Sandip Roy

Once, moviegoers in India waited patiently for the latest Hollywood releases to trickle their way over. That's no longer true for the big popcorn blockbusters like The Avengers,which was in 39 countries before its U.S. debut. A fan in India welcomes the change.

Centenarian Manohar Aich, also known as India's Pocket Hercules, runs an old-fashioned gym in Kolkata, India. Commentator Sandip Roy visited India's first Mr. Universe, who has little patience with the craze for fancy gym equipment that has swept middle-class India.

Restaurants that cater to the affluent in India are forgoing vegetables in return for ever increasing amounts of meat. Commentator Sandip Roy describes what it's like for a lifelong vegetarian to be confronted with chicken kebabs, mutton biryaniand lamb shanks.

Tens of thousands of people are attending the Jaipur Literature Festival in India — including many international literary stars and Oprah Winfrey. Author Salman Rushdie was invited but decided not to attend after a warning that hit men would be after him. Rushdie wrote The Satanic Verses which has been banned in India for more than 20 years.

For commentator Sandip Roy, the Indian festival of Diwali usually brings to mind the warmth and comfort of tradition. But this year the holiday seems more commercial than ever before. He has this essay on celebrating the festival of lights in a globalized India.

For commentator Sandip Roy, his niece's departure for college on another continent brings a level of unexpected poignancy. In this essay, he counsels her on how to say goodbye to her Indian neighborhood — while leaving room for the memories that make her community a home.

In India, paying bribes is often seen as part of life. A few rupees or a chocolate bar for a government official is the norm. But commentator Sandip Roy says things are changing. Newly energized activists are taking on corruption, and things are looking up.

The Communist Party has ruled this Indian state for more than three decades, but in the upcoming election, a challenger is threatening to unseat it. Commentator Sandip Roy, who lives in West Bengal, says the contest is bringing new excitement to the people.

Jews all around the world begin celebrating Passover this week. But commentator Sandip Roy says that it's hard to keep up old traditions in places like Calcutta, where the Jewish population is declining.

Tamil is a language known for its poetry, but commentator Sandip Roy knows it has another side. Dime-store pulp fiction has a large Tamil-speaking following — and a newly translated anthology is coming to America.