ChaiTimeRadio

In this special episode of ChaiTime on KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM, Pranjali speaks with poet, musician, and yoga teacher Priyal Maheshwari about his remarkable journey from IIT Kharagpur and the world of technology to music, spirituality, and self discovery. Rooted in the traditions of Kabir, Ghalib, and Mir, the conversation moves through bhakti, shayari, love, longing, philosophy, and inner transformation. Guided by the teachings of Padma Shri Prahlad Singh Tipaniya Ji, Priyal reflects on music as both a personal and collective experience. With live tanpura and guitar in the studio, the episode unfolds like an intimate mehfil of reflection and song.

This week on ChaiTime at KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM, I had the pleasure of hosting Ben Kramarz, a Berkeley-based songleader, music educator, author, and founder of the Sacred Music Fellowship. Ben is devoted to creating immersive musical experiences and building communities through the shared power of song. We spoke about his upcoming Earth Day gathering, the beauty of participatory music in nature, and how voices raised together can create connection, healing, and a sense of belonging. Our conversation also explored sacred sound traditions from around the world and the role music can play in uncertain times. A thoughtful and uplifting episode filled with insight, warmth, and soul. Hope you will like it. For more information on Ben and the Earth Day celebration (Sacred music fellowship), please visit: https://www.benkramarz.com https://sacredmusicfellowship.org

On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, we had a special guest, Dr. Rewa Kumar. In a deeply meaningful conversation, we explored TriAnsh, a vision where music becomes prayer and devotion transforms into a shared community experience. More than an event, The Grand Night of Mahashivratri in the Bay Area is an immersive spiritual journey of sound, energy and collective elevation. Grateful for the opportunity to bring this sacred dialogue to Chai Time and to reflect on how music can awaken something timeless within us. Come with family, come with friends, come with your parents, bring your teenagers, invite your neighbors, and make it a beautiful night of togetherness. Join this extraordinary Bay Area celebration on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 5 PM to 11 PM at the iconic Fox Theatre in Redwood City. This is more than just an evening out; it is a shared spiritual and musical experience designed to uplift, energize, and connect us through devotion and collective prayer. For details, tickets, and more information, please visit triansh.org and divinitybyrewajee.com.

In this special episode of ChaiTime Radio, we continue our journey into the timeless ocean of knowledge — ज्ञानेश्वरी, the divine dialogue of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Centuries ago, at barely sixteen, Dnyandev poured the Sanskrit Bhagavad Gita into the lyrical rhythm of Marathi ovi, turning philosophy into poetry and wisdom into song. As we celebrate the 750th birth anniversary of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, we present a modern echo of that spirit through Geet Dnyaneshwari — a remarkable musical project by Dr. Dinesh Katre and Paritosh Katre. With over seventy original compositions inspired by the Ovis of the Dnyaneshwari and the Abhangs of Sant Dnyaneshwar, their work bridges Hindustani ragas with Western harmonies, devotion with innovation. About the Guests Dr. Dinesh Katre — Scholar, composer, and former Senior Director at C-DAC, Pune, with a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction. He has devoted over two decades to interpreting the Dnyaneshwari through music, art, and calligraphy. Paritosh Katre — Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer trained in both Western and Hindustani classical traditions. A Machine Learning Scientist at PayPal, Paritosh brings a contemporary soundscape to ancient wisdom. Together, they have created Geet Dnyaneshwari — a living bridge between philosophy and melody, tradition and technology. Tune in as we explore how timeless verses find new voice in today’s world. You can listen to their beautiful compositions on: https://www.youtube.com/@GeetDnyaneshwari And you can get in touch with them and know about their latest productions through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/geet.dnyaneshwari

In this special episode of ChaiTime Radio, we journey into the timeless ocean of knowledge — ज्ञानेश्वरी, the divine dialogue of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Centuries ago, at barely sixteen, Dnyandev poured the Sanskrit Bhagavad Gita into the lyrical rhythm of Marathi ovi, turning philosophy into poetry and wisdom into song. As we celebrate the 750th birth anniversary of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, we present a modern echo of that spirit through Geet Dnyaneshwari — a remarkable musical project by Dr. Dinesh Katre and Paritosh Katre. With over seventy original compositions inspired by the Ovis of the Dnyaneshwari and the Abhangs of Sant Dnyaneshwar, their work bridges Hindustani ragas with Western harmonies, devotion with innovation. About the Guests Dr. Dinesh Katre — Scholar, composer, and former Senior Director at C-DAC, Pune, with a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction. He has devoted over two decades to interpreting the Dnyaneshwari through music, art, and calligraphy. Paritosh Katre — Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer trained in both Western and Hindustani classical traditions. A Machine Learning Scientist at PayPal, Paritosh brings a contemporary soundscape to ancient wisdom. Together, they have created Geet Dnyaneshwari — a living bridge between philosophy and melody, tradition and technology. Tune in as we explore how timeless verses find new voice in today’s world. You can listen to their beautiful compositions on: https://www.youtube.com/@GeetDnyaneshwari And you can get in touch with them and know about their latest productions through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/geet.dnyaneshwari

It was such a joy to welcome back Ambika Sahay, the inspiring Founder and Executive Director of the South Asian Literature & Art Festival (SALA Festival), on Chaitime today. A year ago, she joined us to share her vision for this incredible festival. Today, she returned with powerful updates, fresh ideas, and a sneak peek into what’s coming next. From culture to creativity to community, you won’t want to miss this vibrant conversation (recording link coming soon). Mark your calendars for September 13 and 14, 2025 at Menlo College, Atherton, and be sure to grab your tickets at www.salafestival.org (http://www.salafestival.org/). #Chaitime #SALA #SouthAsianVoices #CultureAndCommunity #StanfordRadio #BayAreaEvents #ArtsAndLiterature

This week on Chai Time, we sit down with Dr. Lalita du Perron — Associate Director of Stanford’s Center for South Asia — for a rich and honest conversation about her journey, research, and the stories that shape her work. A scholar of Hindi poetry and performance, Lalita is the author of Thumri Lyrics and co-author of The Songs of Khyal. Her work spans courtesans, queer parenting, and questions of consent — always bold, deeply human, and full of heart. She also hosts SASSpod, giving voice to South Asia at Stanford. Don’t miss this thoughtful exchange on identity, storytelling, and life at the intersection of academia and lived experience. Dr. Lalita du Perron is the Associate Director of the Center for South Asia at Stanford University. She earned her PhD from the University of London and is the author of Hindi Poetry in a Musical Genre: Thumri Lyrics, and co-author of The Songs of Khyal. From thumri lyrics and courtesans to queer parenting and questions of consent, her work is bold, thoughtful, and deeply human. She’s also the host of SASSpod, a podcast that brings stories and voices from Stanford’s South Asian Studies community to life. Lalita brings both intellect and heart to everything she touches — and today, we have the privilege of learning from her journey.

The Vasu Dixit Collective is a vibrant ensemble that fuses folk traditions with contemporary sounds, creating a musical tapestry that resonates with both the heart and the soul. At its core is Vasu Dixit, renowned for his open-throated vocals and dynamic performances, whether with his band Swarathma or through his solo endeavors. His artistic journey is a celebration of life's nuances, blending his roles as a composer, musician, and filmmaker to craft music that transcends mere entertainment .​ Joining Vasu are Joel Sakkari and Manu Shrivastava, whose contributions are pivotal in shaping the Collective's evolving sound. Joel, with his expertise in synth and guitar, and Manu, skilled in keys and synth, bring a modern edge to the band's folktronica style. The Vasu Dixit Collective's repertoire includes original compositions and special renditions of poems by revered saint poets like Purandaradasa, Basavanna, and Kabir, sung in Kannada and Hindi. Their music serves as a conduit for community connection and compassion, inviting audiences into a shared experience that is both introspective and celebratory. Want to know more and connect with them, here is the link: https://www.vasudixit.com

What an absolute blissful afternoon it was at the Stanford campus, immersed in the vibrant world of Nautanki—the rich folk theater tradition of North India. It was an honor to spend time with not just great artists, but also remarkable human beings who are preserving and innovating this beautiful art form. We had the privilege of engaging with Padma Shri Pandit Ram Dayal Sharma Ji, a living legend and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, whose dedication to keeping Nautanki alive is awe-inspiring. Adding to this enriching experience was his son, Professor Dr. Devendra Sharma, a prolific artist and scholar in his own right, and Shubhra Prakash, a familiar voice on Chai Time and a celebrated theater artist from the Bay Area, now making waves in New York. Don’t miss this special episode of Chai Time, where we dive deep into the world of Nautanki, exploring its timeless charm, evolving narratives, and the passion that fuels these extraordinary artists.

This Women's Day, we celebrate strength, leadership, and innovation by shining a spotlight on the North American Film Association (NAFA: https://northamericanfilmassociation.org), an organization where women don’t just have a seat at the table—they lead the way. With 95% of its top executives being female, NAFA stands as a true beacon of female leadership in the arts and entertainment industry. In this special episode of ChaiTime, we bring you an inspiring conversation with four extraordinary women—leaders, professionals, and passionate volunteers—who have seamlessly balanced careers, families, and a deep love for the arts. My heartfelt thanks to Arundhati Datye, NAFA Co-founder and Film Production Lead; Riya Thosar, NAFA Co-founder and Marketing Lead; Archana Saraf, this year’s Film Festival Lead; and Gauri Gholap, a dedicated donor, contributor, and volunteer. Together, they share their experiences, the challenges they have overcome, and their vision for a more inclusive and empowered future in film and leadership. Please click the link on the top to listen to this special episode as we celebrate the remarkable women shaping NAFA and paving the way for future generations. Their stories inspire us all to push boundaries, challenge norms, and embrace leadership with confidence and purpose. The North American Film Association (NAFA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and advancing Marathi cinema and culture on a global stage, with a special emphasis on engaging audiences in North America. Through film production, distribution, festivals, screenings, and educational programs, NAFA provides a platform for local talent to share their stories in a global format, fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in Marathi filmmaking. By making Marathi cinema more accessible in mainstream theaters, curating masterclasses, and showcasing high-quality films, NAFA aims to preserve Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage, bridge cultural boundaries, and deepen the appreciation of regional Indian cinema worldwide.

