Delhi is in the heart of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, flanked by the Himalayas to the northeast and the Aravalli range and central plateaus to the south. This forms a vast landlocked basin. Unlike Surat or Mumbai, which benefit from dynamic sea breezes that disperse pollutant particulates out to sea, Delhi has nowhere to vent its air. Polluted air from Pakistan, Punjab, and Haryana rolls eastward down the plain, hits the barrier, and pools directly over Delhi and the NCR.

If anyone has spent any time on the Indian side of the internet lately, they have most likely heard one of the many versions of this track going viral. It’s the track flooding Instagram Reels, trending on YouTube, and playing continuously in your head if you are a music lover. But this Saraiki folk tune, “Chhalre chhalre waal” goes way deeper than your average viral groove. My friend P****i spent quite a bit of her time transcribing and transcreating this track so non-Saraiki speakers can finally experience the lyrical depth behind the song. I must confess here that it’s not a literal translation but her personal interpretation, so if you disagree with her take, feel free to email your version.

We are witnessing a tragedy disguised as public policy.

Recently, the government of West Bengal initiated a pilot project outsourcing the midday meal program in Kolkata to an ISKCON agency. Because the agency operates on strict satvic principles, a subtle but deeply consequential change was announced: the egg is out. In its place, the state has promised paneer, soybeans, rajma, and lentils.

Bally Sagoo’s Mera Laung Gawacha, from his landmark 1991 album Star Crazy, is one of those rare recordings that feels like a genuine cultural event compressed into seven minutes. Built around a beloved traditional Punjabi folk song — most famously recorded by the great Musarrat Nazir — Sagoo reimagined it over dub bass lines and reggae rhythms, featuring vocalist Rama delivering the Punjabi lyrics with warmth and grace, and Birmingham dancehall artist Cheshire Cat weaving in Jamaican Patois with a charm and authenticity that still astonishes.