NYC Chancellor Celebrates South Asian Voices in Schools
AAPI Celebration honors South Asian authors artists & students in vibrant NYC school event
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
Image: Instagram
On Friday, New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks kicked off an AAPI Celebration dedicated to spotlighting South Asian stories, talent and unity in the heart of Manhattan.
Voices Of South Asian Literature
Award-winning cultural advocate Anu Sehgal, founder of The Culture Tree, joined forces with acclaimed storytellers RaakStarWrites, Nandana Dev Sen and actor-author Sheetal Sheth (@beneaththesheetz) to discuss the power of narrative in forging identity and belonging. Together, they shared how their work—from Dev Sen’s explorations of generational memory to Sheth’s intersectional roles in films like I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen—reflects the rich tapestry of the South Asian diaspora.
In a recent Instagram post, Sheth reminded her followers, “Every time I did press, I was asked why tell this love story…and wasn’t I worried about my career? My answer was simple: because love is love and NO.” This unwavering commitment to representation resonates today as NYC’s student body includes roughly 100,000 South Asian learners.
Dance As Cultural Expression
The program opened with a stirring Mallari performance by Kavya Kala’s young dancers, under the guidance of Broadway star and Bharatanatyam artist Shoba Narayan. Mallari—a rhythmic offering to Bhumi Devi, or Mother Earth—filled the auditorium with pulsating footwork and conch-shell chants, signaling the sacredness of shared space and the resilience of heritage.
“Let the rhythms of Bharatanatyam lead us into a celebration of culture, identity, and unity,” Narayan said, inviting the crowd into a moment of collective reflection.
Uplifting A Growing Community
With South Asian students representing one of the fastest-growing groups in the city’s public schools, Chancellor Banks emphasized the importance of programming that reflects every child’s background. “Our classrooms are stronger when every student sees themselves in history, literature and art,” he noted. Partnering with The Culture Tree and local authors ensures that those connections reach into library shelves and digital platforms alike.
As the event drew to a close, guests mingled over mithai and chai, browsing pop-up stalls stocked with bilingual picture books, zines and graphic novels by South Asian creators. Educators walked away with new lesson-plan kits—complete with discussion prompts on migration, identity and social impact—to integrate into next month’s history and English curricula.
By combining literature panels, classical dance and community-driven resources, NYC’s AAPI Celebration showcased the depth and dynamism of South Asian heritage. The day underscored a simple but powerful message: when schools champion diverse voices, every student gains a stronger sense of belonging and pride.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
