Kumartuli is a colourful neighbourhood in Kolkata, famous for its stunning idols, especially during the grand celebration of Durga Puja. The artisans here create beautiful representations of various deities, pouring their skill and creativity into each piece. However, the stories of the women who work tirelessly behind these idols often go unnoticed. While they play […]
Lights Out: Letters I am Still Trying to Pen
O mind, do not cry, do not beat Your chest off with rage and angst We can bide the tumultuous tides And leaning still rise, rise and rise It’s darker than ever, I learn And heavier than yestreen The burden of misfortune Thoughts and figures of memory Ringing stinging, pulls the curtains Of sanity de-forming […]
Breaking the Silence: The Urgent Need for Inclusive Rape Laws in India to Protect Men-Insights from the Movie 376 D
Lara Stemple, Director of the Health and Human Rights Law Project at UCLA School of Law has conducted extensive research on male rape and has argued for the recognition of male victims in sexual violence discourse. In her publications, she has highlighted the need for inclusive laws and policies that protect ‘all’ survivors of sexual […]
Cultural Casualties: The Impact of Conflict on Heritage Sites
The world has witnessed numerous conflicts throughout history, often resulting in significant damage to its rich cultural heritage. The impact of these conflicts on cultural sites is multifaceted and far-reaching, with both intentional destruction and accidental damage occurring due to the chaos and instability that accompanies war. The preservation of these cultural sites faces significant […]
Ain’t I a Woman: Our Paralyzed Fragments
“Your body was like an almond Soft, smooth and so soothing For a nocturnal jaunt Any animal can ruin You subtly fast capturing, Mooring you to his bed post…” He was her fiftieth customer, Whose horrible bed manners Replaying in her head, Tugged at her nauseous chest. “Conscience” rolling, mangled fell For the zillionth time. […]
Is democracy possible without art? Freedom of artistic expression in Turkey
Is it a human right to have access to the arts? Although Article 27 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits“, it is not considered […]
Caste and Class: Dalit expression through Modern art
Art is an industry that thrives on cultural capital, resources, contacts, and so on. It is widely held that to pursue an art career, one must be extremely wealthy, as it may not pay well; hence, considering art as more than a recreational activity has always been an act of resistance and persistence for Dalit […]
Love Hostel: A ‘safe’ house for runaway couple
Love Hostel: The movie Imagine living in a state of constant fear, where you don’t know what unexpected and unfortunate awaits you. And then think about the social contract we have all mutually consented to, where we’ve given up our sovereign rights for the safeguard provided by the sovereign power. And now imagine the many […]
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Where are the female characters?
Published anonymously in 1818, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus can be considered Mary Shelley’s magnum opus. Considered by many as the first ever work of science fiction, the novel is interwoven with elements of Gothic horror as well as Romanticism. Frankenstein can be seen as a response to the era of Enlightenment that witnessed a […]
Rabindranath Tagore’s literature and the theme of resistance
Rabindranath Tagore: The patriot Rabindranath Tagore, as a theatrician, occupies a very important position in the history of Bengal theatre. Writing at a time when theatre practices in Bengal were still in a very nascent stage, Tagore introduces an air of freshness. Though initially he drew inspiration from the European dramas, those of Shakespeare and […]
