Ishani's Pen

  How many of us 25+ old women have been consumed with guilt and sadness after consuming a slice of cheese-burst pizza or an entire choco-lava cake? When was actually the last time that we had enjoyed a hearty meal without ‘counting calories’? I understand that at this juncture when many of us are literally leading a sedentary lifestyle, it has become very easy to put on weight, owing to the lack of physical activity/ exercise. But should that really amount to satisfying our cravings (together with satiating the heart) by nibbling on a really tiny helping of a ‘ gajar ka halwa ?’ The point that I would really want to state here is why body sizes become a general way of defining a woman; why do we see the obsession with a size-zero female but not a size-zero male? And the most detrimental thing about this concept is that it has the ability to lower the self esteem and confidence of an educated/ qualified woman. The saddest part to this is our own families continue to take part in ...

  The shameful malpractice of female feticide or the practice of killing a girl child within or outside the mother’s womb is still prevalent in India in the current generation, even after the Govt., NGOs and other organizations taking so may schemes to eradicate this heinous act. Ideally, when we talk about female feticide, we generally feel that it is practices mostly among the uneducated or economically weaker sections of the Indian society because they perceive the girl child as a burden! However, through this piece I wanted to pen out a different side of this concept that exists in urban India, amongst educated people – maybe it doesn’t amount to ‘killing’ the girl child but has similar emotions. According to a publication of 2015 in “ Human Geographies – Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography” , the sex-ratio in India has declined from 972 females per 1000 males in 1901 to 940 females in 2011 to an abysmal 914 in 2014. There was a preconceived notion for a long t...

The study of religion or “theology” has always been a very complicated and controversial subject. According to Oxford Dictionary, religion is the belief in or worship of a “superhuman” (or divine) force that controls the Universe, especially one’s God/Gods. This belief or worship has always been governed by one’s birth; however, in the present times religion is also considered to be individualistic. Even the Constitution of India presents “Right to Religion” as a “Fundamental Right”. India has been a democratic and “secular” country since its independence – every individual had the freedom to practice his/her religion in public, dress and accessorize oneself according to a particular religion with a public display of their religious signs/symbols. Now, as far as, religion is concerned – it is restricted mainly to one’s way of dressing or worshipping. It Language or speech is always viewed as an entity that has no influence of one’s religion – language is something that is mainly ...

A Tapsee Pannu starrer movie “ Thappad ” released few months back, probably just before “International Women’s Day” – the message of the movie was simple – A husband can’t hit his wife ever, not even if he is drunk, tensed, pressurized; there should not be “a first time will be the last time” to this. But there far deeper implications of this simple plot, that goes into the design of our “so-called civilized” Indian society. From time immemorial, women have been fighting to get an equal stature with men, if not higher, in every possible field. Even in Bollywood, this issue has been raised many times – any movie with a female protagonist doesn’t earn as that with a male lead – this simply proves that even in the 21 st century, our Indian society is not ready to accept women as “protagonists” or leads; women portrayed submissive characters or glamorous avtars , behind a man is what is expected from her, even on the silver screen. Now in the Indian legal system, a lot of amendment...

Though I personally never had a chance to meet Safoora Zargar, Devangana Kalita or Natasha Narwal, I feel this thought might have come across their minds, even in the feeblest possible way. Jamia student, Safoora, who is 21 weeks pregnant, has been denied bail and shifted to Tihar jail. A would-be mother has been sentenced to share a crowded jail cell with other women, amidst the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19. This is one scenario of India, the land where mothers and ladies are termed as goddesses, where a pregnant woman and her unborn child are suffering punishment for protesting against the CAA! Now let me portray another scenario of the same country – a pregnant elephant in Kerela is killed after the accidental consumption of cracker-filled pineapple, supposedly placed by the locals of the region to scare away wild animals. This incident led to huge outrage throughout the country – starting from common people to celebrities and politicians, everybody condemned this incident. An ...

Victor Hugo had said, “The supreme happiness of life consists in the conviction that one is loved!” His words are very true– as human beings, all we yearn for is love – from childhood, through adulthood, to old age, our hearts always seek the love of another fellow being. And how beautiful is the feeling of being loved – in the tender arms of mother to the soft kiss of a lover – everything just revolves around the expression of loving one another. As children, loving parents, relatives and siblings come naturally but as we grow up, we become more practical, independent and rational – we develop difference of opinions with our near ones and probably the only true love that remains is with our parents and later, partners/spouses/soulmates. But how does the heart decide whom to love and choose as a partner for a lifetime?             With the growing modernization, changing laws and mindsets, as well as societal acceptance, ...

