Lata Gwalani, Author at Arré

What’s Up With India’s Obsession With Shilajit, the “Indian Viagra”?

As if there is not already abundant male sexual desire in this country, posters advertising aphrodisiacs for men stare at us from graffiti on walls, from cards slipped under car door handles. And then we have Shilajit vendors, who spring upon unsuspecting male tourists in the remotest of locations.

Lata Gwalani July 20, 2016

Coronavirus

No Shor in the City: The Unreal Silence of a Mumbai Put on Pause

I have never seen Mumbai stop. Not the 1993 blasts, not the 26/11 attack. But for the first time, due to the coronavirus lockdown, Mumbai is being forced to take a pause. There is no shor in the city. Will things ever go back to “normal” for us?

Lata Gwalani July 18, 2016

POV

Unheeled and High: Why I Ditched Heels and Found Empowerment in Flat Shoes

After a nightmarish high school party, where I hobbled with every step, I abandoned high heels. Grounded in my flats, I have travelled through the ups and downs of life, comfortably and confidently. Some say stilettos are sexy, they add to your stature, but how can you feel glamorous or powerful when you are uncomfortable?

Lata Gwalani July 7, 2016

Gender

Why are Indians So Embarrassed About the Bra?

As Indian girls, we are raised with the strict instruction that our bras should not be hung out to dry like the rest of the dirty linen we wash in public. Perhaps the reason that the bra has come to be a trigger garment is not because men can’t deal with it, but because with all our hiding we haven’t really given them a chance to.

Lata Gwalani June 8, 2016

Culture

Dhakna Zaroori Hai: Why My Sindhi Family Has a Cover for Everything from the Toaster to the TV

In Sindhi households, everything is veiled. It starts at the heart of the home – the kitchen. The refrigerator handle dare not stand in nudity. The mixer, when not in use, stands gracefully under a crocheted hood. Twenty five years ago, I used to mock this great Sindhi cover-up. Today, I’m the one doing the covering.

Lata Gwalani June 1, 2016

POV

How an Indian Mother Celebrates the Monday After Mother’s Day

Much has been said about motherhood. “Motherhood is divinity” – I suppose that can be debated. “Motherhood is a job you can never quit” – True that. “Motherhood is a responsibility? – Hey, preaching to the choir, here! But to me, here’s what it really is: Motherhood means you are never alone in your thoughts.

Lata Gwalani May 24, 2016

Coronavirus

The Most Thankless Job in the Lockdown: Policing the Public

Over the years, India’s state police has been given many unflattering labels. We address them as “mamu” or “thulla”, rarely according them the respect they deserve. Yet, it is the police that is out there in the middle of a pandemic, protecting us from ourselves. My heart is full of gratitude for them.

Lata Gwalani April 18, 2016

Gender

50 Going on 20: What’s With Our Sudden Obsession with Birthday Milestones?

I suppose nothing quite tells you that age is not just a number like hitting 50 does. And we now celebrate it with a big, extravagant bash. Does anyone really care about us turning 50? Then again, does that argument hold in an age where beauty standards for even ageing women are relentless?

Lata Gwalani April 15, 2016