The term “dabbawala” has never been unfamiliar to me. But it was enriching to know in depth how the Dabbawala brigade functions from someone who is connected to the very core of that community. The director and co-founder of Speaking Minds, Raga Olga D’Silva, in yet another interesting session (May 19) of her “From The Other Side” series, brings to the table Dr. Pawan Agrawal. … Continue reading The Story Of The Dabbawalas During COVID-19 Crisis

Over the last couple of months, staying home has almost become a global norm. There has been a plethora of interesting videos and live chats on social media where actors, writers, sportsmen, and other celebrities have shared how they have been coping with this sudden change in their lifestyle. I decided to focus on a section of the community that is not made up of … Continue reading How Are Youngsters Handling Social Distancing During COVID-19?

The world is submerged into the depths of the COVID-19 crisis. At a time when we are shaken to the core, it’s heartwarming to hear stories that make us smile and restore our faith in humanity. It’s just like the rainbow that emerges after the storm, when we come to know that we have amongst us the good samaritans whose hearts flow with love and … Continue reading Javed Akhtar and Shankar Mahadevan’s “Zindagi Jeetegi” Is a Song For Hope During COVID-19

With COVID-19 shaking the world, our lives have changed in dramatic ways. In the midst of the pandemic that is giving birth to chaos, fear, and uncertainty, another harsh truth has come to light. It’s the unpleasant fact that we take certain people for granted: those individuals who symbolize a strong invisible force and play an important part in our lives. Social distancing is the … Continue reading Domestic Helps: Are They The Unsung Heroes?

Continue reading Domestic Helps: Are They The Unsung Heroes?

A heart-breaking incident from the night of March 22nd sends a chill down the spine. A girl from Manipur in Delhi’s North Campus had stepped out with a friend to get groceries. On her way back, a man in a scooter allegedly called her “corona” and spit paan on her face. The scariest part was that the paan juice entered her eyes including bits of … Continue reading We are from the North-East and Definitely Indians!

My heart swelled with pride to see an announcement from Nick Low, the British High Commissioner to Kolkata. He expressed his excitement to visit Assam to present the Commonwealth Points of Light Award on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The honor is for Jadav ”Molai” Payeng, who single-handedly planted and nurtured an entire forest on the island of Majuli. It is a prestigious … Continue reading The Man Who Loves the “Good Earth”: A Tribute to Forest Man Jadav Payeng

From the directorial brilliance of Anubhav Sinha comes Thappad, a film that raises questions about the place of women in a society governed by male dominance. Amrita (played by Taapsee Pannu) is a homemaker settled in a life of domesticity, attending to the minutest of needs of her husband Vikram. A sudden storm disrupts their wedded bliss when Vikram, in a moment of misdirected anger, … Continue reading It’s Much More Than a Slap: Thappad Movie Review

Image Source: koimoi.com A week after its release, I grabbed the chance to watch Panga. If the film is to be summarized in a line, I’d say it celebrates the power of a woman. Former Indian national women’s Kabaddi captain Jaya Nigam (played by Kangana Ranaut) is settled in a life of peaceful domesticity and motherhood with husband Prashant and son Adi. The sport is … Continue reading Panga: A Tribute to Womanhood

Glamor and sophistication were not the edifices on which Amol Palekar’s profile rested. He did not portray the hero with indomitable energy fighting the bad guys to seek justice or save a damsel in distress. Nor did he have the chocolate boy looks to melt young hearts. Amol Palekar comfortably fitted in to the garb of a simple middle-class young man that millions of Indians … Continue reading A 75th Birthday Tribute to Amol Palekar

Seeing the giant-sized droplets streaming down the panes, he opened the window and gazed at the backyard. The squirrels that were hopping on the green grass just a little while ago were not to be seen. They must have retreated to some safe shelter to stay dry. He let his thoughts wander a million miles away as he enjoyed the first rains of the season, … Continue reading The Rains and … She