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As South Asians living across oceans, our hearts beat with every major moment from home, be it joy or tragedy. The first half of 2025 has been nothing short of seismic for Indians abroad. From sombre nights when we stayed up refreshing news feeds with tear-filled eyes, to the boisterous weekends when Indian excellence made the world sit up, we've felt it all.
I feel it is important for our readers to have a moment of reckoning, our own 'lest we forget' moment. A halfway marker through a year that's reminded us what it means to be connected to India no matter where we live.
On June 12, a London bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take off from Ahmedabad;s Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport. The aircraft collided with a hostel complex at BJ - Medical college killing 241 of the242 people on board. Young students on their way to achieve their scholarship dreams in London, families returning from weddings back to their homes, families returning from their Eid celebrations. The crash ended everything. Diaspora families in London and their loved ones in India felt the most devastating shock of their lives and scrambled to reach their loved ones. The NRI community world over came together in an unprecedented manner; prayer vigils were held in gurudwaras in Brampton, candle marches in Auckland, prayer meetings wee organised in temples in Sharjah. British Gujarati leaders and communities organized multiple fundraisers for the families. These events, held in various locations, served as a platform for the Indian diaspora to come together, share their grief, and express solidarity with those who lost loved ones. What it reminded us: No matter where we live, our bloodlines run through India’s airspace. The pain is always ours.
On 22 April 2025, a terrorist attack by five armed terrorists near Pahalgam killed 26 people. This marked the deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Operation Sindoor - In response to the attack, India launched airstrikes targeting infrastructure used by the militants on the other side of the border. The four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan from 7–10 May 2025 was their deadliest in decades. For the first time since the 1971 India–Pakistan War, India targeted Pakistan’s heartland province of Punjab, with Pakistan targeting India’s own Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat states, both with drones and missiles. The exchange of strikes against military installations in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, and air bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj in India threatened to escalate into a full-fledged war between the two nuclear-armed countries. The United States brokered a ceasefire on 10 May, which continues to hold for now. The natural outcome in Diaspora families around the world was a increased state of anxiety, families were stranded at airports, airlines saw a record cancellation of travelling sectors. While the resilience of South Asian families ensured we move on, pray for those who lost their lives, what it reminded us was Peace back home is our collective prayer.
SPORTS: Shubman Gill's Record-Breaking Performance; Shubman Gill's record-breaking 8th century in Tests against England at Edgbaston also garnered international attention. The appointment and success of individuals like Arun Subramanian, the Indian-origin judge who oversaw Sean "Diddy" Comb's trial, brought positive international attention to India's talent pool. Neeraj Chopra broke his own record in Stockholm, prompting Indians in Vancouver and Abu Dhabi to hoist mini flags. Kush Maini is the first Indian to win an FIA Formula 2 race, achieving this feat at the Monaco Grand Prix. He won the Monaco sprint race, making history for Indian motorsport. This victory marks a significant milestone for Indian drivers on the international racing stage. At the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, South Korea, India finished second in the medal tally with a total of 24 medals. This impressive haul included 8 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
BOLLYWOOD: Deepika Padukone became the first Indian actress to receive this honor, joining the ranks of global icons. Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound" was selected for the Un Certain Regard section, with support from executive producer Martin Scorsese. Indian cinema and talent continue to gain international recognition, with more films securing global releases and actors receiving accolades on the world stage. Karan Johar’s comeback web-series on Amazon Prime caused binge-frenzies, especially amongst Desi Gen Z in Canada. Alia Bhatt's Cannes jury spot and Dev Patel's globally lauded thriller "Monkey Man" made 2025 a flex year. Meanwhile, a sleeper indie film in Tamil, Azhagiya Chennai, found cult status in film clubs in Perth and Leicester. What it reminded us: We’re not just in Bollywood. We’re beyond it. And the world is watching.
FESTIVALS: This Holi saw multi-city splash events from Auckland to Abu Dhabi. In London, the Holi at Hyde Park drew over 12,000 people in a riot of colour and food trucks while Baisakhi in Melbourne saw record turnout. Diaspora devotees around the world celebrated Maha Shiv Ratri and temples in Australia, UK and the US led the way. EID was equally celebrated with some of the largest iftar parties hosted by the diaspora across the NRI world.
At The Chaos Drop, we don’t do clickbait. We do culture. With this, our first blog back after a hiatus, we promise to bring stories that feel personal, proud, and powerful.
