Meet our newest model Akriti Pokhrel.

I was born in Nepal, Kathmandu and I moved to Texas 6 years back with my family. I’m loving Texas very much because it’s a very laid back and calm state which kind of defines me. By nature I’m a very calm and quite person!

Life took a completely different turn for me when I came down here with my family. I completely had no idea what to expect here. Being in new surroundings with new people always scares me. It took a while for me to adjust but at the end I can say that I completely love being here. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelors in Medicine. I always had the inner desire to work at hospitals especially at a Children Hospital. I just love being around children. I plan on working at Children Hospital once I pursue my degree.

Working full time and going to school full time seems quite a lot. But, it’s not that hard as it seems like. You always need to manage your time accordingly. In fact, I chose to go to school and work full time because it keeps me busy all the time. I see everyday as an accomplishment. It’s a great feeling when you get paid for your hard work. Which is exactly how I feel at the end of the day when I come home tired of a long day at school and work.

My family has always been supportive no matter what I do. All I can say is I m one of the luckiest to have such a great family. Even though I want to pursue a career in a medicine, my love for modeling had always been growing within me. As of right now, I m enjoying my school and work. Needless to say, I m enjoying my life at the moment. In the coming few years, hopefully I see myself being a part of Children Hospital and of course Modeling is my first love. Always will be. I thank Brown Girl Magazine for giving me this opportunity to be a part of them.

]]> http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/03/spring-into-action/feed/ 2 http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/03/meet-the-staff-foram-mehta/ http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/03/meet-the-staff-foram-mehta/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:33:06 +0000 browngirlmag http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1516 BG would like you to get to know our staff. After all, BG is written for you by girls just like you!

Meet Foram Mehta.

I was born in India and my parents moved my sister and me to the States when I was about 4 ½. We actually came on Halloween of ’93 – can you imagine that culture shock?

We lived with family in Austin, New Mexico, and North Carolina before settling down in Kentucky. I picked up pre-school there and met my first crush; an adorable rosy-cheeked boy named Jeremiah. I’m actually the only one not looking straight in our class picture because I was glancing to the side admiring him!

My family moved to Oklahoma after that, and I lived in a small town called Tonkawa for a year and in Tulsa for another two years. After that, we came down to Texas and I spent six years in another small town (our specialty), Marlin and the last four leading up to college in Lufkin.

Since I’ve been at the University of Texas, I’ve been studying Journalism – specifically Broadcast Journalism. For the first two years I was technically a pre-Journalism major until I was qualified to apply to an upper-division sequence. Broadcast is supposedly the most competitive because only 30 are accepted into the sequence every fall semester and even fewer for the spring semesters. So, needless to say –I extremely thrilled and relieved when I was accepted!

BG:  When did you first realize you want to go into Journalism?

Foram: I was in the 7^th grade when I decided that I was meant to be a journalist. I hadn’t ever really given it a thought before because I had originally wanted to be an architect, pediatrician, or graphic artist. (Very different aspirations – I know) One day my dad pulled out a horoscope a wise, old astrologist had written out for me when I was born. It outlined all sorts of events in my life. Some had already come true – eerie! The astrologist predicted that I would go into the Journalism field, and it got me thinking. I realized that I was totally destined to make a living out of what I do best – talk! I was much better with words than with numbers and I loved to pass on information. I decided then and there that I would become a journalist and have never wavered since. Of course, I’ve wondered if perhaps it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy – my choosing to go into journalism. What would have happened if my dad had never read me that horoscope? I don’t know if I would have ever chosen it for myself, but now that I have, I know it’s the right choice! What came first – the chicken or the egg? Who knows!

BG:  Are there specific topics you like to write about? What have been your favorite stories thus far?

I love opinion pieces and profiles. I absolutely love to know a person’s real story under the exterior they showcase for others to see everyday. I often catch myself wanting to just sit someone down and have him or her dish about his or her life. People are really fascinating creatures, and I love to tell their stories for others. It really helps bring people together to step inside another’s shoes, and I love helping people to do that.

As far as the opinion pieces go – I’m a pretty opinionated gal so there’re those. I like to speak my mind and I find that journalism is a great outlet to do so without getting judged (too harshly, anyway!) You’ll often find that your voice speaks for many unspoken, and that’s a great feeling!

BG: Tell us about your experience at Marie Claire. What were some things you learned and hope to take into your future career?

