Political correctness has never been an Indian strong suit. Comments on weight and appearance is something Indians – men, women and children – have come to expect and become inured to. That’s why it’s so interesting and a bit curious to see Aishwarya’s post-baby weight gain criticism come as news to the world media.

Fact: Aishwarya Rai is an incredibly beautiful woman.

Fact: Beauty is her brand.

A brand around which a carefully orchestrated worldwide campaign was built and nurtured from the minute she stepped on the world stage. A brand built to target and profit from most Indians’ obsession with western standards of beauty – fair skin, lithe figures and light eyes. A brand also used to market her acceptance in a world dominated by western media.

Is the criticism shallow, mean, insensitive, unfair and completely unnecessary? Yes.

Unexpected and surprising? No.

Aishwarya Rai should seize this moment. She can take on the hordes of politically incorrect, shallow-minded haters (many women among them) and challenge them to redefine standards of beauty…and civility while she’s at it. She’ll win a lot more kudos and fans if she made this move.

A post on Aishwarya Rai without a picture? Yup. That’s my contribution to the protest against shallow and relentless pursuit of ‘beauty.’

(Via Sky News) The capsules were made in northeastern China from babies whose bodies were chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder, the Korea customs service said. Laboratory analysis revealed the brown powdery substance found in the capsules was made from human remains.

In an update to this horrifying story, it seems the pills may not be baby bodies ground up, but human placenta….which evidently ‘scientists are suggesting’ is good for you.

Japan is shutting down its last working nuclear reactor this weekend. This will be the first time since 1970 that the country will not use nuclear power.

Via Co.Exist, a profile of Ashok Gadgil, ‘The Unknown Inventor Whose Work Is Saving the Developing World’

Billionaires, can’t live with them, can’t live without them. Forbes’ asks us to imagine a world without Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Eike Batista and Richard Branson.

(Via ibelieveinadv.com)

Here’s the Zuckerberg version

Ashton Kutcher as 'Raj' in Popchips ad

1. The Indian Accent –  It’s only funny if Russell Peters does it (video below if you need further explanation).  It’s not funny when a non-Indian or Indian fakes it.
2. Brownface – Don’t. Just don’t. Let me repeat. DON’T.
3. Sanjay, Raj and Kumar – Yes, common Indian names they are, but it’s time to move on.
4. The effeminate and/or asexual Indian male – India’s population is 1.2 billion. Do the math.
5. Stupid bumbling Indian – take a walk through Silicon Valley or your nearest hospital emergency room.
6. Princes, princesses, snake charmers, gurus and beggars – done, done, done, done and overdone.
7. Bollywood – nobody does Bollywood better than Bollywood. Hire Bollywood choreographers if you must go there.
8. Kitsch garish Bollywood costumes – same as above. Buying them from Little Indias’ in America is not the same thing.
9. Cow jokes – Don’t joke about why westerners don’t eat dogs and cats? OK, same rule applies to cows.
10. Gandhi – self-explanatory.
11. 7-11 and Dunkin Donuts owners – think of them as the entrepreneurial engine that fuels business.
12. Hindu Gods – they may look strange, colorful and add exotic pizzazz your campaign needs. Read up on the powerful stories behind them and you’ll learn to respect the incredible creativity of the minds that came up with that imagery.

Avoid all the above, and you won’t be wasting precious money, time and resources on campaigns that will be pulled.