIA

FLORIDA

Nima Kulkarni DISTRICT 40

KENTUCKY

Jennifer Rajkumar DISTRICT 38

NEW YORK

Deepti Sharma

Moumita Ahmed

Ragini Srivastava

Sarita Bhandarkar

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 24

DISTRICT 24

DISTRICT 16

DISTRICT 99

Infographic: Sajid Moinuddin / Text: Bhargavi Kulkarni

IOWA INDIANA

AUDITOR GENERAL

HILLSBOROUGH 35

CONNECTICUT

MICHIGAN

ILLINOIS

Nina Ahmad

Latha Mangipudi

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 3

Editorial credit: Nuno21 / Shutterstock.com

ON THE COVER | SEEMA

Kamala Devi Harris: Breaking Barriers, One at a Time The trailblazing California senator could make history as America’s first woman vice president BHARGAVI KULKARNI

4 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

C

alifornia Senator Kamala Devi Harris’ historical nomination as the Democratic vice presidential candidate has meant different things to different people. To women of color, it has meant validation, representation and hope; to youngsters, it’s monumental and inspiring; and for activists, it is a tool to galvanize the community to vote for change. This August, Harris became the first African American and first Indian American woman to be chosen as a presidential running mate.

Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, came from Tamil Nadu in India; her father, Donald Harris, is a Black man from Jamaica. Besides her mother, the people who have played huge roles in her life are her sister, Maya; her niece, Meena; her husband, Doug Emhoff; and her stepchildren, Ella and Cole Emhoff.

Whether it’s on the Senate floor, campaign trails, Zoom calls with her supporters or donors, or the debate stage, Harris has displayed her passion to work with and for the people, showing empathy, resilience, strength, knowledge, calmness, and clarity. It was evident on the debate stage with Vice President Mike Pence, where she faced Pence’s expected sexism and racism, all the while being careful to avoid those labels reserved for women, especially women of color: emotional, angry, nasty. On

that stage, Harris conveyed so with her facial expressions than her words.

Her side-eye; her stares; her repeated head shakes and head tilts. And the classic line: “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”

Things were different last December when Harris ended her presidential campaign.

In a video posted on her social media handles at the time, she said: “To you my supporters, my dear supporters, it is with deep regret – but also with deep gratitude – that I am suspending our campaign today. But I want to be clear with you: I am still very much in this fight. And I will keep fighting every day for what this campaign has been about. Justice for the people. All the people.”

Shyamala Gopalan Harris with her daughters Kamala and Maya, outside their apartment on Milvia Street in Berkeley, Calif., in January 1970, after she separated from her husband Donald Harris

Harris has displayed her passion to work with-and-for the people, showing empathy, resilience, strength, knowledge, calmness, and clarity

Kamala Harris and friends at their Howard University graduation

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 5

ON THE COVER | SEEMA

Breaking the proverbial glass ceiling is nothing

new to Harris. In 2017, Harris was sworn in as a United States senator for California, the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history.

A Trailblazer

Harris has spent her life fighting injustice. It is a passion that was first inspired by her mother, an immigrant, activist, and breast cancer researcher.

Breaking the proverbial glass ceiling is nothing new to Harris. In 2017, Harris was sworn in as a United States senator for California, the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history. She served on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Budget.

After earning an undergraduate degree from Howard University and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings, she began her career in the Alameda County 6 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, Harris became the district attorney of the City and County of San Francisco.

While she was the district attorney, Harris started a program that gives first-time drug offenders the chance to earn a high school diploma and find employment. After two terms as the district attorney, Harris was elect-

A Powerful Role Model

“I think the selection of Kamala Harris as a vice presidential candidate has been a really incredible opportunity for us to engage the public in terms of telling her story,” said Neil Makhija, executive director of the Indian American Impact Fund, an Indian American advocacy organization.

“Kamala’s story is the American story,” Makhija said. “Her acceptance of the vice presidential nomination is a quantum leap forward for Indian Americans, showing that we are taking our place in American history books.”

Since August, several South Asian Americans, especially women, have

Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris greets potential voters at theShyamala Uptown Bakery in Claremont, NH Gopalan, left, Harris at a civil rights march in Berkeley, California

Editorial credit: Maverick Pictures / Shutterstock.com

Shyamala Gopalan, left, Harris at a civil rights march in Berkeley, California

ed to be the first African-American and first woman to serve as California’s Attorney General.

Over her nearly two terms in office, Harris won a $25-billion settlement for California homeowners hit by the foreclosure crisis, defended California’s landmark climate change law, protected the Affordable Care Act, helped win marriage equality for all Californians, and prosecuted transnational gangs that trafficked in guns, drugs, and human beings.

Even her Secret Service code name, Pioneer, is significant. As per an Aug. 17 CNN report, the code name “is a nod to Harris taking her place in history as the first Black woman and Indian American woman on a major party ticket.”

Ushering a New Wave of Diversity in the Biden-Harris Era,” organized by South Asians for Biden.

“To all the young women who are watching this, I want you to know that leadership begins the day you are born. You are never too young or too old to be a leader,” Harris said there.

A Darling of the Community

The South Asian American community has been excited about Harris since August and has come out in large numbers to support her. This was evident a few weeks ago when Georgia Sen. David Perdue made fun of her name, deliberately mispronouncing it.

“The most insidious thing that Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden and are trying to perpetrate and Bernie (Sanders) and Elizabeth (Warren) and Kamala...or what KAH-mah-lah? KahMAH-lah? Kamala-mala-mala?! I don’t

know, whatever,” Purdue said to the crowd in Macon, Georgia, on Oct. 15.

Social media instantly started criticizing Perdue and standing by Harris.

A new social media campaign called #MyNameIs was launched as well.

In the preface of her memoir, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” Harris dedicates a paragraph on the meaning and the right pronunciation of her name: “First, my name is pronounced ‘comma-la,’ like the punctuation mark. It means ‘lotus flower,’ which is a symbol of significance in Indian culture. A lotus grows underwater, its flower rising above the surface white its roots planted firmly in the river bottom.

In another instance, she writes: “Our classic Indian names harked back to our heritage, and we were raised with a strong awareness of and appreciation for Indian culture.”

Thousands attend for at California Senator Kamala Harris in Oakland as she formally kicks off her Presidential campaign for the 2020 election Shyamala Gopalan, left,rally Harris a civil rights march in Berkeley, California

Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

been taking to social media since Harris’ nomination, hoping that it opens doors to other South Asian women to see themselves in leadership positions at the highest levels of government.

“Kamala being so close to becoming the vice president makes me, as a South Asian woman, feel mainstream in America 20 years after I came here,” said Aditi Pal Karandikar, a member of They See Blue, a grassroots organization in California that aims to get Americans of South Asian origin to help Democrats win elections across the board.

“I feel our community is seen [now].

She is a powerful role model for women and girls of color, especially immigrants, to see their potential in America,” Pal said.

It was this message that Harris delivered on Aug. 31, at a webinar, “South Asian Women in Leadership:

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 7

ON THE COVER | SEEMA Editorial credit: Aaron of L.A. Photography / Shutterstock.com

mate, she said that her mother “must be looking down on this.”

Earlier at the Democratic National Convention, when she accepted the vice presidential nomination, Harris spoke about how her mother came to the U.S. from India for higher studies, and how she met her husband, Donald President trump and Vice President Mike Pence supporters and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris supporters Harris, an immigrant from rallied together outside aluminum foundry Jamaica, Harris said her parents fell in love Inheritance From Her Mother “in that most American Throughout her campaign trail, way — while marching first as a presidential candidate together for justice in and then as Biden’s running mate, the civil rights moveHarris has always spoken about the ment of the 1960s.” influence that her mother, ShyaWishing that her mala Gopalan Harris, had on her mom was with her thought process and in shaping her during the historic career and her ideals. moment, Harris said: During the vice-presidential debate, “I keep thinking about while highlighting all the barriers she that 25-year-old Indian was breaking as Joe Biden’s running woman, all of five feet

tall, who gave birth to me. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now and speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.”

In her memoir, Harris details what she inherited from her mother, and from her upbringing.

“Though I miss her every day, I carry her with me wherever I go. I think of the battles she fought, the values she taught me, … There is no title or honor on earth I’ll treasure more than to say I am Shyamala Gopalan Harris’s daughter,” she wrote.

A Chitti to Many, ‘Momala’ to Two

Harris’ DNC speech was pathbreaking in many ways.

Along with laying out the agenda of a Biden-Harris administration, she acknowl-

Thousands attend rally for California Senator Kamala Harris in Oakland as she formally kicks off her Presidential campaign for the 2020 election 8 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Editorial credit: Kim Wilson / Shutterstock.com

took to social media to post how they could relate to Harris’ use of the Tamil word for aunt.

Since then, many in the South Asian community have started referring to Harris as “Kamala aunty.”

While formally nominating Harris alongside the senator’s niece Meena and sister Maya at the DNC, Ella was all praise for her Momala.

“To my brother and me, you’ll always be ‘Momala,’ the world’s greatest stepmom,” she said.

“You’re a rock. Not just for our dad, but for three generations of our big, blended family.”

As Jewish parenting site Kveller. com points out, “Momala” isn’t just a play on Harris’ first name.

Emhoff and his kids are Jewish, and “mamaleh” is a Yiddish word that means “little mama” (but is often used as a term of endearment for kids). d

Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

edged her biracial roots and her family ties. She not only touched on the importance of family but went into detail on how she defines her own.

While Harris’s speech echoed with Indian Americans, it was the word Chitthi — the Tamil word for mother’s younger sister, or father’s younger brother’s wife — that sent Indian Americans into a tizzy.

“Family is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend,” she said.

“Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren,” she said. “Family is my uncles, my aunts, my chitthis.”

The use of the word “chiiti” displayed her pride in her South Asian roots. Padma Lakshmi, Mindy Kaling and many others

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 9

Gowri Nadella page 82

Pramila Jayapal page 14

Natasha Celmi page 70

CONTENTS 12 CONTRIBUTORS

ON THE COVER 4 Kamala Harris: Breaking

Barriers One at a Time

13 GOING BEYOND LIMITS PIONEERS 14 Pramila Jayapal:

Trailblazing Indian Congresswoman 18 Jenifer Rajkumar:

Breaking Glass Ceilings

in New York 20 Sara Gideon Seeks to

Flip Maine’s Senate Seat 24 Sameera Rajwade: “I am

a Blueprint for Change 26 Election Special—South

Asian Women in Politics 40 Swing States— Indian

Americans Likely to

Flip Swing States

54

FEATURES 45 South Asian Women for

Biden 48 3 South Asian American

Women in Race for San

Ramon Mayor 60 Being Dougla in America

DIWALI SPECIAL 62 Diwali Sweets 66 Lighting Up Lives with

Diwali Gifts

FOOD 70 Chef Natasha Celmi:

Gaining an Appetite for Cooking 76 Chef Suvir Saran: The

Quest to Bring Real Food

to the Table

10 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Aroon Shivdasani: “The arts is in my DNA”

FASHION 82 When Dreams Come

True: Teen Model Gowri Nadella

THANKSGIVING 86 Pumpkin Dishes Beyond

Halloween 90 How to Plan Thanksgiv-

ing During COVID 92 Thanksgiving Tablescapes

ARTS—BOOKS AND TV 80 Raw and Honest, Super

Model Lisa Ray Opens Up 94 Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi 96 Suitable Boy Review

LIVING 89 Omni Design

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ON THE COVER: KAMALA HARRIS (PAGE 1).

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EDIT | SEEMA

GOING

BEYOND LIMITS

R

arely has there been so much at stake for the United States as in this year’s election. It is unlike any other, at least in my 35 years here in the United States as an Indian American immigrant turned citizen. This election goes way beyond policies or positions. It is fundamental.

Existential. To every single citizen. To be or not to be true to the American dream, that is the question!

As ordinary citizens, we witness daily the slings and arrows of partisan politics and divisiveness. We want common ground with our neighbors, our families, our communities. Where will we find our collective raison d’etre? Our reasons to be united: At the virtual water cooler?

On Zoom meetings? Or at the empty Thanksgiving table turned into a dinner for two? It’s less about the candidates or the parties and much more about the State of the Union.

This year has demonstrated to us, the citizens of the United States, that the State of the Union is weak. Broken. And that it has not done well by ordinary citizens to save the downtrodden from misfortunes.

Universally, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a surreal curveball. Little did we know that we were so vulnerable, especially given that we live in the most powerful and scientifically advanced nation in the world. We sent man to the moon and brought him back safely. We sequenced the human genome, the genetic blueprint for a human being. We got HIV under check, almost cured Hepatitis C, are managing the seasonal flu, made major advances in the treatments for cancer, and managed amazing feats in immunotherapy. We send SpaceX rockets with as much ease as flicking a golf ball over the green, for a home run or a sixer, and released new and improved versions of the iPhone every fall. And yet... we can’t contact-trace like China nor can we control the pandemic better than

those in the crowded slums of Dharavi, in Mumbai, India, which flattened the curve better than we did in the most advanced nation in the world. It is at once inspiring and embarrassing.

Layer on the sheer racial injustice that has plagued this country for centuries. Given the colorism, and the antiblack, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant sentiments, and it is enough to make one try to ensure that this election sets up the ordinary American for success. And that sentiment is one that inspires immigrants, including South Asians.

Which is where we at SEEMA find inspiration — in Kamala Harris who is the first South Asian/Indian/Black American to be elected to run for vice president. And for a record South Asian women on both side of the aisle running for office in at least 16 states in all corners of America, all hoping to make a difference. We have featured and chronicled — for the very first time — all the women running for office to make a positive change. And so this issue is focused on the election.

But we also acknowledge that this is also the holiday season. We are celebrating Diwali and Thanksgiving in a strange and surreal way in these times of COVID. We have to celebrate in a way that maintains normalcy but while still being innovative. We also have to decide: Do we celebrate without our near and dear ones to protect each other or do we take a chance and come together? In this issue, we cover all and hope to analyze, agonize, celebrate, and, yes, even normalize the situation with you. We hope you enjoy this issue and send in your comments.

Thanks to the SEEMA team for doing all they could to make this issue really come alive, and to the contributors and writers for the spectacular content they have provided!

Happy Diwali, Happy Thanksgiving, and please vote! d

SEEMA KUMAR, FOUNDER NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 13

PIONEERS | SEEMA

Pramila Jayapal: Trailblazing Indian American Congresswoman Seeking 3rd Term From Washington’s 7th Congressional District Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, she was an early supporter of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign BHARGAVI KULKARNI

14 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

P

ramila Jayapal needs no introduction. The trailblazing U.S. Congresswoman, who represents Washington’s 7th Congressional District, made history in 2016, by becoming the first South Asian American woman to be elected to Congress.

In her two terms in the House, the fiery Congresswoman has had several moments where she has demonstrated her grit and integrity. Be it her criticism of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in India, the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, her 2018 arrest while protesting for immigration reform, or her several rebuttals to her Republican House colleagues during various debates and hearings.

Jayapal, 55, is seeking re-election, and is being challenged by Republican Craig Keller, who reportedly stands no chance against the Congresswoman, who has made a name as a progressive fighter. Washington’s 7th Congressional District encompasses most of Seattle and its surrounding areas. Prior to running for the House, Jayapal represented District 37 in the

Washington State Senate from 2014 to 2016.

An early supporter of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign, she was endorsed by Sanders for her re-election bid.

A Bold and Honest Progressive

“I am a fighter not for the one percent, but for working men and women; not for austerity, but social security; not for deportations and breaking up families, but building stronger middle class families; not for prisons, but public education, college debt relief and criminal justice reform,” she says on her Facebook page.

“My journey from India to Seattle

taught me that while our democracy may be broken, it is up to us to fix it,” she says. “In the end, the powerful have their voice – I will be bold, I will be honest and I will demand justice. I will be your voice.”

In Congress, Jayapal has been a leader on immigration, including fighting the Donald Trump administration’s policies of separating children from their parents and crafting legislation to help expand legal immigration to America, according to her profile on her website. She has also championed legislation to address income inequality, such as the $15 minimum wage and expanded collective bargaining rights for workers. She has worked extensively on health care issues as the lead sponsor of the Medicare for All Act bill in the House. She is the author of the College for All Act, which would ensure every American has access to higher education. She has authored other landmark pieces of progressive legislation including the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act and the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. She has also prioritized

“In the end, the powerful have their voice – I will be bold, I will be honest and I will demand justice. I will be your voice.”

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 15

PIONEERS | SEEMA

legislation to transition our economy to 100 percent clean energy and address the crisis of climate justice.

Currently a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she serves as vice chair of the Immigration Subcommittee, and is on the House Education and Labor and Budget committees. She is also the elected co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which represents approximately 40 percent of the entire Democratic caucus; the Immigration Subcommittee chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific Asian Caucus;

16 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Jayapal spent 20 years working internationally and domestically in global public health and development, and as an advocate for the rights of women and immigrants, and for civil and human rights. and a vice chair of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus.

From Chennai to Seattle

She came to the U.S. from India at age 16, and earned her bachelor’s in English literature at Georgetown University. She later earned an MBA at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Prior to serving in elected office, Jayapal spent 20 years working internationally and domestically in global public health and development, and as an advocate for the rights of women and immigrants, and for civil and human rights. She spent almost a decade working on global health and development at Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), a international nonprofit organization. She spent 12 years as the founder and executive director of OneAmerica, the largest immigration advocacy organization in Washington state and one of the largest in the country.

