The Hayward Public Library is pleased to present an afternoon festival of events highlighting the talents of three Bay Area women: poet and artist Salma Arastu, journalist-turned-novelist Suruchi Mohan, and dancer Priya Banerjee. Immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of India, and sample Indian cuisine. Come for one event, or stay all afternoon! Event sponsors: Hayward Public Library; Friends of the Hayward Public Library; AAUW- Hayward/Castro Valley Branch; Favorite Indian Restaurant of Hayward. Meet Artist & Poet Salma Arastu 12:00 - 1:30 pm (Main Library) Salma Arastu will launch the series with a talk about her book The Lyrical Line: All Embracing and Flowing, which features her art work and poetry from the last ten years. In paintings, poetry, sculpture, and digital art, Salma conveys messages of peace, unity, spirituality, and diversity. The author will be available to sign purchased copies of her book, as well as custom cards and other items. Salma Arastu was born in Rajasthan, India. She has been painting for thirty years, since graduating with a Masters degree in Fine Arts from MS University, Baroda, India in 1975. Her work with continuous and lyrical line is influenced by her native culture and her residence after marriage in Iran and Kuwait before coming to the US in 1987. Born into the Hindu tradition in her native India, she later embraced Islam through her marriage. At birth, Ms. Arastu was given the life-defining challenge of a left hand without fingers. Seeing the unity of an all-encompassing God, she was able to transcend the barriers often set-forth in the traditions of religion, culture and the cultural perceptions of handicaps. As a woman, a Hindu, a Muslim and a multi-cultural artist, she seeks to create harmony and world transformation through the expression of The Universal in her art. Ms. Arastu has won many awards for her art, which is represented in several galleries, and in more than a hundred private collections in the US, Germany, India and the Middle East. In addition to her participation in various major group shows, she has held more than thirty shows throughout the world. In addition to her prolific painting, Ms. Arastu has written several published works of poetry and short stories in her native Hindi. She is also an entrepreneur with the creation of Your True Greetings, a successful greeting card company that uses her paintings and calligraphy to serve the needs of Muslim communities in the US, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom. Meet Suruchi Mohan, Author of Divine Music 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (Main Library) Enjoy the second event in today's series on Indian art and culture with a reading by Bay Area author Suruchi Mohan, whose debut novel Divine Music tells the story of Sarika, a talented student pursuing her love of singing at a renowned music college in Northern India. Set in contemporary India, the reader follows Sarika's training in classical Indian music, and her eventual love affair with her music instructor, the consequences of which threaten to derail her success as a professional musician. The author will read from and discuss her novel, and will be available to sign purchased copies of the book. A native of India, Suruchi Mohan is an award-winning journalist. Prior to moving to the United States to pursue a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from San Jose State University, she earned a master's degree in vocal music from Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, in Lucknow, India, and a master's degree in English from Lucknow University. Spotlight on Indian Dance and Music 3:00 - 4:00 pm (Main Library) Experience India through dance! The final event in today's celebration of Indian art and culture is a special performance by 17-year-old Priya Banerjee. Priya has been studying classical Indian dance since the age of four and graduated from the Shri Krupa Dance Foundation of San Jose when she was nine years old. She then pursued a degree in Bharatanatyam dance from the Alagappa Performing Arts Academy in Chennai, India. Priya has performed in dance festivals all over the world and has won numerous awards for her solo performances. Meet Suruchi Mohan, Author of Divine Music 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (Main Library) Enjoy the second event in today's series on Indian art and culture with a reading by Bay Area author Suruchi Mohan, whose debut novel Divine Music tells the story of Sarika, a talented student pursuing her love of singing at a renowned music college in Northern India. Set in contemporary India, the reader follows Sarika's training in classical Indian music, and her eventual love affair with her music instructor, the consequences of which threaten to derail her success as a professional musician. The author will read from and discuss her novel, and will be available to sign purcha

The Hayward Public Library is pleased to present an afternoon festival of events highlighting the talents of three Bay Area women: poet and artist Salma Arastu, journalist-turned-novelist Suruchi Mohan, and dancer Priya Banerjee. Immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of India, and sample Indian cuisine. Come for one event, or stay all afternoon! Event sponsors: Hayward Public Library; Friends of the Hayward Public Library; AAUW- Hayward/Castro Valley Branch; Favorite Indian Restaurant of Hayward. Meet Artist & Poet Salma Arastu 12:00 - 1:30 pm (Main Library) Salma Arastu will launch the series with a talk about her book The Lyrical Line: All Embracing and Flowing, which features her art work and poetry from the last ten years. In paintings, poetry, sculpture, and digital art, Salma conveys messages of peace, unity, spirituality, and diversity. The author will be available to sign purchased copies of her book, as well as custom cards and other items. Salma Arastu was born in Rajasthan, India. She has been painting for thirty years, since graduating with a Masters degree in Fine Arts from MS University, Baroda, India in 1975. Her work with continuous and lyrical line is influenced by her native culture and her residence after marriage in Iran and Kuwait before coming to the US in 1987. Born into the Hindu tradition in her native India, she later embraced Islam through her marriage. At birth, Ms. Arastu was given the life-defining challenge of a left hand without fingers. Seeing the unity of an all-encompassing God, she was able to transcend the barriers often set-forth in the traditions of religion, culture and the cultural perceptions of handicaps. As a woman, a Hindu, a Muslim and a multi-cultural artist, she seeks to create harmony and world transformation through the expression of The Universal in her art. Ms. Arastu has won many awards for her art, which is represented in several galleries, and in more than a hundred private collections in the US, Germany, India and the Middle East. In addition to her participation in various major group shows, she has held more than thirty shows throughout the world. In addition to her prolific painting, Ms. Arastu has written several published works of poetry and short stories in her native Hindi. She is also an entrepreneur with the creation of Your True Greetings, a successful greeting card company that uses her paintings and calligraphy to serve the needs of Muslim communities in the US, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom. Meet Suruchi Mohan, Author of Divine Music 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (Main Library) Enjoy the second event in today's series on Indian art and culture with a reading by Bay Area author Suruchi Mohan, whose debut novel Divine Music tells the story of Sarika, a talented student pursuing her love of singing at a renowned music college in Northern India. Set in contemporary India, the reader follows Sarika's training in classical Indian music, and her eventual love affair with her music instructor, the consequences of which threaten to derail her success as a professional musician. The author will read from and discuss her novel, and will be available to sign purchased copies of the book. A native of India, Suruchi Mohan is an award-winning journalist. Prior to moving to the United States to pursue a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from San Jose State University, she earned a master's degree in vocal music from Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, in Lucknow, India, and a master's degree in English from Lucknow University. Spotlight on Indian Dance and Music 3:00 - 4:00 pm (Main Library) Experience India through dance! The final event in today's celebration of Indian art and culture is a special performance by 17-year-old Priya Banerjee. Priya has been studying classical Indian dance since the age of four and graduated from the Shri Krupa Dance Foundation of San Jose when she was nine years old. She then pursued a degree in Bharatanatyam dance from the Alagappa Performing Arts Academy in Chennai, India. Priya has performed in dance festivals all over the world and has won numerous awards for her solo performances.