Lots to see and do this month, so let’s get to it!

As always, I’ll continue to update this post throughout the month. Send your events to info@sapac.org or leave a comment here.

Matthew Hull @ University of Chicago
Thursday, February 2 @ 4:30pm

Hull, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, discusses “Paper, Databases, and the Ontology of Land Holdings in South Asia” for U of C’s South Asia Seminar series.

Sharmili Majmudar @ Goodman Theatre
Monday, February 6 @ 7:00pm

Majmudar, executive director of Rape Victim Advocates, joins other activists and scholars for a conversation exploring sexual violence and its relation to race, gender, sexuality, poverty, immigration, and community. The special event is part of the theater’s Context series and serves as a companion to its current production of David Mamet’s Race.

SAADA Community Forum @ Roosevelt University
Tuesday, February 7 @ 5:30pm

The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) hosts a community forum to discuss how to document, preserve, and provide access to South Asian American history. MasterChef Suzy Singh will also be on hand serving samosas.

Matteo Pistono @ Loyola University Museum of Art
Tuesday, February 7 @ 6:00pm

Author and photographer Pistono presents “Tibetan Pilgrimage: In the Shadow of the Buddha,” an illustrated journey across Tibet.

Intro to SAADA @ University of Chicago
Wednesday, February 8 @ 4:30pm

The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) documents and preserves the history of the South Asian American community through an online digital archive. Co-founders Samip Mallick (a SAPAC member) and Michelle Caswell will demonstrate use of the archive and showcase items in the archive that help uncover hidden narratives from South Asian American history.

Joy Brennan @ University of Chicago
Thursday, February 9 @ 4:30pm

Brennan, a PhD candidate in the university’s Divinity School, discusses “Dharmas and Being in Mind-only Buddhist Thought” for the Theory and Practice in South Asia program.

Eboo Patel @ Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, February 9 @ 6:00pm

Interfaith Youth Core’s Eboo Patel joins author, minister, and scholar Dr. Martin Marty, in a discussion of what faith and literature have to say about the wonder of death while the Richard Harris Collection, Morbid Curiosity, is on display.

Venus @ Greenhouse Theater
Friday, February 10 – Sunday, February 19

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents a production of Venus directed by MFA candidate Reshmi Hazra as part of its New Directors series.

Jassie Gift and Vijay Jacob @ University of Chicago
Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17

The university’s South Asian Sound Interventions (SASI) series presents a series of events on South Indian film songs with film music director and playback singer Jassie Gift and keyboardist Vijay Jacob. Monday & Tuesday: Two workshops on cinematic song crafting. Wednesday: South Indian film screening. Thursday: Symposium on song and dance in South Indian cinema. Friday: Performance.

Junaid Rana @ Northwestern University
Wednesday, February 15 @ 4:00pm

SAPAC alum Rana, associate professor in Asian American Studies at UIUC and author of Terrifying Muslims: Race and Labor in the South Asian Diaspora, gives a lecture titled “Pakistani Brooklyn: Where You At?” for Northwestern’s Asian American Studies program.

Rajeev Kinra @ University of Chicago
Thursday, February 16 @ 4:30pm

Kinra, assistant professor at Northwestern University, discusses “Civility and its Discontents: The Use and (More Often) Abuse of Mughal Letters” for U of C’s South Asia Seminar series.

“My Asian Mom” Auditions @ Act One Studios
Sunday, February 19 @ 2:00pm

A-Squared Theatre Workshop holds a casting call for its original sketch dramedy show and is especially seeking South Asian actors.

Pierre-Julien Harter @ University of Chicago
Thursday, February 23 @ 4:30pm

Harter, a PhD candidate in the university’s Divinity School, discusses “Epistemological and soteriological considerations about the Path of Vision (darśanamārga) in the Buddhist path as elaborated in the literature of the Abhisamayākāra” for the Theory and Practice in South Asia program.

Dr. Seema Kumbhat @ Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Friday, February 24 @ 7:30am

Kumbhat, Medical Director, Medical Devices, Hospira, and Emerging Leader, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, discusses “Medical Innovation in a World of Rapidly Changing Markets” at a breakfast hosted by the Council.

Last updated January 20.

