Naagins, dayans, chudails, and pishachinis – these supernatural characters are currently ruling the roast on the Indian television screens. As if we didn’t have the saas and the bahu already. But why? Why are these out-of-the-world characters so popular on Indian television? Why are these supernatural shows in India garnering a higher TRP than some of the better quality content out there? What lures the Indian audience towards these overpowering witches and monsters? This article attempts to answer just that. Read more
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The month of the elections is here. Finally, the Indian citizens will choose which political party gets to serve them – or will they? Every year, just before the Indian elections, the two major political parties – The BJP and the Congress – launch various digital propagandas to influence or improve their vote bank. Their memorable takia-kalams in the Indian election advertising campaigns become popular to the extent of being on every child’s tongue. Playing repeatedly on the television screens, these propaganda techniques are so unique and so smartly manufactured that the common man starts to recite them like a puppet even in his dreams – or worse – nightmares. In light of this, here’s a quick look at the numerous Indian election advertising campaigns that the mainstream political parties have used to reach their target voters – and did they work? Read more
India has been a repository of not only great spiritual, moral and architectural wealth but also of treasures beyond comparison. The affluence that the Indian rulers boasted of, can be matched by almost none in the world. However, the crest jewels and wondrous treasures have been ruthlessly looted by invaders, especially the Persians and the British, and it is a sad truth that none of these priceless artifacts lie within the geographical boundaries of India today. Listed below are 9 priceless artifacts you didn’t know India had.
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No one likes to attend their ex’s wedding. But there are people who get invited to their ex-flame’s marriage. And once you are past that awkward feeling, the next thought that hits your mind is – what should I gift him/her? If In case you are the one who did the ‘dumping’ then huzzah for you for dodging that bullet ( If she were a decent person, why she would have invited you?). But if you are the 1 % of the world’s population who actually parted with an ex amicably, here are some best wedding gift ideas for the ex-girlfriend on her wedding day.
Gift Card or Voucher of her favorite clothing store
Even if the card suggests “no gift”, it is practically rude to go empty-handed. Now you don’t want to gift something that would last very long, because it would serve as a reminder. A gift card is something that is spendable and practical. It is an appropriate gift to an ex – because it suggests just enough familiarity that you know their favorite clothing store, but not important enough to buy something expensive (she did cause you pain after all).
Chocolate or Dry Fruit boxes
Following the mantra of short-lived and inexpensive gifts, here is another great idea for a gift. A chocolate box or dry fruit boxes are quickly consumable. It suggests amicability ( kuch meetha ho jaye) and is vague enough that it won’t remind her of any good or bad memories. Don’t buy the expensive variety with a fancy box, because after eating it’s going to be dumped (ironically just like you).
Greeting Card
Wow really big on cheap things, aren’t we? The idea of giving something inexpensive other than your empty wallet is that the gesture should remain simple and sweet. An expensive gift might give an idea of showing off. A greeting card is like a thank you note where you can (you must) address to both the bride and the groom.
Bouquet – one of the best wedding gift ideas for your ex
A bouquet of flowers is appropriately ‘friendly’ unless you give them a bunch of red roses (red alert). Red roses indicate passion and love so strictly avoid them, in fact, avoid roses altogether. A nice arrangement of wildflowers would be perfect.
A bouquet of flowers is one of the most traditional wedding gift options. Hence, this is also a safe one. Go for it!
Keeping in mind the guidelines of temporary, economical and ambiguous, any gift for the bride can be good for her and your pocket as well. Happy gift hunting!
Nothing says awkward more than attending a former lover’s wedding. Now they may or may not have reached down your chest, pulled out your heart and stamped all over it, but you are obligated to go.
