Generation Next had an opportunity to interview this dynamic healer-entrepreneur.

GN: Tell us more about the story of you selling your high school to Pepsi? What happened there?

Well, I was the President of the student’s association and I guess you can say I got bored in school very quickly, and I saw a man coming in with a suit and followed him to the office. He had an envelope with Pepsi on it and left it for the Principal, and I got hold of it and it said they wanted to put Pepsi machines inside the school.

I called them and said I have the right to negotiate this, and they agreed to the terms I proposed. I also said “We’ll have posters in the girl’s and boy’s washrooms and we want ten thousand dollars for that. And they agreed. And I said we want to have new computers with a Pepsi logo and they agreed. Every time I asked for more, they would keep saying yes. Finally I said “We want a Pizza Hut and a cafeteria and all, and they agreed! And it turned out to be a $1.2 million deal.

GN: You have had diverse career roles in your life so far. One can see change is the only constant with you. Does that mean you thrive on change or are you content where you are now?

I think you have to change. Especially right now, it’s a scary time—a lot of people are out of work and a lot of people are scared about the future. I think I am given too much credit for change because it’s actually my team that will push me to change. Once we are forced to make the change, I go crazy and continue forward. But I, like everybody else, am a little hesitant to change, and that’s the problem with human behaviour. Even cockroaches are better than humans and dinosaurs because they adapt so quickly to change. And if we were to do that, we would thrive. No matter what your environment was, you could always do really well.

GN: What have been some of your biggest lessons from all the different fields you have worked in? Can you specify which field taught you what?

I think the biggest thing I have learned is that you don’t know anything. So if you start off a conversation saying “I know,” “I know,” “I know,” you are going to look like an idiot. The best thing is to listen. In publishing, I learned that there are always opportunities. You are beginning to see in the papers and in the media that less people are buying books and some people are downloading now. There are always opportunities within that. You just have to keep your mind and your eyes open. In making movies, nothing ever goes according to plan—every movie, every TV show starts off the same way, then changes slightly. So never think that because you’ve done it a hundred times, it’s going to be the same every time. Every time, it will be somewhat different.

GN: Your present vocation—hypnotherapy is very different from everything else you have done before. How did you come to it?

I had left the movie industry for a while. I was disheartened with what I saw and what I was becoming. Literally two days later I met with a woman who started talking to me and said “I want you to learn something,” and I had no idea what it was. But she said, “You’re unemployed anyway,” and so I went to her school and I had walked into a hypnotherapy class. And they were showing open-heart surgery with no anesthetic, people remembering languages they haven’t spoken since they were children, and I just said I want to learn that! And I started getting really engrossed into it, and I saw there were immediate results. While going through the process of learning, you’re also dealing with your own stuff, your own psychological issues, and dealing with that cleared up a lot. It’s almost like letting go of the baggage, which was weighing you down.

GN: Share with us some of your experiences of hypnotherapy. How exactly does it work? Can you describe how you conduct a typical session with a client? What all does it involve?

You have three parts in a brain—if you want to think of it as three circles inside each other, the biggest circle on the outside is your conscious state, where your ego is; the second ring inside would be your subconscious, which is where your habits are formed, where your earliest childhood memories are, and in the direct centre is your unconscious—that’s where your biological functions happen. Though basically you are resistant to change, to learning something because of your ego—your ego has planted in your head that this is the way things go and therefore it will not change.

So when I access your brain through whatever way your brain processes information, the conscious state or ego shuts down, in which case your eyes close. You’re still awake and aware of everything that’s going on. You’re almost in a meditative state, but deeper than meditation. And inside there, in the subconscious is where you can change, you can see things differently; you’re more adaptable because it only ages to the age of 12. So it’s like telling a 12-year-old, “You are good at this,” or “You don’t need to smoke,” “You can learn this language very quickly, and it believes you because a child believes you. When you open your eyes after the session, your ego or your conscious executes it like it’s always been there, so the change had happened, your ego recognizes it, and your body executes it.

GN: But can you have this access to someone’s brain/functioning instantaneously or do you need to sit with them for some sessions to listen to whatever issues they may be having?

It depends on how much you’re willing or want to change. If you really want to change, you let go and you don’t try to control everything, the change will happen immediately. I have an aunt who stuttered very badly from the age of 6. She’s now in her 60s. And I couldn’t take her stuttering anymore so I told her to come in. it took us an hour, but she doesn’t stutter at all anymore. Whereas I’ve had some drug-addicts or some alcoholics come in and it takes them three sessions to overcome it.

GN: What kind of feedback do you receive to your work?

99% is positive. People have changed—my aunt doesn’t stutter, alcoholic or drug addict patients don’t have any worries or concerns anymore. I’ve had people achieve whatever they wanted out of life. I was in front of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and 100% of the people achieved their goals at the end of eight weeks when we had done the sessions together.

GN: What will be your advice to someone to beat fear? Without getting into therapy what is the first step someone can take?