Happy New Year, friends! All of us at SAPAC wish you the very best for 2012. Let’s kick the year off with some desi events around town!

As always, I’ll continue to update this post throughout the month. Send your events to info@sapac.org or leave a comment here.

Pakistan: A Rare View @ Noyes Cultural Art Center ADDED 1/4
Tuesday, January 3 – Sunday, January 15

The art center presents “An Introduction to Pakistani Art” featuring work by resident artist Zafar Malik. Free events associated with the exhibit, including poetry reading, music videos, a children’s painting project and gallery talks, will take place Jan. 14 and 15.

Rajorshi Ghosh @ Arc Gallery ADDED 1/17
Sunday, January 4 – Saturday, January 28

The River North gallery presents an exhibition of photography and video by Ghosh and Ray Klimek. “The works in the show explore the historical and imaginative elements of residual landscapes. The images observe ‘landscapes’ focusing on the complex historical traditions and cultural assumptions that shape their perception. While Klimek’s photographs examine former mining sites of N.E. Pennsylvania, Ghosh’s videos and installations reconsider familiar landscapes as sites that blur the complex history of a ‘place’ with its multi-layered present.”

Velcheru Narayana Rao @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 5 @ 4:30pm

The Emory University professor of South Asian Studies is the first speaker of the year for U of C’s South Asia Seminar Series. He taught Telugu and Indian literature for 38 years at University of Wisconsin-Madison and has written more than 15 books on these topics.

Monica Ringer @ University of Chicago ADDED 1/4
Friday, January 6 @ 4:30pm

The university’s Middle East History and Theory Workshop presents Monica Ringer, Associate Professor of History and Asian Languages and Civilizations at Amherst College, for a talk called “Pious Citizens: theological origins of modernity in India and Iran.”

Chandrika Marla @ Mars Gallery ADDED 1/4
Friday, January 6 – Wednesday, February 1

The West Loop gallery hosts an opening reception the evening of Jan. 6 for Marla’s new show “Social Skin.” From the artist: “My paintings discuss relationships, where fabric bodices represent people. The human form is redundant, and the collaged fabrics can talk and think. Through these forms I portray our outer personas leading their superficial lives. I grew up in New Delhi, surrounded by old buildings and monuments from centuries ago. You see them here in the backgrounds I create, the scribbled-upon walls of my ancient playgrounds.”

NAPAWF Reproductive Justice Community Conversation @ UIC
Saturday, January 7 @ 2:30pm

The Chicago chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum hosts a community forum on reproductive rights for APIA women and girls. Open to all. Co-sponsored by Chicago Foundation for Women’s Asian American Leadership Council and Invisible to Invincible: API Pride of Chicago.

SaunJuhi Verma @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 12 @ 4:30pm

The U of C sociology PhD candidate specializing in migration/labor studies, sociology of law, and social theory speaks as part of the school’s Theory and Practice in South Asia series.

Works by Sonali Gulati @ Chicago Filmmakers ADDED 1/14
Saturday, January 14 @ 8:00pm

Chicago Filmmakers’ Dyke Delicious Season 9 kicks off with an evening of shorts by South Asian, lesbian, feminist filmmaker Sonali Gulati. Most recently known for her outstanding documentary I Am, Gulati will screen a collection of shorts and join the event via Skype for a virtual Q&A.

Today Like a Kind of Shivering @ Prop Thtr ADDED 1/17
Saturday, January 14 – Sunday, February 12

Written by Curious Theatre Branch’s Jayita Bhattacharya, this Rhinofest piece is billed as “a fairy tale of corrosive unacceptability for two women. And man.”

Stephen P. Cohen @ Chicago Club
Tuesday, January 17 @ 12:00pm

The Brookings Institution senior fellow (and my former South Asia politics professor at the University of Illinois) discusses “Pakistan: A Continuing Crisis, An Uncertain Future” for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore @ Art Institute ADDED 1/3
Saturday, January 18 – Sunday, April 15

The Art Institute celebrates Tagore’s 150th birthday by bringing “The Last Harvest: The Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore” to Chicago. Co-organized by the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India, this is the first major traveling exhibition from India to be exhibited at the Art Institute.

