Stories To Tell Oral History Project: A South Asian Perspective on COVID-19, 2020 July-August

Overview of the Collection

Title
Stories To Tell Oral History Project: A South Asian Perspective on COVID-19
Dates
2020 July-August (inclusive)
Quantity
31.8 gigabytes, ((10 recordings))
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0373
Summary
A series of interviews conducted by Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee during July and August 2020, documenting the COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences and perspectives of individuals who identify as South Asian. Interviews were broadcast originally via the Western C.A.R.E.S. program.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open to the public (see links below in this guide to digital recordings posted on the MABEL platform). Use/publication restrictions apply to one interview. Please contact repository for details.

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

A series of interviews conducted by Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee during July and August 2020, documenting the COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences and perspectives of individuals who identify as South Asian. Interviews were broadcast originally via the Western C.A.R.E.S. program.

The series sought to welcome, share and preserve a diversity of South Asian oral histories, mostly from the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee (South Asian and Indian Ocean historian from Western Washington University's History Department) talked to interviewees including students, small business owners, essential workers, community leaders, refugees and academics about their myriad responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Use and publication restrictions apply to the Hakeem Naim interview. Please contact repository regarding access and details.

Alternative Forms Available

Copies of these interviews will also be made available via the South Asian American Digital Archives.

Preferred Citation

Stories To Tell Oral History Project: A South Asian Perspective on COVID-19, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

The collection was donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies by Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee in August 2020.

Processing Note

Original video recordings edited by Eric Mastor and collection processed by CPNWS staff in August 2020.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Description Dates
Rose Kular interview
Rose Kular is a Bellingham resident, student at Western Washington University and a Sikh-American. Interview topics include online learning and school-home balance during the pandemic, and Black Lives Matter.
2020 July 7
Samia Jannat interview
Samia Jannat, Seattle resident and Research Coordinator at University of Washington School of Medicine discusses death and dying during Covd-19.
2020 July 9
Yug Dabadi interview
Yug Dabadi, microbiologist at Washington School of Medicine and Seattle resident discusses transitioning from being a Bhutanese refugee to becoming a community leader.
2020 July 14
Ruhel Islam interview
Ruhel Islam, owner of Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Minneapolis, discusses life in Bangladesh, creating community over food, Minneapolis protests and Black Lives Matter.
2020 July 16
Batool Zaidi interview
Batool Zaidi, Assistant Professor at Western (Sociology) and International faculty from Pakistan, discusses will talk about work visas, immigration and conducting research during a pandemic.
2020 July 21
Kamrun Nessa Mirza interview
Kamrun Nessa Mirza, an engineer, entrepreneur and community leader, discusses women, education, Islam and the Spreeha community kitchen.
2020 July 23
Kajori Chaudhuri interview
Kajori Chaudhuri, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Commission on Human Rights, discusses identity, career and the challenges of strengthening community relations remotely.
2020 July 28
Amarnath Deva interview
Amarnath Deva, owner of Mayuri International Grocery Store, discusses small businesses, the economy, immigrant consumer culture and adapting to a changed notion of public space during the pandemic.
2020 July 30
Gursewak Singh interview
Gursewak Singh, student and Nursing Assistant at Mt. Baker Care Center, talks about being an essential worker in the long-term care unit at the Center.
2020 August 4
Hakeem Naim interview
Hakeem Naim, Visiting Assistant Professor at Western (History) and lecturer at UC Berkeley, talks about online teaching, publishing and quarantine parenting for special needs children.
This interview is subject to a publication/use restriction until 2050-08-06. Please contact repository for more information or to request access.
2020 August 6

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • COVID-19 (Disease) -- United States -- Personal narratives.
  • COVID-19 (disease) -- Social aspects -- United States.
  • Coronovirus infections -- Economic aspects -- United States.
  • Quarantine -- Personal narratives.
  • Quarantine -- Social aspects.
  • South Asian American -- Interviews.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Interviews.
  • Personal narratives.
  • Video recordings.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Bhattacharjee, Dharitri, -- interviewer, -- donor. (dnr)
    • Roth, Athena, -- host. (hst)
    Corporate Names
    • Western Washington University. -- Western C.A.R.E.S Program. (sht)

Finding aid prepared by CPNWS staff (with input and assistance from Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee).
August 2020

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West