For many of us the word “halaal” would only refer to the specific way or method of slaughtering sacrificial animals or animals/fowls for meat that is generally followed by the Muslims. However, the actual terminology “halaal” means “allowed” and is the opposite of “haraam” or “forbidden.” Though often referred to the way of meat slaughtering (even by Muslims themselves), the concept of ‘halaal’ goes far beyond – it actually refers to a way of leading one’s life in a proper and ethical manner. Even in the Jewish culture, there is existence of a concept similar to ‘halaal’and is called ‘Kosher’. The setting of ‘halaal’ is also very important in earning one’s livelihood; it just requires answering some simple questions to oneself - is the money earned by me today ethical? Have I duped or defrauded or hurt anyone while earning this money? Is this money earned by using measures like usury, gambling, theft or any such crimes? If one doesn’t have to lie to oneself while answer...

“Butter chicken done right!”; “The perfect Pav-Bhaji!” – these were the captions, accompanied by the delicious looking dishes, in the watsapp status update of one of my dearest friends, Dr. Apurva, during this ongoing lockdown. Apurva is a dermatologist by profession in the United Kingdom and it won’t be wrong to refer to her as a “friend from heart” because, believe it or not, we haven’t met till date! Coming back to her captions, I asked her how she could manage to make gourmet stuff for herself, when all medical personnel are working round the clock. She replied, very casually, “Do you think I make these stuff for myself? Some friends are coming over.” So this was one incident that stayed at the back of my head but couple of days back, I encountered a similar thing at home, which prompted me to type out (NOT pen down) this piece. Right now, it’s only me and mom at home, along with our caretaker’s family, staying on the floor above us. I have been observing fasts, every Monday a...

I am a 29-year-old professional who has been staying away from home from the last 11 years. Being very much conscious about academics, studies, grades and future, I had always focused on my education and knowledge gaining. Even now, when we are all in the lockdown phase, I keep myself more engrossed in publication works, blog/article writing, reading books etc. This is something that I had always enjoyed doing since my childhood – I like gaining knowledge, learning new facts, helping people in some way! There may be many girls and women like me out there, whose pleasure lies in the smell of new books, in lying in bed for hours altogether and reading. However, there is one simple thing that I feel our families, relatives and the society, in general, doesn’t understand. I am also a girl like everyone else – and I also know HOW TO COOK and do all household chores! And most importantly, I don’t know cooking just because I am a girl and it is my duty to do it – ni to sasural jaogi ...

Being a 90s kid was way different than being a kid of today; I mean when I see my 4-year old niece, I feel like how the definition of fun and games have evolved and changed over the years for kids – we used to be the ones playing in the mud, climbing trees, fighting for our turns on the swings – but now empty swings are swaying with the wind and desperately seeking the butts of children!! Apart from all this, one thing that I really loved as being a 90s kind was our low dependency on technology, especially when it comes to knowledge and learning. We knew the importance of going to school, college – no! not for attendance alone – but because we knew the value of class lectures and notes. Now being an assistant professor myself, I feel that the value (as well the respect) of teachers have somehow diminished in the eyes of the students. The only thing they care for in their class is the attendance and not the notes/lectures – after all, much more information is available on the interne...

A human heart – beats and functions But holds within its core Bountiful emotions Some broken, others whole…. Sometimes it sings, sometimes it dances Odds - it always takes as chances; But a heart also cries, it also conflicts Its lone battle within itself, it fights. The heart does things The mind gives no permission for Drowning itself in love Like a mated dove …….Without any wings!! As a strong voice rings The heart in love  Amaeuterdly sings!! Cz For someone’s betrothed Why another heart beats? Unseen to all..a heart that amoreux 'd Always laments! Societal norms, the heart follows Wrong are thy Feelings It knows, It burrows...... Cz The faux consequences It knows, It understands..... Yet For someone’s betrothed …….A heart still beats!!!

A quiet night in the cold winter Bestowed with chills Cozier and warmer than the hand-knit sweater Was that night and its feels..... She was alone and so was he Feelings of each other they shared, But little did they both see What to the other they bared! What started as an innocent chat Lead to something worth remembrance For long as awaiting her hero she sat She knew with him she stood no chance!! The intensity of their breathing Changed with the depths of the night Yet aware of the situation…limits they both keeping Even when the tone grew personal and light. It wasn’t magical but it was beautiful Though only through conversation ….Private talks with him she was sharing She was falling in an unfulfilled love yet again But it was different ‘coz there was no pain She knew it wasn’t going to be fruitful But it was… A night worth remembering!!