Her introduction to politics came in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, when she founded the Hate Free Zone (which later became OneAmerica) to address the backlash unleashed against immigrants. In previous interviews, She has said she set the organization to fight against the discrimination and backlash against Arabs, Muslims and South Asians immediately after 9/11. She said there were moments when she considered running for office, but dropped the idea quickly. But that changed in March 2016, when she realized that running for office would

give her the chance to do the right things for the community as well as advocate and organize. She declared her candidacy on March 10.

Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Jayapal spent her childhood in Jakarta and Singapore, before moving to the U.S. She is married to Steve Williamson, a long-time labor leader and strategist, and is the mother of a gender-nonconforming child Janak, stepson Michael, and a 65-pound labradoodle, Otis.

Resolution on Kashmir

A strong critic of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government in India, Jayapal has faced ire from Indian Americans for her strong stand against human rights violations in Kashmir.

She has often castigated the Indian government for the humanitarian crisis there. Last December, she introduced a bipartisan House Resolution with Rep. Steve Watkins (R.-Kansas) to urge India “to preserve religious freedom for all and end communications blockade and mass detentions in Jammu & Kashmir.” A few days later, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was in Washington, D.C., for the twoplus-two meeting with his diplomatic counterpart, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, “abruptly cancelled” a meeting with the leadership of the

House Foreign Affairs Committee after they rejected his demands to exclude Jayapal. The Washington Post reported then that the Indian officials informed the committee that Jaishankar would not meet with the lawmakers if the group included Jayapal. Rep. Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, refused, “and the Indians pulled out.”

The Post Jayapal as saying that “this only furthers the idea that the Indian government isn’t willing to listen to any dissent at all,” and arguing that “the seriousness of this moment should’ve been a reason for a conversation, not dictating who’s in the meeting, which seems very petty.”

According to the Post, Jayapal had said the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) that has triggered raging protests and violence across India, “adds a whole level of complexity to India as a secular democracy — one of the great prides of the country.” Analysts said then that Jayapal’s resolution has widened the rift between progressive Democratic lawmakers.

All in the Family

Two years after Jayapal became the first South Asian woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, her older sister, Susheela Jayapal, created history becoming the first South

Asian woman to hold an elected county office in Oregon. The 58-yearold won a seat on the nonpartisan Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in Oregon. Her current term ends in 2022.

“Congratulations to my sister,@ SusheelaJayapal, who just became the first #SouthAsian American ever elected in Oregon! She ran an incredible race and won outright with 57% of the vote in Multnomah County, she will be a strong progressive champion for you!” the Washington congresswoman tweeted. Rep. Pramila Jayapal had encouraged her sister to run and helped her with fundraising and endorsements. d

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 17

PIONEERS | SEEMA

Jenifer Rajkumar to Break Glass Ceiling in New York The state has the most Indian Americans, yet only now has it lined up its first South Asian female lawmaker

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SEEMA STAFF

amala Harris is not the only South Asian destined to make history in this election. Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian American slated to enter the New York State Assembly, feels it is time the Indian American community played a significant role in American politics.

In less than a week, New Yorkers will vote for all the 150 lawmakers that will represent them in the state’s assembly. Rajkumar – a lawyer, professor, and a former New York state government official – is the Democratic Party’s nominee for District 38, which includes Woodhaven, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Glendale

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neighborhoods of New York City. She is expected to easily win her very blue district.

She’s the only South Asian woman ever to be elected to any government office in New York, despite that state having the most Indian Americans in the country – more than 300,000 according to the 2010 census.

Rajkumar’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from India and settled in south Queens before moving to another part of New York. She was not born in South Queens but said that she has “returned to my roots to uplift my community.”

She feels her family’s story is very similar to that of other immigrants.

“Like many Indian, Bengali and West Indian families, my family’s story is that they immigrated to the United States with just 300 dollars and a suitcase,” she said.

The Indian American community is among the “most highly educated racial or ethnic groups in the U.S.” and are “generally well off,” according to the Pew Research Center.

“The Indian American community has been very successful in medicine, engineering, technology, and is now emerging in the government sphere.

The time has come. The time is now,” Rajkumar said.

This can be seen at the national level too, she said. The nomination of Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian American woman to be the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nominee, has galvanized the community in the country. Across the U.S. many Indian Americans like Rajkumar are running for office at various levels.

Rajkumar’s home turf of Queens may get two lawmakers of South Asian descent. The other is Zohran

Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary in Astoria’s Assembly District 36 which covers the Astoria neighborhood. Mamdani is of Indian and Ugandan descent.

Rajkumar said her decision to run for office stems from a desire to “honor all of the opportunity that this great country gave to my family.” She said that she decided to dedicate her life to social justice, and after graduating from UPenn and Stanford Law School, became a civil rights attorney.

She worked as the special counsel and director of immigration affairs for New York State, leading the state’s Liberty Defense Project, a free program providing legal assistance to immigrants. She said New York was the only state with such a program, and argued that no immigrant should be put in detention without recourse to legal aid.

“When the federal government was passing restrictive immigration policies, I was pushing back on that,”

Rajkumar said. Her job gave her a chance to engage with New Yorkers across the state. That encouraged her to run for assembly.

“I realized that South Queens, my home, needed representation,” said Rajkumar. In 2016 she had unsuccessfully run in District 65, which covers NYC’s Lower East Side, Chinatown, South Street Seaport area, Financial District and Battery Park City neighborhoods.

Talking about the obstacles South Asians face in getting elected, Rajkumar said that gerrymandering has been one hurdle in Queens. She said that while there is no district that is predominantly South Asian in Queens, she won due to backing from not just South Asians, but also the Irish and Italian communities. She asserted that Assembly District 38, home to many immigrants, including South Asians and Latinos, has been overlooked and underfunded for a very long time. She hopes to change that.

“My office will be a place where immigrants can come and take help in navigating America,” Rajkumar said. “My goal is to help immigrants navigate our courtrooms, our educational system, our governments, and I believe we can do that.”

A little less than one-fourth of the population of this district is immigrants and about 30% of them are South Asians and Indo-Caribbeans, she noted. On being asked if her’s is going to an immigrant centered district in the state, she said “correct.”

“I am humbled to be the first South Asian woman ever to be elected to a government office in the state of New York. I know I am certainly not the last one.” d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 19

PIONEERS | SEEMA

Sara Gideon Seeks to Flip Maine Senate Seat

A win against long-term Senator Susan Collins could help give the Democrats control of the U.S. Senate

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

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he polls are in Sara Gideon’s favor. So are the finances. The speaker of the Maine House of Representatives seems close to making history as the second woman of Indian origin in the U.S. Senate.

She is seeking to oust longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the most moderate Republicans in Congress and flip the

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state to give Democrats an edge in the U.S. Senate.

On Jan. 3, 2017, Kamala Devi Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, made history by becoming the first Black and the first South Asian American woman to represent California in the U.S. Senate. Like Harris, Gideon, 48, is half Indian. Born and raised in

Rhode Island, she is the daughter of immigrants — her father is from India, while her mother is a secondgeneration Armenian American, whose parents escaped the Armenian holocaust. Gideon moved to Maine after meeting her husband, Ben Benjamin Rogoff Gideon, a personal injury trial lawyer. Gideon is serving her her fourth term in the Maine

House of Representatives, and her second term as speaker.

According to a recent RealClearPolitics’ average of polls conducted in the state, Gideon leads Collins by 4 percentage points.

Similarly, an Oct. 15 Siena College/ New York Times Upshot poll of likely voters showed Gideon ahead by 5 percentage points – at 49 percent to Collins at 44 percent – with 6 percent undecided.

Along with a lead in the polls, Gideon has a fundraising advantage as well. Centralmaine.com, citing Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, said, “Gideon’s campaign raised $63 million, $39 million of which came in just the previous quarter.” Gideon reported $20.7 million in available funds as of Oct. 14, as per the FEC, while “Collins raised roughly $8 million during the third quarter plus $1.7 million during the first two weeks of October.”

In September, The Hill reported that Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a publication at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics that covers elections, shifted the race between Gideon and Collins from “toss-up” to “lean Democratic.” The report said that the change in the rating “is the latest sign of trouble for Sen. Susan Collins, who is among the most vulnerable GOP senators facing reelection this year.” The New York Times observes that “the race will turn much less on Ms. Gideon’s record, or even her political positions, than on what Maine voters think about Senator Collins.”

Collins has been in Maine politics for much longer, but Gideon has developed a following in the state.

She supports allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, and a prohibition on pharmaceutical company “pay to delay” agreements. A supporter of women’s rights, Gideon’s campaign

promises to focus on women’s healthcare and reproductive rights.

Gideon has garnered endorsements from influential groups like Emily’s List, as well as the Maine AFLCIO, which represents some 160 plus unions across Maine. Gideon has also drawn support from the 10,000-15,000-strong Jewish community. The Jewish News of Northern California, formerly known as Jweekly, notes that Gideon’s popularity within the community is not just because of her marriage to a Jewish lawyer, but because of her liberal policies “which appeal” to the community.

Collins, meanwhile, has faced backlash in recent years, most notably for coming out in favor of confirming President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who was facing sexual misconduct allegations, in 2018.

Last week she became the only Republican who voted against Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is also

the only Republican senator on the ballot this year who has not endorsed President Trump, as per the Times.

Highly-Contested Senate Race The Maine Senate race has been in the spotlight for more than a year and has been described by researchers at the Wesleyan Media Project as “the most negative U.S. Senate race in the country.”

Democrats are four seats away from control of the U.S. Senate, three if Joe Biden wins the presidential election and Kamala Devi Harris, as vice president, becomes the deciding vote.

There are 35 seats up for election, 23 with Republican incumbents and 12 with Democrats, and anywhere between five and nine are seen as likely to flip. The GOP states seen as most vulnerable are Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Georgia, Montana — and Maine.

Indian American Democrats and community activists told this writer that Gideon’s win will help

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 21

PIONEERS | SEEMA Democrats get things done. One of them is longtime Democratic Party and community activist Shekar Narasimhan, the founder and chairman of AAPI Victory Fund, the first and only Asian-American super PAC, which endorsed Gideon.

“We liked Sara and endorsed her so she could tell her story and connect to the Indian American community,” he told this writer. “And folks have stepped up. She can defeat Sen. Collins who has vacillated on issues of serious concern.”

Sanjay Puri, chairman and founder of the U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), told this writer that Maine is “one of the key races” for the Democrats to take back the Senate. “This will be one of the prime races that needs to be watched,” he says. USINPAC is a bipartisan, political organization representing the interests of more than 3.2 million Indian Americans.

Improving Lives, Making a Difference Gideon’s foray into politics was not planned. In previous interviews, including one published in Medium, she talks about how a phone call meant for her husband gave her the idea to run for public office in 2009.

“Years ago, when my three kids were all under the age of five, I came home to a message someone had left for my husband, Ben on our answering machine asking if he would consider running for our local town council seat,” she says in the interview. “When I heard that message I thought — actually — I think that’s the right job for me and a place where I can really make a difference. So I ran for that office, and I won.” And since then, she has assumed various roles in the state – from the Freeport Town Council to being a state representative to serving as Speaker of the State House. And throughout those portfolios, Gideon 22 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

says she has “always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us.” Over the years,” she says in the Medium interview that she has learned along the way that “if you’re willing to work with others, it’s still possible to get things done” And this applies to Washington, D.C., as well she said.

Who Is Sara Gideon?

Although there is not much information on Gideon’s father, news reports say he immigrated from India and worked as a pediatrician in Rhode Island, where Gideon, the youngest of four children, grew up. In the interview published in Medium, Gideon says that her parents “set such a strong example of how to balance work and family and how to devote yourself to bettering the world around you.”

Gideon graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she also worked as an intern for U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, Democrat of Rhode Island. She spent most of her career as an advertising account executive at USA Today.

She is a past member of the

Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, where she worked to lower energy costs, encourage increased energy efficiency and promote clean and renewable energy to capitalize on Maine’s natural resources and build a clean-energy economy. She also served as assistant majority leader for House Democrats in the 127th Legislature. Citing the 1989 East Greenwich High School yearbook, the East Greenwich News reported that during her senior year, Gideon was a football cheerleader, ran track, wrote poetry, and was named to the prom court.

In an interview with the Maine State Legislatures magazine, Gideon said that when she has spare time, “I just like to fold back into my family and my community. I am the person who empties the dishwasher, takes out the garbage and moves the kids from place to place. We do a lot of skiing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming, and I horseback ride with my daughter. I also spend a lot of time on the sidelines just watching the kids play. And that is the realistic life of a 40-something mother of three and speaker of the House. It’s the best I can do.” d

PIONEERS | SEEMA

Sameera Rajwade: ‘I Am a Blueprint for Change’

The 21-year-old first-generation Indian American, who identifies as non-binary, is vying for a city council seat from San Ramon’s District 3

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

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ameera Rajwade (they/them) has always worked outside the rules of society. This enables the 21-year-old San Ramon, California resident to pursue their passion for organizing as well as retain their creativity. Rajwade is one of four candidates vying for a City Council seat from San Ramon’s District 3.

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“I decided to run because of the way American democracy is going,” Rajwade told this writer. “I am disillusioned with the politicians,” Rajwade said, adding that their campaign is focusing on the “intersectional justice of climate, race and economic well-being.” However, it’s not politics that got them to run for office. It’s their passion for

organizing communities, bringing them together “with love” and “fixing the broken parts.”

“I am a blueprint for change,” Rajwade said.

Born and brought up in San Ramon, Rajwade is a first-generation Indian American who identifies as non-binary. A longtime San Ramon resident, Rajwade attended Coyote

Creek Elementary and Gale Ranch Middle schools before graduating from Dougherty Valley High School in 2017.

“I am running for San Ramon City Council because I love San Ramon and want to fight for all of my fellow residents, not just those whose financial interests are aligned with government officials,” Rajwade says on their campaign website.

“I’m brown, I’m queer, I’m spiritual, and I’m a free thinker,” the fiery and energetic Rajwade told this writer. “And I have leveled the playing field.”

A local community activist, Rajwade has worked for marginalized communities. This May, Rajwade organized a march in San Ramon in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, to express frustrations with police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died on May 25 after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

“Everyone marched,” Rajwade said. “Even Indian aunties participated. It was an amazing experience, the power to gather communities.”

An Agent for Progressive Change Along with providing a better life to San Ramon residents, Rajwade’s platform centers around defunding and demilitarizing the police, and promoting educational reform.

“Defunding the police is a national movement and bringing that movement into wealthy white/ Asian suburbs is an extremely integral part into actually making police defunding and eventual abolition and reparations a true manifestation in this world,”

“I’M BROWN, I’M QUEER, I’M SPIRITUAL, AND I’M A FREE THINKER, AND I HAVE LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD.” Rajwade said in an Instagram video.

Another area of focus for Rajwade is education reform.

“I am advocating for a more inclusive curriculum in schools that teaches about historical genocide and brutality of slavery that transpired in the United States, as well as the innovative contributions

by Black and indigenous people of color,” Rajwade told this writer. “I know what I’m doing right now is an uphill battle and I have no idea if I’m going to win. And even if I don’t win I’m still going to keep fighting.

I truly believe in a better future. I truly believe that change is coming.”

inspire other people who are young to run for office, to bring forth policy to their state or local governments and really bring this revolution in motion.”

Along the way, Rajwade has also evolved. Of course the journey hasn’t been easy, but what has helped is the support and encouragement from family, friends, and the community at large, including Indian Americans in their district. The District 3 seat primarily encompasses a large portion of the Dougherty Valley along Bollinger Canyon Road.

“My family is happy to see how I am working and how things could change,” Rajwade said. “Something new is happening in this town. I am extending the conversation in the desi community.” d

Mobilizing the Youth One of Rajwade’s biggest assets is age. And with that comes innovation and technology. Rajwade says their campaign has used innovative, graphic ideas to reach out to the residents and. most specifically, the youth. Galvanizing the youth through media engagements has been one of the main focuses of their campaign.

“I am shifting the conversation,” Rajwade said. “My campaign has been aiming to encourage, motivate and NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 25

ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni: Fighting for Affordable Healthcare Access Armed with formidable campaign funds and a passion for community service, the physicianturned-politician is a strong candidate to flip Arizona’s District 6 BHARGAVI KULKARNI

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r. Hiral Tipirneni’s primary goal is to ensure that every single American has access to quality, affordable health care. If elected to the U.S. Congress from Arizona’s 6th District, Dr Tipirneni says she will fight to keep Arizonans and their families protected.

“I’m running for Congress because we are in a state of crisis,” she says.

Dr. Tipirneni is an emergency room physician, a cancer research 26 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni

advocate, and is on the board of directors of the Maricopa Health Foundation, which supports the county’s public health care delivery system.

Dr. Tipirneni won the Democratic primary in Arizona’s 6th District on Aug. 4, defeating fellow Indian American and tech entrepreneur Anita Malik. She faces Republican Rep. David Schweiker, who was unchallenged in his primary, and is vying for a sixth term after prevailing in 2018 by over 10 points.

