Arts/Books

India-West News Desk DANVILLE, CA - Bay Area Kathak dancer Pooja Khandelwal and Bharatanatyam dancer Sriyanka Sundar on September 20 brought two distinct Indian classical traditions into conversation here with 'Ekatva: A Kathak–Bharatanatyam Samvaad,' presented as part of the Eka Dance

Photo: Danish Saroee/Emory India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC- Emory University historian Ruby Lal has been named the 2027 Kluge Chair in Countries and Cultures of the South at the John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress. Lal, a professor of Middle Eastern

SEATTLE, WA- Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal urged readers to resist censorship by continuing to read challenged books and support silenced writers, telling the Jaipur Literature Festival in Seattle that literature was essential to defending free expression. “In my mind, to read is

India-West News Desk 'You Are the Sky: An Ancient Guide to Modern Feelings,' by Swami Swaroopananda, Worldwide Head Chinmaya Mission, Pan Macmillan India, 272-pages, releasing September 20 Modern life often demands that people keep moving, even when their emotions are telling them to

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - The Jaipur Literature Festival made its Los Angeles debut this week, bringing writers, artists, historians, diplomats and cultural figures together for conversations spanning literature, culture, geopolitics, technology and the arts. The Los Angeles edition, held

NEW DELHI-One hundred and fifty years after his birth, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s literary creations remain relevant despite radical changes in society and the world around us, particularly with the advent of technology. From the black-and-white era of K.L. Saigal to Sanjay

NEW DELHI - In a symbolic gesture highlighting cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a book containing a Russian translation of the Thirukkural at the start of their meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New

MUMBAI-Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film ‘Daayra’, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan, said life and the stories that emerge from it are her primary sources of inspiration. She also said

WASHINGTON, D.C.- US Vice-President J.D. Vance has praised his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, for balancing her public responsibilities and family life as her summer reading challenge approaches its deadline, six weeks after the couple welcomed a baby. Vance used the

MUMBAI- Lyricist Ginny Diwan, who is returning to the ‘Mirzapur’ universe with the song ‘Vaaroon Forever’ from the upcoming film ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’, said the song offered her a space to explore a softer side of characters whose feelings often

MUMBAI-Splendid Bollywood actress Shefali Shah has turned her personal musings into a book, saying she never imagined herself as someone who would write one. Shefali humorously recalled how unlikely the journey was, saying it was “crazy enough” that she agreed with

GANDHINAGAR-Bhujodi, a village in Gujarat's Kutch district, has carved a distinct identity for itself as its traditional handloom shawls and other products gain recognition in global markets, including the US. The handloom weaving tradition, dating back about 500 years, remains alive

Photo: Lycka Klickz by Sony India-West News Desk ESCONDIDO, CA - What might happen if the dancers carved into the walls of India’s ancient temples could step out of stone and move among us? That question animated ‘An Untold Saga,’ a world premiere

KOCHI - In Kerala, a mundu is usually worn, folded and draped. This Onam, nearly 3,000 of them have been spread out instead and turned into a giant pookkalam. At Kochi's Forum Mall, Ramraj Cotton has given one of Kerala's most

MUMBAI- Composer Anu Malik expressed his happiness as his first musical play, 'Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane', heads to America, calling it a beautiful journey and thanking the team for making the theatrical experience a memorable one. The play will be staged in

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY - Sonia Gandhi, one of the most prominent figures in India’s Congress party, will revisit the personal tragedies, political upheavals and family ties that shaped her life in a memoir due out this fall, including

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA – Shashi Tharoor will be among the featured speakers at a Jaipur Literature Festival Los Angeles event examining the changing global balance of power and the evolving role of the United States. The program, titled “What is

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY -New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Bengali-language video promoting free Broadway tickets for high-school students has drawn attention from Bengali-speaking viewers. The video is part of a campaign offering 2,100 free Broadway tickets to New York

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY- Children’s author Priya Kumari turns to one of Jainism’s most important festivals in her new picture book, ‘My Paryushana: Festival of Forgiveness,’ introducing young readers to a tradition centered on reflection, renewal and forgiveness. The book

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI- BAPS scholar and Sanskrit philosopher Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami has been conferred the title of “Vedantavidya-Vishwaguru” by Central Sanskrit University for his contribution to Vedanta, Sanskrit scholarship and the study of Indian philosophical traditions. Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami

By REENA RATHORE For Kunal Prasad, director of Silicon Valley Shakespeare’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare’s works are not meant to remain frozen in the past. He sees them as living art that continues to evolve when artists bring

MUMBAI-Actress Shefali Shah said she enjoys collecting unread books as they give her something to look forward to during difficult days, marking International Book Lovers Day with a personal note. Sharing a picture of herself with a stack of unread books

India-West News Desk CHICAGO, IL – Physician and cookbook author Sheil Shukla is set to release his latest cookbook, ‘Kari: Reimagined Plant-Based Indian Recipes,’ on August 18. The book, currently available for pre-order, features 75 plant-based recipes that reinterpret curry through Indian and other

Photo: https://heritagetamil.in India-West News Desk NEW DELHI-More insights into India's ancient maritime history and cultural heritage are expected to emerge after India approved funding for research and underwater exploration at Dwarka and Bet Dwarka in Gujarat, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, and Karaikal

KOLKATA-Renowned Bangladeshi author and poet Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on July 31, nearly 19 years after her departure following the outbreak of violence in parts of the city in 2007 during the tenure of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in West Bengal,