The first thing to understand is that your fear is like fog. It looks like something with substance, but the minute you start driving through it, you don’t even realize you are in the middle of the fog, it doesn’t look like anything. The way you do that is by actually evaluating why is it that you are afraid. And then when you come to an answer, you ask it again, until you get down to the very core of what it is. At that point you realize it actually doesn’t exist.

Sandy Sidhu, an aspiring young artist is playing a

Born and raised in BC, Sandy first entered the spotlight by representing her hometown as the Nanaimo Princess Ambassador from 2003-2004. Sandy has received a degree in Cell Biology and Genetics at the University of British Columbia.

What does Cell Biology has to do with acting, you may wonder.

“Some might find that the polar opposite of acting but I’ve always been creative. I started doing theatre when I was fourteen years old and I’ve been drawing since I was a kid,” she explains.

As a young artist who has embarked on a challenging career, Sandy believes that the South Asian artists can make it to the mainstream.

For herself, she tells Generation Next “I see an exciting future ahead. Increasingly you see more and more South Asians on screen. Just the other day I saw 30 Minutes or Less with Aziz Ansari. There are numerous TV shows airing right now that have main cast members who are South Asians, and looking at blockbuster hits like Slumdog Millionaire and Bend It Like Beckham you can see the demand. It’s a fortunate time to be in the industry as just twenty years ago it would’ve been a very different landscape and most likely much more difficult to attempt.”

“I definitely think there’s acceptance. Sure, the North American industry hasn’t quite got to the point of seeing a South Asian Batman yet (And that is something I’d love to see). If there any barriers, then it’s up to people in my generation to break through those and make it happen,” she adds.

While the mainstream may be open to visible minorities, are communities’ like the South Asian community open to accepting the community’s newest stars?

“The South Asian Community is incredibly supportive. There might be more apprehension or fear to attempt a career so different, but I think that’s about it. And that’s a universal feeling, not one limited to just our community,” she stated.

As a young actress, Sandy believes that getting good roles may be a bit of a challenge.

“..it would be having stronger characters and not just being boxed into roles that are just the girlfriend, the wife. Not that those roles can’t be fascinating themselves but to stretch people’s current expectations and explore different aspects of a woman’s psyche. I’d also love to continue to see more film projects with a woman that completely carries the film.”

As far as the stereotypes like arranged marriages go, Sandy says “although I wouldn’t choose to be in one, I have nothing against arranged marriages because I know people who’ve had success with it.”

How about social issues like honour killings?

“I have zero tolerance for it. It’s appalling and nonsensical. I grew up with the mentality that we choose our love, that we choose our passions, and that to live our life with freedom is a basic human right we all deserve to have without consequences,” she says strongly.

At an individual level, how does she see the relationship between fate and hard work?

Sandy tells us “I believe in both. You can’t sit around expect things to just happen for you. I think it’s a fusion of working hard and having faith it’ll all work out the way it’s meant to.”

By Staff Writer

Born and brought up in Kisumu, a lakeport on Lake Victoria in Kenya, a developing Nation with a very diverse multicultural exposure, Geeta Maini’s family was a traditional Hindu family that maintained a sound balance between the modern and traditional values. After completing schooling in Kenya, Geeta went on to get her degree in Hamilton at McMaster University.

In Canada as a busy young mother, Geeta continued to explore the culinary arts. She became a superb hostess, a student of many ethnic cuisines and eventually a teacher offering lessons of her own. She writes a blog called Khaanasutra-Khaanasutra. Geeta has also published and launched her first Indian cookbook called “An Affair with Indian Cooking: The Khaana Sutra of Indian Cuisine,” in November 2007. Currently she is in the process of completing the sequel.

In an interview with Generation Next, Geeta tells us “The story of my kitchen and passion for food begins in my family home in Kenya, where the traditions of superb Punjabi meals were taught and inspired a love of cooking and entertaining. Although I loved to eat, I never knew how to operate a stove and was never really interested in being in the kitchen since my mum and aunts were in full control of their kitchen. Today however, I enjoy the energy in the kitchen and feel as relaxed in the kitchen as someone would in a spa.”

Talking about her love of cooking, she tells our readers “I was brought up in a family of foodies and we all loved to eat and in most instances I think we live to eat! My attraction to cooking and the culinary world was a personal challenge to myself. I had a very limited knowledge of cooking when I got married and now I had to feed my husband and entertain socially. My father, on one of his initial visits to Canada made a comment to me about my culinary skills. He used my mother and younger sister as a bench mark. This was an insult to my pride. The challenge was on and I was going to excel and surpass their skills if I could. Today my signature slogan, EXPLORE, EXPERIMENT AND ENJOY is what keeps me immersed in the kitchen, donning my apron and constantly working on bettering my skills and knowledge of the global cuisines we are so fortunate to experience in Canada itself.”

Geeta divides her times between Canada, Kenya and India. Which country/culture does she associate the most with and why?