However, the Democrats are counting on Tipirneni to flip District 6 from red to blue, as Schweikert is considered to be vulnerable in the strongly GOP district because he is facing a probe from the House Ethics Committee over allegations of misusing official funds and receiving improper campaign contributions.

Along with her strong track record, Dr. Tipirneni is also a formidable fundraiser. Recently, she announced a record-breaking $2.5 million her campaign raised from July to September, bringing the total raised this cycle to over $4.9 million. This, when Dr. Tipirneni does not accept any corporate PAC contributions. Over 90 percent of her contributions are $100 or less.

Her 2020 bid comes after two previous unsuccessful attempts against Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), from the state’s 8th Congressional District, a Republican stronghold. That is why Dr. Tipirneni chose to run from a district she does not live in. It includes part of Maricopa county and some Phoenix suburbs.

Dr. Tipirneni came to the U.S. from India with her family when she was three years old, according to her campaign. They settled in Cleveland Ohio, where she and her brother were raised. Her father was a structural engineer. Her mother, a social worker, was the director of a downtown Cleveland senior center and initiated its Meals on Wheels program. It was then Dr. Tipirneni began to feel the

AFTER LOSING HER MOTHER AND NEPHEW TO CANCER, DR. TIPIRNENI FOCUSED ON FUNDING CUTTING-EDGE CANCER RESEARCH. impact that small acts of service can have on another person.

She was inspired to go into medicine after suffering a childhood illness. She earned her medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. She met her husband, Dr. Kishore Tipirneni, during her first year of medical school. She served as the chief resident of the University of Michigan’s Emergency Medicine program, until the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Kishore Tipirneni joined a well-established orthopedic surgery practice while she began working in the emergency department at Banner Good Samaritan. She went on to serve in emergency departments at the Maricopa County Medical Center, Banner Thunderbird, and Abrazo Arrowhead hospitals, all while raising their three children in the Arrowhead community.

After losing her mother and nephew to cancer, Dr. Tipirneni focused on funding cutting-edge cancer research. She now leads teams of researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates in the fight to treat and cure breast cancer, prostate cancer, and childhood leukemia. d

ARIZONA 6th District

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, who is running for the U.S. Congress from Arizona’s District 6, with her husband Kishor, their three children, and their pet dogs.

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Donna Imam: Bangladeshi American Wants to Create History in Texas’ District 31 If elected, she will become the first South Asian woman from Texas in the U.S. Congress BHARGAVI KULKARNI

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olitical neophyte Donna Imam believes she has the right qualifications to represent her district in the U.S. Congress.

Imam, a tech entrepreneur, has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 18 years.

“My experience in product, financial analysis, and cost reduction have made me apt at solving complicated challenges,” she says on her website. It is with this experience, and support of her constituents that Imam is seeking to unseat longtime Republican Congressman John Carter.

If elected, she will become the first South Asian woman from Texas in U.S. Congress. In the July Democratic primary, Imam, who ran on a progressive platform that embraced Medicare for All, defeated physician Christine Mann, with 70 percent of precincts reporting.

Texas’s 31st congressional district covers a central strip of the state from the northern Austin suburbs up

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to Temple. The state is being seen as central to building on the Democratic party’s House majority in 2020. Although Imam has not been elevated by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) with Red to Blue status (which helps top candidates with organizational and funding support), she has some high-profile endorsements.

Prior to the July 14 primary, Imam was endorsed by Andrew Yang, the former 2020 presidential candidate. After the runoff, she has received support from Julián Castro, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development; former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren; and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, among others. She has also been endorsed by EMGAGE USA, USA, a Muslim outreach organization, which seeks to mobilize American Muslims to advocate for legislation and policies.

Imam’s platform is “simple,” focused on the needs of

IMAM SAYS HER PLATFORM “REBUILDS THE CRUMBLING FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY, LIFTS UP EVERY AMERICAN, SO WE CAN ALL FLOURISH TOGETHER, CONTINUE TO INNOVATE, AND LEAD ECONOMICALLY.”

TEXAS 31st District

her district. Inspired by her mother’s quote, “Possibilities are endless,” Imam says she “looked closely” at the district and “listened to the needs of its people.” On her website she lists her “original policy proposals with solutions.” Imam says her platform “rebuilds the crumbling foundation of this country, wlifts up every American, so we can all flourish together, continue to innovate, and lead economically.”

Imam earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 29

ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Kesha Ram: Breaking Barriers As A Social Scientist, Legislator, Equity Consultant and Leader The daughter of an Indian father and Jewish mother is on her way to become the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate.

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

Kesha Ram, a Democrat running for a seat in the Vermont Senate from Chittenden District, fills her ballot on Oct. 7. In a post on her Facebook page. Ram urged her constituents to cast their vote. “People are being disenfranchised across the country.

Do not waste your right to vote,� she said.

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rom a young age, Kesha Ram knew the importance of hard work and the value of giving back to the community. She chose to direct those lessons, passion and energy into political work. Now Ram is on her way to become the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate.

In the state’s most hotly contested Chittenden District Senate race during the Democratic primary, Ram was second only behind incumbent Ginny Lyons in total votes earned.

Lyons received 21,187 votes and Ram earned 20,171. Ram’s platform is focused on championing affordable homeownership, creating green jobs, ensuring paid family leave and expanding early and higher education opportunities, according to her website.

A preschool teacher at the Burlington Children’s Space, Ram works as a consultant for towns, school districts, and organizations seeking to improve equity and inclusion in their organizations and policies.

Born to a father who immigrated to the U.S. from India and a Jewish mother born-and-raised in Illinois, Ram grew up in the Los Angeles area.

Her parents met while they attended UCLA, and they later started an Irish pub, McGinty’s Irish Pub. It was there that the value of hard work was instilled in Ram. Those values, coupled with ambition, is what has taken Ram into a career of service and leadership. “As a daughter of a Punjabi from India, I remember my math classes,” she said in a recent webinar. “I try to listen and follow up. Ninety percent of what we communicate is through body language. I strive to make people comfortable.”

Her first brush with politics came in fifth grade when she was first elected as student body president of her elementary school in Los Angeles.

Kesha Ram with her partner Jacob Hindsdale and their dog Miso.

Her activism continued through school and college. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in natural Resources Planning and a Bachelor’s of Arts in political science. While in school, she was a member of Slade, a student-run ecological cooperative.

Although an activist on campus, she did not envision running for political office.

It was in 2006 that Ram got her start in politics when introducing Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama at Ira Allen Chapel in Burlington. Then Senator Barack Obama encouraged her to run for office, and two years later they shared a ballot.

When Ram was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 2008, she became the first person of color to represent Burlington and then the youngest ever to be elected to State Assembly – at the age of 21.

During her time in the legislature, from 2008 to 2016, Ram served on several committees, including Ways and Means; Housing and Military Affairs; and as vice chair of Natural Resources and Energy.

Outside the legislature, Ram has dedicated her career to improving civic engagement opportunities for Vermonters and helping vulnerable populations access needed services.

Kesha Ram also serves on the boards of the Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the

Vermont Natural Resources Council.

Previously, Ram was the civic engagement specialist for Burlington, empowering residents to engage in city governance. She was also the legal advocacy director for Steps to End Domestic Violence, where she supported victims of violence in the courtroom and throughout family and criminal legal proceedings.

Also running for the state Senate on a Republican ticket is Meg Hansen, representing the Bennington District. Born in India, Hansen moved to the U.S. with her family when she was 7 months old. After losing her mother to cancer at age 8, Hansen decided to be a neurosurgeon and attended medical school in India.

But she quit and went to Italy to study fashion. The health care advocate and communications specialist also ran for election for lieutenant governor of Vermont. She lost in the Republican primary on Aug. 11. d

VERMONT 6-4 District

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 31

ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Manga Anantatmula and Nisha Sharma Are Seeking To Be First Indian American Republicans in U.S. Congress Competing from Democrat strongholds, the two candidates are on a tough road to victory BHARGAVI KULKARNI

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anga Anantatmula wants to keep the American dream alive for everyone – with freedom and liberty with equal justice under the rule of law.

And to ensure that it happens, the Indian American Republican is running for Congress in the 11th District of Virginia. If elected, she would be the first GOP member to join the four Indian Americans in the Congress, described by Sen. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) as the ‘‘Samosa Caucus.” They include Krishnamoorthi from Illinois’ 8th congressional district, Ami Bera from California’s 7th congressional district, Ro Khanna from California’s 17th congressional district and Pramila Jayapal from Washington’s 7th congressional district, who is also the first-ever Indian American 32 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.

After moving to the U.S. with her husband and young son nearly 30 years ago, Anantatmula worked hard to get her U.S. citizenship. She worked at the Department of Defense, and at federal government departments and agencies such as Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Homeland Security.

Anantatmula is joined by her sister, Nisha Mishra, as the other Indian American Republican woman running for U.S. Congress. Sharma, also an immigrant from India, is contesting from California’s 11th congressional district. Sharma, a real estate agent in the East Bay, says she owes a debt of gratitude to the United States and the East Bay for providing her access to the American dream.

She is also committed “to play the

strategic role of being the bridge between the U.S. and India and to bring the best of the job creation for her district and help small businesses thrive and contribute to the economy of this great country.”

Both Anantatmula and Sharma are not career politicians and are among a new generation of Indian American and Hindu American leaders. However, political pundits doubt the two women will make a dent. Virginia’s 11th District has long been a Democratic stronghold, and Anantatmula is up against six-term incumbent Congressman Gerry Connolly. The district comprises mostly the affluent Fairfax County on the outskirts of Washington D.C., where 17 percent of the population is Asian, with Indian Americans making up an estimated 7 percent.

Similarly, Sharma’s 11th District in California has traditionally voted Democrat. She is pitted against Democrat Mark Saulnier. The district has a population that is 13.6 percent Asian.

Indian Americans have traditionally voted blue. A recent survey by the polling firm YouGov found that 72 percent of Indian American voters plan to vote for Vice President Joe Biden, while 22 percent favored President Trump.

The online survey of 936 Indian American citizens was conducted by YouGov as part of a research project by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania. The survey also revealed that Indian Americans view U.S.-India relations as a low priority issue in this electoral cycle. Instead, national issues like healthcare and the economy appear to be more important to them.

Living the American Dream As an immigrant, Anantatmula says she can identify with the plight of many hard-working Americans and immigrants who never have once taken for granted the privilege of living in the U.S. Coming from a family of Indian freedom fighters, Anantatmula says

her family has always stood up for freedom.

“Like the founding fathers of America, my grandfather was a freedom fighter who fought against the British for independence,” she says on her website. The Andhra Pradesh-born Anantatmula is the mother of a lieutenant commander (LCDR) in the US Navy. She is a strong supporter of India’s stand on Kashmir, its Citizenship Amendment Act (which offers a path to citizenship Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants), and the building the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“I will be your voice, not a noise, “Anantatmula told her constituents while campaigning before the Indian American and the Hindu American communities. Prior to getting into politics, Anantatmula worked as a federal government contractor in defense acquisitions program management. She completed her early schooling in Chennai and then graduated from Agra University, now known as Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University.

Sharma says the key challenges of the district are children’s safety, environmental controls, law enforcement reforms, and homelessness. She believes the current leadership of her district has completely failed to address

these issues. On her website, she says that her heart breaks “to see people sleep and die on our streets, no holistic approach has been taken to rehabilitating the homeless population through mental health and drug treatment, job training, and transitional housing. Our economy is the strongest, it has been in generations, but despite this, our taxes and fees are being increased by our representatives under the guise of fixing our crumbling infrastructure.

She serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Fremont Dharma Samaj, one the largest socioreligious organizations in the Bay Area, which brings 100,000 people a year together through different programs. She also serves as the women empowerment chairwoman for the Festival of the Globe. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Punjab University. d

VIRGINIA 11th District NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 33

ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Nina Ahmad: A Woman, a Scientist, a Dynamic Policymaker

The Bangladeshi American is a candidate for Pennsylvania’s auditor general and aims to be the first woman of color to serve as a state-wide executive in the Commonwealth’s 233-year history BHARGAVI KULKARNI 34 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

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rowing up in Bangladesh, Nina Ahmad witnessed first-hand how greed and corruption drove violence and despair, and how career politicians sowed division.

That’s when she learned about organizing, the necessity of a strong community, and the power it can have. Now, Ahmad, a scientist by training and a small-business owner, is running to be Pennsylvania’s auditor general. If elected in November, she becomes the first woman of color to serve as a state-wide executive in the Commonwealth’s 233-year history. In the June A strong advocate for women and communities of 11 Democratic primary, Ahmad, a former Philadelphia color, and a catalyst for change, Ahmad served for deputy mayor, prevailed over five other contenders. nearly half a decade as president of the Philadelphia She now faces Timothy DeFoor in the general election. chapter National Organization for Women (NOW), DeFoor ran unopposed in the and continues to be a national board Republican primary. member to this day. She has also served Ahmad says she got into public on local nonprofit boards and acted as “VIEW ALL OF THE service as a way to give back. She a leader in her community. As a smallAUDITS THAT THE knows firsthand how dedication, business owner, she’s spurred good OFFICE CONDUCTS education, and insight can be jobs with union-generated and labora light to those left-behind or THROUGH THE LENS OF built partnerships, and has made key struggling. According to her responsible decisions on community RACIAL EQUITY, WORK investments. website, Ahmad ran on a platform of “using the office of auditor TO STAMP OUT SEXUAL Ahmad came to the United States general as a tool for change, alone at age 21. She waitressed and HARASSMENT AND transparency, and accountability.” worked other minimum-wage jobs Ahmad says as auditor general, DISCRIMINATION IN before earning a Ph.D. in chemistry at she will “view all of the audits the University of Pennsylvania, and later STATE GOVERNMENT, working as a medical scientist at Wills that the office conducts through the lens of racial equity, work Eye Hospital and Thomas Jefferson AND CHANGE to stamp out sexual harassment Medical College.

THE CULTURE IN and discrimination in state She and her husband live in the Mt. government, and change the Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with HARRISBURG.” culture in Harrisburg.” their two daughters, Priya and Joya. d Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Ahmad, as has California Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president; Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a former Democratic presidential candidate; and Pennsylvania state senators Art Haywood and Katie, among others.

Most recently, Ahmad served as a deputy mayor for public engagement under Philadelphia Mayor James Francis Kenney. She also served as a member of the National Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the Obama administration.

PENNSYLVANIA Auditor general

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Radhika Kunnel: Striving for an Equal and Just America The former cancer biology professor is running for a seat in the state assembly from district 2.

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

36 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

W

hen she was in an eighth grade biology class in India, Radhika Kunnel knew she wanted to be a genetic engineer. That dream brought her to the U.S. Now with a robust professional career spanning several years, coupled with activism, Kunnel is running for a seat in the Nevada’s state assembly from District 2. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, about three years ago from Mississippi.

Kunnel, a former cancer biology professor, recently earned her law degree from the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In the Democratic primary, earlier this year, Kunnel defeated Jennie Sherwood, Eva Littman and Joe Valdes. She is facing Republican Heidi Kasama in the general election. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, “Republicans hold a slight voter registration advantage in the district as of August, with 37 percent of voters registered as Republicans and 35 percent as Democrats.”

Both Kunnel and Kasama are newcomers and are vying for Assemblyman John Hambrick’s seat.

Hambrick, who served as speaker of the Assembly in 2015, is termed-out and unable to run again.

Kunnel’s priorities include educational equity, healthcare for all, public safety, economy, transparency in the judicial system, and the environment and judicial energy. Apart from her professional accomplishments, Kunnel has been an advocate for domestic violence survivors and victims of child abuse.

She is a parliamentarian with the

American Association of Asian Pacific Islanders – Democratic Caucus for Las Vegas, as well as a candidate for Emerge Nevada – class of 2020.

Professionally, Kunnel has worked as a tenured associate professor in the department of biochemistry and the Cancer Institute at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and in the department of pharmacology and the Tulane Cancer Institute at the Tulane University of Health Sciences.

Kunnel was instrumental in developing non-embryonic stem cell core at both Tulane and UMMC. Her research interest was to establish personalized therapeutics for solid tumors by targeting the tumor stroma and cancer stem cells.

Kunnel completed her master’s degree and doctorate in cancer biology at Louisiana State University, New Orleans. She did her postdoctoral fellowship in adult stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at Tulane. Before moving to the United States, she did a master’s degree at the University of Baroda, India.

She is married to Regi Kunnel and has two children, William and Andrew. d

NEVADA 2nd District

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Rupande Mehta Seeks to be the First Indian American Woman in N.J. State Senate

The Mumbai-born mother of one is running in a special election to represent District 25 BHARGAVI KULKARNI

38 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

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s an immigrant, Rupande Mehta is aware that representation matters.

She wants to bring new leadership to her district and fight for fair representation “My story is a story of dreams. Coming from Mumbai, seeking freedom, I am running for office, because representation matters,” she says. “If we aren’t at the table, we are on the menu.”

