Renowned physician, scientist, and author, Dr. Azra Raza, recites a selection of Mirza Ghalib's powerful poetry. She translates and interprets the powerful lyrics in her very distinctive style that has endeared to her audiences all over the US and overseas.
A special evening of music and conversation with Chicago's celebrated musical supergroup, Funkadesi. Known for their own high-energy blend of music that ranges from South Asian classical, folk and film melodies to West African, Caribbean, Latin, Brazilian and Reggae blended with American Funk and Soul music. They will perform an intimate "unplugged" acoustic set of […]
Through experiential art installations “Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories” investigates the Partition of India in 1947. This year marks 75 years since the Partition of India in 1947, which created Pakistan, and eventually, Bangladesh in 1971. Pritika Chowdhry’s experiential art installations are temporary 'anti-memorials' to the Partition. Often described as the Holocaust of South Asia, the […]
FREEDOM FESTIVAL: Celebrating 75 Years of Independence I Day 01 Celebrating 75 Years of Independence with TWO days of very special music and dance performances. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partitition Anti-Memorial Project DAY 01 LINEUP: 1PM: DJ Spin Cycle: Ankur Malhotra: Delhi and Midwest-based record label owner and […]
FREEDOM FESTIVAL DAY 02 Celebrating 75 Years of Independence with TWO days of very special music and dance performances. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partitition Anti-Memorial Project Day 02 LINE UP 1PM: Zeshan B: Chicago-based, multi-instrumentalist soul, opera, gospel, and ghazal singer, who is also a songwriter and recording […]
360-degree view of Afghan culture through music, poetry, art and cultural heritage. About this event South Asia Institute Presents HEART OF AFGHANISTAN X QAIS ESSAR Saturday, September 24, 2022 Seated Free The Heart of Afghanistan features four brilliant Afghan musicians: famed singer and Afghan TV star Ahmad Fanoos on vocals & harmonium, his sons Elham […]
Friday, September 30 - Saturday, October 1, 2022 Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music - Celebrating 10 Years! Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall 78 E. Washington St., 3rd Flr, Chicago, IL 60602 6pm-8am All Ages, Free! Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with South Asia Institute, South […]
East Meets Middle East (EMME) is a musical collective across continents celebrating the rich traditions of the Middle East and South Asia. About this event **Limited Seating Capacity. ** Early Ticket Purchase Recommended. What happens when Indian sarod and tabla meet Middle Eastern oud and darbuka? East Meets Middle East (EMME) is a musical collective across continents celebrating the rich traditions of the […]
Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical drama film based on the life of the prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto. About this event Manto Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical film based on the life of the prominent author Saadat Hasan Manto, written and directed by Nandita Das. Manto is based on the 1940s post-Independence […]
Dipika Mukherjee: Dialect of Distant Harbors Book Launch About this event South Asia Institute Presents Dipika Mukherjee: Dialect of Distant Harbors Book Launch Saturday, October 15, 2022 Dipika Mukherjee Dipika Mukherjee moved to Chicago from Shanghai in 2012 and spends a lot of time at the neighborhood Harold Washington Public Library. She is the author […]
This event is part of Journey Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Alliance's annual citywide festival of cross-cultural events. South Asia and Korea share a common history of being divided by an arbitrary line that gave rise to new nations, India and Pakistan and North and South Korea. This year is the 75th. anniversary of the Partition […]
AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, CULTURE AND MUSIC is a conversation between Sonny (Artistic Director of Riyaaz Qawwali) and Aaron Cohen (award-winning Chicago music writer) exploring the role of faith, spirituality and heritage through musical expression. Sonny is the Artistic Director of Riyaaz Qawwali, the only Qawwali ensemble in the US. A Qawwal with over 29 years of classical music training, he has spent […]
South Asia Institute brings together art and poetry by South Asian women to create a space for alternative narratives of femininity and identity.
Come one! Come all! We at the South Asia Institute are thrilled to announce our next community event: The Maker's Bazaar and Craft Market! This Market is open to all. To apply, please fill out the Google Form attached below! Applications are due by February 18 at 5 PM CST. Please spread the word! All […]
Join South Asia Institute in welcoming Ustad Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion on Friday, April 7th at Symphony Center! Hussain is the “indisputable tabla maestro” (Gramophone), taking his instrument to the frontiers of Indian classical music while vastly expanding its presence on the world stage. For his long-running Masters of Percussion program, Hussain […]
Traditional Baul Song Performance and the Revival of Charyapada Ancient Bengali Buddhist Mystical Songs. Featuring Shadhika Srijoni Tania, a next generation Baul practitioner specializing in the performance and composition of Baul music and song. Sadhika Srijoni Tania is a Baul practitioner and renowned performer of various song traditions of South Asia.
Poet Dipika Mukherjee recites as dancers Sigma Satabdhi Pradhan and Harini Nilakantan metamorphose poetry from an auditory to a visual experience with their Odissi and Bharatanatyam inspired dance compositions.
Join us at the South Asia Institute (1925 S. Michigan Avenue) for a lecture hosted by Wrightwood 659, book signing, and reception with Shahidul Alam, a humanitarian activist, institution builder, and prominent South Asian photographer. Following the War of Independence in his home country of Bangladesh, Alam witnessed the effects of political upheaval, from the […]
In honor of AAPI Month, the South Asia Institute and the Guild Literary Complex bring you TAKING ROOT. This arts event features an exhibition tour, poetry, music, book signing, and more… Poetry reading moderated by Faisal Mohyuddin, with poets George Abraham, Czaerra Galicinao Ucol, Samina Hadi-Tabassum, and Saba Keramati. Music by Maninder Singh.