Greetings Curry Lovers!

In virtually the same week that Indian music maestro A R Rahman was visiting Birmingham to help the city in its bid to become European Culture Capital 2008; Nighat Awan of Shere Khan Restaurants was in London helping a cancer charity and Ms Dynamite was collecting her RIMA Award 2003, Electoral Commissioner Karamjit Singh was urging Asians to vote in local elections. Singh's advice follows research carried out by the Commission which shows that black and ethnic communities are least likely to vote despite sharing the same concerns about healthcare, education, crime and housing as the rest of the population. Ironically, the BNP is fielding 5 candidates in Birmingham - the very same city which claims that its rich diversity has helped make it favourite for the top cultural crown! As the day for voting is now upon us, I hope that you will all know where to put the "x" on your ballot paper.

A R RAHMAN FAVOURS BIRMINGHAM	CURRY QUEEN HELPS CANCER CHARITY
A R Rahman announced details of a collaboration with one of Birmingham's arts companies in the bid to help the city become European Culture Capital 2008. read more	Nighat Awan, the owner of Shere Khan, one of Manchester's most successful chain of Indian restaurants, got a taste of life at a cancer charity today when she took part in a job swap with CancerBACUP's Chief Executive Joanne Rule. read more
MS DYNAMITE WINS TOP RIMA AWARD	ASIANS MUST VOTE ON 1 MAY
Ms Dynamite was named Media Personality of the Year at the Commission for Racial Equality’s 11th annual Race in the Media Awards today. read more	Karamjit Singh, the Electoral Commissioner today urged the UK's Asian Communities to vote in the Local Elections on May 1st . read more

In the business world, a TUC report entitled 'Black Voices at Work' states that despite progress over the past 10 years, racism still pervades Britain's workplaces. Quelle surprise? (as they say in the European City of Paris). The current Bollywood boom, however has provided a golden opportunity for two Asian businessmen who have set-up a talent agency.

RACISM PERVADES UK's WORKPLACES	BOLLYWOOD NETS CASH FOR ASIANS
Britain's black and ethnic minority workers say that real progress has been made in combating race discrimination at work over the past 10 years, but that racism persists. These findings are revealed in a new TUC report. read more	The current Bollywood boom has led to a greater demand for multicultural talent both in the UK and the Indian sub-continent which has presented a golden opportunity for Wembley entrepreneur Waseem Alyaz. read more

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra were also in London last week to launch her latest movie 'Andaaz' scheduled to hit the big screens in the UK in May. Although the film may not be a patch on the 1949 Mehboob film of the same name, it does one have key asset...or should I say two vital assets in the form of former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta, and former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra. Even if the plot is familiar, the eye candy alone will ensure support from Bollywood enthusiasts! All eyes will also be on Anoushka Shankar as she tours with her father, Pandit Ravi Shankar, this month. Many be will wondering if the strikingly pretty daughter will be able to follow in her father's foot steps as he brings his 'Full Circle' world tour to an end.

'ANDAAZ' TO BE RELEASED IN MAY	RAVI & ANOUSHKA SHANKAR ON TOUR
Bollywood Stars Akshay Kumar and leading ladies Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra were in London recently to promote their long awaited film 'Andaaz' scheduled for UK release in May 2003. read more	World music legend Ravi Shankar returns to Europe with daughter Anoushka Shankar for a series of concerts which see his world tour drawing to a close. Anoushka brings the classical into the contemporary. read more

Other pleasing sights you might like to cast your eyes over include the 'Serendipity: New Arts from Sri Lanka' exhibition at The October Gallery, but you'll have to hurry as it ends on May 3rd. A few days later The Grosvenor Gallery in London opens its 'Modern Indian Paintings' show, where works by leading twentieth century Indian Artists will be available to view and purchase.

MODERN INDIAN PAINTINGS	SERENDIPITY: NEW ART FROM SRI LANKA
The work of leading Twentieth Century Indian Artists – Francis Newton Souza, Maqbool Fida Husain, Syed Haider Raza, Tyeb Mehta, and Avinash Chandra will be exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in London, from the 14th to 22nd May 2003. read more	This exhibition is London's first-ever survey of art from Sri Lanka. Given that Sri Lankan art is currently little known to western audiences, it is intended that this new exhibition will become a source of new insight. It ends on 3rd May. read more

Lately, it seems that barely does one show finish before another starts its season. The Royal Shakespeare Company's excellent adaptation of Salman Rushdie's book 'Midnight's Children' is now on UK Tour as is a new show 'When Amar Met Jay'. The acclaimed Vayu Naidu company's unique storytelling through music and bharata natyam has also started an exhaustive UK Tour and Waterman's in Brentford welcomes 'Just Before the Rain', a ground breaking play about the Oldham Riots of 2001 which might been avoided if we had all used our votes to choose the local government that we wanted (...see the tenuous thread through my random thoughts is still there...... barely!).

MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN - UK TOUR	WHEN AMAR MET JAY
Midnight's Children, Rushdie's classic story of the magic, myth making and mischief of modern India is on a UK tour from 15th April until 14th June 2003. read more	Meet Amar Singh Johal, born and bred in India. Living here for the last 25 years, his views, his ideas and that wafer thin moustache has changed little over time...but Amar Singh doesn't care. read more
'SOUTH' BY THE VAYU NAIDU	JUST BEFORE THE RAIN
Following the 2002 success of the 'Future Perfect' Indian tour, the Vayu Naidu Company creates 'South' - weaving storytelling narrative with live music, contemporary dance and bharata natyam. read more	A groundbreaking play, the controversial 'JUST BEFORE THE RAIN' touches upon the roles that politics, police and media practitioners had to play in the Oldham riots of 2001, highlighting the issues and practices that must be addressed to prevent a recurrence. read more

And threads, or more specifically nerves are what is affected when someone suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is an unpredictable and variable condition caused by scarring to the myelin sheath which effects the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. Among Asians, MS is little understood. So much so that Sanjay Chadha said that "he felt isolated, misunderstood and made to feel my immediate family and I were responsible" when he was first diagnosed. In true "British" style, he set about setting up the Asian MS Support Group and shares his personal experience with us. The MS Society is this month also celebrating its 50th Anniversary by launching a new "striking back" campaign.

ASIANS LIVING WITH MS	MS SOCIETY CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
There are many Asians in Britain with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Every year 2,500 new diagnoses are made, approximately 30% of whom are from among ethnic minority communities. read more	It can strike like lightning. Multiple Sclerosis strikes at random. 'Striking back' is the theme the Multiple Sclerosis Society has chosen for its 50th anniversary in 2003. read more

My thanks to those of you who've warned me that my newsletters are getting so long that I am in danger of "disappearing in my own rhetoric" (or words to that effect!), you'll notice that I have actually taken very little note and still continue in my quest for the most obscure links to which I can attach the word Asian! Yes, I do indeed need "to get out more".

In fact, I need get out and VOTE! Hope you'll do the same.

Until next time,
Lopa Patel (Editor - redhotcurry.com)

PS. Our special free gift offer for new users who sign-up is simmering nicely, so why not tell a friend to sign-up? They might be grateful for the suggestion.