On Saturday, April 20, 2024, SAJA hosted a virtual screening of "The Last Ecstatic Days," a powerful documentary about a young man's last days and the doctor and community who helped bring grace and love at his end of his journey.  After the movie, shown on the Kinema platform, Prerana Thakurdesai, former SAJA president and one of the film's producers, joined  Dr. Aditi Sethi, one of the film's protagonists in a conversation with current SAJA president Sree Sreenivasan. They discussed how the film was made and responded to questions and comments from a worldwide audience (from Mumbai and Kochi in India to UK and Sweden and across the US).

They also noted the passing of one of the film's champions and executive producers David Sweidler, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "The King's Speech," who died just a month earlier. His testimonial about the film: "After 10 minutes, I was ready to walk over glass to help this film."

You don't have walk over broken glass to help the film. Learn more about it here: thelastecstaticdaysmovie.com and lern about its impact campaign: https://givebutter.com/thelastecstaticdays

And to support Dr. Sethi's efforts to change the way we think about the end of (our) days, please check out and support her Center for Conscious Living & Dying: https://www.ccld.community.

Here are some of the real-time comments we received!

Zainab Sultan in NJ:  ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Congrats everyone for bringing this beautiful film to us!

Norman Chaleff in Kristianstad, Sweden: May Ethan's bravery in facing death inspire millions to face life!

Alystyre Julian: Life and conscious death changing impact. Utterly transcendent. Thank you for making this film. I was so happy to learn about the center in Asheville, after experiencing the film. Thank you Prerana for sharing this with me. Aditi, all hearts!

Zach Moore in NYC: A beautiful film with so much grace. The rabbi's comment about "if we knew the words we'd all know them by now" really stuck with me, and just seeing everyone there for Ethan really showed it's so much more than words. Thank you for sharing this!

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAJA:

• Support us through events around the US and Canada. Have a venue we can use pro bono or subsidized? Have ideas for events? Want to join our 30th anniversary planning committee for the October conference and gala in NYC? Let us know. president@saja.org

• If you're not yet a member: http://saja.org/membership (you don't have to be a journalist or South Asian to become a member)

• Support us by making a tax-deductible donation: http://saja.org/donate

• • We have donated more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships — all thanks to folks like you!

Legendary writer Pico Iyer, who lives in a fishing village in Japan, came to Asia Society in New York April 16, 2024, for a wonderful conversation with Helen Tworkov, founding editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, about  her wise and moving memoir, "Lotus Girl: My Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and America."

"Lotus Girl" provides a space to learn more about the history of Buddhism in America; to hear Helen's reflections on her practice of Buddhism, informed by her interactions with thinkers and artists including the Dalai Lama and Richard Serra; and to consider the ways each of us can better understand and transform ourselves. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/pb7LWDZrYtk?si=P7IcYBx0Z3ba5iEn

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAJA:

• Support us through events around the US and Canada. Have a venue we can use pro bono or subsidized? Have ideas for events? Want to join our 30th anniversary planning committee for the October conference and gala in NYC? Let us know. president@saja.org

• If you're not yet a member: http://saja.org/membership (you don't have to be a journalist or South Asian to become a member)

• Support us by making a tax-deductible donation: http://saja.org/donate

• • We have donated more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships — all thanks to folks like you!

More than 40 members and guests attended a SAJA mixer at Carroll Place in Greenwhich Village on April 4, 2024. 



Many thanks to Jasmine Sheena for organizing the event!

• Along with Jasmine, Beena Sarwar, Mihir Zaveri, Mythili Sampathkumar, Sree Sreenivasan served as co-hosts.

See more photos from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DPQ5bk8GzjNJmoiX6

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAJA:

SAJA-NY hosted members and newcomers for an intimate iftar dinner to celebrate Ramadan 2024. Our guests hailed from London, Chicago, New Jersey, and more, having braved the rainy weather to chat about current events and which New York City borough is superior over Persian kebabs and tea. SAJA Director of Communications Tania Rahman orchestrated the event with the help of VP Priyanka Vora, Secretary Allana Akhtar, and Board Member Jennifer Chowdhury. We're proud to have donated a total of $700 to provide relief for Palestinian, Jordanian and Lebanese refugees. Special thanks to Miraj Healthy Grill in Manhattan for being such gracious hosts. Ramadan Mubarak and we hope to see you all at the next event!