“Our family recipes originated from Kenya. These are all authentic Indian recipes but there are some that we have developed using ingredients from different regions of Kenya. This is primarily because of our exposure to these cuisines in Kenya. I am going to say that I associate myself primarily with Kenya because our roots are still in Kenya. Of late though with my frequent travelling to India, I have explored the different cuisines there and merge them with what I have learnt in Kenya.”

“It’s a little intimidating, I’d say. You don’t know whether all that you’ve done is good enough compared to the other people you’re competing against for a job.”

“Just be silly, joke around, have fun with what you’re doing. If you’re always so serious, you won’t enjoy what you do.”

It is at a young age that people start thinking about what they’d like to choose as their career. There are ups and downs, points where people give up, only to start from scratch on a new project.  We are told that we should start thinking about our careers in high school. After high school, we are told that it is university and college that set us up for our futures. Young architect, Ravi Khatri, seems to be the exception to this notion.

At only twenty two years of age, Ravi Khatri has secured a job as a Junior Estimator at one of the oldest and most experienced companies in roofing and waterproofing of buildings. After successfully completing four years of study of architectural science at Ryerson University, Khatri is now able to set the foundation for a promising career in architecture. Khatri has provided answers that were both interesting and eye-opening, to say the least.

GN: Have you always wanted to be an architect?

Since I was seven years old, I was interested in architecture. The way things are built and sustained through the years has always fascinated me. Since I was very young, I wanted to learn more about the structure of different objects, that curiosity had led to me want to know about buildings. I have always known what I wanted to do with my life and I never backed down. I now know that it was the right path for me because I love every bit of it.

GN: How long did it take you to find a job after graduation?

It took me about six months in total to find a job. Before then, I had a bunch of interviews and had applied to a number of different companies. Nothing really felt right. I really enjoy where I work right now, I feel like it’s the perfect place for me to start off my career.

GN: What do you consider to have been the most difficult part of starting a career as an architect?

For me I think that getting into Ryerson was a real challenge. The field is already very competitive and getting into university and being able to study architecture is difficult. There is very limited space in the program at Ryerson, about 150 students get in out of the 3,000 that apply. They take a lot of things into consideration. Grades and a portfolio of your work during high school have to be of top quality, and besides that there is an interview procedure you must go through to be considered. After getting into the program, there is the difficulty of not only staying in, but getting top marks and compiling a portfolio that may seem acceptable to potential employers. Finding a job is also hard because you’re competing with others who have gone through it all, people who have already created their portfolios, gotten top marks in their incredibly competitive college or university programs. It’s a little intimidating, I’d say. You don’t know whether all that you’ve done is good enough compared to the other people you’re competing against for a job.

GN: Do you typically see a diverse set of races and cultures in the architectural sciences program at Ryerson University?

Well, there was a wide range of races in my program. I’ve noticed Persians, South Asians, Canadians, all types of people, really. There didn’t seem to be one race that was significantly predominant in my program than others. I’d say that it was pretty diverse.

GN: Is there a diverse set of races and genders where you work at Bothwell Accurate?

There’s less of a range of races where I work than there was at Ryerson, but I do still see some diversity. There is less diversity seen in more of the entry level positions than there is on the administration side. On the administration side, I see different races and both genders. In terms of the estimating department where I work, people are predominantly Caucasian. I actually think that I am the only person of colour in the estimating department, as well as the youngest.

GN: Were you ever intimidated working where you are knowing that you are one of the few South Asians at your company?

Not really, everyone is treated equally and they didn’t treat me in any certain way due to the colour of my skin. The only reason I’d feel uncomfortable where I work is if I were exposed to differential treatment because I’m of a visible minority there. Everyone I work with treats me as a coworker, and more importantly, as a friend. My boss especially makes me feel comfortable. I know that he is fond of me as a worker and he can look upon me to do a good job, that makes me feel more relaxed and at home working there, regardless of the fact that I’m one of the few South Asians there.

GN: Do you have any words of advice you’d like to give people wishing to follow the same path and get into architecture?

There are only two things I’d like to stress. Firstly, just remember the thing that architecture is all about; it is about building. Never forget to be gentle, tread lightly as whatever you do will have some impact on our planet. Remember that our planet is one of a kind and our objective is to create beautiful structures that are ultimately beneficial to its design. Second, don’t take it too seriously. Architecture is very competitive in nature, so never give up with one bump in the road. You need to learn to brush your shoulders off, get back up and try again. Without that determination and drive, you will never achieve what you want. I worked really hard to get where I am now, harder than I’ve worked on anything else in my life. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I knew that I couldn’t see myself doing anything else with my life other than this. All of the work really does pay off in the end.

Ravi Khatri, twenty two year old, aspiring architect, explains that it is important to keep it light. “Just be silly, joke around, have fun with what you’re doing. If you’re always so serious, you won’t enjoy what you do.” This message goes to show that it is essential in the competitive working world to take pleasure in what you do, if not, you won’t have the motivation to do it.

By Gagan Batra

“I think it’s important for employers to see immigrants as coming to the table with assets, not deficits.  Having employees with global experience that speak multiple languages, makes Canadian businesses more competitive globally, and opens up new markets to individuals such as newcomers and immigrants they may not have been able to reach before.”

