Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Mindy Kaling's Brother Got Into Medical School As Black

Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Apr, 2015 01:58 PM
    Vijay Chokalingam, the older brother of Indian-American star of Fox sitcom The Mindy Project, claims he pretended to be black to get admission into a medical school back in 1998 and 1999.
     
    Chokalingam, a self-professed "Indian-American frat boy" with a 3.1 GPA, claims that when he initially applied to medical schools he found himself wait-listed at University of Pennsylvania, Washington University and Mt. Sinai.
     
    So he decided to try to apply to schools while claiming to be black because he believed the admissions standards for "certain minorities" were "less stringent."
     
    "Would you rather accept racism or defy those who want to discriminate against you? I chose the latter and applied to medical school as black," he posted on his website Almost Black taking an anti-affirmative action stance.
     
    Akin to reservation in India,affirmative action in the US is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group. These include racial quotas or gender quotas for collegiate admission.
     
    "I shaved my head, trimmed my long Indian eyelashes, and applied to medical school as a black man," named Jojo, he wrote chronicling his experience.
     
     
    "My change in appearance was so startling that my own fraternity brothers didn't recognize me at first. I even joined the Organization of Black Students," he wrote.
     
    On March 31, Chokalingam, 38, began posting screenshot proof to his Almost Black Facebook page of application paperwork, invitations to interviews and acceptance letters from medical programmes.
     
    These included Columbia University, Cornell University, George Washington University, Vanderbilt University and several others.
     
    "Let me clear about one thing. I never lied about anything on my application, except my race. Everything else on my application can be verified as correct. I didn't even claim that I was 'disadvantaged,' " Chokalingam wrote on Facebook.
     
     
    Kaling's brother is also working on a book detailing his anti-affirmative action stance.
     
    "I love my sister to death," Chokalingam told the New York Post of how he thinks she'll react to his public campaign. "She says this will bring shame on the family."
     
    Chokalingam went on to attend St. Louis University Medical School, but dropped out after two years.
     
    Mindy Kaling has not commented on her brother's claims.
     
    "Mindy has been estranged from her brother for years. She was not aware of his decision to apply to medical school under a different name and race," one of Kaling's reps told the Daily News.

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Empowerment Is About Evolving, Not Being A Sexist: Kangana

    Empowerment Is About Evolving, Not Being A Sexist: Kangana
    Actress Kangana Ranaut says the video "My Choice" must be appreciated for the effort towards promotion of women empowerment, but she is of the view that empowerment cannot happen by becoming sexists.

    Empowerment Is About Evolving, Not Being A Sexist: Kangana

    Akshay Kumar Starts Shooting For 'Singh Is Bliing'

    Akshay Kumar Starts Shooting For 'Singh Is Bliing'
    Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has started shooting for Prabhudheva's upcoming directorial venture “Singh Is Bliing” in Patiala.

    Akshay Kumar Starts Shooting For 'Singh Is Bliing'

    'Court', A Poignant And Touching Story: Aamir Khan

    'Court', A Poignant And Touching Story: Aamir Khan
    Actor Aamir Khan was moved after watching the National Film Award winning film "Court". He found it relevant and poignant.

    'Court', A Poignant And Touching Story: Aamir Khan

    Kangana To Begin Meena Kumari's Biopic In Mid-2016

    Kangana To Begin Meena Kumari's Biopic In Mid-2016
    Actress Kangana Ranaut has confirmed she has been roped in for the biopic on late Bollywood actress Meena Kumari, but says she won't be able to start with the film before mid-2016.

    Kangana To Begin Meena Kumari's Biopic In Mid-2016

    Sonal Chauhan Lands Special Role In 'Size Zero'

    Sonal Chauhan Lands Special Role In 'Size Zero'
    Actress Sonal Chauhan has landed an important role in Arya and Anushka Shetty starrer Tamil-Telugu bilingual "Size Zero", a romantic comedy about the travails of an obese girl.

    Sonal Chauhan Lands Special Role In 'Size Zero'

    Amazing To Get Two National Awards So Early On: Kangana Ranaut

    Amazing To Get Two National Awards So Early On: Kangana Ranaut
    Actress Kangana Ranaut says life has not changed much after winning a National Film Award for her performance in "Queen". But she admits that people are now showing faith in her and she is getting offers from big directors for more women-centric films.

    Amazing To Get Two National Awards So Early On: Kangana Ranaut