We Are All Birds Of Uganda provided me with a glimpse into the life of South Asians in Uganda during the British colonial era and its effects on subsequent generations. Through Sameer, the book takes you on a journey of exploration, discovering a history that was just as unknown to me as it was to him.

This South Asian Heritage Month in the UK, we are shining a spotlight on the #BestofBritish South Asian TV and movies and we've got something for everyone, laugh with Romesh Ranganathan, learn to bake with Nadiya Hussain. Become a football fan by watching Gurinder Chadha's iconic Bend It Like Beckaham. Or travel back in time with Anita Rani in My Family, Parition and Me or Riz Ahmed's Daytimers.

This #SouthAsianHeritageMonth, we bring to you our book recommendations on British South Asian authors, from the relatable charm of Anita Rani to the poignant reflections of Mohsin Hamid.

Ms Marvel has just completed its six-episode run for season one, by writer and executive producer Bisha K.Ali. Based on the comics, Ms Marvel follows 16-year-old Kamala Khan’s journey to figuring out who she wants to be, grappling with her identity as a Pakistani-American Muslim and as a rookie superhero.

Whilst Pride is a month to celebrate oneself, the community, and the advancements that have been made, it’s hard to ignore the seemingly frail state of things. The skyrocketing of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation has made courts, political institutions and public forums - social media mostly - a culture war battleground against who deserves what, and frankly I’m tired of it. It feels like a never-ending case of one step forward, two steps back. This increase in transphobic and homophobic legislation forces us to confront that the confines of legal and political systems - no matter what party is in power - are never really a true guarantee of liberation.

We present our LGBTQIA+ book recommendations, from the fun fiction fantasies of Adiba Jaigirdar to the life lessons of activist Urvashi Vaid.

Bridgerton is back, and I for one was excited for its return. Enter: the Sharma sisters. Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Edwina Sharma (Charitha Chandran), accompanied by their mother Mary Sharma (Shelley Conn). As Anthony sets his sights on Edwina, he faces the strong-willed protective elder sister Kate. But tensions rise as their initial contempt for one another starts budding into a forbidden love. Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers storyline, let alone one that’s this high stakes.

On this #InternationalWomansDay we share our favourite reads by woman of colour, from the essential feminist theory of Angela Davis to the heart wrenching novels of Jhumpa Lahiri.

But celebrating India’s win comes with a dose of reality about the place beauty pageants hold in today’s society. There’s an uncomfortable reflection to be had when we think about the values that beauty pageants promote and uphold, and the effect this has had over decades both culturally and to us internally as individuals. Is beauty always going to be what’s shown in pageants, or are they irrelevant in today’s world? Should they have ever had relevance in the first place?

Those are words from the late, great bell hooks in All About Love: New Visions, one of my favourite books. When I first read it, I was amazed at how eloquently she talks about love. She views love as a radical praxis both to yourself and to others, the “willingness to nurture one’s own or another’s spiritual growth through acts of care, respect, knowing and assuming responsibility.” Making sure your life is sustainable is to make lifestyle choices that are as healthy and beneficial to you as you can. But to do that as well as nurturing the bonds with those around you, bettering each other’s conditions, helping each other grow and overcome the challenges we face.

Sindhu Rajasekaran is a literary nomad and transgressor of genres. Her upcoming book of non-fiction about Indian feminism(s) is titled Smashing the Patriarchy – A Guide for the . Published by , it is out from November 5th 2021. Part Two of this interview explores the later chapters of Smashing the Patriarchy, taking the focus to the working woman, both in the public realm and in the home, our economic power, and the feminist narrative of choice.

Sindhu Rajasekaran is a literary nomad and transgressor of genres. Her upcoming book of non-fiction about Indian feminism(s) is titled Smashing the Patriarchy – A Guide for the . Published by , it is out from November 5th 2021. Part One of this interview explores the first two chapters of her book, talking about beauty, body politics, queerness and desire.

Throughout the events, and in some cases before they had even begun, female athletes were being criticised, penalised or restricted for something. This ranged from social media users criticising An San, South Korean triple gold-medalist archer for her haircut, to banning Namibia's Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi from competing in the 400 metres race because they were apparently “not eligible for female classification”. These are just two examples out of many, as they were by no means the only female athletes who had their bodies scrutinised and policed. And it’s ironic too, because this Olympics was hailed as the first ever “gender equal” as 49% of the participants were female, yet the treatment of them was anything but that. It also prompts us to think about how such gender-based discrimination within the Olympics is essentially a microcosm of the issues faced outside of it, and how sporting arenas are just another place in the infinite sites where this can take place.

When you hear or read the words “Palestine” and “Israel”, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s vague ideas of conflict and religious division. For others, they may appear to be fighters in a ring - each taking swings at the other, locked in an unending battle that gets slightly more brutal with each passing ring of the bell. For some, they’re just political buzzwords, and for others, they mean nothing at all.

One of the pandemic’s many negative impacts is the strain on businesses and local institutions, with some of the most cherished historical sites in danger as COVID-19 continues to take its toll. So, to celebrate Asian Heritage Month, allow me to be your tour guide, and I’ll take you through some of the key cultural spots not too far from Queen Mary that you need to put on your post-pandemic to-do list.

Given that migrant women predominantly occupy domestic and care work, the pandemic amplified a lot of the existing vulnerabilities of limited access to healthcare and social protections and poor living conditions. The additional risks of having to still work in other homes meant that migrant women do not have the privilege of self-isolating or social-distancing. Long days became longer, thus exploitation became more rampant. With many migrant women confined to their employers home, it leaves them in a position where there is no easy exit or escape from abuse they may be suffering.

What is happening in Myanmar, and how did it get to this point?

The International Criminal Court (ICC or the Court) has announced it has the jurisdiction to investigate war crimes in Palestine. The Pre-Trial Chamber 1 of the Court released a statement on 5 February that it had decided, by majority, “that the ICC’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation on Palestine, a State party to the ICC Rome Statute, extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”

But the truth is that this is simply the culmination of a long walk down a road called censorship. The attempted silencing of the farmers protest is just another example in a long line of suppression, and the gradual erosion of the right to freedom of expression. Making noise on social media comes with its upsides and downsides, but it’s worth examining whether our virtual interactions really still offer a safe space and democratic environment for those who dissent, disagree and disobey.

Opening up a critique of the wellness industry is a step towards devaluing it, but ultimately it's just one of the many by-products of mass consumption capitalism which operates to keep us in a position where we feel like we need the fixes of the wellness industry.