Guest Blogger: Mallika - Sepia Mutiny

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August 13, 2008

Guest Blogger: Mallika

As long time readers of Sepia Mutiny know, we are nothing if not Fair and Balanced in our blogging here. Myself and Ravi are headed to the Democratic National Convention in just two weeks! It is only fair that SM also have a fearless blogger in Minneapolis rubbing shoulders with the elephants at the Republican National Convention. We know you are all equally excited about the happenings there. Thus I would like to introduce everyone to Ms. Mallika Rao.

Mallika is a Master’s Degree student in journalism at Northwestern University and has a temporary gig working for Reuters as well. That’s just the type of hungry young blogger we need to get the juice on why Jindal decided not to accept the VP position (should it have been offered) from McCain.

Please join me in welcoming Mallika to SM.

P.S. If you are a reader of this site and plan to be at the RNC then please contact us.

Blog

POSTED BY abhi @ 11:40 PM

24 comments

1 · Lurker on August 14, 2008 12:28 AM · Direct link

How does 'guest blogging' work?

Will Mallika be blogging for just a few, topic-specific articles? A few weeks? What's the deal?

2 · Mallika on August 14, 2008 12:50 AM · Direct link

Hello Lurker,
The guest spot lasts a month, at the end of which the RNC happens. I suppose that is to give you all some time to get to know me and to give me enough time to become a comfortable Sepia blogger. I'll be posting about things I find interesting.
Yours truly,
M

3 · Camille on August 14, 2008 2:10 AM · Direct link

Welcome, Mallika :)

4 · Jinx on August 14, 2008 2:17 AM · Direct link

Mallika,
You should go up to random Indian guys you see at the RNC and say "Gov. Jindal, big fan, can I have your autograph?" Then again that might not be as funny as it is in my head. Good luck!

5 · Seahawks fan on August 14, 2008 2:42 AM · Direct link

Welcome, Mallika (nice name). Is that your "don't mess with me" expression or did Abhi just tell you that you wouldn't be paid? :-)

6 · desibrown on August 14, 2008 5:12 AM · Direct link

Still no FOB bloggers? 80% of your blogs are targetted at India. How is it that the real desis have no voice?

7 · rudie_c on August 14, 2008 6:08 AM · Direct link

Excellent. Was reading some of your writings, really good. So both rep and dem’s are now covered. Welcome.

8 · Mallika on August 14, 2008 8:21 AM · Direct link

That's my "I'm balancing a cup on my head" expression. I thought it gelled nicely with, "You can criticize me, but I'd rather you just join in a mature and layered dialogue."

9 · Mallika on August 14, 2008 8:25 AM · Direct link

P.S. Thanks Rudie, Camille and Seahawks fellow! Jinx - I think you're totally onto something. PLUS when I meet the real him I should make a big show of touching his feet.

10 · Abhi on August 14, 2008 8:26 AM · Direct link

Still no FOB bloggers? 80% of your blogs are targeted at India. How is it that the real desis have no voice?

We use the term DBD not FOB. Also you are wrong with your 80% (I'd say 5 or 10%). If the "real desis" (whatever that means) want a voice then maybe you should learn how to write and start your own blog. This blog was set up by and primarily for South Asian Americans. All our bloggers and guest bloggers have been North American (except one). This will continue to be the case. We welcome and appreciate readers and commenters from all over the world of course. If you have criticism then please contact us directly and do not leave it as a comment on a post welcoming a blogger. Thanks.

11 · rudie_c on August 14, 2008 9:34 AM · Direct link

9 · Mallika said

when I meet the real him I should make a big show of touching his feet.

hahahahahahaha add the nameste uncle.

btw i'm a 4real desi! ;)

12 · brownonion on August 14, 2008 11:06 AM · Direct link

Yes, but in personal emails, it is easy for you to blow me away, but in a public place, it lets other people see the irony i.e. when you don't delete my comments. When you seek to change the profile of the desi in America, who at present is the underdog with little representation, you treat the FOB (which is a better descriptor than the ridiculous DBD) as the same way that White America treats you South Asian Americans. I don't know if you have what it takes to see the irony.

