India's link to the Diaspora
the PBD dinner gala
(Adit Kumar photo)
By Adit Kumar
"I congratulate the Government of India for its PBD initiative. This is a smart way for India to transcend borders, build bridges and create the partnerships reaching out to the Indian Diaspora," said Premier Dalton McGuinty as he addressed the inaugural session of the 5th regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) last Thursday at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto.
The Premier observed, "You are tapping into the rich diversity of knowledge and expertise from around the world literally. So far and wide has the Indian community spread that the writer Parag Khanna said, 'The sun never sets on the Indian Diaspora'."
The Governor General of Canada, Dr David Johnston, delivering the inaugural address at the convention, greeted the gathering with 'Namaste' as he lauded the role of the community in nation building and promoting ties with India. He said that "this occasion is even more special given that this is the 'Year of India in Canada' which is doing so much to share the wonders of Indian art, culture and history with all Canadians."
The Head of State said he was interested to learn that by the year 2017 the Indian Diaspora in Canada will become the most populous of any nation of the G8 countries. "That same year Canadians will celebrate 150 years of confederation and I would like to take a moment to consider the significance of these two milestones together." The Governor General concluded his speech with "dhanyavaad" (thank you, in Hindi).
Also addressing the gala dinner was Preneet Kaur, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, who noted that the Indian diaspora has become "an important partner for India's prosperity'' by sending remittances back home, making investments, transferring technical knowhow, and projecting India's soft power by popularizing its culture, films and dance.
Identifying the opportunities that exist and courting Canadian partnership in India's development, the Minister said, "India-Canada ties are developing at a time of enormous opportunities in India. We need $1 trillion in the infrastructure sector over the next decade and foreign investment (and trade) will continue to be an integral part of our growth.''
Indian High Commissioner S.M. Gavai said India was showing its appreciation of the Indo-Canadian Diaspora by holding the PBD in Toronto.
Bollywood singer Shivani Kashyap thrilled the audience with her new hit songs as well as with favourite nostalgic tunes at the gala.
The two-day convention was held under the theme 'Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for the Indian Diaspora'. Over 500 delegates attended.
Two exciting announcements made at the concluding session were, that the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will be opening up an Indian Cultural Centre in Toronto in the very near future and that the Indian government will be setting up five PIO (People of Indian Origin) universities in different cities to deepen its connectivity with the Diaspora.
Dr Didar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, promised a report would be made on the deliberations of the convention and an implementation strategy worked out on utilizing the suggestions coming out of the convention.
with music of hope and light
By William Doyle-Marshall
Just about two years after joining the Nathaniel Dett Chorale founded by Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, the soprano voice of Tahirih Vejdani helped fill the air of the Glen Gould Studio during the final concert series of the company's 2010-2011 (12th) season.
The adoring audience applauded as Vejdani and the entire choir offered a programme of music that provided hope and light under the precise direction of Dr. Blyden-Taylor as the evading Spring season approaches. Hebrew and Christian writings, Persian poetry, including Omar Khayyam's Seven Songs of the Rubaiyat, Cuban and Brazilian compositions filled the atmosphere as Blyden-Taylor conducted the body of professional performers for just about two hours of soothing melodies.
"This is Springtime and usually we like to focus on things that are uplifting and hope and light are things that we celebrate that we can consider spring," said Dr. Blyden-Taylor. This programme combined three different countries - the music of North America and some of the music of Dr. Adolphus Hailstork; four Cuban selections by Silvio Rodriguez and the Missa Afro-Brasileira from Brazil based on Afro Brazilian rhythms and lullabies .
When Vejdani and Walter Mahabir took their respective microphones during Locuras by Silvio Rodriguez -a Beatrice Corona arrangement – it bordered on magical and mystery. Goose pimples find themselves in the midst of this sort of presentation especially when voices meld through variant octaves as singers groove in unison, irrespective of the language of the composition.
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale's 2010/2011 Concert Season series subtitled 'LITANIES', explored the ideas of supplication, of honour and respect, hope, light and thanksgiving. It was an affectionate nod to Mother Africa, her strength, her history, and her people. The musical selections presented during the series have the power to uplift, connect, heal and create a spirit of unity and well being, the promoters promised. And indeed they lived up to that magnanimous expectation.
The season began with "An Indigo Christmas - Kwanzaa Litanies" last December, then shifted to "Voices of the Diaspora - Haitian Voices" in February during the observance of Black History Month prior to its climax three weeks ago.
Vejdani's Indian, Iranian and Canadian linkages instinctively cause her to claim world citizenship. She moved to Toronto about two and a half years ago and a friend who sings in the Nathaniel Dett Chorale and conducts another choir advised her to audition for it. "All I knew was it was a professional choir. I had never seen a video, never been to a concert, never heard them so I went and audition and got in and went to my first rehearsal and to a gig in August before official rehearsal started in September and was completely blown away by the sound and the musicality and the professionalism of all the individuals right there and I knew that wow, I am very privileged to be a part of this group," she reminisced.
Vejdani arrived in Toronto after completing studies for her Bachelor of Music at the University of Regina in the hope of creating a career as a performing artiste. Musical theatre was at the top of her list of priorities. She admits that it was taking a long time to break through that door but somehow she broke into the Chorale scene rather quickly – something she did not expect.
After living in Regina for 15 years, Toronto was definitely an entirely new culture for her to become familiar with. Toronto's diversity and the Chorale's ethnic mixture among its members are rather pleasing experience for her.
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk, and blues. According to Dr. Blyden-Taylor the search is on for a sponsor to fulfil the dream of bringing together a Cuban ensemble for performances with his company here in Canada. The chorale could be contacted via its website – www.nathanieldettchorale.org