In 1954, Raj Kapoor landed in Moscow during the Cold War—without proper papers, yet greeted like royalty. Crowds mobbed him, singing Awara Hoon—a film that sold 64 million tickets in the USSR. But Bollywood was just India’s opening act. From Buddhism and Yoga to Indian English and Hinglish, from zero and space missions to chicken tikka masala and turmeric lattes—India’s cultural exports have shaped the world. And beyond food, films, and philosophy, India’s greatest gift remains its idea of unity in diversity. Palki Sharma brings you the story of India’s quiet, enduring influence.
