Browse Items (3303 total)

Interview derived from the celebration of the Pride and Remembrance Run's 25th anniversary. Asked about how the run has changed through the years the interviewee has been involved, what makes the run so special, and about the run's future among other…

Leah Lakshimi, in this oral history, recounts her experience coming to the arts scene in Toronto, where she felt included and respected as a South Asian artist. This was distinct from her experience in the United States and other areas of Canada,…

Acharya was an activist that was involved in the progressive feminist scene in Toronto prior to hearing about Desh Pardesh. She later went on to work in the programming committee for Desh Pardesh. In this interview, Acharya discusses how the…

Mohabeer discusses her experience of moving to Canada during the 1970s, when racism, sexism and homophobia were rampant. She also discusses briefly her experience as a Pakistani person in a time where Paki-bashing was common place. Mohabeer then goes…

Interview derived from the celebration of the Pride and Remembrance Run's 25th anniversary. Asked about how the run has changed through the years the interviewee has been involved, what makes the run so special, and about the run's future among other…

In her oral history, Natasha Singh articulates why Desh was so influential, and also goes into depth about the world-wide influence Desh had on South Asian festivals. Additionally, she gives an example of how Desh empowered her in her everyday life.

Matharu discusses the critical progressive nature of the Desh Pardesh festival, and how this was targeted specifically for a population of people of colour. Matharu also touches briefly on the intergenerational nature of the festival, and how this…

Paramjit Rai was a volunteer and co-coordinator at Desh Pardesh for a number of years. She discusses her experience as a social policy worker and academic at the festival and how this role of “outsider” informed her perspective on the festival. She…

Sharon Fernandez begins by discussing her various works within the people of colour community prior to the Dash Pardesh festival, with a specific goal to push women of colour’s involvement in the writing and in the community. She then discusses the…

Sheila and Rachel, in this oral history interview, speak about their roles in Desh Pardesh, as a contributor and a programming coordinator, respectively. They explain the internal mechanisms of Desh, as well as its public perception at the time. They…