About: Kanwal

Every year, around this time, Rohit Bhambi would grace our show on Mera Sangeet- this for almost more than a decade. Then the Pandemic hit. Life kind of came to a standstill.

But as Rohit says, Boston Bhangra is back with a bang this year – with all the energy and enthusiasm. So, do save the dates for Boston Bhangra.

Rohit tells about the many teams participating, about the venue, date and time of course – and what are the surprises – he gives out some, and for some — well, that is a surprise.

Do tune – in for the conversation for more information about the event, on 17th November, on our show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM

Savita Bhatti is a comedian and actress well-known for the show Flop Show in 1989, where she essayed the role of Preeti with her late husband, Jaspal Bhatti.

This conversation was recorded many many years back. She talks about how she accidently stepped into acting, about her institute, MAD Arts, about how she met her husband, about her son and so much more.

Do listen – in to this conversation, recorded many years back, today, 14th November, on our show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Dr. Rajiv Bhateja grew up in Bangalore and went on to pursue his undergraduate course – Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering, from IIT Bombay. He came to the US in 1978.

He earned an MS and a Ph.D. in Engineering and Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and UC Berkeley, respectively. Over his career Dr. Bhateja has worked at eight startup companies in Silicon Valley, most recently as vice president of engineering.

He now runs his own consulting business. Dr. Rajiv Bhateja is a businessman and a co-founder of They See Blue. He first became involved in U.S. politics in 2004. He volunteered for the first Obama campaign in 2008, co-founded Silicon Valley Courageous Resistance in January 2017 and They See Blue in July 2018. He serves on the They See Blue National Strategy Team and helps coordinate its technology and data management activities. In his hometown, he chairs the Community Relations Committee and the Technology Committee.

On the show, we talk about the US economy and business environment. In case you missed it earlier, do tune in for sure -Today, 7th November, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST

Annette Philip is an award-winning musician, educator, and arts entrepreneur. A seasoned recording and touring artist, composer, pianist, and voice-over actor, she is an Emmy-nominated TV personality and bonafide sari connoisseur, with roots in Kerala, India.

Creating community through art and conversation is at the core of everything Annette does. The first Indian musician to be invited to join the faculty of Berklee College of Music, Annette founded the Berklee Indian Ensemble and is the Artistic Director of the Berklee India Exchange institute. Under Annette’s leadership, the Ensemble evolved into a global viral phenomenon with over 300 million views (accounting for 70% of Berklee’s YouTube views), created by a dynamic ecosystem of 500 musicians from 52 countries. Prior to her Berklee journey, Annette founded Artistes Unlimited in New Delhi, India which went on to become one of the country’s most diverse arts collectives that infused a cappella music into the city, while inspiring several young musicians to take up music as a career.

Annette has spent over a decade touring the globe with the internationally acclaimed vocal quartet, Women of the World; disrupters in the a cappella world, singing in 37 languages and counting. She is also a consultant for holistic music pedagogy, with decades of experience as a master clinician and keynote speaker at global forums.

Do listen in to her inspirational journey – today, the 3rd of November, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST.

Swati Narayan is the Director of Operations at Houston Coalition Against Hate. She was born in Houston, Texas to immigrant South Asian parents. Her childhood experiences informed her views on justice and the right for all to have access to quality education and life opportunities. She has worked in the nonprofit sector both in India and in her home city of Houston focusing her efforts on underserved women, children, and marginalized communities.

Swati serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Houston (Class XXXV), the Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s IMpower, the University of Houston’s Friends of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Momentum Education’s Advisory Board, and is an active volunteer in the Houston Independent School District.

Swati is the mother of three sons and resides with her husband in Houston and their two rescue dogs. She hopes to facilitate a movement where the inherent value, worth, and dignity of all people are respected and supported in all spaces.

Do listen -in to her views on the ongoing gun violence crisis in the United States, on the ways to curb the proliferation of assault weapons, and much more – this Wednesday, 2nd November, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST

Jaspal Singh Bhatti was an Indian television personality known for his satirical take on the problems of the common man. He is most well known for his television series Flop Show, Full Tension and mini capsules Ulta Pulta, which ran in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Jaspal Singh Bhatti was commonly known as “King of Comedy” and also “King of Satire”. He carried out various anti corruption crusades in Chandigarh. His frontal attack on issues like redtapism, nepotism, and corruption was both comic and awakening for masses.

