OmTalks: Legacy And The Wild with Sangeeta Waldron & Melvyn Carlile

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On 17 June, I will be in conversation with the very brilliant Melvyn Carlile.

Mel is a visionary founder and the pioneering force behind the Mind Body, Spirit Festival, London. His work has helped to shape the modern holistic movement.

I could not be more excited about this event for many personal reasons. As a young girl of about 7, I used to be my mum’s plus one to the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, held those days at Olympia. Never did I imagine that one day, I would be in conversation with the founder of this Festival about my book.

Life has just given me lemonade!

Tickets are only £4.50 and to book, click here

Indian Bestseller Nectar on the Seven Hills by Local Based Author Prabhu Ram to Be Published in the UK

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Delighted to be working on this Indian bestseller, Nectar on the Seven Hills, by London-based author Prabhu Ram, To Be Published in the UK. Nectar on the Seven Hills has been compared to Harry Potter.

The Stakes Are High – Why We Need To Invest In Local Media & Journalism

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The stakes are high. The future of news reporting will not only shape our communities and conversations but also influence the very fabric of our democracies. The stories we tell, and the collaborations we forge during challenging times, will be key. At the heart of this is the next generation—how we can support them in better understanding where the world is headed and how they can make a difference. This is why my work with LocalMotion Enfield, a grassroots movement dedicated to empowering communities across our borough, is so crucial.
LocalMotion Enfield operates in a variety of ways, including a media partnership with our local newspaper, The Enfield Dispatch. This collaboration raises awareness of local projects, issues, and community initiatives.
But it doesn’t stop there. Our work is forward-thinking and dynamic, giving young voices a platform and nurturing the next generation of journalists. By doing so, we’re helping combat misinformation and ensuring that these future storytellers are equipped to share the truth.

Apologies…

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Apologies the last few months have run away with me and with good reason. I completed the manuscript for the third book I was writing…a book that took me over a year and a half to write. What Will YOUR Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Game Changers About The Climate Crisis will be out on 30 January 2025. I then returned from Milan in November, where the pro planet film I was representing at FICTS, which is an event for film television and sports – won an award!  FICTS is closely associated with the Olympics. The film project I was part of, cleverly tied water sports with marine conservation, where we combined the power of storytelling with sustainability and sport.

As soon as I was back from Milan, a couple of days later Serendipity PR was at the Business Show, where we also hosted a lunchtime session speaking about why the business community needs to be thinking about its sustainability initiatives. It was busy at the Show and there was a definite buzz. Companies want to do the right thing and be authentically sustainable. There is a real drive to do better.

I have also been working on an initiative looking at the relevance and importance of local newspapers, media, and journalism with City Hall. This is a really interesting project, because those who know me, will know that I believe in the importance of local newspapers, which I regard as the backbone of communities, providing independent information about what is going on in local areas. Sadly, with the advent of social media, we have seen a decline in local newspapers in the UK, even the London Evening Standard now only has an online presence where much of the news is curated by artificial intelligence. There are very few local newspapers with a real editor left, who reports on the ground. I believe we need to recognise local journalism as an important part of community life and invest in this mechanism of information, which counteracts misinformation and disinformation. This will be ongoing work.

As I furiously type to get this posted in time for Christmas, let me say this…2024 has been a year of lots of opportunities, where a variety of seeds have been sown for 2025…where next year will be a flourishing garden of interesting initiatives, announcements, and celebrations. Stay tuned and Merry Christmas!

 

 

Announcing New Book, What Will YOUR Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Game Changers About The Climate Crisis

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My third book, What Will YOUR Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Game Changers About The Climate Crisis is out on 30 January 2025 and is already receiving strong interest. I wrote to help readers to understand some of our biggest environmental challenges and how individuals, communities, organisations, and nations are restoring our planet. The book explores different themes – from science, food to the ocean, global politics, business, to the media, arts and music, communities, and more.

What Will YOUR Legacy Be? has a collection of conversations with thirty-six global influencers, thought leaders, and change-makers about the climate crisis and sustainability. The list of personalities and game changers includes a diversity of voices from – Ingmar Rentzhog, (CEO and Founder We Don’t Have Time), Julian Lennon (Founder, The White Feather Foundation and musician), Dr Kimberley Miner (NASA climate scientist), Rachel Cartwright (naturalist), Sunita Narain (Indian environmentalist and activist), and Nemonte Nenquimo (indigenous Waorani leader). In sharing their activities, wisdom, and knowledge, I present takeaway tips to inspire readers to become “climate change aware” and help create a sustainable mindset for themselves.