What an incredible afternoon at KZSU Stanford with Rajeev Prakash, Aarti Prakash, and Shubhra Prakash. Tune into my Chaitime show to discover their fascinating journeys and insights. We explore Shubhra Prakash's solo play Fontwala, a tribute to the remarkable life of Rajeev Prakash Khare, a pioneer in typography and calligraphy for Indian scripts. He designed the Anglo Nagari Keyboard, which enabled Indian scripts to be typed on a Latin keyboard. Don't miss your chance to meet these inspiring artists at: An Evening of Performance and Calligraphy with Shubhra Prakash and Rajeev Prakash Khare, which is today, September 25, at 6 pm** at the San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB), 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103. 👉 [Register here](https://tinyurl.com/yvehu46d) #Fontwala #Chaitime #RajeevPrakash #ShubhraPrakash #KZSU #Typography #Art #Performance #Calligraphy #Inspiration

What an absolute pleasure it was to host Dr. Anna Bigelow and Ambika Sahay on Chaitime today! Click the link to enjoy our conversation about SALA 2024, a vibrant celebration of culture and creativity! 🎧✨ Ambika, Founder and Executive Director of the Art Forum, excels in innovative events, while Dr. Bigelow, Director of the Center for South Asia Global Studies at Stanford, specializes in Islamic Studies and South Asian religious traditions. Don’t forget to buy your tickets and be part of this incredible cultural extravaganza!

Abhi Gholap, with over 20 years in healthcare innovation, has co-founded successful startups and secured many patents. Currently he is leading OptraSCAN, an AI pathology platform, and serving as an investor at HealthFAX, focusing on Generative AI healthcare solutions. Abhijit is also a charter and board member of TiE Silicon Valley and founder of the Jiji-Bhau Foundation, supporting children with Leukemia in rural India. Beyond his professional achievements, Abhi is a renowned figure in the Marathi film industry. He has won स्वर्ण-कमळ national award for his first movie “देऊळ”. He founded NAFA to establish the Marathi film industry in the USAand is organizing the first American Marathi film festival on July, 27-28 July in San Jose. Exclusive World Premiere of 4 movies at NAFA, America’s First Marathi Film Festival, in presence of director and actors on 27-28 July 2024 at San Jose, CA Book:- https://lnkd.in/gnHnEvb8

After 25 years, one of the most significant celebrations of Maharashtrian Culture, Customs, and Community— Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) is coming to the global center of tech and innovation—the Bay Area! It was a pleasure to host @prakash ji and @anita ji @chaitime on standard radio and talk about one of the most happening events in the Bay Area, BMM2024. Prakash ji is the convener, and Anita ji represents the volunteer team. Together they provide a snapshot of the program and eminent artists, offering a comprehensive view of the lineup, performances, and creative talent involved.

Conversation between Dr. Aloka Nanjappa, Salil Chowdhury’d daughter.

I had the rare privilege of conversing with Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, an exceptional scientist and nation-builder. This unique opportunity allowed me to gain insights into his remarkable contributions and their impact on both scientific advancement and nation-building. Our transformative conversation left a lasting impression on me, reinforcing the significance of human potential and innovation. This encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the profound influence individuals can have on society. Enjoy the conversation.

Chethan Anant is a South Asian Classical bansuri (bamboo flute) player, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and music educator based in Chicagoland. He has studied the Raagdhaari Sangeet Classical Music tradition for most of his life. He has been fortunate to study under esteemed gurus, including Pandit Ronu Majumdar, Pandit Shyam Kane, Pandit Vikas Kashalkar, and Pandit Arun Kashalkar. Chethan has been teaching music since 2016 and has shared his new generational perspective on classical music with more than 50 students. He spends months each year studying with his gurus in India and extensive time practicing at home. Saurabh Kumar began learning tabla from the age of five from Smt Bindu Pathak and later received training from Shri Nishad Parmar. Since 2016 he has been learning from Shri Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee at the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Atlanta. Saurabh is currently a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Stanford University. He is an avid Zakir Hussain fan and treasures watching and listening to Zakir Sahab whenever possible.

Maya Vishwakarma is the Founder and Chairperson of Sukarma Foundation. A native of Mehragaon village in district Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh (MP), India, Maya has lived in San Francisco, California, USA, for nearly a decade and distributes her life between two countries. She is known as India's 'Padwoman,' and has tirelessly fought against society's deep-rooted decision that devalues the existence of menstruation among women. Sukarma Foundation is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization working on improving the lives of rural Indians. Key initiatives (or Karmas) by the foundation include educating women about the importance of female hygiene and sexual health, empowering them through employment opportunities via sustainable businesses, providing telemedicine facilities to people in remote areas with a want of timely quality medical assistance, making primary education available to children and adults from impoverished sections of the Indian rural population and many more. You can donate, help and learn more about the foundation: https://sukarmafoundation.org

In this Chaitime, we talk to poet, singer, songwriter, and inventor Kavish Seth. In this episode, Kavish talks about his musical journey and his latest single, Hindi Kavish has also conceptualized an innovative project, Zubaan, a music project that aims to create platforms for collaboration between independent music artists from different corners of India. Chapters have started in Odisha, Varanasi, Deoria, Kausani, Khetri, Nagpur/ Wardha/ Gadchiroli, Mumbai, and Kolkata, where around 30 artists have been collaborating and performing all across the mainland. Kavish has also created an innovative instrument, Noori, which allows him to play different kinds of music using the same instrument. Kavish graduated from IIT Bombay but chose to pursue music and connect with people.

In today's ChaiTime, we talk to Shri Anand Mahadeo Ganu, Founder-President of Garje Marathi Global, and Dr. Sanjay Bhandari, a leader and key contributor to Garje Marathi Global projects. Mr. Anand Gaju is the Founder-President of Garje Marathi Global (www.garjemarathi.com), a nonprofit registered in California, USA. Garje Marathi Global is a platform for 'Non-Resident Marathi' and 'Back to Motherland Marathi' ( परत मातृभूमीला मराठी) who value knowledge, education, and entrepreneurship. GMG has four main objectives: Networking, Mentoring, Giving back to society and our roots, and celebrating the success of Marathi around the world. Dr. Sanjay Bhandari is the Founder and CEO of a Stealth mode Start-up. Previously, he held positions as President & CTO at MEMSIC Inc., CTO and Sr. VP mCube (now Movella) and has won several awards, including EE Times/EDN Start-up of the Year award in 2012, "MEMS Start-Up of the Year" by MEMS Industry Group in 2014 and "MEMS/Sensor Device of the Year" in 2015. He has 69 filed patents, including 27 granted US patents. Today, we will talk about the organization and GMG's upcoming event - Garje Marathi Global Excellence Summit 2023 ICC, Milpitas on July 29, July 30, 2023. You can register and find all the information at: https://garjemarathi.com/event

Background Music - Morning Ragas by Ravishankar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n91Vhdrrkss)

In today's ChaiTime, we talk to renowned award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale (http://www.maheshkale.com). In this conversation, we talk to him about his musical journey and his upcoming Stanford Jazz workshop, Indian Jazz Journey, with jazz saxophone virtuoso George Brooks. Details of the workshop are here: https://stanfordjazz.org/more-info/indian-jazz-journey-mahesh-kale-george-brooks-22/ Mahesh Kale is a San Francisco Bay Area-based Indian Classical vocalist renowned for specializing in Indian Classical, Semi-Classical, Devotional, and Natya Sangeet. After winning India's National Film Award as the Best Playback Singer for a classical piece in the film Katyar Kaljat Ghusli in 2016, Mahesh Kale has established himself as the face of Indian classical music of the new generation. Trained in the Gurukul learning system from the legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Mahesh is among the most sought-after performers globally. He has performed extensively in India, USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Mahesh and his wife, Purva Gujar Kale, have established Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation, ICMA (http://www.maheshkale.com/new/#icma). ICMA is a not-for-profit organization working towards preserving, nurturing, and celebrating Indian classical music through activities and projects to expose global audiences to this art form and to aid its sustainment through charitable initiatives.

हम रहें या ना रहें कल, कल याद आएँगे ये पल At Chai time radio today, we celebrate KK's legacy on ChaiTime with Vamsidhar, a prolific singer and prominent bay area voice. It is not just a regular episode but a heartfelt collaboration of two ardent, dedicated fans of KK. I hope you will like it and send your good wishes and blessings to our talented singer Vamsi. Indian playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, who was fondly known as KK, died unexpectedly last year on May 31st. The untimely news of KK's demise shattered millions of fans, but the only solace is that he went doing what he did best - singing and winning millions of hearts. KK was one of the greatest playback singers of the modern era, and it is a humble effort to pay tribute to him through his songs sung by Vamsi. You can listen to the complete songs and stay updated with Vamsi's singing at: Youtube channel link: https://www.youtube.com/@vamsimusic Tribute to KK playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4brP8Gc9ag&list=PLTE0qBLi0A3zBagQcbfoOPW_EPhaTkjED&index=9

In today's show, we play Saaz, Awaaz, and Andaaz presentation Rhythms of the legends with नितिन शंकर जी. It was an honor to listen to stories and hear melodious music from the rhythm master Nitin Shankar Ji on the latest episode of Saaz Awaaz and Andaaz. Nitin Shankar Ji is a legendary rhythmist who has remastered Sholay theme music with contemporary instruments and was the rhythm arranger for the 1942 love story Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge, Devdas, Hum Dil de chuke sanam, Bajirao mastani, Kalank and many more. He learned tabla from the great maestro Ustad Alla Rakha Sahab and Zakhir Hussian Sahab and has worked with legendary composers like Sachin Dev Burman, Rahul Dev Burman, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This program was telecast live using Facebook Live with Nitin Ji joining from Mumbai and our bay area artists and a live audience in Pleasanton, CA. There is more to come in Part -2. *Saaz Aawaz Andaaz* (SAA) is a Unique Musical Initiative of the East Bay Karaoke (EBK) group with an objective to preserve Acoustic Music; Melody of Acoustic Musical Instruments & to motivate and encourage music lovers, especially the young generation. It was started by Mr. Vilas Thuse, a big fan, and connoisseur of Hindi cinema music. This program was conceived and organized by Vilas Da, with the notable music personality of the Bay Area, Raju Chidambaram, and the great team of Saaj Awaaz and Andaaz. You can support SAA with your kind contributions to the crowdfunded initiative. https://gofund.me/5c9f827b *SAA Team* Concept & Design: Vilas Da Program Director: Raju Chithambaram: Director of Technical & Sound Engineering: Vamsi Dhar: Marketing & Admin: Kanika Wah Audio-Visual Support: Abhijit Purandare Photography & Event Support: Chetan Wakade Videography & Event Support: Megha Thuse Creative Art & Event Support: Divya Raman: Event Management: Gayatri Seethamraju, Gitika Sharma, Priti Nagda:

