Countering Islamophobia (feat. Aysha Qamar) | South Asians and Islamophobia

Relationships between South Asian nations, particularly over religious differences, are unstable at best - and relationships between Hindus and Muslims are filled with history between conquering nations, colonialism, partition, conflicts over land, the use of armed forces on each other. This brings us to this week's topic of Islamophobia and how we need to dismantle some of the biases that our families have passed on through their own trauma. That's why we got a second to chat with Aysha Qamar, a writer, poet, and advocate based in the tri-state area. She has extensive experience working with state officials and grassroots organizations on addressing issues of violence against women, language access, and Islamophobia. Aysha’s work in state language access has allowed her to pilot and implement programs dedicated to South Asian cultural competency within the judiciary system nationwide.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is on sale now! An action-packed debut of fire magic and ancient prophecy, in which the fate of a futuristic desert kingdom rests in the hands of a princess desperate for power and an assassin with a dark secret, this novel is a can't-miss! Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Om Podcasten

That Desi Spark, formerly known as The Woke Desi, is a bold podcast created by three founders who recognized a space void of color and conversation around the topics that impact dual-identity, South Asian millennials the most. From education to entertainment and social justice issues to social media trends, That Desi Spark approaches each episode with compassion, advocacy, and information, bolstered by subject-area experts and unfiltered celebrity moments. Founded by healthcare manager/author Annika Sharma, marketing whiz/lifestyle blogger Nehal Tenany, and hedge fund trader/producer Sridhar Pisupati, That Desi Spark ignites conversation, illuminates learning, and sparks a community to own their stories, rise up with confidence, and blaze a path forward. The podcast has been featured in the Times of India, at BBC’s CDX, and on Forbes. They have been featured speakers at multiple conferences, ViacomCBS, and universities.They can be found on the web, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.