By Prachi Sharma SAN RAMON - The last book my mother wrote sits on a shelf between two picture books by my six-year-old son. She never met him as an author. She died four years before his first book came out. My

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC- Second Lady Usha Vance has launched a rewards website for her Summer Reading Challenge, allowing children to claim prizes after completing the program's reading requirements. The initiative, now in its second year, is open to students from

NEW YORK, NY-The man convicted of stabbing author Salman Rushdie, leaving him blind in his right eye, went on trial on federal transnational terrorism charges in a US court on July 22. Assistant US Attorney Timothy Lynch told a federal court

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI - Ancient craftsmanship, indigenous art forms, and regional traditions from across India found a global audience through a collection of handcrafted works that showcased the country’s diverse cultural heritage. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to

MUMBAI- Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan has revealed that writing the songs for the 2001 romantic drama 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' was the toughest assignment of his career because he had to travel to South India and complete the film's

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI – The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), in partnership with Routes 2 Roots, is launching a series of year-long certificate courses in Indian art, music and dance. The courses cover Bhangra, calligraphy, Madhubani painting, Hindustani classical

NEW DELHI- ‘Indiahandmade’, a dedicated digital marketplace under the Government of India's Digital India initiative, is bringing over 64 lakh handloom and handicraft artisans into the digital economy by connecting them directly with buyers and expanding market access. The platform, developed

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump praised Second Lady Usha Vance during a special Independence Day edition of her children's literacy podcast, calling her "so popular around the White House" and telling her, "Everybody loves you," while sharing personal reflections

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - New York based Artist Shreyas Navare is bringing a global perspective to American history with a new series of presidential watercolor caricatures. The collection, a preview of his upcoming book, ‘Hail to the Chiefs: Celebrating America at

India-West News Desk SARATOGA, CA - When Silicon Valley Shakespeare opens its summer repertory season, its South Asian American reimagining of 'Much Ado About Nothing' aims to stand out as a central draw, reshaping Shakespeare’s comedy through the energy of a

India-West News Desk DAYTON, OH - A new contemporary fiction novel titled ‘Before We Were Women’ has been released by Sunita Reddy, M.D. The book is currently available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle formats. The narrative centers on three female characters, Anita

India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA - When Atlas of Humanity opened its New York edition last week at One Art Space in Tribeca, it brought with it more than an exhibition. It carried a decade-long attempt to map human cultural

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI - Mintage World, the online museum dedicated to coins, stamps, and banknotes, has officially released a coffee table book titled ‘Stamps, Coins, and Banknotes Issued During the Premiership of Shri Narendra Modi.’ The 200-page compilation serves

India-West Staff Reporter 'Leave and Come Back' by Lavanya Lakshmi, Pamela Dorman Books, Hardcover, $30.00 'Leave and Come Back,' the debut novel by Lavanya Lakshmi, blends romance, family drama and South Asian cultural traditions. Released on June 16, the book explores themes

India-West Staff Reporter PALO ALTO, CA — TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will present the world premiere of 'The Employee Dharma Handbook,' a new play by playwright Geetha Reddy, from July 8 through August 2 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. Set

India-West Staff Reporter 'Faraway Family' by Padma Venkatraman, illustrated by Nicole Wong; Nancy Paulsen Books; ages 3-7; $18.99 Award-winning Indian American author Padma Venkatraman will make her picture-book debut with 'Faraway Family', scheduled for release on August 25. Known for acclaimed novels including

MUMBAI- Choreographer Rajit Dev has directed and choreographed the official anthem for the FIFA World Cup 2026, titled ‘Siir Siir’, which features actress Nora Fatehi. The music video is scheduled to be showcased during the tournament's opening ceremony. Directed by Moroccan filmmaker

Photo Credit: Will Kirk, Johns Hopkins University India-West News Desk LOS ANGELES, CA — Indian American anthropologist Anand Pandian has been named the recipient of the 2026 Zócalo Book Prize for 'Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How

India-West News Desk SUNNYVALE, CA- Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 classic ‘A Doll’s House’ is being reinterpreted for the Sunnyvale Theatre, shifting the story from its original Victorian setting to the contemporary world of the South Asian diaspora in Silicon Valley. Director Rita Bhatia said

PICTURE CREDIT-www.compassionunites India-West News Desk SAN FRANCISCO -Ishan Shivanand, founder of Yoga of Immortals (YOI) and the mental health initiative Compassion Unites, has received a Gold Award at the 2026 Nautilus Book Awards for his memoir, 'The Practice of Immortality.' The book won

BHOPAL, INDIA -Widely admired for his ghazals, Bashir Badr built a literary legacy that spanned decades and earned him readers and admirers across India and the global South Asian diaspora. The renowned Urdu poet and Padma Shri awardee passed away

WASHINGTON, D.C .-Second Lady Usha Vance announced the winners of a nationwide bookmark design competition that invited elementary and middle school students to reflect on what America means to them as the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. The

WASHINGTON, DC -Second Lady Usha Vance visited the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to promote childhood literacy, using a stop at one of Team USA's premier training facilities to encourage children to read during the

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY - By all appearances, Sangeetha Kowsik’s life spans multiple disciplines: she is a Hindu chaplain trained in Islamic calligraphy, the former Head Designer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and founder of a multidisciplinary studio

By Arpita Banerjee IRVINE, CA - For one afternoon in Irvine, five decades of Bharata Natyam history came alive on a single stage. Ektaa Center’s ‘Dance Conversations: Five Decades. One Living Tradition,’ presented May 2 at the Lakeview Senior Center, brought together six