Arupjyoti Saikia @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 19 @ 4:30pm

Saikia, a visiting scholar in Agrarian Studies at Yale, speaks in the school’s South Asia Seminar Series. He is an associate professor of History at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and is the author of the forthcoming A History of Rural Politics: Assam 1940-1980.

South Asians for Justice Meeting @ Panera UPDATED 1/20
Friday, January 20 @ 6:00pm

The radical grassroots organization hosts an information session for a new Chicago chapter.

Roy Fischel @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 26 @ 4:30pm

U of C’s Theory and Practice in South Asia graduate student workshop presents Fischel, a PhD candidate in its South Asian Languages and Civilizations program, for its speaker series.

Subcontinental Drift @ The Joynt ADDED 1/17
Thursday, January 26 @ 7:30pm

Celebrate India’s Republic Day at the city’s only regular South Asian open mic.

Jai Ho Retro! @ Big Chicks ADDED 1/17
Friday, January 27 @ 10:00pm

Trikone-Chicago’s bimonthly fundraiser is back with a groovy retro theme! Get your groove on while DJ Erik Roldan spins the sexiest Bollywood sounds.

In 1901, Princess Sophia Bamba Dhuleep Singh, daughter of the late Maharajah Dhuleep Singh of India, entered the Woman’s Medical College of Northwestern University in Chicago to pursue her long cherished dream of becoming a physician.  An article in the Chicago Daily Tribune of the time featured the Princess and her quaint habits and dress:

“In her own apartments the Princess wears rich and beautiful gowns and little jewelry.  She will not burn the gas, but has provided herself with a number of kerosene lamps, and last evening, as she sat down with a big medical book to study her first lessons at the college, the gown she wore was of the thinnest muslin made in her own India.”

Stories like that of Princess Bamba stretch and challenge our understanding of the history of South Asians in the United States. And it is to document relatively unknown stories just like these that led us to establish the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) in 2008.

Princess Sophia (right) and her sisters

We started SAADA because we realized that the history of the South Asian American community had been overlooked by traditional archives and felt that unless an intervention was made to preserve our community’s history, it was in danger of being lost.  SAADA’s mission is to document, preserve, and provide access to the history of the South Asian American community through a digital archive. Our organization’s innovative digital-only approach to archives presents a major reconceptualization of traditional archival functions, wherein original archival documents remain with the communities, institutions, or individuals from which they originate, while digital access copies are available for use online.

The digital archive now includes over 250 unique items related to both the early and more recent history of the South Asian American community, ranging from our earliest item from 1892 to materials created just this year.  Each of these archival items, we believe, contributes toward telling the diverse story of what it has meant to be South Asian in the United States.

As someone born and raised in Michigan, I’ve been particularly excited by the materials we’ve documented uncovering the early history of South Asians in the Midwest.  The story of Princess Bamba Sophia is one such story, but there are many others. Our hope is that you will explore the archive online and find a new story that you may not have known before.  Let us know what you find! We welcome all comments and questions at info@saadigitalarchive.org.

***

The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization based in Chicago.  SAADA’s mission is to document, preserve, and provide access to the history of the South Asian American community through a digital archive, available online at http://www.saadigitalarchive.org. For SAADA news and updates, “like” them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

The mission of the IAC is to mission is to promote the well-being of South Asian immigrants through services that facilitate their adjustment, integration, and friendship with the wider society, nurture their sense of community, and foster appreciation for their culture and heritage

As you go about your holiday merriment and cheer and your gift shopping, please consider supporting the Indo-American Center (IAC), one of SAPAC’s partners, as it conduct its annual holiday toy drive.

Every year, the IAC staff host a holiday party for the approximately 120 youth served by the Center’s youth programs. Each young person receives a toy and their family is served a delicious meal.

Many of the families served by the IAC are recent immigrants and just getting adjusted to life in a new country. This holiday party is a time to come together as a community and celebrate the families’ achievements.  In the past, the IAC was able to access funding to help buy gifts for the toy drive. This year, like many other organizations, the IAC is calling upon us, its community, to help make this another memorable holiday party for their families.

The IAC is trying to raise $1,200 and will accept monetary donations or unused toy donations (unwrapped) until Monday, December 12.

