CityMasala.com

CityMasala Team

Editors and Publishers

		Chhaya Sanghavi Bold and candid, Chhaya wears a different hat every minute of the day. "I want to add a little 'masala' to your life", is her response when asked what CityMasala is all about. Her vision is to make CityMasala an enjoyable necessity, an important part of every reader's life. With a background in journalism, sales, marketing, and public relations, her life revolves around her son, Shiv, and CityMasala. She is a positive thinking 'go-getter' who enjoys a chilled Sam Adams, a good book, shooting pool, and cheesecake. She swears that she does not ignore people; she just does not remember faces! Humble yet strong, quiet yet witty, Chhaya is a dynamic entrepreneur who wants to make a difference in the south Asian publishing world.

		Shaphali Jain After having lived in places such as India, Hong Kong, Canada and the US, she felt the thirst to create something that would bring South Asians in the US together, in a more colorful and contemporary manner. Her passion for writing and for seeing the written word come to life made the creation of CityMasala a personal triumph. She hopes to provide CityMasala with a certain flavor and that special oomph that will set it apart from all the rest. Called a control freak by her nearest and dearest (!!), she hopes to bring to CityMasala a sense of belonging and perseverance that will meet the test of time.

Intern

		Deepa After a stint in the finance field in India, Deepa moved to Florida with her husband. She loves watching old movies, comedies are first choice. A coffee and book in hand can keep her going for a long time. She loves traveling and listening to music. With a PowerBar always present in her purse, athletically inclined, she also loves to swim and play tennis

Marketing Representative

		Manisha Sajnani My motto, "Life is Short..so Dream, Believe & Live each day as if it were your last!" As a typical virgo,I strive for perfection. My self-motivation and passion for dealing with people have contributed to most of my professional success. Business development, key account management, client relationship management & event management are some of my areas of expertise. I have been the National Best Sales Performer & also Best Creative Organizer in my past sales & marketing career. I am an MBA from ICFAI Business School and I am currently pursuing my Graduate program for Mass Communications at the University of South Florida. I am also an aspiring artist. Music and art work are my biggest turn ons. So it is not surprising that some of my passtimes include some yoga, music & dance and contemprorary/classical Indian art work. Maybe..someday I will have an art gallery of my own. My husband Ajay & I love to make time out for social and volunteer activities as well. I am also a travel freak, a nature lover & a tea lover (especially tea from various parts of the world). Having said that, my idea of a perfect way to unwind apart from dancing & clubbing would be to tuck away in my favourite spot at home & watch a nice romantic comedy on a rainy day with ofcourse, a cup of hot mate vana chai!

Content Contributors

		Shahnaz Husain She became the first woman in 107 years to receive the World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award from the Success magazine in USA. The pioneer of Ayurvedic beauty care, Shahnaz Husain needs no formal introduction. She has taken India’s Ayurvedic tradition to every corner of the globe and her very name is the biggest brand in Ayurvedic Skin Care. Today, she heads the largest organization of its kind in the world, with a chain of over 400 franchise clinics, shops, schools and spas worldwide, as well as Ayurvedic formulations for skin, hair, body and health care. Trained for ten years in cosmetic therapy and cosmetic chemistry, she adopted the principle of “Care and Cure". Shahnaz Husain joins the CityMasala team to share her beauty tips and secrets for timeless beauty

		Ashish Jain Ashish came to the US for his second Masters degree in Marketing and Business Management. He has been part of the restaurant/ hotel industry for a number of years where he has had the opportunity to enjoy and partake of a variety of brews, concoctions and potions. H e has been the proud owner of many different restaurants and has consumed every kind of alcoholic drink imaginable. He has even brewed his own beer, wine, liquors and flavored alcohols. This has given him the in-depth knowledge required to write the Daru Ka Nasha column. Coupled with the wealth of his experience at alcohol consumption and brewing, as well as the philosophies he holds dear at each stage of consumption, he hopes to refine, educate and expand the desi drinking palate through his column.

		Auntyji Auntyji is a woman of international intrigue. She is like a "Desi" James Bond(ess). She lives in New York, Shops in London, eats in Paris, invests in Bollywood and gives advice in Tampa. She is a woman of ageless beauty and lives a colorful life with zest and attitude. In Citymasala magazine, Auntyji will make it her mission to educate you desis on the way of life according to her inimitable mantra.

