Latest stories

Why There Are 25 Clock Emojis but No Dosas or Samosas

Over 10 years since standardized emojis, people are still petitioning for better representation of the cultural objects they hold dear.

India’s Burning Hot Love for the Sizzler

The scorch-your-tongue dish grew popular in the 1960s, but few know how it came to India. Some say California, others Japan, but the real story is not so straightforward.

How Himalayan Salt Sold a Rosy Dream

This pretty pink rock has been touted as a cure for COVID and a healthy staple of wellness culture. But behind that salt lamp glow hides many falsehoods — it’s not even from the Himalayas.

How Mughals Turned Into Hindi Cinema’s Newest Villains

From “Mughal-e-Azam” to “Jodhaa Akbar,” Bollywood has long been fascinated with the stories and extravagance of the Mughal empire. But in recent years, films have reduced the Muslim rulers to caricatured villains.

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.

The (South Asian) History of Curry Powder

People mistakenly call many foods “curry” or use the word as an insult. But let’s not forget curry powder’s subcontinental roots.

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.

Excerpt: "We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris"

The forthcoming book chronicles the U.S. vice president’s ascent, with lessons about work, family, and overcoming adversity.

Dinesh D’Souza, the Conservatives’ “Boy from Bombay”

The right-wing pundit’s journey to over 1.8 million Twitter followers reflects how the Republican Party shifted so quickly from the party of John McCain to the party of Donald Trump.

How Hollywood Found Hinduism

Celebrities like Julia Roberts, Madonna, and Miley Cyrus have been criticized for co-opting Hindu traditions. But it was often Indian gurus who sold them a new form of spirituality.

How “Big Brother”’s Hannah Chaddha Helped Make Show History

This season of "Big Brother" was the show's most racially diverse. But for the show to crown its first Black winner, contestants of color had to form a secret alliance.

How Ajay Bhatt, Co-Inventor of the USB Port, Became a Rockstar

Twenty-five years ago, the universal port changed computing as we know it — but the inventors never profited. We interviewed him to find out why that was intentional.

East Indian Sugar: The Sweeter of Two Evils

The search for sugar that wasn’t produced by slave labor led the British to another faraway colony: India. But was Indian sugar ever free?

“Enjoy Enjaami”: How a Tamil Song Led to a Public Outcry About Caste

A magazine cover by Rolling Stone India and a Times Square billboard sparked public outrage over Dalit erasure.

How Food Has Sparked Protests Throughout History

Indian farmers today, who are fighting against new corporate-friendly farm bills, follow a long line of revolutionaries who used food as a means of protest.

Where are the Women in India's Labor Force?

Female workforce participation in the country has been declining since the 1990s, and fell to a record low of 15.5% last year. So, as the Indian economy has grown, why has it shut out its women?

Why Kamal Haasan's “Hey Ram” Tries — and Fails — to Rewrite History

In the daring historical drama, the actor and filmmaker poses the question, “What if a man could be dissuaded from assassinating Gandhi?”

How Ice Heated Up Trade Between India and America

This quirky blip in the history of global trade — when merchants would ship ice from Boston to Bombay — teaches us what happens when globalization and unfettered demand mix.

In Poet Natasha Rao’s "Latitude," Nature is Sublime

The debut collection — winner of the First Book Prize — is a meditation of the natural world, full of “Krishna-skin skies” and “snow that melts to milk.”

Opinion: Why I Hate Seeing Diversity on Dating Shows

Reality dating shows still feature a largely white cast who sideline contestants of color — emphasizing the racism we face while dating.