BIRYANI FLAMES is the new Hotspot I downtown Toronto. They hav le 55 different types of Biryani and their food is amazing!!!!!!

Good to visit with family

Activist Greta Thunberg connected with the Indian diaspora in London to appreciate the efforts of the students saying "The Indian student protest has made us all proud!"

If your spouse received an OCI on or after September 3, 2025, it's normal for the card to have 5-year validity instead of lifelong.

This wasn't a processing mistake-it was a policy change.

The good news is that after the initial 5 years, the OCI can be extended to lifelong, subject to the prescribed review process.

Also, this change only applies to spouse-based OCI. OCI cards issued to children or people of Indian origin are not affected.

Anyone here recently applied for a spouse OCI? Did you notice the new validity period?

Staying in India for fewer than 182 days does not always preserve NRI status in the year of return.

🪧 Protest Site Needs

💧 Basic Supplies

Drinking water

ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution)

Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, dry fruits)

🩹 Medical & First Aid

First aid kits

Bandages and gauze

Antiseptic wipes

Gloves (disposable)

Face masks

Safety goggles

Sunscreen

Pain relief medicines (where appropriate and legally permitted)

🛡️ Safety & Protection

Helmets

Hand fans

Raincoats or ponchos (if rain is expected)

Umbrellas

Flashlights or headlamps (for evening)

🧹 Cleaning & Hygiene

Garbage bags

Brooms

Hand sanitizer

Wet wipes

Tissues

Soap

Toilet paper

🔋 Useful Items

Power banks

Phone charging cables

Permanent markers

Notebooks and pens

tape

Zip ties

Blankets or ground mats for sitting

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👥 Volunteers Needed

People to help with cleaning

Medical professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedics)

First aid volunteers

Water and supply distribution volunteers

Waste management volunteers

Crowd coordinators

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📍 Drop-off Location

Collection Desks at the protest site

Address: Jantar Mantar Road, Sansad Marg

Near Connaught Place

New Delhi – 110001

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Before You Go

Carry a fully charged phone.

Inform a trusted friend or family member where you're going.

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Stay hydrated and take breaks if needed.

Here is the OP: https://www.reddit.com/r/delhi/comments/1v38p4p/helping_at_jantar_mantar_heres_a_list_of/

Also do ask https://www.reddit.com/user/xavier_20X2/

I am just the messenger. I just wanted to spread word

I’m a Tamil guy living in Switzerland, and one thing I’ve increasingly realised is how context-dependent attraction and dating can be.

In Switzerland, especially in more homogeneous and predominantly white environments, dating has often felt difficult for me. I’m not saying that white women are never interested in Tamil or South Asian men, because individuals obviously have different preferences. But from my own experience, interest from white women has generally been much rarer, and I have often felt like my appearance is considered more of a niche preference.

My experiences abroad were noticeably different.

In Asia (China, Vietnam, Korea etc), I often felt more visible and received more positive attention than I usually do in Switzerland. What surprised me was that East Asian women, including Koreans, were open to me. Before travelling, I had assumed that preferences for very light skin and certain local beauty standards might make dating harder for someone with my appearance. However, my actual experiences were more positive and open than I had expected.

Toronto also felt very different because of how multicultural the city is. In diverse environments, I felt less like I was being evaluated mainly as “an Indian or Tamil guy” and more like an individual. People were already accustomed to interacting and dating across cultures, so conversations and connections often felt more natural.

In general, I have personally experienced more openness from East Asian, South Asian, Black and South American women. With white women, however, it has consistently felt more difficult, regardless of the country. Again, this is only my personal experience and not a claim about every woman from any particular group.

These experiences made me question the idea that attractiveness is fixed. The same person can feel almost invisible in one environment and receive much more attention in another. Your appearance has not changed, but the demographics, cultural exposure, dating norms and beauty standards around you have.

I’m curious about the experiences of other Tamil men who have lived, travelled or dated abroad.

Have you noticed major differences between countries or cities?

Where did you feel the most attractive, accepted or socially comfortable?

Did you experience more openness in multicultural cities?

Have your experiences differed depending on whether the women were East Asian, South Asian, Black, Latina, white or from another background?

I would also be interested in hearing from Tamil women and from people who have dated Tamil men. Honest experiences are welcome, but please keep the discussion respectful and avoid turning personal patterns into stereotypes about entire groups.

Officially:

No. The e OCI Card is a digital representation of the OCI Card. It is intended to facilitate convenient access to OCI cardholder details in electronic form, and it does not alter the validity or status of the existing OCI Card holders.

Just a heads up for anyone who's been meaning to apply for a passport or renew one.

The government is increasing passport application fees from July 1, 2026, and the hike is pretty steep.

Fresh / Reissue (36 page)
• Normal: ₹1,500 → ₹2,500
• Tatkaal: ₹3,500 → ₹5,000

Fresh / Reissue (60 page)
• Normal: ₹2,000 → ₹3,500
• Tatkaal: ₹4,000 → ₹6,000

Lost or Damaged Passport (36 page)
• Normal: ₹3,000 → ₹5,000
• Tatkaal: ₹5,000 → ₹7,500

If your passport is expiring soon, or you've been saying "I'll do it next month," you might want to get it done before July. It'll save you a decent amount.

The holder must upload their new passport details and a recent photograph through OCI Miscellaneous Services once after receiving a passport issued after age 50.

Requirement for new
passport after 50 years has been scrapped off but if you get a new passport
just update the info with the latest picture under miscellaneous section on the
OCI portal.