The Centre for India and South Asia Research (CISAR) at SPPGA’s Institute of Asian Research continued its mission of promoting interdisciplinary research and dialogue related to South Asia in the 2023-24 season. Bridging academia and community engagement through various events and partnerships, CISAR’s programming emphasized caste-based discrimination while also engaging with broader social, political, and cultural issues related to India and South Asia.
CISAR continued focus on addressing caste-based discrimination in collaboration with partner organizations Chetna Association of Canada, Poetic Justice Foundation, Ambedkarite International Coordination Society, and the Hari Sharma Foundation. The highlight event was comedian Manjeet Sarkar’s set Untouchable at the York Theatre in March of 2024. Manjeet, the first Dalit comedian from rural India to tour internationally, captivated the audience with his sharp humor, sparking both laughter and deep reflection on caste oppression. His unique style brought attention to the harsh realities of caste discrimination in a way that resonated with a diverse audience. In conjunction with the comedy show, CISAR also hosted a screening of Manjeet’s film Untouchable – Laughing Out Caste, followed by a Q&A session, offering an in-depth discussion on his journey as a comedian and his activism through humor.
CISAR’s anti-caste programming also included the co-sponsorship of OVERCASTE, an exhibit curated by the Poetic Justice Foundation and held at the Burnaby Village Museum documenting caste-based discrimination faced by Dalit Canadians.
In October of 2023, CISAR hosted a screening of When the Tide Goes Out directed by UBC alumnus Ajay Bhardwaj. The documentary explored gender inequality within the Punjabi Canadian farmworkers’ movement, highlighting the complexities of labor activism and migrant experiences in British Columbia. The post-screening discussion featured a dynamic panel of activists and scholars tackling pressing issues like gender dynamics and racism in labor organizing.
In November 2023, CISAR welcomed Dr. Shagufta K. Bhangu from King’s College London to discuss the emergence of pain medicine in India. Dr. Bhangu’s talk drew from her ethnographic research at the Institute of Pain Management in Kolkata and explored how pain medicine is practiced in resource-scarce settings, particularly in relation to industrial labor. This event provided valuable insights into the ethical stakes and cultural contexts shaping medical practice in India.
In January 2024, CISAR facilitated the double book talk Colonizing Kashmir and Hostile Homelands with authors Hafsa Kanjwal and Azad Essa. Moderated by Prof. Jasbir K. Puar, it was an insightful and timely engagement with colonialism across contexts, focusing on Kashmir under Indian occupation and the evolving alliance between Israel and India in the face of the ongoing occupation of Palestine.
Commemorating International Mother Language Day, CISAR hosting a gathering of faculty, students, and community members to celebrate linguistic diversity. The event featured poetry, songs, and storytelling in various mother languages, emphasizing the rich cultural heritage of the South Asian diaspora in Vancouver.
Through its dynamic and varied programming, CISAR continues to serve as a hub for critical conversations on South Asia, creating vital connections between academic research, community activism, and public discourse. Whether through humor, film, or academic engagement, CISAR remains deeply committed to addressing contemporary issues that resonate both locally and globally.
