Community
Julius Malema, who believes he is a law unto himself, and one that the writer considers to be an absolute racist at heart, is skating on thin ice. At a press conference, the swaggering Malema unleashes a tirade against “Indian” South Africans, claiming that there is an “Indian cabal that is taking strategic positions in […]
Community
Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to treat, correct or cure sexual orientation or gender identity. Primarily used against homosexuals during the 20th century, it has a long-lasting legacy across the globe. One of the main reasons for this is colonialism. Western understandings of same-sex sexuality as a sin, crime or disease were imported […]
Food and Culture
Richard Cantillon (1680-1734) – the world’s first economic theorist – brought the role of the entrepreneur to the attention of scholars. He viewed the entrepreneur as one who bears the risk of establishing a creative enterprise by covering the start-up cost and carrying out production before market demand and price are known. Entrepreneurial Indo-Trinidadian Anand […]
Ambassadors
The Global Indian series expands to St Lucia and Malawi making it one of the world’s fastest-growing encyclopedias of people of Indian origin. On behalf of our team at the Global Indian Series, it is my deep pleasure to announce the joining of H.E Hon Guy Joseph, Minister of Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport […]
Perspectives
*The madness and futility of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict* Wars serve no purpose – they destroy humanity – they exacerbate human suffering to extreme levels of intolerability. Wilfred Owen, in his 1918 poem, “Futility”, exemplifies what a wasteful by-product war has become of man’s inhumanity to man. The raging Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a heresy and must […]
Perspectives
Never did it cross my mind that my home and people would need to be protected in the manner which has been required over the last week. The sense of survival and fear mixed with adrenaline was the combination felt by many citizens in the KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces of South Africa. It was […]
Perspectives
by Hardeep Singh | First published in The Spectator | President Biden’s decision to ‘end the war in Afghanistan’ means the complete withdrawal of 3,500 US troops by the 20th anniversary of 9/11. However, what may be domestically popular — particularly among Trump voters — will soon have consequences for the Afghans left unguarded by […]
Personal development
*The mandamus of our constitutional court must hold* The circus that was ended in a rather tame end – Jacob Zuma meekly handing himself in to the South African Police Services for incarceration. While the country was on the brink of violence in the last week, as intimated by his supporters, we cannot seek pleasure […]
Community
Every so often humanity is tempted to bend the arc of history, only so that the mistakes of the past are meant never to be repeated. On November 16, 1860, a ship carrying 342 indentured Indians arrived in South Africa, and this arrival marked the beginning of a long but tortuous and painful journey in […]
Community
It has been a distressing year-and-a-half for Neha since she moved to Japan from India in January 2020. Her 6-year-old daughter and husband were supposed to follow her a couple of months later. But since then, she has been waiting desperately for them to join her. “In the beginning I was really excited because I […]
Community
I dare say again, our duty of Indianness must go beyond the tricoloured flag of India. Unlike structured religions where Pope-like figures lead congregations, as people of Indian origin we are led by the laws of the lands we now reside in and equally, need to place as much love and attention to our fellow […]
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In today’s episode, Rajan travels to the West Indies to meet Paul Keens-Douglas, one of the most popular Indian-origin storytellers and comedians of the Caribbean who always brings the house down!
A native of Trinidad who spent most of his early years in Grenada, his serious and dramatic tales give an authentically and rhythmically wonderful look at what Caribbean life is really like and what being West Indian means in the world today.
What does being West Indian mean to you? How does your racial identity impact you and others? Share your comments below.
If you like what we do, want to share a story, or support our work, please visit www.globalindianseries.com.
About Paul Keens-Douglas:
Known as Mr.Tim Tim in the theatrical world, Paul Keens-Douglas is one of the most eloquent and best-known raconteurs and social commentators in the English-speaking Caribbean. Born in Trinidad on 22/9/42, he spent his early childhood in Grenada where he attended the St. George’s Methodist School and Presentation Boys College.
He holds diplomas in Commercial Broadcasting and Radio/TV Production from Announcer Training Studios and RCA Institutes of New York, a B.A (Honors) Degree in Sociology from Sir George Williams University (Concordia), Montreal, Canada, and has done two years post-graduate work at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica where he was also Sub-Warden at Irvine Hall.
