So, another advertising campaign, another round of outrage on Indian social media. These images of abused goddesses, with the lines: “Pray that we never see this day. Today, more than 68 per cent of women in India are victims of domestic violence. Tomorrow, it seems like no woman shall be spared. Not even the ones… Continue reading These images of abused goddesses are not “incredibly powerful”
Category: Indiawatch
Culture-Society-Development-Politics-Quirks
This time, it’s personal
Enough and more has been said and written about the Delhi gangrape and the reactions of the nation to that horrific crime. I shed tears, along with many women I know, the day she died. I went for a peaceful protest demonstration at Shivaji Park, I discussed it endlessly with my husband and followed every… Continue reading This time, it’s personal
Battle of the beverages
It is early evening, still a couple of hours to go before the sun sets. In a roadside stall, a blackened pan sits on a single stove, a brown sludgy mixture of milk, tea, and sugar brewing in it since morning. And in front of the stall, a dozen men of all ages exchanging the… Continue reading Battle of the beverages
Tell me a story
Long time no blog. For now, here is a longish story I wrote for The National on oral storytelling traditions in India. I had great fun researching for and writing this story. To watch Jeeva Raghunath tell a story is a bit like being transported back to one’s childhood; those days of innocence when you… Continue reading Tell me a story
Tamilnadu’s cradle babies
Remember Baby Falak? In a country where babies, especially girls are abandoned and killed every day, the story of the bruised and battered two-year-old girl is not really new or particularly shocking. Now leave Baby Falak for a moment and travel with me across the country. To Tamil Nadu, which has one of the highest… Continue reading Tamilnadu’s cradle babies
It happens only in India
You are still reading this blog? Really? And have you also been reading other things I have been writing on the www? Go check them out now on my website (I can never get used to how grand that sounds!). Here on WSJ – Dimsum in India, This is not that and On the new… Continue reading It happens only in India
Bring back the fun in festivals
For the last few days, every time I speak to my mother on the phone, she has been urging me to buy new clothes for self and husband. We are driving to Chennai to be with my parents for Deepavali and tradition at our home demands that we have new clothes for the day. Looking… Continue reading Bring back the fun in festivals
Campaigning in the times of technology
Gone are the days of one rupee rice and free saris – now is the time of ecampaigning… so this – Congress to set up Internet kiosks across India to attract youth and this – BJP promises free mobiles to poor, broadband for all at INR 200… Good idea. Then you can call your local… Continue reading Campaigning in the times of technology
On doing your own thing
Monday morning is as good a time as any to think about this. More and more people I know are dropping out of what they call the corporate race, to run to a race whose drummer only they can hear. What is this about doing your own thing? (I know, look who’s talking and all… Continue reading On doing your own thing
Free hugs and pink chaddis
Update: My article on the pink chaddi campaign was published in the Women’s International Perspective. In Bangalore, the hug karo campaign… Though we did not keep a steady count, I’m quite certain that our group gave out at least 50-70 hugs which considering the small group was a pretty good number. However, the entire time,… Continue reading Free hugs and pink chaddis