I wondered if I could speak with you. We’re looking for an Afghan man between 60-80 for a very respectful part in an upcoming Ben Stiller movie and we are trying to speak to Afghan artists as a way to access the community here in NY. Would you be willing to chat?

My number is 212.627.1662 x418

Thank you!
Amelia

While I know that Afghanistan was not part of the Partition, as a result of the Partition many Sikh people left Punjab to go to Afghanistan rather than cross the newly created Pakistan/India border in 1947 and onwards, and in that way I understand how our histories are intertwined.

I enjoy reading your blog & your work, particularly your insistence on the centering the experience of women in the telling and retelling of stories, particularly Muslim women; on bringing political understandings and analysis to action through the art of writing; on exploring the legacies of generational trauma as an opportunity for healing; and on working cross-culturally across the Asian and Asian American diaspora (including Central, South, South East, and North Asian diasporic communities). It is for these reason that I thought to let you know about Riti Sachdeva’s work. Thank you for spreading the word about the play as we head into this final week of shows.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-off-broadway/ny-review-parts-of-parts-stitches-1006521952.story

http://deborah-greenhut.suite101.com/parts-of-parts-of-stiches-dramatic-partition-of-india-a405420

I am currently working on a project that I thought might be of interest to you.

I’m writing on behalf of playwright Riti Sachdeva and producer MTWorks as they move forward with the world premiere of PARTS OF PARTS & STITCHES, a compelling and provocative telling of the stories of the 1947 partition of British India into the nations of India and Pakistan.

PARTS OF PARTS & STITCHES uses overlapping truths, histories, and the fantastic to create a space for audiences to explore and reflect upon individual and collective resilience and resistance in the face of partition. Awarded the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s Quest for Peace award and the 2011 Excellence in Playwriting award at the National Newborn Festival (NYC) and with an outstanding cast and creative team, PARTS OF PARTS & STITCHES is directed by Cat Parker and will run from March 15-31, 2012 at The Theater at 14th Street Y (Union Square).

The play creates a space for audiences to participate in making connections between the Partition and seemingly disparate geo-political contexts where populations have been violently divided. The project has particular resonance for those of the South Asian diaspora, but many of our communities have been partitioned and continue to be partitioned. In most instances, significant efforts have been made to erase the memories of partition traumas in the larger interests of nation-building. The play gives us an opportunity to challenge the forgetting while creating spaces for a deeper understanding of our historical and contemporary struggles.

We have several events being held in conjunction with the play that might be of interest.
Please contact me directly or go to http://www.mtworks.org/up-next for more information.

Thank you,

laurie