“I know a lot of my friends and colleagues are looking to alternative ways of connecting via online or dating events.  It seems to be working.”

Munira Ravji’s family migrated to Canada from Nairobi, Kenya in the mid-1980s. As a pharmacist, her father enrolled into the University of Saskatchewan to upgrade his certifications to practice in Canada. The family later moved to London, Ontario, where Munira’s father opened his own pharmacy. After finishing her studies in Montreal, she started her business—offering PR consulting and project management to not-for profit organizations.

A few years ago Munira moved to Toronto, where she worked with numerous youth, arts and community organizations. At the core of this is her involvement with Maytree Foundation initiatives for immigrants. As she puts it, “I have so much respect for immigrants making the move to Canada. Seeing my parents struggle, and prevail has inspired me to support and encourage others who are taking the giant leap of faith and starting from scratch in Canada.”  She wishes to empower new Canadians to enable them to offer their talents to the Canadian society and be accepted and prosperous in the process.

Having worked in close proximity with new Canadians, Munira feels that lack of access to certain positions and opportunities can hold visible minorities and women back. A number of factors affect their possibilities, she feels, including family dynamics, income levels, and the lack of the right kind of social networks. In her view, a combination of changing the dynamics of the country’s education system as well as corporate and societal values can provide solutions to this problem.

Speaking about the often-dreaded “Canadian experience” and English-language education for new immigrants, Munira says, “I think it’s important for employers to see immigrants as coming to the table with assets, not deficits.  Having employees with global experience that speak multiple languages, makes Canadian businesses more competitive globally, and opens up new markets to individuals such as newcomers and immigrants they may not have been able to reach before.” Her advice to immigrants, especially skilled ones, is to tap into local programs like the ones offered by TRIEC and to employers to utilize comprehensive and free resources such as hireimmigrants.ca and the roadmap tool to support the process of recruiting, retaining and promoting skilled immigrants.

Munira tells Generation Next that one of the most exciting aspects of her job is working with major corporations across Canada who are focusing on skilled immigrants who have already settled in cities across Canada. As she says, “All of the major banks, as well as consulting firms are already championing the need and benefits to hiring skilled immigrants. We hope to continue growing these relationships with major corporations, as well as small to medium enterprises to help them prepare for a looming labour shortage, as well as to strengthen their existing teams and organizations by connecting them to qualified international counterparts.”

As an Ismaili Muslim, Munira is the external communications chair for the Ismaili Muslim Council of Ontario. She feels that as a young professional, her experience and ideas are valued in the organization. “Besides taking on leadership roles across the Council’s many portfolios, there are also groups and networks that are focused on bring young Ismaili professionals together either to network and socialize, or encourage professional development and capacity building,” she says.

The discussion moves to Canada’s multiculturalism, which Munira feels is incredible. However, she feels Canada is yet to figure out “how to leverage this diversity instead of making it token.” In order to make the country’s multicultural claim more authentic, there has to be fair representation across sectors in terms of leadership, she believes. Referring to the South Asian community, she says there’s still room for the community to be more active in the political arena, which she suggests can be done by encouraging emerging leaders to run and getting seniors out of their homes to participate in political campaigns.

At a more personal level, Munira loves her current role. She says with exuberance, “I have the opportunity to speak publicly about something that I am passionate about (skilled immigrant employment), and collaborate with some of the most celebrated leaders and experts in my industry.  It’s also really inspiring to be a part of such an important movement and watch the momentum grow across Canada.  I don’t think I will ever stop volunteering!”

Given the level of today’s youth involvement in various activities, does Munira think it’s a challenge to find Mr. or Miss Right? Munira tends to agree that there might not be “enough in-person spaces in which to meet other like-minded individuals in a meaningful and authentic way,” but also adds, “I know a lot of my friends and colleagues are looking to alternative ways of connecting via online or dating events.  It seems to be working.”

So where will Munira Ravji be ten years from now? In her own words, “I hope to continue being as happy and content as I am now—surrounded by family and friends, maintaining a meaningful career, and giving back as much as I can.  In the next 10 years, I hope to see all this hard work and innovative thinking materialize into the kind of Canada we envision now.  Something sustainable and harmonious.  Something to really be proud of.”

By Staff Writer

Photo By: Keving Robert Fong

Toronto-based author and social worker, Farzana Doctor’s first novel is called “Stealing Nasreen”. It received wide acclaim from the Globe and Mail, Quill and Quire, and NOW Magazine. “Six Metres of Pavement” is her second novel. She has also co-written a manual for therapists and was part of the video collective that produced the documentary, “Rewriting the Script”.

GN: Why did you feel the need to take to writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, although it was a sporadic thing until I took a writing course about twelve years ago. During that course, I wrote the first draft of the first chapter of my first novel, Stealing Nasreen. After that, I couldn’t stop (it’s an addictive process) and over the years, writing has become more dominant in my life.

GN: How has writing impacted your outlook and life?

