Welcome back! Today we’re treating you to another look into culture and history. How did India come to sit on the world’s biggest stash of private gold? Read and find out. Then, we break into Netflix’s biggest release of the weekend — Black Mirror — before giving you the most important reminder for your summer ☀️👀

— Rosh

The Cultural and Economic Significance of Gold in India

India's love for gold is as ancient as its culture. From wedding jewelry to temple construction, gold is sewn into the fabric of the Indian identity. When even the most frugal households are owning and collecting the precious metal, it shows that the country values gold as a timeless investment rather than as a luxury expense.

How India Got Its Gold
For a land as vast and rich in geological features as the subcontinent, Indian mines only produce less than 1% of the global gold supply. Still, the country’s demand is roughly 30%, 4x that of North America entirely.

The majority of India’s gold is actually imported, and its earliest arrival dates back centuries when traders from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia traveled to the country for its abundance of fine silks and flavorful spices. With nothing else worthy enough to offer in exchange, Indians took their gold.

By the Numbers

• Indian households are sitting on $1.5T worth of gold.

• Indians make up 28% of the global gold market share.

• Indians purchased 611 tonnes of gold in 2021, a short second to China.

• 60% of gold sales in India are within the rural market.

• 65% of India’s $46 billion gold loan industry is dominated by informal lenders, whose interest rates can range from 25% to 50%.

@keertana.sree

I love knowing that im keeping a tradition going by wearing these pieces every day! #goldjewelry #indianclothing #indianhistory #indiantik... See more

Bigger Picture
Indian families are sitting on the world’s biggest stash of private gold. A physical and cultural investment, impoverished communities in India are even granted financing for gold purchases. The demand is so powerful that the nation has become fundamental for the health of the global industry entirely.

Ajay Mitra of the World Gold Council says, “If India sneezes, the gold industry will catch cold.” With one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and a recent mainstream buzz dedicated to appreciating Indian luxury, India is on its way to holding a global upper hand.

Netflix Dropped Season Six of “Black Mirror,” and It’s a Trip

After a four-year hiatus, “Black Mirror” returns with its sixth season. Met with mixed audience reviews, the season finale “Demon 79” follows ‘Nida Huq,’ played by Anjana Vasan, a shoe saleswoman. When a co-worker complains of the stench of her biryani, Nida is forced to have lunch in the abandoned basement and is met with a demon and an apocalyptic ultimatum.

Co-written by Disney+ Ms. Marvel writer, Bisha K. Ali, this episode goes back in time to the ‘70s when a conservative white politician is leading the British elections in a predominantly white neighborhood where Nida’s South Asian race stands out.

Fast forward to real life today, where the UK has its first South Asian Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. With a show as ‘meta’ and boundary-pushing as “Black Mirror,” do you think this episode is playfully poking fun in the past due to the progress our community has made in the present?

Our Top Three Picks of the Season

• Episode 1: Joan Is Awful

• Episode 2: Loch Henry

• Episode 3: Beyond the Sea

PSA: Being Brown Doesn’t Mean You Can Skip SPF

Summer means it’s time to heat up - but your skin shouldn’t have to suffer. Up until recently, the sunscreen market was severely lacking in options for BIPOC. But with greater attention and demand, companies have actively addressed the gap, creating formulas that are better suited to work with skincare concerns like hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, and texture.

Why You Shouldn’t Skimp On Sunscreen

A common misconception amongst BIPOC is that sunscreen isn’t required for deeper skin tones. That isn’t exactly true. Even though darker-skinned groups have increased protection due to increased melanin, skin cancer can still appear in less prominent locations and is still a risk every time we step outside, so it’s recommended to wear sunscreen both indoors and outdoors.

• UVA waves are shorter wavelengths and are typically responsible for sunburn; they can still penetrate surfaces such as glass windows.

• UVB rays can increase your risk of skin cancer over time but are also responsible for fine lines and wrinkles.

Direct exposure to the sun and UV damage can also lead to a number of other skin concerns like dark spots, blotchy skin, and early onset signs of aging.

Remember to aim for SPF 30 or higher, apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes prior to going outside, and reapply every 2 hours if you can. Sunscreens can be applied alone, underneath moisturizer, and underneath makeup. Some formulations can be applied on top of makeup as well.

@deepica

Coming this July. Link in the bio☀️☺ @livetinted #internationalsuperspy #backyardigans #spf #sunscreen #desi #indian #browngirlproblems #fyp #foryou

Here are some tried and true favorites that have minimal to no white cast and helped protect us in preparation for the heat wave to come.

• Live Tinted Hueguard Mineral SPF 30

• Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+

• Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30

• Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

• Versed Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 35

Other Notable News

• Kamal. released a new track “people don’t change (demo).”

• Simran Budhwani released a new track “Memories.”

• Supreme Sidhu released a music video for “Loaded Freestyle.”

• Nusrat Choudhury is the first Muslim woman and the first Bangladeshi-American to be confirmed as a federal judge.

• Rastah dropped a new collection “INTERMISSION 8.”

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

Writers: Roshni Lalchandani, Aneesa Khan, Nikita Satapathy

Editors: Raghu Alla, Roshni Lalchandani