Greetings Curry Lovers!

Do I detect a whiff of change in the air? As Sonia Gandhi's Congress Party sweeps into power in India (...well OK, they haven't swept into power but have to form a coalition....but you get the gist), it seems that septuagenarians are now out of favour and India is indeed truly ready for multiculturalism. It wasn't too long ago that many were saying that Sonia Gandhi had little chance of winning as she wasn't born in India.

In the UK, the mere whiff of change is sending many politicians in a tizz. I am of course referring to the imminent elections on June 10th. If like me, the whole thing has turned into one big snoooooze fest for you .....then sit up for a moment. Operation Black Vote has launched a poster campaign to alert Londoners to the fact that by NOT voting, the door to having a BNP MEP or representative on the London Assembly is a real possibility. It seems the lower the turnout, the greater their chances.

The DTI have also recently launched a new study into the state of the UK Call Centre Industry. Despite alarm bells ringing in Union offices and a general "call to arms" to prevent our white-collar jobs being exported overseas, it seems the UK Call Centre sector is just fine and dandy...thank you very much. In fact, the DTI's report states that over one million people will be employed in this industry by 2007.

ASIANS UNITE AGAINST THE BNP	UK CALL CENTRE INDUSTRY SET TO GROW
Operation Black Vote (OBV) joined forces with Mayoral and MEP candidates, actress Seeta Indrani and other Asians to campaign against extreme right-wing candidates winning seats on the London Assembly. read more	The UK's call centre industry is set to gain around 200,000 jobs in the next 3 years, according to a report by the DTI. The report states that the sector is healthy, and is set to employ over 1 million people by 2007. read more
ASIAN ROLE MODELS IN SCIENCE	ROSHNI - HOPE FOR ABUSE VICTIMS
An investigation into how role models can be best used to persuade young people, particularly from ethnic minorities, to pursue careers in science has been launched by the Royal Society. read more	Roshni, a new charitable organisation in Scotland, has been established to help Black & Ethnic Minority children and young people who are victims of abuse. read more

I write this enewsletter in some state of intoxication....no really, these things do happen.... especially to reporters who like to cover a myriad of Asian Award events. Yesterday afternoon saw the launch of the Cobra Good Curry Guide Awards 2004. Madhu's was brilliant and won the Best UK Restaurant category, which guarantees that we will never be able to get a table in the place ever again. Thankfully, as Sanjay Anand's venture caters for almost the entire wedding scene...we might have a reprieve this summer!

MADHU’S VOTED BEST RESTAURANT	CHILLI CHUTNEY RAISES £5,010
Leading Indian restaurant, Madhu’s scooped the highest honours in the ‘Best UK Restaurant’ category at the 2004 Good Curry Guide Awards on Monday 17th May, 2004. read more	A charity evening at Chilli Chutney restaurant in Streatham on Sunday, May 2 raised £5,010 for Mayor’s charities Streatham StreetLink and Victim Support. Nearly 120 guests enjoyed an authentic Asian evening of music and food. read more

The Indian art market is truly 'hot' at the moment. Gujarati painter Chhaganlal Patel is exhibiting his twelfth show at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London from 21- 26 May. This is followed by Reflections an Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Masters from 27 - 30 May. Sutapa Biswas, a contemporary visual artist will be exhibiting two stunning new films from 26 May until 20 June at the Cafe Gallery in Southwark and 8 July sees an Illustrated Talk by photographer Serena Fass on 'Celebrating Jaipur'.

PAINTINGS BY CHHAGANLAL PATEL	SUTAPA BISWAS - BIRDSONG
Chhaganlal Patel was born on 21 January 1929 in Surat (Gujarat) in India. This exhibition, which runs in London from 21 - 26 May, represents his twelfth one man show in recent years. read more	This exhibition is a major opportunity to view two stunning new films by Sutapa Biswas, one of the leading artists of her generation. Birdsong is a 16mm projected film tableau in which a horse is viewed in a domestic interior. read more
REFLECTIONS - INDIAN MASTERS	CELEBRATING JAIPUR, 8 JULY 2004
Reflections' will launch their first art exhibition of Contemporary Indian Masters in London at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The exhibition will preview on Thursday 27th May 2004 and the show will continue till 30th May 2004. read more	'Celebrating Jaipur', an illustrated talk by photographer Serena Fass ON 8 July 2004 is in aid of The Jaipur Virasat Foundation. Fass's talk will be followed by a presentation by Nimish Patel on 'Conserving Heritage: A Call for Continuity with Change'. read more

The music scene is hotter still. Les Dangereuses is an innovative collaboration of three artists from the UK, India and Mali. Renowned club collective Shaanti have roped in Talvin Singh to present Tabtek on 28 May in Birmingham. Equally renowned Sufi singer Abida Parveen starts a UK Tour from 30 May to 25 June. Percussion is the theme at this year's South Bank festival 'Rhythm Sticks' from 17-25 July.

I am delighted that Jay Sean has shed his Craig David-wannabe style in his latest single 'Eyes on You' which is remarkably good and racing up the charts even as I write. American neo-soul singer-songwriter, Mira Veda, is also launching her debut album 'Infinite Love' in the hope of convincing us that she is the new Norah Jones.

