Last Saturday, Indian Summer Festival energized Vancouver with their electrifying sound, driven by rumbling Nagara drums, soulful strings and vocals that dip into Sufi traditions from the 12th century to the present day.
This week is packed with exciting and noteworthy events you cannot miss.
‘Don’t Let Them Know,’ an event bringing forward a discussion on what being LGBTQ+ and South Asian means. Hear stories and ideas about what is being done and more importantly what can be done to create a support process for the South Asian LGBTQ+. Joining the discussion- Kolkata based Sandip Roy, whose novel Don’t Let Him Know was recently published to worldwide acclaim, Minal Hajratwala from San Francisco, whose A Brief Guide to Gender in India for Granta went viral on the web and Vivek Shraya, a three-time Lamda Award nominated artist from Toronto. Hosting the dialogue is noted journalist and community activist Fatima Jaffer.
Following this we have Dr. Vandana Shiva, a physicist and social activist credited for spearheading an international sustainable food movement. She will be sharing her inspirational ideas on this global issue in her talk ‘Seeding the Future.’ Dr. Shiva will reflect upon topics pertaining to protecting the environment, right to knowledge, biodiversity, water and food. Her talk will be followed by a 30-minute conversation with noted environmentalist and member of parliament, Elizabeth May.
On July 15th, two events toss crucial debates into the forum. First is ‘Dangerous Silences’ which takes a strong female voice into perspective- Leslee Udwin, a London-based filmmaker noted for her documentary ‘India’s Daughter,’ based on the horrific sexual assault of a student in New Delhi, 2012. The evening features special guest Lorimer Shenher whose riveting and award- winning memoir ‘That Lonely Section of Hell: The Botched Investigation of a Serial Killer Who Almost Got Away’ details how families of missing and murdered women in the Downtown Eastside were let down by police agencies and Crown counsel as Canada’s worst serial killer remained at large for years. A former newspaper reporter, Shenher joined the Vancouver Police Department and was the first detective assigned to the missing women investigation. Shenher will respond to Udwin’s work and speak to our nation’s failure to recognize and respond to the crisis that is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada. Join Indian Summer Festival as it stirs conversation on a worldwide epidemic of violence against women.
Running right after ‘Dangerous Silences’ is ‘Maple Leaf Islam,’ a distinct yet equally crucial window on mulling some present day questions- what does it mean to be a Muslim in a secular democracy like Canada, is it a public or private identity, can you drink wine and be a Muslim, be an atheist and a Muslim? ‘Maple Leaf Islam’ puts Canada under the lens in a global society that has invented the term ‘Islamophobia.’ Three outstanding Canadian novelists come together to answer these questions- Karim Alrawi, Monia Mazigh and Ameen Merchant. Join them as they take you through their real and imagined worlds. The dialogue is hosted by Devyani Saltzman, Director of Literary Arts at the Banff Centre.
Save $5 when you purchase tickets to both Maple Leaf Islam and Dangerous Silences. Simple choose the Double Ticket Deal when making your purchase.
Save $5 when you purchase tickets to both Dangerous Silences and Maple Leaf Islam. Simply choose the Double Ticket Deal when making your purchase.
