The newest face at Badhai Ho on Omni TV is Surbhi Guleria-Joshi. However, it wasn’t a job she had planned for. The opportunity arose “by chance” and she took it. At her audition, “I read out a page on ‘Gantantra Diwas’ [in Hindi] which is Independence Day,” she tells us.
While one can argue about the significance of teaching ethnic languages to kids in North American society, Surbhi hosts a show that is done in sort of classical Hindi. Highlighting the need for parents to teach ethnic languages to kids, this young lady says “the next generation does not see its [ethnic languages’] direct connection or use in their North American lives. If we are able to make them understand that learning about one’s ancestry, culture, language and traditions will help them learn more about themselves, their identity and their uniqueness, they will be more inclined to learn. Also, knowing an additional language in today’s world gives them an edge over others.”
Reluctantly she decided to take advantage of the opportunity. In retrospect, “I realized that this would be a great opportunity to connect people to the language of their origin as well as a great platform to share, debate, learn & inform, I didn’t think twice about it.”
While working on TV gives you some celebrity status, Surbhi doesn’t see herself as “a public personality; I am a people’s person.”
Being on media means responsibility, and she takes it seriously. “Presence in the media is a role of responsibility,” she says.
She feels South Asian media has important role to play in developing community. “It is our responsibility to ensure that new immigrants find the support and infrastructure to meet lesser and lesser challenges. Right now, there are a lot of issues concerning our communities such as professional accreditation, finding suitable jobs, getting the right help whether it is family, finance, work or adjusting to the new culture. I feel media plays an important role in bringing attention to issues that matter,” this charming young lady says.
The greatest part of working in the media is to see firsthand the most important personalities of the day. During course of her work, Surbhi has been inspired by Indira Samarasekera (President of University of Alberta), Madeline Ziniak (National Vice President, OMNI Television) and the Honourable Michaëlle Jean (Governor General of Canada).
And she is dying to get up close with M. G. Vassanji, Deepa Mehta, Indira Nooyi and Mira Nair.
And her constant source of stimulation is Oprah Winfrey. “She brings the idea of living well, sharing human emotions and bringing topics that touch us to the mass media,” says the host of OMNI programme called ‘Badhai Ho.”
With innocent expressions on face, Surbhi has graduated from National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. The institute taught her to see each problem as an opportunity to practice “my creativity to find new & innovative solutions.” She later graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Design with Honours from York University and Sheridan College in 2005.
Since then she has worked in several leading firms for clients such as the Canada’s National Ballet School, Royal Conservatory of Music and Holiday Inn Hotels, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, SpinMaster, Toronto Transit Commission etc.
With the numbers of South Asians increasing in the GTA, a number of South Asian faces in the GTA has also increased. So far, the community’s response to Surbhi has been “encouraging and motivating. “People are delighted to see that I can speak their language well. I find that I am able to connect to the older as well as the younger audience,” she tells Generation Next.
Kind by nature, her life’s goal, however, is “ to bring significant change in someone’s life by providing them the opportunity to have the basic necessities and education to ensure they achieve their dreams. I am supporting a girl in Bangladesh named Ayesa, I hope to continue supporting her and hopefully meet her one day,” she tell Generation Next.
By: Staff Writer