As I claimed more time and space in my life for writing, I realized that being a writer is really important to me. I rearranged my budget, schedule and the rest of my work life to accommodate it. I feel fortunate to have “found” the joy of my life.

GN: A lot of good literature is coming from South Asians these days. What would you attribute this to?

I think there was always good literature coming from South Asia. Perhaps we hear more about it now (in Canada) because of globalization and the internet?

GN: What is your view of Canadian South Asian literature?

South Asians make up the largest immigrant population in Canada and so it makes sense that we have a large number of excellent writers here in Canada too.

GN: What issues do you wish to talk about through your writing? Why are these important to you?

I begin writing through story, setting, character. That is, I don’t necessarily start with issues. However, as a political person, the issues do come through. In both of my novels, I’ve addressed issues of diasporic South Asians, immigration, sexuality, loss and redemption.

GN: What do you think about Canada’s multicultural claim?

Which one? I think the government promotes a lot of myths about immigration, immigrants and multiculturalism. In the end, it’s all of us who create vibrant communities, who work together toward social justice and change. That said, I love living in Toronto, where (despite our regressive Mayor) diversity is thriving.

GN: How has the diaspora experience impacted your writing?

We came to Canada in 1971. I was a baby of new immigrants. I think I soaked up my parents’ experiences, values, struggles and it comes through in my characters.

GN: What can we expect from you in the days to come?

I’m still promoting my second novel Six Metres of Pavement and am planning to go to India in the spring– both my novels are going to be launched there by Rupa, which I’m so excited about. I’m also working on my third novel, which is inspired by my love/hate relationship with monogamy and all inclusive resorts.

By Staff Writer

“I find that the community is a lot more accepting here than it was back in the States.”

“In general, it is more difficult for foreign physicians to get licensing in Canada. However, I don’t think it entirely depends on the country you are from. I believe that with the right skill and training, anyone can become a doctor in Canada, regardless of where they are born.”

Newly established physician, Doctor Vishal Midha, began working in the Gore area in Brampton earlier in the year of 2011. Although the clinic in which Doctor Midha practices is freshly opened, it attracts large numbers of patients every day. After making a number of appointments to speak with Doctor Midha about his life and career, he was able to make time in his busy schedule for an interview. Happy to talk about his career, Doctor Midha provided some valuable insight on how he became an established family physician in Canada. During my time speaking with him, Doctor Midha was both relaxed, and thorough; especially when describing his roots.

Can you tell us about your background? Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Patiala, India. After moving away from Punjab, I lived in Delhi for most of my childhood. Most of the time when I was in India, I was living in Delhi.

Where did you go to school?

Straight after high school, I did my MBBS at a Medical School in Maharashtra, India. It’s different in India than it is here. The transition from high school to medical school doesn’t require an undergraduate degree, so I was able save myself the time and get right to it. Medical school lasted about five and a half years for me.

Are there any experiences you can pinpoint that have had a profound impact on your choice to become a family physician?

Not really. My parents’ influence was always there. They encouraged me to choose a career relating to medicine, but besides that I can’t say there was any particular event that caused me to want to become a doctor.

Did you always know that you wanted to become a doctor?

Up until high school I wasn’t too sure. High school, as we are told, is the time to make the decision of what you want to do with your life, and that’s when I made mine. There was never a time where I considered something outside of family medicine as a career choice.

When did you move to Canada?

I moved out of India in 2001, when I studied and did my medical training in the U.S. to get my formal residency there. I lived in the U.S. for a few years and moved to Canada in 2010 where I practiced for some time in the Rexdale area, and then moved to Brampton to start working here earlier in 2011. I really like it a lot better in Brampton than in the U.S. where I did my training. I find that the community is a lot more accepting here than it was back in the States.

According to your observations, what was the difference between where you were in the United States and where you are practicing now?

It’s easier for me to utilize my language skills here. In the U.S. there was really no need for me as a doctor to know Hindi and Punjabi. English was not even sufficient in most cases, since where I was it was a utility to know Spanish in order to fully understand and talk to some of the patients. Here, there is more of a demand for individuals who speak languages like Hindi and Punjabi as there are many elderly South Asian people who do not fully have a grasp on the English language. Besides the language aspect, I figured that getting permanent residency and citizenship in Canada would take less time than in the States. Since I was only living in the States to do my medical training and did not have my Green Card, I thought it would be a long process to get it. It is both longer and more difficult to get one’s green card than it is to get citizenship in Canada. Also, I find that obtaining a medical license is easier in Canada than it is in the U.S.

Do you think it was more difficult for you to become a physician in Canada as someone born in India as opposed to those originally from Canada?

In general, it is more difficult for foreign physicians to get licensing in Canada. However, I don’t think it entirely depends on the country you are from. I believe that with the right skill and training, anyone can become a doctor in Canada, regardless of where they are born.

A truly inspiring message from Doctor Midha shows hopeful South Asians that what really makes all the difference in the medical industry is skill and practice.

