2014’s Most Popular Posts on The Aerogram

As we prepare to welcome 2015, let’s remember some of the stories in 2014 that you read and loved on The Aerogram.

I Am Made In Bangladesh Too: An Open Letter to American Apparel’s Now-Famous Model

americanexploitationMaksLos Angeles-based activist and artist Taz Ahmed wrote an open letter to topless model and merchandiser Maks featured in a controversial ad from American Apparel.

 

 

 

 

 

Curating the Indian American Experience for the Smithsonian: Q&A on ‘Beyond Bollywood’ with Masum Momaya

beyond.bollywoodBeyond Bollywood’s curator Masum Momaya shared her insights with Kavita Das on the joys and challenges of weaving together the first major national exhibit to focus on Indians in America.

 

 

 

 

Roundup: The 2014 International Indian Film Academy Awards Winners

IIFA-Awards-9In 2014, IIFA rolled out the green carpet in Tampa, Florida. Farah Naz Khan gave us the rundown on the glamour and the star-studded festivities of the international awards event that has been called “the Oscars on steroids.”

 

 

 

 

The White Science of Meditation

meditation.scienceVishnu Sridharan looked at prejudice against meditation’s Hindu and Buddhist roots in response to a Scientific American cover story on “The Neuroscience of Meditation.”

 

 

 

 

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: The Comeback Queen of Cannes

Aish.Cannes.featureJust when people sighed and shoved Aishwarya Rai Bachchan into early retirement, she orchestrated a comeback looking like this. Meera R. Corera wrote about having it all, Aishwarya-style.

 

 

 

 

Our 12 Favorite On-screen Bollywood Couples of All Time

Shah Rukh and Kajol, together forever.What would our favorite Bollywood love stories be like without our favorite onscreen couples? Sometimes these couples help turn even the simplest of stories into the most impressive onscreen sagas, and sometimes they help us get through the most ridiculous of films.

 

 

 

 

Indira Varma’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Debut as Ellaria Sand

Game of ThronesVarma debuted as Ellaria, described in the GoT books as exotic and sensuous — a description Varma ably embodies — but luckily, Kiran Hefa found more to the character than serving as an object of desire.

 

 

 

 

This is How An Indian Luger Trains for the Olympics

Keshavan trains on a Himalayan highway (screenshot via Time.com)Shiva Keshavan, 32, represented India at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Because there is no luge track to train on in India, Keshavan improvises in the Himalayas — watch video of how he does this in Lakshmi Gandhi’s post about the veteran Olympic athlete.

 

 

 

 

Why Did ‘Nylon’ Whitewash M.I.A. For Its Asian Readers?

mianylonsingaporebothversionsRohin Guha asked why, in a post-Nina Davuluri age, Nylon’s Singapore staffers felt the need to whitewash the pop music icon.

 

 

 

 

 

Identity In Pieces: When You Don’t Know Where You Count

jaya.saxena.fJaya Saxena mused on identity in an essay that explores, “Am I too white to call myself Indian, or too Indian to be white?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading The Aerogram in 2014! We look forward to bringing you more stories in 2015.

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