Odds & Ends
Diwali Barbie
A diwali version of the iconic Barbie doll is joining the toy company Mattel's roster of world dolls. The Diwali Barbie joins the "Dolls of
The Bard From Imphal
Can what happens in a remote corner of India affect the rest of the world? Ratan Thiyam of Imphal, Manipur ensures that it does through
Kipling's Precious Jewel for Rent
You now have a chance to rent the Vermont home of Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), the Nobel Prize winning British Indian author.Kipling wrote some of his
Desi Dinner Theater In Atlanta
South Asians love spicy food and spicy drama. So what could be more appropriate than combining the two? "When we have big desi events, the
Mohinder Suresh Is Hero
The much-hyped new NBC Monday Night series Heroes launching Sept 25, includes the character of Mohinder Suresh (played by Sendhil Ramamurthy), an Indian geneticist professor
Hansdehar's Malgudi Days
Hansdehar is touting itself as the first knowledge village of Haryana. This village of 1,753 residents has developed a website detailing its residents and photographs
Proposing In Music
Vivek Babtiwale unsuccessfully tried to pitch his "Sit and Shave" product, which allows men to shave while sitting on the toilet, to incredulous hosts on
Hard Core Casual Gamer?
Remember the adage: when the law is against you, argue the facts; when the facts are against you, argue the law and if both the
Top Ten Life Tips From A Tech Wiz
Wisdom about how to live life from the King of Code? Seems hard to believe but Rajesh Setty of Sunnyvale, Calif., is one computer wiz who's seen
Remember Ayurveda?
British and Indian scientists are looking at several Ayurvedic mental boosters for treating Alzheimer's disease. Scientists at Kings College in London and Jadhavpur University in Kolkata
New Bird Species
In what Birdlife International describes as "the most sensational ornithological discovery in India for more than half a century," an Indian astronomer has identified a
City Of Jhumpa
Everyone is reading Jhumpa in Chicago! The city has the One Book, One Chicago program where it encourages all the citizens to read and discuss
Shame Of A Nation
Katrina wrenched the lid off a cellar where we have been hiding all the poor people and the whole world saw the misery, the racism
Man For All Seasons
He is a musician, a "certified' clown and a ham. But what makes Satish Vyas special is the joie de vivre with which he lives
Hooked To The Hukka
Is this a new trend? After work, instead of grabbing a burger or a beer, you get yourself a hukka and a belly dancer! Dilip
All That Jazz!
A jazz player who looks like a Bollywood hero? As New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff wrote, "Sachal Vasandani was a total surprise: He
Oh, Brother!
There's another Jon making it in the fashion world - Sanjana, sister of flamboyant designer Anand Jon. At the recent Fashion Week in New York,
The World's Biggest Couch Potato
Suresh Joachim is a man obsessed. Why else would someone watch television non-stop for 69 hours and 48 minutes straight? All ABC shows, without sleeping
Rickshaw Blog
If you've been enchanted by the "poetry, phrases, expressions" on the back of rickshaws on the Indian subcontinent, treat yourself to the Rickshaw Blog (rickshaw.blogspot.com),
Epooja@Meenakshi
So you want a prayer, but can't travel to Madurai? No sweat, the Meenakshi temple, one of the holiest Hindu shrines, can come to you, thanks
On The Run Blogger
A millionaire property moghul's daughter who jumped jail and reveled in her freedom on the popular blog Myspace.com is back behind bars. Farah Damji, a
Your Honor's Phunnee
A Mumbai lawyer is petitioning the state high court for relief against the "incomprehensible" English skills of a local magistrate, which he complains, undermines "the
India World's 12th Largest Economy
India now ranks as the world's 12th largest economy., according to the World Bank's tabulation of 2005 gross domestic product. 1. UNITED STATES $12.46 trillion 2. JAPAN $4.51 trillion 3. GERMANY $ 2.78 trillion 4. CHINA $
Bells On Their Feet
It was something Sheena and Kristen Dauro started when they were just six and seven. Now nine years later, they were ready for their arangetram,
Mahesh Manjrekar's Crusade
You all know Mahesh Manjrekar as the director of such critically acclaimed films as Vaastav, Astitva and Viruddh, but the Bombay-born filmmaker wears many hats.
Never Say Goodbye Hello, Big Bucks
Well, the waiting is over. Karan Johar's much anticipated Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Never Say Goodbye) has finally hit the big screens. KANK, as it
Bullying Mother In Laws, Beware
A British court has ordered Dalbir Kaur Bhakar to pay $65,000 to her former daughter-in-law, Gina Satvir Singh, for physical and mental abuse. Singh, who married
The Interpreter Of Fashion
Growing up in California, Rachel Roy, the daughter of an Indian father and Dutch mother, often rummaged through boxes of colorful sarees to create something
Mind Your Language - Signs Of The Time
In an office building:TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOWIn a Laundromat:AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT In
The Taj Through Rose Tinted Glasses
Did you think the Taj Mahal was in Agra, India? Well, yes. But the Pink Taj Mahal is only in America! This is New York
Journey's: The Two Punjabs Connect In America
The gigantic neon sign hits you like a ton of bricks as you drive down 21st Street in Astoria, a Queens neighborhood that was solidly
Big Bucks For Big Ideas
Want to make a quick $100,000? All you need to do is write 175 words - that's $571 and 43 cents a word! Yes, even
Music: Indian Ocean Laps At American Shores
The Indian Ocean is finally lapping at America's shores. If you're more into geography than music that might have you wondering. Well, Indian Ocean is
Books: A World Of Broken Mirrors Or Tito's Gift
"How much the broken mirror wished that it could be like those free dust particles and go anywhere with the wild wind. How much it
By Bullock Cart, Phut-Phut and Boat
If you thought school meant sedate brick buildings and yellow school buses, wander through *Going to School in India* and you will get a new
Dancing Her Convictions
Imagine a bird entombed inside a cemented ceiling, unable to escape, unable to fly free. Now imagine this metaphor for women's rights translated into dance
A Traveler By Religion
One is tempted to ask Preety Sengupta if she has a mole under her left foot, a sure sign in folklore that the person will
