Kali is the Hindu goddess of death, time, and doomsday. She is associated with sexuality and violence but is also considered a strong symbol of motherly love. I use the word “but”…
Women
It was a particularly dry summer in Jodhpur this year. The air was still. The heat made Kalpana stay inside the house. Except for the occasional vegetable shop visits or the pharmacist…
In college, everyone teased her about her weight. She was aware that she more fuller than the others. She defended the soft bullying by making jokes about herself. Most were drawn to…
Today I remember the Mahalaya of my childhood in Shillong. The soft winter rays on the leftover diamond-like raindrops on our roofs. The early foggy morning bath in the mist-filled mountains, full…
She sat perched delicately at the bar counter on a high stool. Her drape dress was lifelessly hanging like a noose on the ground below. She was with a man. He looked…
Mira was grieving. Her eyes were swollen, lips dry, hair disheveled and a line was permanently etched around her mouth. She had PCOD and the weight gain was unsightly. Mira tried new…
Watching Sakina get onto the train, was a big relief for her father. At home were two more unmarried daughters. His fertile young wife could never bear him a son, he so…
It was in the school playground that Marian realised, she sucked at sports. She could never win any race. The games teacher dissed her, called her a snail, a tortoise, and pushed…
It was in the narrow lanes of the Koel bird, the black crows, and the Palash blooms that Rekha was born to Bijon. Rekha was dark with sharp features and was an…
The narrow black box confined her body like a coffin. She had been inside this for hours now. She felt breathless. The box was clearly not made for her body measurements. It…
Imagine to wake up one morning to a revelation that you have been doing “Karwachauth” and putting up posts of your happy marriage, looking like the perfect family, but the ugly truth…
Criticism and judgemental comments are doled out in abundance towards women who question gender identity and roles. It requires huge self belief for women to stand their ground on gender equality dialogues.…
He is the kind of guy you feel safe with in your drunken evening. He compliments easily. He will wait till you get off the car and lock your door in. He…
The shrill cry of the new born girl was a moment of celebration for the entire community. Everyone rejoiced this moment, except the mother. The mother lay still knowing very well what…
I sorely miss watching a good film in a cinema hall with popcorn and coffee. The joy of watching films full screen, in a darkened hall is a delight to my senses.…
Have you ever noticed how women in buses, local trains, rickety rickshaws or a chauffeur driven car have the perfect knack of applying make up in the little vanity mirror? So I…
I was invited to a party at an official acquaintance’s home. Parties always get me all excited. The idea to dress up and look pretty is such a girlie thing. So…
Aparna Sen remains an extended crush since childhood. It is an unending fascination for the woman she is and her contribution to the Bengal film industry. I used to cut and glue…
It started with a small discolouration on the side of her finger. She was too frightened to tell anyone and thought it must be nothing. She wore the biggest ring to cover…
It is the undying memory of the cold MRI machine in the quiet hospital that stays like a pending shut and open case of my heart. As I shut my eyes, even…
You Live In The Soul Of Every Woman. Dear Diego, As I celebrate my birthday today, I acknowledge the consciousness of your presence in my life. The innate vision that was able…
She stood bent over her years. Long hair, large eyes,and lips that constantly sang her every-morning hymn for Krishna. Her prayers to the lord were to pass her over to the other…
You can listen to the podcast version of this article by clicking the green play button below. Those who prefer to read, please read on! He is the feisty activist sort you…
एक दिहाड़ी पर काम करने वाली मजदूर औरत की कहानी, उसकी ज़ुबानी, जो अभी के हालात समझ नहींपा रही है। जिसकी ज़िन्दगी वैसे ही जुझारू और किस तरह से लॉकडॉउन की वजह…
I watched her shameful bosom silently heave a heavy sigh, as she heard and cringed when friends told her “this colour won’t suit you. It’s not for your skin tone”. She knew…
My favourite film till date remains Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray. The film is an adaptation from Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay’s novel “Aam Atir Bhepu”. This was a novel that I read as a…
I recall one summer noon, as I sat in my balcony engrossed in my thoughts. I had lost track of all the dog ears I had created in my book. I had…
Pavitra Muddaya of Vimor has worked tirelessly in the world of crafts since the last 40 years. Her saris were worn by the Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her designs are…
This is the first article in a series about the untold stories of displaced immigrants & migrants. Sobha Das was waiting for days and nights for his return. After the storm broke…
What might Ma Annapurna Devi have written to Pandit Ravishankarji on his birthday, if she could? ❧ Dear Panditji, Wishing you a very happy birthday today. On 7th April 1920, you were…
I have the privilege to be able to love this lockdown; it’s come at such a cost for so many. I do occasionally miss my cafe and the staff who know my…
I have always had a problem when I find a general consensus of television shows and pornography where the women is the protagonist. I do feel the man is sidelined here. We…
As my days have once again become more and more occupied with writing, brands and marketing, I began scribbling notes, because I found in this meaningful episode I’m going through I meet…
A quick update this time rather than a blog post! I did the script and voiceover for a video as part of a campaign for the brilliant clothing brand The Meraki World.…
Grass is always greener on the other side and in some cases, it is greener and dreamier by your side. The majestic Devarayanadurga Mountains were looming ahead as I navigated my way…
Beyond the unspoken and spoken words lie thoughts. Those thoughts are also dreams that sometimes urge us to translate that fluidity into a form also called reality. When we realize those inner…
It was on this rushed evening on a bright yellow sunny day that I stumbled upon Shilpi Yadhav’s Kharakapas brand of clothing. I followed the brand online & thought this will surely…
Again, yes, all over again the entitlement towards gratification and validation (which we call “patriarchy”, for short) raised its ugly head in Hyderabad, as they found the charred remains of 26 year…
She could feel the first blood trickle down her legs. She was 11 years old and not even coherent enough to acknowledge that the fertility Goddess had bestowed her with the gift…
The sound of the marching boots and the incessant screams of the tribals fighting for their land reverberated into the stillness of the chilly evenings. Evenings fell and morning suns broke early…
Invaders since history have plundered and destroyed in a macho desire to establish their identity. And while establishing identity of their separate culture they also have left footprints of their rich art…