There is a lot that can be learned from the responses provided by Doctor Midha; the first thing being the value of hard work.  After living in India his entire life as well as completing Medical School there, Doctor Midha was able work his way to Canada and establish himself as a successful family physician. The second, and very crucial lesson taught to us by Doctor Midha is that the boundary that may have been visible once for South Asians is no longer an issue. Being a part of a visible minority in Canada does not have to be an issue for those looking to kick-start a career in medicine. Really, the colour of your skin does not determine how far you can go in life, according to Doctor Midha.

By Gaga Batra

“People who know me are always surprised to hear that it’s been so long since I’ve been to India (laughter) because they see me as being very desi..”

“We had recently watched a Bollywood movie set in that time period, so they kind of connected with what they had seen to it.  When we went to see this exhibit, I said to them ‘Do you remember that movie and the maharajas? See, this is from the real maharaja!’”

With a versatile career graph spanning more than ten years and featuring government, communications, public relations, and journalism, Sarbjit Kaur is a well-known, well-respected and very active member of both the South Asian and broader GTA community. Recently elected a Director of the Mississauga Arts Council, she shares her views on arts, culture and public engagement with Generation Next.

Sarbjit’s parents immigrated to Canada from Punjab, India in the 1970s and went on to have four children born and raised in the GTA. She remembers, how, like with many other immigrant families, hers too had to go through the initial grind.

“My mother, even though she had a degree from India, worked in a bakery, in factories; and eventually, over time, started doing accounting and similar type of work,” she says.

“My father was a blue-collar worker, and he worked for more than 30 years at a steel plant, so we were very much a middle, working class family.”

“Until we were teenagers we lived in a ‘joint’ family with aunts, uncles, and grandparents all raising us.”

She remains grateful to her parents for giving her and her siblings the best life they could.

Although Sarbjit hasn’t been to India since she was six months old, that country’s culture, history and politics draws her a lot. She remarks with a chuckle, “People who know me are always surprised to hear that it’s been so long since I’ve been to India (laughter) because they see me as being very desi. We were first-generation, I speak fluent Punjabi—I can even read and write it a bit.” She recalls how much she enjoyed going to events like Baisakhi melas, Gurdwaras, Punjabi school, and even Kabaddi tournaments as she was growing up.

Now, as an official involved with nourishing and propagating arts, Sarbjit finds arts extremely important in the overall scheme of things. “Arts touches people in many different ways. It can be a creative outlet, can express ideas and emotions, and adds richness to our lives. Art in all its forms, is often described as food for the soul and I think that’s a very good way of describing it” she says.

Given the large and ever-increasing concentration of South Asians in the GTA, one would expect this community to be actively involved in the local art scene. Sarbjit confirms this is indeed the case and is enthusiastic about the participatory spirit of South Asians. “Now you see even on Canada Day, South Asian arts, culture and music are being integrated into mainstream events and are being enjoyed by audiences of all kinds. I think the South Asian community is very active in the arts scene, whether it’s music, or plays or entertainment, visual art or even fashion—we are there in every aspect, and it’s something to be very proud of,” says Sarbjit.

To attract local talent towards artistic avenues, the Mississauga Arts Council organizes a range of events such as monthly open-Mic nights and award nights. The Council also helps artists access grants and funding. Although The Arts Council itself doesn’t provide grants, it helps find appropriate programs for artists and offers many other support services such as workshops to artists.

Sarbjit’s own association with art is not new. She had been active in the arts scene in her role as a committee member of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) ROMPROM. The possibilities in a bustling city like Mississauga, where she’s lived for many years, prompted her to apply for her present role. So far, she hasn’t been disappointed.

As she says, “Mississauga has a lot to offer and many people don’t realise how much talents we have right here in Mississauga doing wonderful work. That’s the biggest learning that I had from becoming involved with the Arts Council. There are dancers, painters, spoken-word artists, singers, rappers, opera singers—artists of all kinds—and they are right here in Mississauga.”

As a single mother of two young girls, Sarbjit makes a conscious effort to cultivate artistic appreciation in her daughters. Instead of encouraging them to sit before the television or the computer, she takes them to art camps, theatre and festivals. She recalls with delight the experience they had while seeing the Maharaja exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

She says, “We had recently watched a Bollywood movie set in that time period, so they kind of connected with what they had seen to it.  When we went to see this exhibit, I said to them ‘Do you remember that movie and the maharajas? See, this is from the real maharaja!’” She encourages other parents to do the same with their kids, as she feels at a younger age, children absorb a lot more  and develop interests that stay with them their whole life.

Having been involved with the public sphere for a long time, Sarbjit sounds satisfied with the level of South Asian involvement in the GTA’s public arena. South Asians have done well, not only for themselves, but also in terms of giving back to the larger community.

“Our community is very well respected and perceived as a hardworking community, as an asset to Canada’s cultural mosaic. If you think about it, we are so well represented in every avenue, whether it’s politics, academia, entrepreneurship, in the legal profession—we have judges. Even in the arts, we have a lot of well accomplished artists doing very well. It’s hard to think of part of Canadian life where South Asians aren’t involved.”

