Latest stories

Celebrating Lunar New Year: 2024

Fifteen stories on the interconnected histories of China, South Korea, Malaysia, and South Asia — from the creation of Indo-Chinese food to anti-Asian U.S. immigration policy.

Pakistan’s Generals Have Lost Its People

The country’s military has engineered election results and controlled the economy for over 70 years. Its civilians have yet to benefit.

How Indian South Africans Fought Apartheid

Many history books have forgotten the activists who joined forces with the Black community in dismantling state-sponsored racism.

Pomegranates, the Ruby Jewels of the East

A viral article claimed the fruit is tasteless and making a “comeback.” But for South Asians and Iranians, it transcends any fad.

Why Are We Still Talking About ‘Animal’?

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s paean to violence, misogyny, and daddy issues is a laughably poor film, one that benefits from endless discourse.

Celebrating Black History Month: 2024

Revisit the often-overlooked, intertwined histories of Black and South Asian communities.

No Doubt’s Tony Kanal, Man of Mystery

The Indian American bassist had an outsized role in the band’s breakout success. Why don’t we know more about him?

Coupon Clipping to Clicking: The Brown Love of a Deal

Indian American immigrants in the 1980s and 1990s embraced discounts as a means of survival, raising a generation of bargain hunters.

‘Monkey Man’ Trailer Out: Dev Patel Directs, Writes, and Acts

The film — about a man out for revenge in Mumbai, India — counts Jordan Peele as co-producer and is set to release on April 5 in theaters.

‘Fighter’ Review: All Flair, Few Feels

The Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan film has plenty of action, but a tired storyline wastes its immense star power.

Howard Hodgkin, the Unlikely Collector of Indian Art

The late British artist amassed one of the most notable subcontinental troves. To this day, we know little about their rightful owners.

Kajal: Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

In the West, black eyeliner can mean sultriness, “exotic”-ness, or danger. But for South Asians, the millennia-old ritual imbues confidence and power.

India’s Ram Mandir Inauguration Pulls in its Global Diaspora

For some, it’s a historic event. For others, it’s a symbol of growing Hindutva and a reminder of sectarian violence.

Eqbal Ahmad, the Anti-War Activist Ahead of His Time

The Pakistani academic went on trial for plotting to kidnap Kissinger. He ended up advising revolutionaries and presidents, and prophesying the future.

‘Public Obscenities’ is the Most Bengali Play

Choton and his partner Raheem visit Kolkata to document the lives of LGBTQ Indians. They discover far more.

Piercings: Tradition for South Asians, Rebellion in the West

For those from the subcontinent, the practice is a given, even for babies. In the West, it’s taboo and reviled. Why?

Karak Chai is Really the Story of South Asian Migrants

The accessible, diasporic brew is a byproduct of Gulf modernization — and its insidious underbelly.

The Big Didi Dilemma

Eldest daughters and sisters already have it tough. What does it mean when you’re also South Asian?

Avantika on ‘Mean Girls’: “Brown Girls Can Be Dumb, Too”

The hit 2004 film is back as an on-screen musical, giving us Hollywood’s first South Asian ditz: Karen Shetty.

The Jinns We Live With

For millennia, the lore of these mythical creatures has cultivated creativity, connection, and community.