Recognizing our society’s challenges, this year’s South Asian Literature and Art (SALA) Festival commits to making a lasting impact through programs

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

Founded in 2019, and after two years of virtual events, Art Forum SF is back with a bang to present the in-person SALA 2022. For this year, the vision is bold; the theme is “Humanity,” to examine how the world has categorized each other into boxes, a community of different colors, classes, and castes.

SALA aims to examine and celebrate different points of view but also recognize that, ultimately, humanity triumphs. Montalvo Arts Center and Art Forum SF present the festival in partnership with Stanford Center for South Asia and UC Berkeley Institute for South Asian Studies.

Date October 29-30th, 2022, | Time Noon – 6:30 pm.
Place Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga CA.
Tickets www.salafestival.org.

Check out the featured artists and writers in the panels, including the following:

South Asian Contemporary Art Walk

• Featuring South Asian artist & director of the South Asian Creative Collective in NY, Jaishri Abichandani
• Highlight contemporary artists Annu Matthew, Ranu Mukherjee, and Sara Ahamad.
• Interact with the collectors and art institute founders Dr. Shireen and Afzal Ahmad; both pioneers have committed their collection toward a significant cause.

South Asian Contemporary Writers Row

• Including eminent authors like Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ayad Akhtar, Booker prize-winning book
• translator Daisy Rockwell, Emmy nominated Vikram Chandra, and famous authors like Alka Joshi.
• Chaitali Sen, Devi Laskar, and Sorayya Khan, South Asian authors who have made a mark on the

Contemporary literature arena in the US

• Poetry and Anthology: live readings followed by discussions with reputed academics and litterateurs.

• Musicians TM Krishna and Thenmozhi Soundararajan to feature hard-hitting topics like caste.

South Asian Epicurean Highlights – New theme

• Presenting food scientists’ take on South Asian cuisine by prominent author Nik Sharma.
• Talk with Chef Kauser Ahmed from Karachi Kitchens and Chef Preeti Mistry.
• Food historian Chitrita Banerji will examine how food has shaped the South Asian world.
• Sonia Chopra, Editor of Bon Appetit and Conde Nast, will be featured alongside cookbook
• author Madhushree Ghosh.
• Including executive Chef Ajay Walia, Michelin Star restaurant, Chef Ranjan Dey, and Ettan Restaurant owner Ayesha Thapar.

** Special event featuring eminent actress Swara Bhasker from India. **

Highlights of other activities

• Poetry Reading curated by Shikha Malaviya featuring Amit Majmudar, Monica Korde, Monica Mody, Preeti Vangani, Sarah Mohammad, and Urvashi Bahuguna.
• The Art Exhibition features local artists Chandrika Marla, Tanya Momi, and sculptor Priyanka Rana.

• Marketplace includes Garima Shoes, Pragati Sharma stole, The Peacock Avenue, food trucks, Bhangra and dance groups, hands-on activities like Henna and Rangoli, and much more!