Now, enough about the ex-girlfriend. Let’s talk about your best friend’s upcoming wedding! Did you know that most people find it extremely hard to hunt for a gift on their loved one’s special day? If you too are one of those people, fret not. Here are some of the best wedding gift ideas for your best friend’s wedding:
7 Wedding Gift Ideas for Your Best Friend
Buying a wedding gift for your best friend is not easy at all. It is actually a pretty emotional process. You would want to give a gift that would be treasured by your friend. Of course, you’re probably racking your brain trying to think of something which he/she’d love and which would be useful. Or you can try to go the other way and give her something unique and exceptional, which is not functional at all. Maybe you’re just at a loss and are totally confused. Read on to be inspired by this list of unique wedding gift ideas especially for your best friend: Read more
There were a huge number of healthcare companies displaying innovative devices with some mindblowing tech. Fitness gadgets and wearables, robots to provide homecare , diagnostic tools which can handle in-depth diagnostics, stress-relieving devices stood out. Beauty and personal care devices too were there in a good number too, catering to the millennial crowd. Take a look at these fitness and healthcare gadgets that made a mark at CES 2019. Read more
Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is a shocking thing to happen. You have to come terms with the fact that you have very little time left on earth. It is an emotionally shattering time that you are going through. Undoubtedly it’s a very trying time for you, your family and friends. Many people who were diagnosed with terminal illness, put down their experiences on paper, to help other gain strength from their stories. Here is a list of some excellent books which might help you cope with terminal illness. Read more
Learning a language can open up new avenues for you. There are a ton of languages to choose from, but if you invest your time and money, you will not only enjoy the literature but be able to find a job as a translator too. Or it could be easier to start a new life in another country if you know the language. The world is a smaller place with many people travelling to other countries for work. Here are some of the top languages to learn in 2019 which might open up your opportunities no end: Read more
There’s a famous quote in Marathi which literally translates as “If you want to follow the path of the self, you have to stop caring about the opinions of others.” The most significant obstacle that we might encounter while following our true calling is the society that we are a part of. Even though our society might make doing what we really want very difficult for us, our ultimate objective is usually to impress and to be admired by the same society. It is a Catch – 22 situation that is very hard to escape as for the most part, the world offers us jobs according to its own needs and not according to our talents. Read more
There is one thing sure about being born, and that is, that what we know as life will end, with our death. Till we die, we can only speculate on what is going to happen after death. What you believe depends a lot on your cultural and religious beliefs. Some people who cannot go beyond the nervous system believe that absolutely nothing will happen, and our consciousness will simply end, with brain death. There are many interesting afterlife theories, take a look at a few of them. Read more
Are you in two minds about where the relationship is going? The heady rush of your love is over and you have to decide whether to take the next step or not. Do you want to stay together, make the all-important commitment or just call it a day? Commitment is consistency, being together and taking a rational decision about your relationship. But can love be rational is the question. What is more important in love – feelings or commitment? Let’s try to find out. Read more
Some of us buy property to build a dream house. Some of us buy property as an investment of our hard-earned money in a tangible asset. But whatever may be the reason, buying a property can be an expensive financial decision. With the ever-rising prices of the real estate, buying a property can leave a big hole in your pocket. But, what if we tell you that there are many countries where you can buy property for a throwaway price! Yes, there are several countries having a really affordable real estate. So, here is a list of 10 cheapest countries to buy property in 2019. Read more
Hardly a day goes by when the world doesn’t wake up to at least a couple of breaking news. And 2018 was no exception. However, it must be kept in mind that not all news stories are stories with an impact. Here is a list of the biggest news stories of 2018 that changed the world we live in. Read more
As we inch closer and closer to 2019, home entertainment trends show us that the future of home entertainment isn’t big, but smart. Right from 5G format of live entertainment to smarter home theatres to tech minimalism, here is a glimpse at what the future of entertainment hold for us in 2019. Read more
Long distance travelling has its own list of things to do, you have to pack many things which may not be available where you are going. If you are flying long distance, then you have to remember to charge your phone the night before, so that the battery does not run out when you land. Without your phone, it would be difficult to get to your destination (all names and addresses stored in it!) and contact anyone, or send that all-important mail.You’d be stranded in the airport, train or bus station. If you’re going camping in the wild, you should keep your devices charged or else you’d be communing with nature only! Here are some ways to keep your gadgets and phones charged, when you’re travelling: Read more
Studies related to sex-based variations in men’s and women’s brains are conducted not to establish superiority of one gender over another. Understanding behavioral differences of men and women related to breeding, aggression and parenting is essential as these are important for propagation and survival of the human race, says Nirao Shah,the professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology at Stanford University. Read more
