Greetings Curry Lovers!

This week we are contemplating 'talent'. I don't mean the gorgeous hunk and beautilicious babe kind...I mean the creative kind. Narinder Dami, best known for her novelisation of Gurinder Chadha's 'Bend it Like Beckham' has published a new teen novel called 'Bindi Babes'. She will be reading extracts from it at a Children's Literary Festival on Saturday 27 September. Also on next week is Kali Futures - on 24 & 25 September - which showcases some of the best new Asian writing talent nurtured by Kali. Manjinder Virk, whose writing is featured by Kali has also written a new play 'Glow' - suitable for teenagers aged 14 and above - that focuses on a young woman's obsession with the boxing talent, Mohammed Ali!

NARINDER DHAMI AT CHILDREN'S LIT FEST	FOR MATRIMONIAL PURPOSES
On Saturday 27 September, one of Britain's brightest young talents, British Asian author Narinder Dhami will appear at 'The Word @ Polka Theatre', a two-day festival celebrating the best in literature for children. read more	"Would you let your mother choose your husband?" this book asks the reader. Well if the experiences of Anju are anything to go by…then perhaps she should! This book is funny in parts and all Asians will identify with at least one episode. read more

'Talent' of the other kind is explored in Kavita Daswani's debut novel 'For Matrimonial Purposes' which is all about the "Great Husband Hunt", a subject that seemingly preoccupies all Asian women at some time or other. The Maharajah's Daughters, a play that debuted last year, on the other hand explores a few subjects like lesbianism and feminism!......well if it's not one thing, it's the other! It is staged at Waterman's in November. Also being launched in November is Tara Arts' new play 'A Taste for Mangoes'. Inspired by a 19th century painting of dancing girls at a Mogul Court one can only assume that it is less about mangoes and more about talent....of the dancing kind that is.

KALI FUTURES, 24-25 SEPTEMBER	'GLOW' 18 SEPTEMBER - 26 NOVEMBER
Four playwrights: Azma Khan, Saumya Balsari, Manjinder Virk and Harprit Sekhon, have been supported through a process of dramaturgy, workshops and rehearsals to develop a new short script by Kali. Professional actors will read their scripts at the Soho Theatre on 24/25 Sept. read more	Manjinder Virk has been commissioned by Theatre Centre to write this new play, Glow, about a young woman's obsession with Mohammed Ali. Virk is best known for her performance in 'Unsuitable Girls'. Glow is written for audiences aged 14 plus. Runs from 18 Sept until 26 Nov 2003. read more
THE MAHARAJAH'S DAUGHTERS 6-9 & 13-16 NOVEMBER	A TASTE FOR MANGOES 18 NOVEMBER - 7 DECEMBER
This is the story of two Indian Princesses, daughters of the late Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of the Punjab. Set at the end of the 19th Century, The Maharajahs Daughters explores how the two sisters reconcile their background with their new life in London. read more	'A Taste for Mangoes' by Tara Arts' is directed by Jatinder Verma. It takes a 19th Century painting as the inspiration for a sensuous tale set during the time of the white moguls in India. In a rich evocation of the period, the show interweaves dance, music and drama . read more

As we approach the Hindu cultural festival of Navratri - a heady ten days of dancing in circles - Asia House and The Bagri Foundation are to launch an 'Understanding Hinduism' lecture series that will cover all topics from art and politics to feminism and the tantras. Hindu Art will also be explored later in November when 'Asian Art in London' returns from 6-14 November 2003.

UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM,	ASIAN ART IN LONDON, 6-14 NOVEMBER 2003
Asia House and the Bagri Foundation present a series of six lectures. Featuring the world's leading experts these lectures will address the central, profound and controversial beliefs behind Hinduism. Series runs from 8 Oct - 12 Nov 2003. read more	This landmark in the international art calendar returns this autumn from Thursday 6th November to Friday 14th November 2003. Around fifty of the most experienced specialist dealers in the world team-up with experts from the capital's most respected cultural institutions for this prestigious event. read more

The business calendar will also be busy with both TiE UK and DAWN announcing business events for the autumn. DAWN is running a heavily-subsidised Entrepreneurs Programme and TiE is arranging for entrepreneurs to meet their mentor on 1st October 2003.

ASIAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS	TIE UK - AUTUMN 2003 BUSINESS EVENTS
DAWN, the hub for dynamic Asian women, today announced the launch of its Entrepreneurs Programme. Sessions run from October 4th to November 8th 2003. read more	TiE UK, the Indus entrepreneurs network, has announced its Autumn 2003 season of business events. On 1st October you can meet your mentor!. read more
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UK BUSINESSES NEED TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY IN HR (09/03) UK employers risk skills shortages, recruitment and retention problems and costly tribunal claims if they fail to promote equality and value diversity.

Issues about employment and the need for employers to embrace cultural diversity are rarely out of the headlines these days. The TUC has launched its anti-racism strategy to equip trade unionists with information to tackle racism in the workplace. Poignantly, Trevor Phillips, Chair of the CRE has been quoted as saying that the term "Institutional Racism" is preventing individuals from tackling plain old discrimination. The CRE has also backed Unions that expel BNP members. Politicians from all parties will shortly be discussing the thorny question of whether we are all "Absolutely Equal". The answer to which is an embarrassingly simple NO!

Redhotcurry.com was pleasantly surprised this week to learn that it has been shortlisted for the AOP Awards 2003 - the online publishers equivalent of the Oscars! We are not writing our acceptance speech just yet as the competition includes the BBC and FT.com. What was that about "absolute equals"? Thankfully we have the antics of Dr Vijay Mallya and his editorial team at Bollywood gossip magazine Cineblitz to keep us preoccupied now that it has relaunched.

The Pakistan Human Development Fund got a boost recently when the glitterati of the North gathered at Manchester's New Century Hall to raise funds for this worthy cause. Who says that all best parties are in London? And of course, after the party, the GLA and Mayor Ken Livingstone would want you to recycle whatever you can under its newly launched 'Recycle for London' scheme. Now if only someone could find a way to recycle hot air....we have a lots of that here!

TUC LAUNCHES ANTI-RACISM STRATEGY	ARE WE 'ABSOLUTELY EQUAL' ?
The Northern arm of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) today published a new guide that will equip trade unionists and local communities with information and advice on how to challenge racism in the workplace and broader society. read more	Five leading equality organisations are to host 'Absolutely Equal' at this year's Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences in September & October of this year. read more
WE'RE SHORTLISTED FOR AOP AWARDS!	'CINEBLITZ' IS RELAUNCHED
Redhotcurry.com has been shortlisted for the AOP (Association of Online Publishers) Awards 2003 alongside the BBC, FT.com and Emap sites. read more	India's leading Bollywood celebrity gossip magazine 'Cineblitz', owned by Indian brewing tycoon Vijay Mallya, was relaunched at a star-studded event on Tuesday 9th September. read more
PAKISTAN FUND-RAISER	ASIAN URGED TO RECYCLE MORE
Friday 5th September saw over 600 of the leading lights of the Pakistani communities in the North West of England attend a high-profile cultural dinner in Manchester to raise funds for the Pakistan Human Development Fund. read more	The Greater London Authority has launched 'Recycle for London', a new initiative to encourage Londoners to take action and start recycling everything they possibly can. The London Recycling Fund is distributing a total of £24.9 million. read more
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UK ASIAN RUGBY INITIATIVE: NEXT STOP INDIA! (09/03) Four members of the pioneering Bradford-based South Asian Bulls rugby team are off to India on 21st September to participate in the All-India Games rugby union event. CHARITIES NEED TO TARGET ETHNIC MINORITIES (08/03) Charities are missing out on fund-raising opportunities because they are not effectively targeting ethnic minority communities according to a new report. "TIME FOR CHANGE IN BURNLEY" INITIATIVE LAUNCHED (08/03) The GMB Trade Union officially launched it's "Time For Change in Burnley" initiative at the Union's Burnley office today.

Well I'm off to practice wielding my dandia sticks. Don't forget that the Navratri Festival runs from Friday 26th September until Saturday 4th October. Major venues likes Wandsworth Town Hall have organised Raas Garba events as do many schools and colleges - check with your local council or school for events in your area.

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.