Bigger India

Odds & Ends

A Letdown in Land of Many Tongues

Sharpen your tongue-cleaners, you have nothing to lose but your inability to roll your Os and your identity.

Wisecracks Greet Renamed State of Bongo

“What is this Poschim Bongo and where can I smoke it?”

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy

My father was a civil servant in the northern Indian where I was born. As a boy I saw the dire effects of poverty and illiteracy, especially on women and children. It often seemed that the only thing separating me from them was luck.

Unhealthy India

40 per cent of Indians are unhealthy and almost 1 out of every 10 is obese.

Brand Anna

This lump of energy and aspiration under 25 that constitutes more than half of the population has found an unlikely poster boy - an austere 73-year-old in a Gandhi topi who eschews all the trappings of modern consumerist India.

Pesky Reporter Presses Corruption Issue at State Department Briefing

"What is different here? And ongoing demonstration in the Middle East and elsewhere, they are also fighting for freedom, for corruption – or against corruption. And here, Indians are also now – one lady in India was shot to death because she was going to demonstrate against corruption and in support of this leader who is following Mahatma Gandhi"

Dirty Speech

Delhi Belly is so full of pungent expressions that it raised a country-wide debate but the only positive outcome is that the society has now started thinking about the falling standards of speech and the vulgarity creeping in, writes Devraj Singh Kalsi

Samosapedia: Your guide to South Asian English

Your neighbours have blamed you for “eating their head.” Your colleague is looking for a “convented, homely girl.” Your friend wants you to come to his “passing out” ceremony.

Poor Villagers' Disease Afflicts Rich Indians

Love munching on chips and burgers to home-cooked dal-rice? Prefer those colas to home-made nimbu pani? If yes, here’s some food for thought. According to a study, 60 per cent of Mumbai’s population suffers from deficiency of essential micro-nutrients.

Ready for Indian Housewives on Reality TV?

Why stop at Saas Bahu serials? In addition toDalal Street Bahus, you could shootCricket Team Bahus and IPL Bahus, Bollywood Bahus, Crorepati Bahus and Kittyparty Bahus. And in this season of Anna, why not shoot Bhrashtachar Virodhi Bahus as well?

West Bengal to be Renamed Paschimbanga

“It has been unanimously decided that state’s new name will be Paschimbanga from now in all languages." The Chief Minister said the letter ‘W’ in West Bengal came low down alphabetically which resulted in disadvantage for the state.

The Challenges of Riches

"This treasure belongs not to the state, not to the maharajah, not to the people at large, it belongs to the deity (Sree Padmanabhaswamy) only."

Chutnefying English

If you have ever taken a ride on Mumbai’s local train, most likely you were requested by a stranger, ‘Adjust Kijiye’! They took ‘nawab’ from us and so we answer back, “Shut up ho ja”.

Rakhi Tradition Evolves in America

"Rakhi is a physical contract, not to be taken lightly. It is especially important with non-blood related brothers and sisters."

Hip Indians Revel in Their Take on English

While meetings get postponed all over the world, only in South Asia do they get "preponed," or moved ahead of schedule. If your South Asian friend wants to tell you a "non-veg" joke, be prepared for some dirty humor.

Mumbai's Train Bards

The 600-odd singing groups on the Mumbai suburban railway system - carrying around seven million people every day - are the best example of Mumbaikars' tenacity, need to belong, craving for affordable recreation and remarkable ability to 'adjust'.

Back to B-School for Kerala Chief Minister

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Chandy, and 19 cabinet colleagues, are taking a course on management at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Kozhikode, led by IIM-K director Debashis Chatterjee.

East India Company Seeks New Conquest

The East India Company, which once controlled 50% of the world trade and boasted the largest merchant navy in the world, however, does not just adorn the pages of history. Mumbai-born and London-based businessman, Sanjiv Mehta, has been busy relaunching the company as a global luxury brand since 2005

No Capping the Gandhi Topi Appeal

“Now everyone is buying the cap. By wearing it, Annaji has brought it back into vogue,” says the salesperson at the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan in Connaught Place. “We are selling at least 300-400 per day, with some people picking up a dozen and some even 25 at a time”.

