The South Asian Society (SAAS) was delighted to once again take part in Respect Festival 2026, joining communities from across Plymouth and the South West in a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding.
Held in the heart of the city, this year’s festival brought together people of all backgrounds to share music, dance, food, art and stories that reflect the rich multicultural fabric of our region. The festival provided a wonderful opportunity to build new friendships, strengthen community connections and celebrate the values that unite us: respect, kindness and mutual understanding. Visitors to the SAAS stand learned more about South Asian traditions, community initiatives and the Society’s ongoing work to promote cultural awareness and social cohesion.
As we look towards the future, events such as Respect Festival remind us that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. By coming together, listening to one another and celebrating our differences, we create a stronger and more inclusive community for everyone.
SAAS would like to thank all the volunteers, trustees and visitors who helped make Respect Festival 2026 such a positive and memorable occasion. We look forward to continuing our mission of bringing people together through culture, dialogue and community engagement.
Together, we celebrate our differences and strengthen our shared future.
In times of hardship, communities are often defined by how they come together to support those in need. The Help SAAS, Help Nepal fundraising campaign is an opportunity for people around the world to stand in solidarity with communities in Nepal and provide practical support where it is needed most.
Nepal has faced significant challenges from natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies in recent years, placing immense pressure on families, communities, and local services. Fundraising initiatives such as this one help channel generosity into meaningful assistance, enabling relief, recovery, and long-term resilience efforts. Recent appeals supporting Nepal have highlighted the need for food, shelter, clean water, emergency response, and community recovery support.
Every contribution, regardless of size, can help make a difference. Beyond donations, sharing the campaign with colleagues, friends, and professional networks can increase awareness and extend the reach of the appeal.
If you would like to support the fundraiser or learn more, please visit:
Together, we can demonstrate the power of compassion, global citizenship, and collective action in helping communities rebuild and thrive.
We are working to raise £5000 plus to support the emergency relief efforts being coordinated by the Government of Nepal and local humanitarian agencies on the ground. Every contribution, no matter how large or small, will help provide life-saving assistance to those affected by this tragedy through the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund Government of Nepal https://pmdrf.nchl.com.np/
We cordially invite you to participate in the 2026 Virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM 2026) of SAaS
Date – Sunday, 22nd August 2026 Time 5pm – 7pm Location – Crownhill Methodist Church Hall, PL6 5AJ
Agenda 1. Welcome by SAaS Chairperson 2. Treasures report. 3. Discussion – Annual Event and future events 4. Members comments- AOB
If members want to discuss anything in particular please email us (chairpersonsaas@gmail.com) your agenda item so that we can add it under the AOB Meeting item.
All trustees please email (chairpersonsaas@gmail.com) at least 2 weeks prior to AGM that you would like to continue as a trustee for next year.
We strongly encourage other members of the community to come forward and contribute to our society as Trustees. If anyone would like to join as an associate trustee, please send an email to chairpersonsaas@gmail.com.
We look forward to speaking with you all during the AGM.
As we approach the end of the year 2025, the excitement for our New Year’s Eve Celebration organized by the South Asian Society (SAaS), Devon and Cornwall is building up! We hope you are as eager as we are to welcome 2026 with joy and festivities.
To make this event a memorable one, we encourage each of you to secure your tickets as soon as possible. The details of the event are as follows:
Event: Sparkling Splendor: The Grand New Year’s Eve Gala! Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Time: 8:00 pm – 1:00 am Venue: Sparkwell Parish Hall, Sparkwell, PL7 5DD
Reserve your spot at the celebration by booking your tickets. Early bookings will help us ensure a seamless experience for everyone.
A few important notes for the celebration:
1. BYOD (Bring Your Own Drinks): Kindly bring your preferred soft drinks to enjoy during the event. We want you to feel at home and savor your favorite drinks.
2. BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks): While the hall will be buzzing with energy, we recommend bringing your own snacks to keep your energy levels high as you dance the night away.
3. Open Dance Floor: Dance enthusiasts, get ready to strut your stuff! Our venue features an open dance floor where you can let loose and dance your way into the New Year.
Let’s come together as a community to ring in the New Year with laughter, music, and shared moments. We look forward to celebrating with each and every one of you.
See you on the dance floor!
Warm regards,
SAaS Trustees
All members from the South Asian community from Devon and Cornwall are welcome or rather encouraged to attend.
Tickets will not be available at the gate as the event is usually oversubscribed.
A Special Note to Parents:
We understand the importance of family, and we want everyone to have a fantastic time, including our little ones. Parents, please take special care of your children during the event. While the night promises fun and excitement, ensuring the safety and well-being of our younger members is our top priority.