IAC youth participate in a puppet making workshop

Please contact Rachael Bruketta, Development Associate, at rbruketta@indoamerican.org, or Jay Luthra, Executive Director, at jluthra@indoamerican.org for more information.

Unwrapped new toys can be dropped off at

Indo-American Center
6328 N. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-4444

Please join us for our next SAPAC General Meeting:

Monday, December 5, 2011
6:00-8:00pm
Barnes & Noble at DePaul Center
1 E. Jackson, 1st floor (corner of State and Jackson in the Loop)

We will be debriefing on our recent Voices of Resistance show at Marwen and discussing our plans for the winter and spring. All are welcome!

Questions? Contact us at info@sapac.org.

Last updated Dec. 15

Well, it had to happen eventually: Winter is finally, officially upon us here in Chicago. Why not make the best of it by checking out some of the great events happening this month?

As always, I’ll continue to update this post throughout the month. Send your events to info@sapac.org or leave a comment here.

Robert Young @ University of Chicago
Thursday, December 1 @ 4:30pm

Young, a professor of English and Comparative Literature at NYU, discusses “Theorizing Cultural Translation” for U of C’s South Asia Seminar Series.

Faisal Alam @ Columbia College Chicago
Thursday, December 1 @ 6:00pm

The Pakistani-American, queer Muslim activist joins Columbia’s One Tribe multicultural student organization for an event commemorating World AIDS Day.

Sandip Burman @ University of Chicago
Friday, December 2 @ 12:00pm

The accomplished tabla player performs for U of C’s South Asian Sound Interventions Series.

Natya Dance Theatre @ Indo-American Center
Sunday, December 4 @ 2:30pm

The first in a series of seven live performances featuring renowned local and international artists that bring the music and dance of India to Chicago audiences. This kickoff event will include Kathak dance by the Anila Sinha Foundation, and dance by the Bollywood Rhythm Dancers. Presented by Natya Dance Theatre and the Indo-American Heritage Museum, with generous support from The Chicago Community Trust. Performances continue throughout 2012, at various Chicagoland venues.

SAPAC General Meeting @ Barnes & Noble, DePaul Center UPDATED 12/5
Monday, December 5 @ 6:00pm

Join us for our next general meeting where we’ll discuss our plans for winter and spring!

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields @ Facets ADDED 12/5
Monday, December 5 @ 7:00pm

Facets Cinematheque hosts a screening of this harrowing documentary that exposes shocking new evidence of war crimes committed during the closing days of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009. There will be a reception at 6:00pm, and Amnesty International USA’s Sri Lanka Country Specialist Jim McDonald leads a discussion following the screening.

Yasmin Nair @ Big Chicks ADDED 12/5
Tuesday, December 6 @ 7:30pm

Writer and activist Nair joins Kathie Bergquist and Nadine Warner for a Windy City Queer Reading hosted by Homolatte, a free twice-a-month, all-ages, queer music and spoken word series in Chicago.

Vijay Prashad & Amisha Patel @ Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
Saturday, December 10 @ 3:00pm

Prashad and Patel join Nathan Brown, Bernardine Dohrn, Adam Green, Kevin Coval, and FM Supreme for an event honoring Jane Addams Day and reflecting on the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Indian American Medical Association Gala @ Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows
Saturday, December 10 @ 6:00pm

A variety of musicians, singers, and dancers honor A.R. Rahman’s music at the IAMA’s annual banquet.

Trikone Ladies’ Night Out @ (Click through for details) ADDED 12/5
Sunday, December 11 @ 5:00pm

Trikone-Chicago hosts a potluck ladies’ night for its members. This is a women-only (trans-inclusive) event.

Dr. Muhammad Arshad @ American Islamic College
Thursday, December 15 @ 6:00pm

The professor of Islamic Studies, editor of the Encyclopedia of Islam at Punjab University in Lahore, and fellow at UPenn discusses “The Ulama’s Repsonse to English and Western Education in South Asia from 1805-2002.”

That Girl in Yellow Boots @ Facets ADDED 12/15
Friday, December 16 – Thursday, December 22

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival and Facets Cinémathèque present a week of screenings of this Anurag Kashyap film.