Active in drama from an early age, he has a wide and varied background in Theatre and Creative Arts. Since his return to Trinidad in 1974, he has focused on highlighting the Trinidad & Tobago and Eastern Caribbean vernacular in dramatic presentations and advertising, both as writer, performer, and producer. Over the years he has become a leading exponent of the oral traditions of which his annual Tim Tim Show and Carnival Talk Tent have become hallmarks.
A self-published author he has to his credit nine volumes of work, fifteen albums, three videos, sixteen CD’s and two DVD’s. His work has been featured in many anthologies and well-known international publications, has been highlighted on the BBC, Canadian and American radio and television, and throughout the Caribbean media and has been translated and published in German and French Creole. His collection Tanti at de Oval was recently translated and published in Japanese by Japanese writer Chikae Taniguchi.
The characters he has created such as Tanti at de Oval, Vibert, Timultaneous, Sugar George, Tingalae, Bobots, Dr. Ah-Ah and many others have become an indelible part of the Caribbean literary landscape. Only recently his well-known story Tanti at de Oval was included in the MCC anthology of cricket verse A Quiet Hush.
Other Cricket Anthologies that feature his stories include: Macmillan: Caribbean Lives-Brian Lara; ArtsEtcInc.: Shouts from the Outfield ; Peepal Press: The Bowling Was Superfine.
His film credits include the National Geographic- Natural World award-winning wildlife film Vampires, Devilbirds & Spirits. He has also produced When Winds Blow a special radio series on disaster preparedness.
The remarkable thing about his work is its wide appeal, an appeal that covers all classes and age groups, but at the same time is wholesome and family-oriented. What’s more, the manner in which he presents his material makes him easily understood by foreign audiences in both the business and artistic arena.
An international performer, Paul makes regular tours of the Caribbean territories and metropolitan countries, entertaining and educating audiences with his marvelous, humor, wit, poetry, storytelling, and social commentary.
In ‘Voices in the Century’, a special millennium edition of the CARICOM Perspective, Paul along with Louise Bennett of Jamaica was highlighted for their contribution in shaping the course of Caribbean development in their area of cultural concern. Indeed Paul Keens-Douglas is seen more as a regional personality rather than belonging to any particular territory. A true Caricom man, he was part of the special presentations marking the 30th Anniversary of Caricom in Montego Bay, Jamaica and its 40th Anniversary at Chaguaramas, Trinidad in 2013.
A former Creative Director with McCann-Erickson (T’dad) Ltd he works within the advertising industry developing creative concepts, programs, promotions and events planning for a variety of clients. His company Keensdee Productions Ltd focuses on management and staff training, with an emphasis on inter-personal and cross-cultural communication. As such he has become a much sought-after Conference Presenter and Motivational Speaker.
Paul Keens-Douglas is also a Global Indian Ambassador.
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have travelled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, person of Indian origin (PIO) or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
Interested in getting involved in building the world’s largest living encyclopedia on the community? Whether you want to become a patron, buy us a chai in a new location or have your story shown, simply get in touch via our website, we would love to hear from you. www.globalindianseries.com
Social media:
You can reach Rajan via
Instagram: @rajannazran
Linkedin: RajanNazran
YouTube: Global Indian Series
Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Episode: 72
Presenter – Rajan Nazran
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Paul Keens-Douglas
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
Other podcasts you may like:
If you liked this podcast, you may enjoy the following:
https://globalindianseries.com/the-brutality-of-indentureship-hidden-history-kyneata-joseph/
https://globalindianseries.com/a-region-that-changed-a-nation-guy-joseph-made-in-st-lucia/
https://globalindianseries.com/ramayan-trinidad-dr-sherry-ann-singh/
Are you a global Indian that needs to go global? You may be interested in our articles on citizenship by investment and global residency options, including Golden Visa planning through to the leading funds to consider. It’s a definitive guide for all global Indians to read on what you need to know and what you must avoid when looking to participate in investment migration and golden visa planning.
We produce content that inspires purpose, passion, and community. If you like what we do, please do share, like, subscribe and comment. It helps massively with online algorithms.
In today’s episode, Rajan stays in South Africa to continue the conversation about the ongoing riots and violence taking place as well as the apparent “race war” against people of Indian origin.
In conversation with Neelofar Sayed, a national radio presenter and reporter, the discussion takes a turn and raises many questions for Indian South Africans on their identity and whether the country can remain their home.
