Author: Tara Khandelwal

Woman. Inspiration.   What, or rather, who do you think of when you read these words? Was it the face of a fearless historical figure? Perhaps it was the author whose words linger in your mind eternally? Or was it the charming actress with flawless features?   When the prompt “inspirational women” echoed in my… Continue reading Beyond the Spotlight: Celebrating the Unsung

Often in her works, the famous author Gayatri Spivak emphasizes the importance of understanding the gendered nature of language, particularly in the translation of literary works featuring female protagonists within postcolonial contexts. When translating the term Bhartiya nari (which is often defined by patriarchal standards of femininity) into a feminist perception, the translator must navigate… Continue reading Discovering The Female Gaze

When I and most of the people around me think of a sarpanch, the image that comes to mind is that of a man, maybe somewhere between middle-aged to someone who is elderly who heads the village panchayat. But this Sarpanch is different, she was the youngest Sarpanch at the time. I remember when her… Continue reading Chhavi Rajawat: A Sarpanch with a Difference

Aamani unlocks the Dream Box with trembling hands.   It’s a maroon jewellery box sheathed in soft, luxurious velvet with a golden clasp. The box is large enough to house the British monarchy’s imperial crown. The only oddity— instead of a coveted brand name like Tiffany or Tanishq, embossed on the lid, in metallic gold… Continue reading A Feisty Cop Caught Between A Cunning Killer And The Demons Of Her Own Mind – An Excerpt From The Girl With Broken Dreams by Devashish Sardana

RANI FROM DUBAI   “HOME IS WHEREVER MY LOVED ONES ARE.” HANIFA A. HAMEED   In 2010, I turned 19 and I knew it was time to leave Dubai and settle abroad. Going to the UK was potentially the beginning of my “forever” story. Who knows, in ten years, I could even have a different… Continue reading A Journey Of Identity, Culture And Belonging – An Excerpt From Citizen by Descent by Kritika Arya

He was so tiny, this little red infant. All infuriated wails and clenched fists in a wrinkled old man face. Handed to the eager couple, wrapped in a threadbare yellow paisley blanket, his greeting was an immediate loosening of the bowels that spread all over the new mother’s chest as she tried to clumsily embrace… Continue reading A Mirror That Looks Into The Subconscious – An Excerpt From Instruments of Torture by Aparna Sanyal

Fear The first time I realize my sister wants to leave, we are in the White World.   I call it that because it is all you can see when you first fall out of the door—swathes of white. The ground’s pull here is soft, bouncy almost, and we tumble gently into the milky mist.… Continue reading A Tale Of Two Sisters And Their Cosmic Quest – An Excerpt From Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta