Hers is a true immigrant story of an unknown brown woman who came to America as a 16-year-old student and rose to become a powerful Congresswoman, the very first Indian-American woman in the US House of Representatives in the history of America.
Author: Lavina Melwani
Lavina Melwani
Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who writes for several international publications. Twitter@lavinamelwani & @lassiwithlavina Sign up for the free newsletter to get your dose of Lassi!
These Monday motivations will get you through Monday – or any day! They are about persistence, joy and gratitude.
When Chandrika Tandon first came to America at the age of 24 to interview for a job at McKinsey& Company, she had no American degree and no green card. She did not even own a western outfit, interviewing in a sari and chappals, wearing a borrowed coat. Yet within a few years she went on to become a partner at this prestigious company, the first Indian-American woman to be selected.
Most viewers in America have seen or at least heard of ‘New Amsterdam’ the NBC medical drama which has brought actor Anupam Kher to New York. In fact, as work becomes increasingly global, more and more Indians live on two continents, and actor Anupam Kher is the latest to call both Mumbai and New York home.
Can South Asians survive without cinema? I think not. It’s the surreal chicken tikka of their dreams, the spicy samosa of their entertainment. There are desi film festivals in many US cities, and NY as not one but two festivals back to back.
Books of every stripe, the Internet and family folk lore are full of great advice on how to live life – the trouble is it’s an overwhelming tsunami of information!
What do you read, what do you absorb and what do you discard? It’s like having an unending army of guides to take you through the maze of life!
Let’s take the journey together!
An all-Indian cast heads the animated film ‘Mira, Royal Detective’ – a great way for young Indian-Americans to see people like themselves on the big Hollywood screen.
2587 people reached on Lassi with Lavina FB page – 63 post clicks Meera Narasimhan, Pranay Gupte and 8 others like it on Lassi with Lavina FB page The Indian-Americans Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj More Addictive Than Masala Peanuts! [dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you haven’t watched Hasan Minhaj before, you have been forewarned – he is more addictive than a bowl of masala peanuts. Sundays in New York will never be the same again because they are now MinDays – they must include the very likeable comedian Hasan Minhaj and his new Netflix show ‘Patriot Act’. The hugely popular host has a lot…
Padma Lakshmi fans will be delighted to know that the culinary star was recognized by Mayor Bill De Blasio with an official proclamation of ‘Padma Lakshmi Day in New York’ on the occasion of Diwali celebrations at the beautiful Gracie Mansion in Manhattan.
Sayu Bhojwani herself is an immigrant and her mission is to make sure there is room for all immigrants at America’s table. Her America is a very different one from that of Donald Trump’s. It is an America where immigrants are central to the story and where the country thrives because of their participation.
New York is full of surprises where unexpected things happen and you get to meet the most unexpected people. I certainly didn’t expect to be eating a home-cooked meal by Master Chef Vikas Khanna served in his 10th floor apartment near the United Nations. Nor did I expect to be eating it with the iconic Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy whose powerful work has won her a gaggle of awards including two Oscars and six Emmys.
It was a packed audience at the Minetta Lane Theater, an intimate off-Broadway house in Greenwich Village. Everyone was waiting for the show to begin; the lights had been dimmed. A man with a suitcase suddenly strutted up the aisle, wide-eyed and with an innocent, open smile, waving to the audience.
It was Azgi, immigrant restaurant worker from India, on his way to the America of Dreams.
If the Pilgrim Fathers revisited America this year, they would certainly be amazed by the aromas, tastes and colors of the diverse Thanksgiving table. New York is, of course, one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. and its residents trace their roots to hundreds of countries and ethnicities. Each immigrant family brings its own culture and food habits and incorporates them into the Thanksgiving meal.
We’ve all seen thrillers with spine-tingling action, gangsters, undercover agents and secret raids to unearth narcotics, jewels or bombs. In ‘The Price of Free’, all these elements are there except the contraband goods are real, live children who are being abused as modern day slaves.
November 6 was a memorable day with rain and umbrellas, long lines at the polling booths and then a nail-biting wait for the results of the midterm elections. For Indian-Americans who largely tend to vote Democratic, there was a collective sigh of relief as their party took back the house even as the Republicans maintained – and strengthened – their hold on the Senate.
3783 people reached on Lassi with Lavina FB page – 216 engagements Shanta Bipat, Sonali Soni and 16 others like it on Lassi with Lavina FB page The Buzz – Armistice Day 2018 1.3 Million Indian Troops in World War 1 [dropcap]S[/dropcap]ometimes I think we don’t know enough of our own history! Did you know that over 1.3 million Indians were involved in World War 1? Being part of the British Raj, they were dragged into the momentous war which was being fought thousands of miles away from India. What were their thoughts, their feelings on being asked to serve…
November 6, 2018 may be just another ordinary day for most people around the world but for Americans it’s make or break day – the day millions of US citizens go to the polls to vote. The Midterm Elections are all the buzz in America – in the course of less than a week will be decided the future blueprint of the country.
Will the Desi Vote be as potent as the ‘Desi Girl’ in the Midterm Elections? Listen to Roopa Mahadevan!
The historic townhouse where First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once lived has stood tall on Park Avenue and has seen many a famous guest walk through its gilded rooms. Now owned by Meera Gandhi, the CEO of Giving Back Foundation, the house recently saw some history repeated.
In this frightening political season as the elections draw near, here is a little respite, something to smile about.