Indian Link recommends – A graphic novel by Mira Jacob, a podcast by a desi abroad, amazing south Indian filter coffee and a hard look at the struggles of aspiring IITians.
READ
Good Talk, a graphic memoir by Indian-American author Mira Jacob is the kind of hilarious and heart-wrenching book that tackles difficult, complicated topics with levity, humour and vulnerability. The inspiration for the memoir came to Jacob, whose debut novel was the highly-acclaimed The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing, from questions that her inquisitive six-year old half-Jewish, half-Indian son, Zakir, started asking her after the 2016 US Presidential elections – questions about race, colour, sexuality and love. Good Talk is great reading for people of all ages, and a must-read in the post-Trumpian world.
LISTEN
Culture, identity, a new home, chaos – it’s a struggle that all migrants can identify with. Isha Soni, a proud desi and Mumbaikar, left home 5 years ago and has been on the move since then, living in different countries, different cities and different homes. Culture Chaos: Stories of An Indian Abroad is a podcast about her life abroad; episodes discuss topics like why desis should care about gun control in the US and why we often use shorter (easy to pronounce) versions of our names at coffee shops. Give it a listen!
EAT
Experience the true taste of South Indian filter coffee with Malgudi Days, a premium specialty South Indian Coffee, roasted and blended in Australia. This award winning filter coffee blend was born out of a son’s desire to gift his mother with an authentic taste of her ancestral home right here in Sydney. Named after his mum’s favourite book, Malgudi Days is all about incorporating Indian culture into the modern day Australian narrative. And the best way to make it – using the traditional South Indian filter method and served in stainless steel dabaras.
WATCH
Notorious for being India’s “coaching centre hub”, especially for aspiring IITians, Kota’s emergence as a go-to destination for students has made it culturally fascinating. Kota Factory, a Youtube series created by Saurabh Khanna, is a terrific series about the reality of students in Kota – their aspirations, the daring highs and brutal lows. It offers an empathetic look into the lives of struggling students burdened with intense pressure from their families and schools, their bodies racing against the clock to ace their exams, often finding escape through drugs, alcohol, video games and even crime.
