A popular theme in the world of mythology and folktale is the mother killing her children. Killing any life form is a disturbing and gruesome act. But bringing life to its end by the creator herself is particularly frightening. The … Continue reading Mother killing Children: Folktales and Mythology
Love and Sexuality come in many forms, shapes and sizes. But due to our societal conditioning, we only see and recognize it in one state. All other forms are hidden under the closet or not talked about. Some relationships are … Continue reading Unexplored Forbidden Relationships: Brother-Sister in Folktales and Mythology
Women’s sexuality is complicated and understudied. Popular culture is also more focused on male sexuality. We don’t talk about women and their sexual urges, thus making it more mysterious and nuanced. Men want sex, and women want romance, diamonds, flowers … Continue reading Society and Sexually Untamed Goddesses
Yesterday I came across a video on social media where a daughter in law was seen thrashing a fragile older woman in a village in Haryana. We all have heard similar stories of ill-treatment and neglect by the family members … Continue reading No one wants an older woman!
I have selected the story, ‘Story of Prince Sobur’, from the book, ‘Folk-Tales of Bengal’ by Lal Behari Dey. But the title didn’t do justice to the brave and rebellious woman on whose life the story is based. Hence, I … Continue reading The woman who lived by her fortune: Bengali folktale (Through my eyes)
Being born and brought up in a so-called ‘third – world developing country,’ the kind of debates in the public domain I have witnessed in the supposedly ‘first world developed country’ in the last one year makes me both laugh … Continue reading What about the breast?
It was Ismat Chugtai’s birthday yesterday. She was one of the foremost voices of reform in the Urdu literature. She has written prolifically on women’s liberation, free speech, and many other progressive themes much before the West discovered feminism through … Continue reading Dastangoi and the Persian Princess
The German Folktale ‘The Robber Bridegroom’ is selected from the book, ‘Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World, Retold and Edited by Suzanne I. Barchers.’ An old man, promised to marry his daughter to a wealthy man, … Continue reading The Robber Bridegroom: German Folktale through my eyes
Snakes or Nagas have their distinct place and play a vital role in the Hindu and other religions of the world. Snakes are revered in temples and their natural habitat. Devotees offer milk and incense to snakes on Naag Panchami, … Continue reading Serpent Goddesses: The Divine Connection between Human and Nature
Resist Much, Obey little- Walt Whitman The Oxford dictionary describes witch as a woman who has evil magical powers or an ugly and an unpleasant woman. Call them Chudail or Dayan (in Hindi) Pichal Pheris (in Urdu), or Hexe in … Continue reading Witches of the Yore
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