The Mumbai-born Rupande is running in a special election to the New Jersey State Senate to represent District 25. The 25th district includes more than a dozen municipalities in Morris County as well as one municipality in Somerset County in North Jersey. Republican Anthony Bucco of Boonton Township, the incumbent, and Mehta are running for the one-year unexpired term that was created when Bucco’s father, Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, died last September. Bucco was named to his father’s senate post in a special GOP election in November. He subsequently stepped away from the assembly post he held for nine years. District 25 has been solidly Republican, with only a six percent Asian representation. A third of the voters are registered with the GOP, 30 percent with the Democratic Party, and most of the rest are unaffiliated, according to NJ Spotlight News.

If elected, Rupande will be the first woman state senator of South Asian origin in the state.

In 2017, Vin Gopal became the first Indian American elected to the New Jersey State Senate. Observers said then that Gopal’s victory demonstrated that Indian American candidates have mainstream political appeal and are capable of assembling broad coalitions of voters.

Mehta is part of a new wave of politically

engaged women running for office.

“I am ready to take on the most conservative, who has no regard for public safety,” she says. She is confident that her experience and education have imbued her with leadership skills and a keen eye for detail.”

As a mother, Mehta is aware of how vital it is to provide every child with a quality education.

“As senator, I will fight to make sure LD-25 school districts are getting sufficient state funding to continue providing the best education in the country without the burden falling on municipalities and counties to raise taxes,” she says on her website. “Other priorities include fixing the state funding formula, environment, taxes and infrastructure.”

Two years ago, Mehta ran for Morris County freeholder, coming within two points of victory.

She currently works as manager of strategic sourcing at Prudential Financial in Newark. She has an MBA and a master’s degree in public administration at Rutgers, where she was a fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. In 2016, she interned in the office of then Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

“My time as an Eagleton Fellow gave me statelevel exposure in government and public affairs and developing public policy,” she says. A 2019 Emerge graduate and a community and non-profit leader, Mehta founded The SAR Foundation, which works to train local and state organizations on issues of abuse and violence.

She lives in Denville with her husband and daughter. d

NEW JERSEY 25th District

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

40 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Indian Americans Likely to Flip Highly-Contested Seats

Experts say that the Indian American vote could play a crucial role in the battleground states of Maine, Texas and Arizona

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

DEMOCRATS

SWING STATES

REPUBLICAN

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

M

uch more than in previous elections, swing states will play a crucial role in deterring the results of this election. The U.S. Embassy website says swing states are those that have populations that are closely divided politically.

While the Cook Political Report sees Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as toss-ups, a few other experts would add New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maine and Texas, among others, to the list.

According to the Brookings Institution, Florida cannot be ignored in a presidential election.

“It swings between major parties — the state supported Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and Republican George W. Bush in 2000, for instance,” it says.

“The fact that the winner in the Sunshine State has won the presidency in every presidential race since 1964 lends it a special mystique.”

The key for either party to win the presidential election is to target specific swing states, also known as battleground or purple states. Both President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden have been targeting

42 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

these swing states with campaign visits, advertising and staffing. In 2016, President Trump won narrowly against Hillary Clinton in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona, helping him secure his electoral college victory. Whether Trump manages to retain these states or the Democrats flip them remains to be seen.

This year, the Indian American community has been hailed as being a powerful voting block. Despite being slightly over 1 percent of the U.S. population, their growing political clout, both as candidates running for office as well as donors, has gained attention from both parties. There are over 1.3 Indian Americans who are eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 election.

They are expected to make a difference in several swing states that may be close in this election, as per data from a joint survey conducted by Indiaspora and Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Data, released on Sept. 15.

“Indian Americans are positioned to make a difference in several swing states that may be close in this election,” the report says. “While

most of the other large Asian American groups are heavily concentrated in California, Indian Americans are more dispersed across the country, and have a significant presence in several competitive districts and battleground states,” the report added. This year there are nearly 500,000 Indian American voters in the battleground states of Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

A few months before the Indiaspora and the AAPI Data survey was released, Democratic National Committee chairman, Tom Perez also stressed the importance of the Indian American vote in swing states.

“The community could be an absolute difference maker in battleground states” in the presidential elections, Perez said during a July 18 webinar. “We lost Michigan by 10,700 votes in 2016,” he said, adding there were 125,000 Indian American votes in that state. Similarly, Perez estimated there were over 150,000 Indian American voters in Pennsylvania, which the Democrats lost in 2016 by about 43,000 votes. In Wisconsin, he said that 37,000 Indian Americans would vote in this election. The Democrats lost Wisconsin by 21,000 in 2016.

A recent YouGov poll found that 72 percent of registered Indian American voters

ARIZONA

(U.S. CONGRESS)

AZ

Hiral Tipirneni: Running Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. Tipirneni, a physician and cancer-research advocate, is considered the favorite to win the right to challenge five-term incumbent, Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz).

(STATE RACES)

Amish Shah: Running for re-election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 24.

(LOCAL RACES)

Dr. Ravi Grivois-Shah: Running for the TUSD Governing Board.

supported Biden. By comparison, 77 percent voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 84 percent for President Barack Obama in 2012. The poll also found that the number of Trump-supporting Indian Americans had grown to 22 percent, from the 16 percent who supported him in 2016.

Experts are closely watching these swing states, many of which have South Asian American candidates running for the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives, and are among those who could flip the state from red to blue.

Crucial among them are Sara Gideon, who is challenging embattled Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race that could alter the balance of power in the U.S. Senate if Gideon prevails. All eyes are also on Sri Preston Kulkarni, who is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas’ 22nd Congressional District; and Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, a candidate for U.S. Senate from Arizona’s 6th Congressional District.

Both Tipirneni and Kulkarni are on the Red to Blue list Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The list is “a highly competitive and battletested program at the DCCC that arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to run strong campaigns.”

South Asian American candidates running for office from swing states:

FLORIDA

(STATE RACES)

FL

Taymour Khan: Running for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 7. The Democratic primary for this office on Aug. 18 was canceled.

Dushyant Gosai: Running for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 34. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020. The Democratic primary for this office on Aug. 18 was canceled.

Imtiaz Ahmad Mohammad: Running for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 119. The Democratic primary for this office on Aug. 18 was canceled.

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

MAINE

(U.S. SENATE)

ME

Sara Gideon: Challenging embattled Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race that could alter the balance of power in the U.S. Senate if Gideon prevails.

Gideon, 48, has been maintaining a lead in the opinion polls over Collins, 67, who is seeking a fifth term in office. Gideon is the daughter of immigrants. Her father is from India while her mother is a second generation Armenian. This is her fourth term in the Maine House of Representatives, and her second as speaker.

PENNSYLVANIA (STATE RACES)

PA

Nina Ahmad: The Bangladeshi American woman won the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania auditor general.

Ahmad, a former Philadelphia deputy mayor, prevailed over five other contenders in the elections held June 11. If elected in November, she becomes the first woman of color to serve as a state-wide executive.

Nikil Saval: Running for election to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 1.

NORTH CAROLINA (STATE RACES)

MI

Ronnie Chatterji: Running for election for North Carolina treasurer.

Jay Chaudhuri: Running for re-election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent District 15.

(LOCAL RACES)

Anjali Boyd is running in the general election for Durham soil and water conservation district supervisor.

Abdul Rashid Siddiqui: Running as a Republican for election for Guilford County Register of Deeds in North Carolina.

44 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

MICHIGAN

(STATE RACES)

MI

Padma Kuppa: Running for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 41.

Ranjeev Puri: Running for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 21.

TEXAS

(U.S. CONGRESS)

TX

Donna Imam: The Bangladeshi American is seeking to create history by unseating longtime Republican Congressman John Carter in Texas’ 31st District. If elected, she will become the first South Asian woman from Texas in the U.S. Congress.

Sri Preston Kulkarni: Running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas’ 22nd Congressional District.

(LOCAL RACES)

Dimple Malhotra: Running in the general election for Travis County Court at Law No. 4.

Pooja Sethi for Austin City Council District 10.

Saishashishekar Krishnarajanagar: Council Place 6 in Frisco.

R.K. Sandill: Running for re-election as judge of the Texas 127th District Court.

Vatsa Ramanathan: Running for re-election to the Allen Independent School District school board to represent Place 7 in Texas. Ramanathan assumed office in 2017.

Mohammed Akbar, Abdul Khabeer, and Mark Zeske: Running in the general election for Irving City Council Place 3.

Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

South Asian Women Put Their Weight Behind Biden-Harris Well-organized teams are doing all they can to get Biden and Harris to the White House HEENA KAUSAR

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

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or South Asian American voters the 59th U.S. presidential elections hit home when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden picked Senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate.

Harris is the first Black and South Asian American woman to run on a major party’s presidential ticket.

According to the 2020 Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS), 72 percent of registered Indian American voters plan to vote for Biden and 22 percent for Trump. The survey was conducted by researchers from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania in partnership with the data analytics firm YouGov. However, the GOP has been able to make headway among Indian American voters at least. According to a 2016 pre-election survey by AAPI, about 19 percent of Indian Americans viewed Trump favorably; now about 28 percent are inclined to vote for him.

Asian Americans make up the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group of eligible voters – 4.7 percent of all eligible voters in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center. Both major parties have led an aggressive campaign to woo the community in the run-up to the elections.

South Asians are running for office on many levels. And the Democratic Party sports many South Asian staffers, including Sabrina Singh, Harris’s press secretary,; Saloni Multani, Biden’s chief financial officer;; Medha Raj, Biden’s digital chief of staff; ,Neha Dewan, national director of South Asians for Biden (an affinity group recognized by the Biden-Harris campaign), and Sanjeev Joshipura, director of Indians for Biden National Council..

Seema Magazine spoke with some of the pioneering women advocates

46 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

and activists canvassing for Democrats this election season.

Neha Dewan, national director, South Asians for Biden 2020 Dewan’s journey to political activism started just after she moved to the U.S. from India as a teenager. People made fun of her accent and she felt that she needed to do something to make people take her seriously.

“So I ran for student government and was elected,” she said.

Dewan, an attorney at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, a national law firm, had worked with South Asians for Obama as state director for their New York chapter in 2012 and as the national co-chair for South Asians for Hillary in 2016.

She said that her group’s approach is to educate, engage and mobilize the community. The communications team is bifurcated into social media and traditional media outreach, and the rapid response team works specifically to dispel myths being circulated in the community about the candidates.

“We put out ... content to correct

the misinformation and to provide some context for people who blindly support Trump just because he is friends with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she said.

The organization has hosted events on COVID-19’s impact on South Asians and their small businesses, the rise in hate crimes, the difficulty in getting an education in the Trump era; and so on.

“Now we are focusing on the mobilization phase, which comprises of phone banking to South Asian voters,” Dewan said.

South Asians for Biden has also launched national councils, such as Indians for Biden, Pakistanis for Biden, Bangladeshis for Biden, and Nepalis and Bhutanis for Biden, to reach out to people who strongly identify twith their country of origin and not necessarily to South Asian label, she added.

Ankita Rakhe, core team member of Youth Leadership Council at They See Blue Rakhe has about 15 years of experi-

ence in student affairs and engagement. She works at the Youth Leadership Council of ‘They See Blue.’ The organization launched in 2018 aims to mobilize South Asians to help elect Democrats to office.

Rakhe’s father moved to the U.S. about 60 years ago, and her mother about 40 years ago, both from Maharashtra.

“When I started working with col-

lege administration ... I really began to see – at least through my students – the importance of political organization,” she said.

They See Blue reaches out to young voters through social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram.

They have reached out to around about a hundred South Asian students’ organizations in swing states.

The work involves making announcements or passing along information and videos centered around the elections.

“We are focusing more on states such as Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Texas, Michigan,” Raqkhe said.

An important part of their campaign is to reach out to voters via texts, calls, as well as snail mail, all to remind them to register to vote.

Asian American organizations that are working to elect Democrats,” Ramachandran said.

Currently, the team is canvassing for the 2020 presidential election as well as for other candidates running for office at every level, sending out weekly emails they and other groups are doing, sharing resources such as a South Asian election guide and information on how to register to vote and vote.

Nisha Ramachandran, co-founder, Desis for Progress

“We are putting information such as images and videos — things that you can share with your family members that are ready to post on WhatsApp,” she said.

Nisha Ramachandran co-founded the organization with three friends in 2016 to uplift the people, policies and ideas that will move the South Asian community forward.

Ramachandran, whose family traces its root from Kerala in India, went to school in D.C. and has worked with a Congressman Ami Bera. In 2018, Desis for Progress launched its political engagement committee and began supporting South Asian candidates across the country.

“We worked broadly with other

Smita Satiani, volunteer spokesperson, ‘South Asian Women for Biden’ The group helps mobilize South Asian women across the United States to get involved and get out to vote for Democratic nominees. The group recently concluded a virtual phone bank event with Meena Harris, the founder of the Phenomenal Woman Action Network and Senator Harris’ niece. During the event, over a hundred South Asian women called Nevada voters to persuade them to vote.

Satiani, whose parents are from India and Pakistan, is a spokeswoman for the organization. She said the

organization will hold four or five phone-banking events over the next two weeks.

“The goal of the group is really just to help people create voting plans, help people understand where their nearest phone-bank or polling place is, help them understand voter registration deadlines and why Biden-Harris is the right choice for America,” Satiani said.

They have held social media activations, where South Asian women created one-minute-videos on why this election is so important to them and why they have decided to vote for Biden-Harris.

“We have testimonials from across the country,” Satiani said.

Satiani said the organization is focusing on how the Biden-Harris administration will be good for U.S.-India relations and immigration.

“As immigrants and a nation of immigrants, we want to support a family-based immigration system,” she said. “The immigration system we have right now is broken. We want to focus on how we can reform the H1B system and eliminate these country quotas for green cards and the Biden-Harris administration is really going to do that.” d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 47

ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

3 South Asian American Women in Race for San Ramon Mayor Aparna Madireddi, Susmita Nayak and vice mayor Sabrina Zafar are seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Bill Clarkson, along with Sanat Setty, physician Dinesh Govindarao and Dave Hudson, San Ramon’s longest-tenured council member.

BHARGAVI KULKARNI

48 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

F

ive South Asian Americans — including three women — are among six people contesting for mayor in San Ramon, the fourth-largest city in Contra Costa County in California’s East Bay. Aparna Madireddi, Susmita Nayak and vice mayor Sabrina Zafar are seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Bill Clarkson. Also contesting are South Asians Sanat Sethy, Dr. Dinesh Govindarao and Dave Hudson, San Ramon’s longest-tenured council member.

If one counts candidates in the running for the San Ramon council as well — activist Sameera Rajwade, IT professional Varun Kaushal, and former San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commissioner Sridhar Verose — it brings the total of South Asians vying for office to eight. Rajwade, in her early twenties, is the youngest. Kaushal and Verose are in their late thirties and forties, respectively.

The numbers are a testament to the changing landscape of San Ramon. In 2010, the town’s population was 53.6 percent white; in 2017, that was down to 7.6 percent. In the same period, the number of Asians in the city grew from 36.6 percent to 42.3 percent.

Last year, the San Ramon population was estimated to be 75,995, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Numbers from 2017 City Data, show that 35.4 percent of San Ramon residents are foreign-born (6.0 percent born in Asia), which is 23.9 percent greater than the foreign-born rate of 27.0

Businesswoman Aparna Madireddi, who is running for mayor of San Ramon, California

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ELECTION SPECIAL | SEEMA

Mayoral candidate Sabina Zafar, second from left, with supporters at a marathon in San Ramon

Sabina Zafar campaigns with her supporters

percent across the entire state of California.

Vision for a Better San Ramon Despite being pitted against each other in the crowded mayoral race, Zafar says she is happy that so many South 50 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Asian American candidates are running for office. “It speaks volumes of how far along we as a community have come.” And even if there’s competition, “there is also a sense of pride and achievement in each and everyone running,” she says. Adds Madireddi: “We are fortunate to live in such a vibrant city that embraces inclusion and diversity. Our city needs strong leadership that leads us to a better future.”

However different they might be from each other in terms of their experience, backgrounds and profession, Madireddi, Nayak and Zafar are bound by their love and commitment to the town they’ve called home for

strongest candidates for mayor.

Similarly, Madireddi previously ran for elected office in November 2018, finishing in fourth place in the fourcandidate race for two open City Council seats. One of the first ones to announce her bid for mayor, Maddireddi told this writer that she decided to run because San Ramon is at a critical point.

“Policies and ideas that may have worked in the past will not pass the litmus test today, when it comes to effective governance. I want San Ramon to be fiscally smart and sound for decades to come,” says the 21-year San Ramon resident, who’s an entrepreneur and city and school volunteer.

Influx of South Asian Americans So what is behind the sudden flux of Indian American candidates running for local office?

Longtime San Ramon resident, Girish Muckai, an IT professional, told this writer that the growing Indian American political representation translates to the “significant increase” of the community’s Susmita Nayak, mayoral candidate and small business owner from San Ramon presence. “What attracts people, particularly young families to the town is the excellent school district, open spaces and parks and safe several years. Affordable housing, neighborhoods,” Muckai said. transparent governance, affordable “People are passionate about “PEOPLE ARE healthcare, equal educational local issues – like commute, traffic PASSIONATE ABOUT congestion and open spaces and opportunities, youth leadership development, enhanced public LOCAL ISSUES – LIKE safe neighborhoods, and have safety, improved transportation, realized that their involvement is sustainable environment, COMMUTE, TRAFFIC necessary to bring change.” development of small businesses, However, the increase in the CONGESTION AND preservation of open spaces, and Indian American population in San increased civic participation are OPEN SPACES AND SAFE Ramon doesn’t necessarily translate among their top priorities. Another to votes, because of immigration NEIGHBORHOODS, AND advantage the mayoral candidates status. Sources within the local have is experience in the public told this writer that HAVE REALIZED THAT government school systems from a parental so far, an estimated 5,000 Indianpoint of view; all have kids in the THEIR INVOLVEMENT Americans are registered to vote. system, and have been actively One of the reasons for that is the IS NECESSARY TO involved in the parent teacher rise of young families in the area. groups.

