The former President of Bangladeshi Students’ Association (BSA) at University of Toronto, Purna exudes a confidence and conviction in her beliefs that is rare in today’s Canadian youth.

Currently trying out for the Royal Canadian Mounting Police (RCMP), Purna traces her journey from a new immigrant to the confident woman she has become today. Although seventeen when she first stepped onto Canadian soil, she admits to having felt no social or cultural disconnect that is the usual case with new immigrants.

She admits that “there is a fair bit of media exposure [back in Bangladesh]” that prepared her for Canada. But she also admits to feeling a bit too “mature” for her high school peers, as well as discovering the education system to be “easier” than the system in Bangladesh. She chuckles as she remembers doing calculus in grade twelve in Canada, which she had already been introduced to in grade nine in Bangladesh.

Talking of her community, she feels that her community is still not open to issues such as interracial dating or homosexuality. While interracial dating is still tolerable to certain socially conscious liberal minded families like hers, homosexuality is a “hush-hush” issue. According to her, homophobia is “very, very wrong”. She admits to having gay friends who she feels are “sometimes even nicer” than her straight friends. She attributes this quality to the many hardships that homosexual or bisexual individuals usually go through, and which is why “they know not to discriminate or judge”. Purna feels that homophobia is “just a judgmental thing… [as] people are scared of… anything that is different”. She sees South Asians as a “repressive [race]” who “tend to repress… and overlook the history of bisexuality and homosexuality” in the history of South Asians.

When asked about her involvement with the BSA, and the reason behind the group’s formation, she explains, “Our goal is to promote our own culture…which is distinctly different from the rest of South Asia”. Purna elaborates that even though initially there was a discussion on naming the group as Bengali Students Association in an attempt to include Bengalis from other countries, it was not possible as “BSA specifically supports charities that are based in Bangladesh”. “And why is that?” I wonder aloud. “It was not to alienate others deliberately, but because I believe that first we must help ourselves before we help others and at the moment, Bangladesh needs our help”.

Purna also feels that BSA is a necessary platform for Bangladeshi students to build social skills. She laughs and says, “I don’t want to generalize but [Bangladeshis] lack a bit of social skills because we are so ingrained into our studies…Studies [always] come first… We tend to overlook being confident on a social platform… being able to speak publicly… have leadership skills etc. We want to provide [these skills] to our members and our students”.

She also confesses that even though she is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science from University of Toronto and her initial instinct was to fulfill her mother’s dream of becoming a doctor, currently her heart is set on the RCMP.

Perhaps there is something to be said for the word “Aanchal.” Miss Aanchal Sharma was crowned Miss India Canada 2010 by Miss Aanchal Dogra, 2009.

Aanchal Dogra, Miss India 2009 crowns Aachal Sharma, Miss India 2010

With passion for teaching, the second best thing for Miss India Canada 2010 is fashion. Aanchal entered Miss India Canada pageant as many of her friends had participated in the competition in previous years, and have had “amazing experience.”

“For this pageant there’s no height and weight requirement,” Aanchal tells us excitedly.

Organizers of Miss India Canada 2010 pageant Sanjay Agnihotri with Guarav, the guest of Honour Sunil Shetty and Miss India Canada

Pageants are traditionally associated with themes of sexuality, however “this is an Indian pageant..it’s very conservative with our values and cultures,” Aanchal tells us. She adds “there wasn’t anything that made me uncomfortable about this competition.”

Born and brought up in Toronto, Aanchal defines herself as “an artist.” Nonetheless “I always wanted to be a teacher before anything else,” she tells Generation Next. She has graduated from York University with Bachelor of Education and has had taken classes in Kinesiology as well.

Though Miss India Canada’s title has given a new identify to Aanchal, she is a very familiar face on stage at community events where she dances with a group called DIYA Arts and Academy. Aanchal has trained in bhartanatyam dance.

She was also North American Desi Idol 2008.

Her hobbies include photography, dancing, singing, softball, and playing Nintendo Wii.

