South Asian Love Stories: 2024
From whether romantic kissing originated in India to the queer legacy of ‘Bend It Like Beckham,’ dive into our favorite stories on love in all its forms.
The Juggernaut
How Parkchester Became “Little Bangladesh”
The once exclusively white neighborhood is a haven for immigrants. But does its success threaten its future?
Isha Banerjee
“Mundian To Bach Ke,” The Bhangra Anthem That Lives On
The 2003 Panjabi MC and Jay-Z track became a global sensation. More than 20 years later, we’ve yet to experience anything like it. Why?
Ayesha Le Breton
Celebrating Lunar New Year: 2024
Fifteen stories on the interconnected histories of China, South Korea, Malaysia, and South Asia — from the creation of Indo-Chinese food to anti-Asian U.S. immigration policy.
Pakistan’s Generals Have Lost Its People
The country’s military has engineered election results and controlled the economy for over 70 years. Its civilians have yet to benefit.
Hassaan Bin Sabir
How Indian South Africans Fought Apartheid
Many history books have forgotten the activists who joined forces with the Black community in dismantling state-sponsored racism.
Pomegranates, the Ruby Jewels of the East
A viral article claimed the fruit is tasteless and making a “comeback.” But for South Asians and Iranians, it transcends any fad.
Why Are We Still Talking About ‘Animal’?
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s paean to violence, misogyny, and daddy issues is a laughably poor film, one that benefits from endless discourse.
Meher Manda
Celebrating Black History Month: 2024
Revisit the often-overlooked, intertwined histories of Black and South Asian communities.
No Doubt’s Tony Kanal, Man of Mystery
The Indian American bassist had an outsized role in the band’s breakout success. Why don’t we know more about him?
Coupon Clipping to Clicking: The Brown Love of a Deal
Indian American immigrants in the 1980s and 1990s embraced discounts as a means of survival, raising a generation of bargain hunters.
‘Fighter’ Review: All Flair, Few Feels
The Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan film has plenty of action, but a tired storyline wastes its immense star power.
Snigdha Sur
‘Monkey Man’ Trailer Out: Dev Patel Directs, Writes, and Acts
The film — about a man out for revenge in Mumbai, India — counts Jordan Peele as co-producer and is set to release on April 5 in theaters.
Howard Hodgkin, the Unlikely Collector of Indian Art
The late British artist amassed one of the most notable subcontinental troves. To this day, we know little about their rightful owners.
Kajal: Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder
In the West, black eyeliner can mean sultriness, “exotic”-ness, or danger. But for South Asians, the millennia-old ritual imbues confidence and power.
India’s Ram Mandir Inauguration Pulls in its Global Diaspora
For some, it’s a historic event. For others, it’s a symbol of growing Hindutva and a reminder of sectarian violence.
Sukhada Tatke
Eqbal Ahmad, the Anti-War Activist Ahead of His Time
The Pakistani academic went on trial for plotting to kidnap Kissinger. He ended up advising revolutionaries and presidents, and prophesying the future.
‘Public Obscenities’ is the Most Bengali Play
Choton and his partner Raheem visit Kolkata to document the lives of LGBTQ Indians. They discover far more.
Piercings: Tradition for South Asians, Rebellion in the West
For those from the subcontinent, the practice is a given, even for babies. In the West, it’s taboo and reviled. Why?
Karak Chai is Really the Story of South Asian Migrants
The accessible, diasporic brew is a byproduct of Gulf modernization — and its insidious underbelly.
Amar Diwakar