Bottoms Up! The Rising Popularity of Alcohol in ‘New’ India

America’s Whiskey

The idea for this post (other than being apropos just before New Year’s Eve party time) actually came from an edition of NY Times this week which has afeature story on America’s liquor. Which one, you say? Why, bourbon of course.

01/09/12
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In India, Marriages are Made in Heaven. Or Shaadi.com

There’s Change. And then there’s Change.

India is a-changing. Rapidly. I’m not sure how many times I’ve written this. It’s becoming rather boring, even to myself, to keep repeating this mantra. But, what can I say? It’s what has happened to this country during the long period when I was living elsewhere, oceans away.

12/26/11
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NRI Indian community - missing in action from the lives of new Indian students in US

It’s a tricky question, whenever I think about the help and assistance that is available to new students from India from the Indian community here in United States, rarely anything comes into my mind that I can credit to the Indian community and by that I mean Indians who are already settled here with family, job and businesses.

12/19/11
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Free speech, Internet and Indian Government

Controlled democracy, this is the word Mr. Farooq Abdulla used while supporting Kapil Sibbal’s decision to censor social media websites in India. Apparently, Mr. Abdulla didn’t realize the agony and frustration of a common man at the hands of the ruling party in India or the meaning of the word democracy but what can one expect from a politician who has profited switching sides between left and right wing parties over the issues of Kashmir.

12/12/11
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The Light and Darkness of Gujarat

Lighting the Way in India

First, some statistics and some “light”:

Gujarat– Established as a state in 1960, today it is the 7th largest state in terms of area and the 10th largest in population. It is located in Western India above Maharashtra with a coastline of some 1600 miles. Gujarat comprises major sites that are part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Even though is only the 10th largest, its population exceeds 60 million people. Probably the most revered activist in the world, Mahatma Gandhi, hails from Gujarat.

11/15/11
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The India I Inherited

Once I realized a subtle but significant understanding of freedom from a joke that goes something like this. There was an informal gathering of international students in a club meeting; the host asked his international audience a very simple question “What does freedom mean to you?” Everyone gave a different answer, the Indian mentioned freedom of expression, African said education, Mexican stated justice and so on but a shy Chinese guy was sitting quietly in the corner. When everyone looked at him for response, he smiled gently and said “a Facebook account”.

10/31/11
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India’s Dreadful Obsession with Fair Skin

A trend in India that shows no sign of slowing down is one for “fairness” skin creams. This trend is not just endemic to India, it is actually a pan-Asian phenomenon. So, just like the Western world of naturally fair-skinned Caucasians spend their time in the sun or tanning salons in order to darken themselves, this reverse trend for making skin fair is prevalent in the darker skinned Asian countries. Something about the grass being greener on the other side perhaps…?

10/18/11
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THE GUILT WE SHARE

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”  ~ Edmund Burke

We Indians are very simple people, we don’t ask much in life. Decent education, a good enough job and family, these are the only focal points of our world.

10/04/11
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Silver Spoon

In India, like any other country, if a person wants to become a doctor or an engineer, one would have to go through tests and assessments which would measure his/her abilities and there are no exceptions to that.

09/17/11
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Who is Rahul Gandhi anyway?

The land of the Maharajas banished the idea of Maharajas early in the 20th century.  That does not mean that royalty is dead in democratic India. Witness the crown price and heir apparent of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi. 

09/13/11
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