Rhiya Ahir, the girl from Mumbai who dared to stop a police van with one hand, while it was raining, has become one of the defining images of the CJP protest.
The first time I saw this photo, I said to myself that I could never do that; I don’t have that level of courage to stand up in front of a police van to try and stop it.
Category: Personal essays
How Two Solo Trips Changed My Understanding of Home Forever
Home. A word that can feel both familiar and elusive at the same time. A shelter and a longing. A necessity and a dream.
Where is home? It’s a question I’ve asked myself at different points in my life. Is it the place where I grew up? Is it the place that gave me wings to fly high? Or is it in the mountains, where I feel strangely calm?
The choice to stay single – a rebellion of sorts?
When I announced to my family that I had decided to stay single, there was an emotional uproar for a long time. They couldn’t understand my decision because they didn’t think such a decision existed.
Best way to do Mumbai darshan is to look for a house
I am not exaggerating. It’s only when you start looking for a rental house in Mumbai, do you get to see its true nature — its cracks, the multitude lanes that you never knew existed, the cults and the communities, and the unusual questions about your identity.
When the Plumber Unknowingly Taught me a Spiritual Lesson
I woke up to a leaky tap and a messy floor filled with water. I immediately got into action, trying to stop the leakage first and then mopping up the floor before it spoiled the furniture. Then, when I had a breath to catch, my first thought was – I don’t like adulting. And the second one was to call the plumber to fix the damage.
Molar Days: A Comedy of Filling and Fear
I hate visiting the dentist. I hate it with the entire core of my being.
My fear of the dentist is so deep-rooted that I will do all it takes to avoid the visit; I will even go to the extent of brushing my teeth thrice in a day. (Yes, now I know that too much brushing is not good too.)
But one of my chewing teeth started feeling sensitive for a few days, and I continued chewing on the other side, hoping it would automatically disappear if I ignored it long enough. (Like I do with some things in my life.) But it was as adamant as I was. Of course, it was a part of me. (eyes rolling)
I am a wanderer, not a traveller
Travel for me is like looking at life in a place through binoculars. You see everything close enough, yet you have a certain objective distance from it.
It has its pros and cons. You get to see only what you want to see, and the first impression is usually the one that sticks with you.
And that happens both ways. The way we judge a place and the people there – vice versa, the way the people there judge us.
Summer and a Taste of Freedom
Summer is here. I squint my eyes when I look out at the sun hidden behind the bluish grey sky. I think twice before stepping out as the sun’s rays don’t seem kind. My thoughts go back to childhood summers, spent under the hot sun and I never once thought to complain. Two full months of holidays and the brightest spot of sun, but I was happy and thrilled about it. I don’t remember complaining about it like I do now. Maybe the sun wasn’t so harsh, I try to tell myself. Or maybe there were so many other things to be excited about that I barely noticed the blazing sun.
One Cook and Five Knives
One cook and five knives. No, that’s not the title of a murder mystery. It is the state of my kitchen. I cook and I have five different knives. Well, it was not intended to be a collection but somehow it has become one.
A Grief We Share
Is there a term for feeling the loss of someone passing away even though you didn’t know them personally?
Someone who is a public figure known for his great deeds, compassionate heart and humble attitude towards life.
Someone you adored for being a visionary and kind at the same time.