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The South Asian stories you need to know
Smart journalism on South Asia and South Asians around the world.
Latest Stories
Editor's Picks
April 27, 2021
"Swades" and the NRI Burden
The 2004 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer doesn’t show a glamorous diaspora, but rather, the political responsibility of returning home.
April 19, 2021
Valarie Kaur: “Grieve with Us, Stand with Us, Reach Out to Us”
The civil rights lawyer, filmmaker, and Sikh American activist speaks out about the recent Indianapolis shooting, which killed four Sikh Americans.
April 21, 2021
How Twitter became India’s COVID E.R.
Jaded by the health care system, Indians are taking to social media, offering and requesting help to save lives. But this is no feel-good human story.
March 24, 2021
Why Bollywood Loved — and Lost — Fawad Khan
This year marks almost five years since fans have seen the iconic Pakistani actor in Hindi cinema.
Business & Tech
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.
March 23, 2021
Talking Shop with Ankiti Bose
The co-founder and CEO of Zilingo talks about her startup, sustainable supply chains, and of course, Sabyasachi.
April 20, 2021
How Trader Joe’s Became Known for Its Indian Food
The American grocery chain inadvertently built a line of products — from lamb vindaloo to spicy chakri mix — that appeal to South Asians and non-South Asians alike.
March 01, 2021
Black Women, Indian Hair
For decades, Indian temples have been selling hair to Black women around the world as part of the $58 million human hair export industry.
Crossword
Culture
May 14, 2021
Americans Shouldn’t Need Yoga or Chai to Care about India Right Now
What’s the most effective way to convince people to give when a country is in crisis?
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.
May 12, 2021
The Visual Language of Satyajit Ray
On his 100th birth anniversary, a look back on how the filmmaker redefined Indian graphic design long before he changed how the world looked at cinema.
May 10, 2021
Reenvisioning How U.S. Textbooks Tell South Asian Stories
A new ethnic studies curriculum for California’s public schools was poised to become a national blueprint; instead, it is now a mere recommendation.
Fiction
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
May 12, 2021
The Visual Language of Satyajit Ray
On his 100th birth anniversary, a look back on how the filmmaker redefined Indian graphic design long before he changed how the world looked at cinema.
April 27, 2021
"Swades" and the NRI Burden
The 2004 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer doesn’t show a glamorous diaspora, but rather, the political responsibility of returning home.
April 27, 2021
Zohra Segal: Begum Ballerina
A dancer, actor, and revolution all packed into one, Segal embodied carefree womanhood on and off screen.
Food
April 30, 2021
The Rooh Afza Renaissance
The ubiquitous, cooling drink known for its permanent spot on the iftar spread is also indelibly linked with the history of Partition.
April 20, 2021
How Trader Joe’s Became Known for Its Indian Food
The American grocery chain inadvertently built a line of products — from lamb vindaloo to spicy chakri mix — that appeal to South Asians and non-South Asians alike.
April 26, 2021
The Shifting Tides of India’s Seafood Traditions
Though plentiful and sustainable, shellfish such as clams, mussels, oysters, and snails barely make an appearance in popular accounts of Indian seafood.
April 14, 2021
The Weight of Parsi Toddy
How an ancient tradition cemented itself in Parsi kitchens, and why it is now fading away.
Opinion
April 28, 2021
Ambedkar’s American Comeback
Despite America’s relatively newfound interest in Ambedkar’s work, it will take another decade for him to become a household name.
March 26, 2021
Opinion: It’s Too Easy to Criticize Rupi Kaur
Twitterati recently ridiculed a viral video of everyone’s favorite Instagram poet, but her politics deserve a chance.
April 01, 2021
Opinion: The Resurrection of Imran Khan
Despite a long and fraught journey, Pakistan’s prime minister might be the first to finish his term in the country’s history.
March 22, 2021
Opinion: How Do We Write a Better Story of Asian America?
Our ability to see and support each other is what matters.
Politics
May 17, 2021
Explained: The Israel-Palestine Conflict and South Asian Diplomacy
South Asian countries have historically viewed the Israel-Palestine conflict as a symptom of British interference. More recently, they balance economic ties with Israel, while supporting the Palestinian cause.
May 10, 2021
Reenvisioning How U.S. Textbooks Tell South Asian Stories
A new ethnic studies curriculum for California’s public schools was poised to become a national blueprint; instead, it is now a mere recommendation.
May 13, 2021
The Once and Future Tibet
As Tibetans in exile elect their latest political leader, will he be enough to unite a stateless, scattered community — especially after the 14th Dalai Lama is gone?
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.
Science & Technology
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.
April 21, 2021
How Twitter became India’s COVID E.R.
Jaded by the health care system, Indians are taking to social media, offering and requesting help to save lives. But this is no feel-good human story.
April 29, 2021
How India’s COVID Surge is Fueling the Vaccine Diplomacy Debate
Who gets to decide which country gets which vaccine?
Sports
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.
July 09, 2020
A Pommel Horse, Masala Macaroni, and an Olympic Dream
Gymnast Akash Modi — part of a “tight-knit” group of South Asian Americans in the sport — is aiming for an Olympic medal.
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.
January 30, 2020
The Random, Solitary Path of Sumit Nagal
Pursuing a tennis singles career in India is a lonely, expensive, largely anonymous journey.
The Juggernaut tells untold, smart South Asian stories and news you won't find anywhere else.
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