South Asian Artists in US and Canada Connect
As in most fields, there is a need to connect as a community so that we can help each other grow. So I felt the need for making a group for South Asian artists, living in the US and Canada,...
The Train’veling’ Stories – Revealing cultures
Photo by: Tadeau-Jnr The public transport system obviously reveals a lot about the city. Los...
Musings on Racism and Indians in America
Somewhere between 2016 and 2017, there were these incidents reported in the news, and they...
Diversity can be attained even through the Palate!
A little over a year ago, I came to the US along with my teenage...
Are we doomed to loneliness or are we choosing it?
A few years ago, one of my students who recently moved to India with her...
Canada’s Immigration Policy – A Road to Mass Poverty
The world sees that Canada’s immigration policies are inclusive and good. Although, ideologically it is...
Friends make money go around!
Until I was 30+ I was just existing and suddenly on one of the fortunate...
I don’t want to shave my fucking beard!
As a conspicuously brown salesman in America, I am sometimes exposed to differential treatment. This...
If you prick us, do we not bleed? – Deaths, Identity, Representations
Last night the train came to sudden halt at the subway station. It didn’t start...
Rules of engagement – How to cultivate healthy relationships?
Everyone’s been talking about the 75-year study conducted by Harvard on happiness. Its results say...
Indian education better for women choosing STEM careers?
Growing up I went to a co-educational school. My parents’ choice of putting me into...
Sheep Riding Cycles
Many years ago in a country far far away, I had gone to get a...
I am the married guy who will never cook – and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Let me begin by saying I do not have deep respect for women. I have...
Pura Vida – The Pure Life
According to the Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica is the happiest place on Earth. A...
This musician transcends racial norms with his music
Sundar Viswanathan, born in a South Indian family, is an accomplished Saxophone player, who explores...
Of Big Noisy Crows, Hungry Stray Dogs & Mosquitoes on a Mission
During my last visit to India, I studied yoga in Chennai for more than 2...
Can’t say NO? – That’s so desi!
Unlearning is more important than learning. This reminds me of a famous quote by the...
Sanskrit is the need of the hour and everyone must learn it!
It is quite cliched, but very true that when you move away from your homeland,...
“Spellings reveal new worlds”, Says the winner of Scripps National Spelling Bee 2016!
Jairam Hathwar, the winner of the National Spelling Bee says through spellings he learnt about...
What do we Indian families, have against artists? The Actress 108
“Neeta would be home only late at night”, her sister said. It was still 6...
Newfoundland and its lessons in grounding
What is it about the natural landscape of our earth that opens us up, grounds...
How does Okay cupid become not okay in matchmaking?
Going through TIME magazine’s list of ‘100 most influential people in the world’ is one...
The difficulty with meditation and mindfulness practice
Pic Courtesy: Kalamkari artists featured in exoticindia.com Lately, I have been reflecting a great deal...
What gendered classrooms taught a teacher
It was one of those sweltering afternoons in Bangalore and I was at my wits...
How my Vipassana experience made me more angry and egotistical – Vipassana Diaries
My first encounter with vipassana was in 2004, when my friend said she lost 4...
It matters who you know when you job hunt – applicable only in the first world!
In the Nineties when I was growing up, my father always said, “You need influence”...
Having a connection – is really over rated!
The reason I am writing this post is because I feel I must write it...
The hardships of being a millennial parent
I grew up on a farm in a place called Talegaon, a village in its...
How does one become a Karma Yogi? Find out here
My friends are karma yogis. This past weekend, they helped me to move from one...
Where should I be as a dog?
Coming from India where street dogs usually chase you; it is not uncommon to be...
Nine reasons to learn Indian classical dance !
Here are NINE compelling reasons for learning Indian classical dance immediately: 1. You wish you...
What is the best gift we can give ourselves? Find out here!
I have not always known that I was the silent type. When I was growing...
Are women really feminists?
Recently I read a blog here about South Asian men having a problem in calling...
What makes people give you the advice they give?
I have been thinking about this specific topic I am writing about for a few...
Hyderabad: We are more than just Biryani!
As someone who feels more at home in Hyderabad than anywhere else in the world,...
You are strong if you seek help for anxiety, depression, anger! See why
I am writing this based on a recent incident that happened to me. An old...
Why do South Asian men have a problem calling themselves feminists?
It’s our ritual to meet up once a month over a drink-cum-discussion kind of scenario....
How sexist is Urdu?
The exploration started with an innocent question (…really?). Is there any equivalent word for prostitute...
Confessions of a small-time quiet-time investor
A click bait title for this post could have been “20 minutes that can bring...
Indian and Chinese ancient wisdom come together in “Yin Yoga”!
The other day I heard that there was something called “Rage Yoga” up and coming...
six reasons to not date me!
I recently read a brilliant article on Buzzfeed, which talks about 24 signs why dating isn’t...
Find the key in your heart!
Several years ago I gradually started to pay attention; pay attention to the sounds and...
I am privileged because I am Brown
With #BlackLivesMatter gaining such momentum, I find it a good time to reflect on the privileges...
Singapore to Mumbai: traveling with smiles!
In today’s world where most of us are ridden with insecurities, Rohini has not only...
See how my baby makes me want to stay in India
My daughter was two month old when I returned to India after delivery in Japan,...
If you aren’t practicing breathing you might be heading towards trouble
Breathing happens naturally and automatically from the moment we are born into the world until...
In search of Betel love!
I am a die-hard fan of Amitabh Bacchan. And I grew up in a family...
What happens when I don’t use ear muffs
Pic courtesy: Amazon.com Early spring, I bought new ear muffs. It was a difficult find,...
An open letter to the so-called ‘feminist’ of today
Dear free spirited, independent, self-made, free thinking, open-minded women of the marriage market, Your list...
