A Long Awaited Review from Rajneesh Dhawan, Writer & Academic

Rajneesh Dhawan, University of Frazer Valley, BC, Canada said...



I read "The End of the Dark and Stormy Night" a couple of years ago and have had a lot of conversations with Rajni regarding her book. The book is like a whiff of fresh air in the claustrophobic world of south Asian diaspora writing. The best thing about the book is that it celebrates the Canadian life, the Canadian life that people of Indian origin live within their respective communities and Rajni talks about their issues and concerns totally in a Canadian way, not looking once towards their roots in order to find some non-existent psychological crutch. The writing is racy and Rajni has the knack of creating funny situations and funny characters and she doesn't shy away from being politically incorrect. I am eagerly waiting for her second book.

Re. Dilkusha Home

I am happy to announce that we reached our goal of $300. All because of the genrosity of Canadians. A Big Thank You!!!

List of friends and acquaintances that contributed to the event are as follows:
Aniz Hooda, Owner of Star Droplets & Reiki Practitioner
Uma Parameswaran, Writer & Academic
Michelle Biefer, Student
Laila Blue Khelawan, Student
Marthine Kunneke, Student
Steve Milliard
Kim Adams
Stephen Biefer
Shannon Drobot

And all those who bought a hot chocolate on the streets of Kensington, Calgary.

Thank you. May God Bless!!!

Inspiring News Story from Dilkusha Home Orphanage

Hello. Hello.

This an inspiring story in THE FIJI TIMES of a girl who grew up in the Dilkusha Home Orphanage and is now married and living abroad...Heart warming.

Dilkusha girl weds at home
Ruby Taylor-Newton
Thursday, December 03, 2009

Josephine Zulekha McCarthy with her husband Darren Crooks at the Outrigger on the Lagoon resort on the Coral Coast. Congratulating them is Deaconess Olivia Nataniela.
When the time came for Dilkusha Home-raised Josephine Zulekha McCarthy to get married to her love, Darren Crooks, she knew it would have to be back home in Fiji.

Josephine, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia made sure the two very special people in her life were present Deaconess Olivia Nataniela and assistant, superintendent Karuna Gabriel.

"They are my two mums," she says of the women. "They brought me up at the Home."

Dilkusha Girls Home Superintendent, Deaconess Olivia said Josephine was brought to the Home when she was still a baby...

Click on the header to read full clip.

Great to see that Dilkusha continues to do great work...

Make A Child Smile This Gift Giving Season

During July /August 2011, I travelled to Fiji Islands, located in the cusp of the Pacific Ocean. While there, I had the privilege of visiting Dilkusha Home, an orphanage that has been serving orphaned children for over a 100 years.

This gift giving season, I was hoping to raise money to send them a little something to make their Christmas shine a little brighter. And I needed your help. I am hoping to raise $300.00 that will allow approximately $10.00 per child. Of course, if I was able to exceed this amount, it would be even better.

Currently, Dilkusha Home is serving 29 children who range in ages from 1 years to 19 years. And they recently adopted their first boy! The older girls remain in the home due to permanent disabilities and their inability to live independently. The Home’s policy is to keep the girls in the home till they complete all their education and are able to be financially independent and live productive lives.

So far, I have $30 in the bucket... And I would be grateful for any amount of support.

In order to keep their overhead costs low, Dilkusha Home does not have a personal website. However, I did manage to find pictures of their children celebrating the Home’s 100 year anniversary:http://www.realsolutions-sr.de/pages/nausori.htm Also, please read this heart warming news article where one of the girls who grew up in Dilkusha Home ties the knot to her long time love: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=134789 Very inspiring...

If you can and want to help, please contact me via email at rmalabooks@gmail.com

Wishing everyone a happy healthy holiday season! Thank you. :)

Regards,

Rajni

“If she’s over 35 and unmarried, she’s an old maid...If he’s over forty-five and unmarried, he’s George Clooney.”

If she’s assertive, she’s a bitch. If she’s a compliant wife, she’s his bitch. If she goes to bed with several men, she’s a slut. If she doesn’t go to bed with several men, she’s still a slut. If she sleeps with others for money, she’s a whore. If she gives it for free, she’s an idiot. If she smokes crack, she’s a crack whore. If she’s large in size, she’s an Amazon. If she has small breasts, she’s an Aunt Jemima. If she’s blonde, she must be stupid. And if she’s stupid, she’s a bimbo. If she sleeps with younger men, she’s a cougar. If she sleeps with much older men, it’s…proper? Or she’s a gold digger. If she’s over 35 and never married, she’s an old maid. If she sleeps with other women’s men, she’s a skank, or worse still, a home-breaker. Maybe even a skanky whore slut home-breaker—who probably smokes crack when the sun comes up and drinks tequila when the sun goes down.

It is a wonder that with so many titles a woman bears, she still has time to be a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a lover, and a friend.

If he’s assertive, he’s the boss. If he’s a compliant husband, he’s a pussy. If he goes to bed with several women, he’s a celebrated player, a stud. If he doesn’t go to bed with several women, he’s one in a million—a keeper. If he sleeps with others for money, he’s a male prostitute? If he gives it for free, he scores. If he smokes crack, he’s a drug addict. If he’s large in size, he’s a big boy. If he has a small penis, he’s probably a good lover. If he’s blonde, is he stupid? If he is stupid, he’s…? If he sleeps with younger women, he’s a stud again. And if he sleeps with older women, he scores—again. If he’s over forty-five and never married, he’s George Clooney. If he sleeps with other men’s women, the wife is the skanky whore slut home-breaker—who probably smokes crack when the sun comes up and drinks tequila when the sun goes down.

On a more positive note, society has progressed as we are no longer glorifying the age of sutti, hiding completely behind veils of religion, or burning bitches on stakes, claiming that they are witches.

My First Short Story "Still Standing" Published in THE VOICE MAGAZINE

I am very happy to announce that my first short story "Still Standing" was published in Friday's THE VOICE MAGAZINE (Feb 18, 2011). It's about a single mother dealing with relationship and dating challenges that come up in ordinary life. Click on header and follow link to read! I hope you all enjoy!

Cheers,

Rajni

My meeting with Lawrence Hill, the guest of honour at the Bob Edwards Luncheon.

I attended the Bob Edwards Luncheon on November 10, 2010. Aside from the food being fabulous and my meeting with Lawrence Hill, author of Book of Negroes, I was absolutely thrilled to meet Aritha Van Herk. Feeling a little out of place at the party, it was a pleasure when she approached and introduced herself and shook my hand. There was an underlying "welcome to the world of writers" in her approach. Thank Goodness. It made me feel a little less nervous at the party.

Loading a picture of Lawrence Hill signing my book after the luncheon.