मेरी प्रिय कविता - सीताः एक नारी (Sita: Ek Naari) श्री प्रताप नारायण सिंह by Chai Time Radio

In this Chaitime, we talk to Annette Philip and Rohit Jayaraman from the Grammy-nominated band Berklee Indian Ensemble(https://berkleeindianensemble.com/). The band will perform in the SF Bay Area on April 7th, 2023, as part of their "The Shuruaat Tour," celebrating their Grammy-nominated album Shuruaat. The show in SF Bay Area is in collaboration with the Sankara Eye Foundation. An evening where cause joins creativity, this event will help Sankara Eye Foundation achieve the goal of raising donations for 1000 free eye surgeries as part of its Vision 2030: March to a Million initiative(https://www.giftofvision.org/the-shuruaat-tour). Founded in 2011 by Annette Philip, the Berklee Indian Ensemble is a world-renowned collective known for its global Indian sound that honors traditions while boldly experimenting with genre, culture, and multidisciplinary art. In July 2022, the ensemble released their debut album, Shuruaat, a collection of 10 songs featuring 98 musicians from 32 countries. Shuruaat was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Album at the 65th GRAMMY Awards.

With 37 years of Airline flying and transitioning as the youngest woman Jet Commander (B737) in 1989, Captain Nivedita has flown Turboprops, Boeing as well as Airbus planes. Brave, bold, and determined, she succeeded in transforming her passion into her profession. When just 26, Capt. Nivedita Bhasin became the world's youngest Woman Jet Commander in 1989, creating a record. After flying for three decades, finally, she has retired from flying but not from encouraging and motivating young girls while still following her passion and hobbies.

मेरी प्रिय कविता - सतपुड़ा के घने जंगल (भवानी प्रसाद मिश्र) by Chai Time Radio

Celebrating the legacy of Rashtrakavi Shri Shrikrishna Saral with Dr. Jagdish Vyom by Chai Time Radio

Children's Day is celebrated across India to raise awareness about children's rights, education, and welfare on 14 November every year. Today, it was our honor to celebrate it in our studio with Dr. Jagdish Vyom Ji, known for his remarkable contribution to children's literature. He has written many novels, stories, and poems for children. He is a pioneer in creating awareness about understanding child psychology and writing poetry to touch the cord of young readers. His poetry on children is prevalent and part of the school syllabus in many schools all over India. Today, he read some popular children's poems written by various Hindi poets and also talked about बाल साहित्य (children's literature) in detail. He also recited his poems along with his granddaughter Ayra. You can listen to all of this on Soundcloud:

On this Chatime, we talk to Dr. Pallavi Sharma, a poet, painter, professor, and dear friend… She paints with her pen, writes with her paintbrush, and makes her way to our hearts. Pallavi is a multidisciplinary artist whose research interest concerns Asian American women's cultural production and activism. She is a board member of the Asian American Women Artists Association and founder and director of 'Inner Eye Arts,' a nonprofit arts organization working for the visibility of Asian American Artists in the SF Bay area. Pallavi's work has been exhibited in the US and abroad, including at the Queens Museum of the Arts, the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, the Aicon Gallery in New York, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, and the Taubman Museum of Art in Virginia, among others. Her works explore the theme of marginalization, patriarchy, and misogyny and examine the notions of memory. She has published two poetry collections, कच्चा रंग (Kachcha Rang) and कोलतार के पैर (Koltar ke Peir)। We talk to her about poetry, paintings, community and more. You can find out more about her work and get in touch with her at: https://www.pallavisharma.com

आज अध्यापक, लेखक, कवि, संपादक, नवगीत एवं हिंदी हाइकु के विकास के लिए सतत प्रयासरत डॉ. जगदीश व्योम जी के साथ स्टैन्फ़र्ड यूनिवर्सिटी के KZSU 90.1FM पर बात करने का सौभाग्य मिला। सरकारी महकमे में कुशलता से बड़ी बड़ी ज़िम्मेदारियों का निर्वाह करते हुए भी सतत साहित्य व संस्कृति की सेवा में जुटे रहे जगदीश जी। अनेक प्रकाशन, अनगिनत उपलब्धियाँ, और बहुत ही सफल प्रवास है उनका लेकिन मुझे सबसे ख़ास लगा उनका सरल, विनम्र स्वभाव। आसमान सा व्यापक दृष्टिकोण लेकिन ज़मीन से जुड़ा हुआ नम्र, मृदुभाषी और सबमें प्यार से घुलमिल जाने वाला व्यक्तित्व। आज की ये मुलाक़ात हमेशा याद रहेगी। डॉक्टर व्योम जी का बहुत आभार, धन्यवाद और शुभकामनाएँ। आप उनसे जुड़ सकते हैं उनके ब्लॉग के माध्यम से: vyomkepar.blogspot.com

Rungmunch is a nonprofit organization founded by Smita Karhade and Madhaw Karhade in 2016 with a passion for theater with the desire to give back to the community. Within 5 years of its inception, Rungmunch has donated over $250k for various causes and helped raise $500k. GITPro awarded Rungmunch "Charity Organization of Year - 2016". It's a platform where driven actors, directors, dancers, musicians, singers, and playwrights of Indian origin come together to produce great theater to raise funds for a worthy cause. Rungmunch operates with a philosophy that. "as an attendee or performer in any play, movie, or musical show, we enjoy every moment of it, and while doing so, if we could be the reason to put a smile on someone's face, then it will be more satisfying." #For CommunitiesByCommunities #EmpoweringArtistsForBettermentOfCommunities #MakeADifference You can find all the information about the cause, its events, and opportunities to volunteer at: https://www.rungmunch.org Please join them in their upcoming event, "Azadi ka Mahotsav" (Saturday, Sep 24, 2022 10:00 A.M to 7:00 P.M. University of Silicon Andhra 1521 California Cir, Milpitas, CA 95035)

Raskhan Madhuri by Chai Time Radio

From the epic: Sakhi wo mujhse kehkar jaate - Yashodhara by Maithili Sharan Gupt

वह तोड़ती पत्थर; देखा मैंने उसे इलाहाबाद के पथ पर- वह तोड़ती पत्थर। सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी "निराला" Suryakant Tripathi Nirala’s “ Wo Todti Patthar” is one of my favorite childhood poem. Nirala Ji was well aware of hardship of life, and in these lines he explains same of a labor woman working on roads of Allahabad in a hot summer afternoon. अभी मई का महीना चल रहा है है।भीषण गर्मी और ऐसे में आप जब ये कविता सुनें तो आप उस औरत की मनोदशा, और उसके कष्ट शायद महसूस कर सकें।

In this Chaitime, we talk to Sujit Saraf about Naatak's Annual Musical Buddha, which is currently being performed at Kelly Park Open theater and tickets can be purchased here: https://www.naatak.org/buddha/ Written and directed by Sujit Saraf, produced by Soumya Agastya, music by Nachiketa Yakkundi. The musical is set in the sixth century BCE and portrays the life of the Shakya prince Siddharth which eventually alters the course of human history. With a giant mural for a set, colorful costumes, and imaginative props, the play is a visual treat and a unique outdoor experience in the shade of lush maple and oak trees. In this interview, we talk to Sujit about his vision of creating the play, Sujit's background, and the brief history of Naatak, the premier Indian theater company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sujit Saraf received his Ph.D. from Berkeley. He works in Palo Alto, Calif., where he researches space missions and satellite control. Sujit runs Naatak, the premier Indian theater company in the San Francisco Bay Area, when not being a geek. He is the founder and artistic director of Naatak. Sujit is a recognized author, and he wrote his first novel "Limbo" in 1994. His 2007 book, "The Peacock Throne," was shortlisted for the Encore Prize in London. His third novel, "The Confession of Sultana Daku," is will be made into a motion picture starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Saraf was nominated for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 for his fourth book, "Harilal and Sons." He has also tried his hand at independent filmmaking with two feature films in his bag.

Wiki gives a simple definition for the word friendship. Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. So simple yet so profound. There are no words and no bounds to describe this bond, this connection. There are relationships, there is love, but beyond all the layers is something boundless, infinite, and soul-soothing, and that is friendship. There can be many friends, but there is the only one which makes us think who is she to me, or who is he to me. Radha has the same question for Kanu, for her Krishna, and Dr. Dharamvir Bharati has expressed it beautifully in his poem, Kanhupriya...Tum Mere Kaun Ho? प्रेम, प्यार, विवाह, भाई, माँ, पिता, बहन, गुरु, बेटा बेटी ये सब शब्द किसी ना किसी रिश्ते को परिभाषित करते हैं लेकिन, एक ऐसा रिश्ता है है जिसे किसी नाम, शब्द या परिभाषा में बांधा नहीं जा सकता, जो देश, दुनिया, मर्यादा, बंधन, नाते, रिश्ते, संयम, सही, ग़लत सबसे परे है। दो आत्माओं के बीच का एक अनकहा लगाव, दो दिलों के बीच एक गहरा बंधन, दो हृदयों का अटूट जुड़ाव जो अलौकिक होता है। क्या है वो, क्यों है वो आख़िर कौन है वो हमारा जो इस तरह से हमको अपने में डूबा लेता है कि मैं और तू से अलग होकर हम एक अलग ही धरातल में आ जाते हैं, बहुत क़रीब लेकिन फिर भी ये जान नहीं पाते की आख़िर वो हमारा कौन है। ये सवाल राधा के मन में भी आए और अपने अंतरंग कनु यानि कृष्ण से राधा ने पूछा तुम मेरे कौन हो कनु? राधा की जिज्ञासा, राधा के प्रेम, राधा के समर्पण को डॉक्टर धर्मवीर भारती ने एक बहुत ही सुंदर कविता में बांधा है जिसका नाम है "कनुप्रिया" और उसका एक अंश है जो मेरे दिल के सबसे क़रीब है - तुम मेरे कौन हो। राधा के कनु को पूछा ये एक प्रश्न हर कनु हर राधा के लिये है Flute Credit - Rakesh Chaurasia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9cefe-xD04

In today's Chaitime, we interview an inspiring community leader Usha Sundar and hear her incredible story of building the Hi5 youth foundation. Founded in 2015 by Usha and her husband R. Sundar, the Hi5 Foundation(https://www.facebook.com/Hi5youthfoundation) serves underprivileged children to help them develop life skills through the basketball game. She shares with us various stories that highlight multiple challenges she had to tackle over the years, including the COVID pandemic, the socio-economic situation of underprivileged children, and the social stigma attached to allowing girls to participate in sports. Hi5 started helping disadvantaged children in the Mumbai area; the organization has since expanded to Hyderabad and Kolkata. Hi5 foundation is currently serving 2100 children with a 50:50 ratio of boys and girls via their 20 centers and 25 coaches. The foundation also supports children from tribal areas. Usha Sundar's work is making such an impact that the NBA just featured Hi5 on their platform, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has taken a particular interest in this program and has become one of the significant donors to the cause.

