South Asian literary magazine to burst on the scene next week

A photograph of the World Trade Center glares starkly black and white on one page. On the opposing page, sprawl the words of a poem entitled "My First Winter in America" sprawled.

SALAAM, the South Asian Literary and Art Magazine, sponsored by TASA, exemplifies the balance of South Asian and American identities that students of that region must integrate as part of their day-to-day college experiences. The magazine, which is to be released at the Arts Collective on Feb. 12, features the art and writing of South Asian college students in the greater Boston area.

"Usually, South Asians flourish in music, dancing and academics," editor-in-chief and senior Neha Surana said. "This was started as an outlet for South Asian talent that is too often unexposed."

In addition to soliciting submissions from within the University, SALAAM had to negotiate with other Boston universities. Surana made SALAAM's presence known in the South Asian student community by attending various Boston-area South Asian events, such as Bhangra Bash at MIT, and by contacting the South Asian organizers universities such as Northeastern and Harvard. Word of mouth also brought submissions from beyond the Tufts campus, reaching as far as the University of Connecticut.

The hard work paid off. The number of submissions rose so dramatically this year that the editorial board was forced to be extremely selective; there were approximately 100 submissions for a 32-page publication.

Surana is more proud, however, of the diversity within a cultural publication.

"Tufts is a community of all different backgrounds, as is Boston, and that's really reflected in the magazine," she said.

This reminder is dually important in light of world events. Assistant editor sophomore Paven Aujla agrees that cultural diversity is a crucial aspect of the publication.

"This is a time when people need to keep an open mind to other countries," Aujla said. However, she stresses that while the magazine gives students a chance to share their cultural backgrounds, it also gives them a chance to share the experience of living life in more than one culture.

"It's not just about South Asian cultures," Aujla adds. "The magazine gives students a chance to share their cultural background and experiences living in more than one culture."

SALAAM's goals for next year include an even larger submission pool, especially from non-Tufts students, of whom only three submissions will be published this year. Artwork that was not published in the magazine will be displayed at the Arts Collective.

The Arts Collective will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 9pm in Alumnae Lounge. A magic show and a musical act will be on the bill, as well as appetizers from Diva, an Indian restaurant in Davis Square. Also, that night there will be an open mic night open to all writers and singers who wish to perform. The event is free, and all are welcome to attend.