One Dublin

Dublin Parent Amita Roy Shah Battles Stereotypes by Writing “It’s Time for Holi!”

Amita Roy Shah – There are several stories that stem from Indian folklore. One story is about a blue god named Krishna who was being made fun of by his friends for being blue. Krishna went to his mother and she playfully said take these colors, we are all the same, and throw them on everyone else, and you won’t feel different anymore. So that’s what he did. Holi is about addressing discrimination in terms of race, class, religion, and eliminating that difference. There is an erasure of difference by having everyone covered with color.

OneDublin.org: What inspired you to write “It’s Time for Holi!”?

OneDublin.org: What questions do you get from students at the book readings you’ve held at schools?

OneDublin.org: How have the schools you’ve worked with reacted to introducing Holi to students?

OneDublin.org: Are things improving, is it getting easier for second generation students?

OneDublin.org: With the pressure on standardized test scores, is integrating culture in the classroom possible?

OneDublin.org: What guidance do you have for parents and educators looking to promote a multi-cultural society?