In a community saturated by talk of babies and marriages, British Asian bereavement is curiously complicated - and often ignored.
Family, religious and cultural issues make each passing unique from the mainstream and brings in sharp focus the generational expectations that can cause further heartache at a time of sensitivity.
Fresh To Death is out to change that.
Restaurateur Saima is living with a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer and filmmaker Maleena lost her teenage brother to leukemia and father to a sudden heart attack.
Together, they explore their own perspective of being British Asian women dealing with death - and speak to others with a range of unique perspectives, from will writing to funerals, mental health to cultural traditions.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this programme you can find support at the BBC Action line for bereavement:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4MmhHDSbdDmTpVJhBs2v4Py/information-and-support-bereavement
In a community saturated by talk of babies and marriages, British Asian bereavement is curiously complicated - and often ignored.
Family, religious and cultural issues make each passing unique from the mainstream and brings in sharp focus the generational expectations that can cause further heartache at a time of sensitivity.
Fresh To Death is out to change that.
Restaurateur Saima is living with a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer and filmmaker Maleena lost her teenage brother to leukemia and father to a sudden heart attack.
Together, they explore their own perspective of being British Asian women dealing with death - and speak to others with a range of unique perspectives, from will writing to funerals, mental health to cultural traditions.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this programme you can find support at the BBC Action line for bereavement:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4MmhHDSbdDmTpVJhBs2v4Py/information-and-support-bereavement
Millennia before the West started reassessing the concept of gender, India had the Hijra.
When researching for this podcast, Raul was surprised to discover that, in Hinduism, gender non-conformity is nothing new. The origin of the Hijra can be found in ancient Indian folk stories, but they are also a real community of transwomen that live in India today. Many people still believe that they are mystical beings and that they can confer blessings and curses.
In this episode Raul investigates the complex subject of gender in Hinduism and in India. He speaks to his comedian friend Sindhu Vee, the trans activist Kalki Subramaniam and, of course, his ever-helpful guide Pandit Satish K Sharma.