Latest stories

Election Ink, Democracy’s Great Equalizer

The anxieties of a nascent India gave birth to the semi-permanent dye. Today, it represents how far the country has come.

How the West Bastardized Baby Massages

As U.S. practitioners “discover” the millennia-old tradition from the Indian subcontinent, what gets lost in the process?

‘Amar Singh Chamkila’: An Ode to a Punjabi Folk Hero

Diljit Dosanjh stars in the Imtiaz Ali biopic that isn’t afraid to embrace the violence and vulgarity of the real-life story behind it.

Boroline, the Bengali Miracle Cream

The Indian antiseptic ointment has outlasted the British, Partition, and copycats. Its formula for winning isn’t what you think.

Phoolan Devi: Bandit Queen, Activist, Goddess

The Dalit leader instilled fear in men and fought for her beliefs. So why do many depict her as a victim?

The Eclipse That Ended the Great Sikh Genocide

Ahmad Shah Durrani’s soldiers massacred 30,000 unarmed Sikhs. It took a celestial event on Diwali to halt the ensuing bloodshed.

Jasmine Flowers Are More Than an Accessory

The delicate white buds have stood the test of time, cementing themselves in pop culture, weddings, mythology, and everyday life.

How Kalamkari Became Chintz

The British took the ancient textile tradition global. Its artisans have yet to benefit.

Ravi Shankar, the Maestro Who Made the Sitar Cool

His unexpected friendship with Beatles guitarist George Harrison brought Indian classical music to the world and changed global music forever.

‘Monkey Man’ Review: Visually Stunning, But Hollow

Dev Patel’s directorial debut wastes the richness of the Indian mythology it draws from. But we can’t stop watching.

How Samahan Became a Global Sensation

Fans of the Sri Lankan herbal drink, from Naomi Campbell to Amitabh Bachchan, swear it cures everything from a cold to a cough. Does it?

The Double Lives of Beef-Eating South Asians

Many who grew up steering clear of the red meat are now opting in, sometimes secretly.

Fatima Jinnah, More Than Her Brother’s Keeper

Many have tried to sanitize the legacy of the first Pakistani woman to run for president and challenge the country’s military.

Who Should Teach South Asian Studies?

The department has proliferated at U.S. universities. But the discipline’s professors aren’t always who you think.

What the Anjali-Sufi Story Says About Us

For five years, fans fawned over the interfaith, queer influencers. But a sudden split ahead of their wedding led to a flurry of judgment.

Who Gets to Observe Ramadan?

The latest TikTok trend? Non-Muslims sharing their fasting journeys. For some, it’s about wellness. For others, it’s a welcome practice.

Why South Asians Can’t Stop Thinking About Kate Middleton

The Princess of Wales’s months-long absence from public life resurfaced familiar feelings for those from the subcontinent.

How Ramzan Became Ramadan in South Asia

The linguistic switch might seem innocuous, but its roots go back centuries.

Vikas Khanna Isn’t Done Flying

The Michelin-star chef’s latest — and likely last — restaurant, Bungalow, is a manifestation of his mantra: “I’m as good as my last dish.”

How A Bowl of Fruit Became a South Asian Love Language

Affection comes in a various forms, but for many, the purest gesture is freshly washed, cut, or prepared produce.