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Hello Readers,
I am excited to be publishing this brand new issue of A-Desiflava Magazine. As 2021 reaches its mid-way, the whole world seems to be getting used to wearing face masks, using hand sanitizer, and having a little fear from the deadly Coronavirus. I feel this coronavirus has caused great havoc all over the world, but if you look at it in a good way, it has also made us human beings more civilized, cleaner, and healthier. Daily Yoga, & body stretching exercises, eating healthy food, drinking less alcohol, and reduced smoking are certainly on top of everyone’s head. In every heart there lies at least one tragic story of death caused due to our almost-two-year-old friend named covid-19, and the daily covid-19 news is sufficient to keep us on our healthy toes at all times. Blessing in disguise isn’t it? as long as your healthy, energetic and active, it is surely a blessing for all.

I was thinking about what would be a perfect cover story for this issue when someone called me and asked me if A-Desiflava Magazine is a magazine for south Asians? I asked him why does he ask this question. His reply was “Your magazine is mostly about Indians, then why call it a south Asians magazine?”. This question struck my head hard, and I started researching topics and stories related to South Asians living in Hong Kong. Suddenly, my 6-year-old Son asked me “Papa, how come we Indians live in Hong Kong, and why do we look and speak different compared to the Chinese?”, I told him “Cause we are a different breed altogether”, then his next question was “Papa, who was the first Indian person who entered Hong Kong?”, I starting googling, but couldn’t find an exact answer for my son. This is when I came across a book published by the Hong Kong University Press called “Understanding South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong”. I read the entire lengthy article which was like a synopsis of the entire book. After reading the article, I understood that the history of us, Indians, Nepalese & Pakistani’s goes way back to the mid-1850s. It was amazing to learn how our south Asian descendants worked with the Britishers in Hong Kong and how they evolved as a such massive community that stands so strong in Hong Kong today. You all must read the cover story ‘Understanding South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong’, and once you have finished reading the entire article, you will surely get your children also to read it and understand where our roots lie in Hong Kong.

Did you know which Hong Kong-based businessman and cricketer married a leading Pakistani actress?. In my new section called Chit-Chat, I’ve had the opportunity to do a Zoom call interview with Hong Kong’s known and famous cricket enthusiast and businessman Mr.Imran Idrees and Pakistan’s leading actress and model Jia Ali. Both got married recently in Pakistan, and what a deserving couple they are, Wow! Our Chit-Chat went from personal to professional and ended up with a lovely tale of how they both fell in love and got married.
Local School Vs International School? This question has always been very debatable and thought-provoking. Whenever you see a couple of Indians, whether it be Males or Females, it does not matter, but this one question will surely be that one hot topic of discussion. There’s always been a mixed reaction and feedback from our local community people. Some of the rich ones want their kids to study in local schools and some of the middle-class ones want their children to study in International schools. So where does the difference lie?. Let’s understand a bit of the pros and cons, very well explained by our regular writer Manju Mishra.

I came to Hong Kong in 2010, started A-Desiflava magazine with my wife in 2011 and we’ve organized many musical and cultural events in Hong Kong right from the time we checked in HK. One person I would like to talk about is Mr.Suresh Purswaney, whom I met at our first musical event Bhoole Bisre Geet, and this way a long time ago, must be 2013/2014. He was so passionate about his singing during the Karaoke night, that I had no other option but to award him as the best male singer. Starting from that day onwards, he went ahead and formed his musical group in Hong Kong by the name of Sur Sadhana. He’s taken music & singing to another level with Sur Sadhana. With over 20 extremely talented singers, musicians, composers this musical group, I am sure is the most talented hardcore music lovers group, and I want every Indian living in Hong Kong to attend one of the events of Sur Sadhana, and I can challenge you, that you will feel that your at a live concert where some top professional musicians and singers are performing. My wife and I happened to attend the valentines day special event of Sur Sadhana this year, and trust me, it was complete musical bliss. Ready about Sur Sadhana in our PROFILES section.

Beauty & Health section has two great reads about healthy food recipes & the importance of Yoga by our talented writers Kiran Sukhani and Apeksha Mehta.

This issue has turned out quite well, and all thanks to our regular readers who still call me every month asking me when is the next issue coming out? I feel so proud and blessed, and I always say to myself ‘why can’t an engineer like me become a not-so- famous but yet a decent publisher and editor? It’s never the profession, expertise, or skills, but sometimes it’s the passion and something which comes from within you. This is exactly what A-Desiflava Magazine is really for me.
Not sure when our next print issue will be released, but until we meet again in print, don’t forget to meet me and my magazine every day and every week on www.adesiflava.com. The goods news is that we are now touching to over 1000 hits every day.
A big thanks to everyone, who would even glance and look at this magazine for once, and a big Hug to those who would take it home, read it, and give me feedback.

Adios,
Gary Pardeshi

Editor
A-Desiflava Magazine