Durban, which is home to over a million Indians and Indian origin South Africans, is witnessing a surge in the attacks on establishments owned by them and social media platforms are being used to incite further violence, including rape and massacre.
We can’t be sure if the line was tapped, but the pre-edited recording contained various interferences and muffled voices. The description of violence and some stories that are recalled in this podcast may be upsetting to some listeners.
To build a better future, we need a better today. Let’s keep South Africa in our minds and raise awareness about what is happening on the ground. Please get in touch if you think there is something you can do with our help. Instagram @rajannazran
www.globalindianseries.com
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief Explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have travelled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, person of Indian origin (PIO) or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
Interested in getting involved in building the world’s largest living encyclopedia on the community? Whether you want to become a patron, buy us a chai in a new location or have your story shown, simply get in touch via our website, we would love to hear from you. www.globalindianseries.com
Social media: You can reach Rajan via
Instagram: @rajannazran
Linkedin: RajanNazran
YouTube: Global Indian Series
Episode: 71
Presenter – Rajan Nazran
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Neelofar Sayed
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Other podcasts you may like: If you liked this podcast, you may enjoy the following:
https://globalindianseries.com/on-ground-with-jayshree-parasuramen-south-africa-riots/
https://globalindianseries.com/the-hidden-apartheid-south-africa-omar-essack/
https://globalindianseries.com/made-in-south-africa-in-conversation-with-ela-gandhi/
https://globalindianseries.com/rajesh-gopie-and-the-south-africa-they-hid-from-you/
Are you a global Indian that needs to go global? You may be interested in our articles on citizenship by investment and global residency options, including Golden Visas. It’s a definitive guide for all global Indians to read on what you need to know and what you must avoid when looking to participate in investment migration and golden visa planning.
We produce content that inspires purpose, passion, and community. If you like what we do, please do share, like, subscribe and comment. It helps massively with online algorithms.
In today’s episode, Rajan travels to South Africa to speak to Jayshree, a reporter in South Africa who is living through the current riots and violence that has been engulfing the country since the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma last week.
The police are overstretched, the military is said to be “on its way”, many people have been killed including children, looting has been rife, houses have been broken into, buildings have been set on fire, shopping centres have been completely ransacked with ATMs broken into, restaurants, bottle stores and clothing shops all left in tatters, but not a word is being said about the minority of people of Indian origin that are purposely being targeted and who are bearing the brunt of this immorality. Social media tags are trending stating Indians must fall, with comments of raping Indian women.
The Indian community have been let down and left to their own devices in defending themselves; a clear indication that the minority race groups in the country are not cared for. Media coverage has been AWOL when it comes to highlighting the actual communities being selected to attack, indicative that this is quite possibly the end of the “rainbow nation”.
The description of violence and some stories that are recalled in this podcast may be upsetting to some listeners. This podcast was recorded only yesterday.
To build a better future, we need a better today. Let’s keep South Africa in our minds and raise awareness about what is happening on the ground. Please get in touch if you think there is something you can do with our help.
@rajannazran
www.globalindianseries.com
About Jayshree Parasuramen
Jayshree Parasuramen is a South African award-winning radio and theater personality. Playwright, reporter, philanthropist, and Global Indian on-ground correspondent. She is the founder and host of women empowering women and founder CEO of the Adoeete foundation a NPC for the underprivileged.
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief Explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have travelled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, person of Indian origin (PIO) or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
Interested in getting involved in building the world’s largest living encyclopedia on the community? Whether you want to become a patron, buy us a chai in a new location or have your story shown, simply get in touch via our website, we would love to hear from you. www.globalindianseries.com
Social media:You can reach Rajan via
Instagram: @rajannazran
Linkedin: RajanNazran
YouTube: Global Indian Series
Episode: 70
Presenter – Rajan Nazran
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Jayshree
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Other podcasts you may like:If you liked this podcast, you may enjoy the following:
https://globalindianseries.com/the-hidden-apartheid-south-africa-omar-essack/
https://globalindianseries.com/made-in-south-africa-in-conversation-with-ela-gandhi/
https://globalindianseries.com/rajesh-gopie-and-the-south-africa-they-hid-from-you/
https://globalindianseries.com/my-battle-with-alcoholism-santosh-harilal/
Are you a global Indian that needs to go global? You may be interested in our articles on citizenship by investment and global residency options, including Golden via planning through to the leading funds to consider. It’s a definitive guide for all global Indians to read on what you need to know and what you must avoid when looking to participate in investment migration and golden visa planning.
