Posted inPOV
Kolkata’s Durga Pujo: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times
I am back in Kolkata, caught in the centre of the rotating carousel in the great carnival of Durga puja. I hate it and love it in equal measure.
Posted inPOV
With the Rise of the Beep Culture, What Will Happen to the “Progressive” Bong?
To some Bengalis who felt betrayed by those who voted for the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections, the Beep Festival’s cancellation was merely a trailer for the blockbuster cultural clampdowns that are sure to follow.
Posted inPOV
Too Cool for School: What I Learned from Being Homeschooled in Mumbai
Most kids complain about their grades, their history homework, their annoying PT sir. Being homeschooled, I complained about being taught embroidery and having to draw the entire history of ancient Rome in charcoal. But most annoying were the aunties who asked the question, “Do you have any friends?"
Posted inPOV
No, I’m Not Made in China
I am sick of telling people that they don’t have to lock up their pet dogs in the storeroom when I go over to their house.
Posted inPOV
Thar Review: Lots of Style, but Little Substance
Spectacular to look at, Thar sports a more than decent performance by Anil Kapoor. Everything else about the film though underwhelms.
Posted inPOV
Assam Citizen’s List: Are We Out of Ideas on Tackling Migration?
What Assam and the rest of the world need is a new idea – or a new messiah that reminds its people of values beyond consumption and per capita income. One that can remind its people that once you’ve achieved the means and wealth to cover your needs and some luxuries, it is alright to let others, less privileged, brown or black, Syrian or Bangladeshi, to have a go at it.
Posted inPOV
What Makes Netanyahu India’s Second-Favourite PM?
The first rock star to visit India in 2018, isn’t even a musician. For the patriotic Indian crowd, Netanyahu is a bigger deal than Coldplay and Justin Bieber combined.
Posted inPOV
Mum + Dad + Beta + Beti: Why Are Indians Obsessed With the Idea of a “Complete Family”?
The minute a couple tie the nuptial knot, their relatives descend upon them and start demanding a baby. When they’ve had one, the family begins chasing them for the second one. Thank God for the “Hum do, humare do” slogans and overpopulation problems, or else this would continue ad infinitum.
Posted inPOV
Why We Need the ₹2,989-Crore Statue of Unity
You can’t put a price tag on memorials like the Statue of Unity. They could serve as a starting point to anyone who wants to discover our history in the future. I just have one question here: What great structures have we built in the last 50 years that will stand the test of time? Orion Mall? Lodha World Towers?
Posted inPOV
The Final Countdown: So is 2020 the New Decade or Nah?
This year, New Year’s Eve isn’t just the biggest party on the calendar, it’s also fodder for a heated debate – a debate that has driven a wedge between logic and emotion. Is January 1, 2020 the start of a new decade, or not?