KarāmaSūtra's first episode looks back at the humble origins of the UAE's first South Indian vegetarian restaurant, which opened its doors 40 years ago.

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. CreditsThis episode of KaramāSūtra is hosted by Vinita Bharadwaj & Chirag Desai. We're produced...

Launching October 8, 2019.

Launching October 8, 2019.

A little bonus episode for the fans of Test cricket, from our season two premiere with Ron Bagnulo and Dr. Hooriya Kazim, who share their love for the original version of the game that is all about the strokes, movement, play & poetry. You can find the episode [here](https://amaeya.media/karamasutra/10), or in your podcast player. **Credits** Hosted by Vinita Bharadwaj. Produced by Chirag Desai.

It's a strange new world we inhabit. Every single one of us is going to emerge in the post-COVID-19 landscape differently, shaped by how we experience it. Our 'QuaranTimes' episode documents one of numerous personal stories around the world. In this episode, we meet Babar Sheikh, whose story resonates with several conversations in present-day America: immigration, small businesses, and, President Donald Trump. Originally from Pakistan, Babar's family are in the food business, which is...

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...

Launching October 8, 2019.

Someone once joked that the national expat hobby of people in Dubai was framing. And in that famous hobby, Hammad Co plays an important role. For almost 4 decades, the shop has framed people's memories and memorabilia; their frames sometimes becoming an important piece of the artwork. In this year-ender episode, we connect with Fadi Hammad and his father, Ahmed, to hear about their story and their musings on the art of framing. We also dialled into Toronto to speak to an old customer of...

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. **Credits** Special thanks to Lola Boatwright, Elizabeth...

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. **Credits** Special thanks to Amna Khaishgi & Ehtesham Shahid,...

For many, the Gulf dream does not always work out the way it was intended. This month, KaramāSūtra embarks on what will doubtless be one of many episodes that explore the sacrifices made by South Asia's many migrant workers who spend years away from their families in the hope of a better life and a brighter future. Suresh Kumar, an Indian in Ajman, has spent 34 years with little to show for his time away from his family. Deep in debt and driven to the depths of despair, Suresh is one of...

We think you'll enjoy a new podcast from Amaeya Media, [Tell Me More](https://amaeya.media/tell-me-more/), a show for kids and adults. Join 8-year-old Spatika, who's lived in Dubai all his life, and Liz McEnaney, who've moved here recently as they uncover what the city looked like in the beginning. As fans of KaramaSutra, we think you'll love it—check it out and let us know what you think. Stay safe and we'll be back soon!

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...

On the season finale of KarāmaSūtra, we touch upon a specific kind of Indian experience in the Gulf. Featuring a special guest--Abu Dhabi-based writer Deepak Unnikrishnan--we remember our fathers, without whom it's highly improbable we would have ended up in the cities we're in. Ahead of Father's Day, this marks the end of a 9-episode season and we will return with new stories on October 8, 2020. **Credits** Special thanks to Deepak Unnikrishnan for sharing his story and joining us in...

With the [Indian Premier League](https://iplt20.com) being played out in the UAE, the first episode of the season finds us hanging out with the men who are keeping the gentleman's game alive on the streets of the UAE, talking to the producers of [The Friday Game](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04pr3j7), a BBC audio documentary that took the men's story to an international arena, and catching up with an Emirati surgeon and her American journalist husband, who met at the unlikeliest of...

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...

In India, there are many myths & taboos around menstruation. One of them is that if girls or women on their period 'touch the pickle jar, it will go bad'. The secrecy around the subject has perpetuated myths and mystery around what really is the source of life itself. Around the world, there are many, who are taking these taboos head on and persuading societies to reexamine the way we talk about menstruation. From introducing girls (and boys) to menstruation in a healthy way to stopping...