The book has received great endorsements from Mark Hoda, Chairman, The Gandhi Foundation, who says,“Gandhi told us ‘to be the change that we wanted to see in the world’, and Sangeeta’s book captures the spirit of Gandhi’s statement to remind us, that everyone can do something to help the planet. It starts with us.”

It has also been endorsed by Mark Seddon, Director, Centre for UN Studies, University of Buckingham. Former Speechwriter, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, former UN correspondent, Al Jazeera TV.

What Will YOUR Legacy Be? is a book, where the reader goes on a journey to understand the profound changes that our planet is undergoing and to think about the legacy that they would like to make for future generations.

 

 

Asian Achievers Awards 2024

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On 27 September, the 22nd Asian Achievers Awards took place at a glittering ceremony in London. The Awards brought together over 500 distinguished guests from around the world to celebrate the outstanding contributions of leading South Asians in the UK. Hosted by former Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra OBE and ITV newsreader Anila Dhami, the evening was a celebration of the exceptional achievements within the British Asian community.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “British Asians are a driving force behind much of the social, cultural, and economic innovation we see in Britain today. You represent so many of the values that help our communities thrive — ambition, hard work, and inclusivity, to name just a few. This is why it is wonderful to see so many British Asian change-makers being recognised tonight by the team at EPG.”

Among the winners were Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhury, GP specialising in women’s health Dr. Nighat Arif, the founder of the Indian street food chain Chaiiwalas, and the founder of the largest distributor of car parts in Europe Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia. Former Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma was recognised for his over 50 years in public service and given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

I had my own Oscar moment and had the honour of announcing the winner of the Arts and Culture, which went to the fusion sound duo, Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan.

The evening saw electric performances from British Asian music pioneer Juggy D and Edinburgh Fringe Festival winner, stand-up comedian Ahir Shah.

 

Quiet Reflections Of The UK’s 2024 Summer Riots of Racism and Hatred

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It has been devasting to watch the past week of horrific racial violence unfold here in the UK.  It sadly overshadowed the tragedy of Southport. We know that this type of hatred has no place in our society, and we should call it out for what it is: racism, Islamophobia, and bigotry.

 

The hatred shown on the streets has been vile and shocking. It also threatens to damage Britain’s international reputation. As it says something when countries such as Malaysia, India, and Nigeria caution their citizens about travelling to the UK. I am not going to delve into the reasons why everything combusted because it is complicated…from the role social media played to the right-wing media and politicians, to the language used by the mainstream media, to Musk inciting violence, and how successive governments have squandered people’s trust and failed to tackle the deep-rooted problems that are blighting our communities.
However, the peaceful community gatherings, where thousands of anti-racism protesters came out and stood together in different parts of the country on 7 August in response to the anti-immigration riots, was magnificent. It restored my faith, and I found it uplifting and hopeful. It also made front page news, and these were the headlines that we need to see – that good triumphed over evil; that together we can make the right difference, and that hate, or violence is never the answer,

 

Something else that I found uplifting, which helped to my make internal flame of hope shine even brighter was Tim Walz’s speech in Philadelphia on the 6 of August. Walz is the Minnesota governor and has been chosen by Kamala Harris to be her running mate in the US Presidential elections. Walz talked about community, values, commitment, working for a common good, and that one person can make a difference. A speech that was very relevant to what was happening here across the pond.

“He’s the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big,” Harris said.

If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it, as Walz also gives a masterclass in speech delivery.

 

Photo Credit: Wiki Media

Bhavik Haria Brought The House Down At The Nehru Centre

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On 5 June we brought the house down at the Nehru Centre when international musician, Bhavik Haria performed music from his new album, Sama. It was an evening of celebration where just over 130 people from different walks of life came together to hear Bhajan music. This was the largest audience for the Nehru Centre this year. The Deputy High Commissioner, Sujit Ghosh attended along with Mark Hoda, Chairman of the Gandhi Foundation.

