TASA arts collective celebrates SALAAM release

With the release of its third edition, the South Asian literary magazine SALAAM (South Asian Literary and Art Magazine) celebrated at Alumnae Lounge with its annual Arts Collective show on Wednesday. A sub-group of TASA (Tufts Association of South Asians), SALAAM features visual art work and creative writing pieces that "showcase the talents of people with connection to a subcontinent immensely rich in culture," as stated in their mission statement in front of the magazine.

SALAAM serves as a forum where a wide spectrum of ideas are presented through art and writing. Poem topics vary from topics such as that of Desi Girl by Touhid Zaman of MIT, which describes the beauty of South Asian women, to reactions to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The pictures featured in the magazine include drawings and photos of women in traditional Indian attire, pictures of vacations in India, and artwork such as that of a single rose. The literary magazine receives submissions not only from Tufts students, but from college students throughout the Boston area.

At the release party, the music, artwork and food from Davis Square's Diva restaurant created an aura for a traditional Indian setting. Members of the Boston area's South Asian community and Tufts students alike came out to support SALAAM's release, many of them wearing traditional clothing. The show featured live performance acts, showcasing the Tufts students' appreciation for their culture. Many of the student performances used the Tabla drum and featured songs like "Taal" (performed by junior Sunindiya Bhalla) from various Indian artists, to popular songs which were familiar to many of the students.

The last musical performance, done by senior Abum Lanba, included three popular American songs, one of which, If You Leave by Orchestra Maneouvres in the Dark, was particularly beautiful. His rendition used solely his guitar and vocals. The collective concluded with a magic show performed by junior Salil Bhamdari that left the audience in awe. Bhamdari masterfully played card tricks and changed a twenty-dollar bill into a one-dollar bill to the delight and amazement of the audience. It was a magical and musical night for SALAAM to celebrate a broadening, successful year.