United everywhere except at home

On his first day as New York's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani posted a photo on Instagram of himself eating momos, a Nepali dumpling beloved across the South Asian diaspora in the city.

- BIBEK RAJ KANDEL AND CHRISTINA MONROE

Within hours, Kathmandu's social media lit up: The first thing he did after winning one of the world's most visible political offices was eat something most savoured in the Himalayas.

India had every reason to celebrate. He was still the son of Indian immigrant parents, a story of diaspora success that resonated deeply, even among those who disagreed with his politics. Across the border, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis joined in too, seeing in Mamdani both a Muslim trailblazer and a South Asian figure who transcended national lines. In that brief moment, Mamdani, born in Uganda and now an American Mayor, somehow became everyone's man, a reminder that South Asia can feel united everywhere except at home.

Just days before Mamdani's victory, a young participant from Pakistan was meant to attend a South Asian youth workshop in Dhaka, but there was no direct flight. She had to detour through Dubai, spending a night in transit and nearly a thousand dollars to cover a distance shorter than Srinagar to Chennai. Fly east of Lahore; it should be a three-hour hop, at least on the map. Geography has rarely felt so political. The irony was that the regional dialogue was on youth and new leadership in a region that can barely meet.