India Archives

Jersey Review: A Compelling Sporting Drama

Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey doesn’t quite better the original, but for first-time viewers it is a compelling father-son story that successfully masquerades as a tale of sporting redemption.

Divya Unny March 24, 2016

Pop Culture

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Take 2: Don’t Raise a Toast

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’s return as a web-series isn’t the most prudent move on the part of its makers. The only thing going for it is nostalgia – and that’s a tricky genie to control.

Poulomi Das March 23, 2016

Gender

Leave Her Clit Alone

The fight against female genital mutilation is led by mainly women, but for change to take place, men need to join the movement.

Humaira Ansari March 23, 2016

Culture

Welcome to India, IKEA. Meatballs Aren’t Going to Be Your Biggest Problem

Welcome to India, IKEA. Let me also warn you that India is going to be no cakewalk. Selling DIY furniture in a land when memsahib calls carpenter ji to fix a screw is as tough as convincing us to stand in queue or follow traffic rules.

Damian D'souza March 23, 2016

Relationships

How Polyamory Saved me from the Lingering Trauma of an Abusive Relationship

When I turned to polyamory it wasn’t to explore connections, but possibly to get over the trauma of early exclusive relationships that were defined by skewed ideas of possession and jealousy.

Shweta Sangtani March 21, 2016

People

My Bai, the Cleaner of My Conscience

Even though it’s been years since I sat for an exam, the moment my maid rings the doorbell at 8 am, I break into the kind of cold sweat I’d experience before entering an examination hall. Each time she empties the ashtray into the bin, she gives me a judgey glance and every beer bottle elicits a standard response, “Itni daaru!”

Dushyant Shekhawat March 20, 2016

POV

When Has the Indian Press Truly Been Free?

There’s been a series of high-profile resignations at ABP News. The Indian media seems to be experiencing a dark period, as evidenced by our ranking on the Press Freedom Index. In these times, it’s important to hold on to the moments when the Indian media did display a backbone.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 20, 2016

People

My Slow Surrender to Amma

I was an outsider in Chennai. But as years passed, my indifference toward Jayalalithaa turned into admiration.

Lavanya Narayan March 20, 2016

People

Black Money and the Half Brides of Uttar Pradesh

The demonetisation drive meant to target black money hoarders had an unfortunate casualty – the brides of Uttar Pradesh, whose parents could no longer pay their dowries.

Saurabh Sharma March 19, 2016

Sports

The Star of the World Cup So Far Has Been Shakib Al Hasan

At the end of the league phase, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan has achieved the rare distinction by becoming the first player to score over 500 runs and bag over 10 wickets in a single World Cup. Regardless of who bags the Man of the Tournament award, Shakib has without a shadow of doubt been the story of this World Cup.

Parth Pandya March 19, 2016