Author: Sankar Raman

Defying the Odds All Along

Growing up in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Jeanette watched the women in her family follow a familiar path—leaving school young, entering early marriages,

An Escape To a New Beginning

As members of Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority, Mohsin’s family has endured generations of persecution. From a young age, he understood the

Gifts to Carry You Forward

Toc was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to the US at the age of three. As the eldest child in her family, she often had to […]

Ranjish Hi Sahi Live at The Armory

For decades, “Ranjish Hi Sahi” has been a cherished torch passed through generations of singers, captivating listeners with its timeless ghazal. Written in Urdu  

Sanson Ki Mala at The Armory

“Sanson Ki Mala Pe” (साँसों की माला पे) is a rare bhajan penned by Meerabai (15th Century) in honor of her lord Krishna. The opening line translates as:  

Allah Elohim at The Armory

Perhaps as a kind of invocation, Bala and Shivani chose to play the song Allah Elohim, a piece that now resonates more deeply than ever before.

We Are One Live at The Armory

This original composition, thoughtfully created and arranged by Bala for this occasion, weaves a melody that speaks to the deepest threads of our shared  

Aap Ki Nazaron Live at The Armory

This beautiful melody comes from the classic Bollywood film Anpadh (1962). Originally sung by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, the song features music

Video Clip

Mast Qalandar Live at The Armory

“Mast Qalandar” is perhaps the most celebrated and widely rendered of all Qawwalis. Reverberating through the annals of South Asian musical heritage,

Shall We Dance Bollywood?

As a student in India, Prashant worked hard and finally achieved the American dream of a well-paying job in engineering and a career that made his parents proud.  

Food Feeds our Souls

Born in Tehran, Iran in 1978, during the Iranian revolution, Sara came to Portland with her family in 1986. As young teenagers,

Taking Some Losses to Win

TK grew up in segregated Rhodesia under British control and experienced the joyous birth of independent Zimbabwe. As a young lawyer,  

There is No Peace in Kunar Valley

As a boy growing up in a remote valley near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Nasirullah was fascinated by the US soldiers who came to fight the Taliban  

This is what I want, To Be Who I Am

Franke Tokam-Powell was born in Douala, Cameroon. As a quiet effeminate boy, he always felt he did not fit in so, when he got the chance to go to college […]