FOLLOW SAJA ON LINKEDIN, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM

UPCOMING SAJA EVENTS:

• April 4: SAJA-NY Mixer: Join us for informal drinks and food at Carroll Place in Greenwich Village between 6-8:30 pm
• April 10: SAJA-DC Mixer: Details to follow on saja.org
• April 20: SAJA VIRTUAL: Doc Screening Of "The Ecstatic Last Days": Join us for a free screening and Q&A with producer Prerana Thakurdesai and protagonist Dr. Aditi Shah

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP SAJA:

• Please share your feedback about the event to secretary@saja.org.
• Become a member — you don't have to be a journalist or South Asian to be a member. http://bit.ly/saja.org/membership
• Encourage your friends to become members.
• Support us through events: Have a venue we can use pro bono or subsidized?
• Have ideas for events?
• Want to join our 30th anniversary planning committee?
• Let us know. president@saja.org
• Support us by making a tax-deductible donation: http://saja.org/donate
• We have donated more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships — all thanks to folks like you!

On a stormy Manhattan Saturday, more than 40 SAJA members and friends gathered to celebrate Monica Saigal's new novel, "A Kiss in Kashmir." The event was held at the home of SAJA President Sree Sreenivasan and his wife Roopa Unnikrishnan. A Kashmir-inspired menu was curated by Saigal, a long-time food writer (and one of Mashable's top 10 food writers on Twitter). She discussed her book, her writing process, why one of her books took 6.5 years and more. She signed copies of the novel for the attendees. 

You can see an album of photos from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/phB6wZozVPkHY7vQ9

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAJA:

Clockwise from upper left: Amar Shah; Sree Sreenivasan; Allana Akhtar; Raakhee Mirchandani.

SAJA's new Zoom series, SAJA VIRTUAL, brings timely panels, talks, workshops and more to our members wherever they are. You can attend live or watch a recording later.

On Wednesday, March 13, we kicked off the series with "Writing Books for Young Readers." Many thanks to our author-members Raakhee Mirchandani & Amar Shah, who shared so many great tips and ideas. And thanks also to SAJA Secretary and freelance healthcare writer Allana Akhtar for being an outstanding moderator. 

Among the comments: "So inspiring!" (Charu Suri)... "Wow — I'm just loving this passion and energy! (Patricia Kitchen)... "So many thanks to all! Your joy and passion are truly inspiring... as is your advice! Keep shining!" (Diane Patrick)... "Thank you all so much for this!" (Ghazala Irshad). 

You can watch the recording here: https://bit.ly/saja_virtual_1

Here's how you can help SAJA:

• Please share your feedback about the event.
  
• Become a member — you don't have to be a journalist or South Asian to be a member. http://bit.ly/saja.org/membership
• • Encourage your friends to become members.
• Support us through events: Have a venue we can use pro bono or subsidized? 
• • Have ideas for events? 
  • Want to join our 30th anniversary planning committee? 
  • Let us know. president@saja.org
• Support us by making a tax-deductible donation: http://saja.org/donate
• • We have donated more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships — all thanks to folks like you!

Watch for more events coming your way on our events page.

Cheers, Sree
Sree Sreenivasan | president@saja.org 
President, SAJA, South Asian Journalists Association
Connect w/ us: Twitter, IG, YouTube

On Feb 29, 2024, SAJA-NY hosted a full-house event at Asia Society with acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh and distinguished journalist Razia Iqbal. We were celebrating the launch of "Smoke & Ashes," Ghosh's latest book, about this history of opium. Our first event with him was in 1995! Many thanks to our long-time collaborator, Rachel Cooper, Director of Global Cultural Democracy for Asia Society. You will see photos below of the speakers, Cooper and Sree Sreenivasan, SAJA president.

Watch a recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFoVjONHDRI

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SOUTH ASIAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION ("SAJA")

The Board of Directors of SAJA hereby gives notice that the Annual Meeting of Full Members of SAJA will take place on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register here.

All Full Members of SAJA are invited to attend and participate.

Associate Members, Student Members, Non-members and other SAJA supporters are also encouraged to attend but cannot vote at the meeting.

Agenda for the meeting:

(1) Report on the activities of SAJA in 2021;

(2) Presentation of the annual financial report;

(3) Presentation of the annual members report;

(4) Election to fill in the five vacancies on SAJA's Board; and

(5) Other matters, if any, duly presented to Full Members at the Annual Meeting.

With respect to the election of board members to fill in the five vacancies scheduled to occur at the end of 2021, nominations have been received from five candidates (see list below). At the meeting, these five candidates will be named to fill in the five vacancies, as having been elected without contest.

