The ‘Unconventional’ Choice is not a choice
Personal essay by Sourima Chakraborty: ‘I opted out of my profession soon after, much to the chagrin of my well-wishers. The day I told my mother how I wish to live—or rather, how I need to live—she suspected that I might be reading the wrong kind of philosophy books.’
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Geetanjali Shree, and Shikhar - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 20: We’re watching Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar; reading books by Geetanjali Shree and Dave Eggers; and listening to Shikhar. Featuring Jamie Alter, Saurabh Sharma, and Ady Manral. Hosted by Karan Madhok.
‘Memory is not always an active remembrance’: Two poems by Mehaq Khurshied
Poetry by Mehaq Khurshied: ‘Her nostalgia was only bitter. There was no sweetness to balance it. / Of course, she loved him like our women are taught to love / Love, entrapped in obligation and duty.’
Knitted Warmth
A poem by Sayani Mukherjee: ‘The sound feels warm / A finicky sensation / Buzzing each nerve / In unison’
An Age of Unreason: The Kashmir Files and The War on Information
Vivek Agnihotri’s controversial film The Kashmir Files is more drama than documentary, an awkward retelling of recent history that propagates more than it educates. By Dhani Muniz
Auto vs. Autonomous
Art and poetry by Nirali Lal: ‘A rickety ride / That’s a guarantee / it will think and recite. / It’s automatic / If you comply’
Authors of The Other: Social Realism in Indian Fiction
When it comes to social realist fiction, there is a fine line between giving voice to the voiceless and speaking on their behalf. Areeb Ahmad analyses literature by Puja Changoiwala and Deepa Anappara to examine how the genre manifests itself in recent Indian novels in English.
The Postcard
Personal Essay by Karan Madhok: ‘My mother handed me the postcard… I couldn’t believe my eyes…Tendulkar had written to me, addressed me by my first name, acknowledged my whole existence with a single thick piece of rectangular paper.’
Priya: The Brown-Skinned Supergirl to the Rescue
Ram Devineni-created comic and puppet character Priya is India’s first girl superhero, a feminist icon inspiring a global environmental movement and systematic changes in ecological policies in India. By Anshika Ravi
In Kullu, on the footsteps of the journey to ‘End of the Habitable World’
Personal Essay: In the exploration of a wondrous art museum and travelogue of the Western Himalayan region, Sudheshna Rana comes across time capsules that enrich the understanding of the region’s history, architecture, and mythology.
Speaking Tongues: Six poems by Aranya
Poems by Aranya: ‘Delhi smoulders along the length / of my finger, a cigarette that refuses / to go out.’
The Revisit Project, Guilty Minds, and Nev March - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 19: We’re listening to The Revisit Project; watching Guilty Minds; and reading books by Nev March and Marlon James. Featuring Anurag Tagat, Harshita Murarka, and Shaista Vaishnav. Hosted by Karan Madhok.