“Most are on work visas and the BRING CHANGE.” Neither of the three women are excellent public schools and the new to local elections. In 2016, growing real estate development both Zafar and Nayak made an attracts them to the city,” unsuccessful bid for the city council. Two years later, Madireddi says.

Zafar was elected to the city council on her second try Apart from the schools and the parks and the in 2018. The Mercury News says “Zafar has earned the valley, the low crime scene also attracts people to respect of her colleagues, is prudently cautious about city San Ramon, Zafar says. San Ramon ranks as the third finances and is stridently clear that the city must provide safest city in California – and second safest in the more housing for workers, especially younger members Bay Area – by the national online security and home of the workforce.” It cites Zafar as being among the safety resource organization SafeWise. d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 51

People of South Asian heritage have been part of the American fabric for over 200 years, and as a demographic has grown by 40% since 2010.

Consisting of a diverse set of ethnicities, generations, affiliations and socioeconomic backgrounds, there are 2.51 million South Asian identifying citizens across the nation eligible to vote in the 2020 elections.

However, more than half of the Asian American2 electorate did not participate in 2016, leaving many voices unheard.

+ THOUSANDS OF APPOINTED ROLES

Check out www.southasiansvote.com for Ballot research tools Polling place finders Language assistance resources Informational resources & shareable content

1 Compiled from 2020 State Factsheets by APIA Vote 2 Source: AAPI Data

South Asians Vote is a national nonpartisan, not-for-profit and volunteer-run movement to increase voter turnout and civic engagement within the South Asian diaspora.

Our mission is to inspire, and provide support and resources to people of South Asian ancestry on their journey towards greater civic participation.

OCTOBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020

“The

arts are in

DNA”

my

AROON SHIVDASANI

PIONEERS | SEEMA

54 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

“The arts are in my

DNA” Aroon Shivdasani, doyenne of the Indian arts in the U.S., discusses her multifaceted life and many passions with Pratika Yashaswi Photographs by Shravya Kag

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 55

PIONEERS | SEEMA

A

13-inch screen brings Aroon Shivdasani and me face-to-face, bridging a gap of more than 8,000 miles and ten time zones.

Where I am, I’ve just risen. Where she is, it is bedtime for most people.

Not long ago, she fought off the coronavirus and suffered its painful after-effects. Still, despiting having returned home at the end of what must have been a long day, there is no trace of weariness on her face.

She turns up on time, attentive and present in the conversation as though she is just beginning her day. She makes time to chat about her fight with COVID-19, and about getting children to go back to school as the pandemic rages on. She is sharp, alert, and full of energy. Perhaps these are the qualities that have made possible her long list of contributions to South Asian art.

Shivdasani is the founder and the erstwhile executive and artistic director of the Indo-American Arts Council. She brought visibility to India’s arts outside India through events and festivals that have inspired many others.

Shivdasani has also worked for social causes, sometimes using the arts as a platform to bring about social change.

When she and her partner Indur Shivdasani were in India, she volunteered extensively with the Spastic Society as well as FREA India (Front for Rapid Economic Advancement of India), working to help villages barter with each other for food, water and other basic necessities, and setting up medical mobile vans to visit them each month.

Any introduction to her career would be remiss without highlighting

56 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

her active political engagement in whichever country she lived. In Canada, the Shivdasanis actively campaigned for then Liberal candidate Pierre Trudeau. Now the veteran New Yorker is directing all her energy to campaign for Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate taking on President Donald Trump.

Actor, activist director, producer, founder, volunteer, impresario…

The list of titles Shivdasani has held runs long. Her career spans decades and several countries. She shared the absorbing story of her life with SEEMA in an email interview.

You’ve lived in several different countries and had a diverse, colorful career. Where did it all begin?

My siblings and I spent our formative educational years at an elite boarding school in the Simla Hills—The Lawrence School in Sanawar. Here, protected from the hurlyburly of the world outside the school borders, we learned about the arts, sports, the love of learning, and the joy of living and sharing with people of different languages and customs from all over the country and beyond.

Holidays were spent with my parents in Bombay as well as with my nani (maternal grandmother) in Lucknow. Mummy ensured we visited museums, art galleries, concerts, theater, and had dance and music lessons from teachers at home. Nani would tell us stories of our heritage, of the saints, the Mahabharat and the Ramayana and even ensured we learned to embroider our petticoats — something she believed every young lady should know!

Books, theater, art, song and dance surrounded us as we performed both in school and at home, and actively engaged in music sessions at home with my talented mother and her

siblings, who all sang beautifully.

After Sanawar, I continued my education in Bombay, with every intention of going to Oxford for further studies. However, fate had other plans. I met my husband (Indur Shivdasani) and joined St. Xaviers College in Bombay (now Mumbai) instead, pursuing a B.A Honors in English since he was then a student at IIT [Bombay]. College kept me busy with studies as well as the College Union Council. My extracurricular activities included track, badminton and netball. I acted with Alyque

“I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE INDIAN ARTISTS IN THE PERFORMING, VISUAL AND LITERARY ARTS FINALLY VISIBLE, APPRECIATED AND WORKING IN MAINSTREAM VENUES AND WITH MAINSTREAM AMERICAN ARTISTS.”

Padamsee’s Theatre Group, and also played hockey for Bombay city and Bombay University. post my graduation, I joined Grant Advertising as an account executive while Indur finished his last year at IIT. We got married immediately after Indur graduated, and left for our honeymoon and then London where Indur did his master’s at the Imperial College while I worked at the Observer newspaper, doing media research. We then moved to Canada, where I joined the Bear Theatre Company, producing and presenting

plays by T.S. Eliot and Chekov.

In 1980, Indur was offered a job he couldn’t refuse in McLean, Virginia, so we moved from Canada to the U.S. with a toddler and an infant. Three years later, we moved to New York and spent the next 20 years in New Rochelle, Westchester.

I have now lived in New York for 41 years, loving this amazing cultural jewel and everything it offers. I am delighted to see Indian artists in the performing, visual and literary arts finally visible, appreciated and working in mainstream venues and

with mainstream American artists.

We have four grandchildren from our two daughters. Both Indur and I have retired, and life continues to hurtle along without missing a beat. Indur plays bridge and indulges in music. I belong to several film, theater, art and women’s groups as well as charitable institutions.

How did the Indo-American Arts Council come to be?

[From New Rochelle] we would make regular forays into the city for opera, theater, art exhibitions, concerts.

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PIONEERS | SEEMA However there was a big hole as far as Indian arts were concerned. They were invisible. In New Rochelle, I organized small arts events like a festival of the city’s 200th birthday and a masterclass in my home with the artist Solanki.

In the summer of 1998, Jonathan Hollander and I founded a much needed organization to present the arts of India to mainstream America.

Gopal Raju gave us our seed money and an office, Talat Ansari completed all the legal paperwork and BINGO! The Indo-American Arts Council was born! I initiated festivals in every artistic discipline and worked 24/7 to ensure visibility for artists of Indian origin. My fervent mission was to make mainstream America sit up and notice our artists and artistic heritage.

Besides initiating festivals in film, dance, theater, literature, music and art, listed [I have worked] with Indian artists and fundraisers to [organize art] benefit [programs when there were] disasters in India.

You have been called the czarina – or grande dame – of South Asian art abroad. Does that accurately reflect how you see your own work?

I pioneered a movement in North America and gave Indian artists visibility. I established the first Indian Film Festival, the first Indian Literary Festival, the first Playwrights Festival of the Indian diaspora, the first Indian dance festival, the first Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora in North America.

Subsequently, festivals in all the various disciplines popped up all over the country. Indian artists now have myriad platforms to tell their stories and display their talent. Our mission is on its way to success. Today Indian artists in all these disciplines are recognized on stage, television and film. We still have a ways to go – but I 58 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

started the ball rolling.

What drew you to Indian arts?

Were you always artistically inclined?

The arts are in my DNA. My mother was a professor of English and drama and the head of the Bombay University Drama Society. She herself acted and sang beautifully. We were exposed to the arts all our lives and looked for them wherever we went.

I participated in the arts in school, college as well as in life. My sister Reeta is an international visual artist whose forte is murals.

Do you continue to practice any art form (apart from curation)?

I have painted, crafted ceramics, thrown pots, made stained glass windows, acted, directed and danced.

However, once I started the IAAC I worked 24/7 365 days. I had no time for myself and gave myself completely

to showcasing and promoting both veteran and emerging artists from the Indian subcontinent in every discipline.

What’s the secret of your productivity?

Passion! I have a passion for life, have a very loving family and tons of friends in every city and country in which I have lived. I have always been surrounded by love and am confident in my own skin. I have indulged in the excitement and culture of every city in which we have lived, worked with the underprivileged, made lots of friends, and got involved in the community. I also have tons of energy and thoroughly enjoy my work, my family and my friends.

As someone who has been curating and promoting Indian arts for decades now, what is your advice to budding curators of South Asian

descent?

Don’t stop at recognized artists. Look for the new voices and emerging talent. Depending on your agenda, you may wish to invite a couple of veteran artists as “draws” and then give exciting new voices a platform to display their work. Ensure you do your homework.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Indian art abroad?

What would you like to see more (or less) of?

I’d love to see Indian artists recognized as household names by mainstream Americans – and appreciated to the same degree.

What does your family usually do for Diwali? And what plans do you have for this Diwali?

As children in school we lit a bonfire, set off firecrackers, received gifts, wore new clothes, exchanged sweets with other families. My parents would buy something new for the home and organize a special dinner with family and friends. Here in New York I try and replicate some of those festivities. I do a puja involving the whole family, read stories of Diwali to my grandchildren, send mithai to my family and friends, prepare a special dinner, and light sparklers on the back porch. In the past, we have had Diwali parties with all this as well as a table of card playing friends paying homage to the Goddess Laxmi.

This year, with COVID in the air, we will limit the festivities to just the family. I will still do a puja, light sparklers, prepare a special dinner and distribute mithai. But we will not invite all our friends to join us..... maybe next year.

Tell me about the work you’ve been doing with building Democratic support among South Asians. How long have you been involved in this?

What has it been like?

Unfortunately I haven’t done as much

as I would have done in a non-COVID world. With the after-effects of COVID on me, and a handicapped husband who I am determined to keep safe, my activities have been limited to online and phone help. I co-host and help spread the word about Democratic fundraisers to my list, volunteer by making phone calls, contribute to the effort, and help other groups organize democratic support.

I am passionate about getting this monster out of the White House.

Despite Trump’s policies often being very anti-immigration, several Indian Americans support him. Why? Trump is an immoral, racist, egoistical, gun supporting, misogynist, fraudulent, corrupt, cheating, lying, ignorant , divisive bully. [Two of] his wives [were] recent immigrants and his in-laws became citizens [in the midst of] his rants against new citizens. This hypocritical selfish narcissist is against immigration from non-white countries. He encourages separating families, snatching babies from their mothers, calls Mexicans rapists and thieves. I think Indian Americans who support him have sold their souls. They are looking at the tax advantages for their wealth and

turning a blind eye to the reality of his disgusting racism, his assault on the integrity of democracy, which is the basis of the creation of the United States.

The Statue of Liberty echoes the message of America to the world: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Trump has ignored this fervent quote and polarized the nation. I am really amazed and angry at Indian Americans who pay more attention to their pockets than morality.

I just don’t understand how we can ignore the myriad sexual harassment cases against him; his lack of support for gun control, climate, women’s rights, LGBT; his complete denial of the spread of COVID; his nepotism and cronyism, his abuse of power; and his hypocrisy regarding immigration.

Indian Americans who support him (unfortunately I know some of them) need to rethink their moral compass.

Biden isn’t a lot of people’s first choice, even among Democrats.

Was he yours? If not, whom were you rooting for at the beginning?

What are your thoughts on his leadership?

True. Biden wasn’t my first choice either. However, he is a moderate, decent, honest human being. We NEED a foil to this evil monster (Trump) who has NO regard for law, justice or the American Constitution. I think Biden will surround himself with intelligent people with integrity, and steer the country back to the country we loved and the world respected.

What are your thoughts on Kamala Harris?

She is a smart, tough prosecutor, knows her stuff and won’t back down from a fight. I think she will challenge Biden on several important issues and will help move the country in the right direction. I am proud to know her mother was Indian. d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 59

Photo by Alex Sorto on Unsplash

FEATURES | SEEMA

Being Dougla in America If Kamala Harris was darker skinned and looked more like me, would Indians claim her with the same fervor?

T

he boys at school used to pull my hair so much that the root of the plait that used to run down my back to my waist was sore. Sometimes they would push my head where they imagined my bindi to be and scream in my face, “your mum’s a Paki!” Paki is a racial slur for people of perceived South Asian descent in the United Kingdom. Both my parents emigrated to London from Jamaica. My father is of African descent and my mother is of Indian descent.

Just because my mum was Indian,

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NADINE DRUMMOND I didn’t count as black to the other Caribbean kids. I was called a “Black Paki” and a “Black Bengali.” On occasion, my elder brother would come to school to ward off the bullies which afforded me some protection, but only temporarily. Not from the Indian kids, though. That lot strategically ignored me. I wasn’t even worthy of their abuse in public. But when we’d be alone I would hear them whisper – “Nigger Indian.” Even though they were racist, they couldn’t afford for the ‘real’ black kids to hear them.

As racist epithets go, I was indeed both, Black and Indian, but there is

a designated caste for people like me among the English-speaking Caribbean – Dougla. The word has been traced form ‘Doogla’ that goes back to the north Indian regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and denotes impure inter-caste relationships.

The majority of more than half a million labourers were transported from eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar to 13 British island and mainland colonies in what is now known as the Caribbean. They came to replace enslaved Africans on sugar plantations in 1845, after the abolition of chattel slavery.

Dougla took on an extended meaning in the vibrant blue Caribbean islands. It was used derogatorily to denote those with mixed African and Indian identity, and has been in the Caribbean for over 180 years – as long as there have been Indians on the islands. Thankfully, the term was reclaimed by a generation of Indo African mixes before me and is no longer considered a racial slur but a distinct ethnic identity. It’s similar to the way ‘Dalit’ was reclaimed as a political identity in India and used as a neutral or positive community denomination.

Likewise, the term Dougla is celebrated among younger generations of Indo-Caribbean people.

However, even though it has been reclaimed on the islands, it is easy to be reminded of the derogatory usage of that term during my umpteen encounters with the South Asian diaspora. Most still behave as if my African genealogy makes me deficient somehow, and definitely not purely Indian, like they themselves are.

I often wonder if the two most famous Douglas – U.S. Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Indian designer Masaba Gupta – are made to feel the same way?

Yes, their Indian ancestry, unlike mine, is high caste and, unlike me, they have much lighter skin. The premium put on light skin in the desi diaspora as well as among Indians is best illustrated through the skin bleaching industry in India, which was estimated to be worth $450 million to 535 million in 2019. Surely, Harris and Gupta’s light skin cannot protect them from the endemic biases or overt bigotry of inter-caste or interracial mixing in the subcontinent.

Or from anti-black racism.

I find it rather peculiar that so many among the vast Indian diaspora in the U.S. have been rallying behind Harris, the daughter of an Indian cancer researcher and a Black Jamaican economist, especially since there

was very little acknowledgment of her Indian heritage before she became Joe Biden’s running mate.

I also wonder if Harris was darker skinned and looked more like me, would Indians claim her with the same fervor?

In any case, I find Harris’ recent acceptance by the Indian diaspora to be Pyrrhic. There needs to be an active reassessment of rampant anti-Black racism before I can see it as anything else. Part of this anti-racist review needs to include a thorough understanding of how being black affects someone’s life and how complicit Indians have been in perpetuating anti-Black ideas and racist stereotypes.

On the other hand, celebrating Harris’s Indian heritage and ignoring her African ancestry is an erasure that feeds anti-Blackness.

The erasure of Harris’s black identity also fuels the model minority myth that suggests Asians got ahead only by dint of hard work. This ignores the reality that no other community has had to survive centuries of white supremacist oppression like Black people. Most Indians migrated to the U.S. on elite blue-collar visa programs like the H-1B. Black history in the U.S. started on a very different note.

African Americans were enslaved for around 246 years, then had to survive the Reconstruction and Segregation eras, which were characterised

by unthinkable white violence. This included more than 3,446 lynchings of black men and women and the destruction of economic centers, like Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. The consistent battles for civil rights afforded Indian immigrants the platform to come to the United States and build better futures, while enduring far fewer structural limitations.

It could be argued that Masaba Gupta, the daughter of Indian actress Neena Gupta and Antiguan cricketer Viv Richards, is the exception. She was raised in India and has been accepted as Indian. Nonetheless, to dismiss claims of cultural appropriation and in defence of tennis star Serena Williams, Gupta too acknowledged that she is half Black.

In a recent interview, she explained that she had a tough time in school and grew up thinking of herself as being inferior to white-skinned people.

Gupta asserted that Bollywood and the fashion and beauty industries promote racism in India, which in turn underscores the treatment of darkskinned people on the subcontinent.

It’s no surprise that this ingrained color prejudice plays out in the Desi diaspora against black people. And even though desis have gone all out in embracing Kamala Harris, it is vital that they use this moment to check their own biases. d

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DIWALI SPECIAL | SEEMA

Diwali desserts with a twist ANUBHUTI KRISHNA

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I

t is that time of the year again when the nip in the air gets chillier and fragrance of the autumn blooms get stronger. Yes, festivals are around the corner as are festivities. No festival can be complete without desserts. At most times though, Diwali desserts generally end up being the same preparations we have lived with for years.

But they need not be. We bring to you some fun and quirky recipes that are a mix of traditional and modern and could be easily fixed at home and can be put together in a jiffy. Healthy yet indulgent, traditional yet fun these Diwali special sweets will add joy to your festival.

Chocolate Pedha A specialty of Bombay Sweet Shop, this is a unique and fun take on traditional mithai.

Ingredients: For the pedha Store-bought khoya (thickened fullfat milk) 200 gm Sugar 30 gm Milk- 30 gm Dark chocolate, melted 100 gm For the chocolate ganache Dark chocolate 200 gm Heavy cream 125 gms Method: Chocolate ganache: 1. Put the chocolate in a bowl. Take a pot and fill it half way with water and bring it to boil. Put the bowl of chocolate on top of the pot and melt it.

2. In another pot, bring cream to boil and pour it over the melted chocolate.

Mix well and strain the ganache. Allow it to cool down and then refrigerate it overnight.

Method: Chocolate pedha 1. Crumble store bought khoya in a pan, add the sugar and add milk. Mix everything on a low heat till it softens up.

2. Now turn off the heat, add the melted chocolate. Stir it well till the khoya is homogenous. Now you have chocolate pedha!

3. Remove the mixture from the pan and let it cool down.

4. Divide the mixture into two equal parts. Take one part and set in a flat tray. Pour the chocolate ganache to this layer evenly and let this mixture set at room temperature.

5. Meanwhile sheet the second pedha mixture to same thickness in same sized tray. Let it set.

6. Once set, layer this over the chocolate covered pedha.

7. Cut in desired shape and serve it at room temperature.

Chocolate Pedha – a unique and fun take on traditional mithai

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DIWALI SPECIAL | SEEMA

Coffee Chocolate Barks

Coffee Chocolate Barks (Another Bombay Sweet Shop favorite) Ingredients: Almonds 120 gms Hazelnuts 120 gms Caster sugar 250 gms Instant coffee powder 10 gms Water 30 gms Unsalted butter 120 gms Corn syrup 15 gms Vanilla extract 5 gms Dark chocolate 200 gms Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Place almonds and hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake them for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

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2. Once cooled to room temperature, chop the nuts up roughly.

3. In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, water, butter, and corn syrup. Have the baking soda, coffee powder and vanilla extract ready.

4. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Then cook until the mixture reaches 280 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Remove the saucepan from heat and add baking soda, coffee powder and vanilla extract, stir to combine.

5. Pour this mixture evenly over the nuts on your baking sheet. Then place the chopped chocolate over the hot toffee. After a few minutes the chocolate will be soft enough to spread with a palate knife (or back of a spoon) in an even layer over the toffee. Sprinkle

Beetroot Halwa

the remaining chopped almonds over the melted chocolate. Place the pan in the refrigerator until chocolate is firm. Then cut the barks into pieces using a sharp knife.

Beetroot Halwa (A healthy dessert recipe by Chef Abhijeet Thakrey, Taj City Center Gurugram) Ingredients: Beetroot, grated 500 gms Full fat milk 3 cups Sugar 6 tablespoons Ghee 3 Tablespoons Green cardamom 3-5 pieces Cashews 15-20 Green raisins 15-20 Method: 1. Rinse, peel and grate the beetroot.

2. In a kadai (a deep, thick-bottomed pan), combine milk and grated beetroot.

3. On low-medium flame, bring the whole mixture to boil, then let it simmer. Keep stirring at intervals when the mixture comes to a boil and also while it simmers.

4. The grated beetroot will cook in the milk and the milk will begin evaporating.

5. When the milk has reduced by 7580 percent, add the ghee and sugar to the mix.

6. Keep stirring and let it continue to simmer on a low flame.

7. Add the cashews, cardamom powder and raisins. Simmer till all the milk has evaporated, then switch off the burner.

8. Serve hot, warm or chilled.

Brown butter, Rose and Gulab Jamun Cake (A recipe from baker Ruhee Bhimani) Ingredients: Flour 65 gms Baking powder 1/8 tsp Baking soda 1/4 tsp Salt 1 pinch Cardamom power 1/4 tsp Yogurt 40 gms Oil 35 gms Rose water 1/4 tsp Caster sugar 50 gms Milk 40 gms Angoori gulab jamun 35 gms

Brown butter, Rose and Gulab Jamun Cake

For glaze: Salted butter 15 gms Icing sugar 45 gms Cardamom powder 1/4 tsp Rose water 1/2 tsp Milk 1 tsp A few dried rose petals for garnish Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line and grease a six-inch round tin.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cardamom powder together and keep aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk the yogurt and sugar for a few minutes until sugar dissolves completely.

4. Add the oil and rose water and whisk till the mixture is creamy.

5. Add the sifted dry ingredients using the cut-and-fold method, add milk to adjust the consistency and mix well. Now add small chopped pieces of the gulab jamun to the batter, leaving five pieces behind.

6. Gently fold in the entire mixture with a spatula. Pour into the greased tin and place the remaining gulab jamun, cut in half, on top.

7. Bake for 20-25minutes at 160 degrees C. For the glaze: 1. Sift the icing sugar and cardamom powder together and set aside.

2. Cook the butter in a saucepan over a low flame for 5 to 8 minutes till the butter browns. Be careful not to burn the butter.Allow it to rest for 15 mins and strain the browned butter to remove impurities.

3. Add the icing sugar, a little at a time, and whisk to combine.

4. Add a few teaspoons of milk and rose essence to thin the glaze.

5. Remove the tea cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.

6. Once the cake is completely cooled, drizzle the glaze on top and garnish it with dried rose petals. d

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DIWALI SPECIAL | SEEMA

Kolour Theory – one of a kind candles, that looks like desserts, a perfect Diwali gift!

Lighting up Lives With Diwali Gifts 66 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

The pandemic may have been a damper this year, but these unique Diwali gifts might help spread some hope and cheer instead ANITA RAO KASHI

DIWALI SPECIAL | SEEMA

T

he best part of any festival, especially one like Diwali, is undoubtedly the gifting. It is also the toughest part sometimes, as scrambling to get or personalize unique gifts can get onerous. It could also swing the other way and leave one spoiled for choice, and confused about what to pick.

If that’s the state of affairs during a normal Diwali, the task is harder during the pandemic. But rather than letting it put a pall on the festivities, it is better to hark back to the essence of Diwali: hope and well-being.

While the virus has stymied so many things, Diwali is the ideal time to spread cheer and send thoughtful gifts to friends and family. Of course, all this while remaining socially

distanced. So the toss up is between getting useful Diwali gifts or unique ones. These are some suggestions to make both the giver and the receiver happy.

Pandemic-Related Gifts

It looks like some things are going to define the new normal, such as wearing masks, using sanitizers, washing hands with soap several times a day, and cleaning down surfaces obsessively. While there are too many masks to choose from, if you are feeling large-hearted, then do explore picking up mask sets which also serve philanthropy.

A far more indulgent idea, while also driving a sustainable lifestyle, is the phenomenon of handmade soaps, which make for useful Diwali gifts.

While at it, why not opt for some personalization as well.

“Cinnamon Soul believes that beauty and the pleasures of indulgence can go hand-in-hand with living a non-toxic lifestyle,” says Cinnamon Soul founder Nidha Adeni. “Our line consists of luxury body oils, handcrafted soaps, gentlemen’s skincare products, as well as a new line for expecting mothers. While we offer thoughtfully created gifting bundles for the festive season, these can be customized to fit the needs of individual clients as well.”

A similar option is Verth India, a platform for sustainable products, including a range of handmade soaps.

“Handmade soaps are luxurious and functional at the same time,” says Shreya Kothari, who founded the

Cinnamon Soul – Luxury body oils, handcrafted soaps, gentlemen’s skincare products and a new line for expecting mothers

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 67

DIWALI SPECIAL | SEEMA company with Renata Millett.”

They make a perfect gift for any occasion. The aroma and natural flavors add to the festivity. They are also pretty and please everyone. They have a personal touch and are more meaningful than the usual dry fruits and celebration boxes.”

Color Me Beautiful

Cosmetics make for the best gifting ideas not just during Diwali but year round. The tried and tested might be a safe bet, but why not look around for unique products such as sustainable or vegan cosmetics, or even products designed specifically for each person?

Sabrina Suhail set up Tinge, India’s first experiential and bespoke cosmetic brand, introducing the concept of blending different colors to produce an effect right for just that customer. Tinge’s range includes eye pencils, foundation, lip balms, lip scrubs, liquid matte lipsticks, shade sticks, and unique and evocative Diwali gift sets.

Festive Lighting

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Anything to do with lights is a default choice during Diwali.

But that is no cause for despair.

There are so many entrepreneurs designing unusual and offbeat products that the buyer is spoiled for choice. From exquisite handcrafted ceramic diyas to beautiful silver lamps to spice-scented candles, the choices are humongous. If you want added zing, you have not just beautifully crafted diffusers but a plethora of aromatic oils to infuse the home with enchanting fragrances.

“It’s common to gift dry-fruits, mithai and chocolates during Diwali,” says Neha Nagpal of

Kolour Theory. “Why not think out-of-the-box and gift something unique. Kolour Theory candles are one of a kind. They look like desserts, making it the perfect Diwali gift.”

Creativity in the Kitchen

A big shift the pandemic has brought about it is the enormous chunks of time everyone is spending in kitchens. There has been a groundswell of interest in cooking, and Facebook alone saw a huge surge of pages dedicated to sharing recipes, tips and hacks. There are some very unique ideas coming up for gifts that find their home in the kitchen.

Simple appliances like spiralizers,

handy choppers and garlic presses make for useful Diwali gifts and also suggest the giver is aware of the receiver’s needs. These gizmos are nifty, come in trendy models, and make for useful kitchen tools.

For the gourmand who not only loves trying recipes from everywhere, there are several great cookbooks out there, some of which were even released during the pandemic. There is a huge range of them to pick from, all beautifully designed and sporting great pictures. Ideally opt for something that goes beyond mere recipes, like Natasha Celmi’s “Fast. Fresh.

Flavourful.”

Exquisite crockery from studios and

boutique stores also make for unique Diwali gifts.

“These unprecedented times call for conscious Diwali buying,” says Sonali Sharma of Nugu Handmade, which she set up with Sumanth Sampath.

“Nugu’s sustainably made bespoke dinnerware creations are a perfect gift for the discerning people who value good design, ethical making, and contemporary handcrafting.”

This list only scratches the surface of the gifting options out there. But, hopefully, it will provide a starting point from which one’s imagination can really take off, to ensure you have a unique set of Diwali gifts that is just right for everyone you know. d

Tinge – India’s first experiential and bespoke cosmetic brand forsustainable or vegan products

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FOOD | SEEMA

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Gaining an appetite for cooking For chef and author Natasha Celmi, the eventful journey towards realizing her passion took her around the world ANITA RAO KASHI “Growing up, I never set foot in the kitchen. I was not the kind who can say I had passion for food from a very young age, or watched my mother and grandmother cook. I am not one of those,” says Natasha Celmi.

Nothing very eyebrow-raising about that, except that Celmi is now a chef, and the author of a recently released cookbook: Fast. Fresh. Flavourful – Everyday Meals Made Easy.

Celmi grew up in Kolkata, where the thought of cooking was anathema to her. She was the “kid who rebelled against any cooking-related conversations or chores.” But travel has a way of piquing interest and instilling passion. Just over a decade ago, her work took her to Italy, into an environment where food is religion and permeates every discourse, every social interaction. That’s where things changed

irrevocably for Celmi, sending her spiraling into the world of cooking.

“Back then, food blogs were not yet born,” she said. “Meal planning apps were still a dream, and YouTube channels were not as many. This was when cooking shows like MasterChef Australia and Nigella Bites took India by storm. I was smitten. I watched these shows religiously and even took notes. Cooking seemed much more NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 71

FOOD | SEEMA

“BACK THEN, FOOD BLOGS WERE NOT YET BORN.MEAL PLANNING APPS WERE STILL A DREAM, AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS WERE NOT AS MANY.”

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exciting than it did earlier,” she says.

But it was Italy that sent her over the edge as it introduced her to a whole new world of flavors, ones quite different to those she had grown up with. “My palate came alive, and I wanted to know more about food and understand how it is made,” Celmi said. But it did not go well the first time. In fact, it was a disaster: she had no clue about the basics of cooking.

That was when she rued the fact that

she had ignored her mother’s invitations to the kitchen.

Nevertheless, Celmi took back exotic ingredients from her travels and tried to recreate those dishes back home. An expanded palate and exposure to the cuisines of the world meant that she craved more than traditional Indian flavors.

Then Julia Roberts came along. Or rather, her famous movie Eat Pray Love. Released in 2010, it dealt with

the theme of finding oneself. Inspired by the protagonist, Celmi enrolled in a cooking school in Florence and learned to cook authentic Italian food. She explored local markets and dove into restaurant kitchens to understand Italian ingredients and the traditional ways of using htem.

She trained as a gelato chef, opened a chain of gelato shops called Mamma Mia, and then sold it four years ago.

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FOOD | SEEMA her husband. A Southern Italian and a great cook, it was he who taught her many other nuances about Italian and Mediterranean cooking. She later moved to Singapore and added Asian cooking to her repertoire.

“With children and busy lives, food sometimes takes a backseat,” Celmi said. “But my passion has never wavered. However, I have learned to rustle up quick and easy dishes without compromising on taste or nutrition. So I thought of using all the things I have learned in a cookbook that provides an easy answer to that dreaded question that goes through everyone’s mind at least once a day: What should I cook today?”

Celmi said that once the idea crystallized in her head, it took a few months of putting the recipes together and testing them before the book was ready.

“But then the pandemic struck and I was in doubt about what to do,” she said. “However, with so many people at home ... I felt it was right time, so I released the book in the middle of it. And it has done surprisingly well.”

So what’s next? For the moment she is reveling in the success of the book, in between conducting Zoom workshops and leading cook-along sessions. She feels an easy answer will coming along, much like how her book answers the question ‘What should I cook today?’ d

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Spanning the Global Gamut Fast. Fresh. Flavourful - Everyday meals made easy by Natasha Celmi ANITA RAO KASHI

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ust rifling through the pages will immediately endear the book to anyone with a smidgen of interest in cooking. Colorful, easy to use and navigate, stacked with helpful tips and suggestions, this is a cookbook that is going to sit on the kitchen platform much more than on the bookshelf.

Natasha has seamlessly integrated her love for global flavors and Indian roots with passion for food and cooking but made it accessible to everyone.

“I am not advocating for vegetarianism, but I find that vegetarian dishes can easily be repurposed with meat,” she said. “So everywhere it is possible, I make suggestions for recipes that can be made into non-vegetarian dishes.”

Her recipes are wholesome and healthy, and span the whole global gamut – Mediterranean delicacies, Asian dishes like pad thai and laksa, Middle Eastern mezze platters, Mexican favorites, salads, desserts and much more. More importantly, the book is generously peppered with food hacks, such as meal plans, the use of leftovers, make-ahead tips, substitutions, diversifying flavors or dumbing them down for kids, etc. There’s even a helpful shopping list. “I teach you how to become a kitchen ninja,” she said, laughing.

Some of her recipes are both unusual and delectable, such as load-

ed nachos, zoodles (zucchini noodles) crostini, lettuce wraps, mango salsa and black rice salad, Mexican burrito bowl with millets, modern Indian lentil and barley bowl, barley risotto, Mexican bean burger, no-churn ice creams and oaty banana pancakes.

At the same time, indulgent pesto pasta, cheesy fusilli and chocolate lava pudding satisfied the decadent urge to indulge.

The book celebrates the “vibrancy and versatility” of not just vegetarian cooking but is a guide and companion in the kitchen. Ultimately, isn’t that the fundamental duty of a cookbook?

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FOOD | SEEMA

The Quest to

Bring Real Food to the Table

In which we learn how Suvir Saran became the first Indian chef in New York to get a Michelin Star ANUBHUTI KRISHNA “It was 1993,” he tells me, “when I landed in New York to study art. New York, at the time, was a city in flux, wanting to be something it wasn’t yet. It was also not the gourmet capital it is today. All you found here was expensive and badly made food.”

If you know chef Suvir Saran, you know he is not one to mince words. In a conversation with the Michelin Star Chef, we learn about his transition from being that art student, to entering the catering business, to getting the Michelin honor for his work at his restaurant, Devi.

