Darshan is a 60-minute television show hosted by Indian-Americans from the local community. The show has been broadcast in the Washington metro area (Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia) for more than 21 years, making it the longest running, continually broadcast Indian-oriented show in this market.

Every week, Darshan opens with a "Bulletin Board" segment which provides a forum for important information for the viewers. If you have announcements for the show, please submit them at least two weeks prior to the event. You can either fax or e-mail your requests.

The "Hindi Song" contains movie songs from the current/popular as well old Bollywood movies. The viewers can familiarize themselves with the recent movie songs or re-live the past memories.

"In Conversation" features Host Ramesh Butani discussing the current issues relevant to Indian-Americans. It also features one-on-one interviews with various members of the local community, as well as other personalities of interest from India and other countries.

"Morning Blend" is hosted by the youth from Indian-American community. These young hosts are mostly in their early twenties and are pursuing university education at under-graduate and graduate level. They discuss current news stories and present the “youth perspective” on the world around them.

Studio
For more information on our show, our hosts, scheduling on-air interviews, or running ads and community announcements, please contact our Production Manager at (703) 671-7777 or send email to: darshan@darshantv.com.

Darshan is located just 1 mile off of Interstate 395. Take exit 4 – Seminary Road, West. Go about 1 mile and make right at the Intersection of Seminar Road and South George Mason Drive. Look for #3819-F, located at the end of the first block of the condo. complex (in the back).

Although Aastha is in a technical field by profession, she has always had an eye for the arts.

She performed at many cultural functions growing up but her claim to fame is that she won the Indian Classical Singing Competition held at the University of Maryland at Baltimore three years back to back before “retiring” at the age of 12. Growing up singing, Aastha has an avid interest in classical music and frequently accompanies her mom to concerts and events. She also teaches vocal classes on occasion at the India School in Bethesda and was involved in teaching music /arts in summer camps at SSVT growing up.

Along with Indian music, Aastha shares a love for Western Choral singing, which she did from elementary through high school. She performed with the Honors Chorus and the All Eastern Chorus at the Kennedy Center and the National Cathedral. She doesn’t dance Kathak anymore, but keeps her legs fresh Swing dancing. You are likely to see her out and about dancing at Clarendon Ballroom and Glen Echo Park. She also keeps herself busy writing poetry and playing just about any sport she can get into – Volleyball, Kickball, Softball…anything but tennis.

Anisha Abraham is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Assistant Director of the Section of Adolescent Medicine at Georgetown University Hospital.

Her areas of include teen ADHD, obesity and violence prevention. Anisha has been actively involved in the South Asian community. She is a founding Board member of Indus Women Leaders (IWL), Past President of the Young Physician Section of the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI), and past Board member of Dakshina Dance Company. She was also the Vice-President and National Liaison of the Network of South Asian Professionals (NETSAP-DC).

Anisha obtained her BA/MD through a combined 6-Year Medical Program at Boston University. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Walter Reed Army Hospital and a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She also obtained a Masters in Public Health at George Washington University School of Public Health. Anisha served as a Major in the US Army and Chief of Adolescent Services at Womack Hospital in Ft Bragg, NC and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. She is the recipient of the Faculty Teaching Award, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Prior to joining Darshan, Anisha's interest in reporting led to interviews on teen health issues for CNN, Channel 7 and NPR. She enjoys classical Indian dancing and has taught and performed Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. She is also an avid runner and foreign film buff.

The host-intern program allows young people (between the ages of 20 and 30) an opportunity to appear on Darshan TV. Exposure to the community and a taste for television production are just a couple of the many benefits this program offers.

After performing on television, many of our host-interns come away with a greater sense of poise and composure, as well as the confidence to speak in a public setting. These skills are vital in virtually any career path. Additionally, serving as a host-intern on the Washington area's longest-running, most-respected, Indian-American show is a tremendous point to note on your resume.

To learn more about becoming a host-intern, please email your resume and a brief note expressing your interest, as well as any previous television experience.

Ramesh Butani is currently the President and CEO of HRGM Corporation - a commercial construction company located in Washington, DC.

Mr. Butani started HRGM over 27 years ago as a modest roofing company, but has since expanded the business into one of the most reputable, minority-owned general contractors in the tri-state region. As part of his work with HRGM Corporation, Mr. Butani serves on the board of local industry organizations such as the Minority Business Coalition (MBC). In recent years, HRGM Corporation was named one of the Top 100 Companies located in an Inner City by Harvard Business School, ICIC, and Inc. Magazine. Mr. Butani himself has been nominated twice as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, LLP.

Ramesh Butani was born and raised in India and worked in Hong Kong before traveling to the United States in 1969. He has a degree in civil engineering from India and has worked in this capacity for over 35 years. Mr. Butani is an expert reinventor and has succeeded in refocusing his company's service lines based on current market needs.

Ramesh Butani is extremely devoted to the Indian-American community. For the last 15 years, Mr. Butani has served as host of "Darshan" television show - a forum for contemporary, social and political issues affecting a vibrant and evolving Indian-American community. Through this medium, Mr. Butani is able to showcase the vast achievements of the South Asian population. As recognition of this commitment to the community, Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, DC proclaimed August 15, 2001 as "Darshan Day." Darshan TV Show is recognized as a premier show on MHz Networks and has received award for being the 'Best Community Program' for several years.

Besides his work with Darshan, Ramesh Butani has served as President of the Washington Sindhi Association and works as an advisor to several other large Indian organizations in the area. He is also a Trustee of one of the local temples and believes in developing every aspect of the community. Multiple organizations have applauded his efforts in bringing South Asian issues to the forefront for discussion. Indeed Mr. Butani is one of Washington's most recognized faces; with this honor, he is able to assist the population and help build a strong foundation for the South Asian community here in Washington, DC.

Shanti Aranha has been a part of the Darshan team for over a year. She began as a Host-Intern and moved into Co-Hosting and Field Reporting.

Shanti graduated from George Mason University, where she majored in Communication and minored in Film and Media Studies.

In her spare time, Shanti enjoys giving back to the community by doing various types of volunteer work – ranging from teaching ESL to serving meals in homeless shelters. She is always looking for new volunteer opportunities and loves to get others involved.

From time to time, you can also catch her on stage, performing in local theater works and sometimes even on the stage at the local karaoke bars. Eventually, she would love to host an entertainment style program.

Shilpa Alimchandani is an intercultural communication consultant and diversity trainer.

She is an Indian-American woman who has dedicated her career to facilitating communication across cultural boundaries in both domestic and international contexts. She currently serves as the Cross-Cultural & Diversity Training Specialist at the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC.

Shilpa's previous professional experience includes work in the academic, corporate, and non-profit sectors. Before working at the Peace Corps, Shilpa was a cross-cultural communication instructor in American University's School of International Service and Washington Mentorship Program. Her consulting work includes developing training curricula for Sodexho USA and providing cross-cultural training for coordinated diversity training and co-authored the publication, Customizing Diversity Training with Case Vignettes.

Shilpa holds a M.A. degree from Georgetown University's Communication, Culture and Technology program where she served as a graduate assistant on the Cottage Industry-Global Market project, an international development project involving shawl-weaving cooperatives in the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Her thesis research examined the cross-cultural communication challenges and learning opportunities involved in development project implementation.

Shilpa has been an active member of the South Asian American community throughout her life. Growing up in Missouri, she planned events for the Indian Youth Club of St. Louis as well as the Cultural Association of India at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Shilpa has performed folk and classical dances from various parts of South Asia. She is a member of the Sindhi Association of Washington, DC, the Network of South Asian Professionals (NetSAP), and Indus Women Leaders (IWL).