“Being first generation isn’t easy for anyone. However, once you finish the first 30 years, you begin to understand life a little bit more. Being in my mid-thirties, I am able to pass on some wisdom that might help other first generation desis on their life journey.”
22 Tips to a More Productive Lifestyle from The Single Desi

Given the amount of desi parties available to young and older desis, why are there so many dateless individuals? Studies and biology have suggested that love and intimacy is a great life landmark. Yet more and more people are shying away from that kind of connection. Is fear a factor? Have you viewed your parents’ marriage as something not to be desired and therefore connection is scary for you?

In her guest blog The Single Desi, Monica Marwah shares some wisdom from Brandi Glanville’s best-selling memoir. “There are three types of friends: Those friends who hit the road at the first sign of trouble; Those who stick around long enough just to see you miserable before jumping on the next rising star; and then there are those who won’t budge. Friends for life.

These are the men and women that I cherish. Come rain or storm, we will always be there for one another. Maybe that’s the silver lining after having to deal with awful people; you can truly appreciate the good ones.”

“Are you single and stuck in the rut of modern technology? Do you know where life is going when you meet people or do you just expect nothing? I mean, are you really going to get married on something started on a casual text message? What happened to phone calls or even the simple email? Is being wooed too much to ask for nowadays?
The new date is hanging out, planning an event and have everyone come. Look for people who may be interested and if they are not interested, move on to the next event. Hey at least you are having fun doing what you like to do and no one is holding you back, right?”
Guest Blog: The Single Desi

“We all remember what it was like to be in our teenage years and 20’s, right? The thrill and excitement of trying everything for the first time; the hormones, the rage, the experience; we all remember our first crushes and our first loves, right?
How difficult was it to hold everything together as a young person, school, work, friends, boyfriend, family obligations, and culture. The overreaction when something didn’t go our way; the amount of push into something that was not working out; the lack of understanding when things weren’t working. You remember, right?”

It is that time of year again: Christmas and New Year are around the corner. Everyone is busy with decorations, trees, hot chocolate, wreaths, presents, New Year’s Eve parties, Toys for Tots, and other holiday must-dos. The holiday season brings so much warmth and laughter. Gifts are so much fun to give and get. Here are The Desi Single’s top five gift ideas for making it a huggable, memorable holiday season. Guest Blog – The Single Desi. Photo by Carbonated.

“Anyone that knows the desi culture knows that it is primarily male dominated…men control the household, make the decisions, and decide on the direction of the family. Does that formula still apply to a woman in her mid-thirties, who has exited her past and created a whole new personality to gel with her environment?

A woman who has lived independently for a few decades and experienced life in the way she sees fit. She has gone to the bars and clubs, enjoyed the music, watched the latest movies, experienced different fashion statements, and met a variety of people. All in all, she has self healed her wounds, picked herself up and moved on repeatedly.”
Guest Blog – The Single Desi (Photo: alvarotapia hidalgo)

The Single Desi on the hot new TV shows including ‘The Mindy Project’ starring Mindy Kaling:

“Although she accomplished her career goals (she is a physician on the show), her romantic goals were way off the traditional time line. She struggled with issues that all smart, goal-oriented desis struggle with.
The one thing I love about Kaling is that she is not afraid to be herself. She is not residing in America and mentally living in India and trying to be traditional in a nontraditional world.”
Guest Blog: The Single Desi

“Judgey Indians and judgey people make my blood boil. And judgey people are everywhere. But I find comfort in the fact that I live in a city where anything goes. Black. White. Purple. (And I’m just talking about hair color.) All ethnicities. All types.

If you want to get married 8 times or 2 times, you can. If you are 60 and want to date someone who is 20, you can. I love that I can have a conversation with someone about the merits of drinking a 2007 cabernet sauvignon or something banal such as the overload of traffic once the stadium goes up in Brooklyn.”
Joya Dass talks to Monica Marwah on ‘The Single Desi’ – Guest Blog

“With the impending divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, I began to think a lot about Scientology. Sources say that Scientology has played a part in their unhappily ever after.

It is reported that Katie wants primary residential custody and primary legal custody of Suri (the couple’s six year old daughter) due to differing parenting styles. Katie is a Catholic girl and would like Suri to be raised Catholic; and Tom is a devout Scientologist and wants Suri to become a Scientologist like his other two children.

I have studied Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Kabbalah and Scientology. I think religion and culture gives us something to depend on and think about. It gives us our belief system and lets us believe that we operate as part of a system.” Guest Blog – The Single Desi. Photo – Harpreet Thinking