Saran’s story begins like many other 20-year-olds who land in a foreign land with no familiar food to eat. The similarity ended there though. For unlike most students who learn to make do with what they get, he started cooking his own food. Today he is not only a critically acclaimed chef with his name splashed across The Sun, The New York Times and numerous other publications but is also an author, educator, farmer and board advisor to Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School.

“I was a hungry kid in USA who missed a house filled

with food and guests,” he says. “Back in India our living room was constantly buzzing with people who came in with empty stomachs and left with [their] hearts full.”

Which is why his student apartment in Manhattan soon became a mini version of his home in Delhi.

“I would cook every evening after school and entertain all night,” he says.

The word spread and the who’s who of the city started walking into his apartment for dinner. “My food was called the best food in Manhattan,” remembers Suvir That made him not just an ‘Indian’ chef, but a universal favorite.

The schooling-cooking-cleaning schedule had been on for a few years when, in 1997, Saran got to know about a prestigious dinner at the Rohatyn Room in Carnegie Hall.

“It was 50th year of India’s Independence and a group of Indian businessmen were hosting a commemoration dinner,” he says. “Such an event had never happened before.”

At the behest of his friends, Suvir applied to cater at the event and was selected. The rest is history. His seven-course menu, which included urad dal served in the shape of a tabla, ‘kurkuri bhindi’ (okra) given as a NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 77

FOOD | SEEMA starter, and vegetable ‘shorba’ as a sauce, became the talk of the town. He was touted as the best caterer by The New York Times. Overnight, from an art student Suvir became a chef who traveled across the country to cook for celebrities, film stars, models, politicians, even presidents.

But how did Suvir, an untrained chef, get the Americans to appreciate complex Indian food?

“My food was not the heavy Indian food served in the restaurants,” Saran said. “It was food that I had grown up eating.

It had clean flavors and was light on the palate.”

Imagine okra, crispy fried and sprinkled with seasoning, or cauliflower so soft that it melts in your mouth.

“I simplified the cuisine for the West by presenting and explaining it in their language,” he says.

Making Indian cool wasn’t his motive, insists Suvir; showcasing the versatility of India’s kitchens was. In his words, he only curated recipes from Indian homes for his guests who until then had been fed a wrong notion about this food.

This amplified manyfold when he opened Devi in 2004 where he served what we today call

modern Indian cuisine, which earned and became the first Indian chef to win a Michelin Star in the US. The food at Devi, and everywhere else that Suvir cooked, was never limited by geographical boundaries. As someone who was taught to respect food early on, Saran was quick to adopt global and American flavors, textures, recipes, and cuisines.

“My restaurant served 18 unique dishes every day from different parts of the world. India was just one of them.” says Saran when asked if he is a strictly Indian chef. “The recipes from my books and kitchens made it to The New York Times, were celebrated in Food and Wine magazines, [were] cooked [at] food festivals across USA and lauded by critics like Sam Sifton and Mark Bittman, who made my food a household name. They cannot be attributed to just one place,” says Suvir, who has also penned hundreds of recipes for his three cookbooks.

Asked to share a fall recipe, he said he was always finding new ways to cook squash.

“While I never thought about serving it with sweet apples and tart cranberries, but a version by the chefs at Yale had me hooked,” he says. d

Butternut Squash, Apple, and Cranberry Gratin INGREDIENTS: • 8-tablespoons/120 g unsalted butter, melted, plus 1 tablespoon/15 g at room temperature • 3-pound/1.3 k butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, and diced into 1-inch/2.5 cm cubes • 4 sweet-tart apples that will keep their shape after baking, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2inch/1.25 cm cubes • 1 1/3 cup/160 g dried cranberries • 1/4 cup/4 g finely chopped flat-leaf parsley • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, or to taste • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 heaping cup/140 g all-purpose flour METHOD: Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C (Gas Mark 4). Grease a large baking dish with the softened butter and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss together the squash, apples, cranberries, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Drizzle in the melted butter and stir to combine, then add the flour and mix to evenly coat the squash mixture.

Turn the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake until the top is golden brown and the squash is tender but not mushy (a paring knife should easily slip into the center of a piece of squash), 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool 5 minutes before serving.

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On a sweet note!

DIWALI | SEEMA

TAGMO can dish up a storm for New Yorkers with a sweet tooth or want to gift their loved ones something special this Diwali season

“W

ith Diwali coming closer and as my daughter prepares to leave for college, I wanted to do something special in her honor as she is my heart (my only child) and so much of what I do, I do for her,” says Chef Surbhi Sahni of TAGMO (in New York), known for its authentic Indian cuisine and sweets with a modern twist. Before launching TAGMO, Surbhi served as the creative force behind Michelin-starred New York City restaurants, Devi and Tulsi, and lauded Saar Bistro in Midtown with chef Hemant Mathur.

She is also the creative director and events director at Hemant Mathur Catering.

Surbhi has made her mark as a talented pastry chef with hand-crafted cakes and confections that preserve the essence of timeless South-Asian mithai (sweets) translated with her own distinct flavors and artistry.

She adds, “I am reminded of my daughter’s favorite dishes. She has been my first taste tester and critic. Even as a child, she has been my cheerleader and support. Once she even came home crying when she found out that a friend of hers didn’t like something I made.”

She says, “Some might not think of

culinary education and professional cooking to be on par with lawyers and doctors because it doesn’t get the same prestige or salary, but each dish embodies immense skill and craft.”

On what the name means, she explains, “TAGMO is the Bhutanese word for tigress, which holds a lot of meaning for me as a South Asian woman working in the culinary space where you have to be fierce to make it as both a woman and a person of color. My goal is not only to share the flavors of where I’m from with my communities in New York City and beyond, but to create a business that employs low-income immigrant women of color from the South Asian diaspora who are interested in

the culinary arts. I want to pass on my knowledge of over 20 years and empower my employees to strengthen their own skills and excel in their careers within and beyond TAGMO. With COVID19 hitting communities around us we turned our business around to do home style Indian meals from different parts of the country. In addition we donated thousands of meals to hospital workers. We have partnered with organizations like Sakhi and Sapna to include their members with job opportunities in these times. TAGMO can make this Diwali sweeter for many who care for some authentic Indian (mithai) sweets. d www.tagmotreats.com

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Lisa Ray at the 9th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. February 18, 2007.

Picture: Paul Smith / Featureflash

Raw and Honest L

isa Ray is a well-known name in South Asia – and the diaspora.

Born in Canada, this daughter of a Bengali father (L. K. Datta) and a Polish mother (Jennifer) became a supermodel in India, and after a stint in television, acted in films in Bollywood and back home.

She was diagnosed with multiple melanoma in 2009, and recovered after stem cell transplant. The experience left an indelible mark on her, and prompted her to write about it, and to promote stem cell therapy.

In her recent autobiography, Close to the Bone, Ray discusses her parents, her nomadic existence, eating disorders, spirituality, mentors, loves, betrayers… In fact, everything a fan might want to know.

In this interview with Jitin Hingorani, Ray discusses her book, the ups and downs in her life, quotes Ra-

BOOKS | SEEMA

Actor, model, author, mother, cancer survivor.

Lisa Ray opens up in a candid interview with Jitin Hingorani

bindranath Tagore describes her lack of a sense of home; the American elections; labels; and more.

She spoke of writing an earlier version of her autobiography and getting it back because it did not feel right. She spoke of celebrity and how someone once did not recognize her and told his friend about her looks, “She is no Lisa Ray.” She dwelt on spirituality; the mentorship of people like designer Wendell Rodricks, and the things that have held her together, including her husband Jason Dehni and two children by surrogacy, Sofi and Soleil. d

CREDIT: AVS TV FOR PRODUCING & CO-PRESENTING THIS VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH/INTERVIEW. NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 81

SEEMA TEEN | SEEMA

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When Dreams Come True A first-generation Indian American, a professional model, actress, singer, voice over artist, ramp walker and student. Gowri Nadella is all of 16 and this is her story.

I

think it is fitting to talk about my parents, their story, their grit and strong work ethics that have influenced me today. Both my parents immigrated to America at a young age. They were the first of their family to come to the US and worked incredibly hard to create a stable life and beautiful family.

I learned of all their sacrifices to provide me the best life. How they worked on their lives and careers when all their family was abroad. It made me overflow with gratitude and since I have strived to continually make my parents proud.

I grew up in an ethnic household where music, creativity, and being intuitive were always celebrated. This directly fostered my love for music and in particular, singing. At age six, I began to train in Indian Classical Carnatic Vocal.

My creative side saw further expression through music, a love for fashion and pop culture.

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SEEMA TEEN | SEEMA

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that I would soon outgrow, like most children, but they quickly learned that this was something I was serious about.

While they were extremely supportive, they were totally unaware of the process as no one from our circle of friends and family had explored the possibility of being a model, and so, my dream was put on hold for a few years.

At age 14, by a happy coincidence, an opportunity came my way that changed my life. I was scouted by a modeling agent in our local target.

This opened up a world of new opportunities and after this, my career grew exponentially.

In March 2019, I walked the 2019 Chicago Fashion Week and was published in Dixie Magazine. I worked harder to prove to myself and to others that anyone of race and ethnicity could follow their dreams.

I discovered an inner drive and

began to focus on all facets of my life, particularly in modeling and school.

In August 2019, I flew to New York City to sign up with my dream agency, MMG. A month later, I was cast to be a part of the “See You Through My Eyes� music video for the band, The Head and The Heart.

In April 2020, I was published by photo Vogue Italy which led me to believe that if I genuinely worked on looking inwards and bettering myself, all aspects of my life could thrive. I feel honored that I get the opportunity to share my story as growing up I did not see any Indian American girls in the fashion industry, which made

it really hard to feel accepted and included.

It just goes to prove that you can pursue your dreams. I never imagined I would be able to pursue and achieve the goals I had as a little girl. What I love most about the fashion industry is how it is constantly evolving.

Diversity is now celebrated and I want to be a part of this push for inclusivity.

To anyone reading this I want you to know that nothing should ever stop you from celebrating your unique qualities, race, religion, or ethnicity.

Once I genuinely embraced and loved who I was, I experienced transformative personal and career growth.

Thank you SEEMA for letting me share my story! d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 85

THANKSGIVING | SEEMA

Pumpkin gnocchi

From Halloween to Thanksgiving A slew of new-age and unusual Halloween recipes have elevated the ubiquitous gourd to something fancy and delectable, with dishes that can be served at your Thanksgiving table

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hile pumpkins are best known for serving as Halloween Lanterns, they make for tasty treats that can be served all season long As pop-cultural references go, pumpkin brings to mind a couple of things. For those fascinated by fairy tales, it is Cinderella. But it has more 86 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

ANITA RAO KASHI recall value as an inextricable part of Halloween. Or better still, as Halloween pumpkin recipes.

Halloween and its traditions might seem timeless, but the celebration as we know it in the US is a fairly recent phenomenon. While its roots go back several millennia, being even grounded in pagan practices, it was Irish immigrants in the 19th century who

popularized it. Especially the jack-olanterns with their large gouged-out pumpkin eyes, based on an interesting story revolving around the devil, burning embers and turnips.

But pumpkins did not stop at being the ideal lampshades or fear-inducing accessories. They have become an integral part of the Halloween tradition and are a vital part of the associated

Creamy pumpkin soup

feasting. This could well because of their abundant availability at this time of the year.

From pumpkin pies to pumpkin bread to creamy pumpkin soup, there’s a plethora of traditional recipes that make an appearance during this time. But much like how Halloween costumes and scary pumpkin ideas have evolved over the years, chefs are trying some unusual variations to take the ubiquitous pump-

Pumpkin salad

kin. Think pumpkin pizza, soups. biscuits, and salads. Some go further, and pushing the envelope with such dishes as a colorful pumpkin gnocchi, roasted sticks with piquant dips, chutney, or savory pumpkin curry soup with coconut milk and spices.

“This season is a great time in the United States. There’s pumpkin everywhere and it is used in everything – even coffee, tea and other beverages,” says Chef Abhijit Dwarakanath.

Having worked in two renowned Michelin Star restaurant Acadia, run

by Chef Ryan McCaskey and Port & Park, both Chicago icons known for their ‘new American cuisine’ Dwarakanath knows a thing or two about recasting a favorite ingredient in a brand new avatar.

“Two Halloweens ago, there was too much leftover pumpkin puree in the kitchen so I experimented a bit and hit on the idea of a pumpkin gnocchi,” he says. “I reduced the water and the flour and tested out the recipe.

I paired it with my other favorite ingredient mushrooms and added some cranberries. It was a hit and was on the restaurant menu for three months, till into the new year.”

He also came up with a few more dishes, including one in which he baked a whole small pumpkin and filled it up with gooey cheese to use as both a dip and something to scoop out with the pumpkin flesh.

But innovations have sprung up everywhere and there are plenty of Halloween pumpkin recipes. Clearly, our ancestors knew the benefits of seasonal vegetables and there seems to be logic in why the pumpkin has been a crucial part of the diet. In her cookbook The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian, Bangalore-based food blogger and cookbook author Nandita Iyer,

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THANKSGIVING | SEEMA

Halloween mini pizzas

Smoked pumpkin pizza

who has also studied nutrition, says, “Pumpkin has phenolic antioxidants that prevent cellular damage induced by high blood sugar. Even though it is considered a ‘high sugar’ vegetable, diabetic patients benefit from including a portion of dark yellow pumpkin in their diet.”

Iyer jazzes up the vegetable into snazzy dishes. The Fire-Roasted Pumpkin Chutney is an unusual take 88 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

Pumpkin fondue

on the vegetable chutney and has a beautiful smoky undertone. While best eaten with rice, it also makes for an ideal dip. In another recipe, Iyer suggests roasting chunky slivers of pumpkin and other root vegetables and having them with a peanut-tamarind dip, a perfect thing to have around a fire after an evening of trick or treating in the cold. Pumpkin and other gourds or seasonal vegetables

Pumpkin dip

can be cooked in mildly spiced coconut milk to make a hearty stew and eaten with brown rice or quinoa as a healthy Halloween meal.

Undoubtedly, the pumpkin is much more versatile than it is made out to be, and these are just a few possible Halloween pumpkin recipes. But with a bit of imagination and creativity, there’s so much more that can be accomplished. d

LIFESTYLE | SEEMA

Into a world of modernism

Post COVID-19 there seems to be a serious appreciation for multi-faceted, complex, bold, culturally diverse contemporary taste in design that Omni Design can deliver with ĂŠlan CHRISTOPHER HYLAND

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odernism in its diversity is at a high point, if for no other reason, because homes are being lived in more than ever, animating interest in interior design. It would seem that, finally, having begun to pass out of the contemporary design badlands characterized by devotion to the aesthetic of austerity, we are moving into what I call the Omni Design period.

Modernism is at an exciting junction this Fall. It might just take a turn permanently towards modern decorating that calls for diverse artifacts and comfort once and for all. The world of uniquely gray hard angles is making way for the sensuous curve, cutting edge furniture as well as the Windsor chair.

Omni Design is characterized by the use of both the straight and the curved line, the antique in just a position to the contemporary, all clothed in stunning textiles noteworthy for color and a wide range of qualities, from linen to polyester, and from mohair to mixed fibers.

COVID-19 has allowed many of us the opportunity to spend more leisure, family and work time at home affording us time to contemplate home design environments. One result is that for numerous home and apartment dwellers the hard

edge, read uncomfortable, aspects of straight edge, austere contemporary design has proven to be somewhat overbearing, hardly fostering a sense of warmth. After months of varying degrees of COVID-19 confinement, the armless, too low, too deep when without the benefit of pillows, sofas and chairs of the lets live in an austere, photo shoot ready sculpture or commercial waiting room design has come to wear thin on both body and mind. In its place is emerging a serious appreciation for multi faceted, complex, bold, culturally diverse contemporary taste that I call Omni design.

Omni style furniture and textiles, however creative the design, first and foremost, is comfortable, often upholstered or slip covered in colorful textiles woven from a wide range of yarns. Objects of all kinds occupy surfaces, art pride of place on walls. Lighting finds place on walls and resting on tables, less so down lights in ceilings. Humorless, shaded windows are joined, once again, by draperies of all kinds from metallic and illuminated to sheers playing an important role. The Omni space places much importance on various levels of soft, natural, in particular ambient, light, fostering shadows to enhance interior architecture, as opposed to window shade world’s choice of full block out or open hard light.

American design DNA originates from scores of exciting traditions with roots all over the world. With the internet and design centers such as the Decoration and Design Building in NYC, there are ample options to realize intellectually exciting and visually incredible Omni interiors. d Instagram @christopherhylandinc www.christopherhyland.com Christopher Hyland, Founder of Christopher Hyland Incorporated, purveyors of fine textiles. Showroom: D&D Building NYC.

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THANKSGIVING | SEEMA

Thanksgiving in the Shadow of COVID A planning guide to host a safe celebration

ARTHUR MCMAHON

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ou miss your family and friends and want to put together a Thanksgiving celebration for all to enjoy, but can you safely host a Thanksgiving gathering during a pandemic?

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Staying close to those near and dear is part of what makes us human.

And one reason we celebrate holidays – Thanksgiving, in particular – is to spend time with them. The COVID-19 pandemic has made such occasions appear even more import-

ant, and yet harder to host.