“Of course there is always  work to do and barriers to break down, but I believe we will continue to make progress and thrive.”

Canada’s multiculturalism is a subject close to Sarbjit’s heart. She is strongly opposed to attaching any negative connotation to the word and feels that Canada is a wonderful example of multicultural success. “There are countries all around the world who look to us as an example of a successful multicultural model. Things are not perfect, but generally we have built a strong, fair, diverse society with immigrants from all over the world contributing, integrating well, respecting differences and understanding that at the end of the day – we generally share very similar values.”

What does she think of South Asians competing against each other when running for public office? Shouldn’t they build consensus to have one strong candidate elected? Sarbjit maintains that in a democracy one can’t really stop anyone from contesting. At the same time, she hopes that potential contestants take a good look at themselves, and if there’s a more worthy candidate: there’s nothing wrong with supporting that person.

As someone involved with both arts and the South Asian community, this successful professional looks forward to working to strengthen the Arts in Mississauga and encourages everyone to get involved.

“The Mississauga Arts Council is definitely interested in having new members and greater involvement from people from all communities including the large South Asian community,” she says.

It’s a great time to get involved as the council is gearing up to celebrate its 30^th anniversary. For more information visit: www.mississaugaartscouncil.com

By Staff Writer

“Even though our name does have the word “Indian” we always market our events to all South Asians and ensure to bring in leaders from all parts of the world. We recognize that being South Asian is beyond having an Indian background and we strive to celebrate everything South Asian, regardless of origin.”

“In my opinion through my experience in the corporate world, I think most organizations in the GTA are ensuring that their organizations are representative of the diversity that this province has to offer.”

Born and raised in Brampton, Neeti Passi, the current President of NetIP—Network of Indian Professionals, Toronto, symbolizes the modern South-Asian Canadian woman—confident of her stride and enthusiastic to reach out.

Talking to Generation Next, Neeti remembers how growing up in a South Asian family meant focusing on academics and picking a professional career. She was lucky though as she recalls, “I had an older brother who had already gone through many of the similar experiences I was facing, thus making it easier for me to find my east-west fit.”

NetIp. Toronto's executive team

A Health Informatics Leader for Saint Elizabeth, Neeti joined NetIP Toronto in January 2011 as a member and the National Liaison co-lead. The idea was to get connected with other likeminded South Asian professionals while also giving back to the community. But doesn’t she feel the organization’s name needs to be changed to make it more representative of South Asians, rather than just Indians? Neeti responds, “Even though our name does have the word “Indian” we always market our events to all South Asians and ensure to bring in leaders from all parts of the world. We recognize that being South Asian is beyond having an Indian background and we strive to celebrate everything South Asian, regardless of origin.”

As President of the organization, Neeti aspires to make NetIP Toronto a name to reckon among South Asian professionals. She shares with pride the progress the organization has made within two years of its existence in Toronto. “We are starting to see a lot of new faces are each of our events, which empirically tells us that we are reaching out to more people.”

When asked what challenges NetIP Toronto faces, the new president says it relates to constantly ensuring that the activities provided by the organization are commensurate with membership needs. To this end, feedback is regularly sought from both members and non-members. Neeti also says, “NetIP Toronto wants to set itself apart from other professional networking organizations, therefore, it’s always a challenge to be one step ahead and offering interesting and intriguing events for our members.”

And what are her challenges as a South Asian Canadian? “One of my biggest challenges,” she says, “is to be seen as an individual and not falling into the stereotypes. It’s wonderful to see that the times are changing and young South Asian professionals are branching into a multitude of professional careers. Moreover, historically, South Asian women have had to struggle to maintain a career while supporting a family, but I think times are now changing.”

Neeti also feels it isn’t difficult for young South Asian women to start a family in Canada, as long as both partners have a common family goal. Given this scenario, would she prefer being a stay-at-home-mom? “I would love to stay at home with the children when they are young, but I don’t think I would stay home forever. I enjoy applying my professional skills and contributing to a household. Even if I couldn’t go back to work, I could see myself being more involved in not-for-profit/volunteering activities,” she says.

South Asian women like Neeti have made their mark across many fields. This can sometimes be intimidating to male members of the community, still conditioned by stereotypical images of women. Neeti feels this has a lot to do with the type of role models such men grew up with. “If they had a mom that was working, then I don’t think it is such an intimidation factor if a South Asian female is successful in her career; however, if they have never been exposed then it’s more of a fear of the unknown than intimidation,” she says.

Generation Next wants to know Neeti’s views on multiculturalism in Canada, given a measly four percent of visible minorities being represented at corporate leadership levels. According to Neeti, Canada’s multiculturalism is thriving and represents the world’s diversity. The challenge with ensuring that the same diversity is reflected effectively at a corporate leadership level “is the responsibility of organizations,” feels Neeti and adds, “In my opinion through my experience in the corporate world, I think most organizations in the GTA are ensuring that their organizations are representative of the diversity that this province has to offer.”