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

Attractive young lady Amin Dhillon entered in her first pageant in 2008 “feeling like a new person,” but without the crown of Miss India worldwide pageant. However 2009 brought a new year for her and the title of Miss India Worldwide. She decided to enter “to represent Canada and the Indian community on an international level.  I knew whatever happened, I would walk away as a stronger, better person,” she says gleefully.

Her good experience with pageant lies in the fact that she is writing her first novel based on her pageant experiences and “I’m also working on getting my own TV show,” she announces.

The crown has opened up the world of entertainment industry for her. She looks at scripts sent to her as “I’m also interested in producing my own films one day,” she says.

For herself, Miss India Worldwide thinks about participating in shows such as the Bachelorette. “I, sometimes think I should apply to be on such a show! I find that it’s just like the real dating world. Sometimes people will date you for all the wrong reasons. So I think it’s a good example of how tough the dating world can be and to find someone who you can really connect with. Everyone wants to find love and I think it’s sweet that people are willing to put themselves out there, in the public, for that chance at love. Maybe I’m too much of a romantic!” she tells us.

But the bikini contests are a no, no for her. Nonetheless she is impressed by girls who participate in bikini pageants. These girls “have a lot of guts! It’s tough to put yourself out there and allow yourself to be judged, especially if it’s just on your body. Sometimes those contests can be really empowering to someone, it’s like proving to yourself you can step outside your comfort zone,” Amin says.

Entertainment has an element of presenting yourself, which takes us to what fashion stands for this stunning young artist. “Fashion” she says, “means wearing something that makes you feel good and shows people a side of your personality..If I want to look all dolled up, I go for a cute, flirty dress. If I’m more laid back, I’ll go for a tank top and jeans.”

And her secret to keeping herself fit is “I watch what I eat and I try to run on the treadmill..It’s all about balance!”

With Bachelors in Business, she reflects on whether South Asian youth gains training in entertainment, saying “If a girl wants to get a degree and model, great! You should never put all your eggs in one basket. Life is so unpredictable that you should give yourself every opportunity to further your mind and knowledge. If you look at the actors in Bollywood, many of them have gone to college to earn some sort of degree even though they joined the film industry.”

While there are several pageants taking place in South Asian community, Amin has met girls who want to enter but their families are against it. “Indian pageants open more doors [for South Asian models] because you don’t have to be a model size in order to compete..people need to really understand how each pageant is different and you can’t group all of them together just like you can’t group all South Asians together because we are all different, although similar,” she tells us intelligently.

As for the South Asian community, Amin thinks “the South Asian communities are different everywhere you go. In some places, the community is really tight and supportive and in other places, you can sense the inner conflicts and competition.”

“Many South Asian youth face an identity crisis. Issues like types of clothes to wear, dating, marrying outside of your race or culture, etc [need to be addressed]. I think it’s great to have more media and movies portraying this and making it okay to talk about it. We have many Indo-Canadians in politics, arts, entertainment, sports, etc. It allows other youth to find a good role model to look up to,” she tells us about issues confronting South Asian youth.

Amin Dhillon has been a great supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society and is currently working with Folklorama to promote cultural diversity.

Belonging to e-generation, she mentions her twitter page twitter page www.twitter.com/amindhillon and her facebook page www.facebook.com/Miss.AminDhillon.

This weekend, Exhibition Place in Toronto was colored with decorations of Mehndi Masla Masti festival. From food vendors to concerts, singing competitions to artist performances, senior idols to Bacha party, every moment was fun filled. The aromas of South Asian spicy food and performances by few recognizable faces were worth the drive.

MMM Opening reception_Performers

Crowd at the Event

Bacha Party Performing Tabla

MMM Opening Reception_Boman Irani presented with Canadian government citation for his contribution to the arts by Senate Salma Ataullahjan

The concept behind this festival is to share the South Asian culture with non-south Asian friends. Pleasantly, we encountered many non-south Asian faces enjoying the music and shopping for South Asian crafts. Artists like Amaan and Ayan Ali Khan, Toronto tabla Ensemble, Salman Ahmed from Junoon, Suzzane D’Mello and Jorge Miguel pleased the crowd. Boman Irani, the famous mamoo from the film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S was also available to chitchat and interact with his fans.  Although, the rain on Saturday made it hard for the 120+ volunteers to remain steadfast on their posts but nonetheless the event marked its 10^th anniversary with great success.

