Smart journalism on South Asia(ns) you won't find anywhere else.
June 23, 2022
Sri Lanka: The Reality of Mealtime in the Midst of Economic Collapse
The island nation’s worst economic crisis since its 1948 independence has forced people to change how and what they eat.
Zinara Rathnayake
June 22, 2022
Nik Dodani is Making Hollywood His Own
Luck helped the actor and writer, known for ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Atypical,’ break into Hollywood. But he’s not leaving the rest up to chance.
Shrai Popat
June 21, 2022
The Evolution of Karan Johar’s Queer Eye
What has driven the filmmaker’s increasingly nuanced portrayals of LGBTQ characters?
Meher Manda
June 20, 2022
‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ is a Familiar Story, with a Refreshing Twist (Review)
The latest British period drama is the rare film whose romantic leads, Freida Pinto and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, are both people of color — but is it enough?
Ishani Nath
June 1, 2022
Celebrating Pride Month: 2022
This June, a roundup of 15 stories from our archives about queer South Asian history, icons, and culture.
The Juggernaut Editorial Team
May 9, 2022
Dismantling the Brown “Glow-Up”
The concept of getting hotter with age — also known as “glowing up” — isn’t new, but South Asian TikTok influencers question what this trend really celebrates.
Sadaf Ahsan
May 3, 2022
Met Gala 2022: New South Asian Looks, Familiar Problems
Celebrities including Simone Ashley, Riz Ahmed, Mindy Kaling, and Prabal Gurung walked the red carpet. But industry insiders say that the annual fundraiser isn’t as glamorous as it might seem.
May 2, 2022
Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: 2022
This May, a roundup of 15 stories that celebrate South Asian American life, love, culture, and history.
March 29, 2022
How Cartier Built an Empire by Claiming Indian and Islamic Art as its Own
From its Tutti Frutti collection to bejeweled cases, the French luxury jewelry house has long appropriated Eastern influences, calling it aesthetic exchange.
Sneha Mehta
March 24, 2022
How ‘The Dropout’ Recasts Sunny Balwani as the Angry Brown Man
The new Hulu series generously gives founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes a back story while only villainizing her counterpart, who faces similar charges of fraud.
March 17, 2022
Meet the Indian Family Behind Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Since 2019, an emerald dye from Chemworld International has been a key part of one of the country’s most unique Irish traditions.
Natasha Noman
March 7, 2022
Indra Nooyi is an Optimist
We chatted with the former PepsiCo CEO about crypto, support structures for thriving families, how she came to love pizza, and much more.
October 31, 2021
"Play by Play"
Our October 2021 crossword.
Kapil Mehta
&
Sally Hoelscher
September 30, 2021
"Kitchen Talk"
Our September 2021 crossword.
Sid Sivakumar
August 28, 2021
"Across the Pond"
Our August 2021 crossword.
Priyanka Sethy
Matthew Stock
July 30, 2021
"Inner Child"
Our July 2021 crossword.
Will Nediger
June 17, 2022
‘Chutney Popcorn’ Reimagines Family and Motherhood
Nisha Ganatra’s 1999 film about a lesbian artist who becomes a surrogate for her sister remains ahead of its time.
Priya Arora
June 16, 2022
Why “Best Of” Lists Often Overlook South Asian Cuisines
But as these restaurants and chefs rack up recognition and business from ardent fans, do mainstream accolades even matter?
Mallika Basu
June 3, 2022
KK Gave Us the Soundtrack to Our Own Movies
The Indian singer gave us the ability to revisit our first heartbreaks, our first joys, our first goodbyes, just by hitting play.
Harnidh Kaur
April 25, 2022
Irani Bakes Spread Through India. Now, They’re Disappearing.
As Parsi cafés shutter, Irani bakes that have become teatime staples — from mawa cake to nankhatai — are at risk of vanishing, too.
March 2, 2022
How Maggi Created a Generation of Experimental Cooks
The iconic instant noodles packet turns 40 in India, its biggest market, this year. Here’s how Maggi, despite a 2015 ban in the country, reshaped snacks and meals forever.
Shirin Mehrotra
February 16, 2022
Opinion: Eileen Gu and the Hyphenated American Dream
The Chinese American skier’s choice to represent China in the Olympics is thrillingly subversive. But is her story so different from that of our immigrant parents?
Bryant Sharma
January 18, 2022
Opinion: R.K. Narayan’s Idyllic Malgudi Might Not Be Enough
The famed short story writer created a utopia that rarely mentions caste or politics. It is the place where we may want to escape, but not where we can live.
Priya-Alika Elias
October 19, 2021
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
October 15, 2021
Opinion: 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
June 9, 2022
Indian American Congress Members Weigh in on the Nation’s Biggest Issues
We spoke with U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, and Raja Krishnamoorthi about Roe v. Wade, combating inflation, and how the “Samosa Caucus” got its name.
May 18, 2022
India’s Parallel Cinema Remains Unmatched
Govind Nihalani’s ‘Party’ was among a slate of films that used realism to challenge political power. Where are such movies now?
May 17, 2022
In Urvashi Vaid’s World, All Were Welcome
The Indian American LGBTQ activist fought for equality for all, and made queer South Asians feel seen, heard, and loved.
May 5, 2022
Subhas Chandra Bose: A Legacy of Contradictions
The Bengali leader who fought for India’s independence admired both Nazi Germany and Soviet Communism. Some have tried to erase his story; others have co-opted him.
Kapil Komireddi
May 23, 2022
You Don’t Know Jay Sean
For two decades, the British artist had a carefully curated image. Then, he got on TikTok.
Dhruva Balram
April 11, 2022
How Aditi Shah Built a Following By Teaching People to Be Still
Peloton’s only South Asian instructor is bringing yoga and meditation to the digital space while honoring their roots. And now, she’s Puma’s latest ambassador.
Snigdha Sur
July 19, 2021
How Amar Bose Engineered Today’s Sound
A curious Bengali American kid with a love for tinkering built a multi-billion-dollar company and changed the way we listen to music.
Atul Bhattarai
May 11, 2021
“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.
May 6, 2021
“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.
May 5, 2021
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.
February 17, 2022
How South Asians Fell in Love with Tennis
Though no Grand Slam singles champion has emerged from the subcontinent, the sport has created superfans in both the diaspora and the homeland.
Bhavya Dore
February 9, 2022
Could Carrom Make it to the Olympics?
The beloved board game in India has long faced challenges in becoming an international sporting sensation. Some players and associations are trying to change that.
Sukhada Tatke
August 5, 2021
India’s Siddis and the Olympic Dream
India has won only 33 Olympic medals since 1900 — none in track and field. Now, new local sports programs are working with Siddi athletes to produce Olympic glory.