A sample of Dulari Devi Paintings: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GaKY4dwSesN5MpK18 Youtube Video of the interview: https://youtu.be/Kjg-CENxuP0 Most of us have seen and admired a Madhubani painting at some point in our lives. The artists' colorful and vibrant style and topics in their paintings make Madhubani paintings one of the very famous Indian art forms. Yes, it is indeed a splendid art form, but for me, it means a lot more than just a beautiful expression. The story of Madhubani is closely related to the women’s economic and social empowerment while showing their talent and innermost feelings to the world.  Today, we reveal one such inspiring story of a great Madhubani artist – Dulari Devi. Dulari Ji learned this art from renowned artists Mahasundri Devi and Karpoori Devi working in their houses as a domestic worker. She used to watch them and would dream of becoming an artist and today she has received the Padma Shri award for dedication and brilliance.  In this interview, we cover her astonishing and inspiring journey to become a renowned artist and receiving one of the highest civilian awards by the government of India. Along with Dulariji, We have the privilege to have Kaushik Kumar Jha with her too. As the chief Administrator and General Manager of Mithila Art Institute since its founding in 2003, Kaushik Kumar Jha has been instrumental in bringing the Madhubani artists and researchers together and is a great help and support to the entire Madhubani art community.

In this episode of Chaitime, I talk to Manish Gupta about the Hindi Kavita project(https://www.youtube.com/c/HindiKavita/about). Manish is the force behind one of the most significant literary-cultural projects, Hindi Kavita. Manish has successfully revived interest in Hindi poetry among elites and ordinary people in India, particularly youth. In the last few years, Hindi Kavita has become a household name among poetry lovers in India. The Hindi Kavita project has touched Hindi language-lovers globally. We talk to Manish about his journey and vision. We also listen to some of the popular poems from the Hindi Kavita project recited by Rajendra Gupta(Bhool Galti), Manoj Bajpeyi(Rashmirathi), Swara Bhaskar(Ab mein vida leta hun), and a Chattisgarhi poem recited by Anuj Sharma. Manish Gupta is a filmmaker, columnist, painter, poet, and a cultural-philanthropist. More recently, Manish has also added Urdu Studio and Punjabi Studio to the Kavita project.

Shailendra’s Ji’s poetic genius was in his ability to convey the deepest of human feelings in simplest of the words. Simplicity and sincerity of his expressions made his songs immortal. The legendary team of Raj Kapoor, Shailendra, Hasrat-Jaipuri, Shankar-Jaikishan, and Mukesh are attributed with creating some of the most popular compositions in Hindi film music. Many of his songs like, Mera Joota Hai Japaniand Aawara Hoon met with popularity beyond the borders of India and are still popular in many countries worldwide including former Soviet Union, China and Middle East. In this ChaiTime, we relive his life and legacy with his son, Manoj Shailendra. Manoj Ji has personally witnessed unfolding of the ethereal events which have resulted in creation of the iconic and memorable music, Hindi film industry has ever experienced. Manoj himself is an accomplished musician and has worked with greats like S.D. Burman and Rahul Dev Burman. In this special interview, Manoj Ji has been kind enough to share some of the intimate moments he experienced with his father. To Shailendra’s fans, these details will be a treat to cherish forever.

In this ChaiTime, we talk to musician Sukhawat Ali Khan about his music and his upcoming show on Saturday, 28 October 2017, 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM at The Center SF 548 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117, San Francisco, CA. The program is organized by Kaavya Connections: World Poetry, Literature & Music Meetup group to celebrate its 50th group event. Sukhawat Ali Khan represents the family lineage of the 600-year old Sham Chaurasia traditional school of music established during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar in India. He is trained in classical raga and Sufi Qawwali. He started learning music at the age of seven under his father Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, a legendary Pakistani/Indian vocalist. A San Francisco Bay Area resident, Sukhawat Ali Khan teaches his musical style and performs concerts for dance and world music lovers with his band Baraka Moon. Baraka Moon latest creation Wind horse is available on iTunes and Amazon Music. For his upcoming event, he will be accompanied by: Gurdeep Hira on Tabla, Swapan Gandhi on Flute, Vivek Anand on Vocals and Brad Murphy on Sound Production

In this Chaitime, we talk to renowned ghazal singer from India, Dr. Roshan Bharti and his disciple, Sunita Narain Mathur. A well-established name in the ghazal world, Dr. Roshan Bharti hails from the Senia Gharana. He took his training in ghazals under the tutelage of his father Ustad Yasmin Bharti. Dr Roshan Bharti is the grandson of Ustad Jamal Khan sahib, the revered guru of Shri Jagjeet Singh ji and the nephew of Mehndi Hasan Saheb, the great ghazal maestro. Dr. Bharti is a trained classical singer with a doctorate on ghazal queen ‘Begum Akhtar’s life and works’ from the University of Rajasthan. Currently he is imparting his knowledge of music as a professor in the Kota Girls’ college. Dr. Roshan Bharti is a top grade AIR (All India Radio) and Doordarshan artist and he is also the youngest member of AIR and Doordarshan Audition Board. He has to his credit many great performances in India, Australia, Canada, North America and Bangkok. Roshan has sung with the great ghazal singers of Asia like Ustad Mehndi Hasan, Ustad Ghulam Ali, Shri Jagjeet Singh ji and Abida Parveen. The Times Music has released four of his ghazal albums ‘Ghazal Gold, Daagh, Ehsaas and Shaame Ghazal.

Today, we will take a step back in time to appreciate an icon of his era. A poet of melancholy, spirituality, pain, and divine love - Sahir Ludhiyanvi was a true genius. Each of his songs is a gem and it is impossible to capture his poetry in a one hour show और फ़िर ये sports season है तो मुझे पता भी नहीं था कि show होना है या नहीं तो ये episode वैसा है कि जो दिल में आया कह दिया, जो सुनना चाहा वो सुन लिया types, एकदम impromptu पर साहिर साहब के लिखे गाने हैं, अच्छे ही लगेंगे आपको। समय की पाबंदी की वजह से कुछ बेहतरीन गीत रह गए लेकिन अगली बार...

Kaavad, from Marwar, Rajasthan India, is a storytelling box that storytellers use to tell traditional Indian tales of the Gods, Goddesses, Saints, Local Heroes and Patrons. In this Chaitime interview, we talk to Akshay Gandhi, Project Director of the Kaavad Project(https://www.facebook.com/KaavadProject/). Currently Akshay is visiting USA to bring an inspired collaborative performance work, Kaavad katha – Maya to the US audience. “Kaavad Katha – Maya” is a collaboration between theatre artists, visual artists & illustrators, musicians, a movement artist and a mask maker. A glimpse of Akshay’s performance can be found on here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlMJGlpySW4 This interview was recorded in Berkeley Language Lab and I was joined by UC Berkeley students Mohan Ganesan, Desiree Nayak, and Maya Reddy for the interview. The music included is composed by Kartik Raman.

In this Chaitime, we talk to Padmashri Prahlad Tipaniya about Kabir’s poetry and its relevance in today’s world. We will also listen to some of the bhajans sung by him and his group in the Malawi folk style from Central India (Madhya Pradesh). Prahlad Tipaniya combines a powerful singing style with a magnetic ability to connect with his audience. In his current tour of USA he is accompanied by Ashok Tipaniya, Devnarayan Saroliya, Ajay Tipaniya, Vijay Tipaniya, and Dharmendra Tipaniya. He and his group has recently released a new CD Halke Gaadi Haanko Re. This CD is accompanied by a booklet which contains english translation of all 10 audio tracks included in the CD. More information about this CD can be found by contacting atipaniya@gmail.com. In 1997, Tipaniya started Kabir Smarak Seva Shodh Sansthan in his home in the village of Luniyakhedi. This registered trust organizes an annual event, where thousands come to listen to Kabir’s words through bhajans. This organization also runs a primary school and further plans to include a library of Kabir-related writings and a meditation hall. More information on Prahlad Tipaniya and other artists who sing Kabir’s poetry can also be found at the http://www.kabirproject.org/.

In this Chaitime, we talk to violinist Ambi Subramaniam, Singer-Songwriter Bindu Subramaniam and Singer Raju Chithambaram of Andaz Creations about their upcoming concert Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai on April 8th, 2017. The program features select music from Ambi and Bindu's musical repertoire and violin based Bollywood songs. Details of the concert can be found here: www.indiacc.org/Subramaniaconcert Ambi and Bindu Subramaniam are children of Indian violin legend L. Subramanium and Padmashri Kavitha Krishnamurthy. Known as the 'new king of Indian classical violin', Ambi has been on stage since the age of seven. His greatest musical influence is his father and guru, the legendary violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam. Bindu Subramaniam, having been dubbed a third-generation prodigy and an assured young soprano by the press, Bindu is an accomplished songwriter, singer, and pianist. Bindu has performed and recorded alongside artists like Dr. L. Subramaniam, Kavita Krishnamurti, Al Jarreau, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts, Corky Siegel, Matthew Santos, Pandit Jasraj, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Pankaj Udhas, Hariharan, and Remo Fernandes. Together Ambi and Bindu have a band Subramania. Subramania performs contemporary world music by fusing traditional Indian music with elements of pop, rock, and jazz. It has built on a multi generational musical tradition, but with a sound that is distinct, it’s own. Raju Chithambaram is a lead vocalist in Bay Area band Andaaz Creations. Raju is a student of Mahesh Kale & Pandit Laxmi Ganesh Tewari and has sung with Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, and other elite Bollywood artists. Andaaz Creations is the originator of the Bollywood Broadway Musical and has raised over $1M in fundraisers.