MMM Opening Reception_ Senate Salma Ataullahjan

MMM Opening Reception_Salman Ahmed

Young, outspoken, honest and charming are just a few words to describe Dr. Mundenchira. She is a classic success story of a daughter of an immigrant family that worked hard and made its place in Canadian society. In doing so she has integrated and adapted to the values of Canadian society, yet being a young South Asian woman has its own challenges.

As someone who came here as a teenager, she admits that she has changed a bit. She has integrated into the society more than her parents. “I’ve accustomed to the culture here..especially because of my career,” she says thoughtfully.

As a family physician in a clinic in Oakville, she is not only a doctor to her South Asian patients, but a counselor as well. She has had youth in late teens, early 20s and mid 20s who have had difficulty communicating with their parents about their hearts’ desire of choosing a career. “Parents mean well.. they just want their kids’ to go into something that pays better,” Dr. Mundenchira says, “youth underestimates their parents..youth should give their parents a benefit of doubt.”

Not being able to talk to parents in South Asian culture puts both parents and youth to stress. “It’s not depression, it’s not anxiety, most of the times it’s stress.”

Living in Canadian society where individualism is at times overwhelming. People want to feel that they are strong and take care of themselves, yet “there’s no harm in telling someone how we feel. Too much family is a problem and not having one is a problem too,” she says.

She can relate to youth’s struggles as she had gone through the same phase of life once with the parents who shared the same concerns. Being a successful woman does not in any way mean that she doesn’t have stress in her life. She has had the same sort of tensions with her family as any youth does. “I became too westernized, but now I’m coming back to my culture,” she reminiscences.

Finding the right guy is just another of life’s worries. Many South Asian women her age feel added pressure from parents to be married at a certain age. Dr. Mundenchira is no different. She is, however, open to a partner from a different background and religion.

“I’m a little forward thinking..we [young women] look for a guy who can understand our ambitions and appreciate our culture,” she says. “Maybe we do expect more than what our mothers’ used to expect.”

To be presentable and to fulfill a certain image of youth, you also have to be slim and trim.

Lean and thin, Dr. Mundenchira was not always like this. She was once chubby. But she made a decision to lose pounds. She found consolation in Bollywood dance style workout. She joined Shiamk to trim her weight.

“Motivation,” she says “is the key.”

Then comes healthy eating habits and changes in life style.

Healthy eating habits means no starchy foods like rice after 6 in the evening, smaller food portions, sticking to eating schedule, instead of having three big meals, six small meals throughout the day.

“And when you go grocery shopping, make a list of things beforehand, rather than piling your carts at the store,” she advises.

“Walking 30 minutes three times a week is good exercise,” she suggests. Understanding hesitation of South Asian families to join gym, she says with good sense of humour “you can walk up and down the stairs, carry rice or flour bags and lift up your kids if you don’t want to lift weights.”

South Asian Generation Next caught up with rising star Kat Eyez   to discuss the highly anticipated release of his upcoming album. His sophomore album which is due for release later this summer features multi- platinum producer Marcus Kane and platinum selling international artists including Snow, RDB, and Apache Indian.

K.E is a Canadian born Desi, Hip-hop reggae artist who has found international success after the release of his latest music video “Final Arrangement”, which deals with the issue of arranged marriages. The Canadian artist has been receiving heavy video play worldwide including heavy play in both India and the UK and has landed him on such video stations such as MTV Base U.K., MuchMusic, MTV Tempo, B4U, Brit-Asia and MTV India. His “Hey Love” video (featuring Snow) went #1 on Mtv Desi in New York!!!

Born to South Asian parents, this talented young artist not only writes his own songs but has also collaborated with international artists including, Apache Indian, Brick and Lace, Snow, RDB, and R&B sensation Jon B.

