A golden girl
THE WEEK India|September 29, 2024
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
NAMRATA ZAKARIA
A golden girl

Aswani was the wife of Pessumal Aswani, an ultra wealthy Sindhi businessman with global interests, especially between Africa and India. Along with Sunita Pitamber, Uma Dubash and Parmeshwar Godrej, Indira Aswani made for the golden quartet of Bombay's grand dames. They were very wealthy wives, renowned hostesses and upholders of the highest echelons of privileged society. They existed before Instagram, or the internet, or the glut of gushing glossy magazines. They entertained fabulously, wore international fashion, collected art before it was an acquisition, they could sniff an antique from far away, simply because it probably came back with them in one of their 10 suitcases. Their drawing rooms were where you met India's nation builders, American presidents, Hollywood stars and a sprinkling of royalty from across the world. You almost never read about these evenings. If you knew you just knew, before it became a hashtag.

This story is from the September 29, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 29, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEK INDIAView All
OIL AND MORE
THE WEEK India

OIL AND MORE

India cannot be a spectator to what is unravelling in West Asia, say experts

time-read
4 mins  |
February 09, 2025
We hope India will support two-state solution and help rebuild Gaza
THE WEEK India

We hope India will support two-state solution and help rebuild Gaza

War-torn Gaza, once home to Yasser Arafat, dreamt of self governance for the Palestinian territories. This time, its people are looking towards the Palestinian Authority to play a bigger role in helping implement the phased Israel-Hamas ceasefire, rebuilding territory and uniting Palestinians.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 09, 2025
BACK TO BROMANCE
THE WEEK India

BACK TO BROMANCE

India's strategy will be to convince President Trump that there is no daylight between him and Prime Minister Modi in advancing their shared goals

time-read
5 mins  |
February 09, 2025
Next industrial revolution will be driven by biotechnology and bio-economy
THE WEEK India

Next industrial revolution will be driven by biotechnology and bio-economy

IN AUGUST 2024, the Union cabinet approved the BioE3 policy—Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment, a framework policy to leverage biotechnology for India's economic growth, environmental sustainability and employment generation. It prioritises bio-manufacturing initiatives in various sectors like biopolymers, smart proteins, bio-therapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, and marine and space research.

time-read
5 mins  |
February 09, 2025
AMERICAN NIGHTMARE
THE WEEK India

AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

With his strident anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions, Donald Trump is killing the American dream for both documented and undocumented workers. Indians, especially the H-1B visa holders and aspirants, could suffer the most under the new administration's policies

time-read
10 mins  |
February 09, 2025
ARMS LINKED
THE WEEK India

ARMS LINKED

Trump may accommodate India's defence requirements, given his longstanding animosity towards China's military might

time-read
2 mins  |
February 09, 2025
Sync the watch; go clockwise
THE WEEK India

Sync the watch; go clockwise

Time travel is all fiction. You get into a time machine, shut yourself in, and vroom! The next moment (oops! no 'next moment' in time travel) you show up in Akbar's court, Asoka's vihaara or Ajatashatru's battlefield. Take care; the last guy killed his own pop.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 09, 2025
TRUMP CARD
THE WEEK India

TRUMP CARD

Key Israeli and Arab leaders alike will fear the cost of saying no to President Donald Trump, and that is what is needed to end the Israel-Gaza war

time-read
4 mins  |
February 09, 2025
Give or take
THE WEEK India

Give or take

The power-sharing pact in Karnataka cannot be conveniently forgotten now

time-read
5 mins  |
February 09, 2025
The AAP doesn't have a face
THE WEEK India

The AAP doesn't have a face

WHILE THE BJP has swept the last three Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, it has faltered at the assembly stage. Since October, Baijayant Panda, BJP national vice-president and Lok Sabha member from Odisha, has been spearheading the party's campaign to break its “capital jinx”. In an interview with THE WEEK at his home, adorned with works of Jamini Roy and M.F. Husain, Panda was optimistic that Delhi voters were ready for change. Excerpts:

time-read
4 mins  |
February 09, 2025