LES DANGEREUSES, 23 - 31 MAY 2004	TALVIN SINGH PRESENTS TABTEK, 28 MAY
This is an innovative collaboration between Juliet Roberts, Shubha Mudgal and Kandia Kouyate, artists from UK, India and Mali. The project will help develop cultural links between the artists of the countries involved. read more	Shaanti - one of the UK's most innovative and exciting club nights gears up to host another monster party this bank holiday as Mercury Music Prize Award winning Talvin Singh has confirmed an exclusive date at Shaanti on Friday 28 May 2004. read more
ABIDA PARVEEN, UK TOUR	RHYTHM STICKS, 17-25 JULY 2004
Abida Parveen, the undisputed queen of Sufi music returns to enthral UK audiences with a regional tour that kicks off at the end of May. She is acclaimed as the leading voice of Sufi Music across the globe. read more	Rhythm Sticks, the South Bank Centre's percussion festival returns to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2004. The line-up includes Zakir Hussain; Trilok Gurtu; Ronu Majumdar, Sidi Goma, the Black Sidis of Gujarat and solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie. read more
JAY SEAN - ' EYES ON YOU', OUT 14 JUNE	MIRA VEDA - DEBUT ALBUM 'INFINITE LOVE'
Jay Sean is set to release his solo single 'Eyes on You' on June 14 2004. Jay has become a huge name on the Asian music scene and looks set to become the first British Asian to cross over into the mainstream. read more	Mira Veda, a sultry soul singer from America, is definitely a talent to watch out for with record labels on both sides of the Atlantic hot on her tail. The neo-soul singer-songwriter has created a debut album called 'Infinite Love'. read more
INDIAN MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOL	ASIAN MUSIC & DANCE SUMMER SCHOOL
The AMC summer school (24-30 July 2004) offers 7 full days of expert tuition in dhrupad, khyal and thumri, and also on sitar. The school gives an opportunity for people to learn directly from the Indian masters. read more	An Asian Music Summer School (26 - 30 July 2004) open to young musicians will have expert tuition from nationally and internationally renowned artists in Indian violin, tabla, Indian singing and sitar. read more

The Mela season is nearly upon us. London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, announced that the Respect Festival 2004 will be held on Saturday 17 July in Victoria Park, East London. A day later is the Croydon Mela which this year will be hosted by DJ Bobby Friction and MC Nihal. The National Theatre's annual outdoor summer fiesta 'Watch This Space' from 18 June - 21 August features the Shyam Brass Band and DJ Ritu's 'Sister India'.

WATCH THIS SPACE, 18 JUN - 21 AUG	RESPECT 2004, SATURDAY 17 JULY
Watch This Space is the National's annual outdoor summer fiesta. It is one of the most eclectic festivals in the UK and runs from 18 June - 21 Aug. read more	Mayor Ken Livingstone has underlined his commitment to anti-racism at the launch of Respect 2004. This year's Respect festival will take place on Saturday 17 July in Victoria Park, East London. Respect is London's largest free music and entertainment festival . read more
CROYDON MELA 2004, SUNDAY 18 JULY
London’s best Mela is back on Sunday 18 July at Lloyd Park in Croydon, with an explosive mix of musical styles. The main stage will be hosted by DJ: Bobby Friction and MC: Nihal and will feature Apache Indian, Jassi Sidhu and Heera. The Nach Arena line-up includes RDB, Simon Sez (Ill Kidz), Class Act Djs, All Out Crew, DJ Stevoss, Mista K aka Khullar, Ranj Rekhl aka Mr. Rekhtic, Messy Jessy aka All out Geeza, Doctor D. S Styla, Mc Scuzie. read more

Let us not forget that this week is Autism Week (17 -24 May). The National Autistic Society (NAS) has just announced the appointment of an Asian woman, Ammara Khan Haque, who will spearhead a special project focussing on Black and Minority Ethnic communities. This follows a call, by Ivan and Charika Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign, on the Government to do more to support autistic BME sufferers. Another Asian woman, Sabina Iqbal has written the first ever guide for deaf pregnant women who use British Sign Language. Mind has released its new report which reveals the staggering levels of isolation faced by Asians with mental health problems.

Amazing that it takes so long for small changes to take place, like the availability of leaflets in Asian languages. The Prostate Cancer Charity research has shown that 95% of Asians would like information on cancer in their own language. This follows CancerBacup's warning that under- funding is threatening services like care helplines and cancer information for BME communities.

ETHNIC MINORITY RISK OF ISOLATION	ASIAN REDUCES TRAUMATIC PREGNANCIES
A new report by charity 'Mind' reveals the staggering levels of isolation experienced by people with mental health problems, with people in Black and minority ethnic communities more isolated than any other group in society. read more	Sabina Iqbal, an Asian Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user, has written the first guide for pregnant deaf women who use BSL, rather than English. It will be published by RNID in association with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). read more
BME COMMUNITIES NEED SUPPORT	ASIAN WOMAN TO SPEARHEAD AUTISM
Ivan and Charika Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK have issued a call for the Government to provide more support for autistic children and adults from Britain's ethnic minority communities. read more	The National Autistic Society (NAS) is to launch its London Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BME) Project during Autism Awareness Week, 17 - 24 May. The charity has secured funding for three years from Bridge House Estates to employ Ammara Khan-Haque as a Development Officer. read more
** MORE HEALTH NEWS ** MORE HEALTH NEWS ** MORE HEALTH NEWS **
LACK OF RESOURCES FOR ASIAN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS The Prostate Cancer Charity's information leaflets have never been more needed as latest research shows that 95% of Asians would like information on cancer in their own language. read more FUNDING CRISIS THREATENS BME CANCER PATIENTS Consistent under-funding, inadequate planning and lack of support for staff is jeopardising the future of valuable cancer information and support projects for black and ethnic minorities in the UK, according to a report by cancer information charity CancerBACUP. The charity is calling for such projects to be mainstreamed. read more

With change a powerful tool, if we could find a way to bottle the mere anticipation of 'change', just imagine what an intoxicating brew we could create!

Until next time,
Lopa Patel (Editor - redhotcurry.com)

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