KarāmaSūtra

KarāmaSūtra brings you the love story of Amna Khaishgi and Ehtesham Shahid, unconventional by most standards. Amna is from Pakistan and Ehtesham is from India. Both of them are journalists and were introduced to each other through work over the internet in the late 1990s. From courting to dating and wedding, their relationship has weathered many a question, challenged existing stereotypes, and even inspired a successful play.

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Special thanks to Amna Khaishgi & Ehtesham Shahid, and Zainab Ahmed.

Hosted & Produced by Vinita Bharadwaj & Chirag Desai.

With support from Abhishek Venkatasubramanian, Sukayna Kazmi & Zainab Ujjaini.

We're kicking off 2020 with a piece that reconnects us with the land. In a world increasingly reliant on deliveries, many of us are far removed from the people who grow our food. On this episode, we're taking you outdoors to a farmers' market in Dubai and a farm in Abu Dhabi, alongwith a few dispatches from Portugal. Through many voices we try to demystify the special spirit that is unique to farmers and how a market can really bring people together.

**Credits**

Hosted & Produced by Vinita Bharadwaj and Chirag Desai.

With support from Abhishek Venkatasubramanian, Zainab Ujjaini & Sukayna Kazmi.

Special thanks to Yael Mejia, Ameena Al Tanaiji, Rashid Al Ketbi and Anastasia Stavrianakis.

KaramāSūtra meets the 90-year-old Lady Margaret Bullard who, 50 years ago, unknowingly started a movement that led to the creation of Dubai's first community library for English-language books. Join us as we trace the story of a shipment of yo-yos in 1969 that is now a collection of 25,000 books and a loyal band of bibliophile volunteers & members. Today, The Old Library maintains a grand presence in the city's history, held together by members of a community who give their time, love & funds to keep it going.

In November 2019, Lady Margaret returned to see the library's newest home at the Gold & Diamond Park in Dubai, which came about after yet another scare that the much-loved space for books might have to shut down.

**Credits**

Special thanks to Lady Margaret Bullard & Sailakshmi P. Sivaram.

Hosted by Vinita Bharadwaj & featuring [Yara Badri](https://instagram.com/people_of_the_pages).

Produced by Vinita Bharadwaj & Chirag Desai. Our intern is Abhishek Venkatasubramanian.

KarāmaSūtra’s second episode is set in Dubai, a city that has transformed spectacularly in recent decades. The older or more lived-in parts of the city have still managed to retain core characteristcs with an enduring appeal through the years. With special guest Mohamed Somji, we try to deconstruct the Dubai that is much loved and lived in, and meet three outliers--people who are a clear minority in their neighbourhoods of choice.

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Special thanks to Lola Boatwright, Elizabeth Renton, Fabiana Miguel & Mauricio Madruga for sharing their stories.

Hosted by Vinita Bharadwaj. Produced by Vinita Bharadwaj & Chirag Desai. Our intern is Abhishek Venkatasubramanian.

Music: "People in your neighbourhood" by Sesame Street

KaramāSūtra debuts with an episode that somewhat appropriately starts in the district of Karama in Dubai. If you're a long-term Dubai or UAE resident you might have heard about a quaint restaurant called Woodlands. Even if you haven’t, join us as we trace its origins and meet Ashok Kumar, who arrived in Dubai 40 years ago to set it up, and is the one constant in an ever-changing neighbourhood.

Credits

This episode of KaramāSūtra is hosted by Vinita Bharadwaj & Chirag Desai. We're produced by Chirag Desai. Our intern is Abhishek Venkatasubramanian. With special thanks to Rijosh Joseph.

Launching October 8, 2019.