Women love to obsess about their bodies, or let’s say, we love to concentrate on what’s not good about ourselves and subconsciously encourage cliches about beauty. But hold on, being beautiful is not that difficult. It’s all about relaxing and loving yourself for who you are.  Juma Al Jou Jou, a games designer, has some advice and an interesting game for women and girls hoping to regain their self-confidence!

It’s Christmas time, but slowly I’m beginning to think that it’s that time of the year when some men’s “desire to rape and molest” goes into overdrive. The question I’m asking myself now is, are rapes and protests against rape going to become a national pastime for us Indians?

Once again, the Indian media is abuzz with the reports of a sexual assault. Only this time around, is not a “migrant” worker who can be pinned down as a rapist because he didn’t know any better in a city full of “loose” women. This time it is someone from our own fraternity: Tarun Tejpal. He is the editor-in-chief and founder of Tehelka (literally meaning storm), an independent website known for its sting operations that have uncovered several scams and shaken governments in the past. “Free, fair, fearless” is the motto of the publication.

Her new husband was out of a job. Luckily, she wasn’t. She was mighty pleased with herself to be capable of supporting her very fresh marriage in such times of crisis. After all, it was her first opportunity to prove her utility beyond the household. Although the task of managing her home together with work was exhausting, she was optimistic.

Anita Cheria, activist (right) and former textile mill worker Maheshwari (left)

Since ancient times, priests and family elders have been referring to newly married Hindu women as “Sumangalis,” meaning women who still have their husbands by their side and thus lead a blessed life. Today, however, the word has taken on a sinister meaning for women working in textile mills in southern India.

A friend asked me the other day, “Why are you such an intimidating feminist?” I replied, “Have you ever been slapped and abused only because you were not a son?” My friend was silent, almost sympathetic. I wasn’t. “Have you been raped and couldn’t do anything about it because that man was your husband?”

“The first marriage is practice.” This statement from a novel I read some time back left an indelible mark in my brain, especially since I’ve been through a divorce myself. Or let’s say, I’ve had some “practice” and that’s why this Indian advertisement struck a cord with me.