The Local/Transnational Soft Drink

Bovanto from Madurai, a local Tamil Nadu soft drink is popular in the diaspora from Dubai to Singapore in particular Chettinadu restaurant chains. Counter culture is needed for region centred brands which in the global era, is challenging as economies of scale play a role. Tamil Nadu has a strong regional culture, cash and a global diaspora which catapult’s them beyond the limitations of a local clientele. Transnational is often hyper local.

Soft Power.

Calcutta and Bengal’s greatest contemporary export is intellectual (wo)manpower as a talent pipeline to western liberal arts university campuses and in turn to the progressive media worldwide.
This is implicit and underrated. Just read through the surnames across the websites.

Karak.

Miss the karak chai, in a pakistani or malbari paratha tea shop in Bur Dubai or in Ruwi on the red and white tiled tables, where ARY or Asianet would be showing a cricket game or news on full blast. I would be at the corner table soaking in the chatter. Soon, Inshallah.