My experience at Marie Claire as a Winter Features Intern was life changing! It by far the best five weeks of my life and I’m so incredibly lucky to have even had the opportunity to work there. If I hadn’t been dreaming already as I packed my things and headed off for the Big Apple to work at an internationally read top women’s magazine – I definitely HAD to be when I was handed not one, but TWO assignments that would be published! The first was a full-page feature usually done by an editor, and the second a small column.

It was absolutely amazing being on my own and fending for myself in the city I’d always dreamed of working in. I made some wonderful friends, ate incredible food, and saw and shopped at some fabulous places! I couldn’t believe five weeks had passed by the time I was already leaving. New York City became my home for the time I was there, and I even had feelings of homesickness when I came back to Texas!

It was an incredible experience learning what a writer/editor’s job is really like in the real world. I gained some great real-world knowledge of what it’s like to work in a fashion magazine, and really learned how to live on my own. Of course I was still swiping my parents’ credit cards, but they weren’t there to help me find my way around the city or guide me through work. I definitely gained a sense of myself while I was there, and words really can’t describe how lucky I feel to have had the opportunity!

BG:  How do you feel about the grown number of South Asian women in Journalism now?

I think it’s fantastic that South Asian women are branching out and finding new outlets to excel in. There are many stereotypes that exist about South Asian women always being bookworms who become doctors and nurses and other very “bookish” professionals. Often, South Asian parents are also guilty of pressuring their children to head down those paths because they bring prestige and a good salary, so it makes me very hopeful to see what other barriers these women will continue to break in the future.

BG: Where do you see yourself in your career in 10 years?

In ten years, I see myself hopefully working as a TV personality! Although I love to write, I am a broadcast journalism major and ultimately would like to end up on TV. I’m not so sure if news is my thing anymore because I just don’t think I’m cutthroat enough to be a feisty reporter, but nowadays there are so many opportunities out there besides news.

BG: How do you hope to promote South Asian interests in your career?

I’ve always said that journalism is a great key for communication. It helps bring people together and relate. I hope to use my degree to address issues and interests of the South Asian community. By doing so I hope to educate and entertain interests of readers everywhere, South Asian and not.

BG: Recommend any good reads?

I am huge bookworm, and always have been. I absolutely love the feeling of curling up in a comfy couch with a cozy blanket and diving into a new unknown world. My favorite genre is historical fiction because I’m also a big history nut.

Although I’m a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter series, I recently came across a series that I have to say I cannot say enough good things about. The first book is called The Tea Rose and it’s a book set in 19^th century England around the time Jack the Ripper is stalking the streets. The main character’s name is Fiona Finnegan, a young Irish girl with big dreams of owning her own teashop one day. She comes from a big family where her parents work hard to make ends meet, but make up for it in love. Fiona’s childhood love, Joe Bristow is a enthusiastic, lovable, optimistic guy and Fiona dreams of the day she’ll be his wife. One day everything takes a turn for the worse, and Fiona’s whole life is turned upside down.

The book has everything from suspense, history, drama, and an AMAZING love story that I have to rank next to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice (another dear favorite!).

I really can’t describe how AMAZING this book is – and the second in the series, The Winter Rose is JUST as fantastic – which is rare for a series. The book could hold its own even if you haven’t read the first! I’m counting down the days for the final book, The Wild Rose.

I still remember the days when you counted the years until you moved into the next block of school. As an 11-year-old, you couldn’t wait to leave behind elementary school and being surrounded by tag-playing, nose-picking, nap-taking “children” for the mature middle-school crowd, who transitioned in between classes with style and hung out casually by those oh-so-cool lockers dishing the latest dirt about the cafeteria lady’s secret life.

As a 14-year-old, it wasn’t soon enough that you graduated to the glamorous life of a high-schooler. Football games, dances, boyfriends – oh my! Let’s not forget driving, prom, and the the final lap to official adulthood – the big 1-8 birthday(!) that only drew you closer to escaping your over-protective, restrictive parentals and brought your mandatory public education to a grand finale.

Of course most of us were still itching at the end of that milestone to start the new chapter of our lives as big, bad, college students: the intellectual (and social) elite. Finally – the freedom we’d been craving for! The parties, the late classes – the LIFE! The best four years could also be the worst when it came to the new responsibilities of surviving on your own, the hangovers, and of course – the dreaded all-nighters.

