BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
`Diwali at Times Sqaure ‘ this year on Oct 7 featured 19-year-old Kimaya Chalpe who sang sang both the US and Indian National Anthems here amid much rooting and applause. Chalpe, who is originally from Maharashtra and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, loves spending time singing, songwriting, and dancing.
`Diwali at Times Sqaure ‘ this year on Oct 7 featured 19-year-old Kimaya Chalpe who sang sang both the US and Indian National Anthems here amid much rooting and applause. Chalpe, who is originally from Maharashtra and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, loves spending time singing, songwriting, and dancing.
Following her dreams and creative passion, Chalpe turned towards bigger roles in life. Discussing her journey, Chalpe told IJ, “My experience singing in Times Square was moving. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to perform in Times Square. It was surreal to look out into the large crowd and pay tribute to America and India. Particularly when I was singing the Indian National Anthem along with everyone else in Times Square, I felt a strong sense of community. We were all Indians, joined together to celebrate the festival of light in America.”
But, this was not her first stint; in fact she has been singing both the American and Indian National Anthems since the age of four. Elaborating she mentioned, “I have also sung the National Anthem for the NBA Golden State Warriors on Bollywood Night for the past four years. I feel especially privileged to sing the anthems because it is an opportunity for me to represent both India and America -- my two nationalities. When I sing the national anthem, I also have the unique privilege to celebrate the nation and kick-off an event!”
Talking about her inspiration, Chalpe stated, “I am inspired by the opportunity to affect. When I sing or dance, I am able to move the audience I am performing with -- I have the ability to make them feel. With that power, I am capable of creation. I have extensive training in Indian dance and vocal music. Through performance, I am able to stay connected to my Indian heritage.”
‘So, what it is to be an Indian- American?’ On the question, Chalpe eagerly debated, “It is to be an outsider, someone who is deviant from the norm. It is to embody a culture that is simultaneously commodified and ridiculed. It is to hold a deep-rooted cultural identity while also trying to navigate the cultures and customs of the Western world.”
Interestingly, she was also selected Miss California State 2016 of Youth Focus Inc. Discussing her experience, she pointed, “I got a platform to reach young people across the state through performance and community service. While attending events ranging from the 5K Cambrian School Run to the Alameda County Fair, I could not have been more proud to hold the title.”
When asked about one thing that she would want to do for the Indian-American community here, Chalpe suggested, “I would want to provide materials and resources to bridge the gap between their Indian and American identities. This would take the form of lobbying for and creating positive representation of Indians and Indian-Americans in the popular media as well as an increase of media and writing about Indian-American discourse, experience, and identity.”
The singer , whose ideals lie in ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ theory, is currently attending New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study concentrating in communications and performance.
Specifying about her work she concluded, “My research focuses on analyzing the formation and expression of social identity within prevalent discourse in regards to gender and race, with a focus on Indian-American cultural issues. My goal in life is to affect positive change among the Indian-American community through performance.”
But, this was not her first stint; in fact she has been singing both the American and Indian National Anthems since the age of four. Elaborating she mentioned, “I have also sung the National Anthem for the NBA Golden State Warriors on Bollywood Night for the past four years. I feel especially privileged to sing the anthems because it is an opportunity for me to represent both India and America -- my two nationalities. When I sing the national anthem, I also have the unique privilege to celebrate the nation and kick-off an event!”
Talking about her inspiration, Chalpe stated, “I am inspired by the opportunity to affect. When I sing or dance, I am able to move the audience I am performing with -- I have the ability to make them feel. With that power, I am capable of creation. I have extensive training in Indian dance and vocal music. Through performance, I am able to stay connected to my Indian heritage.”
‘So, what it is to be an Indian- American?’ On the question, Chalpe eagerly debated, “It is to be an outsider, someone who is deviant from the norm. It is to embody a culture that is simultaneously commodified and ridiculed. It is to hold a deep-rooted cultural identity while also trying to navigate the cultures and customs of the Western world.”
Interestingly, she was also selected Miss California State 2016 of Youth Focus Inc. Discussing her experience, she pointed, “I got a platform to reach young people across the state through performance and community service. While attending events ranging from the 5K Cambrian School Run to the Alameda County Fair, I could not have been more proud to hold the title.”
When asked about one thing that she would want to do for the Indian-American community here, Chalpe suggested, “I would want to provide materials and resources to bridge the gap between their Indian and American identities. This would take the form of lobbying for and creating positive representation of Indians and Indian-Americans in the popular media as well as an increase of media and writing about Indian-American discourse, experience, and identity.”
The singer , whose ideals lie in ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ theory, is currently attending New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study concentrating in communications and performance.
Specifying about her work she concluded, “My research focuses on analyzing the formation and expression of social identity within prevalent discourse in regards to gender and race, with a focus on Indian-American cultural issues. My goal in life is to affect positive change among the Indian-American community through performance.”
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