I loved Mumbai rains until this happened
Pic Courtesy: skymetweather.com Raindrops keep falling on my head… “Raindrops keep falling on my head...
First world problems
Pic Courtesy: Imgur.com Sometimes I catch a virus called First World Problems or FWP for...
Top 10 questions asked to a girl who has lost her NRI status
Pic courtesy: Pinterest.com I decided to move back to India in 2014 after five long...
This former Mrs. India is making waves in Canada. See how.
Lavanya Rajesh moved to Canada in April 2007. In 2006, Lavanya won the title of...
How I was taken for a ride as an immigrant!
The world was hazy when I landed in Toronto. It was my first flight out...
Matrimony Morons
I was around 26, when I went to pursue my Masters in Computer Science. It is...
How to do dishes like a Yogi
Wellness isn’t something that happens on its own. Wellness is something that takes practice. It...
The Lost and Found Research Paper of a Daughter-in-Law
Pic courtesy: Pinterest.com Before, I get into the details on my parents – in- laws’...
Yoga – an essence of being, not just for weight-loss!
What is Yoga? – It is a balanced way of being. Siva is the first...
How marriage dehumanizes women
There is a lot said about marriage, all over and most single people “want” to...
Ayurveda or Allopathy?
In this day and age where life style diseases are rampant, it becomes important to...
Is “Monsoon Wedding” a foreign language film?
Image courtesy: wikimedia.org This list features one “Indian” film in its list of Best foreign...
Economic progress has changed basic necessities to clean air and water!
Karma is one sassy bitch! I surely did something to please her because I have...
This 7-year old polish kid will blow your mind with Telugu songs!
Zbigniew Chertlur, fondly known as Bujji, started singing in Jan 2016, inspired by his father...
Why every desi should at least once, study in the United States
Image courtesy: nickandzuzu.com The first taste of USA can be quite daunting for any desi...
West London hospital embraces Indian dance for medical benefits
Indian dance, yoga and other performing arts from India have self- exploration or realization as...
The story of clean poop!
It’s not until a desi hits the American shore that s/he has to change the...
This 15-year-old’s rendition of Nina Simone will leave you “Feeling Good”!
Having influenced singers of several generations like Elton John, John Lennon, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and...
Do you want to do Fraaandship with me?
In 2006, my husband and I had decided not to move to the US. We...
How marriage changes the nature of friendships
Making friends was never really seen as a problem, in fact it never crossed my...
What happens when you step out of your comfort zone
I was sitting on the sand dunes of Will Rogers state beach, sipping on a...
INDIAN MISS REPRESENTATION
Bengaluru Nagarathnamma. Pic Courtesy: The Hindu It was when I was watching an American...
As I live in Ghana
Familiarity and fear while being an example of alliteration are often antithetical in real life....
Why Indians hardly help other Indians when abroad?
When you are away from India, of course you miss the food and people, so...
God comes in all colors
This is one notion pleasantly came to life, after I started living out of India....
Faking to be desi!
“We are all colonized”, is a statement frequently heard in most literature or arts classes....
Indian-Chinese – I didn’t know that existed beyond food!
My first introduction to anything Chinese was through its cuisine which is widely available in...
“Road to India” Family Guy episode gives you a reality check
Picture credit:Wikia.com If you watched the recent episode from Family Guy, “Road to India”, you...
Why should you inculcate the sense of self-worth from childhood?
I have realized that self-worth is an important trait to have right from childhood. It...
Can we go back to having golden lattes, now that it is endorsed?
If any of you watch this show called, “Kuch Rang Pyaar ke Aise Bhi” on...
Racism row – is Australia racist?
A country whose combined history is all of 300 years, Australia is often referred...
Top ten reasons why I am still single (according to well-meaning Indians)
I am an Indian girl, who is still single at the ripe old age of...
I am a bad negotiator and a home-maker. Guess who I am?
A woman! There are now several studies and articles about how women in various service...
Indian work culture – where everything else matters but work !
Usually as time passes abroad, the home country beckons, not because anything has changed there,...
Why I couldn’t relate to Hollywood Rom Coms for a long time?
It took me really long to relate to Hollywood films, especially coming from the South...
Stuck in a pickle – A Malayalee in his favorite ‘Gelf’.
Being a Malayalee has its own advantages; we are blessed with long names. It starts...
Why I cried at the Delhi airport after landing from LA?
It is really easy to spot that angry Indian amongst the crowd, especially when it...
21 years and two and half hours later…
Image Courtesy: wikipedia.org In a completely new city and a new country, we almost recreated...
You want to live to see grand kids? Then be ready to take care of them!
There is a lot of information going around related to grand-kids. A couple of years...
Why are we South Asians still into arranged marriages?
Arranged marriages and South Asian culture are quite synonymous with each other. Here a couple...
I stay loyal to the best coffee in the world – filter kaapi!
Image Courtesy: Triv.Rao Wikimedia The smell just hypnotizes me as I walk on the streets...
Veda chanting by kids at Buckingham Palace – When will we do this in India?
Clipart from Clipartheaven.com I am even appalled at the question, because Vedas are from India...
How do we create confused desis?
For many young immigrants, it is an overwhelming experience of living simultaneously in two opposite...
Why do second gen desis have a problem interacting with first gen desis?
Recently I read a not-so-positive article about dating a brown girl in a white country...
Setbacks are good, I realized, they beam with hope!
Setbacks of even a minor sort have an ability to bring us back on track....
When it comes to education, West is Best!
We move to the US for higher education in search of better opportunities and so...
All South Asian countries together can solve their economic problems!
Image courtesy: World Bank I have come across several South Asians while traveling and also...
You Speak American?
The actor Will Smith, while being interviewed on the TV show Inside the Actors Studio,...