Now it seems, we’re coming to the end of the age when the next step isn’t as desirable. Of course, change is always good and moving forward is only necessary – but it’s scary! Being in college made us adults. But for most of us, the financial and emotional support from our parents was still like training wheels on an uber-fancy bike – kind of a negating factor. Without that security blanket, the real world looks a lot more gritty than when we were looking at it through the rose-colored glasses (funded by our parents, probably). So, what now? What happens when you put on your final gown and toss up the last cap? Life starts – and that’s enough of a statement to stop many short of breath – including me!

Before you start dragging breaths in and out of a brown paper bag, know that there are definitely ways to cope and get ahead of the game, so come graduation time, you’re not biting fingernails about your post-college plans.

Start Job Hunting – Now!

You may not be graduating for months – maybe not even for a year, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared. You don’t want to be left without your stash of food for the winter – and you DON’T want to be facing post-graduation without a clue of where you’re headed.

• Look into your school’s career services – chances are that there is more than one resource to help you tweak your resume and learn how to get it in the right hands.
• Attend job fairs armed with a crisp resume and polished look – first impressions are a big deal!
• Talk to your advisor about what she can recommend your next steps should be.
• Talk to your professors – many of them were professionals in their fields or still know many. Even if they can’t set you up with a job, getting to know them may really pay off when you need those recommendation letters.
• Look into internships – any and all. Don’t be choosy about only finding one that pays, because most don’t. It’s the experience that employers look for – and in a job market like this, you need all the edge you can get. It also doesn’t have to be something you are necessarily hoping to do in the future. If it is something related to your degree and your dream job and can teach and hone your skills, it’s beneficial. The point is to LEARN and be GOOD at what you learn!

Have a Back-Up Plan

It’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. You could be the most well-trained and qualified person for a job, but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get it. It’s a hard truth to accept, but it’s the way the cookie crumbles. Having a Plan B will balance out your aspirations and help you deal in case things don’t go the way you originally planned.

• Take some extra courses that teach you practical skills. Adding a certificate to your degree might be your ticket to employment bliss – whether it’s your dream job or the one that’ll help pay the bills while your search for it.
• Look into programs Like Teach for America or the AmeriCorp. that allow you to do some great work, make a little money, and give you both time to keep job hunting and credentials to pad your resume.
• Stay open-minded. You might have to work some odd jobs before you land the one you want, but in the end it’ll show your persistence and responsibility. Not to mention, your independence will only boost your confidence and feeling of self-worth while proving to your family and friends that you can make it on your own!

The key thing to remember is: don’t freak out! There are lots of resources and people out there to help you climb the ladder to success, but it’s important to keep in mind that a few missing rungs might make the trek somewhat stressful. With that said, be smart, be resourceful, and breathe! Life is about to begin – and chances are it’s going to be a crazy ride…

In the latest issue of Lucky, the magazine shows us a cool spin on the smoky eye. Basically, work black eye liner into the top and bottom lashes, then lay teal down directly over the black. This teal will be surprisingly subtle, yet catch anyone’s attention!

Here’s some great teal products:

L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

Stila Convertible Lash + Line #05 Teal

NARS Single Eye Shadow in Tropic

In her recent book titled “Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr Good Enough”, Lori Gottlieb presents her case on why young women shouldn’t wait for Mr. Perfect, but rather keep an open mind to well– settling. Her book highlights not only Lori’s journey in dating guys for more superficial reasons early on, but also her accepting the fact that she would have to in the end settle for a man that doesn’t necessarily meet all her requirements.

The book has brought a firestorm. You can read some of her points here.

Women from all backgrounds are wondering, is settling really a good idea? Here’s some discussion from Brown Girl Readers:

“I mean, I see some of Lori’s points (like, I hate when women aren’t practical at all and think that love conquers all – call it being less naive, call it being more cynical, I don’t know), but I also don’t think we should be resigned to settling for someone we’re not actually happy to be with. Definitely interesting.”

“I think women shouldn’t settle, but only if settling means being with someone with whom you are unhappy. If settling means re-prioritizing what is important in a mate, and realizing that 6 pack abs, 6′ or taller, or extreme wealth are not a necessity, then I think that definition of settling is correct.”