In this Chaitime, we talk to Sufi Murshid (Guide) Kiran Rana about sufism, mysticism and the art of Qawwali, which is a musical rendition of Sufi poetry. Kiran Rana and his group will be performing live at The Center SF, 548 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117, on Saturday, February 25, 2017 Saturday from 3 pm to 6 pm (gate opens at 2). The entry to this event is free and it is being organized by the Hindi Urdu Sufi Poetry Meetup group. Hindi Urdu Sufi Poetry group is an active meetup group in San Francisco. This group was started by Mahendre Kutare, a San Francisco based engineer and a poet, as an experiment to bring together like minded people to read, explore and spread the beauty, love, mystic and spirituality expressed in Hindi, Urdu and Sufi Poems and Literature. The group is now more than 250 people strong and is growing. Kiran Rana was born and raised in India. He became dissatisfied at an early age with traditional responses that emphasized acceptance of scriptures or the elevation of one faith/teaching over another. After finishing his college, he traveled to the west in search of enlightenment. He had his first Sufi training from Fazal Inayat-Khan at Four Winds in England. For the past 40 years, Kiran Rana has been deeply engaged with Sufism. At the Bay Dervish center in Alameda, he and his wife Jeanne share traditional and new approaches to the inner life, love, creativity and awakening. Kiran can be reached at kiran@sufiway.org.

In this show we talk to Sankara Eye Foundation co-founders K. Sridharan and Murali Krishnamurthy about the Spirit of SEF Dandia: the joy, the smiles, the colors, the style - all culminating into a larger than life cause of Eradicating curable blindness in India Tickets: http://giftofvision.org/sef-dandia-2016?SID=fb More than 40 million people in India suffer from some kind of blindness. Of those, 12 million are totally blind, which means ¼th of the world’s blind population resides in India. These are incredibly large numbers. Urged by their uncle Late Sri. P. Balasubramaniam, who was a longtime friend and associate of the Sankara Movement, brothers, Murali and Sridharan initiated Sankara Eye Foundation in USA in the year 1998. Since then their progress has been phenomenal. Sankara Eye Foundation is entirely run by volunteers and works in multiple ways to make Sankara’s mission towards eradicating preventable blindness a reality. More information about SEF can be found at: www.giftofvision.org

In this show we are privileged to have Dr. Vikas Amte, son of late Sh. Baba Amte. Baba Amte setup Anandwan in 1951 to help patients of leprosy on the outskirts of Warora in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. He transformed a barren piece of land into an oasis which today shelters about 2500 people with severe disabilities, leprosy survivors, and other destitute people who are looking for a better life. Dr. Vikas Amte along with Mr. Gautam Karajgi are travelling to the USA to spread awareness about the excellent work done by the residents of the Anandwan, and tell the world the story of success and enterprise of the people who were once forgotten by all. These people not only changed their own lives but now provide a model which can be used to transform rural India, as well as the lives of other downtrodden people, so that they can move from being forgotten to being indispensable. Dr. Amte will turn 70 years old next month and his life story is intertwined with the history of independent India and one of the biggest social enterprise to cure, and rehabilitate countless people suffering from leprosy. This is also story of a tireless quest for those who lost their beauty for no fault of their own but they prevailed to create something beautiful and share it with the world. Dr. Amte and Gautam are here in USA to accept an award for the “most innovative project at the village level” from the American association of energy engineers as well as spread their vision of “smart Villages. More information about Anandwan can be found at www.anandwan.in.

In this Chaitime, we talk to author and journalist Zahir Janmohamed. He went to India for the first time in 2002 to Gujarat, India and found himself in the midst of one of the worst incidents of communal violence. He was 25 years old then, and this experience changed his worldview forever and motivated him to work in politics, human rights and now as a journalist and author. Zahir Janmohamed is based in Portland, Oregon and Ahmedabad, India. He is currently writing a book about the largest ghetto of Muslims in India, an area known as Juhapura. He has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, where he was the inaugural co-recipient of the Anne Cox Chambers fellowship for long-form journalism, as well as from the Mesa Refuge, the Djerassi Resident Arts Program, the Norman Mailer Center, and the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Guernica, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Newsweek, The Boston Review, The Guardian, Scroll India, and many other publications.At the moment, he is a regular contributor to The Economic Times. Prior to working on his book, he spent a decade working in politics. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as the Advocacy Director for Amnesty International where he managed the organization’s lobbying, public outreach, and media work on the Middle East and North Africa. While at Amnesty International, he appeared on CNN, Fox News, BBC, NPR, and Al Jazeera. He has briefed senior officials at the White House and the State Department and authored numerous Congressional resolutions. In 2009, he was asked to testify before the US Congress about human rights abuses in the UAE. As a result, he was given an award by the UN for his commitment to human rights.

In this Chaitime show, we talk to one of the most popular Indian singers Kailash Kher, and Dr. Vijay Tiwari, founder of Daya Sumitra Educational Society Inc(DEST). Kailash Kher is not only one of the most loved Indian artists internationally, but he is also respected for his modest and inspiring lifestyle. He is the founder of famous band Kailasa, which has produced many smash hit albums. Kailash Kher is visiting the San Francisco Bay Area on Aug 21st, 2016 as part of his Ishq Anokha World tour. This is one of those unique shows where 100% of the proceeds will go to fund rural kids in India for their books, uniform, and tuition as part of the school run by DEST. Tickets for the show are available at sulekha.com/kailash or TicketHungama.com/Kailash. In this intimate interview conducted on phone, Kailash Kher talks about value of education, his love for the Bay Area, achievements of Indian diaspora in USA, his difficult childhood, his struggles and inspiration, his band Kailasa, his various socio-political activities which he promotes through his music, his role as a parent and a message to youth. This interview is in Hindi and is a treat for all the Hindi lovers.

In this Chaitime show, we talk with Naatak’s team about their upcoming comedy Noises off which is being dubbed as one of the most outrageous comedy ever staged. The play is a Hindi adaptation of the award winning comedy by Michael Frayn. We talk to the director of the play Harish Sunderam Agastya and actors, Navjoyti Sharma and Niranjan Page about the play. Listen to this fun interview to get an insight into what is in store for the audience in this laugh riot. The details about the showtimes and tickets can be found on Naatak’s website: www.naatak.org Naatak, a 501©(3) registered non-profit, is a theater company in the San Francisco bay area, dedicated to producing intelligent and entertaining plays. Started in 1995 by students at the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, Naatak is now the most prominent and largest Indian theater company in the United States, having performed continuously over 20 years. In those two decades, our plays have been watched by tens of thousands. Our members – more than 750 over two decades – are drawn primarily from the IT industry in Silicon Valley, so is our audience.

In this ChaiTime we talk to director Aditya Kulkarni, and actors Abhay Pranajape and Avadhoot Bhambare about the CalAA’s 42nd production, “Art”. The play was originally written in French by Yasmine Reza and was adapted by Aditya Kulkarni for this production. Following are the timings for this play and tickets are available on www.calaaonline.com. Sunday, April 10th, 2:00pm@Cubberley Theater, Palo Alto Sunday, April 16th, 2:00pm@Front Row Theater, San Ramon CalAA-California Arts Association is a fourteen-year-old organization founded by San Francisco Bay Area drama enthusiasts with a mission to produce and preserve creative performing arts. It aims at promoting experimentation while maintaining high quality. CalAA is a ‘not-for-profit’ organization, which financially supports itself through net proceeds from its events. The actors and actresses, directors, producers, and all other talent come from the local volunteers who donate their time for CalAA. CalAA has major events planned around the year covering Dramas, Music and Dance programs, Video Screening of unique Movies and Teleplays, Weekly TV Show, Workshops and Seminars and a popular platform ‘CalAAnand’ for the enthusiasts within CalAA to present programs on a smaller scale CalAA has received accolades from the discerning audience for highly creative and top quality programs and has established itself in culturally active San Francisco Bay Area in very short period of time. CalAA is always looking for new talent and volunteers as well as suggestions for improvements.

In this Chaitime we pay tribute to great Indian poet Nida Fazli who has left a rich legacy of Hindi and Urdu poetry for his followers. He passed away on Feb. 8, 2016. He has a special place in the world of Urdu Ghazal's and some of his best work has been immortalized by late singer Jagjit Singh.

Happy new year and welcome to Chaitime. In this Chaitime show we relive the lyrical genius of famous shayar Kaifi Azmi Sahab through his poetry and songs from the golden era of Hindi music.

In this Chaitime we talk to renowned Indian jornalist Rajdeep Sardesai about his book "2014: The Election that Changed India" as well as his opinion and ideas on various topics. This interview was recorded during Rajdeep's visit to UC Berkeley. Rajdeep Sardesai is a senior journalist with 26 years of journalistic experience in print and TV, Sardesai was managing editor of the NDTV network before he set up the IBN 18 network with channels like CNN IBN as founder editor. He began his career with the Times of India and was the city editor of its Mumbai edition at the age of 26. He is presently a consulting editor with the India Today Group and anchors a prime time show on India Today. Specialising in national politics, Sardesai has won numerous awards for journalistic excellence including the prestigious Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008, the International Broadcasters Award for coverage of the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for 2007. He has also won the Asian Television Awards 2014 for Best News Presenter in Asia for the coverage of the 2014 general elections. He has been News Anchor of the Year at the Indian Television Academy for eight of the last ten years and his programme Big Fight won the Asian TV award for best talk show twice in a row. He has been the President of the Editors Guild of India and was also chosen as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 2000. Sardesai writes a fortnightly column across several newspapers, including the Hindustan Times. An Oxford blue at cricket, he completed his Masters and LLB from Oxford University after graduating in economics from St. Xavier's College in Mumbai.

