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The Cricket Pitch as Battleground in Indian Cinema

January 25, 2022

The Cricket Pitch as Battleground in Indian Cinema

If cricket in India is no less important than religion, then films like ‘83’ and ‘M.S. Dhoni’ have deified the sport and its players beyond reproach.

Bhutan’s Long-Awaited Oscar Entry is Simple, But Sweet

January 20, 2022

Bhutan’s Long-Awaited Oscar Entry is Simple, But Sweet

Pawo Choyning Dorji’s “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” — about “the most remote school in the world” — asks us what it means to be happy.

The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj

January 21, 2022

The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj

The choreographer and teacher left a mark on everything from Bollywood to classical dancing, but his legacy also faces controversy after his death.

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

January 19, 2022

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

Answers to her son’s questions about immigrant life led to ‘Falu’s Bazaar’ and ‘A Colorful World,’ which pay homage to the singer’s Indian and American roots.

Editor's Picks

In ‘Writing with Fire,’ Dalit Women Redefine What it Means to Be Powerful

December 17, 2021

In ‘Writing with Fire,’ Dalit Women Redefine What it Means to Be Powerful

The documentary is not just the story of the remarkable women-run media company Khabar Lahariya, but that of India's underserved Dalit communities, of news going digital, of press freedom.

For The Great British Baking Show's Crystelle Pereira, Passion Means More Than Perfection

December 03, 2021

For The Great British Baking Show's Crystelle Pereira, Passion Means More Than Perfection

We sat down with the finalist to chat about focaccia, the one spice she can’t live without, why she didn’t kiss Mr. Spatula, and what’s next.

Who is Sunny Balwani?

December 14, 2021

Who is Sunny Balwani?

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has accused her number-two of psychological and sexual abuse, yet little is known about him and his motives.

Fabindia: How an American-Founded Brand Defined the Handcrafted Indian Aesthetic

November 16, 2021

Fabindia: How an American-Founded Brand Defined the Handcrafted Indian Aesthetic

John Bissell’s cult lifestyle brand has supported rural artisans for over 60 years. But will the company’s looming IPO put this very mission at risk?

Business & Tech

Who is Sunny Balwani?

December 14, 2021

Who is Sunny Balwani?

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has accused her number-two of psychological and sexual abuse, yet little is known about him and his motives.

Fabindia: How an American-Founded Brand Defined the Handcrafted Indian Aesthetic

November 16, 2021

Fabindia: How an American-Founded Brand Defined the Handcrafted Indian Aesthetic

John Bissell’s cult lifestyle brand has supported rural artisans for over 60 years. But will the company’s looming IPO put this very mission at risk?

The  Business of Brown Beauty

December 09, 2021

The Business of Brown Beauty

Indian-inspired and South Asian-targeted beauty and skincare brands could be the next big trend. But to go the Korean beauty route, these products still have a long road ahead.

Why We Rarely See Bengali Restaurants Outside Bengal

November 09, 2021

Why We Rarely See Bengali Restaurants Outside Bengal

Is London’s Chourangi a sign that global appetites are changing, or will Bengali food take longer to make its well overdue mark?

Crossword

"Play by Play"

October 31, 2021

"Play by Play"

Our October 2021 crossword.

"Across the Pond"

August 28, 2021

"Across the Pond"

Our August 2021 crossword.

"Kitchen Talk"

September 30, 2021

"Kitchen Talk"

Our September 2021 crossword.

"Inner Child"

July 30, 2021

"Inner Child"

Our July 2021 crossword.

Culture

The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj

January 21, 2022

The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj

The choreographer and teacher left a mark on everything from Bollywood to classical dancing, but his legacy also faces controversy after his death.

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

January 18, 2022

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

The famed short story writer created a utopia that rarely mentions caste or politics. It is the place where we may want to escape, but not where we can live.

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

January 19, 2022

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

Answers to her son’s questions about immigrant life led to ‘Falu’s Bazaar’ and ‘A Colorful World,’ which pay homage to the singer’s Indian and American roots.