We cordially invite you to participate in the 2025 Virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM 2025) of SAaS
Date – Sunday, 12th October 2025 Time 4pm – 5pm Location – Online Zoom [Meeting Link]
Agenda 1. Welcome by SAaS Chairperson 2. Treasures report. 3. Discussion – Annual Event and future events 4. Members comments- AOB
If members want to discuss anything in particular please email us (chairpersonsaas@gmail.com) your agenda item by 03rd October 2025 so that we can add it under the AOB Meeting item.
All trustees please email (chairpersonsaas@gmail.com) at least 2 weeks prior to AGM (i.e.3rd Oct 2025) that you would like to continue as a trustee for next year.
We strongly encourage other members of the community to come forward and contribute to our society as Trustees. If anyone would like to join as an associate trustee, please send an email to chairpersonsaas@gmail.com by 3rd Oct 2025.
We look forward to speaking with you all during the AGM.
We are excited to announce that our Annual Cultural Event will be held on 29th November 2025! Mark your calendars and get ready for an event filled with fun, music, and entertainment for all ages. This event is a highlight of the year, and we can’t wait to share the joy with everyone.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow our emails and check the SAaS webpage (http://www.southasiansociety.org.uk/) regularly for updates.
We are excited to announce that our Annual Cultural Event will be held on 9th November 2024! Mark your calendars and get ready for an event filled with fun, music, and entertainment for all ages. This event is a highlight of the year, and we can’t wait to share the joy with everyone.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow our emails and check the SAaS webpage (http://www.southasiansociety.org.uk/) regularly for updates.
As we approach the end of the year 2023, the excitement for our New Year’s Eve Celebration organized by the South Asian Society (SAaS), Devon and Cornwall is building up! We hope you are as eager as we are to welcome 2024 with joy and festivities.
To make this event a memorable one, we encourage each of you to secure your tickets as soon as possible. The details of the event are as follows:
Event: Sparkling Splendor: The Grand New Year’s Eve Gala! Date: Sunday, December 31, 2023 Time: 9:00 pm – 2:00 am Venue: Sparkwell Parish Hall, Sparkwell, PL7 5DD
Reserve your spot at the celebration by booking your tickets. Early bookings will help us ensure a seamless experience for everyone.
A few important notes for the celebration:
1. BYOD (Bring Your Own Drinks): Kindly bring your preferred beverages to enjoy during the event. We want you to feel at home and savor your favorite drinks.
2. BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks): While the hall will be buzzing with energy, we recommend bringing your own snacks to keep your energy levels high as you dance the night away.
3. Open Dance Floor: Dance enthusiasts, get ready to strut your stuff! Our venue features an open dance floor where you can let loose and dance your way into the New Year.
✨ Supporting a Worthy Cause: We’re thrilled to announce that the proceeds from this extravagant celebration, after deducting all expenses, will be donated to the Plymouth Food Bank. Your participation not only ensures a night of joy but also contributes to making a positive impact in our community.
Let’s come together as a community to ring in the New Year with laughter, music, and shared moments. We look forward to celebrating with each and every one of you.
See you on the dance floor!
Warm regards,
SAaS Trustees
All members from the South Asian community from Devon and Cornwall are welcome or rather encouraged to attend.
Tickets will not be available at the gate as the event is usually oversubscribed.
A Special Note to Parents:
We understand the importance of family, and we want everyone to have a fantastic time, including our little ones. Parents, please take special care of your children during the event. While the night promises fun and excitement, ensuring the safety and well-being of our younger members is our top priority.
This year we are delighted to welcome Dr. Vikram Sharma as an Associate Trustee. He is a Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth and an active member of the community who is keen to help progress the organisation as a value-based unit promoting further cohesion among communities through cultural exchanges.
Dr. Amit Dhulkotia has now completed one year and is now full trustee of the Society.
Following the AGM, in our first trustee meeting, the following changes to office bearers were agreed
Chairperson – Dr. Girish Venkatarayappa (Dr. Girish Venkat) Secretary – Mr. Abhijit Ghatge Treasurer – Mr. Raja Srinivasan
Dr. Arunangsu Chatterjee & Dr. Smita Tripathi completed their 3-year tenure as chairperson and secretary respectively and will continue as a trustee. The entire team wholeheartedly thanked Dr. Chatterjee & Dr. Tripathi for their tireless efforts in the last 3 years to ensure that we continue and scale our contribution and impact as a society. Both have successfully raised the profile of the society and we have been recognised through a number of channels .
