Cancer: It Scares Me and Honestly, You Should be Worried Too!

Cancer Seems Like a Contemporary Lifestyle Curse

I just cannot get it out of my head. A few days ago it was World Cancer Day February 4th and the media was abuzz with celebrities who had fought back the dreaded condition. I must say that survivors like Rina Dhaka need to speak-up more about how cancer can be managed with emotional and medical support. It seems that proper care combined with contemporary standards in medical care can ensure that you don't lose your life or end-up in a where every day seems like inching closer towards the final stage where the props are in bad taste, the story of your life has gone awry and the support cast members are waiting for God’s gates to accept you. Cancer, as a health problem that finds new ways to invade the lives of people around us, has engaged a lot of critical attention lately. It also happens to be one of my deep-seated fears.

Changing First Name or Surname Post Marriage: are we overthinking it?

I am not going to dig deep into the subject that is very obvious – women are expected to change their surname after tying the knot. Lately, women have been using their surnames, sandwiched between their first name and the groom’s family name. Recently, I came across another marital norm where the bride’s first name too is changed. Shocking for some, this is rather common in parts of western India and provinces of Sindh, Pakistan. For some women this can be demeaning, almost a threat to their identity. For others, it is just about following a culture that is deep-seated into a community.

Metro: The Last, Save Haven for Women in the City?

This might sound shocking to some of you but to me it makes perfect sense. The recent wave of anguish and helplessness among people and their attempts to protect the women of Delhi got me started thinking if there was a place that could be considered safe within the capital region. Come to think of it, women have been groped, molested, raped and murdered within their homes, offices, public parks and upmarket hang-outs. What does this suggest? Firstly, we, as a city, should stop priding ourselves for living in the capital of India. A city that has its soul bloodied with women and minor girls on an everyday basis just cannot be projected as the

The Great Leveler, Humbled by the Metro & Work-life

I don’t ride the high horse of belonging to a niche section of the society that cannot bear a single drop of sweat on their mighty foreheads However, my childhood unfolded in a manner that could be best described as ‘arrested development’ despite growing a typically middle-class environment. As a result, many hesitations about people, places, and being in the outdoors got imprinted on my psyche. I am no Different—though I hold the bare minimum of typecasts that overwhelm many of us, some have passively filtered into my mind and corroded its judgment. Like any other true Delhi resident, I too often bitch about the fact that how the out-of-stationers are overcrowding our city or how our tax money is being used for creating facilities that we seldom use ourselves. However, this discussion is more about how public transit systems can instill some humility in you and how being humble can help you live perhaps a better life...