With additional reporting by Sunita Viswanath. On July 26th, U.S. lawmakers, government officials, and NGO leaders attended an event organized by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) at the nation’s capitol for the release of its new report, “India: Democracy in Diversity.” The report’s release was timed to coincide with a conference organized by the U.S. … Read More
During the first week of my recent family holiday to Sri Lanka, I was plagued by the unpleasant sensation of bile rising up in my throat. I wasn’t quite sure if I was reacting to the sudden stifling heat and one too many serves of sambol and coconut roti, or if it was the presence … Read More
The future is intersectional. The day after Barack Obama was first elected President of the United States in 2008, my 10th grade homeroom teacher, a stout woman with a voice like an idling car engine, came to school wearing black. She was, as she winkingly explained, in mourning. And she wasn’t alone in her attitude; … Read More
Religion in its many forms in India and Nepal. An omniscient vibration resonates throughout the compound followed by the opening verse of the Quran. The Niazi Nizami Brothers of Dargah Nizamuddin have settled before the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyah for their weekly prayer ceremony. Their family, cousins, uncles, grandfathers alike, have prayed by singing qawwalis … Read More
And the BJP rears its ugly head on American soil. Yesterday, far right Hindus came together in Edison, New Jersey to rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. It was full of sensationalism and awkward irony, all of which obscured the true intention of the event — to bring an Indian brand of anti-Muslim policy to America. There were … Read More
He invoked the gods, crossed gender barriers, and made political points at every turn. Yesterday, a solemn sitarist in a white kurta sat at the end of designer Ashish Gupta’s runway and as he tuned his instrument, audiences knew this would be no ordinary fashion show. The sitarist wore sunglasses — not to shield him from the house … Read More
Rootsgear, Wootz and Committee Members are giving young Sikhs a voice and style in a hostile country. Tanmit Singh and his brother immigrated from Kuwait to America in 2000. Just as they were getting their bearings in this strange new country, a plane crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City. Any aspirations they had … Read More
Khizr Khan, the father of an American soldier who died in Iraq, delivered a speech about American democracy on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention. Hillary Clinton introduced Khizr Khan as an immigrant who came from the United Arab Emirates with his family, including his then 2-year-old son Humayun Khan, who would later serve in … Read More
On July 21st, President Obama held his first White House Eid reception, inviting Muslim Americans to celebrate the festival with him. He spent much of the event commending various contributions to American society made by Muslim Americans. @POTUS giving tribute to Muhammad AIi at the White House Eid reception.pic.twitter.com/cAgMtAOYF2  — @radbrowndads For many Muslims, it was … Read More
My father is not a particularly handy man, as my mother will not hesitate to explain, and he has never been one. He fixes my closet door when the hinges malfunction, and he taught me how to change light bulbs safely and mow the lawn evenly, but not much else. My mother has been pleading … Read More
