Hello and welcome to my blog, titled, Sandhu Bhamra.
(pronounced Sun-dhOO BHaa-M-Raa)
My full name is Anupreet Sandhu Bhamra and I blog under my double last name – maiden and marital written together.
I am a Canadian journalist with transnational experience. An award-winning broadcaster, I have reported across major media platforms – print, television and web for over 15 years. Please visit my website to know more about me and/or to look at my past work.
The blog story:
In 2010, after my second child was born, I took a break from an active journalism career. For the next two years, I enjoyed being a full-time stay-at-home parent, devoted more time to my Yoga practice, and yes, spent many hours in meditation (and introspection). After about two years, I decided to launch this blog to help myself and others like, or unlike me, understand the concept of identity and belonging by critically deconstructing it through the lens of life: as Self, journo, woman, mother and yogini. The blog’s name after my double last name is the first band of my layered identity – one of birth and the other of marriage.
The other layers through which I try and deconstruct identity are: Canadian Identity, Racism, Gender Equality, Parenting and Yoga.
I chose these frameworks as each defines a part of my experience and identity. I was born and raised in India and started working as a journalist after Grade XII. In the fall of 2002, I moved to Canada as a permanent resident with my husband. I went through the classic immigrant struggle and an internal conflict of finding who I was, as I was suddenly thrust into the narratives of race, culture, nationality, work, relationships and then motherhood.
Read my opening post on a woman’s right to freedom to make choices, and know a little more about me. I write as and when a subject moves me – to tears or to smiles, or when a situation asks me to challenge status quo, to peel the layers, and deconstruct identity to make sense of:
- A woman, as a person of opinion and intellect, and not a body who is judged for the size of her breasts and the sheen of her hair.
- A wife and a mother, as a life partner and an influence on raising young minds, and not a machine who fills the role of a care provider.
- A person of colour, as a person with emotions and feelings, and not an exotic “Other” who is judged in a stereotypical framework.
- A non-White Canadian, as a citizen whose culture is a part of the Canadian fabric, and not an “Other” with a hyphenated identity.
- A human being who has the potential to follow the yogic wisdom and connect with the inner Consciousness – the Supreme bliss.
On that note, I am a yogini and trying to balance my tears and smiles through a yogic lifestyle – easier said than done, but I am trying a little each day. To know about the Yogic aspect of my identity, please see Yogini Sandhu Bhamra.
I live in Vancouver/unceded traditional territories of Coast Salish First Nations. My day (and night) is spent raising two impressionable little minds, doing my Yoga practice, reading, watching good cinema and trying to steal some time with my amazing husband of ten years.
Comments are welcome and encouraged. I reply to each and every comment, so if you are looking to engage with me, or other readers of the blog, please do leave one. I moderate the comments, because I do not allow any abusive, racist or inappropriate language on the blog, but I rarely edit it. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but please be respectful when you express yours.
Sometimes, I invite guest bloggers to write for this space. When this is done, it is clearly stated the post is a guest blog.
Feel free to share excerpts and link my posts, provided; full and clear credit is given to
Anupreet Sandhu Bhamra and SandhuBhamra.com with appropriate and specific direction/links to the original content. But please take permission, if you want to re-post. Read the full Copyright Notice in the sidebar.
To contact me, please refer Contact Sandhu Bhamra.
Looking forward to engaging in a dialogue with you.