		Javid Lateef Javid was born in the US but spent the next 15 yrs of his life in Barbados, WI, where he fell in love with cricket. He moved back to India and played representative cricket till 1992. He now resides and plays club cricket in the Tampa Area.

		DJ Jafar DJ Jafar has been spinning records since the age of 18. He had his start back in high school helping older DJs carry their records into local spots. There he began to hone his own skills towards becoming a professional DJ. His mix of Progressive House beats and traditional Indian vocals and melodies garnered him great respect with his counterparts in Chicago and India. He moved to the Tampa Bay area three years ago and is slowly building a huge fan base with the desi and non-desi music lovers of Florida. His philosophy - music is the key to bridge the gaps in our world. Check out his personal site at www.DJJAFAR.com and look out for DJ Jafar at a local venue. Be sure to read his column in CityMasala Magazine to get the TOP 10 music hits for the month

		Kavita Trivedi I am an aspiring journalist/Media Professional from London who loves to have an opinion on just about everything- My goal in life is to live the Sex and The City Lifestyle- in other words, I want to write lots of articles and buy lots of shoes! I have written everything from films, entertainment, fashion, news and current affairs. A real movie buff who knows the insides and outs of Bollywood and is pretty up to date with Hollywood too. Status: A 25 yr old singleton living in the heart of London with parents, hoping to meet her dream man one day. (If there ever is such a thing!)

		Nandini Chakrabory Lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband, Indranil and two little girls. Nandini was born in Canada and brought up in Canada, India, Indonesia and the United States. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, is trained in Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, and is a great fan of Bollywood. One of her life's desires is to meet Amitabh Bachchan. Until then, Shah Rukh Khan will do.

		Nicolas Aujula An accredited Astrologer and Tarot reader with the New Age Foundation and a freelance writer specializing in astrology, natural health, psychology, self-help and new age spirituality. In addition, I am a multi-disciplined practitioner qualified in Natural Health and Holistic Therapies and a Counsellor and Therapist accredited in emotional and psychological health. My specialty areas include Natural Health, Hypnotherapy, Meridian Psychotherapy, NLP and Past Life Regression. I am a Counseling Code of Conduct Registered Counselor and am registered with the United Fellowship of Hypnotherapists.

		Nidhi Chinani Born in India and raised in California, Nidhi Chinani is a bi-cultural girl. She has been drawing since she was eleven years old, starting with lead pencil and moving onto pen and ink. Nidhi graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2002 with a degree in literature. She enjoys the combination of the written word and illustration from the Indo-American perspective. In her free time, Nidhi loves playing with Uma and Zimmy - her cats, volunteering, and listening to Wilco.

		Rima Sanka Dr. Rima Sanka was born and raised in upstate New York. After attending college at Cornell University and medical school in Philadelphia, she moved to Florida in 2002. She completed her pediatric residency in 2002 and fellowship in adult and pediatric allergy, asthma and immunology at University of South Florida/All Childrens Hospital in 2007. She recently joined Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care, PA with offices in Pinellas Park and Trinity. Her qualifications include Board Certification in Pediatrics and Allergy Asthma and Immunology She has a special interest in and has published research in Red Tide and Immune Deficiencies. Dr. Sanka is married and has a two year old son. She resides in Tampa and enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling in her free time.

		Sheniz J. Sheniz Janmohamed is a young freelance writer, poet and spoken word artist. She holds an H.B.A. in English Literature and Religion from The University of Toronto, Canada, and she is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at The University of Guelph, Ontario. She has been published in a variety of journals and magazines, and is a regular contributor for Anokhi Magazine. Sheniz is happy now to be a part of the CityMasala Team as their Book Review Specialist. She is addicted to lattes, poetry books fashion,...and of course, Bollywood!

		Vish Viswanathan Gadget-freak/geek/technologist living in Washington DC suburbs with wife, Lata and two boys. When not tinkering with gadgets or drooling over new gizmos on the internet, Vish is usually occupied with his other passion- cooking. Vish went to school in Philadelphia and loves the Philadelphia Eagles. His dream is to own an eclectic Jazz Bar and write reviews about gadgets and technology.