Smart journalism on South Asia(ns) you won't find anywhere else.
The Fight to Teach Partition in the West
Despite significant South Asian populations, U.S., U.K., and Canadian schools rarely teach students about one of the largest and deadliest mass migrations in history.
Sadaf Ahsan
How ‘Garm Hava’ Reframes the Partition Narrative
Instead of focusing on the traumatic events of Partition, the 1974 M.S. Sathyu film provides a searing look at what happened after.
Meher Manda
Remembering Partition and Independence, 75 Years On
Ten in-depth stories about the historical event that forever changed the subcontinent.
The Juggernaut Editorial Team
How ‘Taal’ Took Aishwarya Rai to New Heights
The plot of Subhash Ghai’s 1999 film was nothing new. The killer soundtrack and a rising star made it a global sensation.
Why South Asian Americans Overwhelmingly Support Abortion
Despite not openly talking about it, many South Asians are pro-choice. We dig into why and their reactions to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Kavya Srikanth
Why South Asians Often Have Multiple Birthdays
Sure, two birthdays means double the cake, but for some, it’s also a reminder of a turbulent past.
Sushmita Pathak
‘Chutney Popcorn’ Reimagines Family and Motherhood
Nisha Ganatra’s 1999 film about a lesbian artist who becomes a surrogate for her sister remains ahead of its time.
Priya Arora
The South Asians of OnlyFans
Thousands of South Asian creators have found sexual and economic empowerment on the X-rated platform — yet their work is shrouded in shame.
How Bhut Jolokia, the Ghost Pepper, Took Over the West
Dubbed the hottest pepper in the world in 2007, the unique northeastern Indian chili became a tempting challenge for Western palates. But what got lost in the process?
Makepeace Sitlhou
How Cartier Built an Empire by Claiming Indian and Islamic Art as its Own
From its Tutti Frutti collection to bejeweled cases, the French luxury jewelry house has long appropriated Eastern influences, calling it aesthetic exchange.
Sneha Mehta
How ‘The Dropout’ Recasts Sunny Balwani as the Angry Brown Man
The new Hulu series generously gives founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes a back story while only villainizing her counterpart, who faces similar charges of fraud.
"Play by Play"
Our October 2021 crossword.
Kapil Mehta
&
Sally Hoelscher
"Kitchen Talk"
Our September 2021 crossword.
Sid Sivakumar
"Across the Pond"
Our August 2021 crossword.
Priyanka Sethy
Matthew Stock
"Inner Child"
Our July 2021 crossword.
Will Nediger
How A.R. Rahman Makes Hit After Hit
The composer breaks down why chart-topping success doesn’t tell the full story of the magic behind his music.
Stick With ‘Never Have I Ever’ Season 3
While the new season initially feels formulaic, the show ultimately evolves into something more profound.
‘Indian Matchmaking’ Season 2 is Still a Hate Watch
Sima from Mumbai is back, and so is the reality show’s narrow depiction of India’s matchmaking industry.
Ishani Nath
Sri Lanka: The Reality of Mealtime in the Midst of Economic Collapse
The island nation’s worst economic crisis since its 1948 independence has forced people to change how and what they eat.
Zinara Rathnayake
Why “Best Of” Lists Often Overlook South Asian Cuisines
But as these restaurants and chefs rack up recognition and business from ardent fans, do mainstream accolades even matter?
Mallika Basu
Irani Bakes Spread Through India. Now, They’re Disappearing.
As Parsi cafés shutter, Irani bakes that have become teatime staples — from mawa cake to nankhatai — are at risk of vanishing, too.
Opinion: Eileen Gu and the Hyphenated American Dream
The Chinese American skier’s choice to represent China in the Olympics is thrillingly subversive. But is her story so different from that of our immigrant parents?
Bryant Sharma
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.
Priya-Alika Elias
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.
Ruchi Kumar
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.
Poulomi Das
How Much Did British Colonization Cost India?
One historian puts the figure at $45 trillion. Others say focusing on the size of the British Raj’s bill misses the bigger picture.
The Unsolved Mystery of Heart Disease in South Asians
High rates of heart issues have plagued South Asians — and confounded researchers — for years. A new bill hopes to change that.
The Fierceness of Poorna Jagannathan
We talked to the star about starting her acting career in her 30s, playing fearless women, and why she almost said no to ‘Never Have I Ever.’
Snigdha Sur
Alia Bhatt Refuses to Be Predictable
Critics dismissed her after her debut. Peers now call her the best actor in Bollywood. We chatted with the ‘Darlings’ star on how she pulls off powerful character-driven roles.
Nik Dodani is Making Hollywood His Own
Luck helped the actor and writer, known for ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Atypical,’ break into Hollywood. But he’s not leaving the rest up to chance.
Shrai Popat
You Don’t Know Jay Sean
For two decades, the British artist had a carefully curated image. Then, he got on TikTok.
Dhruva Balram
Why South Asians Struggle with IVF
South Asians are increasingly seeking fertility treatments, only to find that the process is costlier, more time-consuming, and less successful than it is for other groups.
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.
Atul Bhattarai
“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.
How South Asians Fell in Love with Tennis
Though no Grand Slam singles champion has emerged from the subcontinent, the sport has created superfans in both the diaspora and the homeland.
Bhavya Dore
Could Carrom Make it to the Olympics?
The beloved board game in India has long faced challenges in becoming an international sporting sensation. Some players and associations are trying to change that.
Sukhada Tatke
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.