Latest news with #SouthAsianMusic
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
South Asian University: A global campus for regional excellence
1 2 South Asian University (SAU), established jointly by the eight SAARC nations, represents a shining example of regional cooperation and educational diplomacy. Proposed at the 13th SAARC Summit in 2005 and operational since 2010, the university was envisioned as a centre of excellence to foster academic collaboration and cultural unity across South Asia. Located in a modern, fully residential 100-acre campus in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, SAU provides world-class education to students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This University is currently under the bright vision of the President, Prof. K. K Aggarwal. President, Prof. K. K Aggarwal. Diverse and expanding academic structure SAU currently offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes through five key faculties: Economics, Legal Studies, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Social Sciences, which include departments like Sociology and International Relations. The university envisages plans for new faculties in Earth System Sciences, Management, Humanities, Physical and Chemical Sciences, and a Faculty of Undergraduate Studies. Introducing the virtual campus The Virtual Campus of South Asian University's mission is to provide world-class business education through its MBA, Executive MBA, and BBA programs byintegrating the intellectual capital of globally renowned faculty with advanced digital pedagogy. The Virtual Campus aims at AI, Data Science and digital business education. The focus will be on expanding the global faculty network, enhancing digital teaching capabilities, and establishing a Virtual Centre for Excellence in Business Research. Introducing the Faculty of Arts and Design In addition to this, the Faculty of Arts and Design, which aims to foster creativity, communication skills, and cultural awareness has been inaugurated on January 31, 2025, by Hon'ble President Prof. K.K. Aggarwal. This Faculty currently offers skill-based short-term certificate courses in Cinematography, Visual Communication, Hindi Language Proficiency, and South Asian Music (ITSA). Infrastructure and campus development SAU's lush green campus in South Delhi provides a modern, eco-friendly, and secure environment. Facilities include residential hostels, faculty housing, a well-equipped library, laboratories, seminar halls, and performance spaces that foster learning and innovation. The campus architecture—designed through a regional competition—is inspired by South Asian aesthetics, promoting a sense of belonging and unity. Global recognition and alumni success Degrees from SAU are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India and by educational bodies across SAARC nations. SAU alumni are excelling globally—pursuing research, policy work, teaching, and professional careers at reputed institutions and organizations. Their success speaks volumes about the quality of education and academic mentorship provided at SAU.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Cultures mixed together': South Asian music festival filling gap during Stampede
Amar Duhra, left, and Jas Toor in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Duhra and Toor have organized North America's largest outdoor South Asian music festival, Stampede Mela. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — For those who don't necessarily want to kick up their cowboy boots at the Calgary Stampede, there's Stampede Mela. It bills itself as the largest 18+ South Asian music festival in North America and begins Friday at Fort Calgary, not far from the midway ferris wheel of the Stampede itself. 'Probably about four or five years ago, we actually decided that we wanted to do something in the South Asian music space in Calgary because Stampede has become quite a big music festival scene,' organizer Amar Duhra said in an interview. 'Our goal was to bring some representation from the South Asian community. 'We want to bring a more multicultural approach to the Stampede instead of the usual rodeo-style country music.' Duhra came up with the concept with friend Jas Toor. The pair held an indoor festival last year with a few bands and 2,000 people attending. This year, it is outdoors. There are 22 artists and the goal is 5,000 attendees. About 3,000 tickets have already been sold. 'The city's demographics has a very large South Asian population and there's really no product for those type of people or other types of population at all really,' said Toor. 'It kind of just snowballed over the course of months and grew a lot bigger than we really anticipated.' There won't be violins or steel guitars at Mela. The music is bhangra, originating from the Punjab region. It relies on a heavy beat from a double-sided drum called a dhol. As it has progressed, it has been remixed with hip hop, known as folk hop, and rap music. 'A lot of the stuff is done electronically now,' Duhra said. 'Drum and bass sounds are really, really heavy in Indian music.' About half the visitors are from Calgary's South Asian community. Others attending are coming to Calgary from Edmonton, Vancouver, California, Seattle and Miami. Duhra said the festival is not meant to take away from the Calgary Stampede. He and Toor grew up in Calgary and are proud of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth — it's just meant to fill a void. 'For us, it's not a competition in the sense that we're trying to steal people from other shows,' he said. 'Actually, we're just very proud of our culture. 'We're very proud from where we come from. We know that there's a big population there and we want it to be represented.' Toor fully expects that there will be plenty of attendees dressed in cowboy hats and boots, but that instead of pancakes, they should expect something more traditional, such as samosas. 'I don't think you could divorce the actual point of what happens during Stampede with everything that goes on at that time. I think it's a good thing to have the cultures mixed together.' Most of the acts are Canadian. Sultaan, a Punjabi musician known to be a big contributor to Punjabi rap music, is from Moose Jaw, Sask. Other acts include Chani Nattan, Ar Paisley, Inderpal Moga, BK, OG Ghuman, Intense, Big Ghuman, Mohitveer, Jay Trak, Bhalwaan, HRJXT, G Funk, A4, Gmafia, Signature By SB, Cheema, 4MXN, Shally Rehal, Gav, Yuvy, Kanda Music, Indus, and DJ Jazzy Hans. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025. Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sandwell & Birmingham Mela to host 150 artists in Smethwick
More than 150 artists are due at the "biggest South Asian music festival in Europe", organisers have & Birmingham Mela, which was established in 2011, is expected to attract more than 50,000 people to Victoria Park in Smethwick on 19 and 20 July. Sunanda Sharma and Harshdeep Kaur - who both made their debut performances at the event as headliners last year - are due to return alongside another confirmed act, Yasir Hussain. Music, dance, food, arts and crafts "bring the sights, sounds and spicy aromas of South Asia" to the park, organisers said. They added that the event would feature some of the "biggest names from the overseas entertainment scene with home-grown talent from across UK".Planned activities include arts, crafts and dance workshops, as well as "street theatre" and "walkabouts".There will also be a funfair and "world food cuisine" from about 30 outlets. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