We produce content that inspires purpose, passion, and community. If you like what we do, please do share, like, subscribe and comment. It helps massively with online algorithms.
In today’s first-ever bilingual episode, Rajan travels to Pakistan to meet Wali Hamid Ali Khan, a famous Sufi-Rock musician and sibling band member of Raga Boyz, Pakistan’s leading rock band.
Hailing from the infamous Patiala Gharana (classical music house), Wali talks to us about how he maintains the great contribution of his forefathers in Eastern music into modern singing and his desire to create a sound for everyone to enjoy and connect communities together.
How does music connect you to your community and what is it about music that helps you feel grounded? Share your comments below.
If you like what we do, want to share a story, or support our work, please visit www.globalindianseries.com.
About Wali Hamid Ali Khan:
Wali Hamid Ali Khan belongs to a family of musicians and he is the son of Ustad Hamid Ali Khan who hails from the famous Patiala Gharana.
Wali Hamid khan is the lead vocalist of Raba Boyz Band and he has sung a number of songs some of which include Rooth Gaya, Dil Ka Panchi, Noor e Khuda, Mahi Vey, Kina Tenu, Naughty, Attitude, Tera Nika Jeya, and Tenu Chahwan.
The lineage of Raga Boyz goes back to Ustad Kalluji (Darbar Gayak of Patiala State, the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh) followed by his sons and the greatest singers of their era, Ustad Ali Baksh Jarnail and Ustad Barey Fateh Ali Khan. The legacy of this family continued with the descendant, and the pioneers of modern classical singing, Ustad Aashiq Ali Khan, Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan, and his sons Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, and living legend Ustad Hamid Ali Khan. The band Raga Boyz is the ninth generation of this family.
Raga Boyz have performed across the globe in some of the best venues including Wembley Arena (UK) and Radio City Music Hall (NYC) and have toured over 18 countries. They have appeared with singers like Shakira and Rihanna. They have also won several awards and competitions internationally.
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have traveled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State, and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, a person of Indian origin (PIO), or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
Interested in getting involved in building the world’s largest living encyclopedia on the community? Whether you want to become a patron, buy us a chai in a new location or have your story shown, simply get in touch via our website, we would love to hear from you. www.globalindianseries.com
Social media: You can reach Rajan via
Instagram: @rajannazran
LinkedIn: RajanNazran
YouTube: Global Indian Series
Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Episode: 69
Presenter – Rajan Nazra
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Wali Hamid Ali Khan
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
Other podcasts you may like:
If you liked this podcast, you may enjoy the following:
https://globalindianseries.com/the-heart-of-a-musician-with-ashwin-sood-made-in-canada/
https://globalindianseries.com/questioning-the-rhythm-of-culture-rahul-aijaz/
https://globalindianseries.com/ila-arun-indianess/
https://globalindianseries.com/anisa-singh-and-the-power-of-chutney-music/
https://globalindianseries.com/in-conversation-with-taizu/
Are you a global Indian that needs to go global? You may be interested in our articles on citizenship by investment and global residency options, including Golden via planning through to the leading funds to consider. It’s a definitive guide for all global Indians to read on what you need to know and what you must avoid when looking to participate in investment migration and golden visa planning.
We produce content that inspires purpose, passion, and community. If you like what we do, please do share, like, subscribe and comment. It helps massively with online algorithms.
In today’s episode Rajan travels to Malawi to meet with leading entrepreneur, friend and Malawian, Mr Haroon Sacranie.
His story of determination is an inspiration to many, as despite being exiled in and out of the city based on the colour of his skin and the regular battle of opening and closing businesses, his perseverance prevailed and today he is a beacon of entrepreneurialism in the country.
Embedded in Malawi over five generations, he talks to us about how his identity is perceived by the locals and the many misperceptions people often have.
How many generations deep are you in your own country and how are you perceived? Share your comments below.
If you like what we do, want to share a story, or support our work, please visit www.globalindianseries.com.
About Haroon Sacranie:
Haroon Sacranie is Chairman and owner of ZST Investments, a wholly Malawian group of companies that employs over 700 Malawians across 15 subsidiaries located primarily in Lilongwe and Blantyre. A member of the Rotary Club for over 30 years, Mr. Sacranie also chairs several charities and is a Director on the Malawi Stock Exchange Board.