“I don’t believe that there is only one person out there for you.  But at the same time, I don’t think I can completely agree with what Lori is saying… that all you need is the basics.  I’ve mentioned this before…for me its like levels of people.  There are a handful of people I know I will be extremely happy with, then there is a larger group of people I will be happy and content with, and then there is the generic group which is what Lori is talking about.  I mean realistically speaking, there are 6 billion people on this planet.  Foregoing the children, married people and the senior citizens, I’d say there is a good pool of about (safe estimate) 2 billion left over.  There is no possible way there can be only 1 person, just as likely, there is no possible way you can cope with all 2 billion of them.”

Jezebel has posted some great reads on Lori Gottlieb’s book and point of view. Check them out, and feel free to post your opinions below!

http://jezebel.com/5452836/do-women-actually-have-dating-checklists

http://jezebel.com/5455439/just-because-you-settle-doesnt-mean-you-marry-a-good-man

http://jezebel.com/5455771/the-end-of-herstory-and-the-last-man-manual

I was six or seven when a fellow Indian playmate informed my skin was darker than hers because I didn’t bathe enough.  Even at that age, I was aware her claims were false.  But it didn’t stop me from staring at myself in a mirror when I got home that day or on all the other days I looked at my body and wished for my skin to be lighter since.

It’s no secret India isn’t the only country to prefer light-skinned women.  This phenomenon is worldwide and as old as the first civilization.  Those with dark skin were laborers who worked outdoors in the sun and their social status was determined accordingly.

But why now, when those rules are considered outdated does Indian society still value light-skinned women (and men, though to a lesser extent) over darker-skinned ones?

Actresses like Shilpa Shetty and Kareena Kapoor are routinely airbrushed in magazine shoots and films.  Heavy makeup and lighting covers up their true skin color.  In a country where culture and history is valued, why do we still insist on changing ourselves to look different from our ancestors?

The “most beautiful woman in the world” as she is dubbed by some, Aishwarya Rai, has very light skin and green eyes.  She certainly does not represent a majority of Indian women.

Take a look at any Indian wedding arrangement ad on the Internet or in a newspaper – all the woman describe themselves as “fair skinned.” Everyone can’t be fair skinned, but is stretching the truth the only way to snare a husband?

I always thought I was ugly because of my skin color growing up, though my relatives assured me it would eventually lighten. My mom encouraged me to apply homemade face masks like she did while growing up to become lighter.  I always brought a tube of Fair & Lovely back home when visiting India and vowed to use it every day.  It never worked and I usually lost patience.

Young girls looking up to an ideal that physically cannot be achieved is dangerous to their self-esteem.  And skin-lightening creams have proved to be more and more dangerous.  As the Internet grows are and transportation becomes easier, dangerous steroid creams are becoming widely available and inexpensive, causing health problems in users not educated in their risks.

But Indian society and Indian-Americans in America are rapidly changing.  There is reason to think this obsession with light skin will eventually fade.  To hasten this process, I offer some suggestions:

1. Embrace the cultural variety in India. Brown IS beautiful.  Honor our ancestry by refusing to be ashamed of our skin color.
2. Encourage the media to portray more dark-skinned women in their natural shade.  Even if we can’t march into movie studios or magazine offices, take a closer look at the stars you admire and see how their appearance is altered in photographs.  Write a statement denouncing airbrushing on your facebook, or twitter, or blog.  Technology has become a great equalizer – we can all share our opinions and important people take notice.
3. Share your feelings with younger female relatives.  Most of my relatives had lighter skin so I felt self-conscious in pictures.  It’s always great for younger girls to have a positive female role model, especially at the tween/teen stage.

I will be waiting for the Indian community here and abroad to move away from outdated stereotypes about skin color.  In the meantime, I will do my part by simply accepting my own.

• Go to the movies! If you really want to avoid the couples (although you’re too cool to care), go during the afternoon. Avoid ‘Valentine’s Day’ (here’s why).
• Dance Party with the girls! Jam out in the living room or go out! Either way, shake that groove thing.
• Get a manicure just for fun. Pretty nails, happy you.
• Relax! Take a bubble bath. Or, spring the dough for a massage.
• Volunteer one morning. This not only helps the community, it helps to take the focus off of you, you, you!
• Make a fancy dinner for you and the girls. Cook something you never have before.
• Go to a local museum – see, learn, and have fun. Many of us are regulars to the museum, but a few hours at the science or art museum can be relaxing and new.
• Clean. Yeah, we said it. Organize, clean, rearrange your room or apartment. You’ll feel oh so much better without the clutter.
• Shop! Well, don’t spend the big bucks to help you climb out of your “depression of being single”. That’s not what a V-Day Fun Chick is about. Shop to a limit and pick out one or two things to add to your wardrobe.

