Rahul Gandhi’s trip to the United States of America where he interacted with political and business leaders, students, and Non Resident Indians is being largely seen as a success. It has been universally admitted that the young leader spoke with clarity and honesty seldom seen in politics. He was reflexive[Read More…]
Author: Swati Saxena
Online communication is overtaking face-to-face chats and that may be a good thing
Large part of discourse that has centred around critiquing technology has been insistent on one common theme: the death of face to face conversations that are fast and firmly being replaced by digital modes if communication- Skype, Whats App, emails, FaceTime and Facebook etc. Recently a picture surfaced of a[Read More…]
Intimate Partner Violence in India: Murders and Marital Rape
When a wealthy and powerful nobleman asks the hand of his neighbour’s youngest daughter, it terrifies her family. While he boasts of a luxurious palace and riches, there is a hitch – all his previous wives have mysteriously disappeared. Yet the girl gets married to him against her will. One[Read More…]
Why young Indians still don’t question the caste system in love and matrimony?
The girl in question was bright and ambitious. She and her family desired a match who could fulfil her emotionally and intellectually. They had no preference for caste, class, or eating habits.
Women Interrupted: Mansplaining and more…
Recently a panel discussion on sexism in Indian comic industry had only one woman on the panel, to discuss incidentally why Amazon Prime had signed 14 male comics to release the one hour specials. The panel was widely derided, especially when the woman panellist was repeatedly interrupted by others. Another[Read More…]
Leaving hotel rooms…
Leaving a hotel room induces mild anxiety. Firstly, one is compulsively turning the thick duvets and opening the random bed side drawers (which one can swear have never been used) to check for any stuff left behind- earrings are most likely candidates but there are also chargers, and in worst[Read More…]
The Discreet Charm of the Small Town…
Ruskin Bond, besides his writing, is known for his fondness for his hometown Mussoorie. Most of his stories are also based in the hills. His Roads to Mussoorie is his loving tribute to the beautiful hill town. He writes about the lovely and languid pace of the city and his[Read More…]
Fearless Girl: Symbol of feminism, a debate in art, or a lesson in male fragility?
The controversy surrounding the Fearless Girl refuses to die down. After the statue managed to piss off the creator of the Charging Bull, it has been joined by a Pissing Dog. Literally. To give some perspective: the Fearless Girl statue is a bronze sculpture of a girl with hands on[Read More…]
13 reasons why India needs to talk about Suicide
Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, adapted from novel by the same name by Jay Asher has generated much debate and controversy since it has been aired. The series is based on 13 tapes by Hannah Baker that she records before committing suicide. Each tape holds one person responsible and the[Read More…]
Women involvement is key to making India open defecation free
In India, one in two people defecate in the open, making India a country with the dubious distinction of having the largest number of people defecate in the open in the world, at more than 564 million (UNICEF report). The rural-urban divide is most pronounced in this case with about[Read More…]
What ails the Indian millennials?
Millennials, or the generation Y, following the generation X can largely be defined as the generation born from the early 1980s to early 2000s. In other words the millennials are today’s adults. India with its largest youth population enjoys a great demographic dividend that puts it at enviable position of[Read More…]
What the attack on Nigerians tells us about vigilantism and mob violence?
A video has surfaced recently which brings out the worst of humanity. It features a brutal mob attacking Nigerian nationals in a Noida mall. Watching it is an exercise of ultimate outrage and mind numbing fear. It combines the racial hatred with violence of the mob. It proves what we[Read More…]
Women in Politics: Rising in spite of sexism
Recent fact sheet in India Today magazine had some noteworthy facts. It noted that while not even 30 % of world’s lawmakers are women, in India the number is even lower, just about 12%. After 60 odd years of one of the largest and most vibrant democracy these numbers come[Read More…]