The Trendsetting Legacy of India’s VJs
Their 1990s shows on music channels like MTV and Channel V were neither Doordarshan nor Bollywood, giving rise to indipop and lending “cool” to Indian youth culture.
Bedatri D. Choudhury
Why We Rarely See Bengali Restaurants Outside Bengal
Is London’s Chourangi a sign that global appetites are changing, or will Bengali food take longer to make its well overdue mark?
Mallika Basu
Danish Baig, 27, Among Ten Dead at Astroworld
The Pakistani American from Euless, Texas died while saving his fiancée, who had to be hospitalized. The two were among dozens injured or killed at the event.
The Juggernaut
‘Eternals’ Review: Come for the Action, Stay for the Humor
Kumail Nanjiani's Kingo is easily one of the highlights of the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Snigdha Sur
How Diwali Marketing Went Mainstream in the U.S.
More brands than ever before are promoting their products to Hindu Americans with targeted Diwali ads.
The Rise of Sexy South Asians on Screen
Brown actors like Simone Ashley in "Sex Education," Raymond Ablack in "Maid," and Punam Patel in "Special" are finally getting the sexy storylines they deserve.
Ishani Nath
Why the Role of Ali Abdul in “Squid Game” Matters
Anupam Tripathi’s character in the massively popular Netflix series may foreshadow an exciting future for global talent in K-dramas.
Amil Niazi
A Border Apart: Stories of Families Divided by Partition
The effects of Partition in 1947 still linger today. Families separated by the borders between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh tell their stories of love, heartbreak, and finding connection.
Zuha Siddiqui
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.
Myles Karp
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.
Meher Mirza
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.
Alizeh Kohari
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.
Meher Manda
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.
Ruchi Kumar
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.
Sharanya Deepak
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.
Poulomi Das
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.
Hitha Palepu
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.
Kaivan Shroff
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.
Aarti Virani
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.
Christine Champagne
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.
Sneha Mehta