Learning hope. On 15th August that year, Binodini was asked to sing bhajans at the Independence Day function of the town. The chief guest at the function was a renowned social worker, Mr Somnath Pandit. He had an internationally-reputed NGO that supported marginalized communities, especially women. During his speech, Mr Pandit promised to help improve the… Continue reading Aabir – Learning hope
Fearless After Fifty: When Divorce is Not the End but a Beginning
Social norms are evolving at an unprecedented rate, and women are at the forefront of these changes. Divorce is no longer a taboo in society. Women are increasingly exiting unhappy marriages, regardless of age. Fifty is no longer an age of midlife crisis; it’s a time for midlife experimentation. Divorce after fifty is not the… Continue reading Fearless After Fifty: When Divorce is Not the End but a Beginning
Time to break the stereotype: A man and a woman can be just friends
Photo by cristinaponciano on Unsplash The idea of a man and a woman being just friends still raises eyebrows. Our discomfort around people of the opposite gender shows that we are not as broad-minded as we like to believe. Indeed, most of us still live in a world of preconceived notions and stereotypes. Whether in books, movies, TV… Continue reading Time to break the stereotype: A man and a woman can be just friends
We’ve had enough of natural destruction
After my sojourn in Uttarakhand, it was jarring to return to the bustle of city life. The incessant traffic, the smog-laden air, the relentless pace of urban life—all hit me with a near physical impact!It’s plain to see why people rush to the hillswhen they’ve had enough of the city. Nature is a refuge, a… Continue reading We’ve had enough of natural destruction
Friends Forever?
He almost missed the hut. Navigating the capricious turns of hill roads, it is easy to miss those dust tracks that skulk away from the traffic. The path leading to the hut disappeared into long grasses and wild bushes almost as soon as it appeared. But still, Ashok noticed the narrow trail. Among the many… Continue reading Friends Forever?
The Sound of Silence
A Message from Maa The Sound of Silence While Mohona started her journey back home on a boat, Anupam boarded a rickshaw to return to the hotel. Shalini, sitting on her wheelchair in the balcony of her room, kept thinking about Mohona. These three lives were irrevocably intertwined, but not for long. Later that week,… Continue reading The Sound of Silence
Resonance
A Message from Maa Resonance Mohona was taken aback by Anupam’s call. She heard him out patiently, but could say little herself, offering only some words of comfort. Anupam understood. He had expected this. The next day, Mohona told her father about Anupam’s problem. Her father’s response was surprising. Shashidhar and the spiritual guru had… Continue reading Resonance
Off-Pitch
Off-Pitch The celebrations for Shalini’s business were short-lived. Within a month of its launch, Indian media denounced her baby food for containing chemicals that were harmful to infants. This led to panic among parents, and they stopped using the product. The inventory remained idle, with no one willing to buy the product. Distributors refused to… Continue reading Off-Pitch
Echoes Continue
A Message from Maa Echoes Continue Sagorika was on the last page of the diary. Now she knew many things that her mother had never told her. Her eyes were moist. She wiped the tears away and made herself a cup of coffee, reading the last few paragraphs that Mohona had written. “Sara, probably our… Continue reading Echoes Continue
New Harmonies
A Message from Maa New Harmonies Even as Mohona was suffering the pangs of separation in India, Shalini’s business in America was growing by leaps and bounds. Anupam, however, was struggling. Things were just not going his way. When Mohona had not been able to reach him on call, she had sent him a letter.… Continue reading New Harmonies
