Kalpana Jain Brunch: Stories of Connection in a Divided World, at Masala Buffet

This Meetup is currently full and there is limited seating at the venue. Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend. 🙏

We are honored to be joined by Kalpana Jain, Director of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative at The Conversation, and publisher of a Substack on her recent explorations in South and Southeast Asia, to discuss her Substack writings over brunch at Masala Buffet in Teele Sq. Bring your thoughts, questions, and feedback!

From Kalpana: "Last year I spent a year traveling across South and Southeast Asia. I began by researching how misinformation is reshaping our world, but along the way I found myself drawn to a deeper set of questions: What brings people together across faiths, cultures, and differences?
That journey took me to sacred sites across several religious traditions and countries. I found stories where I encountered unexpected connections across religious and cultural boundaries.

I'm now exploring these themes through a Substack and podcast. I'd love your thoughts on how to sharpen the focus, what questions I may be missing, and how to grow the project."

Kalpana suggests reading the following posts from her Substack, so we can discuss them together: "A temple that challenges assumptions about power, generation, and religious divides;" "What oral cultures teach us about memory, healing -- and what we lose without them;" "What a journey to Borobudur -- an awe-inspiring Buddhist monument -- helped me see;" and "Journaling during Ramadan - notes from Malaysia's coastal state of Terengganu." If you'd like, feel free to peruse Kalpana's other posts, and bring thoughts on them as well.

This Meetup will be conducted in Hindi, Urdu, Urdu-Hindi, Hinglish, and Urdlish. If you can have a basic discussion about travel in any of those languages, without resorting to pure English (and with a little help as necessary), feel free to attend.

This meetup will be held at Masala Buffet, Teele Square (1127 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144. Note that there are other local restaurants called Masala, so be sure you come to the right one). 🥗