August 13, 2018
493 0

To my Godrej Almirah, with love

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
I stepped into the living room packed with mourning men and women. The air was potently infused with sandalwood incense jabbed into oiled coconut halves left burning from various...
August 13, 2018
469 0

How did we make friends in the '90s?

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
Once upon a time, there was a guy named Rahul Khanna (naam toh suna hoga) studying in St. Xavier’s college. One fine day, a girl named Tina Malhotra joined...
August 9, 2018
194 0

Will the instant-noodles generation ever truly relish the taste of homemade pickles?

Food, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
On my dining table are three glass jars that once contained jam, now they are proud holders of lehsun (garlic), kairi (raw mango), and mirchi (chilli) ke achar. We...
August 7, 2018
219 0

Why didn’t we have sales while growing up?

Bazaar, Fashion, Fashion Fry
Last week at the mall, submerged under a pile of children’s clothes at a kid’s store, I saw a pink skirt which would perfectly fit my 2-year-old princess. I...
March 22, 2018
658 0

Buland Bharat ki Buland Tasveer, Hamara Bajaj

Bharat Darshan, desi emotions, Horn OK Please
If you are the child of the 80s and if you can hum Doordarshan’s signature tune and recall the colours of the montage; if you remember the Ek chidiya...
March 20, 2018
653 0

Langar, the divine meal

desi emotions, Food, Indian Belly, My Dubai
In the age of Happy Meals, Combo Food offers and extra cheese pizzas there’s still one repast that tempts us beyond the fast food goodies. If you’re a Punjabi...
March 5, 2018
719 0

Maa ke haath ka khaana!

desi emotions, Indian Belly
Last month I went home for a slightly longish vacation and I came back with four kilos of excess baggage on my already expanding girth. Points to note 1....
February 27, 2018
635 0

Do you miss haggling with the vendors?

desi emotions, My Dubai
On a cold winter evening, I snuggled in the blissful comforts of a warm bed with an interesting book for company. But bliss can only be complete with a...
February 22, 2018
677 0

The good ol’ Ambassador — baati waali gadi!

desi emotions, Horn OK Please, Nostalgia
There are many cars across the globe, which have carved a special identity for themselves over the decades. The Ambassador is one of them but totally unique in the...
February 20, 2018
704 0

Sachin Tendulkar, the name says it all

desi emotions, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead, Trumpet Toot
Thwak! The swing plane comes down in a perfect vertical arch to meet the orb, dismissing it from his five ft something presence. A billion smiles light up the...
February 1, 2018
623 0

Why do I attend Indian weddings?

Indian Belly, Nostalgia
Indian weddings are synonymous to the big fat affairs especially if you belong to somewhere in the north of India, not to mention, the state of Punjab where the...
January 29, 2018
626 0

Joote Lo, Paise Do!

desi emotions, Fashion Fry, Nostalgia
In India, a country that is steeped in tradition, it’s a joy to partake in the many rituals or watch it happening, more so at special occasions. Be it...
January 1, 2018
700 0

Desi Emotion #One: Yeh Duniya Ek Numbari!

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
 Presenting DESI EMOTION #One: Yeh Duniya Ek Numbari! What does it mean to you? We want to know.  Are you celebrating 52 Weeks, 52 Desi Emotions with The...
December 28, 2017
713 0

Kuch jugaad kar lenge!

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
Are you celebrating 52 Weeks, 52 Desi Emotions with The Indian Trumpet — all through 2018!  Long before social networking arrived on the scene, long before videos were made...
December 27, 2017
972 0

Ek Chidiya, Anek Chidiya

desi emotions, Photo Essays, Trumpet Lead
Ek Anek Aur Ekta or One, Many and Unity, popularly known as Ek Chidiya, Anek Chidyan, was a traditional animated short film released by the Films Division of India (Government...
December 25, 2017
680 0

Yeh duniya ek numbri!