We are living in a world in which either we are striving for something which we don’t have or destroying what we have in order to gain something else. But in the end, we realize that we all are looking for shaanti or peace. Somehow, most of us look outside to seek this fulfillment. I believe that the combination of art and exercise and relating to the world through dance, music, pranayam, exercise, one can attain what he or she is striving for. In this Chaitime show, we talk to Dr. Swati Daithankar, an accomplished internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, professor and performer. Along with her, we also have Smt. Vasanthi Bhat on the show. She is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, author, publisher, and producer, who has been serving the bay area for last 40 years and so with her knowledge of Yoga. Both, Dr. Daithankar and Smt. Bhat came together to produce an unique show Nritya Yoga which was presented to bay area audience on Aug. 30, 2015. Smt. Bhat has an upcoming event, Instant Rejuvenation with Yoga!, Oct 3, 2015. Dr. Daithankar will be back to Bay area with her dance drama, Tejo Nidhi, on May 22, 2016. This dance drama is based on the thoughts and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and is a production of Swami Vivekananda Kendra KanyaKumari. Dr. Swati Daithankar is a double graduate from the University of Bombay in English literature as well as Bharatanatyam. She has been honored with the prestigious Nageshwar Rao Award and the National Scholarship for Dance. She has received Nritya Alankar from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, and the National Fellowship for Yoga and Bharatanatyam from Govt. of India. The prestigious Sangeetacharya was conferred on her for her research on the subject Nrityayoga. She has performed in major dance Festivals in India and abroad; namely Europe, USA and Singapore. She is a graded television dancer and has released many dance albums. She is a recognized faculty of dance in Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and Pune University. Nupurnad Academy of Music and Dance is her brainchild; which is successfully pursuing the horizons of classical dance, namely Bharatanatyam, Smt. Vasanti Bhat is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, founder, and director of Vasantha Yoga, San Jose, CA. She has been teaching Hatha Yoga and Meditation for over 40 years. Her caring, gentle, yet powerful yoga style attracts people of ages and from all walks of life. She is the author and publisher of 3 books and producer of 4 CDs and 18 DVDs on Meditation and Yoga Practice. Notable among the honors she has received are, the Human Relations Award and Arts and Humanities for her exceptional services to the Santa Clara County community. She was an honorary guest speaker at the International Conference on World Peace in Ahmadabad, India. She has done numerous seminars/workshops in the U.S.A., and other countries.

In this Chaitime we listen to some of the most recent love songs.

In this Chaitime show, we present Sufi music from great musicians: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abeeda Parveen, A R Rahman, Kailash Kher and more.

Link to Blog page with Preston's photos: http://chai-time-radio.tumblr.com/post/122110585443/photographing-the-indian-diaspora-in In this show, we talk to Preston Merchant about the Indian diaspora, India, politics, California, photography, and other fun things. Preston Merchant is a California based photo journalist. He teaches photography as an adjunct professor at the Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York. His pictures can be found at his website:archive.prestonmerchant.com Preston is currently working on INDIAWORLD, a book-length photo essay about the Indian diaspora communities of North America, the Caribbean, Britain, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. Part of his work is featured in the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit, “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation.” The exhibition is coming to the Bay Area starting August 1st and can be seen at the Olive Hyde Art Gallery in Fremont, CA . Preston has contributed to media in the US, India, and Europe, including The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, India West, India Abroad, The Caravan, The Hindu, Das Magazin, and other places. He was a guest blogger for Sepia Mutiny and is currently a contributing photographer at The Aerogram. Preston has photographed in 15 countries, including India. Indians are all over the world for historic reasons (the need for labor in British sugar colonies), economic opportunity (trade), professional advancement (the engineers, doctors, and others who came to the US after 1965), and personal concerns (better opportunities for the family). Through his photographs, Preston provides a glimpse of Indians spread all over the globe.

In this show, we talk to Harish Sunderam Agastya, Kamala Subramanium and Geeta Rai about NAATAK’s upcoming production Rabbit Hole. The play will be performed at the Cubberley Theater, Palo Alto from June 13-20, 2015. More information about the play, showtimes, and tickets can be found at: http://naatak.com/portfolio/rabbit-hole-2015/. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire is a play about a family’s attempts to come to terms with a tragic loss. Set at a time well after the bereavement, the play examines the lives of 5 people directly impacted by it, as they try to relive their past and reconstruct their future. Rabbit Hole is an unsentimental, witty and improbably funny exploration of grief and is widely regarded as one of the best scripts in this genre. It was also made into a film starring Nicole Kidman, who received nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Harish Sunderam Agastya has been with Naatak since its inception in 1995. Rabbit Hole will be his 9th directorial venture with Naatak after Where There’s A Will (2003), Sleuth (2007), Final Solutions (2008), Aath Ghante (2011), Mowgli and I (2012), Disconnect (2014) and the staged readings of Hayavadana (2015) and A Wife of Buddha (2015). He is on Naatak’s board and serves as its Head of Operations. Kamala Subramaniam’s previous theatre experiences in an actor/director role have been with Mahesh Dattani’s theatre group Playpen (Macbeth, The Owl and the Pussycat), North Carolina Professional Theater (Blood Relations, The Private Ear and the Public Eye, Seussical the Musical, The Vagina Monologues), Bay Area Drama Company (Izzat Bai in Bhopal), and Naatak (Patol Babu Filmstar, Punishment). Additionally, she has donned several production hats for Naatak since 2006. She indulges her passion for theater when she is not busy juggling work and kids. Geeta Rai made her Bay Area debut as Purnima in Enacte Art’s Go To Your Room, Mother. Trained in the Trinity School of London Speech and Drama Curriculum, her love for theater was harnessed by Pune’s renowned teacher, Phiroza Bharucha. She continues sharpening the saw at the Foothill College Theater Program. She is thrilled to be in her first Naatak play, a rite of passage for any Bay Area theater artist. Enjoy the show!

In this Chaitime, we talk to Sindu Singh and Basab Pradhan about Bay Area Drama Company’s second production, A Doll’s house. Details about this event, showtime and tickets can be found at: http://www.bayareadrama.company/upcoming/ Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is one of the most performed plays of modern times. It created waves across the artistic world when it premiered in 1879 with its unusually bold take on gender issues. This adaptation of “A Doll’s House", written and directed by Basab Pradhan, retells Ibsen’s classic by exploring gender stereotypes within a seemingly perfect Indian marriage in the Bay Area. This play has an original composition, Koi Nazm Nahin, sung by Sindu Singh, written by Shekhar Hemnani and composed by Aalap Desai. Bay Area Dance Company or BAD company was founded by Ravi Bhatnagar, Sindu Singh and Basab Pradhan. Bay Area Drama Company is a registered 501(3)© non-profit organization and aspires to present unique and inspired theatrical productions. Sindu Singh is an accomplished actor who has has acted in multiple productions with various Bay Area theater companies. Her past roles include Damyanti Rane in Party, Bagheera in Mowgli and I, Sarita in Kamla, Hamida Begum in Jis Lahore Nahin Vekhya O Jammyai Nahin, Bhagwati in Divided Together, Mahil Mama in Indal Haran and Rita Mansingh in Go to Your Room, Mother! among many others. Basab Pradhan’s interest in theater started at a young age and has continued since. Most recently, Basab’s notable work has included 30 Days in September, Party, and the lead role in Go to Your Room, Mother!. Basab is also an accomplished business leader and an author.

In this show we talk with famous playback singer Shaan about his music and upcoming show for Sankara Eye Foundation, “Shaan Live in Concert with Li’L Champs and Ambini Menon” on Friday May 22, 7:30pm at Flint Center, DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA. Don't miss the great extravaganza and support the great cause of Gift of Vision.

In this show we talk to Sankara Eye Foundation volunteers Sumanth Rajagopal, Padmini Chelluri and young volunteer Sringala about their upcoming fundraiser “Shaan Live in Concert with Li’L Champs and Ambini Menon” on Friday May 22, 7:30pm at Flint Center, DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA. In this show, we talk to Sankara Volunteers about their goal of 20/20 vision for the people of India by the year 2020. We also talk about other events like Sevathon and the work Sankara volunteers are doing with the youth in USA. Information about Sankara Eye Foundation and upcoming concert can be found here.

In this show we celebrate Mother's day. Congratulations and Best wishes to all moms in the world.

In this episode of ChaiTime we enjoy all time hit love songs written by Gulzar. Gulzar is one of the most respected and influential lyricist, director and poet from Hindi film industry. Gulzar has been awarded with Padma Bhushan, Sahitya academy award, Dada Saheb Phalke award and Academy award for best original song, Jai Ho. Along with these he has won numerous Filmfare and national awards.

In this ChaiTime we talk to journalist and author Sandip Roy about his maiden book, "Don’t Let Him Know". Sandip Roy is a Senior Editor at Firstpost.com and blogs for the Huffington Post. He has been a longtime commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition and has a weekly radio program for public radio in the San Francisco Bay Area called "Sandip Roy’s Dispatches from Kolkata". He is also an editor with New America Media. Sandip lives in Kolkata. In this show, besides talking about the book, we also discuss a wide range of topics about him changing his profession, his writing process, his journey from India to Bay Area and back, the state of the LGBT movement and women in India, immigration, class system, the current political scene in India, his family, and his future plans.

In this ChaiTime show, we talk with the NAATAK team about their upcoming play तो सम पुरुष, न मो सम नारी (No man like you, no woman like me) which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s outrageous comedy, Taming of the Shrew. This adaptation is in Bundelkhandi, a dialect of Hindi spoken in the region of central India which is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. This is the first Shakespearean play in Naatak’s 20-year history! In this show, we talk to Director Manish Sabu and Rajiv Nema about their upcoming play, their reason for using Bundelkhandi, the challenges of casting, as well as the illustrious 20 years journey of NAATAK. Manish Sabu has been associated with NAATAK for more than 19 years. His association with NAATAK started with their 4th production, Ek Tha Gadhaa urf Aladad Khan. Since then he has worked as an actor, producer and director in various NAATAK productions. He directed NAATAK’s 33rd production Tuglaq and is now back as the director for their first Shakespearean play. Rajiv Nema is well known in Bay area theater community. He has been active as an actor here in San Francisco Bay Area and is veteran of 20+ plays, 5 movies, several Industrials, voice-overs, web & video trainings, radio- and live shows hosting, stand-up comedy shows. He is an integral part of NAATAK, and has acted in many of its plays as well as directed a few of them. Rajiv is very popular on YouTube. He is the creator of Rajiv Nema Indori video series on YouTube. His Bollywood debut happened opposite Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal. Details of the show timing and tickets can be found at: http://naatak.com/portfolio/to-sum-purush-na-mo-sum-naari-2015/

Shailendra’s Ji’s poetic genius was in his ability to convey the deepest of human feelings in simplest of the words. Simplicity and sincerity of his expressions made his songs immortal. The legendary team of Raj Kapoor, Shailendra, Hasrat-Jaipuri, Shankar-Jaikishan, and Mukesh are attributed with creating some of the most popular compositions in Hindi film music. Many of his songs like, Mera Joota Hai Japaniand Aawara Hoon met with popularity beyond the borders of India and are still popular in many countries worldwide including former Soviet Union, China and Middle East. In this ChaiTime, we relive his life and legacy with his son, Manoj Shailendra. Manoj Ji has personally witnessed unfolding of the ethereal events which have resulted in creation of the iconic and memorable music, Hindi film industry has ever experienced. Manoj himself is an accomplished musician and has worked with greats like S.D. Burman and Rahul Dev Burman. In this special interview, Manoj Ji has been kind enough to share some of the intimate moments he experienced with his father. To Shailendra’s fans, these details will be a treat to cherish forever. December, 14th is Shailendra’s death anniversary and with this extended ChaiTime episode, we pay our heartfelt tribute to the legendary lyricist and poet.

