PERSPECTIVES

Lost and Found in Portugal: A Passport ‘Detour’ Didn’t Dampen My Discovery of the Land of Castles, Cathedrals, and Vasco Da Gama

‘All’s well that ends well’ should be the title of my little passport story. I…

Microaggressions: The Year 2023 Ends With a Heightened State of Hinduphobia in America

Anti-Hindu prejudice and violence are on the rise across the United States, manifesting in various…

2023 was the Year of the Woman-of-Color, With Three Powerfully Intimate Memoirs That Changed My Life

In 2023, many tried to bury the COVID-19 pandemic in their psyche, under thick layers…

Is the Consolidation of Hindu Right Alienating Sikh Americans From Their Indian American Identity?

Sikhs, who comprise about 0.22 percent of the American population, successfully lobbied for a category…

‘American Sikh’: A Short Film About Larger-than-life Saga of a Community in India and Beyond

“American Sikh” is an animated short film that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in…

Year-End Emotions: If Generative AI Makes Me Optimistic About Future, Israel-Hamas Conflict Keeps Me Grounded

The last month of the year incites a trove of emotions in me. Rationally, I…

Aging India: How Social Clubs, Travel, Kitty Parties, and Cultural Activities Help Elderly Stay Connected

In the past six months, I made two trips to Odisha to be with my…

A Teachable Conflict: Reckoning With Polarization On American Campuses and What Can Be Done About It

Some years are so noisy that you can’t even hear yourself think clearly. This year…

Grinch in a Manger: ‘Christmas As Usual’ Makes You as Uncomfortable as Indian Actor Kanan Gill Coping With Norwegian Winter

As my son plans to spend this Christmas in Norway, I decided to check out…

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 2023 Has Been Like a Box of Mixed Mithai. Some Good, Some Not So Much

As a kid, when someone would bring home a box of mithai when they visited,…

How to Not Be a Coconut: The Journey Toward Self-confidence for Indian American Teens

In the painting of diversity that defines the United States, the voices of Indian American…

‘Never Again’ and the Never Ending Nakba: How Zionism Makes Impossible the Struggle for a Free Palestine

Cry Havoc! And let slip the dogs of war in Palestine, 2023.  We watch the…