Like many South Asian parents, Kat Eyez   parents were initially skeptical of his career choice. They thought “it was just a phase I was going through but as I continued they realised how much it meant to me.  They are very supportive and continue to give me encouragement to go on.  When they saw me hit #1, well they liked that phase,” he says happily.

Talking about culture, he says “my culture is both Canadian and Indian.  I was born in Canada, Toronto and my upbringing was more so Indian than Canadian. Culture is essentially my identity and my roots; you can’t have one without the other.”

As an individual he describes himself as “a person who is constantly learning about himself, and is someone who is un-afraid of sharing his learning process with the world.” As a musician, he differentiates himself as “versatile..well rounded Emcee, Singer, Songwriter who can appreciate good sound in any type of genre whether it be Hindi, Classical, Rock or Reggae.”

The new generation of South Asian stars is experimenting with all genres of music without training as hard as classical musicians did. About his music, Kat Eyez   says “it’s a little bit of everything… I’m influenced by all types of music so you’re getting a little bit of Rap, Reggae and R&B.”

Citizen of the globe, Kat Eyez   has experienced different reactions to his music in different parts of the world. He tells us “my second single, “Final Arrangement”, went #1 on MTV India and that was because fans could relate to the subject and story line of the video.  There was more of an impact in India than in Canada or the US because it deals with the issue of arranged marriages.”

Though he hasn’t gone to school to study music, Kat Eyez’  passion drives him. “You can study all the music in the world and learn everything there is but if you don’t have the passion and gift for it, it won’t take you anywhere. I think you can produce evergreen songs with passion and love for music,” he says.

He cherishes Apache Indian and Snow. “They paved the way for me and for so many others,” he tells Generation Next. Currently his favourites Bob Marley, but he enjoys  Drake, Roach Killa, Humble the Poet, J-Hind, Mediated Minds, Blitz also.

When Kat Eyez   got the opportunity to work with his childhood idol’s Apache Indian and Snow, who he has a video with, it was one of his dream come true. “We went #1 on Mtv Desi, unreal!!!” he says.

“Another great moment was when I heard my song was playing on shows like P.Diddy’s “Making the Band” and then hearing it on the radio for the first time the day after.”

At another time “I was eating some garlic naan when platinum producer Marcus Kane called. He told me to turn on the TV. ASAP.  Then I heard my song “Girlz” on “America’s Next Top Model”, I nearly choked, but luckily I had some “Thumbs Up”™ to wash it down J.”

Post 9/11, artists are incorporating themes like war, violence, drugs and so in their work. Many critique the approach arguing that music is to relax and to relish, not to put forth political opinions.

Kat Eyez  says “ You can put anything into your music. Music is a form of expression. Things like violence, gangs and drugs are all apart of the world, no matter where you are or where you live.  I believe it’s important for people to be educated and to also learn through other people’s experiences.  We can change the negative into a positive through music.”

And he wants to do humanitarian work. His approach to life is “humanitarian work is very important. I see people that are financially blessed that do nothing to help anyone else.  I believe that if you are able to help others in need than you should. I do whatever I can, and will continue to do humanitarian work throughout my career.”

He encourages his fans to listen to his music at www.hangoverrecords.com and www.myspace.com/hangoverrecords.com or they can add Kat Eyez   to their facebook, Kat Eyez   Iz.

By: Staff Writer

What happens when your first-born son comes up to you and says, “I want to become a hairdresser”? Do you blink rapidly like a goldfish and wonder to yourself that maybe he is joking? Or, do you balk and then give in to your urge to scream?

Suave, sexy and a true gentleman, Sunil Prakash, the co-owner of ‘The Lid Lounge’, a high end salon downtown, and a hairdresser himself, had the following reaction from his Indo-Canadian father: “Any idiot can cut hair!” Not one to take things lying down, he answered, “Well, if any idiot can cut hair, then you go cut mum’s hair, and we’ll see who’s an idiot!”

