This South Asian Heritage Month, Maansi Kalyan (English BA, 2016; English Studies: Writing in the Modern Age MA, 2019) shares what the month means to her, why she is proud of her heritage, historical events we all need to be aware of, and how she is taking action via her Brown Girls Don't podcast.
What does South Asian Heritage month mean to you? To me, South Asian Heritage Month is a remembrance of where we’ve come from and a celebration of where we’re yet to go. South Asian culture is centred around legacies and stories just as it is vibrance and movement - we’re constantly changing and constantly succeeding when the odds are against us as a community, but this month in particular is about taking stock and appreciating our background. At the same time, it’s about having the all-important conversations - what should we be doing more to ensure every South Asian gets a seat at the table? What should we be implementing so everyone moves forward rather than the select few?
Why are you proud to be of South Asian heritage?
So many reasons! I think in the past few years, having broken into the South Asian creative scene which is full of open-minded outliers, I’ve become ever prouder. South Asians have this amazing ability to add beauty to all they touch. We’ve been displaced and expelled and have experienced the horrors of colonialism, but our vibrant culture always endures. We have beautiful minds, and produce delicious food as well as thought-provoking film and status quo-challenging works of art. We’re brave, we’re curious, we’re survivors.
South Asian Heritage Month is about having the all-important conversations - what should we be doing more to ensure every South Asian gets a seat at the table? What should we be implementing so everyone moves forward rather than the select few?
What event(s) in South Asian History do you think everyone should be aware of and why?
It’s the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India this year. I don’t think it’s been spoken of enough for many reasons - a mixture of the lingering trauma of those who were on the ground, and the desperation of some to brush it under the carpet and package the British Raj as a total success - but we cannot forget what happened. Now, more than ever, it’s worth remembering what happens when you give one privileged, inexperienced, disengaged person the power to change the face of an entire nation. Literally.
Can you tell us a bit about your Brown Girls Don't podcast?
Brown Girls Don’t is a podcast challenging the stereotypes that South Asian women experience day to day, giving them the space they need to go against the grain and inspire others in their position to do the same. Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who plays Ash Panesar in EastEnders, was my debut episode guest, and my last guest was Tamil Vogue cover gal/Beyoncé music video starrer, Sheerah Ravindren. I’m rebranding soon so watch this space (so excited), but you can find me at @fancymaansi_ and @browngirlsdont for now.