There is no sugarcoating it: Canada's unofficial Desi capital, the city of Brampton in the province of Ontario, is a COVID-19 hotspot. But why? Questionable theories abound, and Niru explores a complicated problem with Brampton mayor Patrick Brown (who we also discover has spent more time in India than Niru). First, a snapshot of just how multifaceted pandemic politics are in the heart of Desiland with Gurpreet Malhotra, CEO of Indus Community Services, a social services agency serving Ontario Desis. Subscribe to our Desiblast newsletter to get new episodes delivered to your inbox: www.desiland.ca 

Desiland

#9 - Pandemic Politics and The Mayor of Desiland, Ontario with Patrick Brown and Gurpreet Malhotra

On the eve of Diwali 2020, Niru speaks with fellow Torontonian and author Zenia Wadhwani, whose new children's book, 'Twas the Night Before Diwali, introduces us to the Mithai Monster who gobbles up piles of sweets in the midst of family Diwali festivities!

#8 - 'Twas the Night Before Diwali with Zenia Wadhwani

On another socially-distanced remote edition of Desiland, Niru explores how India has managed the COVID-19 pandemic and why data suggested the crisis began on a positive note. As India closes in on half a million cases, what changed? Our guests: From Toronto, Dr. Prabhat Jha is a renowned  epidemiologist who explains how the crisis has been managed in India, and from Mumbai, Arnob Bal, a music producer and Mispronunciation Nation podcaster, who describes life under lockdown.  Donate to the #HumHaarNahiMaanenge campaign here.

#7 - India Manages the Pandemic with Dr. Prabhat Jha and Arnob Bal

Niru offers a unique perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic from Gurpreet Gill, a Colorado woman whose controversial poem on the crisis, "What if...", recently went viral on Facebook. Gill, who describes herself an intuitive healer and guide, spoke to Niru via Zoom video conference in a conversation the Desiland host describes as a "soothing balm". Subscribe to Desiland on iTunes, Google, iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast platform, and visit www.desiland.ca for blogs and to subscribe to the Desiblast newsletter.

#6 - Love in the Time of Corona with Gurpreet Gill

Niru pays tribute to a provocative post-9/11-themed comedy tour called We Ain't Terrorists that recently ended a decade-long run touring Canada. She chats with comedians Ali Hassan and Dave Merheje about Desis and brown-skinned people of all backgrounds being victims of "inaccurate" and tragically funny racism.  Special thanks to Toronto's spectacular Aga Khan Museum and Theatre for hosting this conversation. Coming up on Desiland: Indian Fine Dining with Vikram Vij and we conclude our Currying Votes series with The Case for Khalistan. Visit www.desiland.ca to read Niru's blogs and subscribe to our Desiblast newsletter. You can also follow us @DesilandNA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

#5 - We Ain't Terrorists with Ali Hassan and Dave Merheje

After a summer break and vacation with the kids, Niru is back and looking inward on the subject of Branding Desis; stereotypes, assimilation and the brown glass ceiling, with motivational speaker Bobby Umar, a five-time TED veteran and ranked among North America's top 100 speakers by Inc.com. His book is called "How to Network Anytime, Anywhere, with Anyone". We're taking a pause on our series on Khalistan, Currying Votes, and will return to the subject this fall. Next time on Desiland: Chef Vikram Vij!

#4 - Branding Desis with Bobby Umar

Niru speaks with two Canadian journalists who have reported extensively over decades on the Khalistan movement, as well as the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985. Niru followed Terry Milewski's coverage of the disaster as a youth in the mid-80's, and Terry Glavin discusses his experience covering Indo-Canadian affairs from the west coast, British Columbia.    Coming up on Desiland's Currying Votes series: Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Adrienne Batra and the Khalistani argument.    If you are a Khalistan leader in Canada and would like to be interviewed for this series, please contact us via Desiland.ca. Thank you and Namaste. 

#3 - Currying Votes Part 2: The Two Terrys with Terry Milewski and Terry Glavin

In the first installment of Desiland's Currying Votes series, Niru examines the origins of the Khalistan movement for independence in the region of Punjab and its supporters' influence in Canadian politics. She tells the story of her friend Seema and the Air India disaster of 1985, then chats with Balraj Deol, editor of Canada's Khabarnama Punjabi Weekly, and Wrongspeak podcast host Jonathan Kay.   Wrongspeak listeners: Welcome to this special crossover episode! If you have already heard the "Khalistan in Canada" conversation with Niru, Jon and Balraj Deol on Wrongspeak, skip to the next episode at the 19:00 mark to hear more from wrongspeaking journalists Terry Milewski and Terry Glavin.   Coming up on Desiland's Currying Votes series: Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Adrienne Batra and the Khalistani argument.    If you are a Khalistan leader in Canada and would like to be interviewed for this series, please contact us via Desiland.ca. Thank you and Namaste.

#2 - Currying Votes Part 1: Khalistan in Canada with Balraj Deol and Jonathan Kay of Wrongspeak

Welcome to Desiland! This podcast by Toronto-based journalist Niru Kumar in collaboration with TNKR Media explores modern Desi life in North America. In this first episode, Niru chats with quadrilingual Desi-Canadian comic Sugar Sammy about his Desi influences, family, love, "going white" and more! Sugar Sammy is playing sold-out shows in Toronto this weekend! But he'll return to Canada in the fall, with some US tour dates as well. For tickets, check out www.sugarsammy.com! Please subscribe to Desiland and share on social media! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check out our website, www.desiland.ca, and sign up for our newsletter. If you'd like to support this podcast, contact us at desilandNA@gmail.com.

#1 - Sugar Sammy

Welcome to Desiland! This podcast by Toronto-based journalist Niru Kumar in collaboration with TNKR Media explores modern Desi life in North America. In this preview, Niru discusses episodes and guests to come, and we hear from quadrilingual Desi-Canadian comic Sugar Sammy, who weighs in on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wardrobe choices during a recent mission to India. Sugar Sammy is playing nearly sold-out shows in Toronto this month and will return in September. For all tour dates, check out www.sugarsammy.com! Please subscribe to Desiland and share on social media! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And be sure to check out our website, www.desiland.ca, and sign up for our newsletter. If you'd like to support this podcast, contact us at desilandNA@gmail.com.

Desiland Preview with Sugar Sammy

A podcast about modern Desi life in North America, by Niru Kumar