Still, you can put together a responsible holiday party. To properly plan for Thanksgiving during a pandemic, you will need to prepare your venue ahead of time, decide whom to invite, and instruct your guests on how to

keep safe during the celebration.

Preparing Your Thanksgiving Venue While tradition suggests that you should host Thanksgiving dinner inside your home, there is no fiat on this.

Even the World Health Organization has pointed out that, given the circumstances, virtual and outdoor gatherings are preferable.

Serving dinner on your patio or in your backyard, rather than in your dining room, will reduce the risk of COVID transmission for you and your guests. If the weather is a concern, you can pop open a party tent and line the sides with patio heaters.

Really cautious folk go further and turn their Thanksgiving dinner into an online event. Not only is this a safe way to reconnect with friends and family and also reduce anxiety, but it also reduces work and cleanup for the virtual host.

If you must celebrate the holiday indoors, however, it is best to make your home as spacious as possible. Moving unnecessary furniture out of the way will allow for everybody quicker access to the food and ensure better social distancing practices.

Likewise, opening windows and activating ventilation systems will enhance airflow and reduce the likelihood of coronaviruses lingering on

and moving on to relatives. Also, plan to host a shorter event than usual to reduce the risk of extended exposure.

Whom to Invite It is important to try and limit the number of guests. Though you may want all of your loved ones over, this may not be the best time for it. Be sure to look over local guidelines for up-todate restrictions on gatherings.

Consider where your guests come from, and recent data about the coronavirus’s spread in that area . It is much safer to invite those who live in your area than those who must come from afar, according to the Center for Disease Control.

You will also need to consider

whether those invited are likely to respectfully adhere to the safety guidelines you set. Be sure to include that information in the invitations you send out. Also remind your guests to stay home if they are sick or have possibly been exposed to the virus.

Safety During the Celebration You have planned and prepared for Thanksgiving dinner, and now the day has arrived! You and your guests can be safe and have a good time as long as everyone sticks to the guidelines you have established. The CDC has a trustworthy guide that you can use for reference as you put together your own set of rules.

Ensure hygiene and safety by providing extra masks, cleansing surface wipes, accessible hand sanitizers, washing locations, and ample space to maintain social distance.

Decide ahead of time who will serve dinner, and have them wear sanitary gloves. The fewer people touching the food and cutlery, the better.

Remember to Have Fun It is a party, after all! You’ve done your best to ensure a safe and joyous event.

Now, be sure to enjoy it. With everyone well-informed and respectfully social-distancing, you should have nothing to worry about. d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 91

THANKSGIVING | SEEMA

For That Perfect Thanksgiving Tablescape With some originality, color and care, you can really kick things up a notch this year JARED WADE

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our beautiful Thanksgiving Table might not be overflowing this year with relatives and friends but you can always make a dinner for two or a dinner for 4 special with tables capes. And if you are enjoying Thanksgiving dinner virtually over Zoom with your friends and family, beautiful and matching tablescapes can make it seem like you are 92 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

all celebrating at the same table. And with a little bit of creativity and technology, there is no reason you can’t make this year’s Thanksgiving a special meal to look forward to.

In a year like this — especially in a year like this — finding things to look forward to has been tough. Fortunately, the holidays are right around the corner. No matter how you celebrate, this is a reason to smile. In 2020,

the festivities may not be as festive as usual, but that is precisely why you need to go the extra mile this year.

Instead of going through the motions, make it as special as you can.

From guests and food to preparation and decorations, now is the time to kick it up a notch.

One great option for Thanksgiving is tablescaping.

What is tablescaping? Why is it per-

fect for this holiday? How can you do it best?

The following breakdown answers all those questions — and more — for anyone looking to make a great Thanksgiving tablescape this year.

What is Tablescaping?

You have probably already done some tablescaping. You just didn’t know the term. Basically, it is just a way of describing the various ways that people use centerpieces, place settings, and other decorative elements to spruce up their table before entertaining guests for a special event.

Interior designer Sarah Bartholomew summed up her philosophy of the now-fashionable art form in a New York Times trend piece: “A room without accessories or styling is soulless,” she said. “Styling a table makes a room feel finished and lived in. It’s a way to personalize your home while adding depth and style.”

Why is Tablescaping Right for Thanksgiving?

Tablescaping works great for any holiday with a meal involved. Moreover, particularly in 2020, Thanksgiving is the type of low-pressure holiday that we all need right now. It doesn’t carry the same level of stress as most end-ofyear traditions.

What Are Some Popular Tablescaping Ideas for Thanksgiving?

While there are no hard-and-fast rules, the best tablescapes often follow a cohesive theme — plus a little something extra. The best option is to tie in something meaningful to you, such as family heirlooms, homemade arts and crafts, or something like a nautical component if you’re a boating enthusiast, for example.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, you can pair this individual flair with the holiday theme by using a base of a pumpkin, gourd, cornucopia, or other autumn staple. They look great and won’t even take that much time to as-

ies or even an antique store for something more unique.

If you are still lacking the spark of inspiration while going down the DIY route, consider a theme based on colors. Even a classic patterned cloth that complements the wall, a candle with a pop of color, or a showpiece serving tray can tie everything together.

semble. Remember: Simplicity and elegance go together well.

That’s all you need to create a fantastic display to accompany your meal.

How Can You Easily Create a Great Tablescape Without All the Fuss?

One easy way to create a great Thanksgiving tablescape is to simply buy the right centerpiece and pair it with matching place settings. Just like that, you’re ready to go.

On the other hand, what’s the fun in that? Not only is it the more expensive option, but it takes most of the creativity out. Instead, start by looking around online for some inspiration.

Pinterest is a great resource, and you will quickly get a feel for what style suits you best. You can also check a local farmer’s market for seasonal good-

What Else to Keep in Mind When Planning a Thanksgiving Tablescape?

As with most things now, the biggest obstacle is the ongoing pandemic.

COVID-19 means that a lot more precautions are necessary before traveling or meeting up. This is particularly true when dealing with older relatives.

It is very hard for families to decide whether or not to include grandma and grandpa this year.

Ultimately, it is an decision families must make, while remaining in accordance with any local restrictions in place and general health guidelines. One good practice, especially in warmer areas, is to set up your tablescape outdoors or in a well-ventilated/ open-air environment.

Beyond keeping things safe, it is all about having fun and putting your own personal touches on display.

Take some time to make this Thanksgiving special, with a tablescape that is all your own. d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 93

ARTS—BOOKS AND TV | SEEMA

Avni Doshi’s “Burnt Sugar” explores the downward spiral of a toxic mother-daughter relationship RADHIKA IYENGAR

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n Avni Doshi’s Booker-shortlisted “Burnt Sugar,” narrator Antara begins by making a strong admission: “I would be lying if I said my mother’s misery has never given me pleasure.”

This sets the tone for the entire novel – a slow, non-linear unraveling of an embittered mother-daughter relationship.

Antara’s mother, Tara is forgetting. Her cognitive decline bothers Antara, since dementia threatens to steadily erase Antara’s childhood

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– a childhood marred by a salvo of cruelties – and a careless upbringing Antara desperately wants her mother to remember.

In an attempt to resurrect her mother’s memory, Antara begins leaving behind scraps of paper – fragmented reminders underlining each time Tara has failed as a parent.

She also meticulously maintains a list that recalls instances of her mother’s absentmindedness.

The novel is set in Pune, India. In her youth, Tara flouted conventions,

Photo credit: Sharon Haridas

The Inheritance of Pain

living a life governed by self-centeredness. “Ma always ran from anything that felt like oppression,” says Antara. “Marriage, diets, medical diagnoses.” Tara abandoned her oppressive marriage to join a cult. At the ashram, she willfully cast aside her toddler to gain the attention of the silver-haired cult-leader, Baba.

As a parent, Tara was unapologetically inattentive. Antara recalls how her mother “would disappear every day, dripping with milk, leaving me unfed.” The child was thus brought up by a string of caregivers: flitting between the guardianship of her maternal grandmother; Kali Mata (Baba’s former consort) at the ashram; Candle, the street dog; Vandana, the maid; and the tyrannical nun at the boarding school. All the while, Antara’s real guardian – her mother – was absent or ill-equipped to handle any responsibility.

For the laconic moments when Tara was present during Antara’s childhood, she continuously stressed on her daughter’s unremarkable physical appearance and rarely displayed any sign of affection. On the rare occasion when she was affectionate, Antara remarks that it was often “followed by something unpleasant.”

Tara’s nonattendance leaves a vacuum, a hunger, in Antara’s life, which she desperately tries to fill.

She confesses, “Ma doesn’t know. I never told her that for a portion of my childhood I was always hungry and have been searching for some fullness ever since.” This feeds into her complex relationship with food.

There are instances peppered across the pages which reflect Antara’s food obsession, reflecting her urge to satisfy “a bottomless hole of hunger”.

Antara is Tara’s foil. If Tara’s a rebel, Antara grapples to fit in society. Normalcy – accessed through

Antara bows to societal performativity: at parties, she does lines of coke with her friends, visits the club, and on the insistence of her future mother-in-law, she even marries the idol of a Hindu god, so that she’s no longer a Manglik. social conformity – is something she desperately “craves.” She wishes to be visible, to belong. Antara bows to societal performativity: at parties, she does lines of coke with her friends, visits the club, and on the insistence of her future mother-in-law, she even marries the idol of a Hindu god, so that she’s no longer a Manglik. Unlike Tara who escapes her marriage, Antara is desperate to hold on to hers. Fearing that her husband Dilip might leave her one day, Antara resorts to having a baby – a biological insurance for her future.

“Burnt Sugar” is a complex and layered narrative. Doshi intelligently narrows the focus on patriarchy, handed down from one woman to another, disciplined into her

through the transference of guilt. For instance, Antara’s grandmother believes a dupatta is a woman’s “honor”.

Tara’s former mother-in-law wished that Tara waited by the door in the evenings for her husband’s return.

At Antara’s wedding, Dilip’s mother insists on maintaining a charade that Antara’s father is dead, rather than revealing that her mother is a divorcée. When Antara is struggling to care for her newborn, her mother-in-law deliberately makes her feel incompetent. “[T]ales have been passed down from mothers to daughters since women had mouths and stories could be told,” says Antara. “They contain some moral message, some rites of passage. But they also transfer that feeling all mothers know before their time is done. Guilt.”

The theme of similarity and repetition pulsate through the pages.

Superficially, it is depicted through Antara’s art: she draws an unknown face every day, repeating its features on page. At a deeper level, the pattern of iteration is shown through inheritance: behaviors mirrored between a mother and daughter. When Antara gives birth, she begins to behave like her own mother. There are moments when Antara calls her daughter a “rude little bitch” echoing Tara, who once called Antara a “fat little bitch.” As a response to the number of injustices done to her, Antara repeatedly hurts her mother in her own way. At one point, Tara caustically tells her, “You should worry about your own madness instead of mine.”

None of the characters in the book are likable, yet they have a gripping authenticity, making many of us consider our personal relationships. The book is bitingly real and will leave you unsettled long after you’ve read the last line. d NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 95

ARTS—BOOKS AND TV | SEEMA

Photo credit: BBC / Lookout Point

A Not So Suitable Adaptation

BBC’s miniseries A Suitable Boy based on Vikram Seth’s novel fails to deliver RADHIKA IYENGAR

A

Suitable Boy has been one of the most anticipated screen adaptations of the year. Based on Vikram Seth’s novel of the same name (published in 1993), the miniseries has been directed by Mira Nair for BBC. The 96 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

production breaks away from the BBC tradition of television drama, becoming the first screen adaptation with a non-white cast.

BBC’s earlier television productions, like the series based on Tolstoy’s War & Peace and Versailles that dramatizes the reign of Louis XIV, noticeably features a collective of a non-Russian and non-French cast respectively, each equipped with a flawless English accent. For A Suitable Boy, however, over a hundred

South Asian actors were picked to bring Seth’s novel to life.

Nair is known for adapting novels for screen – layered, imagined worlds that have the ability to hold its viewers. From Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake to Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist – Nair picks narratives that resonate with her in one way or another. The Namesake for instance, captured Nair because it profoundly echoed the loss of losing a loved one, while

relationship with each character.

The beauty of A Suitable Boy is that it elicits nostalgia. It’s about a world that has ceased to exist. It’s about a country that took pride in its multicultural identity; where clothes were hand-made and the tongue spoke languages of beauty, poetry and respect. It’s about an era of steam engines and horse-driven carriages, mehfils and sherry-laced parties. It’s about a nation carving its own identity.

In many ways, the protagonist, Lata Mehra is a personification of a young India who is trying to find herself.

Lata (portrayed

by Tanya Maniktala) is a level-headed, college student whose mother, Rupa Mehra is keen on getting her married. Rupa tells Lata rather bluntly, “You too, will marry a boy I choose.”

Lata, a woman who desires to chart her own path, however, appears discomfited by this. At one point,

she confesses to her mother, “I don’t think I ever want to get married”, to which an alarmed Rupa responds: “What else are you going to do?”

The idea that an Indian woman’s identity is rooted in her marriage to a man, is one that progressively weaves in and out of the storyline.

Finding a “suitable boy” however, is a tedious project. It means finding a suitor who fits a certain paradigm.

Social factors trigger a pincer effect, narrowing Lata’s choices. For one, he cannot be a Muslim. In a country born out of the bloodshed due to the brutal Partition, Lata’s mother will not have her daughter fall head over heels for a Muslim man, in particular, Kabir Durrani. Two, he cannot be an artist or a writer. When Lata begins to be courted by Amit Chatterji, a poet of repute, Rupa is conspicuously anxious. Poets, in her mind, cannot make a living.

Three, the man must belong to their community. The series subtly touches on the issue of caste-based endogamy, where Rupa informs her eldest son, Arun that Lata’s

Photo credit: BBC / Lookout Point

Seth’s novel, set in early 1950s India, belongs to the decade Nair was born in. It was the decade that transformed India, as the newly-independent nation held its first democratic elections.

To deconstruct a structurally tight, character-driven tome (the original Penguin edition ran over 1300 pages) and re-write it as a screenplay is a challenging effort, taken on by Welsh writer, Andrew Davies. He is known for his adaptations of War & Peace and Pride and Prejudice. Directing a large-scale, mid-century period drama, is no small feat either. However, to condense a saga of four families set against the backdrop of a country’s religious-political climate, into mere six-part series, may seem as a disservice. As opposed to the ambling narrative of the book, the adaptation moves along quickly, rarely giving its audience time to establish a personal

NOVEMBER 2020 | SEEMA.COM | 97

Photo credit: BBC / Lookout Point

ARTS—BOOKS AND TV | SEEMA

future husband has to be “from a good, respectable family from our community”. Four, he cannot be a businessman who lacks the scholarly air. Arun scoffs at Haresh Khanna, a self-made shoe manufacturer who enjoys eating betel leaf and often visits the tannery. Arun, who behaves like a white man trapped in a brown body, feels that his family belongs to a certain intellectual class, whose standards Haresh will never meet.

Women from respectable households are denied choice and the freedom to explore their sexuality. Rupa (portrayed by Mahira Kakkar) dislikes her daughter-in-law, the suave and flirtatious Meenakshi Mehra (portrayed by Shahana Goswami), who isn’t embarrassed to exhibit her sensuality. Rupa is quick to label her daughter-in-law “shameless”.

The elegant courtesan, Saeeda Bai, brimming with knowledge of poetry, dance, culture and social etiquettes, is denied respect in society, because her life is an “open book” marked by the voluntary visits of men who 98 | SEEMA.COM | NOVEMBER 2020

belong to elite circles, including the Raja of Marh, and the Revenue Minister’s son, Maan Kapoor. When Lata is “seen” alone with Kabir outside, it engenders gossip.

In comparison, when Lata’s uncle makes a sexual overture at her in his house, Lata has no language to express the hurt she feels. The next morning, even though Rupa has an inkling, his misdemeanor is casually overlooked. Even today, India continues to observe women through the lens of morality, while male indiscretions are brushed aside.

As a director, Nair steers clear of scripts with plots that are solely dependent on a hero-heroine love affair. Rather, she’s drawn to creating immersive worlds populated by an ensemble, each character distinct from the other, yet crucial to the narrative spine. However, while A Suitable Boy features an enviable cast of established actors, theatre veterans and newcomers alike, it falls short of taking its viewers on an emotional journey they’ve signed up for.

The performances are wobbly, slumped by awkward dialogue delivery. The script is trite. Scenes begin and end abruptly. The miniseries comes across as a poor, white-washed rendition, adapted solely for an English audience – one that might sit up to watch a monkey relishing a fruit. It is however, the poignant and fleeting relationship between Saeeda Bai (portrayed by Tabu) and Maan Kapoor (portrayed by Ishaan Khatter), that uplifts the series in small bursts. Their intense relationship, nourished by Saeeda Bai’s heartfelt singing, leaves Maan irrevocably besotted. In a larger context, it also throws light on the country’s cultural fault lines – a relationship between a Muslim and a Hindu, a courtesan and a khandani, an older woman and a young man – can never last.

To adapt A Suitable Boy for screen may have been a well-intentioned effort. However, it ceases to make a solid impression. d

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