With a far-away look in his eyes and a tiny smirk, he says, “I got cut off financially… I didn’t know what [my father] was trying to do at that point… I got student loans, did my own thing… and (with some pride creeping into his voice) [have] been quite successful ever since.” And, indeed he has, since his salon boasts of famous clientele like Shyam Selvadurai (author of Funny Boy).

Of course, becoming a hairdresser and admitting his desire for an alternative career (as a South Asian) was not the only concern for his parents. When asked if he had a difficult time ‘coming out’ to them, he glibly responds, “Yeah, absolutely… and, as a first-born son too!” He admits that his relatives back in India were more “okay” with it than his parents. He further goes onto explain why most South Asian parents may be reluctant to open up to the idea of homosexuality as a reality within the South Asian community, “Most South Asians here [in Canada] are immigrants or have come with an immigrant mentality, meaning, their socialization has sort of stopped… They are not socially current as Indians [in India] are. You go to India today and Indians of the same age as my parents are far more liberal. My dad left India in the 1950’s and his Indian values are of that someone from the 50s. But (he adds hurriedly) [he is] all cool enough… now.”

However, he admits that it wasn’t easy for his two younger very-straight brothers either, “When they started to go out with their [girlfriends,] my parents started with ‘These Canadian girls’. They had a problem with that too… I don’t know why! (Laughs)” Thinking for a second, he offers an explanation, “Think about it. My father’s Indian. Mother is from England. My brothers and I are all biracial. [We] are both of our parents and neither of our parents. They could relate to us on many different ways but in some ways they couldn’t relate to us because we were slightly culturally different from them.”

Talking about his partner, with whom he co-owns his salon, he says, “My partner and I have been together for twenty years… My parents really respect us for being together for so long. We owe the longevity of our relationship to the example which my parents set for us. And, my partner’s parents have been together for… forever [as well]. We have pretty strongly rooted families… Time is a great leveler, so it all worked out in the end”.

And, are you guys married? He shakes his head and replies, “By the time they changed the same-sex legislation, we had already been together for such a long time that [it didn’t matter]… The commitment is to each other. [Marriage] would be an afterthought at this point”.

Sunil ends with his words of wisdom that maintains its hold on me as I walk alone to the subway to catch my train back to Mississauga, “Never be afraid to be yourself. I haven’t and it’s worked out for me”.

By: Sanchari Sur

Canada Day will be here and thousands of South Asian Canadians will be celebrating with a bash, however most will stick to their holiday routine of spending time with family, barbequing, or heading to the beach.

South Asians are Canada’s biggest visible minority, numbering over 1.3 million according to the 2006 census.

For Canada Day, South Asian Canadians, like most Canadians, will be going about their holiday routine of meeting and greeting family members, potluck parties, and as one youth put it “fireworks, fireworks and fireworks”.

The South Asian Canada Day, an annual event, will be returning on July 27 to Mississauga, and is a chance for South Asians to celebrate Canada Day with their own spicy twist. The event will be filled with food, clothes and jewellery, and of course cultural dance shows.

Another such event will be taking place at Granville Island, Vancouver, where Canada Day ceremonies will be paralleled with a South Asian styled Mela. As always, food, clothes, jewellery, fireworks and cultural shows will be the highlight of the day.

Canada has a lot to offer to the culturally rich folks of South Asia, such as freedom to practice religion, culture, and security, but celebrating Canada Day among these communities of Canada does not appear to be too common.

“I am not sure if there is a particular way of celebrating Canada Day” asked Puneet Aurora, a Markham resident and second generation South Asian.

“The routine is same as any other holiday. To spend time with family or hit the beach and end the day with fireworks.”

The attraction to Canada Day by the South Asian community is derived from a myriad of factors. Those who have been in Canada for roughly thirty years have seen the evolution of the Canadian government, from immigration policies to an increase in multicultural favouritism. These individuals have a firsthand account of the effort that Canada has put into providing autonomy to these cultural communities.

But does the Canadian government stretch itself too thin? In incorporating not only the South Asian community, but all self identified cultural groups, perhaps it is sacrificing the magnitude of a day as important as Canada Day. Does Canada Day lose its significance as each cultural community has their own specialized celebrations or festivals?