Mr Haroon Ahmed Sacranie was nominated by the Global Indian Ambassadors for his work towards economic and social empowerment for Malawi, Mr Sacranie has over the years provided dedicated support through the Rotary Club for over 30 years in supporting entrepreneurship in the region and providing educational support for the most vulnerable of society.
In 2013, Mr Sacranie completed an Advanced Certificate in Management from Management College of South Africa (MANCOSA). In 2017, M.B.A in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Management (NIBM).
He is currently writing his biography which will be released soon.
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have travelled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, person of Indian origin (PIO) or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
Interested in getting involved in building the world’s largest living encyclopedia on the community? Whether you want to become a patron, buy us a chai in a new location or have your story shown, simply get in touch via our website, we would love to hear from you. www.globalindianseries.com
Social media: You can reach Rajan via
Instagram: @rajannazran
Linkedin: RajanNazran
YouTube: Global Indian Series
Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Episode: 68
Presenter – Rajan Nazran
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Haroon Sacranie
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
Other podcasts:
If you liked this podcast, you may enjoy the following:
https://globalindianseries.com/the-politics-of-choice-uganda-and-me-lord-sheikh/
https://globalindianseries.com/kenyanness-and-my-identity-with-vimal-shah/
https://globalindianseries.com/the-hidden-apartheid-south-africa-omar-essack/
https://globalindianseries.com/meet-the-global-indian-who-is-africanising-music/
Are you a global Indian that needs to go global? You may be interested in our articles on citizenship by investment and global residency options, including Golden via planning through to the leading funds to consider. It’s a definitive guide for all global Indians to read on what you need to know and what you must avoid when looking to participate in investment migration and golden visa planning.
We produce content that inspires purpose, passion, and community. If you like what we do, please do share, like, subscribe and comment. It helps massively with online algorithms.
In today’s episode, Rajan travels to India to meet with the world’s very first openly gay royal figure, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil who uses his status and privilege for good and is an active and powerful voice for the LGBTQ community in India.
When news broke about the prince’s sexual preference in 2006, reactions were polarising. People from his hometown burned effigies of him, while others praised his courage. Being faced with surgery and shock therapy through to being hauled off to spiritual and religious guides to rid him of his homosexuality, this is the untold story of hidden India.
Join us as he talks to us about his experience coming out, conversion therapy, India’s homo-social behaviour and a deeper look into the expectations of society, including a challenge by Baba Ram Dev!
Are you from the LGBTQ community and have you had any challenging experiences? Share your comments below.
If you like what we do, want to share a story, or support our work, please visit www.globalindianseries.com. You can now watch the unedited video version here: https://youtu.be/ffH_hOeJymo
If you like the work Manvendra does, kindly consider supporting here:
https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/LakshyaTrust2021
About Manvendra Singh Gohil:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manvendra_Singh_Gohil
He was born in Ajmer, the only son of Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, Maharana of Rajpipla, and his wife Maharani Rukmini Devi. He has one sister, Minaxi Kumari, who is married into the princely family of Chenani in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1971, the government of India “de-recognized” the Indian princes, and Manvendra’s father consequently lost the official title of Maharaja and the privy purse (an annual pension) that came with it. The princes adjusted to the new socialist regime; the Rajpipla royals converted their family seat, the Rajvant Palace in Rajpipla, into a tourist resort and location for film-shooting. They also set up a second residence in Mumbai. He was educated at Bombay Scottish School and at the Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics (one of the institutions in the Mithibai College campus in Vile Parle, Mumbai.
His parents arranged marriage, and in January 1991, he married Chandrika Kumari, a princess of Jhabua State in Madhya Pradesh. Manvendra says about his marriage:
“I thought that after marriage everything will be all right, that with a wife, I will have children and become “normal” and then I will be at peace. I was struggling and striving to be “normal.” I never knew and nobody told me that I was gay and [that] this itself is normal and it will not change. That this is what is called homosexuality and it is not a disease. I tremendously regret for ruining (Chandrika’s) life. I feel guilty, but I simply did not know better.”
The marriage remained unconsummated. He says, “It was a total disaster. A total failure. The marriage never got consummated. I realized I had done something very wrong. Now two people were suffering instead of one. Far from becoming normal, my life was more miserable.”
