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How Matchboxes Became a Stand-in for Indian Visual Culture

The aesthetics of Indian matchbox covers have seen a resurgence as contemporary artists celebrate the work of designers who still remain largely unknown.

“Redemption on the Cheap”: Will Anti-Asian Hate Crime Legislation Work?

As the House prepares to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, experts fear that it might do little to curb violence against Asian Americans.

The Israel-Palestine Conflict and South Asian Diplomacy, Explained

South Asian countries historically saw the Israel-Palestine conflict as a symptom of British interference. More recently, they balance ties with Israel and supporting the Palestinian cause.

Americans Shouldn’t Need Yoga or Chai to Care about India Right Now

What’s the most effective way to convince people to give when a country is in crisis?

The Once and Future Tibet

As Tibetans in exile elect their latest political leader, will he be enough to unite a stateless, scattered community — especially after the 14th Dalai Lama is gone?

The Visual Language of Satyajit Ray

On his 100th birth anniversary, a look back on how the filmmaker redefined Indian graphic design long before he changed how the world looked at cinema.

“The Great Escape”: Sri Lanka and the Maldives Bear the Brunt of COVID Vacations

India’s elite continued to vacation in the island nations amid a raging pandemic.

Reenvisioning How U.S. Textbooks Tell South Asian Stories

A new ethnic studies curriculum for California’s public schools was poised to become a national blueprint; instead, it is now a mere recommendation.

Good Ma, Bad Ma

Can Bollywood’s mothers exist between virtue or vice?

“Be Careful”: WhatsApp Forwards Spread Fear and Misinformation

Messages intended to increase awareness of potential COVID transmission among South Asian Americans, but the impact has been more alarming.

To Be a Non-COVID Patient in India Right Now

With the country’s overburdened healthcare system focused on fighting COVID, non-COVID patients assume lowest priority.

“Your Silence Will Be Remembered”

Why Indian celebrities are mum about the politics of India’s COVID-19 crisis.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

This May, a roundup of 15 stories from our archives that celebrate Asian American life, love, culture, and history.

The Rooh Afza Renaissance

The ubiquitous, cooling drink known for its permanent spot on the iftar spread is also indelibly linked with the history of Partition.

How India’s COVID Surge is Fueling the Vaccine Diplomacy Debate

Who gets to decide which country gets which vaccine?

Opinion: Ambedkar’s American Comeback

Despite America’s relatively newfound interest in Ambedkar’s work, it will take another decade for him to become a household name.

‘Swades’ and the NRI Burden

The 2004 Shah Rukh Khan film broke away from the fantasy of overseas glamour. Instead, it showed us the political responsibility of returning home.

Zohra Segal: Begum Ballerina

A dancer, actor, and revolution all packed into one, Segal embodied carefree womanhood on and off screen.

The Shifting Tides of India’s Seafood Traditions

Though plentiful and sustainable, shellfish such as clams, mussels, oysters, and snails barely make an appearance in popular accounts of Indian seafood.

How Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan Weaves Nuance into Marginalized Identities

Whether it’s caste, gender, class, or sexual orientation, the director behind "Masaan" and "Geeli Pucchi" dissects every theme with refreshing sensitivity.