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A scene from the U.S. or India? Globalization finds many Indians struggling with identity. (Photo: Northwest Asian Weekly)

Changing the Face of Modern India

This post is in: Arts & Culture, Immigration

In 1957 Tapan Sinha directed the movie “Kabuliwala”, based on a novel by Rabindranath Tagore chronicling the story of a fruit-seller who left Kabul and came to Calcutta in search of a better livelihood.

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Spreecast Sarah Crow, Sabrina Siddiqui

Divanee EIC Sabrina Siddiqui Sets Record Straight on Ashton Kutcher PopChips Ad

This post is in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment

In the wake of Ashton Kutcher’s controversial PopChips ad, Sarah Crow of Spreecast sat down with Divanee.com’s Editor in Chief Sabrina Siddiqui to discuss the allegations of racism and overall representation of South Asians in American pop culture.

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West Bengal's chief minister promised to turn Calcutta into London. But Joss Whedon in the Marvel comics saga, The Avengers, has gone backwards instead. (Photo: New America Media)
Narcopolis, by Jeet Thayil. 304 pages. The Penguin Press. April 12, 2012. ISBN: 9781594203305. List price: $25.95

April Book of the Month: “Narcopolis” by Jeet Thayil

This post is in: Arts & Culture, Books, Reviews

“Narcopolis”, the debut novel from jack-of-all-arts and former drug addict Jeet Thayil, is traumatizing. This trek through the underbelly of Mumbai leaves the reader groping through darkness for logic, for refuge from a deluge of drugs, sex, death and despair.

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Guinness World Records refuses to acknowledege Fauja Singh, 101, as oldest marathon runner. (Photo: The Daily Telegraph)

Marathon Celebrity Fauja Singh, Aged 101, in Race Row with Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records are refusing to acknowledge 101-year-old Fauja Singh’s claim that he is the oldest marathon runner in history, prompting allegations that the organization is guilty of “institutional racism”. The institution accepts only birth certificates as evidence of age, thereby excluding populations across the developing world.

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Weekend Laugh: India Would Like You to Bleach Some Special Areas

Who’s the fairest of them all? Staring at her hubby while he reads his newspaper and sips his chai is the typical, filmi portrayal of a newlywed South Asian woman.

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Zakir Hussain has captivated audiences worldwide for over 50 years. (Photo: The Hindu)

Iconic Indian Musician Zakir Hussain Enthralls Audiences in Chicago

A full house at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was treated to a wonderful evening of Indian classical music on Saturday by iconic musician Zakir Hussain and his group, the Masters of Percussion.

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Farhana Huq, founder of Brown Girl Surf, awarded March 2012 Amber Grant. (Photo: India West)

Brown Girl Surf Rides the Wave of Success to Win Amber Grant

This post is in: Arts & Culture, News

For Farhana Huq, leaving her career of 11 years in her 30s to pursue competitive surfing was as unlikely as choices come. But since launching Brown Girl Surf on Feb. 15–what she describes as “a journey to find, support and share the stories of trailblazing women and girls from around the globe”–the California native has hardly looked back.

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Living alone in India is still a concept largely unfamiliar to society. (Photo: New America Media)

Perils and Pleasures of Living Alone in India

This post is in: Arts & Culture

“Just come back any time with madam to approve the kitchen design,” the beaming modular kitchen consultant told me.

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Second annual Varli Food Festival in New York is sheer epicurean ecstasy. (Photo: Varli Food Festival)

Varli Food Festival, Hosted by Padma Lakshmi, is Sheer Epicurean Ecstasy

This post is in: Arts & Culture, Food & Recipes

Sheer epicurean ecstasy. That’s the only way I can describe the state of bliss I transcended into during the second annual Varli Food Festival in New York this week.

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