70 MM, Bollywood, desi emotions
“Oh no, no, Dipankar,” said the Grand Dame of Culture, slowly shaking her ancient and benevolent head from side to side in pitying condescension as she held him with...
December 25, 2017
648 0

Kaun Banega Crorepati?

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
Two decades ago, something unprecedented happened in the history of Indian television with the start of the mythological series Ramayana. Each Sunday morning roads were deserted as people sat...
December 25, 2017
709 0

Bas, ek minute!

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
One fine day, driving home after a rather awkward situation with my tight-fisted German boss, I began to dwell on what exactly we Indians mean when we use ‘ek’...
September 22, 2017
778 0

If there is a clan that can poetically describe a curry, it is a Bengali. Every Bengali is a food critic.

Trumpet Lead
I eat. Therefore I Am. A Bengali is born to eat. Literally. Bengalis eat everything. The clan saw no innovation in having three different verbs that did the same...
May 11, 2017
981 0

Do you judge a house by how clean the fans are?

Daily Drama, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
The room is filled with hysterical laughter, fast chitchat and meandering commentary. We’re at a social ‘catch up’ gathering hosted by a family friend, where we hear: “It’s been...
April 25, 2017
1040 0

Do you remember these fan types?

IdharUdhar, Nostalgia
There is an archaeological proof that 1,000 of centuries ago the Greeks, Romans, Japanese, Indians and the Chinese used fans, both as cooling and ceremonial device. I am not surprised....
April 22, 2017
919 0

When cleaning the fans becomes a son's duty!

Trumpet Lead
Being the only son in the family is enough reason to have to clean all the fans in the house, time and again, especially when Diwali’s round the corner....
April 21, 2017
1087 0

The kaamwaali bai & the pankha!

Trumpet Lead
The blissful, lazy Sunday sleep had just been disturbed. I was feeling distinctly warm. The room was quiet and I instantly knew that the fan had been switched off....
April 20, 2017
934 0

Khana thanda ho jayega!

Indian Belly, My Dubai, Nostalgia
I am sitting in the dining room, back home (Having been married for more than a decade, home is and will always be my parent’s house; one where I...
March 28, 2017
1124 0

Ever been to a government office in India?

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
Especially those in dusty, not pretty, one in a few thousand towns across the nation? Where living is a simple business, governing is almost nonexistent. Intricacies of administration are...
October 24, 2016
1538 0

Happy Diwali: Just one little candle

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark! Better far that you light just one little candle…all you need is a tiny...
October 8, 2016
1253 0

Dusshera, Ramleela aur Ravana!

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
A bird’s view of India highlights two important elements of our country, colours and festivals. Yes, we’re a nation that takes pride in its ‘festive’ colours and colourful ‘festivals’....
September 30, 2016
1701 0

Durga Puja playground!

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
I’m talking about another time. A time of bulky transistors and Eastman coloured mornings. When I’d be woken up by my grandfather, as he gently dragged me out of...
September 29, 2016
1812 0

Navratri, worshipping the goddess

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
The sounds of Jai Mata Di purifying the air, beautiful idols of Goddess Durga in every nook and corner of our streets, invitations from neighbours to attend the colourful...
September 9, 2016
1283 0

Happy Onam: Carnival of Kerala

Indian Belly, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
There many ways to know that the town is getting ready to celebrate Onam. The resonating sounds of the chenda and the rhythmic singing and clapping of Kaikottikali being...
September 9, 2016
1284 0

Eid Mubarak: The Spirit of Sacrifice

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
Just as the delirium of Ramzaan winds down, the preparations for the next Eid get queued up. The frenzied bazaars provide a rich taste of the festive atmosphere –...
September 1, 2016
1692 0

O’Calcutta!

Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
On the 5th day of June’2004, when the Calcutta sun was setting, I was about to leave my birth place in search of a better career. With my backpack...
September 1, 2016
2194 0

The untold love story of Sahir Ludhianvi and Amrita Pritam.