Indian subcontinent can boast to have the widest range of musical variety in the world. While the music from Indian film industry dominates the popular culture, other forms for music like classical, sufi, folk and regional are also equally popular and recognized parts of the mainstream music. But as creativity and desire to express has no limits or boundaries there have always been independent groups and musical bands from Indian subcontinent which have stretched the imagination of masses and the boundaries of the music. Last few years the independent music scene has witnessed the transformation on a more rapid pace. More and more musicians are interested in creating original material and there is a new spirit of innovation and creativity. This has also fuelled by availibitiy of platforms like MTV, Coke Studio, Dewarists as well as ability to distribute music directly on the Internet. In this Chaitime we celebrate the free spirit of some old and some new muscians, groups and bands. We will enjoy music from : Strings, Indian Ocean, Raghu Dixit Project, Junoon, Zeb aur Haniya, Kailasa, Mukti and Revival, Fuzon, Agnee, Swarathma and Advaita.

In this show we talk with Rajiv Nema and Mukund Marathe about the upcoming NAATAK production Andhera Hone Tak as well as their journey as part of NAATAK and other bay area theater groups. Andhera Hone Tak is a Hindi adaptation of Frederick Knott’s famous play Wait Until Dark. A twisty piece of suspense, the play focus on a blind woman who is terrorized by thugs. The film version, also titled Wait Until Dark that was released in 1967, had Audrey Hepburn in the lead role. The play is from November 15-23 at Cubberley Theater, Palo Alto, CA. The play will have subtitles in English for non Hindi audience. Mukund Marathe, director of this play, is a theater enthusiast. He has acted in 4 Naatak plays, directed God of Carnage and translated a play from Marathi into Hindi. He is also founder member and President of California Arts Association - CalAA. Mukund is interested in drama, one-act plays and short films. He is associated with California Arts Association - CalAA for more than 12 years and has been following NAATAK since its inception. Rajiv Nema is well known in Bay area theater community. He has been active as an actor here in San Francisco Bay Area and is veteran of 20+ plays, 5 movies, several Industrials, voice-overs, web & video trainings, radio- and live shows hosting, stand-up comedy shows. He is an integral part of NAATAK, and has acted in many of its plays as well as directed a few of them. Rajiv is very popular on YouTube. He is the creator of Rajiv Nema Indori video series on YouTube. His Bollywood debut happened opposite Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal. NAATAK is the pioneer of Indian theater activities in Bay area. NAATAK, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, is a group of Indian theater enthusiasts in the San Francisco bay area. It was founded in 1995 by students at the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University. The mission of NAATAK is to stage thought-provoking plays & produce independent films with Indian sub-continent topics and subjects.The Board of Directors are Sujit Saraf, Harish Sunderam Agastya and Rajiv Nema. Details of the show timing and tickets can be found at http://www.naatak.com/andhera

French poet Victor Hugo has said, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”. In this ChaiTime show, we will take you to the magical journey where the words will melt into music and music will fill the silence. We will be talking to, the renowned master Jazz saxophonist and Hindustani Classical Musician Phil Scarff and he is going to take us into the enchanting land of sur, taal,and raaga. Phil is a master jazz saxophonist who is pioneering the performance of North Indian classical music on soprano saxophone, exquisitely capturing the subtlety and depth of this music on this Western instrument. He also leads the acclaimed world-jazz ensemble, Natraj. Phil received extensive training in Hindustani music in Pune, India, from vocalist Pt. Shreeram Devasthali, leading sundari artist Pt. Suryakant Khaladkar, and shehnai master Pt. Shyamrao Lonkar, and in Boston, USA, from sitar master Peter Row, and vocalists Kalpana Mazumdar and Warren Senders. Phil has performed with icons of Indian classical music including Kadri Gopalnath, Ronu Majumdar, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Trichy Sankaran, Chitravina Ravikiran, and Shailesh Bhagwat; as well as African master drummers Godwin Agbeli, Abubakari Lunna, Nani Agbeli, and Lamine Toure. He has performed at many well known venues and festivals which include: Nehru Center and Bombay Gymkhana Club - Mumbai; Indian Council for Cultural Relations Theater - Delhi; Maharashtra Cultural Centre - Pune; Jazz Yatra – The Indian Jazz Festival, Prayojana International Music Festival; and Ghana’s PANAFEST. Phil is featured on 30 acclaimed CDs/DVDs, which include ‘Ragas from Dusk,’ and releases by Natraj, Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra and Saxophone Quartet, Sandy Prager and National Film Preservation Foundation. For more information on Phil Scarff, his music and upcoming performances please visit: http://www.philscarff.com http://www.natrajmusic.com To purchase recordings: http://www.cdbaby.com/philscarff http://www.cdbaby.com/natraj

In this episode we celebrate Amitabh Bachchan's birthday. We listen to his memorable dialogues, recitation of Madhushala and some of memorable songs from his movies many of them in his own voice. For Hindi Lovers : http://chai-time-radio.tumblr.com/post/100338534973/aaye-tum-yaad-mujhe-celebrating-amitabh-bachchans

In this show, we celebrate R D Burman's music with some of his most loved songs. Rahul Dev Burman, affectionately known as R.D. Burman or Pancham da, was a trailblazing music composer who left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry. Born on June 27, 1939, he was the son of the legendary composer Sachin Dev Burman. R.D. Burman revolutionized Bollywood music with his unique and innovative compositions that seamlessly fused Indian classical and Western musical elements. His diverse repertoire encompassed soulful ballads and peppy rock numbers, earning him acclaim as one of India's foremost music directors. Despite his untimely demise on January 4, 1994, his timeless melodies continue to resonate deeply with audiences, ensuring his enduring legacy in the hearts of music lovers worldwide.

The “Klose to My Soul” mega concert at the SAP Center in San Jose on May 25 was the first of the three fundraising concert with Bollywood megastar Sonu Nigam presented by Sankara Eye Foundation(SEF). This sold out show was a night to remember for the 8,500 attendees who anxiously waited to see the marvelous and irresistible Sonu Nigam perform live. The symphony orchestra band members, dressed in white tuxedos, were welcomed lovingly by the audience with loud cheers and applause. The band members reciprocated with an awe-inspiring performance and complimented an extraordinary artist like Sonu Nigam very well. In this show we present excerpts from Sonu Nigams press conference and interview with Sankara Eye foundation Volunteers. The event was successful for SEF in many fronts. In addition to connecting with the Bay area community, SEF accomplished its fundraising goals by raising funds towards construction of their next hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and expansion of the hospital in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Please visit www.giftofvision.org for more details.

Sonu Nigam is one of the very loved and respected singers from Indian Movie Industry. In this show we play some of his hit songs and wish him all the best for his upcoming live performance at SAP center, San jose, CA on May 25th. This is a charity show to help Sankara Eye Foundation.

Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli - Golden voice of Manna De by Chai Time Radio

In this Chaitime Show, we talk to Dr. David Szanton, President of Ethnic Art Foundation(EAF), about his journey and experiences on preserving the traditional art of Madhubani or Mithila paintings practiced in the region of Mithila in Bihar, India. David talks about The Mithila Art Institute (MAI), a free art school in Madhubani town, founded by EAF with the hope that the MAI would encourage the development of a new generation of Mithila painters. Now eight years later it has graduated some 180 students, many having received national and even international recognition. David also describes many paintings which are dear to him and those paintings are included in this blog. To see the photographs of Madhubani paintings and more details visit: http://chai-time-radio.tumblr.com/post/77609470053/chaitime-with-dr-david-szanton-on-mithila-paintings

In this Chaitime we talk to accomplished Hindustani Classical singer Madhuvanti Bhide. Born and raised in Pune, India, Madhuvanti’s fascination with singing started at an early age. Madhuvanti’s golden voice and poignant rendering is a powerful combination that indeed captivates audiences wherever she performs. Madhuvanti has been residing in the Bay area for more than twelve years and has given sparkling performances, time and again. She has received training from N.V.Diwan, Dr Alka Deo Marulkar, and for a brief period, from Pt. Arun Dravid, a renowned exponent of Jaipur Gharana. She has released two albums “Arpan" and "Ase Sur Gave”. In 1991, Madhuvanti was awarded the sangeet visharad degree by the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune. In this show Madhuvanti is also joined by Shraddha Joglekar, Artistic Director of Kalavishkar to talk about their upcoming performance Sur-Nartan. You can enjoy this enchanting evening of Indian Classical culture - a union of Hindustani vocal and Bharatnatyam dance on Jan 25, 2014. Details can be found here : https://www.facebook.com/KalaawishkarDanceSchool/posts/80170271984509.

