Update: California Rejects Removing India from History Books

posted by Randall

UPDATE: Early Friday morning after most people had gone to sleep, the California Instructional Quality Commission rejected a proposal to replace the word “India” with “South Asia” in history books used in California public schools, reports First Post.
 
The … Read more

Outgoing SAALT Executive Director Deepa Iyer on the evolving South Asian American Community. @dviyer

posted by Randall

(Note from the editor: After ten years as Executive Director of South Asians Americans Leading Together, Deepa Iyer is stepping down. Iyer is in a unique position to comment on the growth of the South Asian American community over that time. She agreed to answer a few questions for AsAmNews.)

How is SAALT different today … Read more

Aerogram: Should South Asians Stop Calling Themselves Desi?

posted by Randall

The term “desi” has long been used in the South Asian American community to refer to each other. It has most always been used in a positive sense as an expression of ethnic pride.

But communities change as they grow.  South Asian Americans have certainly advanced light years in the last decade both in … Read more

Christian Science Monitor: Miss America Puts Spotlight on #Indian Americans

posted by Randall

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri is putting the spotlight on the growing prominence of Indian Americans in the United States.

Her Bollywood dance routine before a national television audience won her a standing ovation.

The Christian Science Monitor reports 3.4 million people in the United States have family ties to South Asia.

80 percent of … Read more

Times of India: Obama Nominates Nisha Desai Biswal for Key Post at State Dept

posted by Randall

Nisha Desai Biswal has been nominated to a key post in the State Department by President Obama, reports the Times of India.

She’ll be the first Indian American and South Asian American to head the South Asia bureau in the State Department.

Desai will oversee US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, … Read more

Bay Area Reporter: LGBT South Asians From Around the World to Meet in San Francisco

posted by Randall

It’s a special event in the gay South Asian community that only happens every four to six years.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders from the South Asian communities from around the world will gather in San Francisco July 4-6 for  DesiQ. People from as far away as Nepal, India and Sri Lanka will be in … Read more