My journey cycling the length of the United Kingdom- Lands’ End to John O’ Groats
It was spring last year during an informal chat with my fellow pathology colleague at our annual meeting that I came to know about the LEJOG (Lands’ End to John O’ Groats) bike ride. My colleague was planning to organise this cycling challenge as part of Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and to fundraise for Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Without any hesitation, I said that I would consider signing up for this challenge. I had pondered on this idea of cycling the length of the UK for a few years now. I was very hesitant and quite scared to attempt this challenge in one go, so I decided to do just the Scottish leg of LEJOG (Edinburgh to John O’ Groats), in 2019. Although I found this ride quite hard, I always felt that I should attempt cycling the whole length of the UK. Finally, in December last year I decided to give it a go, so I coaxed my close friend Raghu (Radiologist @MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, USA) to join me and he agreed.
The new year began, and I motivated myself to start training for this incredible challenge. The training was a bit irregular and slow paced in the beginning. In April, we got to meet our ride organisers (Cycle Retreats- cycling super couple Mark and Zoe and their wonderful team- Ian, Craig and Cooper) and other participants online. The organisers’ 20-week training programme was helpful to give me some confidence, but I always doubted whether this training was enough to pull through this challenge. I was reassured by Mark and Zoe to stick to the training plan, and I did just that. Months rolled by very quickly with most weekends and a few days during the week spent on long bike rides and the D-day arrived. I started my journey from Plymouth on 12th September carrying my bike in the train to Penzance and then continued to a hotel near Lands’ End. I met my friends Raghu and Alan and a few other participants. Raghu called our small team ‘MAMIL’(Middle Aged Men in Lycra). I was nervous as was everyone else.
Our entire cycling team at Lands’ End fundraising for Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
The next morning, we braved the wet and windy weather and cycled to the start, the Lands’ End. We assembled for a team photograph and set off to Launceston (95.5 miles) which was our destination for the day. The route was well planned, and everyone had GPX files of the routes on their cycling computers. The first three days (Cornwall and Devon) of the route were extremely hard with never ending soul crushing steep hills and terrifying descents made worse by the slick and wet roads. We nearly climbed 20,000 ft. in three days (Mt Everest- 29000 ft.!). The 4th day was a glorious day on the bike, a recovery day (60 miles), and we passed through the Malvern Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Every day, we stopped at the designated morning and afternoon water stations and for lunch mainly at a restaurant or café along the route. At the end of day, we celebrated with good dinner and drinks, sharing stories of our extraordinary challenge. I must say that we all were well looked after and motivated by the organising team as well as by fellow riders. There was always support at hand if needed. Mark, Zoë and their team were incredible. On the evening of day 5 we had an opportunity to meet our college President Dr Mike Osborn, guests from CRUK and Prof Richard Marais (Director CRUK Manchester Institute).
(Left to right)- me, Dr M Gill, Prof S Coupland, Dr M Osborn, and Dr R Brown
At one of our lunch stops we met a gentleman who stopped us and handed a crisp £20 note to my friend and said, ‘they are going to take me out on a slab anyway- if it helps someone else, then I am happy’. He had terminal prostate cancer. I was truly touched by this gesture. We are cycling the length of UK to help raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK. The battle against cancer is a relentless pursuit. Research is underfunded and needs our help.
On day 6 we passed through the centre of the United Kingdom. An unfortunate incident close to the finish saw my friend injuring himself and unable to continue this ride. I felt very sorry for him and was on the verge of discontinuing the ride myself, but he insisted on us to carry on this journey until completion. The next few days, I had a tense ride, weather turned slightly better, but headwind started to pick up.
The journey through the Lake district and Scottish Highlands was beautiful with breath-taking picturesque landscapes and equally tall mountains to climb. We passed through a few famous distilleries (Dalwhinnie) and in fact the morning water stop on day 10 was in the Glenmorangie distillery! There were many times during the ride when I felt completely exhausted, and nothing left in the tank especially during the end of the ride when you start to see a climb ahead of you! but as a group we just kept motivating each other and kept pedalling. Along the ride I got to know many amazing friends, their fascinating stories, and their journeys. I hope I can stay in touch with most of them in the future.
The 12th day (last day) was a short ride from Thurso to John O’ Groats (22 miles). The team decided to ride together in one large group until the finish at John O’ Groats. We were greeted by family members and others with a celebratory fizz at the finish. We had ample time to take photographs, relax and enjoy the moment.
I still can’t believe I managed to complete this challenge and will take a long time to come to terms with what I have really achieved. I have cycled 1025 miles, climbed 65000 ft. and spent nearly 90 hrs on the saddle, all in 12 consecutive days! I began to consider this the hardest and greatest achievement of my life and will never be able to emulate this again! I was very lucky to have constant support and encouragement from my lovely wife, my kids and friends, without which I could never have imagined attempting such a huge challenge.
In the end, our team managed to raise more than £40,000 for Cancer Research UK, a commendable effort by everyone. If you had a small contribution in this, my sincere thanks.
That’s it for now, until the next challenge!!
Aditya Shivane
Consultant Neuropathologist
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Plymouth
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