Sambhavi Lakshminarayanan, Professor, School of Business, Medgar Evers College, CUNY
Topic: “Creating a Place for Your Child and Family in the School Community—a Guide for Minority Parents”
In his discussion, Professor Joarder will include: Challenges for Immigrant Students for Higher Education From Bangladesh-India-Pakistan, Opportunities for Immigrant Students for Higher Education from Bangladesh-India-Pakistan In USA. Background of the Education System in Bangladesh , India and Pakistan , and Changes In Immigration Laws And Procedures For Immigrant Students.
Mahbudul Joarder, Attorney at Law & Educationalist
In his discussion, Professor Joarder will include: Challenges for Immigrant Students for Higher Education From Bangladesh-India-Pakistan, Opportunities for Immigrant Students for Higher Education from Bangladesh-India-Pakistan In USA. Background of the Education System in Bangladesh , India and Pakistan , and Changes In Immigration Laws And Procedures For Immigrant Students.
Sunita Peacock, Assistant Professor, English, Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania
Topic: “The Negotiation of Space: Interrogating Identity in the Lives of South Asian/Indians”
Several fiction writers from the Indian subcontinent have made a name for themselves in the United States as they question their space and identity in a culture that is not their own. Some of these writers are Bharati Mukherjee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chitra Bannerjee Divakurni and many others who 1) through their fiction attempt to negotiate a space and a location for themselves as they weave between two or more varying cultures. 2) As an immigrant Indian woman myself, teaching “English Literature” in a predominantly white, rural area of the United States, I repeatedly question my identity and space in my adopted home.
In this talk, 3) I plan to use excerpts from the works of authors, such as Mukherjee and Lahiri to depict the dilemma of the South Asian Indian diasporic community. 4) I will combine the works of social theorists, such as Homi Bhabha, Gyatri Spivak Chakarborty, Partha Chatterjee (all South Asian Indians) and historical/sociological data of the immigration patterns of South Asian Indians to formulate an understanding of the lives of the Indian immigrant culture inhabiting a Western/White construct. 5) I will also look specifically at the lives of South Asian Indian women who, in my estimation, have a double/triple conflict as they negotiate a space between Western/Eastern cultures.
Parmatma Saran, Professor, Sociology, Baruch College, CUNY
Topic: “Some Sociological Observations Concerning Asian Indians”
In his presentation, Professor Saran examines experiences of the Indian Immigrants in the tri-state area, focusing on their family economic, religions, and political affiliation. In addition, he provides their demographic and attitudinal profile.
Minhaj Qidwai, Contributing Editor, South Asian Insider
Topic: “Experiences of Immigrants from Pakistan”
Dr. Qidwai will make a presentation of Pakistan and Pakistanis in America, focusing on demographic data, problems they are facing in this country, and social issues faced by the community in different age groups. His information is based on Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and Surveys.
Moinuddin Naser, Journalist, Bangla Patrika
Topic: “Bangladeshi Immigrants and Their Security Perception”
Beginning of the presence of Bangladeshis in North America dates back to later part of 18th century. After 1989 Bangladeshis- skilled and unskilled workers started coming to America by using H1 visa facilities and Immigration Visa Lotteries. Bangladeshi professionals though have, not largely, but significantly contributed in economy and technology. There are still room for Bangladeshis to improve themselves. Prior to September 11, 2001, Bangladeshis never felt insecurity in America. But they became saddened and confused when Bangladesh was listed with other Muslim countries.
Pyong Gap Min, Professor, Sociology, Queens College, CUNY
Topic: “Religion, Host Hostility, and Religious, Ethnic and Pan-Ethnic Identities Among South Asian College Students”
This research project intends to examine the experiences of South Asian Muslim college students. First, it examines their experiences with prejudice, discrimination, and physical violence, especially after 9/11. Second, it examines the extent to which they preserve their religious rituals and ethnic cultural traditions. Third, it examines the extent to what their religion, national origin or South Asian background is important for their friendship and mate selection patterns. Finally it examines the extent to which their religion, national origin, and South Asian background is important for their identity. To achieve the intended objective, I plan to interview about one hundred Muslim college students at Queens College . This is an interim report based on about 50 completed interviews.
Wali Mondal, Associate Professor, Business, University of Redlands, California
Topic: “The Market for Microedit – Old Wine in New Bottle”
Group based microcredit originated in Bangladesh when Rabindranath Tagore founded the Kaligram Krishi Bank in 1905 in a remote village in northern Bangladesh (Mondal, 2002). Today, in addition to group based lending, microcredit is offered to individual borrowers with or without collateral. At present, there are an estimated 7,000 microlenders or Microfinance Institutes (MFIs) with over 25 million poor clients worldwide. My talk will focus on the origin of microcredit which remained largely uninvestigated until I published my book “Microcredit and Microentrepreneurship Collateral Free Loan at Work in Bangladesh” and the market for microcredit in Bangladesh which has become oligopolistic necessitating government regulation.
Vinit Parmar, Assistant Professor, Film, Brooklyn College, CUNY
Topic: “Health and Environmental Issues in the Tannery and Textile Industries”
The 19 Minute short documentary entitled “ Health and Environmental Issues in the Tannery and Textile Industries” produced in Januay of 2004 was shot in various locations in India to evaluate the current statues of the problems developing countries face with industrial chemical effluents flowing into ground water supply systems. This film was produced and shown at an international conference on the subject in Chennai, India, India held from January 22 through 24, 2004. Attendees of the conference included representative from the private sector, such as NGOs, and businesses, and also from the governments of Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India. This conference was funded in part by the United State International Educational Fund, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Agency on International development that provided the Fulbright Fellowship. The conference was coordinated with the Gandigram Pural Health Institute in Chennai, India.
Siona Benjamin, Painter
Topic: “Finding Home and the Dilemma of Belonging”
In my series of paintings entitled “Finding Home”, I raise questions about what and where is “home”, while evoking issues such as identity, immigration, motherhood, and the role of art in social change. I am still trying to reconcile the conflicts I experienced in my own experience as a Bene Israel Jew who attended Catholic and Zoroastrian schools while growing up in (predominantly Hindu and Muslim) India. My family has gradually dispersed (again), mostly to Israel and America, but my parents remained in India. I am now also an American, living and working in New Jersey.
With such a background, the desire to “find home”, spiritually and literally, has always preoccupied me a concern to which many Americans can relate, as this comparatively younger nation was largely formed by immigrants and their descendants. The feeling I have of never being able to set deep roots no matter where I am is unnerving, but on the other hand, there is something seductive about the spiritual borderland in which I seem to find myself.
My paintings also explore female energy and power, as I am inspired by tantric art (of ancient India). The work is informed as well by Indian miniature paintings, Byzantine icons and Jewish religious art from my childhood. This work emphasizes women’s issues and raises questions about identity. The forms, though, may appear unconventional and exotic to some. In this multicultural society, I would like the viewers transcend this apparent exoticness and absorb the core message tolerance of diversity.
Jaskiran Mathur, SAKHI for South Asian Women
Topic: “Empowerment – The SAKHI Experience”
Empowerment is about change in favour of those who previously exercised little control over their lives. As a not for profit organization working with and for victims of domestic violence, the voice and safe environment that SAKHI seeks to foster through outreach, advocacy, leadership development, and organizing is all about community participation and empowerment, Evidence of real social change lies in the marginalized being empowered to participate in the community and the community taking responsibility for the social milieu it exists within.