Artist, Feminist, Detective: How Shahzia Sikander Disrupts Art History

January 05, 2022

Artist, Feminist, Detective: How Shahzia Sikander Disrupts Art History

The Pakistani American artist and manuscript painting historian asks us: who gets to determine what is “tradition”?

Fiction

Fiction: It Started with a Dream

November 06, 2020

Fiction: It Started with a Dream

In the winner of our spooky horror fiction contest, at a family get-together, the line between Maya’s recurring nightmare and reality blurs.

Film & TV

The Cricket Pitch as Battleground in Indian Cinema

January 25, 2022

The Cricket Pitch as Battleground in Indian Cinema

If cricket in India is no less important than religion, then films like ‘83’ and ‘M.S. Dhoni’ have deified the sport and its players beyond reproach.

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

January 18, 2022

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

The famed short story writer created a utopia that rarely mentions caste or politics. It is the place where we may want to escape, but not where we can live.

Bhutan’s Long-Awaited Oscar Entry is Simple, But Sweet

January 20, 2022

Bhutan’s Long-Awaited Oscar Entry is Simple, But Sweet

Pawo Choyning Dorji’s “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” — about “the most remote school in the world” — asks us what it means to be happy.

Aasif Mandvi Wants You to See Him as an Actor, Not a Comedian

January 10, 2022

Aasif Mandvi Wants You to See Him as an Actor, Not a Comedian

The actor, writer, and future director chats about playing Ben Shakir in “Evil,” becoming a father, and why you can’t put him in a box.

Food

The Urban Resurgence of Offal

January 04, 2022

The Urban Resurgence of Offal

Once a staple of Parsi home kitchens, animal organ dishes are showing up on urban restaurant menus — from those of Dhamaka to Bombay Canteen.

For The Great British Baking Show's Crystelle Pereira, Passion Means More Than Perfection

December 03, 2021

For The Great British Baking Show's Crystelle Pereira, Passion Means More Than Perfection

We sat down with the finalist to chat about focaccia, the one spice she can’t live without, why she didn’t kiss Mr. Spatula, and what’s next.

How Ghee Took Over U.S. Grocery Shelves

December 22, 2021

How Ghee Took Over U.S. Grocery Shelves

The recent global rise of the clarified butter — as common as salt in many South Asian and Middle Eastern kitchens — is striking for an ingredient steeped in centuries of culinary history.

Why We Rarely See Bengali Restaurants Outside Bengal

November 09, 2021

Why We Rarely See Bengali Restaurants Outside Bengal

Is London’s Chourangi a sign that global appetites are changing, or will Bengali food take longer to make its well overdue mark?

Opinion

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

January 18, 2022

Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough

The famed short story writer created a utopia that rarely mentions caste or politics. It is the place where we may want to escape, but not where we can live.

Opinion: Aryan Khan is Paying the Price for Being Muslim in India

October 15, 2021

Opinion: Aryan Khan is Paying the Price for Being Muslim in India

Though they couldn’t find any drugs on him, officials arrested Shah Rukh Khan’s son during a drug raid and denied him bail — a reminder that being Muslim in India means living at the government’s mercy.

Opinion: How the U.S. Failed Evacuation Efforts in Afghanistan

October 19, 2021

Opinion: How the U.S. Failed Evacuation Efforts in Afghanistan

The U.S. administration congratulated themselves on their evacuation efforts in Afghanistan. A volunteer on the ground in Kabul writes about how botched these efforts really were.

Opinion: Why I Hate Seeing Diversity on Dating Shows

September 23, 2021

Opinion: Why I Hate Seeing Diversity on Dating Shows

Reality dating shows still feature a largely white cast who sideline contestants of color — emphasizing the racism we face while dating.

Politics

South Asian Candidates Aim to Grow Congress’s “Samosa Caucus”

January 07, 2022

South Asian Candidates Aim to Grow Congress’s “Samosa Caucus”

North Carolina’s Nida Allam and California’s Shrina Kurani are among a new generation of politicos aiming to make history in this year’s midterm elections.

