Pleasanton and India are closer than one might think, at least that’s the case this year thanks to the Pleasanton Public Library’s new program, “Fusion Pleasanton.” Organized in partnership with the East Bay Marathi Mandal and made possible with a $25,000 grant from the California State Library, the program kicks off next Saturday, Sept. 9 with a food festival titled “The Exotic Spices of India.”
“We wanted to try and introduce the non-Indian community to the range of Indian cultural offerings, have big programs on music and food, and also host educational seminars,” said Penny Johnson, adult programming coordinator for the library. “We’re trying to hit everything, which is impossible, but we cover the gamut so at the end of the school year the community will have a better understanding of India’s history, richness of culture and know more than they began with. And hopefully the Indian community will feel they’ve been understood.”
The year-long program will feature different aspects of Indian culture each month with events ranging from a discussion on the experience of Indian women who immigrated to America to a look at Bollywood films. In addition to the monthly programs, there will be an ongoing story hour on Mondays featuring stories in Hindi and other Indian languages. The story times start Oct. 2 and will run through June 4. There is also an adult seminar series starting Jan. 24 featuring topics such as India’s contribution to astronomy, the tech-boom of Bangalore and travel and adventure in India.
During next Saturday’s event, community members will learn about Indian cooking from food writers Laxmi Hiremath and Lachu Moorjani before getting a chance to sample a wide variety of Indian foods. Mayor Jennifer Hosterman will also be at the event to kick off the program.
“We wanted to start with a block party feel where it’s casual and people can chat and move around,” Johnson said.
Most of the programming is organized by the EBMM, a nonprofit organization that strives to promote the culture of Maharashtra, a state on the west coast of India. One of the grant’s requirements was that the library team up with a local nonprofit organization. As it happens, Johnson knew Varsha Upadhye, board member of EBMM, through their children’s shared activities. Johnson contacted Upadhye to see if she knew of any Indian organizations that might be interested in working with the library on the grant and Upadhye immediately jumped at the chance.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for EBMM,” Upadhye said. “To do this work with the library was the best thing to happen to us. We feel really excited about it and fortunate.”
Although EBMM traditionally promotes Maharashtra culture, the organization is making sure that all of the cultures of India are represented in the program.
“Since India is so diverse, every state has as different languages and cuisine, so showing the whole of India is a big task,” Upadhye explained.
EBMM and the library hope that, by the end of the year, Pleasanton residents will have a better idea of the cultures of India and members of the Indian community will feel embraced by the town.
“I think after this year, people will walk away with an understanding of what Indian culture is all about and that our Pleasanton community is very diverse,” Upadhye said. “This is a good opportunity for us to show what India is about.”
Get involved with ‘Fusion Pleasanton’
“The Exotic Spices of India: The Makings of an Authentic Spicy Desi” is Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3:30-7 p.m. at the Pleasanton Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave. Check the library’s online calendar at www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/library for all upcoming events in the “Fusion Pleasanton” series.
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