TORONTO, ON, November 14, 2025 – The Zoryan Institute, in collaboration with the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies (CDTS) at the University of Toronto, is pleased to announce a book talk on The South Asian Diasporas: Tracing Multilayered Subjectivities on Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The event will be held at the University of Toronto, as part of the CDTS’s recurring Speaker’s Series, with virtual attendance options available.

Soon to be published, The South Asian Diasporas: Tracing Multilayered Subjectivities offers a comprehensive exploration of migration, transnationalism, and diasporic life, drawing on diverse theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The volume spans historical and contemporary perspectives, highlighting the complexity of South Asian diasporic communities across the globe. Of particular note, at least four chapters focus on Canada, with two to three examining Toronto-specific experiences, offering a highly relatable perspective for local readers.

This book talk will feature Dr. Ramya Janandharan, co-editor of the volume, and Dr. Anuppiriya Sriskandarajah, a contributing author, who together will explore contemporary South Asian diasporic experiences within the frameworks presented in the book. The discussion will focus on questions regarding the development of South Asian identity today, particularly against the backdrop of rising anti–South Asian racism in Canada. Dr. Janandharan highlights this shift in her introduction to the book, writing:

“In Canada, the boogeyman of anti-immigrant sentiment has more and more been taking the shape of the South Asian immigrant … This expresses deep fears about South Asian immigration and denies the ability of the South Asian diaspora to belong in or reflect the nation of Canada.”

The South Asian Diasporas volume is part of the ongoing book series The Diaspora Collection, developed by the Zoryan Institute. The first book in the series, focusing on the Chinese Diaspora co-edited by Dr. Lok Siu (Berkley University) and Dr. Khachig Tölöyan (Wesleyan University), was published in 2023. In a lecture at UofT, Dr. Siu examined the book in the context of rising anti-Asian hate following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us for this timely and important discussion on South Asian Diasporas on November 27, 2025, at the University of Toronto, or register to join virtually by clicking the button below.

REGISTER HERE

For interest in a copy of the South Asian Diasporas volume, you can place your pre-order at https://zoryaninstitute.org/books/south-asian-diasporas-tracing-multilayered-subjectivities/.

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About the Speakers:

Ramya Janandharan (Left) is a Qualitative Researcher and Strategist and a former sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto.

Anuppiriya Sriskandarajah (Right) is an Assistant Professor in the Childhood and Youth Program, Department of Humanities at York University.