 

For some people, it was their first time listening to this ancient genre of music from India, and were enthralled. Bhajan music focuses on uplifting and bringing people together, and Bhavik’s music is a contemporary sound of Bhajan music. On the night Bhavik performed songs from the album with talented musicians that included a tabla player, a saxophonist, and a violinist, bringing traditional Indian and Western instruments together. Sama is part of Bhavik’s mission to #KeepBhajansAlive which he successfully started in 2020. To help further his campaign, the album has a QR code that gives an English transliteration of the lyrics from Hindi.

Sama has been produced by Kaykay Chauhan with lyrics by Ajay Chandaran and released on 30 May. It is an initiative supported by the Arts Council England. On the night Hedley Swain, CEO of the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, Brighton & Hove said, “It has been a pleasure to see Bhavik’s music evolve and mature. He is a real talent. It is so important that music from different faiths and traditions are being heard in the UK and contributing to its rich creativity”.

Sama is an album two years in the making and is a UK-India production, where the music includes celebrated musicians from the UK and India. The album takes the listener on a soulful journey of transformation, transcending religious labels. It explores gratitude, compassion, and the liberating power of forgiveness, important reflections in today’s troubled world. Both Bhavik and Sama have earned high media praise and this feature in Asian Voice newspaper is one of our favourites.

Press Statement – Calling All Political Parties: Don’t Forget About The UK’s Curry Industry? Our Votes Matter

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Oli Khan, MBE, President of Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA), the UK’s largest organisation representing 12,000 UK curry restaurants and takeaways, speaks out about the apathy from the political parties towards his sector. BCA has heard nothing from any of the candidates, especially Starmer or Sunak to convince BCA members that their vote matters. BCA has now seen both of the manifestos from the two main parties and while both commit to looking at the unfair burden of business rates on business and reducing the burden on high street businesses, there’s nothing specifically outlined for the UK’s curry industry, which is a unique part of the overall hospitality sector.

Curry houses and takeaways can be found on every high street and are at the heart of every community in the UK. But sadly, like the rest of the UK’s hospitality industry, the UK’s curry restaurants and takeaways across the country are facing challenging times since Brexit and the pandemic. Where BCA has seen many established and successful Indian cuisine restaurants decide to close their doors. The cost of running a curry house today, along with the lack of experienced chefs and hospitality staff, and high VAT, now outweighs the costs of operating this type of business.

Oli Khan MBE, President of BCA says – “Till now I and the rest of BCA have not seen any political party recognise our value. It’s worth remembering that pre the pandemic, we were an industry that contributed £4.2 billion per year to the UK’s economy. Our industry must make its concerns known to politicians of all parties. We will be asking them as they campaign to support this vital industry.

We need to see all political parties recognise our sector’s significance and contribution to gross domestic product and employment. We need to see the real evidence of measures that can unlock the potential of our industry to do more and put us back to where we were in 2019. We need four key political promises:

 

  1. Immediate review of the salary threshold of migrant workers, which has risen to an exorbitant Skilled Worker salary threshold of £38,700 per year, a huge increase from £26,200 per year currently and impossible for any small business.
  2. Invest in apprentice schemes to nurture the next generation of curry chefs, including the investment in training creating more jobs and further upskilling the workforce.
  3. Immediate action to lower the tax burden on the curry industry.
  4. Immediate initiatives that give us greater access to hospitality staff as Brexit has curtailed access.”

For all media enquiries contact Sangeeta Waldron – email sangeeta@serendipitypr.co.uk

Working With The Gandhi Foundation

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Sometimes your ancestors call out to you and make things happen in your present. This is how this story goes…Late last year I started to explore my family history from my mother’s side, regarded as one of the pioneering Indian families in South Africa. I knew that my great-grandfather worked with Gandhi when he was in South Africa and helped Gandhi establish the South African Indian Congress; and that my grandfather was very active with the Indian Congress too and was instrumental in creating change, bringing sport, particularly football to the Indian community in South Africa.

Anyway, I started to think a lot about my grandfathers and their work with Gandhi, fast-forward to September last year, when I was invited to speak at Threads of Change, organised by Khadi London, at the Nehru Centre. At this event, the chairman of the Gandhi Foundation, Mark Hoda came to speak to me. He said he followed his instincts to talk to me (this is why we should always trust our gut instincts, that inner voice) and well, as they say, the rest is history. I am now very proud to be working with the Foundation.

The principles of Gandhi are so relevant to everything that is taking place today – we need to be the change to tackle climate change; we need tolerance for each other and more than anything we need collective people power for peace, and harmony and to create balance.

 

Photo Credits: The Gandhi Foundation