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.
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.
Use and publication restrictions apply to the Hakeem Naim interview. Please contact repository regarding access and details.
The collection was donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies by Dr. Dharitri Bhattacharjee in August 2020.
Copies of these interviews will also be made available via the
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.
Original video recordings edited by Eric Mastor and collection processed by CPNWS staff in August 2020.
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
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.
Samia Jannat, Seattle resident and Research Coordinator at University of Washington School of Medicine discusses death and dying during Covd-19.
Yug Dabadi, microbiologist at Washington School of Medicine and Seattle resident discusses transitioning from being a Bhutanese refugee to becoming a community leader.
Ruhel Islam, owner of Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Minneapolis, discusses life in Bangladesh, creating community over food, Minneapolis protests and Black Lives Matter.
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.
Kamrun Nessa Mirza, an engineer, entrepreneur and community leader, discusses women, education, Islam and the Spreeha community kitchen.
Kajori Chaudhuri, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Commission on Human Rights, discusses identity, career and the challenges of strengthening community relations remotely.
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.
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.
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.