About Pardesi
A note from Kaneeka Kapur
I started Pardesi in April 2020, just about a month into lockdown. My reason for starting it is simple - I wanted to give all desi women a platform to express themselves, regardless of their following, backgrounds or reach. Platforms exist for influencers and celebrities, but there was no such engagement with the millions of us who did not have this kind of reach, but who have powerful things to say.
When I launched our Instagram, it became clear that other desi women felt the same way that I did - invisible, but eager for that to change. The outpouring of support from day one was incredible, and I am continually shocked at how much I learn from the women who share their contributions with Pardesi.
Today, Pardesi is a thriving community of powerful women who want their opinions to be heard, and as the community grows, I felt that it was the perfect time to launch a website, so that we can rid ourselves of the constraints of micro-blogging and let full length pieces be published.
Pardesi is a community for YOU, so if you have any thoughts on how best to move Pardesi forwards, please contact us!
As always, we are on the lookout for new content, and would love for you to check out our contributions tab to see how to get involved.
Much love,
Kaneeka
Kaneeka Kapur
Founder and Chief Coordinator
I’m Kaneeka Kapur and I am the Founder and Chief Coordinator at Pardesi. I am a first generation British Indian, and when I’m not working on Pardesi, I am a law student at the University of Warwick! I am in charge of Pardesi, overseeing the strategy and social media and ensuring that we are remaining consistent in working towards our goals.
Growing up, I had always craved a community of South Asian women who were also caught at the intersection of Eastern and Western culture who I could talk to and learn from. Our hyphenated identities manifest in giving us incredibly unique perspectives on the world around us, and it can feel isolating at times. We want to break this isolation, bring attention to ourselves as powerful South Asian women and make space for our community in a world that likes to forget we exist. I hope you find the community you have been searching for in Pardesi, and that you share your experiences, thoughts and opinions with us.
Shikha Gianchandani
Deputy Coordinator and Trending Editor
Hi, my name is Shikha Gianchandani, and I am the Deputy Coordinator and Trending Editor at Pardesi. I am Polish-Indian and currently study at the University of Warwick reading Biomedical Science. I work alongside Kaneeka on overseeing projects and content we put out for Pardesi, whilst also trying to amplify South Asian women’s voices and content through the Trending column every week. I grew up surrounded by a small community of Polish-Indians, who chose to tap into one side of their hyphenated-identity depending on the occasion, so I ended up doing the same. I would bring out my desi side at family parties and home and try to blend in with the Western culture the rest of the time. As I got older I felt like I needed to make space for my identity, and discovered a lot of my friends felt the same way. With Pardesi, I aim to help hold the torch up for fellow South Asian women that will not only inspire, educate, and empower the current generation but also the next. I hope all of you find that the content at Pardesi makes you feel like you are being represented and empowered, as it does for the whole Pardesi team.
Aleesa Nazeer
Senior Content Coordinator
Hi! My name is Aleesa Nazeer and I am one of the Senior Content Coordinators. I am Pakistani, but mostly raised in Hong Kong and Bahrain and am currently studying Biomedical Science at the University of Warwick. As many of you can relate, I grew up with a sense of disconnect of where I was originally from and have only just started to learn to appreciate my roots, and develop a community of supportive and encouraging South Asian women with similar experiences. Being raised around so many different cultures and identities, I have become extremely passionate about the social issues that affect South Asian women (as we are one of the many overlooked communities on the world stage) and I am excited to be part of this team, where we can amplify our stories and experiences, and push the needle forward for us, not only as women but also as Desis!
Keerti Tadimeti
Senior Content Coordinator
Hey! My name is Keerti Tadimeti and I’m one of the new Senior Content Coordinators for Pardesi! I’m a first generation Indian-American and I’m currently a graduate student at University of Pennsylvania’s Masters of Regulatory Affairs program. Growing up, I constantly had to choose between my Indian and American identities and had a tough time finding a balance between both. Although I’m still on my way to truly finding the middle ground for myself, I’ve learned that communication between generations as well as between the kids of the diaspora has helped me learn so much and I hope I can spread that very power of knowledge through the amazing content that Pardesi will be highlighting!