70 MM, Bollywood, Nostalgia
Two poets can never agree. Unless, they fall in love. But then, love too looks different on each one of us. The silent romance of Sahir, the vocal passion...
August 29, 2016
1572 0

Chart papers, Fevicol and glue sticks!

My Dubai, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
I always had the ‘butterflies-in-the-stomach’ feeling when school was approaching. The annual vacation (read mandatory trip to Dada-Dadi’s/Nana-Nani’s house, or an escape to a nearby hill-station) was done...
August 28, 2016
1133 0

#backtoschool of the ‘90s!

My Dubai, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
I always had the ‘butterflies-in-the-stomach’ feeling when school was approaching. The annual vacation (read mandatory trip to Dada-Dadi’s/Nana-Nani’s house, or an escape to a nearby hill-station) was done...
August 25, 2016
2261 0

Doodh, dahi, malai, makhan aur ghee!

Food, Indian Belly
“Now be a good boy/girl and finish your glass of milk” is a statement most Indian kids are familiar with. From the time we are born our mothers, grandmothers,...
June 19, 2016
6814 0

What are your favourite chai partners?

Food, Indian Belly
Ask most Indians and they’d agree that there’s something about the garma garam chai that makes chilly winter mornings warmer and sultry summer evenings tolerable. On weekends, there is...
June 13, 2016
3488 0

Dhoti, remixed!

Fashion, Fashion Fry
It was some time ago that I first fell in love with the dhoti silhouette. Slightly oversized and breezy, this street-style trend spells ease and effortless chic. And in...
June 10, 2016
3660 0

Hawa Hawai!

Bollywood, Nostalgia
Which version of the song, Hawa Hawai do you like more? The one with Sridevi from Mr.India or this funky, new one? At present, we’re playing the Shaitan version,...
June 5, 2016
3038 0

Bulleh Shah in a modern avatar!

Bollywood, Over a cup of chai
Two individuals, one aim: to create echoes that resonate across cultural, racial and religious boundaries, transforming communities through happy, soulful music. Vocalist / audio engineer Hari Singh and trained...
June 2, 2016
3429 0

The good ol' Indian cable TV!

Daily Drama, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
May 22, 2016
2588 0

चाइ की दुकान

Food, Horn OK Please, Indian Belly
Masala chai…cutting chai… kadak chai…garam chai…chai malaai maar ke! You’re familiar with these sounds, aren’t you? You’ve heard them on childhood train journeys to the nanihaal(maternal grandparents’ home) orescapades...
May 22, 2016
3564 0

Who doesn't like Indian street food, even if it comes garnished with a layer of dust & sweat too!

Bharat Darshan, Food, Indian Belly, Photo Essays
Who doesn’t like street food, even if it comes garnished with a layer of dust, and sweat too, perhaps! We decided to make a stopover at a few makeshift,...
May 19, 2016
1151 0

Don’t let this be my India

Angry Toot
A five-year-old girl was raped in my country. Each word is drenched in pain, shame, anger and misery. I usually steer clear of politics and the like – it’s...
May 11, 2016
2859 0

Is a moustache a must for an Indian man?

Trumpet Lead
Most men recall the first shaving lesson they got from their dads as young boys with a sense of pride and nostalgia. The precise motions (top to bottom and...
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January 23, 2018
407 0
by Team Trumpet Blowers

Did you wear your mum or grandmum’s lehenga at your wedding?

desi emotions, Fashion, Fashion Fry, Nostalgia

Old is gold: A phrase that features in the list of top ten clichéd ‘words of wisdom’ and yet struggles to find its place in the ‘must do’s’ of trousseau shopping. sporting heirloom jewels is classy but does slipping into a hand-me-down lehenga earn the same respect? does the glitter of the timeworn fade over time when it comes to outfits or does it too speak of the glimmer of the past? can the grandma garment work its magic on the girl next door’s wedding? can the blue-blooded royalty carry this charm? We explore the fine line between charm and…

January 3, 2018
236 0
by Team Trumpet Blowers

What commercials do you remember the most from when you were a kid?