The five candidates are: Deena Zaidi, Farnoush Amiri, John Laxmi, Mythili Sampathkumar and Sabrina Malhi.

Read more about each candidate here.

*****

Because of the location of the meeting at a restaurant (which may be noisy), it is not practical to set up a virtual connection. However, if you are a Full Member and are unable to attend and participate in the meeting in person, you may participate in the proceedings by proxy, by submitting this form:

CLICK HERE.

By clicking the above button, and filling out the form, you authorize Ms. Anusha Shrivastava, currently an Advisor to the SAJA Board, to attend and vote on your behalf at the Annual Meeting on any matters which may be duly brought to a vote at the Annual Meeting.

Ms. Shrivastava has agreed to attend the meeting in person and fulfill the duties as proxy for those Full Members who choose this option.

Signed: Board of Directors of South Asian Journalists Association

***

NOTE: Following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, a Holiday Party is planned at the restaurant. Please join. This is organized by SAJA but attendees will pay for their own drinks and food.

Thank you for joining us for #SAJA2020. It's been our pleasure to bring you a series of virtual events, culminating in our awards ceremony, which you can watch in full above.

And a big thank you to our sponsors: 

   Gaur Family   

And congratulations to the finalists and winners of our 2020 awards!

COVID-19 reporting:

Winner: Over 10 agonizing days, this migrant worker walked and hitchhiked 1,250 miles home. India's lockdown left him no choice - Mohit Rao for CNN

How the Pandemic Is Reshaping India - Billy Perrigo and Neha Thirani Bagri for TIME

Dispatches from the world's largest lockdown: exodus, hardship, solidarity - Joanna Slater, Niha Masih, Parth M.N., Taniya Dutta for Washington Post

Nonfiction Writing:

Winner: A Hunger Strike in ICE Detention - Rozina Ali for The New Yorker

Following The North Star - Shaheen Pasha for Longreads

Stories About My Brother - Prachi Gupta for Jezebel

Daniel Pearl Award:

Winner: Democracy Undone - Soumya Shankar for The Ground Truth Project

Investigation: Amazon Sells Clothes From Unsafe Factories in Bangladesh - Karan Deep Singh for Wall Street Journal

The War on Afghan Women - Karishma Vyas for Al Jazeera

Business Reporting:

Winner: Take a Ride Along the Punjabi American Highway - Jaweed Kaleem for L.A. Times

For India’s Caste-Based Sewer Cleaners, an Uncertain Robot Rescue - Puja Changoiwala for Undark

63,000 openings and 19 million applicants: inside India's employment conundrum - Joanna Slater for Washington Post

Race And Diversity Reporting:

Winner: The Contradictions of a Progressive Police Chief - Kiran Misra for Southside Weekly

Amid outcry, these police agencies banned chokeholds. But critics say more reforms needed - Shirso Dasgupta for McClatchy

Swann Street NW Neighbors Shielded Strangers, Stood Up to Police - Ashish Malhotra for Washington City Paper

Arts and Culture Reporting:

Winner: Vital Signs with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Bhutan - Correspondent: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Executive Producer: Elisa Berkowitz, Senior Producer/Writer: Samantha Bresnahan, Field Producer: Sugam Pokharel, Photographer: Sanjiv Talreja, Editor: Anthony Whaley for CNN

Trying to Define a Cuisine Shaped by Absences - Vidya Balachander for The Juggernaut

Kamala Harris' defining Indian influence - Shashank Bengali for L.A. Times

Photography:

Winner: A Day in Delhi's Resettlement Colonies - Kiran Misra for Pulitzer Center

Photo Essay: Gold in the Kutupalong Camp - Fariba Alam for The Juggernaut

Fortify Rights/Doha Debates Rohingya Instagram Fellows - Azimul Hassan for Fortify Rights

Reporting on Any Subject:

Winner: New Workers of the World - Vauhini Vara for Bloomberg

Robbers, strawberries & black-market economics: How to bake a cake in Caracas - Simran Sethi for Washington Post

In Ghana, a Bumper Crop of Opinions on Genetically Modified Cowpea - Ankur Paliwal for Undark

The Network of Hindu Nationalists Behind Modi’s “Diaspora Diplomacy” in the U.S. - Rashmee Kumar for The Intercept

The Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump (series) - Versha Sharma for Now This News

SAJA Journalism Awards are now closed. A big thank you to the judges who helped us recognize great journalism this year! See their names below. And watch the whole awards ceremony here.