Hi, my name is Melody! My parents immigrated from India to Canada in their early 20's and soon after, had me. They named me Melody but also gave me an Indian nickname. That name is Munna. 

Growing up in a city where there weren’t many other South Asian kids, I struggled to embrace this part of my identity that made me so different from my peers. My peers frequently made fun of the way my Indian food looked or smelled, they asked me why my hair was so greasy when my mom oiled it and from a very early age, I was bullied for my body hair. I grew up with a very complicated relationship with my identity and self esteem, frequently trying to hide my South Asian side to try and fit in. 

As I got older and saw more of the world, met more people and learned more about myself, I grew more confident and secure with my identity. I realized just how blessed I am to be part of the South Asian community and be able to speak multiple languages. Many children of the South Asian diaspora have been through something similar and I’m so happy to see so many of us all healing and learning to embrace all aspects of our identity. That being said, there are many aspects of South Asian cultural norms where reform is required. 

Munna is my way of reclaiming and representing my South Asian identity while inspiring change. 

Munna reflects on personal experiences that have shaped my cultural identity. It is a way to both represent South Asian culture, and embody the change we want to see in the toxic parts of our culture. Thank you for being here.