India has a population of over 1.2 billion people. After 1947, it became a democracy. Today, these 1.2 billion people collectively make up the largest elected democracy in the world. Historically, India used to be a cluster of independent kingdoms, later united under one republic. These kingdoms used to be ruled, naturally, by kings. Kings…

The following is an excerpt from my 3 part article on Biryani. (The Biryani Chronicles) Calcutta (Part 2) A plateful of aromatic rice with a couple of slabs of goat or chicken is a snack and meal rolled in one on Kolkata’s bustling streets. At his “Biryani Corner” fronting a busy intersection, 45-year-old Shibu Das…