Daily Drama, desi emotions, Nostalgia

Advertising has become a massive industry today with almost every brand spending an exorbitant amount in an effort to create awareness and ensure top of mind recall. The point is to break through from the clutter and make that one ad that resonates with the brand and ultimately becomes the anthem of the moment. That’s the power all brands crave! I have to be honest that most ads these days lack that power of connecting with the audience. Although they’re technologically advanced and have the best picture quality, etc., they seem to lag behind in creating that connection.

January 3, 2018
259 0
by Ritu Dua

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara

Bollywood, Daily Drama, desi emotions

One of the most wonderful childhood memories that I am emotionally attached to, is religiously listening to the song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara and watching it with immense pride on our black and white television. Oh, how proud I would feel back then, of my India, my country! I still love this song!

January 3, 2018
320 0
by Delna Prakashan

The typical middle-class behaviour

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead

I’ll be honest. I had a writer’s block with scripting a story based on Indians and our waste-saving type of behaviour. After all, I’m a middle-class Indian and I just couldn’t find the parody of us trying to squeeze a little more out of everything. Let me repeat: Everything.

January 3, 2018
280 0
by Nasrin Modak-Siddiqi

“So what if it’s big, it will be good for at least a year, aaram se!”

desi emotions, Fashion Fry

Last week at the mall, submerged under a pile of children’s clothes at a kid’s store, I saw a pink skirt, which would perfectly t my 2-year-old princess. I had the exact same one (well, almost) that my uncle had got for me from a trip abroad. The only difference – I was six then and the dress wouldn’t t me till I was at least eight that was if I ate for three. The one in my hand had an adjusting elastic on the waist (an awesome innovation) – the one in my memory, my granny had to alter…

January 3, 2018
498 0
by Ashmita Bansal

Does your toothbrush has a life & after life?

desi emotions, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead

Every morning brings with it one particular task for all of us (well, most of us) that marks the start of the day and guarantees our mother’s permission to have breakfast, that is, the up-down, swish-swoosh, filling our mouth with froth ritual of brushing our teeth. And one of the key players in this ritual, which is seldom given its due importance due to the presence of several alternatives (applying toothpaste on the finger or reminiscing past with the good old neem twigs), is the object whose hair we put in our mouth, the toothbrush.

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Are you celebrating 52 Weeks, 52 Desi Emotions with The Indian Trumpet — all through 2018!  Long before social networking arrived on the scene, long before videos were made of what to do with plastic bottles or straws or paper clips or old tyres, long before the word “hack” was coined by the rest of the world, there was Jugaad. So what exactly is Jugaad?

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BEST POSTS FROM THE INDIAN TRUMPET

August 13, 2018

To my Godrej Almirah, with love

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
I stepped into the living room packed with mourning men and women. The air was potently infused with sandalwood incense jabbed into oiled coconut halves left burning from various corners. In the middle of the room, lay my grandmother covered in white soft cotton – still and lifeless. People...
August 9, 2018

Will the instant-noodles generation ever truly relish the taste of homemade pickles?

Food, Nostalgia, Trumpet Lead
March 22, 2018

Buland Bharat ki Buland Tasveer, Hamara Bajaj

Bharat Darshan, desi emotions, Horn OK Please
March 20, 2018

Langar, the divine meal

desi emotions, Food, Indian Belly, My Dubai
January 1, 2018

Desi Emotion #One: Yeh Duniya Ek Numbari!

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
December 28, 2017

Kuch jugaad kar lenge!

desi emotions, Trumpet Lead
Are you celebrating 52 Weeks, 52 Desi Emotions with The Indian Trumpet — all through 2018!  Long before social networking arrived on the scene, long before videos were made of what to do with plastic bottles or straws or paper clips or old tyres, long before the word “hack”...
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