Latest stories

The Lost Ritual of Soi Patano

How the close friendships between Bengali women inspired literature and poetry, expanded women’s rights, and made men jealous.

How Indo-Fijians Found a Home in California

Centuries of colonial abuse and decades of discrimination fueled an exodus to a state where about 75% of Fijian Americans live today.

The Black Rulers of South Asia

Former slaves from Africa ascended to power during a time when the subcontinent had far greater social mobility and, perhaps, meritocracy.

Ethiopian and Indian Food: An Interconnected History

Sambusa and samosa. Injera and appam. Misir wot and dal. How over 2,000 years of trade shaped the cuisines of the two ancient cultures.

How the World Lost Dhaka Muslin

Once Bengal’s pride, the translucent fabric vanished under the British. Centuries later, can Bangladesh now resurrect it?

Celebrating Black History Month: 2023

Revisit the often-overlooked and intertwined histories of Black and South Asian communities.

Kalpana Chawla, First Indian American Woman in Space

On the 20th anniversary of the Columbia space shuttle disaster, we revisit the legacy of the unlikely astronaut, who has inspired generations.

Why South Asians Love Jane Austen

Family, marriage, and class collisions. The British writer’s novels seem like the perfect subcontinental literary canon. But not for the reasons you might think.

Madhur Jaffrey, Always the Perfectionist

The chef, actor, and writer showed the West that Indian cooking was worthwhile and Indian women had bite. And she still has several projects up her sleeve.

Jemima Khan’s So-Called ‘Love Letter’ to Pakistan

While married to Imran Khan, the British socialite was reviled and beloved. With a new film about her time in her adopted country, where does she stand today?

‘Pathaan’ Marks Shah Rukh Khan’s Glorious Return

The star-driven action flick is well worth the wait. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham take it to the next level.

Camelback Ventures is Bringing South Asian Films to Arizona

State tax credits have spurred a $10 million evergreen fund to invest in South Asian projects in Hollywood, and bring them to the Grand Canyon State.

How India Became a Nation of Eggetarians

The egg’s prominence in the Indian vegetarian diet is a point of contention. The perennial question is: are eggs meat?

Celebrating Lunar New Year: 2023

Revisit stories on the interconnected histories between China, South Korea, and South Asia — from the creation of Indo-Chinese food to anti-Asian U.S. immigration policy to more.

The Mindy Kaling Effect

The release of ‘Velma’ has reignited discussions about how the actor, writer, and producer portrays South Asian characters on screen. But what does the backlash say about us?

As IVF Grows Popular, South Asian Egg Donors Run Low

Asian Americans use in-vitro fertilization more than any other group. As they look to South Asian egg donors to increase IVF success, they often find long wait times and disappointment.

Homeopathy in South Asia: Snake Oil or Salve?

How a German semi-scientific approach to curing disease became big business in the subcontinent.

Not All South Asians Like it Hot

How eating spicy food became so intertwined with South Asian identity, and why it’s time to retire the stereotype.

Opinion: Bollywood Nepo Babies Aren’t the Problem

While offering a needed conversation on privilege, the nepotism discourse in India’s film industries has grown stale. Rather, it demands a closer look at changing the system.

In Tadka We Trust

Each drop is a sensory universe. Here’s how the technique as old as time came to define South Asian cuisines.