Past Stories

Waxing Sapphic Gently

A hush-hush commitment ceremony in buzzing Bangalore eight years ago seemed strangely naive, even out of place. No family from either side, no friends or relatives; just the two partners preparing to take the plunge. Silver rings and vows were exchanged, a cake was cut…

Aboard Matribhoomi Local, ‘Manned’ Entirely by Women

Sealdah, Kolkata: Her eyes glued to the pressure gauge as she maneuvers the master controller gear dexterously, Soumita Roy cuts an unusual frame. She takes a pause, revs up the engine and chugs out of Kolkata’s Sealdah station like a seasoned loco-pilot. “This train is ‘manned’ entirely by women – guards, assistants, loco-pilot and passengers…

Meet India’s First Santhal RJ, Who Wants Tribal Culture to be Truly Understood

(The Wire) – Perched on the hot seat, her fingers manoeuvring the keys of a mixer console like an artist wielding her brush, 24-year-old Shikha Mandi cuts an arresting frame. The radio jockey punctuates her chat show, Johar Jhargram – about the coming-of-age of tribals in India in fluent Santhali (the language spoken by over six million indigenous people across South Asia) – with strains of village songs…