Not according to Eman Cheema. “Canada is about freedom of choices and freedom of expression. We cannot force others to follow our ways and call ourselves open minded and democratic and multicultural,” says Eman Cheema, a resident of Mississauga. Many others also share the same viewpoint.

It may be important to note that Canada Day is seen as another opportunity to indulge in one’s own customs and rituals. Essentially the idea is to practice culture and customs freely, and to not indulge in anything that seems uneasy to anyone.

There are also those who look forward to life in Canada every day, and every day feels like a blessing. They need no date to tell them when they can celebrate the greatness of this country that gave them so much.

“Every day is Canada Day for me and my family. Canada has given us a high standard education, freedom of expression, security, equality and, best of all, has accepted us the way we are.” says Rasha Muhamad, a third year Business student at York University and a first generation Canadian.

While many might not show pride by waving a flag, they sure are pleased with the freedom and choices they can make.

The notion behind Canada Day, and what Canada stands for today is being met by every individual, no matter that they do to celebrate. They are celebrating freedom, which is what Canada is all about.

Co-authored By: Qasim Ali  & Myuri S. Komaragiri

Watching Prita perform on the stage from afar was an experience that filled my mind with wonder and astonishment. She was not merely a good singer but an exceptional performer as well. This small woman was energetic and filled the stage with her positive aura, yet she later spoke about the struggles of an upcoming artist. When I got a chance to talk to her, like a rude reporter, I remarked about her size and energy proportionality; she laughed aloud and said that people call her ‘Monster Prita’ who has a small body frame but an exceptionally loud, melodious and energetic voice.

Prita did her degree in psychology but after fulfilling her filial duty, she pursued her dreams in the music industry. The decision was hard and she was aware of the struggles that awaited her. She says that every artist struggles in the industry initially. She is blunt about the realistic aspect as well, “We are all struggling artists but nobody likes to talk about it like that. They wear fancy clothes so they can look very successful but the reality is that even people with record labels are struggling in this industry right now.”

Prita says that although I have to turn to my parents for financial problems sometimes but still they are proud of my achievements, especially when they see me performing with artists like Russell Peters and Jay Sean.

Born in Montreal, Prita has never had a chance to visit India, but she has faced the same problems as any other minority while growing up. She recalls her school saying, “When I was young there weren’t a lot of south Asians around, I thought that the world was actually Jewish. I felt like I didn’t fit in, I hated being South Asian. As I grew up I realized that those are thoughts I put in my head because I was insecure about being South Asian.”

She further says that this has completely changed now, “Now we have South Asians in the mainstream, so now I think the youth has those south Asian people to look up to. The schools are very diverse now. My brother who is 18 loves being an Indian. Now I think whatever they are facing, they are facing as ONE youth, no matter what their ethnicity is.”

Prita wants to be that artist who inspired people to pursue their dreams. Even though many youngsters these days are running after their musical dreams, Prita advises them to not lose their heart and be realistic about the struggles that await them.

This girl who says that she is spiritual in nature thinks about herself as an instrument of god when she is writing her songs, “they are based on different inspirations; that is your imagination shouting to be expressed.”  Her likes to write about lost love, partying, romance and even feminism.

But her struggling career has also seen success at times. Over the past year, Prita has toured Canada performing for thousands as part of RBC desifest (Canada’s national South Asian music festival); was the featured music performer at Bollywood star Rahul Bose’s Oxfam Canada benefit; opened for Grammy nominated soul artist Eric Roberson; and was featured alongside world renowned comic Russell Peters at Tampa’s first India Film Festival.

Recently, Prita made history as the first South Asian Canadian musician to open for an artist #1 on the Billboard charts, when she opened for British R&B superstar Jay Sean at the Hershey Centre in December 2009 for over 2,000 fans.

Prita also received worldwide media attention when she became the first South Asian recording artist to sing the national anthems at an NBA game, this past April 4th for the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in front of 15,000 fans. Prita was immediately invited by the NBA to sing for the Orlando Magic only a few days later on April 9th at the Amway Arena.

Author:Saniya Zahid