New Year Archives

Why the Year Hasn’t Begun Until You’ve Barfed

The new year barges in every January, demanding that you become better. It demands of us things that I’m not sure we have left anymore, and in return it offers only kale smoothies.

Sharan Saikumar July 27, 2016

POV

Sabarimala vs Triple Talaq: Dear PM, There’s No Choice Between Hindu & Islamic Oppression of Women

In a rare interview, PM Modi stated that banning triple talaq has helped secure gender equality, but the Sabarimala ban on women is a tradition that has nothing to do with discrimination. But if treating women’s bodies as sacrilege isn’t blatant discrimination, what is?

Kahini Iyer June 7, 2016

POV

Can We Resolve to Stop Stinking in 2018?

2017 ignored the problems that are technically issues, but don’t quite qualify because not enough people feel strongly about them. It’s time we brought some of these issues to the fore in 2018: Vegetarian seekh kebab for instance and people who smell bad.

Ramjaane May 18, 2016

Columns

SummArré: Sabarimala, #MeToo Part Two, and a Look Back at the Week That Was

In India, every day presents a new diversion, a new amusement. This week, we discovered the Kauravas were “test-tube babies” in a giant leap backward for science, and Kerala’s “Women’s Wall” protest against the violence at Sabarimala, showed us how to do solidarity.

Karanjeet Kaur May 17, 2016

POV

F*CK YOU 2021. There we said it!

2020 was bad for its own reasons, but 2021 really punched the living hell out of us. Death to this terrible of all years is an understatement. It should instead be sentenced to be things far worse and meaner.

Manik Sharma May 2, 2016

POV

2021: A New Year Where We Hope for Old Comforts, Not a Fresh Start

2021 will be the year of the comeback or so we hope. It will be the year where we don’t aspire for much ambition and greatness, but to get back to routine.

Hardik Rajgor April 25, 2016

POV

A New Hope for the New Year: How to Thain Thain Your Way into 2019

It might look like the world is coming to an end, but this is the first day of the new year. We hope the indomitable spirit of “thain thain” will be with you. In the days that follow, if you find yourself in a hopeless place, remind yourself, as the police officer did, to always keep punching.

Hardik Rajgor April 10, 2016

People

All That We Can Be Thankful for in 2017

This year, India made significant jumps on its social development indices and we also leapt to the top 100 in the “ease of doing business” rankings.

Arré April 7, 2016

POV

Mumbai’s Strange New Year Tradition: Chokeslamming an Old Man’s Effigy and Setting Him Ablaze

As the end of 2019 is upon us, I think I’ll give year-end parties a miss. This year, I’ll go back to celebrating how we used to – by setting ablaze an effigy in the shape of an old dude and Santa’s mask, that represents the year gone by. This uniquely Mumbai-Goa tradition is our version of the Burning Man.

Jay Pikle March 15, 2016

POV

This New Year Along with Your Weight Shed Your Apathy

This year, instead of using New Year resolutions to crib about having to include more lauki in our diets, why don’t we do things a little differently: Can we instead all agree to be informed citizens, aware of our rights and responsibilities, and active participants in a functioning democracy?

Purba Ray March 14, 2016