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How Ferrero Rocher Melted South Asian Hearts

And why the significance of the once gold standard of gifting is no longer the same.

‘Indian Matchmaking’ Season 3 Tries But Fails to Modernize

It’s time to swipe left on the reality series that has yet to result in a single marriage and few successful matches.

Sima Aunty from ‘Indian Matchmaking’ Has Had Enough

For the Mumbai matchmaker and reality television star, today’s youth are too picky, too impatient, and too confused.

How Horlicks, Bournvita, and Complan Took Over India

World War I, celebrity ads, and scare tactics ensured that a Western concoction became a mainstay for the subcontinent and its diaspora.

Saravana Bhavan: Dosa, With a Side of Murder

Around 20 years ago, a Chennai court convicted the infamous restaurant chain’s founder of murder. What happened next was equally surprising.

Salim-Javed: Strugglers, Screenwriters, Superstars

The story of Bollywood’s most successful writing duo is as masala-filled as the groundbreaking cinema they created.

How Gaurav Gupta Won the Red Carpet

It took years for the world to notice the Indian fashion designer. Now, stars from Cardi B to Aishwarya Rai turn to him when they want to make a statement.

Yale Was Built on Stolen Riches from India. Why Don’t We Talk About It More?

Elihu Yale became the reluctant namesake of the prestigious university by exploiting Indian diamonds, textiles, and even mango chutney.

The Mangalsutra, a Mark of Marital Bliss?

How a necklace that emerged around a century ago became a big business and the epitome of marital sanctity — and how its meaning is now changing.

‘Life of Pi’ Roars on Broadway (Review)

The stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s 2001 novel has impeccable acting and magical puppetry, but will leave some craving more.

The Death of Paan

How the tricornered treat, once a cornerstone of South Asian life and art, has slipped to the periphery.

‘Who is Amritpal Singh?’ is the Wrong Question

This is not a story about the separatist leader, whom few support, but about the decades-long oppression of the people of Punjab.

How Bollywood Failed Parveen Babi

One of the highest-paid actors of her time is largely remembered through her lovers and by her illness. While others profited from her tale, she died alone at 51.

Dior and India: Couture Diplomacy or Culture Vulturism?

Dior’s Fall 2023 show in Mumbai seems like a win, but raises questions about the brand’s decades-long, extractive relationship with Indian artisans.

How Cha Became Chai

British trade manipulation, espionage, and aggressive marketing changed the trajectory of the once-unpopular beverage in the Indian subcontinent.

Raquel Evita Saraswati, the Race-Baiting, Hijabi Hoaxer

How a “white as snow” activist spread Islamophobia while pretending to be South Asian, Muslim, Hispanic, and Arab.

Humza Yousaf, the Next Leader of Scotland, Makes History

The first Muslim, Pakistani-origin, and youngest Scottish first minister assumed his new role today. Less is known about whether he can deliver on his promises.

How Amrita Sher-Gil Found Home, One Painting at a Time

The queer, Indian Hungarian painter revolutionized art by blending the East and the West, championing the female gaze, and celebrating herself.

Kali, the Avenging Goddess Within Every Woman

The Hindu god known for her fury and vengeance is a man’s worst nightmare — a testament to female power in all its forms.

Why India is Half an Hour Off Global Time Zones

Colonial control, nation-building, and political rivalry dictated elements of subcontinental life — including time itself.