This young leader believes there are enough opportunities available to the youth in Canada. Her wise counsel is for individuals to understand which opportunities will bring one happiness and success, based on one’s core values and desires.

By Staff Writer

Born in India, Anjali Banerjee was raised in Canada and California and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She has written five novels for youngsters and three for adults. Her next novel for adults, ENCHANTING LILY, will be published by Berkley/Penguin.

Why did you feel the need to take to writing?

Writing is in my blood, in my DNA. From early childhood, I had the urge to put pen – or crayon, at first – to paper, to fill a blank page with words. I started writing stories at the age of seven, on a trip to India, when I saw a skinny stray dog and wanted to save him but couldn’t. Writing gave me an outlet for these feelings of compassion and the childhood sense of powerlessness. After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, I started keeping a journal, developing my writing voice. I used a toy typewriter to create short mysteries. I stapled the pages together in book format and pasted little copyright notices inside the front covers. None of my childhood friends did this kind of thing, so I suppose I was a writer from the get-go.  On a basic level, writing is a mysterious compulsion, a creative urge – it’s a world I inhabit. So I suppose there really is no “why.” It’s just something I must do.

How has writing impacted your outlook and life?

In a book called Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life, Natalie Goldberg says that her doctor always wanted to be a writer. She wonders why a doctor would want to be a writer – medicine is such a prestigious profession, and doctors are already helping humanity. And yet, we meet people in many fields who want to be writers. But writers hardly ever want to be anything else. I have to agree. While sometimes I’ve thought life would be easier if I’d become a doctor or lawyer – I might have a higher income, for sure – I’ve never wished to be anything but a writer. Now that I’m actually making some money doing what I love – writing – there is a sense of professional satisfaction.

But the writing life is not easy. I have a second job, and I’m constantly negotiating obstacles to success. It’s a complex, difficult profession, but also fantastically rewarding. I’ve met some amazing people and touched lives in ways I never thought possible.

What is your view of Canadian-SA literature?

Although I grew up in Canada, I’m now living in the U.S. (near Seattle), and I’m afraid we hear very little about Canadian SA literature here. I would love to read more of it. While I was growing up as one of the few Indian children in a small Manitoba town, I had no idea that my childhood was fairly unusual. It was only many years later that I realized I had an immigrant story to tell. I want to read the other voices by writers who may have thought they were alone out there in the Great White North.

What issues do you wish to talk about through your writing? Why are these important to you?

I believe that my task as a writer of fiction is to tell a good story and try to make it believable and entertaining for the reader. The issues – political, social, environmental, philosophical, or whatever – will naturally emerge from the story. Nonfiction essays are different – you approach the topic with a viewpoint in mind. If I approach writing fiction with an issue in my head, the story inevitably becomes tiresome and pedantic.  The issues that seem to *naturally* emerge from my stories are the idea of second chances, coming of age, learning compassion for all creatures, and finding one’s identity and place in the world. MAYA RUNNING, my first novel (YA), features a Bengali-Canadian girl trying to discover her personal and cultural identity in late 1970s Manitoba. It was my most autobiographical novel, but I don’t feel a need to revisit the issues I addressed in that book.

How has the diaspora experience impacted your writing?

I’m not sure I understand this question. I would have to say there are pros and cons. While I feel my experience as a first generation Bengali-Canadian and as a Bengali-Canadian-American, or however one defines it (I was born in India but grew up in Canada and the U.S.) have added depth, complexity and resonance to my writing, I find the “diaspora experience” can also have a strangely inhibiting effect if a writer becomes pigeon-holed – or branded as addressing certain issues. For example, while I feel my stories address universal issues- growing up, love, grief, and so on – reviews often focus on the cultural elements. In my novel Looking for Bapu, a Bengali-American boy must deal with grief after losing his grandfather in a post-September 11th environment in the Pacific Northwest. From the Publishers Weekly review: “This perceptive exploration of one child’s grief demonstrates that grief is a universal emotion that flows through all cultures.” From School Library Journal: “many readers will see this novel as a window to a culture they know little about.” Other reviewers took a more expansive approach. From The Chicago Tribune: “We never lose sight of either the serious issues – the family’s loss and love – or the comedic ones – on an 8-year-old’s rocky path to becoming a holy man.”

My ultimate goal as writer is to broaden my readership, to touch as many people as possible from all backgrounds. I’d like to tell all kinds of stories, not just about the immigrant experience. My cultural background is part of who I am, but it’s not everything.

What can we expect from you in the days to come?

I have a new book for adults out from Berkley/Penguin in August 2012, Enchanting Lily, in which a young widow, who is hiding out in her vintage clothing store on a Pacific Northwest island, comes out of her isolation and falls in love with help from a quirky cat. I’m having a lot of fun with the cat’s point of view. In this book, for the first time in any of my books (except in my novel, The Silver Spell, which was part of a series) the protagonist’s cultural background is not woven in as part of the story. She’s not of Indian heritage. The “hook” in this story is the cat’s unusual perspective.

By Staff Writer