Your new blogger opens her innings with a blog on Bangalore?! Maybe you can explain *why* this blog is not open to FOBS. You will admit a white American, but a FOB view is not good enough for you?

13 · brownonion on August 14, 2008 11:11 AM · Direct link

I would like to invite Amardeep Singh's comments on this policy of restricting the blog to 'North Americans'.

14 · brownonion on August 14, 2008 11:18 AM · Direct link

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I would like to invite Amardeep Singh's comments specifically on 'Orientalism and Sepia Mutiny'.

15 · umber desi on August 14, 2008 11:32 AM · Direct link

Brownonion,

I don't speak for the authors of this forum but I think you should respect their proprietary rights. It is their personal space and they can choose to invite anyone they please to contribute. I believe there are other spaces that address issues raised by you.
I am also a DBD and I come to this forum for the perspective of ABDs on all issues including India, I have disagreements with commentors but I don't think it is respectful for me to try and dictate the dialogue.

16 · V.V. Ganeshananthan on August 14, 2008 11:35 AM · Direct link

Welcome, Mallika! Looking forward to your posts.

17 · A N N A on August 14, 2008 11:56 AM · Direct link

15 · umber desi said

I believe there are other spaces that address issues raised by you.

There are, indeed. If you want DBD bloggers, that's the place to be. Thanks for your comment umber desi. I appreciated it.

Welcome to the jungle Mallika! :)

18 · Nayagan on August 14, 2008 1:19 PM · Direct link

Mallika,

Vanakkam. I look forward to RNC reports--and if you see Ron Paul interlopers, let us know if that crazy guy who gave up a Google job to stump for RP is there.

19 · Seahawks fan on August 14, 2008 1:28 PM · Direct link

This blog was set up by and primarily for South Asian Americans.

South-Asian Americans, that is, not South Asian-Americans.

All our bloggers and guest bloggers have been North American (except one).

What, no South American South Asians?

Exceptions are good. Please keep making exceptions.

20 · Chaitan on August 14, 2008 7:52 PM · Direct link

Welcome Mallika! There, I got your blog link working. Now others can appereciate your T-shirt as well. :)

21 · rudie_c on August 15, 2008 5:53 AM · Direct link

20 · Chaitan said

Welcome Mallika! There, I got your blog link working. Now others can appereciate your T-shirt as well. :)

It is a mighty fine T-shirt.

22 · kal on August 16, 2008 9:18 AM · Direct link

15 · umber desi said
I believe there are other spaces that address issues raised by you.

There are, indeed. If you want DBD bloggers, that's the place to be. Thanks for your comment umber desi. I appreciated it.

There is also, the one man blogging machine UltraBrown, which also features posts by Indian bloggers.

23 · TheBrownChamp on August 17, 2008 3:50 PM · Direct link

Typical DBD wrote:

Still no FOB bloggers? 80% of your blogs are targetted at India. How is it that the real desis have no voice?

This is an NRI blog, yaar! You "real desis" can comment on sites like rediff.com.

When you seek to change the profile of the desi in America, who at present is the underdog with little representation, you treat the FOB (which is a better descriptor than the ridiculous DBD) as the same way that White America treats you South Asian Americans

Why do loads of DBD/FOBs say, "these ABCDs are slaves to the White americans" or "they (American-Born Indians) work under the white man".....I've heard this numerous times over the past few years

I wonder if they will keep saying this if Barack Hussein Obama becomes President.

On a side note, anyone else notice the rise in discrimination from DBDs/FOBs and those living in the desh toward South Asian Americans/British Asians/Indo-Canadiens?

24 · TheBrownChamp on August 17, 2008 3:57 PM · Direct link

On a side note, anyone else notice the rise in discrimination from DBDs/FOBs and those living in the desh toward South Asian Americans/British Asians/Indo-Canadiens?

I mention this because I no longer get love from DBD/FOB girls :*(....I'll have to find an Indian american or White american girl :*(((

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