Writing

Published and unpublished writing on art, books, cities, food, travel and other reportage.

Sorry, Not Sorry

A group of restaurants in New York caters to Indian palates ♦ If a visitor from the USA came to India looking for kudal varuval (spiced goat intestines), one  might point them to a locally famous pitstop, possibly besides a tire repair shop on the side of the highway. Or possibly to the home of …

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Tipu Sultan: Image & Distance

A new book and exhibition on the controversial ruler separate the monarch from the myth ♦ This story was originally published in India Today. A few years ago, Delhi Art Gallery acquired a seminal work, “The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan”, painted in England after the death in 1799 of the Tiger of …

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One Man, Many Lives: Bhagwan Singh and the Early South Asians in America

Anuradha Kumar’s book about early South Asian immigration to America is as compelling as her subjects ♦ This story was originally published in India Today. Identity and immigration history, race, revolution and Hollywood come together in this fascinating book, which grew out of a series author Anuradha Kumar wrote on early South Asians in America …

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For Street Food Fiends in Delhi, Bhawan Is the New Pitstop

Rahul Dua and Kainaz Contractor’s Bhawan finally makes its brick-and-mortar debut in Gurgaon ♦ This story was originally published in Conde Nast Traveller India. In March 2020, Bhawan was “one paint job away” from its much-anticipated opening. Kainaz Contractor and Rahul Dua, the restaurateur couple behind the street food-themed spot, had cracked the capital’s casual dining …

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Book Review: Qabar by K.R. Meera

K.R. Meera plays with different kinds of vision in Qabar, recently translated by Nisha Susan ♦ This story was originally published in India Today. A perfect book cover is rare enough that sometimes it’s worth taking into account when judging a book. This is true of the new English translation of KR Meena’s 2020 novella …

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Home and the World

In 2020, Durga Puja became an opportunity for many Bengalis outside the state to connect with each other through food ♦ This story was originally published in India Today. “Durga Puja is an emotion for Bengalis,” says Arpita Roy, who runs The Lunchbox Co. in Mumbai. As Bijoya, the Bengali festive season, comes to a …

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Vikram Seth: A Life in Verse

An interview with Vikram Seth ♦ A version of this interview was originally published in India Today. After the buzz around BBC’s adaptation of A Suitable Boy, a new collector’s series of Vikram Seth’s poetry puts the spotlight on the author’s poetic accomplishments. The seven volumes showcase the breadth of Seth’s genius and the recurrent …

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