Most of all, have fun, its just another weekend. No big deal!

happy valentines day from the BG Staff!

As a child, I moved around frequently. My parents emigrated from India to the U.S. when I wasn’t even five years old, and we moved from place to place. It seems that I’ve perpetually been stuck with the “New Kid Syndrome” for most of my life.

Unfortunately for me, the schools I attended weren’t ever very religiously diverse. Christians usually made up the vast majority of my peers. It was quite lonely for a little Hindu child like me not having anyone or anything to relate to. Ah, but then there was always Social Studies – my favorite subject. No matter what book we learned from, India was mentioned. As the second most populated country in the world – it had to be. Finally, something I could relate to! With the mention of India always came mention of Hinduism, the religion my family practiced. I always looked forward talking about Hinduism in school because I was almost always the only Hindu around, which instantly made me exotic and the center of attention.

“Wow, cool! There are all these cool-looking gods and goddesses with so many heads and arms! You really believe in all of them?” kids would ask me.

Hey, wait a second, there’s not really more than one God. And why are Shiva, Vishnu, Saraswati, and Lakshmi being referred to as ‘gods’ and ‘goddesses?’ The Bhagavad-Gita is mythology? Like Greek mythology? This doesn’t sound right…

This was an experience I dealt with many years ago, and interestingly enough many Hindus are still dealing with today: the misrepresentation and subsequent belittlement of Hinduism. For a religion as established and tolerant as Hinduism, it is disrespected in the West through other outlets than just public education. Through media and marketable fashions and trends, the face of Hinduism becomes no more than what is represented by many in the West, a “mythological,” pagan religion.

The first issue to address is the fact that many in the West, including scholars, refer to Hinduism as “mythology.” This is by far one of the most insulting descriptions to characterize the religion with. By describing Hinduism as mythology, one suggests that Hindu beliefs are simply a collection of folklore and tales, too fantastic to be real. In reality, all religions are theoretically mythological because no one religion can prove its validity. Can Christians prove that the word of The Bible comes directly from God? Can they prove that the world was created in seven days? No, but even so Christianity’s core beliefs are rarely described as myths. Rather, they are referred to as “teachings of Christ.” Why then refer to Hindu beliefs as myths and not just what they are also – beliefs? Perhaps in a part of the world where monotheistic religions rule, it is difficult to see truth in a religion with so many faces of God. It is simply easier to cast it off as a sensational belief system. Many don’t regard how insulting it is to Hindus to be told they believe in something that’s, frankly, false. We’re not asking for special treatment or a pretty, little pedestal, but it would be nice if we could stop with the mythology nonsense.

There’s also the issue of referring to the deities as “gods” and “goddesses” rather than “Gods” and “Goddesses”. Again, because the West is dominated by monotheistic religions, it seems nonsensical to give a respectful title to many forms that claim to be “God.” Major religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam prevail in numbers of worshippers and they give claim to only one God. Although Hindus believe in one supreme entity, most don’t understand how there can be so many forms and therefore, they must be referred to as less important “gods.” What most don’t realize is that this is truly disrespectful to Hindus to have Shiva or Ganesh or Krishna referred to as a lowly god, when they serve as core representations of their faith.

As a journalist, I often refer to my AP Stylebook, as many editors require their reporters to follow guidelines set by the Associated Press. Unfortunately for me and other Hindu writers out there, it requires that we refer to these deities in lowercase form. Although because AP Style instructs to “lowercase gods and goddesses in references to the deities of polytheistic religions,” and Hinduism is not polytheistic, as many people assume, but actually polymorphic, I technically could capitalize “God” and “Goddess” when referring to any of the Hindu deities. I doubt, though, an editor would side with me on a technicality he believes to be minor. Of course – therein lies the problem – it is a minor technicality to those outside the religion and the exact opposite to those within.

Former AP reporter and current religion reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, Abe Levy says the rules probably won’t change because numbers usually rule, and the numbers unfortunately don’t lie with Hindus in the West, and he’s probably right (although even he makes the mistake of calling Hinduism polytheistic).

“I think the honest truth is that monotheistic faiths – the world’s largest three of Islam, Judaism and Christianity — share this belief in one God and so until polytheistic faiths in the U.S. break out of their minority status numerically and politically, it won’t change. Is that fair? No. It’s more of a pragmatic solution given the sheer numbers of Muslims, Jews and Christians and their stamp on U.S. history and culture.”