There’s a poem called ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ by 20th Century Greek Poet C P Cavafy. It talks about how the rulers of ancient Greek are unable to concentrate on their work as they are waiting for an attack by the Barbarians. But when the Greeks ultimately find out that the Barbarians are not going to attack, they are disheartened. Something that gave an almost extraordinary importance to their otherwise mundane lives is no more there. Read more
Recently, a wave of “feminist” movies is flooding the film industry – both in India and oversees. Strong female lead characters pile up in these films, in an attempt to be the flag bearer of women empowerment. On the surface, this sounds fantastic. Women in the audience heave a sigh of relief as they see the women on-screen scream their lungs out, fight against the oppressive men and even have an impactful soliloquy about how patriarchy is the main villain. All that is fine. But is that all there is to the feminist dialogue? In their private spaces, as individuals, as human beings in their own right, do these strong female characters in cinema hold their own personalities? Turns out, even in “feminist” movies, these characters only scratch the tip of the iceberg. The rise of pseudo feminism makes us question: Is film and feminism sending its audience the right message? Read more
The rap of Gully Boy touched and won millions of hearts around the world. A breath of fresh air, the movie changed the audience’s perception about the nature and genre of rapping. From corruption and poverty to class divide and conflicted relationships – the rap songs of Gully Boy broke away from the stereotypical depiction of women, alcohol, shoes and money. Even then, as we approach International Women’s Day, our acquaintance with female counterparts of this revolutionary art field remains limited. It is high time that we also recognize and appreciate our Gully Girls. Here is a list of 5 female Indian rappers who will tickle your minds and delight your souls. Read more
It’s been almost 30 years. More than 7 lakh people are still looking for a roof. They are still searching for a brick and cement structure that they can call home. Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits, who fled overnight from the Valley of Kashmir in 1990, are still wandering and wondering: Where should the exiled go? Even before they complete the question, another one pops up – Is there even a home for Kashmiri Pandits? A closer look at the question reveals that even the idea of a home becomes divisive along religious and political lines. In such a scenario, how can a Kashmiri Pandit imagine a home for himself, built deep inside the valley of Kashmir? Read more
Thanks to movements like #metoo nowadays, we are setting new standards of what’s tolerable and what’s not. Women have been abused throughout the past centuries. Rather than calling her strong for enduring so much, she became popular as the weaker sex. Now, it is the 21st Century, and we need to change.
It is the animalistic tendency of humans that makes them glorify themselves and devalue everything else that is not directly related to them. We build barriers based on gender, race, ethnicity, caste etc. It is only after breaking these barriers that we would become completely human. The first and the greatest barriers of all these is that of gender, we cannot expect humanity to evolve any further without giving equal rights to women.
Women deserve respect first protection afterwards
When society confers equal rights of safety and security and grants freedom for everybody why there should be a hue and cry to provide additional protection to women? The answer lies in our societal outlook based on sexuality and gender bias where women are considered weak and undeserving; a society that has strongly supported the life of a woman always under the guardianship of father, brother, husband or son since ages. It failed to respect her wills and wishes restricting her in leading a dignified life. Protection of women was there but in the guise of subjugation.
In today’s hi-tech age, when women are moving neck-to-neck with men, the society is finding tough to cope up with these radical changes. It is not easy to get rid of pre-conceived notions centering on the stereotype feminine role ingrained in minds for centuries. It is true women are leaving impressive footprints everywhere. Men dominated workforce is slowly giving way to highly performing women force. The waves of women advancement have invaded all domains.
Respecting her the way she deserves:
Her style is her own choice:
Her style of living is entirely her choice. She should not hesitate while choosing a dress or food or even a career! What is wrong if she prefers to be a commando? It is her life and she can frame it according to her needs and wants. She has the right to fly with her dreams.
It is her body after all:
She has the right to shape her up to her self-satisfaction regardless of her age and color. It would be wrong to consider that she needs to maintain herself to remain attractive to the opposite sex. Maintaining body fitness and shape is her sole prerogative considering the health aspect.
She is not to be stared at:
Appreciating beauty is one thing and ogling or staring with cheesy eyes is different. This is a serious mark of disrespect. Women do think it wise to ignore such ugly stares but this trend should be outrightly condemned in society. Once this becomes the norm, respect towards women will grow naturally.
Treat your woman like a princess:
Shower her with the same respect and care as you would like to be treated being her man. Make her feel special and respect her as an individual. Be proud to have her.
A woman partying is not an opportunity for anyone:
Our society is still far away to accept this in good spirits. If a woman parties with her husband or boyfriend, it is acceptable. But when she is enjoying alone, it would be utterly wrong to take an undue opportunity.
It is time to teach our sons about consent:
Daughters have been taught enough about the safety aspect. The time is high we teach our sons about the consent. A woman is not an object of lust. A woman choosing to be single should not be considered as anybody’s thing. It is shameful to the society where women always have to dwell fearing outrage of her modesty anytime anywhere. Wherever she goes, she must be with a group or accompanied by a male member of the family. Why can’t she enjoy the freedom of going anywhere she likes alone?
Her beauty is more than skin deep:
Dressing is entirely her choice. That does not call for body shaming or catcalling. Know her nature, her traits before jumping to a conclusion only because she is wearing short clothes or crazy outfits.
