A small confession before the news
Another week of soaring gold prices, tiring tariffs, and maybe a ceasefire that sticks.
Hello DoorDesi,
Unlike Taylor Swift, who responded to criticism of her new album by doubling down and saying “if it’s the first week of my album release and you are saying my name, you are helping”, I’m choosing the other route, the one with slightly less eyeliner and a bit more humility.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been feeling a little lost about where to take this newsletter next. Some weeks the words flow, other weeks I stare at my screen wondering if I’m just shouting into the void. DoorDesi started as a way for me to make sense of home from afar and you guys joined along with mirth but lately, I’m not sure if it’s still doing that for you (or even for me).
So this week, I’d really love to hear from you. What do you want from DoorDesi? What keeps you reading? What’s missing?
I promise to listen — no moody rerelease albums in response.
Thanks!
Just the gist
Gold and silver are having their main character moment. Within a week (call back to last week’s edition), they have both appreciated further in value. Gold has smashed past ₹1.22 lakh per 10g and silver hit a record ₹1.62 lakh per kg — powered by U.S. government shutdown chaos, global “de-dollarization,” and jittery investors rushing to anything shiny. Silver’s not just following gold’s glow. Did you know that it is used in EV manufacturing. EV makers are therefore, stockpiling it to keep production costs in check.
Analysts expect short-term dips (because what goes up that fast has to breathe), but the long-term view is still glittering.
➡️ For DoorDesis, this is both festive and financial: gold for Diwali, silver for your portfolio, and a reminder that global panic still makes for solid returns.
🔗 The unending onslaught of tariffs
The U.S.–China trade war just went to the next level. China has expanded export controls on rare earths - the metals that power everything from EVs to fighter jets -and Trump (is anyone surprised anymore?) hit back with a 100% tariff threat on Chinese goods. Anyone with the tiniest bit of investment knows how that went down in the last couple of days *cries in stock market*.
India, like a middle child, got caught in the fight. China is India’s biggest import source, the U.S. its biggest export destination - so with these two squabbling, our market is sweating. China’s curbs could choke India’s auto and electronics supply chains, while Trump’s tariff tantrums complicate Delhi’s own trade talks with Washington.
Experts say both superpowers are just posturing before possible trade talks, but the ripple effects are already being felt.
➡️ Yet another reminder that “globalisation” now means “who blinks first” and check up and if I am to believe my partner, don’t panic sell your investments. But you do you.
At the Global Fintech Fest 2025, PM Modi declared that while the world is still arguing over “trust and safety” in AI, India has already built it in. He called India’s AI vision All Inclusive (what?!) and backed by three pillars: equitable access, population-scale skilling, and responsible deployment.
Modi positioned India as the world’s “trust layer” in tech, pointing to the success of Indian open platforms like MOSIP (used by 25+ countries for digital IDs) and the JAM trinity that, in his words, turned banking from privilege to habit.
The summit doubled as a lovefest for the new UK–India partnership - PM Keir Starmer called the just-signed trade deal the UK’s biggest post-Brexit move.
➡️ As reported in one of the previous editions, watch the AI space in India for investments, for job, and for how LLM models change once India’s AI renaissance hits.
*Before I jump into the actual story, no amount of ‘cost’ should undermine this peace. No cost is higher than life and Israel’s war on Palestine has cost us enough of that.*
Maersk’s stock dipped this week after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire - case of peace literally sinking profits. For the past two years, Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea forced ships to reroute around Africa, tripling freight costs and turning global shipping into a money-printing machine.
With the ceasefire, trade routes via the Suez Canal could reopen, lowering costs for exporters, including India’s textile, seafood, and agri sectors, which depend on that corridor for 90% of their trade. But the Houthis haven’t signed off yet, and shipping lines won’t risk it till they do.
Meanwhile, India is using this crisis as a wake-up call. The government just approved a ₹69,725 crore shipbuilding push to cut dependence on foreign vessels.
➡️ Another avenue for investment for those living in and outside the country.
Trending on the internet
From last week’s raving reviews about Bollywood to week’s ‘what the fuck was that?’.
A new music video titled Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai - featuring Varun Dhawan, Rajkummar Rao, Arshad Warsi, and Vikrant Massey - has landed its stars in the middle of a social media firestorm.
I have to admit, I thought I was AI slob when I first saw it. I refused to believe that it was real till I found the original video on T-Series’ YT channel.
The track, produced by T-Series and sung by Meet Bros, is basically a resume of the three terms of the Modi government proving ‘Modi hai toh mumkin hai’ — anything’s possible with Modi — is true indeed. Never did I think I’d see something like that.
➡️ But if you are looking for good fun, I encourage you to read the comments under the video.
With love on behalf of two women who cringe at the mention of chai tea latte,
Sudeshna
Co-Founder, DoorDesi 💃
Housekeeping
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