Dr SUSHMA JANSARI
THE CURATOR
She is the Tabor Foundation Curator South Asia Collections at The British Museum and an active blogger (https://thewonderhouse.co.uk/). She is one of the first people of Indian origin to take on a permanent curatorial role at the British Museum.
SARATHY KORWAR
THE COMPOSER
He is a British-Indian percussionist, composer, and producer based in London. In his works, he blends Indian classical orchestration, free-jazz improvisation, and hip-hop. In addition, he talks about his vision of the world.
AMRIT WILSON
THE ACTIVIST
She is a prominent Indian-born and British-based writer, journalist, lecturer and activist on issues of race and gender in Britain and South Asian politics. She had first-hand experience with the Grunwick strikers and was a friend of the Gujarati strike leader Jayaben Desai. In her own words Amrit ‘always focused on the issues of women’.
URJA DESAI THAKORE
THE CHOREOGRAPHER
She is a Kathak dancer and choreographer and was trained under Smt Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb School, Ahmedabad. Today she is the head of Pagrav Dance Company, where she trains the next generation of dancers and performs her productions in the UK. Her speciality is to use her classical Kathak training in order to create a unique contemporary dance style.
PARLE PATEL
THE PRODUCER
He is a prominent YouTuber (Planet Parle), music producer, comedian, radio presenter, actor, and producer. Recently he initiated the contemporary British Gujarati folk dance movement, Raas Rebellion, and created his alter-ego figure, Kokilaben Patel.
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NIRANJANA DESAI MBE
THE LITERATURE PROMOTER of the Gujarati Literary Academy (GLA)
She has been instrumental in promoting Gujarati language and education in this country. She has been active within and through the important Gujarati Literary Academy based in West London. The society’s motto is ‘Read Gujarati, write Gujarati, learn Gujarati and live Gujarati’ and its aim has been to keep Gujarati language and culture alive in the UK.
To know more about Gujarati Literary Academy visit http://glauk.org/
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KRUPESH HIRANI
THE BRENT POLITICIAN
He is a Councillor in Brent, who has served in cabinet posts covering Adult Social Care, Public Health, Sport and Leisure and oversaw Brent's year as the London Borough of Culture. He is also a visionary for young people: “I am passionate about making sure my daughter's generation has better opportunities to succeed than those previous and that they also live in a cohesive and peaceful society and community.”
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BHADRA VADGAMA
THE PROMOTER of the Gujarati Literary Academy (GLA)
She has been instrumental in promoting Gujarati language and education in this country. She has been active within and through the important Gujarati Literary Academy based in West London. The society’s motto is ‘Read Gujarati, write Gujarati, learn Gujarati and live Gujarati’ and its aim has been to keep Gujarati language and culture alive in the UK.
To know more about Gujarati Literary Academy visit https://glauk.org/
SWAMI YOGVIVEK
THE HEAD PRIEST
He is the Head Priest of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Neasden, the largest Hindu temple in Europe. In this role, he provides pastoral care to the BAPS Swaminarayan followers.