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore

India's share of global flower trade just 1 percent.

Curry Dispute Boils Over in Singapore

"If the family can't stand the smell of curry cooking by the neighbour, they have only to consider moving away. Or going back to their country."

Hindu Girls Tie Rakhis on Canadian Police Officers

As sisters tie a sacramental thread on the wrist of their brothers on Raksha Bandhan, where “Raksha” means “protection” and “Bandhan” means “bond”, it was argued that symbolism of protection could be extended to police officers who protected the community,

Saree Blouses Get Retro Makeover

Blouses have gone glam with a vengeance with long sleeves, low backs, bows, strings, tassels and what have you.

Disillusioned IITian Lights Bonfire of PhD Degree

Suresh Verghese stood outside the main gate of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay on Independence Day. And he “cremated” his doctorate certificate right outside the campus where he had earned it.

Flying Low: Indian Jailed for Sexual Abuse on Plane

A 65-year-old New Jersey man was sentenced to a year for sexually abusing a fellow airline passenger while she slept under a blanket in the seat beside him.

Take It, Your Honor!

A scientist who was allegedly being harassed by his family over property has gifted his south Delhi property to the Supreme Court.

The World's Most Typical Person

The most typical human right now is a 28-year-old Han Chinese man -- there are over 9,000,000 people in the world fitting that description! -- who is right-handed and has a cell phone but no bank account. "Typical" is a moving target as the population explodes: By 2030, as we shoot past 7 billion, the typical person will come from India.

Google Doodles India's Independence Day

A sketch of Delhi's Red Fort takes guard on the Google home page on the occasion of 15 August 2011, India's 65th Independence Day.

Mumbai's Bermuda Triangle

Experts attribute Mumbai's growing reputation as graveyard for ships to raging sea currents and tides during the southwest monsoon months of June to September.

Reserve This! Indian DJ Strips

Mumbai-based Goan Jenny D has posed in the nude in support of reservation for women in India.

Tying Down Eve Teasers With Rakhi

With many girls on the roads in Kanpur with rakhis to proclaim their sisterly affection, many self-styled Romeos, known for making lewd comments, had to beat a hasty retreat.

How the Dollar Was Almost Issued by India Once

Bhandare, who is one of the foremost experts on Indian coins, says the dollar plans were at quite an advanced stage when, inexplicably, they were dropped.

Mumbai Runs Out of Space for the Dead

The lack of burial space, a growing problem for minority Christians and Muslims in India's fast-growing big cities as well as many countries around the world, is particularly acute in Mumbai.

World's Tiniest Hotel Rooms

The world's tiniest hotel rooms average just 74 square feet. Capsule hotel rooms in Japan measure just 18 sq ft: " Typically measuring just 18 square feet, the stacked sleeping capsules are not much roomier than coffins—though they do have TVs and wireless connections, and offer a cozy spot to curl up in for businessmen too tired or tipsy for the long commute home."

The $14,000 Rakhi

Sisters are queuing up designer and jewellery showrooms to buy innovative and exclusive diamond and gold bracelets.

A Rakhi for Bhabhi

Bangaloreans embrace Marwari custom of tying rakhi on sister-in-law to make her feel comfortable in her new home. Rakhi is getting a makeover in Bangalore with girls thronging shops to buy designer rakhis not just for their doting brothers, but also their sisters-in-law.

Indian Anaesthetist Accused of Abusing Sedated Abortion Patients

A British Indian anaesthetist is accused of using the hands of sedated patients to perform obscene acts on himself during abortion procedures. The prosecution claims that during one abortion "Dr Sharma was using the hand of this semi-conscious patient undertaking this procedure for his own sexual stimulation and gratification."

Tipu Sultan's Gold Pendant to be Auctioned

A gem-set gold pendant set with a 38 carat emerald surrounded by nine precious stones including topaz, blue sapphire, ruby, diamond and pearls, from the treasury of the legendary Indian ruler Tipu Sultan will be auctioned in London. The pendant is projected to go for between 80,000 to 120,000 pounds.