Comments on: Handicapping the semi-finalists

By: BobbyBrown

BobbyBrown — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:40:21 +0000

71 Ã‚Â· Divya on May 29, 2009 09:52 AM Ã‚Â· Direct link I was looking at the list of all the desi kids who have been in the finals of the National Spelling Bee the last several years and I don't think I saw anybody from the part of India where my parents come from. My level of ethnic pride is lower then usual due to this fact. He, he Suki. You have to take the good with the bad. We don't know exactly why Indians win spelling bees but it probably has to do with culture and not genes (unlike winning marathons which is due more to biological and geographical reasons). South indians generally are more conservative than north indians, which by indian standards means much less individualistic and self-sacrficing towards the family. Kavya's grandchildren will be All American and will probably flunk the spelling bee. Not because they're dumb but more due to cultural reasons.

Then again, there's guys like M. Night Shyamalan, Jay Chandrasekhar, and Aziz Ansari. So..when South Indians rebel, they really know how to do it.

By: webman

webman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:11:07 +0000

When I saw Kavya in the Spelling Bee Finals on ABC, along with my family. I commented to my wife this looks like a Kannadiga girl. It so happens she is indeed Kannadiga and to top it she is a Gowda girl too. Kavya certainly made Gowdas all over the world proud.

Also the first runner up Aishwarya Pastapur is also a Kannadiga. First, Aravind Adiga with his Booker prize and then Bhimsen Joshi with Bharath Ratna. Now these Kannada girls showing their smarts in the Spelling Bee at the world stage. Kannadigas are on a role. Go Kannadigas!!

By: rob

rob — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:13:06 +0000

Trust me you would know if you are one- your mum would make mutton chops or koli saaru on Sundays

Damn it! My (Tamil) mommy tends to "order out" on Sunday, even if I'm visiting. She claims that she "works" (or something) and likes to relax on the weekends. Now I know why I'm so damn "assimilated."

By: Gowda gal

Gowda gal — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:59:54 +0000

I wasn't faking it.. Just tounge in cheek. I'm not proud to be a gowda or whatever, I abhor the caste system, hell I even married "out-of-caste" but I do agree with Bunt, most Brams jump up and down to claim all south India intel. I don't ever get involved but I know Kavya and was amused by these claims. Manju: Gowda is actually Vokkaliga, there is VPA in the US which is like FOKANA etc. Trust me you would know if you are one- your mum would make mutton chops or koli saaru on Sundays Over & out.

By: stop this faking

stop this faking — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:41:26 +0000

Manju, you’re welcome. But, more importantly, what does Bess think?

By: Manju

Manju — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:12:54 +0000

thrown up good-looking people

thank u

By: louiecypher

louiecypher — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:01:46 +0000

She isn't a Brahmin either, we gowdas are poor low caste farmers what exactly is a gowda? a caste? i think i'm one of them

It's a very louche I-banker full of double entendres or an unpasteurized cheese favored by I-bankers

By: Yoga Fire

Yoga Fire — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:55:34 +0000

Kavya's victory in rote-learning

So does it make you feel proud of yourself to disparage a 13 year old girl's accomplishments? What exactly have you done oh master of critical thinking and creativity?

By: stop this faking

stop this faking — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:07:55 +0000

No more funny than Gowdas and Bunts insisting that they are poor, uneducated, lacking in power, not responsible for the faults of our society, even if they have always had the majority, thrown up leaders, thrown up good-looking people, and demonstrated academic prowess.

By: Manju

Manju — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:07:29 +0000

She isn't a Brahmin either, we gowdas are poor low caste farmers

what exactly is a gowda? a caste? i think i'm one of them.