Tags: Year in Review
It’s the end of the year and the end of a decade. And in the tradition of nearly every other media outlet, we like to do a little inventory of the stuff we did this year, like how we published so many pieces, started a podcast, and put out yet another issue of our print magazine. It’s been busy and fun and we’re looking forward to doing the same next year.
Here’s some of the pieces we’re looking back on this year.
The Faces of Kanwar Yatra by Gauthami Penakalapati
“The steady drizzle and wet clothes did not stop the march of saffron and black-clad men on State Highway 12 in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. Many wore flimsy chappals while others walked barefoot. In an effort to stay dry, they covered themselves with tarps made from upcycled Cliff Bars and Spearmint wrappers.” Read More
In the Shade: Turmeric by Shiri Shah and Zee Waraich
“South Asian food is more than consumable. It is an emblem of the cultural migrancy brought to London from around the world. The rich and homegrown flavors grown in gardens from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean, are carried overseas by the diaspora with as much strength as there is flavor. Mango pickle and spices are icons in diasporic film and literature. “Chutnification” is a cultural motif used by Postcolonial artists that signify the merging of South Asian and western “culture” from the emerging migrancy of the 60s onwards. The hot weather can spoil fruits and vegetables, so preserves are an ever present addition to dishes. The mango is immersed in spices and oils that pack heat.” Read More
Humeysha Anchors and Expands with “Nusrat on the Beach” by Maya McCoy
“Zain Alam, the mastermind behind the musical project Humeysha, knows how to balance immediacy with legacy. His songs feel conceptual because they are — they reflect his intellectual explorations into language, literature, and culture — but they also pull you into specific places and moments. His work is thoughtful in a soft way that has you connecting the dots but not overanalyzing.” Read More
Photographer Harshy is Breaking Through by Jeevika Verma
“Most of Harshy’s visual storytelling revolves around queerness and the South Asian identity. He uses lines, prints, and fades in his work, seemingly pointing to the unity within diversity. He lived in Mumbai for 15 years, and then came to the United States for boarding school. College brought him to New York City. He’s now on the last leg of his student visa – what he calls a ticking clock.” Read More
Raveena Shows Us the Way with Lucid by Maya McCoy
“Raveena’s new album Lucid, is the end of May. It’s the end to a springtime of anticipation. It’s the purples of a late sunset, the warm breath of an evening breeze. After releasing two singles, “Mama,” an ode to mothers and all they give, and “Stronger,” an assertion of true agency, Lucid fleshes out the story of a woman coming back to herself. Listening to the album all the way through feels like an afternoon spent with a friend who approaches life with openness and appreciation, that friend for whom the magic of golden hour never seems to get old. With Lucid, Raveena asks us gently to take stock, to recognize the power that surrounds and lives within us.” Read More
Ramy Focuses on the Search for Balance in Islam by Fatima Zehra
“The 10-episode first season explores a small ecosystem of Muslim American life in New Jersey, and the show manages to do a decent job of adding unique, specific elements of Youssef’s life and tying it to Muslim American life more generally. 9/11, for example, which had deep, often traumatic social and political changes for Muslim Americans was handled delicately and grotesquely at the same time. The show made the event as horrific as it was, showing the ways in which a 12 year old Ramy dealt with his friends accusing him of terrorism, while also focusing on puberty in all its unpretty reality.” Read More
Rajiv Surendra is Redefining Failure by Fredrick Martyn
“Surendra first read Yan Martel’s original novel on the set of Mean Girls and noticed a set of similarities between himself and Pi. This quickly spiraled into an obsession; Surendra relocated to Pondicherry, overcame his fear of water, corresponded regularly with Martel, and befriended tigers and shipwreck survivors. Originally from the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Surendra is currently based in Manhattan where he runs Letters In Ink, a calligraphy and chalk-art company. Kajal caught up with Surendra to talk about his book, his roots, and non-rapping creative pursuits.” Read More
