With India’s 15th General Election currently underway, political anthropologist Dr Mukulika Banerjee of University College London sets out to discover how the country manages to defy apparently insuperable odds to deliver an efficient and effective democratic process that is admired across the world.
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I remember when the BBC’s Asian Network was just a twinkle in its creators eyes. I was a member of the advisory council for the local BBC radio station when the proposal was put forward. At the time I was one of the many who opposed to the idea.

I thought that creating a separate radio station was divisive act for the communities. We said mainstream programmes should cater for all.

But with all the commercial stations catering for Asians, they said, they would be left behind. So it came to pass and BBC Asian Network was born. I have only been listening for the past four years or so or since acquiring a digital radio. I have been impressed by its output, though something has been bothering me of late.
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Radio presenter Veena V has launched her own online show for pregnant women – VIPregnancy. It will offer information for all stages of pregnancy with experts, celebrities and real life stories.

She told AIM magazine: “Becoming pregnant myself unexpectedly has motivated me to do something challenging and completely out of my comfort zone. My aim with VIPregnancy (Very Important Pregnancy) is to inspire other woman, provide a wealth of information and raise awareness about serious pregnancy conditions.”

Most recently Veena won ‘Best Radio Presenter’ award at Channel 4’s 4talent Awards 2008.
www.VIPregnancy.com

BBC World’s South Asia staff are going on a strike this week over outsourcing of content to the sub-continent.

Staff members are concerned that the corporation is looking to outsource production of services broadcast in Urdu, Hindi and Nepali to Pakistan, India and Nepal.
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Digital radio station BBC Asian Network is making changes to its daytime weekday schedule from April to support a new breakfast show with presenter Adil Ray. It will also beef up the station’s news and discussion output.
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An event in January will bring black and minority ethnic talent together with independent radio production companies, to help them progress with their careers.

The free event will provide the opportunity of one-to-one meetings with key representatives from independent radio production companies who make programmes for the broadcasters, particularly the BBC, and often produce programmes developed with individual writers and freelance producers.
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A Radio 4 programme will look at the history of Asian migration for the first time, exploring the issue of ‘double displacement’, as was the case with many Gujaratis who first moved to Africa and then the UK.
The programme makers say that:

Whilst researching the pre-immigrant history of Southall, Making History discovered that many younger Asian listeners didn’t really understand a key part of their family migration history. These are youngsters from East African Asian families whose parents and grandparents were either kicked out of Uganda by Idi Amin in 1972 or left places such as Tanzania because of land or financial reforms. The question is, however, when did these people move to East Africa and why?

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Digital station BBC Asian Network announced yesterday that its drivetime presenter Adil Ray was taking over the reins of the Breakfast show (weekdays 6-9am) from the New Year.

Current occupier Jas Rao will swap roles with him and present the Drivetime show in a new weekday timeslot of 3pm – 6pm.

The radio industry teamed up with media and education unions, students and lecturers at 50 universities and colleges round the country in a campaign to interest more ethnic minority students in radio.

The ‘Represent!’ campaign, launched during university Freshers Week, was in response to under-representation of ethnic minorities in student radio – a key entry point into the industry.
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Radio presenter Veena V won the ‘Best Radio Presenter’ at Channel 4’s 4Talent Awards, being the youngest nominee and only female in her category.

The 4Talent Awards aim to recognise UK’s young creative talent and are part of Channel 4’s drive to act as talent spotters for the people who provide Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, and channel4.com with programming..
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Former Club Asia presenter is one of the shortlisted few in a 4Talent magazine, published by Channel 4.

The 21 year old radio and television personality is among five nominated for the Off-Air Radio 4Talent Awards 2008. The full list is here.

Do you believe in magic?

This question was asked on air the other day. As it was on the BBC Asian Network, there was a huge response. One caller called in with a sworn statement of how an auntie was taken ill without any cause (virus maybe?), and when they threw away some flour and hair found in her hand bag, she was well again!

Then there was a doctor, who at a certain price will rid you of this ailment. And he said he had a degree from a certain university and was a “professional”.
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Radio 1 presenter Nihal will be moved moved from his weekend breakfast show to an afternoon slot, starting from the September.

The BBC youth music station today announced changes to its weekend schedule, which mean that from next month Nihal (pictured) will be on Radio 1 from 1-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Nick Grimshaw will take on the weekend breakfast show (Sat & Sun 7am-10am), currently Nihal’s domain.

Nihal said: “I’ve loved doing the weekend breakfast show, and now in under a year I’ve been given another amazing opportunity to speak to a whole new audience whilst hoping that the breakfast listeners come and check me out in the afternoons too.”

Sometime ago, when I was a part of the advisory council for the BBC’s local radio, I opposed the proposition that there be a separate channel for the Asian listeners in this country.

My humble opinion didn’t matter and the organisation went ahead and created a channel – the BBC Asian Network – which is available only digitally.