Karttikeya, God of War Express Talk @ Art Institute
Tuesday, December 20 @ 12:00pm

The museum presents a series of half-hour talks on its most iconic artworks, today featuring Karttikeya, God of War, Seated on a Peacock (Ganga Period, c. 12^th century).

Pranita Jain @ Art Institute
Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30

Kalapriya artistic director Pranita Jain leads a children’s storytelling program exploring movement, rhythm, and yoga for the museum’s holiday program.

Bhangratheque NYE Bash @ Cactus
Saturday, December 31 @ 9:00pm

DJ Jimmy Singh throws his annual New Year’s Eve party featuring DJ Krush and DJ Rice.

Bollywood NYE Chicago @ Rivers Lounge
Saturday, December 31 @ 9:00pm

Bollywood Chicago and the South Asian Professionals Alliance host their own themed New Year’s Eve party featuring DJs Aladdin, Skyy, J-Kon, and D-Stylz.

Apologies for not posting this earlier, dear readers. Sometimes life just gets in the way. I missed telling you about a good number of events in the first half of the month, but there’s still plenty to see and do in the next couple weeks.

As always, I’ll continue to update this post throughout the month. Send your events to info@sapac.org or leave a comment here.

Amar Kanwar @ School of the Art Insitute
Wednesday, November 16 – Thursday, November 17

The School and the Gene Siskel Film Center host Kanwar for a talk and screening of his films, which explore the politics of power, violence, sexuality, and justice.

Thibaut d’Hubert @ University of Chicago
Thursday, November 17 @ 4:30pm

The Assistant Professor of South Asian Languages and Civilizations at U of C discusses “Editing the Nūrnāmā of Md Shafi’: New Lights on Bengali Manuscripts in the Arabic Scripts” for the school’s South Asia Seminar program.

Rama Vaidyanatham & Chandrika Marla @ Skokie Public Library
Thursday, November 17 @ 7:00pm

Bharatanatyam dancer Vaidyanatham and Chicago-based visual artist Marla team up for a show and reception in Skokie.

Compassionate Care Banquet @ Monty’s Banquets, Bensenville
Friday, November 18 @ 6:00pm

Supporters come together to raise funds for this organization that conducts free health screenings around the Chicagoland area and offers reduced cost access to health care for the poor and uninsured.

Hamdard Center Benefit @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
Saturday, November 19 @ 6:00pm

ABC7’s Ravi Baichwal serves as MC for this annual event supporting Hamdard’s social service programs.

SAPAC’s Voices of Resistance 10: REVISION Performance Night is Saturday, October 15! Performance artist Kareem Khubchandani sat down for a very thoughtful interview about the need for this unique space for artist collaboration, how he’s seen 9/11 affect the South Asian community, and his first time committing his performance work to video:

Join us this Saturday to see Kareem’s video, along with new work from the rest of our talented VOR10 artists!

• VOR10: REVISION Performance Night

Saturday, October 15, 2011
7:00-9:00pm
Marwen, 833 N. Orleans St., Chicago
Admission: $10 advance / $15 at the door (18 & under FREE)

BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

SAPAC’s Voices of Resistance 10: REVISION Performance Night is only 2 days away! Here visual artist Hilesh Patel tells us about his experience collaborating with other South Asian artists and his creative process for VOR10:

Join us this Saturday to see Hilesh’s artwork, along with new work from the rest of our talented VOR10 artists!

• VOR10: REVISION Performance Night

Saturday, October 15, 2011
7:00-9:00pm
Marwen, 833 N. Orleans St., Chicago
Admission: $10 advance / $15 at the door (18 & under FREE)

BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

SAPAC’s Voices of Resistance 10: REVISION Performance Night is coming up on Saturday, October 15! Meet one of our performers, dancer Ahalya Satkunaratnam, as she reflects on the significance of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the new dance piece she created for VOR10:

Join us this Saturday to see Ahalya’s dance, along with new work from the rest of our talented VOR10 artists!

• VOR10: REVISION Performance Night

Saturday, October 15, 2011
7:00-9:00pm
Marwen, 833 N. Orleans St., Chicago
Admission: $10 advance / $15 at the door (18 & under FREE)