In this Chaitime we talk to Mahmood Farooqui about Dastangoi and also listen to few excerpts from his live shows. Dastangoi is the once thriving art of Urdu storytelling in North India which came to an abrupt end with the death of the last great practitioner in 1928. Farooqui is credited with almost single-handedly reviving a traditional performance art of story-telling, dastangoi. He has published on this subject, and received awards for his cultural work in this arena. His engagement with dastangoi is more than scholarly, however. Farooqui is a performance artist who is reviving this art form through his own practice. His performances have been critically acclaimed. Farooqui is also known for his film Peepli Live (2010), a scathing critique of post-liberalization media culture and politics in India, which he co-directed. For more information on this art form see:http://dastangoi.blogspot.com/

In this Chaitime show, we talk to Anusha in-depth about her movie Peepli Live, which has attained a status of cult movie in India. Peepli Live is a 2010 Indian satirical comedy film that explores the topic of “farmer suicides” and the subsequent media and political responses. It is written and directed by Anusha Rizvi as her directorial debut. It has been three years since the movie was released but the ideas presented are still relevant.

In this Chaitime we talk to the team from Sankara Eye Foundation, USA and Sankara Eye Care Institutions, India who are working tirelessly to make the goal of Sankara’s mission of eradicating preventable blindness a reality. The guests, Sundar Radhakrishnan, C.N. Srivatsan, Murali Krishnamurthy, Dr. Kaushik Murali and Bharath Balasubramaniam were here in San Francisco to attend the Symposium, “Scaling Up Social Impact,” organized by the SEF. Sankara’s achievements are big but their goals are bigger still. SEF and SECI working together have achieved phenomenal progress. They have gone from one eye hospital and 8,000 eye surgeries to 1 million free eye surgeries this year at nine state of the art hospitals all over India. Their plan is to build 20 hospitals by 2020: Vision 20/20 by 2020. In today’s show, we talk to our guests about the challenges and opportunities they see. Also, we get an in-depth view of the operations, organizational capabilities, and innovations being made by Sankara to provide eye care at a large scale level and make it sustainable. Their effort is not only noticed and appreciated by the patients, volunteers and donors, but also by others. Recently SEF received a four star rating by the Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator. Tune in to KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM on Sunday, Dec 1st at 3.00pm to get inspired and become part of a movement which is changing the world.

Jagjit Singh passed away two years back on October 10th. In today’s Chai Time we will listen to memorable songs and ghazals by Jagjit Singh. दुनिया जिसे कहते हैं जादू का खिलौना है मिल जाए तो मिट्टी है खो जाए तो सोना है दुनिया, कभी सोना तो कभी मिट्टी ये गहरी बातें, ये फ़लसफे तो हम बहुत आगे जाकर, बड़े होकर जान पाते हैं लेकिन बचपन इन सबसे अछूता होता है, मासूम होता है। आनेवाली ज़िंदगी के थपेड़ों से अंजान, बचपन तो बस दौड़ना जानता है, भागना जानता है। साथियों, मैं जब भी झुर्रियों से लिपटा कोई चेहरा देखती हूँ, तो लगता है कि एक कहानी होगी इस चेहरे के पीछे और ऐसी कई कहानियाँ हर चेहरे के पीछे लेकिन एक चीज़ जो सबके लिए एक सी होती है, वो है बचपन। सबका एक अतीत-बचपन… हर कोई दौड़ता है, भागता है, बारिश में बेशुमार भीगता है, धूप में नंगे पाँव घूमता है, साथियों के साथ शरारतें करने में मशगूल रहता है, तब कोई शोर कोलाहल नहीं लगता, कोई शाम उदास नहीं होती, हर दिन एक नया आगाज़ होता है और बस खुशियों का खज़ाना होता है। फिर हम बड़े होने लगते हैं, ज़िंदगी की रेलपेल में लग जाते हैं, कुछ पाने की होड़ में जुट जाते हैं, पा भी लेते हैं लेकिन…लेकिन वो बचपन की मासूम खुशी फिर कभी दस्तक नहीं देती और तब लगता है कि सब कुछ छिन जाए तो चलेगा पर वो आँगन, वो गलियाँ, वो दिन वो बचपन वापस मिल जाएँ| ये दौलत भी ले लो, ये शोहरत भी ले लो भले छीन लो मुझसे मेरी जवानी मगर मुझको लौटा दो बचपन का सावन, वो कागज की कश्ती, वो बारिश का पानी The above ghazals and all of his work will stay with us forever.

In today’s ChaiTime we talk to Kavita Krishnan. Kavita Krishnan is Secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), a women’s group that is especially active among women workers, agricultural laborers, and other sections of poor laboring women in rural and urban India. The AIPWA has a record of resistance against feudal violence on women and state repression against women. Kavita has also been a student activist, helping to organize women students on many campuses to demand mechanisms against sexual harassment. Kavita Krishnan was in UC Berkeley to give the third "Maharaj Kaul Memorial Lecture," a lecture series on the theme of social justice. This lecture series has been established in the memory of Maharaj Kaul (1940 - 2009), a UC Berkeley alum, tireless campaigner against injustice and for peace, the founder of groups such as India Relief, Education Fund, and Coalition against Communalism, as well as a long-time supporter of CSAS’s mission and activities. In this conversation Kavita shares problems faced by women in India as well as her inspiring ideas and thoughts to address them.

In this Chaitime show, we listen to melodious voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

In this ChaiTime show we celebrate Asha Tai's 80th birthday and her journey of 65 years in Hindi music Industry. This show is inspired by an article by Shreya Sethuraman in Hindustan Times, in which Asha Tai shared her favorite songs and little background about each one of them. Enjoy the melodious and mesmerizing voice of Asha Bhosle.

Enjoy new Hindi songs from bollywood.

In today’s ChaiTime, we will be covering the event organized by Stanford India association, Stanford University. As you all know, Shri Anna Hazare is currently visiting United stated to spread his message on anti corruption crusade and trying to increase awareness towards the cause, not only in India but all over the world. The aim is to make this non-violent movement a global cause. Anna’s familiar voice which reverberated all through India and is still going strong is now here in United States. Shri Anna Hazare visited Stanford University to have a question and Answer session on August 24th 2013. This event was sponsored by Center of South Asia, Stanford University and was organized by Stanford India Association or SIA.

Kishore Kumar is one of the legendary singers from Hindi cinema. Anyone who has grown with Hindi movie songs is bound to have moments in their life when Kishore Kumar’s voice and songs have touched the right cord. August 4th was his 84th birthday and in today’s Chaitime we celebrate the genius of Kishore Kumar and listen to some of his memorable songs.

In today’s Chai Time show we invite Bernadette White. Bernie is currently working as an Outreach Coordinator at the Center for South Asia at Stanford University. The other hat she wears is that of a doctoral student at Syracuse University, studying Sociology. Her research focuses on rural India, and more specifically, the social and political issues surrounding the discussions of farmers’ suicide. Her research has allowed her to gain experience conducting research internationally- with research trips to India. She has travelled to a lot of different cities in India and has done her fieldwork in the Vidarbha region in Eastern Maharashtra, India. Farmers in India became the center of considerable concern in the 1990s when the journalist P Sainath highlighted the large number of suicides among them. Official reports initially denied the farmer suicides but as more and more information came to light the government began to accept that farmers in India were under considerable stress. It is a very serious issue and our guest today has been doing an extensive research in this field. We will talk about this sensitive issue, plus we will talk to Bernie about how she got interested in India and Indian culture. We will also like to know about her hobbies, favorite movies and of course her favorite Hindi movie songs. We will listen to what Bernie likes to listen.

Everybody has dreams, mostly for themselves, and almost always the fulfillment is personal. However, the people who dream for others, who put aside their own needs and want to help others, are the ones who make the biggest difference. Their effort not only enriches them but all the people around them. Today’s guest, Malati Nimonkar, is a resonating example of this. She runs a unique place Gurukul Ashram, run by Omkar Trust, in a small town in Maharashtra, India to help orphan and underprivileged. Her approach to this social problem is different in a way that she believes that providing for such children needs to go beyond the work done by usual charities. She firmly believes that the feeling of belonging to a family and feeling safe goes way beyond the general need of food and shelter. She equally cares for the education of these children and specially the girls. She has had privilege of working at Anand Van very closely with Baba Amte and his wife Sadhna Amte. She sincerely believes that the time spent in Anand Van has given her the outlook which she tries to use in her day to day work. Today, we will learn of her life, her upbringing, and her contribution to the world.

Mrs. Nilu Gupta is Professor of Hindi language at DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA and is very active in Indian community in Bay Area promoting many social and cultural causes. She is a writer, speaker and a poet. Her book “Jeevan Phoolon Ki Dali" has won many hearts and will be available on Amazon.com soon. She is founder and president of UPMA (Utter Pradesh Mandal of America). She has been also accociated with ICC (India Community Center), Vishwa Hindi Jyoti and Vishwa Hindi Nyas. All of these organizations are very active in bay area fostering various heritage, culture and social causes. In today’s show we talk to Niluji about her life, which included being a CEO of a textile company in India and later moving to USA and related experiences. We will also listen to her poetry.

Our life in today’s world is full of contradictions. On one hand the humanity is coming closer , people are interacting more, they know more about each other but on the other hand there are incidents of hatred and violence. Be it recent shooting at a Gurudwara in Wisconsin or killing of US ambassador Christopher Stevens, it makes you step back and think and try to find answers which are not easy. The problems due to religion, caste, inequality are not new and there have been great people who have tried to understand this from different viewpoints. In today’s Chai Time we explore the theme of tolerance and love through music of recent times as well as music which is motivated by writings of Kabir, Meera bai, Rumi, Narsi Mehta and others.

"Bharat Ratna" Lata Mangeshkar turned 83 on Sept 28th, 2012. In this show, we will listen to Lataji’s solo songs from the golden era of Hindi Music. Send me your request at www.facebook.com/chaitimeradio and I will play your song. Next week we will listen to memorable duets by Lata Mangeshkar and other legends of that era.

“Bharat Ratna” Lata Mangeshkar turned 83 on Sept 28th, 2012. In this show, we will listen to Lataji’s duet songs from the golden era of Hindi Music. Thank you all for sending your requests to me.

Yash Chopra, well known Bollywood film producer, director and founder of the prolific movie production company Yash Raj Films, passed away on Oct 21, 2012. Yash Raj films have produced hits like Deewar, Trishul, Dar, Silsila, Kabhie-Kabhie, Veer Zara, Ek Tha Tiger, Dhoom to name a few. His last film as a director “Jab tak hai jaan" is scheduled to be released in November. In this Chai Time show we remember him by playing songs of the movies produced by him as well as directed by him. May his soul rest in peace.

Enjoy 2012 hit music from Hindi movies. We will play movies from Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Barfi, Ek Tha Tiger and so on.