January 2014

Happy New Year, Friends.

IAHM is growing strong! It's been a great year for the Indo-American Heritage Museum, and I'm proud that my fellow board members chose me to lead this extraordinary organization.
 

 

We are already planning the fourth Neighborhoods 

of the World Amazing India event at Navy Pier 

on Sunday, March 16, 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. 

Mark your calendars now for an afternoon of

ethnic food, vendors, and extraordinary dancers

who get the crowd moving. Over 2,500 happy folks

thronged the March 2013 event.

 

 

 

 

In September, IAHM launched our Third Thursday Book Group, featuring works by writers of Indian descent. Participants have discussed The NamesakeFamily Matters, and Sister of My Heart. Join us 6:30 pm, January 16 at the Northtown Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6435 North California Avenue for a conversation onThe Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar.

 

 

 
The year began with volunteer docents recruited by IAHM enriching the experience of visitors to the exhibition Maharaja: The Splendor of India's Royal Courts at the Field Museum. In April, IAHM collaborated with Raven Theatre for a staged reading of Anita Chandwaney's "Gandhi Marg." Chandwaney's insights on the immigrant experience stimulated lively conversation between cast and audience. In November, nearly 100 people celebrated an Indian/Polish heritage connection at the Polish Museum of America. The group enjoyed a screening of "Chitraanjali," a documentary film about Polish artist Stefan Norblin creating murals in Indian palaces while WWII raged in Europe. We savored Polish and Indian food, as well as demonstrations of Polish tango and Indian classical dance by Sushmita Arunkumar. Throughout the year, IAHM's "Gateway to India Tour" continues to attract groups of school children as well as adults for personal stories from immigrants, information about the Indian American community, and exploration of the ethnic neighborhood on Devon Avenue.

 

Lastly, we close out the year by inviting you to visit to the Chicago CulturalAlliance World's Winter exhibition at Blick Gallery, 42 S. State St. through January 10. Indo-American Heritage Museum's Diwali display includes original artwork by IAHM board member Prem Sharma.

Won't you help us carry on our mission and achieve new heights in 2014? IAHM is dependent on donations and volunteer energy to achieve our mission. Your generosity will enable the museum to expand its efforts and impact. Giving is easy at http://iahmuseum.org/support-us/donate/.

 

Yours very sincerely,

 

Tamara K. Biggs

President of the Board