Some say ignorance is bliss – but I have to disagree (at least when it comes to religion). The problem with ignorance is that it usually leads to misconception, and that is definitely not bliss. Misconceptions in the hands of scholars and educators are just plain dangerous. Incorrect and misleading information about Hinduism has often been printed in textbooks and reference books. Public education is a powerful source of information, especially for young people learning about world religions for the first time. What happens when a Hindu child goes to school and reads, “Durga and Kali are terrible and extremely bloodthirsty forms of this goddess,” in a textbook like “The Ancient South Asian World” printed by the Oxford University Press? What about learning that The Mahabharata, an ancient Hindu scripture is described as being, “…like adventure movies of today [that tell] thrilling stories about great heroes” as described in Glencoe-McGraw Hill’s “Discovering Our Past – Ancient Civilizations” textbook? These are certainly not accurate statements about Hinduism, and what’s worse is that they are superficial. Jesus’ crucifixion is never referred to as a “gripping, emotional roller coaster” so why precede the description of a Hindu script with such an introduction? Furthermore, describing Durga and Kali with such adjectives as “terrible” and “bloodthirsty” paints vivid pictures in impressionable minds of demons and monsters like those right out of fairytales. Of course it’s understandable that Hindus and non-Hindus, alike, assume that Hinduism is a pagan religion when scholars describe important figures as elaborate, animalistic idols. Monsters can’t be worshipped as God, so the very idea of Hindu teaching seems ridiculous.

Dictionary.com’s description of Krishna is as “one of the most popular gods…[who is] worshipped in several forms [such as] as the divine cowherd whose erotic exploits, esp. with his favorite, Radha, have produced both romantic and religious literature.” The relationship between Krishna and Radha is one of pure, eternal love as described by Hindu scriptures, and to reduce it to an “erotic exploit” conveys it as simply a sexual relationship, in which Krishna is the hunk who gets all the girls. This description reduces a major form of God to human form, and worse, shows him in an especially bad light by making him sound like a flirt.

Jasneshwari Dev, a spiritual teacher at Barsana Dham Temple in Austin, Texas has written letters to book publishers and conveyed the Hindu community’s disappointment in such wrongful descriptions in hopes to promote better education of Westerners about Hinduism.  She says the description of Krishna is completely inappropriate and misleading.

“Using the word “erotic” to describe the love between Radha and Krishna shows the ignorance of the writer.  God’s love is beyond the conception of the human mind.  But Hinduism does teach us that God is beyond all such human emotions of lust, anger, greed, jealously.  The use of this word to describe God is highly offensive to Hindus.”

It’s interesting the fascination people have with fantasy and things that seem non-human and unrealistic. Hinduism again falls into this superficial category and over the years, it has become increasingly “cool” (and profitable) to use colorful images of Hindu figures and symbols on anything from T-shirts and home furnishings to even costumes and restaurant advertisements. Most have no idea what any of these images represent, but again the obsession with things that seem unreal prevails. And if it makes a product sell, then by all means go for it, right? Sadly, many would say “yes.”

This past summer in Spain, fast food giant Burger King revealed a new ad campaign depicting an image of Lakshmi sitting on a hamburger. The caption underneath translated to “This snack is sacred.” The image was used to increase Burger King’s profits and many Hindus saw it as sacrilege. It seemed to be a mockery and a sarcastic pun at the fact that most know that Hindus don’t eat beef.

Last year supermodel Heidi Klum, known for her extravagant Halloween parties, dressed to impress – in a Kali costume. While it was a very colorful and elaborate costume, it’s despicable that she would choose, once again, a very sacred figure to dress up as. How would Christians feel if someone showed up with an expensive costume depicting the Virgin Mary – or worse – Jesus Christ? Maybe it wouldn’t bother many, but what if the culprit were the last person in the world that should to be representing a pious, pure Mary or a humble, selfless Jesus? No one wants others badly representing something they hold dear, and Hindus are no different. Not to say Heidi Klum is a bad person, but she’s not even Hindu and who knows what kind of frolicking went on at her party?

Cafepress.com has a variety of fashions available with Hindu connotations to them, including a couple with the images of Ganesh and Shiva reading “Ganesh/Shiva is my Om Boy” playing off the popular slang term “homeboy” referring to a good friend. It’s funny and it’s cool looking, but I doubt most of the people wearing those shirts have any spiritual relationship with either God to lay claim to the phrase. But of course, that doesn’t matter most of the time.