Now I’m glad that there is such a channel, as they tackle some difficult issues every morning in their phone-ins and the documentaries they make.

I often take part and listen to these debates, but have always been astonished at how resistant to change and integration some groups of Asians are despite having lived here for generations.
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The Daily Mail reports that the BBC Asian Network is being accused of ignoring Muslims. The complaints centre around two areas: Muslim primarily featuring Bhangra and Boillywood, and lack of Muslim representation in the presenting talent.

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E4 will soon be launching a bright purple radio station. As part of that, 4Talent are looking for writers and performers who can turn their hand to the E4 style and attitude. They are giving 9 comedy writers and/or performers the chance to attend a series of high-level mentor-led workshops at the E4 Udderbelly at Edinburgh Comedy Festival.
Click here for more info.

The Independent newspaper recently reported on the launch of Q magazine’s radio arm.

Interestingly, the station has poached young women presenters to overhaul its image:

Rather than a beardy bloke, Blaxill and Q editor Paul Rees, have chosen Samanthi (pictured) as their star turn, a former Xfm presenter who also works for DesiDNA, a BBC2 show on British Asian arts and entertainment. “She’s in her mid-20s and is absolutely consumed by music and film. It would have been easier for us to secure that 40-year-old white guy, but it’s required more depth and thought to bring Samanthi on board,” says Blaxill.

Samanthi will be presenting the Qpm show at 6pm-9pm from Monday to Friday but Q Radio will move further into leftfield on Sunday evenings when, Amber and Nisha, The Broken Hearts, move into the studio. The Broken Hearts are one of London’s most fashionable DJ acts – described by this newspaper as “A Hollywood musical on hallucinogenics”.

A good development, no doubt, that British Asians are being seen past their skin colour and being recognised for their diverse music tastes. Well done to Samanthi for making the move.

60×60 Secs, the first project of 360º Britain India Pakistan, was launched this week by Moti roti.
Trailer

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Digital radio station has promoted Husain Husaini from head of news to head of programmes. The new role was created within the management team and he will be focused on delivering the station’s editorial strategy and output over the coming years.

Andy Parfitt, currently controller of Asian Network along with other BBC stations, said: “We are building a very strong leadership team. Husain has an excellent track record of delivery and I am looking forward to building Asian Network’s editorial ambitions.”

There is internal speculation that Husaini is being groomed to eventually take over as head of Asian Network. That position is currently being held by Vijay Sharma.

Nikita Lalwani’s multiple award nominated debut novel Gifted has been turned into a drama for BBC Radio 4. The drama serial will broadcast in the mornings next week.

Its cast will include Archie Panjabi, Sadia Ghaffar, Nina Wadia and Sagar Arya.
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BBC Asian Network’s publicist Dina Rana has moved on to the corporation’s Future Media team, to work on projects such as BBC iPlayer. Her last day with Asian Network will be Friday May 16th.

Her position will be filled by Andrew Bate, who previously handled publicity for Asian Network as well as Radio Five Live.

BBC Asian Network saw a massive jump in listeners over the last three months, figures released by the industry body Rajar showed this week.

In contrast Sunrise Radio, Kismat and Club Asia radio did not do so well.
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A new weekend schedule at Asian Network will launch from 17th May, the radio station announced this week, with the creation of two new shows.
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Former religious radical Shiraz Maher spent his student days campaigning for an Islamic state in which execution for leaving Islam would be written into the constitution. Now Shiraz is calling for moderation and greater Muslim integration into British life, a stance which has meant he himself is now labelled an apostate by some Muslim extremists.

In a Radio 4 documentary to be broadcast on 17th April, he will ask if people can stop being Muslim. He speaks to ex-Muslims about the problems they have faced which include violence, alienation from family and condemnation from their communities.

Shiraz also speaks to experts on Islamic law in an attempt to find out whether the death penalty is really justified by the Qu’ran and the example of the Prophet Muhammad, or whether Muslim attitudes to apostasy are more indicative of the them and us mentality fostered by some religious leaders.
Radio 4 – 17th April at 8pm.
It will be available to listen on the Radio 4 website after broadcast.

The West Midlands saw a new digital radio station launch this week aimed at the region’s British Asian market. AsianFx, sister-station to the popular London based Panjab Radio, will compete directly with BBC Asian Network for an audience.

The station was officially launched last week and will feature former Club Asian presenter Veena V on breakfast. Managing director Surjit Singh Ghuman said: “Most radio stations are language or music specific, the needs of British born Asians seemed to be ignored, so creating a platform for these cultures to unite seemed the right thing to do.”

AsianFx will broadcast on DAB Digital Radio and online www.asianfx.co.uk
Contact: info@asianfx.co.uk / 020 8848 8877
(pictured: Breakfast and Drivetime presenters at launch event)