Holding Out for a Hero (at the Centennial celebration of Uttam Kumar)
Sandip attends a festival honoring a long dead Bollywood star and discovers why Uttam Kumar still commands attention.
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Sandip Roy's Dispatches from Kolkata
Every week NPR contributor (and former San Franciscian) Sandip Roy brings you a little taste of the 'new India' – a letter home from his other home.
Episodes
20 of 36 episodesBirthday Cake
Sandip recently had a birthday and that got him reminicing about rituals...
Swimming Against the Tide (with Lou Lou van Damme)
In the Pallani Hills at Isla's Ridge, the Grand Damme of 'swimming against the tide' sat down with Sandip for a cup of tea.
The Last Queen of Bengal
Queer histories often seem to exist in a vacuum. As if it all started with Stonewall in New York or Harvey Milk in San Francisco. But queer...
Summer of the Egg
There's a current trend in Bengal called "Deem therapy," but while it's a great pleasure for the public at the moment, Sandip wonders when t...
Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival)
Last week was Rath Yatra, the chariot festival in India. Sandip hops aboard and takes us on a trip to revive a once thriving system of tansi...
American Dream
On the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, Sandip Roy reflects on what then "American Dream" means to him.
Obscene Vulgarity
A controversy over a 4,500 year old "Dancing Girl" once again raises the question over what constitutes obscenity and vulgarity. Sandip Roy...
Mural of Pride
Even as corporates and multinationals move away from DEI policies that once made June an explosion of rainbow, LGBT lives are not going back...
I Too Sing America
As the Whitehouse lawn showcases one very specific version of America, Sandip speaks with someone who has another version.
Slots or Beethoven?
It's the "controvery over public art" game show again, this time in Kolkata. Sandip Roy kicks it around for us.
A Home in the Himalaya
Sandip talks with author Anuradha Roy about her home in the Himalayas and how they've witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change.
Paash Baalish
They say you cannot ever go home again but as long as there is a paash baalish you can come pretty close. what IS a Paash Baalish? Sandip Ro...
Things to be Done
As David Attenborough turns 100, Sandip remembers his mother and all the things left to be done.
Citizen Who?
West Bengal just went to the polls with several million voters struck off the electoral rolls, banished to some kind of limbo land. The Spec...
Something Fishy's Going On
It's election time in India and that means noise and songs and speeches. But this year both parties are using fish to prove their local cred...
Brimful of Asha
Sandip bids farewell to an icon of Inidan cinema and song.
Deep Fried New Year
Bengali New Year celebrations are filled with street fairs, noise, colors and.... food. The more deep fried, the better. Sandip partakes in...
The Caste Census
Counting seems simple enough, but when you're counting people other questions arise.
Who Are You?
It would seen that in India, at least, there's an acceptence of non-binary people. Ah, but there's always one more box to check.