'Masala Girls' and 'Desi Boys'!

What is 'Chutney Kidz', 'Masala Girls' and 'Desi Boys'? They are names of funky cartoon greeting cards designed by an Indian-origin entrepreneur, who has hit the big league by producing cards with Indian and Asian motifs.

Walk into a greeting cards store in Britain and you rarely see cards that resonate with Asian culture.

Samantha Alfred (35), saw a gap in the market, and set about creating cards that British Asians could identify with.

Some time ago, when Samantha got fed up looking for the right Christmas card that reflected her identity as a British Asian Christian, she decided "enough was enough".

Armed with an arts degree, she set up a company called 'Jivana Style' and went back to the drawing board.

The hand-made cards she produced became an instant hit with her family and friends. Soon, a little shop in Windsor gave her the break and there has been no looking back since.

"The fresh and funky cartoons on my cards reflect the young, dynamic and fashionable British Asian community of today. I mean, look at the Masala Girls, the Desi Boyz and the Chutney Kidz, they're selling like hot cakes," she said.

Samantha's Jivana cards have two distinct strands: its most popular one broadly appeals to Asian communities featuring brightly coloured characters such as the ultra Bollywood Punjabi Princess or cool Bhangra Boy.

These eye-catching cartoon figures now regularly occupy the shelves of 200 stores, including Clinton Cards, Asda and Sainsbury's all over the UK.

Another Angle May Exist?!

A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Arnav asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”Within a few seconds Arnav replied confidently, “Four!”

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three). She was disappointed. “Maybe the child did not listen properly,” she thought. She repeated, “Arnav, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

Arnav had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four…”

The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that Arnav liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?”

Seeing the teacher happy, young Arnav calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Arnav enquired, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?”

Promptly Arnav answered, “Four!”

The teacher was aghast. “How Arnav, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.

In a voice that was low and hesitating young Arnav replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”


“When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect don't think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.”