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Desi Camp To Map Out Leftist Strategies

Mabel Fernandes

For those desis who frown on spiritual retreats and bhangra blowouts, the Youth Solidarity Summer in New York City could just be the thing.

For South Asians, 17 to 23 years of age, the camp offers lectures about the histories of popular struggles in South Asia and North America, provides an opportunity to meet with leftist community activists and organizations, and gives chances to share strategies for personal and political change with other youth and build coalitions for solidarity, and to explore ways of using the arts for social change

The YSS, founded in 1997, is a week-long program is organized by a collective of leftist educators, activists, artists, and professionals.

"Many of us feel the need to educate and organize against conservatism and bigotry within our own communities, as well as to mobilize against inequality and oppression in the larger society," the mission for the camp states.

"The YSS seeks to build a supportive network for collective action and to provide education truly relevant to our lives in North America."

It adds that recent years have seen an increasing attack on immigrants, on the poor, on women, and on people of color. Social and economic inequalities are on the rise in the US and Canada.

"South Asians have been portrayed as an example of the 'American Dream,' yet there are many among us who reject the narrowness of this model minority myth," it continues.

"As a new generation comes of age in the US, it is time to work together on pressing issues -- to build a new solidarity among South Asian youth."

The participants are expected to develop a concrete project for action "Whether it is a campaign you plan or a newsletter, a lecture series or a picket line, a dance or a demonstration, you will participate in small group sessions where we exchange strategies, information and resources to concretize your ideas into a program of action," the organizers say.

The organizers and their interests:

Mona Ahmad Ali studies political economy at the New School for Social Research. She is a writer, a member of the South Asian Women's Creative Collective, and has been active in women's issues in Karachi, Pakistan and Amherst, MA.

V Balaji has been involved in community activism in India, France, Canada, and the US. He is a founding member of the Coalition for South Asian Unity in Toronto and works with Planete en Danger and the Forum of Indian Leftists.

Sharmila Desai works with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. She teaches yoga at South Asian Youth Action and at Sakhi for South Asian women.

Sangeeta Kamat is assistant professor at the School of Education, U Mass, Amherst. She has studied and worked with grassroots movements in Western India for many years and continues her advocacy work in the United States.

Surabhi Kukke has worked as an HIV prevention and sexuality information educator. She is also actively involved in the Women's Initiative of the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association and with SLAAAP!! -- Sexually Liberated Asian Artist Activist.

Sunaina Maira teaches Asian American Studies at Columbia and NYU and her research focuses on second-generation desi youth and popular culture. She is one of the organizers of DIASPORADICS, a festival of arts and activism in NYC.

Biju Mathew is Assistant Professor of Information Systems at Rider University, NJ. He is a member of the New York Taxi Workers' Alliance (NY-TWA) and co-ordinator of FOIL.

Raza Mir teaches business management at Monmouth University, New Jersey. He is a member of FOIL and helps edit Ghadar, a progressive magazine.

Ananya Mukherjea is a doctoral student at the CUNY Graduate Center. She has worked for the Asian and Pacific Islanders Coalition Against HIV & AIDS and with SALGA.

Rupal Oza is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Geography, Rutgers University. She volunteers with Sakhi for South Asian women, and has been active in popular theater.

Vijay Prashad is Assistant Professor of International Studies at Trinity College: Hartford, CT. He is the author of two forthcoming books, and writes for magazines and periodicals, such as Frontline, Z Magazine and Color Lines.

Raju Rajan investigates computer networks at AT&T Research Labs. He was a member of the Chingari Collective, the Madison Insurgent, and WORT in Madison, Wisconsin, and is currently involved with FOIL.

Svati Shah is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, where she studies sex work in Bombay in the context of Hindu fundamentalism and nationalism. She is actively involved in SALGA and Persimmon Space, an organization for queer Asian and Pacific Islander women.

To register, complete the registration form and mail it to: Youth Solidarity Summer, 24 Charles St. #12, New York, NY 10014-3046.

Cost: There is a $50 registration fee payable by cash or check by the beginning of the program. The fee is on a sliding scale. The suggested fees help offset the costs of rent and materials; additional donations are welcome! All organizers work on a completely volunteer basis. Each participant is responsible for her/his own transportation and meal expenses, including subway fares for any field trips within New York City.

Stipend: A limited number of stipends are available.

The Brecht Forum is located at 122 West 27th Street, 10th floor, NYC, 10001-6281

Phones: (212) 242-4201 (Brecht Forum) or (917) 940 9556 (YSS 99).

If you would like to post any information about forthcoming events or community happenings, please email the details to bettypais@aol.com

Information and photographs can also be mailed to Betty Pais at 87-52 108th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2229, USA.

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