San Jose State Univ Celebrates Bay Area South Asians

Librarian Mantra Roy. (Photo: Lesley Seacrist, SJSU News Center)

India-West Staff Reporter

SAN JOSE, CA – South Asians comprise almost 20% of the Bay Area’s population, but their stories are rarely told. In a first of its kind for the San Jose State University King Library, SJSU Collection Strategy Librarian Mantra Roy, along with colleagues Kate Steffens, Nick Szydlowski, and Anamika Megwalu, connected with local communities to showcase the vibrant tapestry of the South Asian diaspora for their new exhibit “South Asians in Silicon Valley.”

Since libraries serve as repositories of knowledge, Roy saw an opportunity to showcase the rich traditions, customs and histories of the South Asian diaspora, the SJSU new center said. Through her exhibit, Roy seeks to educate, connect and celebrate the multifaceted identities of South Asians with the strong belief that the power of culture will unite, inspire, and transform lives.

The program, “Will bring visibility to the lived experiences of the diasporas of South Asians in the wider Bay Area. Community members will experience acknowledgment of their contributions and impact because in spite of their numbers, very little is on record and publicly visible in public spaces such as libraries,” Roy said.  

She pointed out, “The less we know of each other, the more biases persist. While the names of some South Asian tech sector leaders are well known in Silicon Valley, or the larger Bay Area, there are multiple sectors and various capacities in which the diasporas contribute, enrich and diversify the valley that are lesser known.”

For dates, rsvp, timings: https://events.sjsu.edu/event/south-asians-of-silicon-valley-exhibit