His wife filed for divorce after just over a year of marriage. Although further requests for marriage were received, he declined them. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 2002. He says:
It was difficult to be gay in my family. The villagers worship us and we are role models for them. My family didn’t allow us to mix with ordinary or low-caste people. Our exposure to the liberal world was minimal. Only when I was hospitalized after my nervous breakdown in 2002 did my doctor inform my parents about my sexuality. All these years I was hiding my sexuality from my parents, family and people. I never liked it and I wanted to face the reality. When I came out in the open and gave an interview to a friendly journalist, my life was transformed. Now, people accept me.
Upon being informed by the psychiatrists that their son was gay, Manvendra’s parents accepted the truth, but stipulated that this matter should not be revealed to anyone else. He left Mumbai and began living full-time with his parents in the small town of Rajpipla.
In 2005, Chirantana Bhatt, a young journalist from Vadodara Gujarat approached Manvendra. He confided his sexual orientation and the mental stress he was going through as a closeted gay man to the journalist. On 14 March 2006, the story of his coming out made headlines. The “coming out” story was first published in the Vadodara edition of Divya Bhaskar, a regional Gujarati language daily of the Bhaskar media group. It was covered the next day in all other editions of Bhaskar groups language newspapers like Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi language) and Daily News Analysis (DNA), an English newspaper. Soon the news appeared in other English and vernacular newspapers across the country, and became a story that they followed up in their gossip and society pages for several weeks afterward. Manvendra’s effigies were burnt in Rajpipla, where people were shocked. Manavendra was jeered and heckled when he made a public appearance in the town. His family accused him of bringing dishonor and disowned him soon after.
He appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 24 October 2007. He was one of three persons featured in the show entitled ‘Gay Around the World’.
I knew that they would never accept me for who I truly am, but I also knew that I could no longer live a lie. I wanted to come out because I had gotten involved with activism and I felt it was no longer right to live in the closet. I came out as gay to a Gujarati daily because I wanted people to openly discuss homosexuality since it’s a hidden affair with a lot of stigma attached.
He inaugurated the Euro Pride gay festival in Stockholm, Sweden, on 25 July 2008.
He featured in a BBC Television series, Undercover Princes, screened on BBC Three in the UK in January 2009 which documented his search for a British boyfriend in Brighton.[7]
Since July 2010, he has served as editor of the gay male-centric print magazine Fun,[8][9] which is published in Rajpipla.[10]
In July 2013, Manvendra married an American gay man named DeAndre (Cecil) Richardson (née Hilton), a Macy’s cosmetics counter employee, hailing from Albany, Oregon in Seattle, Washington.[11] After meeting Manvendra’s parents, his new father in-law allegedly gave him the “title” of Duke of Hanumanteshwar.
About the Global Indian Series:
My name is Rajan Nazran Chief explorer for the Global Indian Series, the official platform for people of Indian origin (PIO), because let’s face it, we are everywhere!
For almost 15 years we have travelled across the globe covering 58 countries to date whilst exploring the kaleidoscope of our remarkable 50 shades of brown community.
Voyaging to the edges of the Amazon, facing Ebola in West Africa, being held hostage in Eastern Europe, tapping rubber in Malaysia, drinking chai with Heads of State and sharing laughter with local fishermen – I have been there, looking for us!
Our purpose is simple, to build a living encyclopaedia of the human experience of the community and a safe mooring ground for open discussions, whether you are an NRI, Indian Diaspora, person of Indian origin (PIO) or a fan of South Asian anthropology, what we do is bring people and communities together.
We do this by plunging into the human experience of being a person of Indian origin (PIO), taking a second look at the countries we now call home and tackling the conversations we need to know more about.
Through our range of award-winning original content (print, podcasts, events and TV) and fascinating discussions, our impactful stories and platforms have spearheaded national and international conversations that have brought people together.
Our work is featured in global brands including The Indian Express through to the CNBC network.
How to get involved:
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Special thank you to TAIZU for the music
Episode: 67
Presenter – Rajan Nazran
Producer –Global Indian Series/NazranRoth
Guest – Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil
Art Design – Vanisha Patel
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In today’s episode, Rajan travels to the West Indies to meet Paul Keens-Douglas, one of the most popular Indian-origin storytellers and comedians of the Caribbean who always brings the house down!
A native of Trinidad who spent most of his early years in…