Some might say these things aren’t big deals because many don’t mean any blatant disrespect, but what they don’t realize is the sheer disregard this shows for Hinduism as a religion deserving of respect. Small things have big impacts. Tolerance is stressed heavily in the West, but maybe empathy and education should be stressed more. Knowledge opens doors and it could be the key for Hinduism finally to receive more respect as the ancient, established, and welcoming religion it really is.

Senior and officer of The University of Texas’s chapter of The Hindu Students Council, Atul Agrawl says he believes that he sees hope for the future, but it will take dedication on the parts of many Hindus and non-Hindus, alike, to make a real difference of how Hinduism is viewed in the West.

“I believe the key thing to removing ignorance is subtlety. For example, yoga has hugely impacted Americans for health reasons. While many people do not divulge into where it originated or the deeper meaning, there are others who do. While the goal is to educate everyone, it has to be one step at a time.”

]]> http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/western-condescension-of-hinduism/feed/ 3 http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/baz-luhrmann-bollywood/ http://browngirlmagazine.com/2010/02/baz-luhrmann-bollywood/#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:33:50 +0000 browngirlmag http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=1478 by Sneha Goud

According to a February 4 article in the Hindustan Times, Bollywood is extending its reach across the world.

Baz Luhrmann, the fantasy and music obsessed Hollywood director of films like Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, has professed his admiration for Bollywood and its Shakespeare-inspired stories. On his fourth trip to India, he announced plans to make a film in India in the future and work with “music maestro A.R. Rahman.”

Bollywood is the perfect fit for Luhrmann. Everyone knows traditional Bollywood films are full of extended song and dance sequences that come out of nowhere. Luhrmann’s films have a sophistication and attention to detail which would allow traditional Bollywood films to be taken more seriously by critics.

Luhrmann used a Westernized version of the popular song “Chamma Chamma” from the 1998 film China Gate in his most famous movie, Moulin Rouge, starring Nicole Kidman.

Check out the complete story on Hindustani Times.

In the 1980s, The Cosby Show was the most diverse show on television.  In the 90’s, two of NBC’s hit Thursday night comedies, Friends and Seinfeld, were criticized for their whitewashed view of New York.  But it definitely is not the 90s anymore and Zee TV isn’t the only channel to feature Indian actors.   NBC now has Indian characters on all four of its Thursday night comedies.  And Indian actors have popped up on new shows on all major networks this year. 

Maulik Pancholy plays the beleaguered assistant Johnathan on 30 Rock.  Ever protective of his boss Jack (played by Alec Baldwin), Pancholy’s character always offers a bit of comic relief with his frenzied personality.  Pancholy has also starred as the gay drug dealer Sanjay on Weeds.  He is a professionally trained actor as a graduate of Yale Drama School.

As Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, 2009 has been South Carolina native Aziz Ansari’s breakout year.  He starred in new king of comedy Judd Apatow’s Funny People, playing Randy. The character is otherwise known as “RAAAANDY,” an energetic stand-up comedian known for his offbeat jokes and outsized personality. The character is so memorable, Ansari is developing a movie starring the character.

Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling is one of the most recognizable characters in a large cast of quirky characters on The Office.  Since the show started six years ago, the boy-crazy, gossipy, and celebrity-obsessed customer representative has been making The Office a lot more fun.  Kaling is also a writer for the show and is in talks to develop and star in her own NBC sitcom. 

Community, which premiered this year, features Danny Pudi as Abed, an eccentric film nerd who reveals a new talent each week.  Pudi is half-Indian, half-Polish and has displayed his Polish dancing skills on the talk-show circuit this fall. 

Other new shows which feature Indian characters this year are Glee with Iqbal Theba as Principal Higgins, The Big Bang Theory with Kunal Nayyar as Raj, The Good Wife with Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma, and Royal Pains with Reshma Shetty as Divya Katdare.

Even more projects are in the works — a pilot called Nirvana starring Kal Penn, Outsourced, a comedy about an American sent to work in India, and a US version of the British Comedy The Kumars at No. 42.

These characters are important milestones for Indian Americans in the media.  None of them fit a Western stereotype of Indians — no computer engineers, nerdy doctors, or conservative women.  Thanks to these television shows, the American public is being exposed to a large and influential immigrant group.