Harbourfront Centre - South Asia Calling Advisory Members

Advisory Members

Ranju Advani

Ranju Advani has had a long standing interest and involvement in community and cultural activities. She is a Trustee and Past President of AWIC Community and Social Services, a Toronto based newcomer and immigrant settlement organization. She also recently served as Co-Chair of Panorama India, a federation of Indian community and cultural organizations in the GTA, which is affiliated with the Consulate General of India.

Ranju’s previous volunteer commitments have included terms as Chairperson of Changing Together- A Centre for Immigrant Women, a newcomer settlement organization based in Alberta. She was also elected as the Alberta representative and Vice Chair of the Board of the Association of Western Canadian Immigrant Serving Agencies (AWCISA). Ranju has worked as an Analyst and Legislative Planner with the provincial civil service. She has completed a B.Sc. (Hon.) in Physiology from the University of Saskatchewan and post-graduate studies at the University of British Columbia and University of Toronto.

Anupam Bagchi

A professional Mechanical Engineer (P. Eng.) who retired in 2000, Anupam Bagchi has lived and worked in India, USA, Canada and Kuwait. He is the Founder/President of The Malhar Group Music Circle of Ontario (2001), with a mission to present and promote Indian classical music among Canadians. The Malhar Group holds festivals, concerts, lecture-demonstrations in schools and listening sessions.

Amita Handa

Indica Jainudeen

Indica Jainudeen has been honoured with the Government of Canada Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Services and Contribution as a Volunteer. She is also the recipient of the Ontario Tsunami Award for fundraising activities to support the Tsunami victims. Indica is the brain-child behind the Sri Lanka Day at the Canada’s Wonderland for four consecutive years and now at the Harbourfront Centre. She received her Bachelors of Art Degree from University of Toronto and Recreation and Leisure Diploma from Centennial College. Indica is passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community. She is honoured to be part of the Harbourfront Centre - South Asian Festival Celebration Committee.

Pamila Matharu

Pamila Matharu is a Toronto-based visual artist, educator and cultural producer. She completed her BFA in Visual Arts and B.Ed in Fine Arts Education at York University. As an active community member over the last 14 years; she has volunteered on the Board of Directors for several organizations in Toronto including; Canadian Artists Representation Ontario (1999-2001), Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography (2001-2003), Toronto Artscape (2004-2006) the Images Festival of Independent Film & Video (2003-2008) and currently, South Asian Visual Arts Centre.

Recent projects include; Come Up To My Room; Gladstone Hotel’s Alternative Design Event (co-curated with Christina Zeidler, 2004-2008), and Toronto Alternative Art Fair International (2004, 2005). Pamila teaches Visual Arts, Media Arts and Film & Video at Parkdale Collegiate Institute.

Tashi Nangsetsang

Suba Sankaran

Suba Sankaran is a DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated vocalist. She graduated from York University in 1997, where she studied jazz, early music, world music and contemporary improvisation, and completed her Master of Arts degree in ethnomusicology in 2002.

Suba is artistic director of the award-winning Indo-jazz fusion ensemble Autorickshaw and regularly performs with other world music groups including Trichy’s Trio and most recently with the Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan and premiere percussion ensemble NEXUS. She has performed across Canada, the US, Europe and India. Highlights include performing for Nelson Mandela and Peter Gabriel. She has composed, recorded and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance. Recent highlights include collaborating with Oscar nominee Deepa Mehta.

Suba is in demand as a private teacher, choral director, arranger, adjudicator and composer and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world.