“Srilankitak filipiniyeh?” asked a young schoolboy to one of his classmates. This question literally means, “Is your Sri Lankan a Filipino?” Colloquialisms considered, it means, “Is your maid a Filipino?” In Lebanon, the word for “maid...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita is Associate Culture Section Manager and a sophomore concentrating in Middle East studies. She was conceived in Sri Lanka and born in London, like Marks & Spencer lingerie. She enjoys political theatre, playing jazz piano and travelling.
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“Srilankitak filipiniyeh?” asked a young schoolboy to one of his classmates. This question literally means, “Is your Sri Lankan a Filipino?” Colloquialisms considered, it means, “Is your maid a Filipino?” In Lebanon, the word for “maid...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
More than one million refugees have entered Lebanon since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, making up more than a quarter of Lebanon’s total population. According to Dr. Maha Shuayb from the Centre for Lebanese Studies, approximately 63...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
More than one million refugees have entered Lebanon since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, making up more than a quarter of Lebanon’s total population. According to Dr. Maha Shuayb from the Centre for Lebanese Studies, approximately 63...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
After the collapse of yet another round of US-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and yet another violent conflict in Gaza this summer, what are the prospects for a peaceful resolution? Maen Rashid Areikat, Chief Represen...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
After the collapse of yet another round of US-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and yet another violent conflict in Gaza this summer, what are the prospects for a peaceful resolution? Maen Rashid Areikat, Chief Represen...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
A completely student-led panel on Palestine and Israel....
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
A completely student-led panel on Palestine and Israel....
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Deeming the Palestinian Authority’s recent thoughts of reconciliation with Hamas helpful or harmful is premature at best. Such a determination of viability requires an important acknowledgment of the distinction between rhetoric and reality and a...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Deeming the Palestinian Authority’s recent thoughts of reconciliation with Hamas helpful or harmful is premature at best. Such a determination of viability requires an important acknowledgment of the distinction between rhetoric and reality and a...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
On January 13, Belgium legalized euthanasia for children, regardless of age. The legislation is aimed at relieving terminally ill minors who are nearing death and are experiencing “constant and unbearable suffering.” Historically, the Low Countri...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
On January 13, Belgium legalized euthanasia for children, regardless of age. The legislation is aimed at relieving terminally ill minors who are nearing death and are experiencing “constant and unbearable suffering.” Historically, the Low Countri...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
According to former Liberal Democratic Party minister Hakuo Yanagisawa, if Japan’s “baby making machines” stayed at home, they would produce more children and thus more workers. This economic justification for the fact only 60 percent of employ...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
According to former Liberal Democratic Party minister Hakuo Yanagisawa, if Japan’s “baby making machines” stayed at home, they would produce more children and thus more workers. This economic justification for the fact only 60 percent of employ...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
“You cannot have reconciliation without real, true justice being done,” asserted Rwandan prosecutor Jean Bosco Mutangana. Mutangana is the head of the government’s international crimes unit, and tasked with convicting the Hutu perpetrators who ...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
“You cannot have reconciliation without real, true justice being done,” asserted Rwandan prosecutor Jean Bosco Mutangana. Mutangana is the head of the government’s international crimes unit, and tasked with convicting the Hutu perpetrators who ...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Sri Lanka has long been a matter of contention in Indian domestic and foreign policy, a topic relevant to India’s upcoming general election (April 7th to May 12th). Tension in Sri Lankan-Indian relations reached new heights when Indian Prime Minist...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Sri Lanka has long been a matter of contention in Indian domestic and foreign policy, a topic relevant to India’s upcoming general election (April 7th to May 12th). Tension in Sri Lankan-Indian relations reached new heights when Indian Prime Minist...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
On May 18, 1944, Joseph Stalin forcibly deported the Crimean Tatars in what is known as the “Surgun” (Crimean Tatar for ‘exile’). As the recent international crisis in Crimea escalates, the fate of the Crimean Tatars has been neglected throu...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
On May 18, 1944, Joseph Stalin forcibly deported the Crimean Tatars in what is known as the “Surgun” (Crimean Tatar for ‘exile’). As the recent international crisis in Crimea escalates, the fate of the Crimean Tatars has been neglected throu...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
In 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, a red button marked “reset” (peregruzka) to commemorate the thawing relations between the United States and Russia. Unfortunately, according to Lavrov, p...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
In 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, a red button marked “reset” (peregruzka) to commemorate the thawing relations between the United States and Russia. Unfortunately, according to Lavrov, p...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Turbulent by Shirin Neshat. Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License. Turbulent is the first short film of a trilogy created by Iranian feminist, Shirin Neshat. In its many exhibitions, the film is projected on opposite walls and aims to convey th...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis
Turbulent by Shirin Neshat. Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License. Turbulent is the first short film of a trilogy created by Iranian feminist, Shirin Neshat. In its many exhibitions, the film is projected on opposite walls and aims to convey th...
Nikhita Mendis
Nikhita Mendis