She can work till late hours if she wants:
Corporate women have to shoulder more responsibility and their presence may be required anytime even beyond the scheduled hours. She may often return home late just like her father, husband or brother.
A drunken woman is not open to abuse:
This may be accidental. Nobody judges the reasons behind but takes her an object of abuse. On the other hand, it should be looked upon as a responsibility. She should be guided home or to a proper place of safety.
A woman alone is not an opportunity for men:
A woman can live alone by choice. It is her way of leading her life. That does not permit men to sneak in for an opportunity.
A friend request from a woman carries only friendly intention:
If a woman sends a friend request in social media, it means she is interested in friendship only and nothing more than that. It is expected that men should maintain their self-esteem in honoring the friendship instead of daydreaming about something else.
Appreciate her sacrifices:
She may be your mother, wife, sister, partner and even your daughter who is happily willing to make a lot of sacrifices just to see you smiling. Her sacrifices are there in almost every aspect of life. She sacrifices her wishes for the sake of the family. She sacrifices her career to take care of the family. She sacrifices self-care while caring for others. She sacrifices her leisure and quality time. Appreciate these sacrifices and stop taking them for granted.
Make her feel important:
Give her the due importance that she deserves. Do not feel ashamed to show her importance in front of everybody whether in your friend circle or family members. She is not only there for you to offer her services according to your needs and wants. Her requirements too should be given due importance.
Women are beautiful – You need the eye to discover it:
It is not just about praising her physical beauty but discovering her latent beauty. Be the understanding gentleman to discover her amazing internal beauty and give the appreciation she deserves.
Women too enjoy solo traveling:
This is not a compulsive outcome of loneliness but a great way to spend time with one’s self away from the known circle. Solo female travel is on the rise than ever reports Conde Nast Traveler.
Her Sexual orientation is her choice:
Women have the liberty to choose partners even if it is the same sex. Sexual orientation is an individual trait. You may not like it but that does not give you the right to intervene in other’s sexual preferences. They are not the objects of ridicule. Stop shaming them and respect their togetherness and privacy.
If a woman is dating, it is her choice:
Women too deserve this privilege. It is not that men can only propose for a date and go out with a girl of her choice but the opposite should be accepted as well. So it is time to stop labeling women who are dating.
No means No:
It is not a word but a statement. None can force a woman for anything be it money, service, company or sex not even her family members. The society should learn to respect the woman’s choice and her decision.
Respect woman not just as a woman but a human being:
Respect towards women would only evolve if the society can abolish the gender based demarcation of superior and inferior. Everybody in the society is equal and deserve equal freedom. Realization of this would create a protective society without the requirement of any superficial protection for women. It is time to respect the womanhood letting go the regressive age-old beliefs not only on this Women’s day but for the remaining 364 days as well.
But sadly enough, even in a highly modernized era, lack of women’s safety and security often puts the society to shame. Rising incidences of crime and sexual violence against women never portray a healthy society. Modern society is not ready to accept women’s lifestyle choices like working late, partying late, travelling solo and dressing according to their taste or in choosing partners.
Mere gestures are not enough:
Showing proper gesture may be the first step towards respecting women but that should be backed by actions. Women should be allowed to enjoy equal rights, respect, freedom and security as their male counterparts do. A woman should not think twice about her safety and security while boarding a cab or going out at night alone.
Therefore, the obvious question rises what do we need for women protection or respect?
It is not that men everywhere doubt the capability of women. But occasional shameful behavior by some men, again and again, raises the issue of inadequate security of women. Even stricter enforcement of the law could do nothing better.
Imagine the countless challenges women today have to fight indoors and outdoors. Under-representation, unpaid maternity leave, lack of proper maternal care, gender-based pay gap, domestic violence, body shaming, rape, sexual abuse at home and in workplace, limited reproductive rights and what not?
If a woman chooses to stay single, her character and femininity are questioned and she is often denied a roof overhead. If she chooses to be an entrepreneur, her ideas are not considered good enough only because she is a woman. Aren’t these out of sheer disrespect? These clearly label women as incapable and undeserving.
It is high time to break the stereotype:
Men can also be good caregivers and women can don the role of a caretaker with equal capability if not more. Women are smart drivers and while proposing their partner, their demeanor is worth replicating. They are smart enough to fix all broken things. They can win arm-wrestling with their brothers and partners. And believe me they can be great financial planners and nurture great entrepreneurial ideas without the support of men!