In 2013, Jaspal Singh Bhatti was (posthumously) honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaspal_Bhatti

Today, as we remember Jaspal Singh Bhatti, do listen – in this conversation, recorded many years back, today, 25th October, on our show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Dr. Charanjit Kalsi graduated with honors from M.S. University in Vadhorda, Gujarat. She received two Gold Medals: in Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology. She also received the President of India Medal for scoring high marks. After coming to the USA she did her internship and residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology and got her Board Certification.

Dr. Kalsi started her clinical practice in July 1976. She enjoyed taking care of her patients, some of whom she has known for 30 years! Dr. Kalsi found so much joy in delivering their babies and discussing family issues… She got to know their families and watched multiple generations grow up. She is now retired and misses her patients, though she does not miss the sleepless nights! Dr. Kalsi has passed the baton to younger physicians and knows her patients are well taken care of.

She is also a wife and mother of two grown sons who she is extremely proud of.

On our show, Saat Samundar Paar, she talks about her views on various issues – about women’s right to reproductive freedom, and much more. In case you missed this earlier, do tune – in today, 21st October, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST

Prof Shuvra Das is a founder member of SAMOSA, a South Asian grassroots organizing group in Michigan. In 2019 SAMOSA became a partner with the Michigan chapter of They See Blue.

Prof Shuvra Das pursued his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He came to the US as a graduate student in 1985 and completed his Ph.D. at Iowa State University. He was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame for just under a year. He has been a faculty member of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, USA, Since 1994.

Prof Das loves reading, writing, painting, photography, and theater. He has five published texts on different topics of engineering and a sixth one will be published soon. His creative writings (mostly poetry) in English and Bengali have been published in many magazines.

In case you missed this earlier, do tune – in again, and learn about Prof Das’s political views as he talks about various issues, on 17th October, on our show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM

Ms. Salila Pande is the President & CEO of State Bank of India California. She is a Financial Risk Manager, with a brilliant career spanning across geographies such as India, Singapore and the USA.

Ms. Pande has more than 2 decades of professional experience in Business Development, Risk Management and Leadership roles.

It was indeed very nice to have Salilaji grace our show. So, if you have questions about State Bank of India California’s services, this conversation is a must listen.

Salilaji also talks about the various services offered by State Bank of India California. State Bank of India California is Member FDIC – For more information, please visit www.sbical.com

In case you missed this, do tune – in for sure, for this very informative conversation with Ms. Salila Pande, this Sunday, 16th October, on our Hindi Radio Show, Chat and Chai, on MeraSangeet Gold at 7:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM,7:00 PM , 11:00 PM – EST.

Parikshit Sahni is one of India’s finest actors. He is the son of actor Balraj Sahni and nephew of writer Bhisham Sahni.

Parikshit Sahni is known for playing the lead in the TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (Doordarshan), and Gaatha (Star Plus). He has also appeared in three of Rajkumar Hirani’s blockbuster films Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, and PK. He starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989), with Raj Babbar, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljit Singh, and Deepti Naval. He played a remarkable role in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970) which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh (a famous novelist). Pavitra Paapi also featured his real-life father, Balraj Sahni in a pivotal role. Courtesy https://merasangeet.com/page/2/

Do listen – in this conversation, recorded many years back – yet again today, 10th October, on our show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Luke Warford is the Democratic Nominee for Texas Railroad Commission, the statewide regulatory body that oversees the Texas oil and gas industry.

Luke’s background includes working in energy consulting, combating online harassment and misinformation, and running one of the largest voter registration drives in Texas history. At 33 years old, Luke is the youngest Democrat to run statewide in Texas in more than 30 years.

On the show, Luke says, “Texans should not have to live in fear every time the temperature drops”, while also talking about many other issues – about how we as a decisive society can become more constructive, about his take on climate change and energy and much more.

So, in case you missed this earlier, do tune – in for sure, on 7th October, on our show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00

Maitri is a free, confidential, nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily helps families and individuals from South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives) facing domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conflict.

Maitri fills a critical gap in the domestic violence services available in the community by being sensitive to the culture of the South Asian community and by speaking the languages that South Asian survivors speak. Maitri services are free and confidential.

Nandini Ray, Sr. Manager, Outreach & Prevention Program. She leads all community engagement and educational activities at Maitri – hosts the podcast, Between friends, runs the social media pages, and represents Maitri at community events, in media and meetings. She is a State mandated trained Domestic Violence advocate.

On the show today, Nandini talks about Maitri – about all its services in great detail, about how one reach Maitri for help and much more – so in case you missed this earlier, tune – in for sure, today, 6th October, on our show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM – EST