For NYC Council Member-Elect Shekar Krishnan, Solving Systemic Inequality Starts from Within

December 02, 2021

For NYC Council Member-Elect Shekar Krishnan, Solving Systemic Inequality Starts from Within

The first Indian American to represent Jackson Heights and Elmhurst has long advocated for change. Now, he has a plan to fight for change from the inside.

Heading into 2022, Indians Seeking Visa Renewals are Still in Limbo

December 10, 2021

Heading into 2022, Indians Seeking Visa Renewals are Still in Limbo

Though the State Department has reduced its backlog this year from a peak of 531,976 in July to 461,125 in November, for many, the progress hasn’t been fast enough.

Meet the Newly Elected South Asian American Lawmakers

November 12, 2021

Meet the Newly Elected South Asian American Lawmakers

Affordable housing, environmental protection, and racial equity top many of the to-do lists of the newly elected legislators, such as Shahana Hanif from New York City and Aftab Pureval from Ohio.

Profiles

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

January 19, 2022

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

Answers to her son’s questions about immigrant life led to ‘Falu’s Bazaar’ and ‘A Colorful World,’ which pay homage to the singer’s Indian and American roots.

Artist, Feminist, Detective: How Shahzia Sikander Disrupts Art History

January 05, 2022

Artist, Feminist, Detective: How Shahzia Sikander Disrupts Art History

The Pakistani American artist and manuscript painting historian asks us: who gets to determine what is “tradition”?

Aasif Mandvi Wants You to See Him as an Actor, Not a Comedian

January 10, 2022

Aasif Mandvi Wants You to See Him as an Actor, Not a Comedian

The actor, writer, and future director chats about playing Ben Shakir in “Evil,” becoming a father, and why you can’t put him in a box.

Amrit Kaur of ‘Sex Lives’ Has Arrived, and She’s Not “Playing Around”

December 08, 2021

Amrit Kaur of ‘Sex Lives’ Has Arrived, and She’s Not “Playing Around”

“I don't take it for granted that I'm lucky. But I have also worked a s*** ton.”

Science & Technology

How Amar Bose Engineered Today’s Sound

July 19, 2021

How Amar Bose Engineered Today’s Sound

A curious Bengali American kid with a love for tinkering built a multi-billion-dollar company and changed the way we listen to music.

“Be Careful”: WhatsApp Forwards Spread Fear and Misinformation

May 06, 2021

“Be Careful”: WhatsApp Forwards Spread Fear and Misinformation

Messages intended to increase awareness of potential COVID transmission among South Asian Americans, but the impact has been more alarming.

 “The Great Escape”: Sri Lanka and the Maldives Bear the Brunt of COVID Vacations

May 11, 2021

“The Great Escape”: Sri Lanka and the Maldives Bear the Brunt of COVID Vacations

India’s elite continued to vacation in the island nations amid a raging pandemic.

To Be a Non-COVID Patient in India Right Now

May 05, 2021

To Be a Non-COVID Patient in India Right Now

With the country’s overburdened healthcare system focused on fighting COVID, non-COVID patients assume lowest priority.

Sports

India’s Siddis and the Olympic Dream

August 05, 2021

India’s Siddis and the Olympic Dream

India has won only 33 Olympic medals since 1900 — none in track and field. Now, new local sports programs are working with Siddi athletes to produce Olympic glory.

How India Made Chess and its Champions

April 13, 2021

How India Made Chess and its Champions

The country that invented the ancient game is now producing some of the world’s biggest chess champions.

How Dream11 Became India’s First Gaming Unicorn

June 14, 2021

How Dream11 Became India’s First Gaming Unicorn

India's fantasy sports platform has captured the attention of the country's rabid cricket fandom. Now, it wants to be India’s only answer to sports.

All Punch, No Pay: The Story of Pakistan's Female Boxers

December 15, 2020

All Punch, No Pay: The Story of Pakistan's Female Boxers

Once lauded internationally, Pakistan’s best female boxers are fighting to make ends meet.

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