PERSPECTIVES

In ‘Girl, Serpent, Thorn’ Melissa Bashardoust Unveils Zoroastrian Mythology for Young Adults

The good thing about teaching at liberal arts colleges in the U.S. is that you…

Eye of the Hurricane: How SewaDiwali Made Me Realize ‘We are Not in the Same Boat’

2020 has been a bit of a whirlwind, hasn’t it? We started the year with…

‘Inkilab Zindabad’: How I Stepped Away From My Comfortable Perch and Joined the Resistance

I have followed politics for a very long time. I am deeply interested in the…

Hindutva’s Dangerous Rewriting of History as a Means of Advancing Modern Political Goals of the BJP

These are excerpts from an essay published in South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. In January 2019,…

My First Term is Done. I Already Have Plans on How to Make My Second Term Better

I went to Lansing to improve how we fund our public schools, and discovered an…

When I Came Out Happy: Confessions of a Proud Mother of a Queer, Nonbinary Child

The day my only child came out to me was one of the hardest in…

The Political Correctness of Greeting ‘Happy Holidays’ Robs Us the Joy of Celebrating Rich Diversity of Cultures

As December dawns, we often hear the politically correct greetings from everyone — “Happy Holidays”!…

A Nest for Lalitha: Ken Langer’s Novel is a Political Thriller that Mirrors Real India Straddling Two Worlds

Ken Langer has had many incarnations. His complex relationship with India began half a century…

A Free-Spirited Tomboy Breaks Social Boundaries and Learns About Cultures Off the Beaten Path in India

Here’s a travel documentary film unlike one you have seen before. It will remind you of the…

What We are Doing to Help Young Adults Cope with Loneliness and Stress During the Pandemic

Since the pandemic began, over 74% of adults report one or more adverse mental or…

Dear Mr. Joseph Epstein: Here’s Why My Mother Kalpana Parlikar is Dr. Kalpana Parlikar

Dear Mr. Joseph Epstein: My mother’s name is Dr. Kalpana Parlikar. She has never delivered…

‘Kiddo’ in the Hallway: Dr. Jill Biden’s Ridicule Comes as No Surprise to Women in the American Academy

As a new Assistant Professor, I recall sitting in my office and a young man…