It took me six years to complete my Ph.D. It has taken me over sixteen years to come close to completing my collection of all of Rahul Dev Burman's released music. My personal journey began just before Panchamda died in 1994. Over the years I've laughed, cried, fallen in love, and celebrated the seasons of … Continue reading Asha Bhosle and R.D. Burman – a musical journey and a concert
Amnesia in Bollywood movies
Profound amnesia is exceedingly rare in the South Asian sub-continent, but a rather frequent occurrence in Bollywood Hindi films. The most common variety of memory loss involves an on-screen character who has experienced a traumatic life-event usually resulting in head injury. The character then shows no recollection of events occurring prior to the onset of … Continue reading Amnesia in Bollywood movies
How to eat bhelpuri with chopsticks
Pappu Patligali had never tasted sushi before in India, so many years ago, when Jerry, his American liaison, offered to take him out to lunch at a posh Japanese restaurant, he was a bit hesitant. Since he was the only desi guy in the on-site HQM group, Pappu couldn't let anyone know about his fears … Continue reading How to eat bhelpuri with chopsticks
Treating hypothermia – the silent killer of South Asia
One of the leading causes of death in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is hypothermia. Rough back-of-the-envelope estimates tell us that without treatment one person dies from this horrible acute affliction every three minutes in the winter months (within an acceptable margin of error). In the summer months, the rate only decreases slightly to one person … Continue reading Treating hypothermia – the silent killer of South Asia
The monumental failure of modern Indian architecture
All great civilizations boast architectural wonders that are not only expanses for the soul, but temples of the mind. I gaze upon temples and stupas and get a glimpse into the heart of ancient India. In the medieval forts and palaces, I am transported into my country's heritage. I look at the Taj Mahal and … Continue reading The monumental failure of modern Indian architecture
Why are Indians so good at test-taking? India’s first competitive exam
Post-mortem: A recent article in the New York Times on pressures facing school-leaving teenagers in India brought back my own personal memories of the Higher Secondary and various competitive examinations. Some things never change. Of course, it wasn't all bad. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? I mean, those of us that … Continue reading Why are Indians so good at test-taking? India’s first competitive exam
Robin Ghosh and cross-border “infiltration” in South Asia
If you are from India you may have heard of Robin Chattopadhyay and Robin Majumdar, both exceptionally talented contributors to the Golden Age of Bangla Cinema in Kolkata. I'll wager that very few people in India have heard of a versatile music director by the name of Robin Ghosh. I was intrigued to find out … Continue reading Robin Ghosh and cross-border “infiltration” in South Asia
How to write your own biography in Wikipedia. From the renowned author of “Deconstructing Quantum Sufi-Yoga”
Last night, the benevolent god mahi-mahi came to me in a vision and instructed me in a mix of Urdu-sounding Hindi, Hindi-sounding Urdu, Klingon, and C++ to form the Khudbakhud Uttarvedantic Wikipedia Society, a charitable organization exempt from US federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). As you know, articles in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia are … Continue reading How to write your own biography in Wikipedia. From the renowned author of “Deconstructing Quantum Sufi-Yoga”
How to talk with an Indian accent
Having spent many years in the US, I have often been told that I speak "without an accent." Of course it is impossible to speak without any accent. For example, broadly we can say that some people have American, British, or Indian accents which can be further divided into regional accents like Bostonian, Cockney, or received … Continue reading How to talk with an Indian accent
A review of a pre-globalization society as determined from Maine Pyar Kiya
Civilized cultures existed in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Similarly, intelligent life-forms existed in South Asia before the proliferation of cable television, cineplexes, shopping centers, cell phones, and the Internet. Using the cultural keystone Maine Pyar Kiya, I have attempted to painstakingly piece together details about the life of the "common person" as he or she lived in … Continue reading A review of a pre-globalization society as determined from Maine Pyar Kiya
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