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The Uterus Inheritance
I remember the Ambassador rides from Bhubaneswar to CuttackYour tussar sari draped around your shoulderAt home you would read files, make notes“It is tough being a woman Secretary of Industries”You had endometriosis A fresh incision on an arterial veinNever did you take a day off,Never did anyone find out In Raghurajpur they had an exhibition of handicraftsYou…
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Scratching at Layers of Patriarchal Sedimentation
During my research on the ghazal, I discovered that the work done by several women poets in the eighteenth and nineteenth century had been removed from written history. Women had systematically been excluded from several anthologies. In Urdu, as oral poetry started being complied and printed, the biographies penned by poet and historian Altaf Hussain…
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An Open Letter to Neenaji
Dearest Neenaji, Namaste. This is going to be a long letter. There is so much I feel about and for you that I have kept bottled up over the years, I am afraid it is going to shamelessly flow. Therefore, even before I get into what I want to say – I am going to…
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On Reading “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros
I am currently reading The House on Mango Street (2004) by Sandra Cisneros. It came recommended by a friend’s daughter; she read it as part of her English Literature syllabus in Grade 8. Well firstly, I am absolutely delighted that this young bright student recommended this book to me. Secondly, how fabulous that a book…
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Musings after watching Pataakha
I happened to chance upon Pataakha (PT) – the movie, which is now available on Amazon Prime. Vishal Bhardwaj is an immensely talented director, and PT did not disappoint. I gather that it did not perform well at the box-office, primarily due to the release of Sui Dhaaga (SD) during the same time. SD had bigger stars…
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Bohemian Ifs and Classical Butts at the Hermitage
I had mentioned in my previous post of how we had spent a day at the Hermitage Museum and I wanted to share the pictures with you. It was a day of contrasts: the classical beauties in the museum alongside the rusted beauties on the canals. Each unique in their own way. I was hesitant to…
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Lisbon day 4: Belem and Museu Berardo
Belem pichkari jo tune mujhe maari Toh bole re zamana kharabi ho gayi Planning the day for Belem had Apoorva constantly singing this warped song and now everytime I think of Belem this tune is stuck in my head, HELP! Belem is gorgeous. What an inadequate adjective to use, so let me try harder, the sky is…
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Those Literature Courses I Cook Up
In 2013, Apoorva put this up as his Facebook status update: Some electives for the upcoming Autumn term. What would you like to study? Sociology of the upper-middle class Misogyny and education Poetry of poverty Mental health in patriarchal societies Conflict and negotiation in family settings Mathematical methods for personal relationships Psychology of empathy History…
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Dangal and the Phogat Sisters – A Tale of Many Struggles: Praveen Verma
Guest post by PRAVEEN VERMA Dangal literally means the Indian style wrestling competition for male pahalwans (wrestlers). Dangal has been an important form of entertainment for ages, especially in … Source: Dangal and the Phogat Sisters – A Tale of Many Struggles: Praveen Verma <—click link for the Kafila article.
