August 2020 Vol 4 Issue 8

Yasmin Kidwai The documentary filmmaker and Delhi municipal councillor on governance and politics in the world’s largest democracy

THE REINVENTION DESTINY’S WOMEN INDIA IN FOCUS Self-employed women Dancer and author Global youth speak who adapted and broke Gitanjali Kolanad on up about their India new paths in the lockdown the devadasi system experience

contents

Menu of Love 13 Gifted cooks and their new home kitchens

India on Her Mind 26 Documentary filmmaker Yasmin Kidwai

Outsider View 32 Global trainees share their India experience

The Horror We Live With 38 Meet Anvita Dutt, director of Bulbbul

Lockdown Baby 46 Giving birth during the COVID pandemic

Youth Brigade 59 Girls who are out to change the world

Miniature Delights! 66 Clay models of India’s favourite foods

Destiny’s Women 70 Gitanjali Kolanad on the devadasi system 06 Let’s Get Digital These talented women took their Paradise Lost work online during lockdown 74 A Kashmiri Pandit on loss, survival and hope

AUGUST 2020 4 | EDITOR’S NOTE

THE REINVENTION Lockdown aced with crisis, the woman of character falls back on herself. She imposes her own stamp of action, F takes responsibility for it, makes it her own. Those Relationships words, paraphrasing Charles de Gaulle, define the women in the pages of this issue. These are women who – when faced with crises and choices – have Survey been unafraid to reinvent themselves and even start from scratch if need be. Cover personality Yasmin Kidwai (p.26) went from being a documentary filmmaker to an elected representative of the people because she wanted to counter the narrative of hate so prevalent in our times. Poet and reality TV star Priya Malik took her poetry workshops online during the lockdown, as did other entrepreneurs who could not just still and watch their self-made businesses come to a halt (p.06). Talented cooks turned into entrepreneurs running home kitchens to keep their family income going during the pandemic crisis (p.13). Aekta Kapoor Whether forced by a crisis or not, there is a point Editor and Publisher in all our lives when we choose reinvention. Like [email protected] the two marketing professionals who turned into tarot readers (p.56), and an engineer who became a science fiction writer (p.78) for the sheer love of it. Maybe you went through a transformation too. Write to me about it. There’s nothing I respect more than a woman who fearlessly lives her truth.  Has your relationship become more equal during the lockdown? : Aekta Kapoor : Kul Bhushan Editor and Publisher Mentor eShe magazine is conducting a survey on how marriages and long-term relationships fared during Business Director: Kaveri Jain All rights reserved throughout the world. the COVID lockdown in 2020, especially in terms of gender division of household responsibilities. Social Media: Manasvi Jerath Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Please fill the survey form (link below) and share your thoughts and experience! Contributors: Dr Farah Adam Published by Aekta Kapoor from Coral Content, Survey ends on August 20, 2020. Results will be published in September. Mukadam, Isha Jerath, Kay Newton, C3/1 GF, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057, India. Maya Lalchandani, Neha Kirpal, Shweta Phone: +91 9971116621. For queries, write to Bhandral, Varsha Khandelwal [email protected], or visit eShe.in Survey link: https://forms.gle/SVnQpviDNVrXVSbJ8 AUGUST 2020 Lockdown Relationships Survey

Has your relationship become more equal during the lockdown? eShe magazine is conducting a survey on how marriages and long-term relationships fared during the COVID lockdown in 2020, especially in terms of gender division of household responsibilities. Please fill the survey form (link below) and share your thoughts and experience! Survey ends on August 20, 2020. Results will be published in September.

Survey link: https://forms.gle/SVnQpviDNVrXVSbJ8 6 | REINVENTION

LET’S GET DIGITAL

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 7

These three talented women took their work online during the COVID lockdown even if it meant unlearning, relearning, and starting afresh By Shweta Bhandral

PRIYA MALIK er personality leaves a lasting impression on you – Priya H Malik is poetry in action. The 33-year-old actor, poet and model started her career journey as a high-school teacher in Australia, who shot to fame after participating in reality show Big Brother Australia. It was followed by Big Boss in India, which gave the Dehradun-born girl an opportunity to be back home in her country. “I was yearning to come back to India since long,” she says. She admits that while reality TV stars are Priya Malik performing spoken word poetry stereotyped and it’s not an ideal way for a performing artist to make her modelling and acting assignments, debut in the entertainment industry, Priya did not give up on her poetry. the show did give her a large fan In the past few years, she has put following and a financial footing to spoken word on the centre-stage set up base in Mumbai. of performing arts events all over A poet since the age of 12, Priya India. “I find my life creatively more had participated in standup comedy fulfilling in India,” she says. gigs and poetry readings at various Her hands where full when India events in Australia since 2014 when went into lockdown. “Initially, I she won her first Australian Poetry was relieved at getting a chance to slam heat for her work When he slow down. Some of my events and told me, he doesn’t love me anymore. shoots got postponed. However, as This recognition acted as an time went by, I realised the impact impetus for her to pursue spoken- would last longer than anticipated, word performances in India too. and it began to worry me.” Even while taking up TV shows, Two months into the lockdown,

AUGUST 2020 8 | REINVENTION

performing artists began doing on- Soon, Priya was comfortable with line performances on Zoom, selling the routine. Priya Ki Pathshaala is tickets on Book My Show. Just a a two-day, six-hour workshop that few days before the lockdown, Pri- costs `999 per person, and can ac- ya had conducted an online work- commodate about 50 participants. shop on poetry, which had sold out. “In one way, COVID has taken That workshop became the base the world apart, but digitally, it has for her new launch. She learnt how also brought us together,” says Pri- Zoom works, put togeher her mod- ya. “Participants in my workshop ules, and conducted her first Priya are poetry lovers from all over the Ki Pathshaala workshop in May world – from Kerala to Kashmir 2020. “I thought it would be hard and Canada to Dubai and Germany. to feel connected with students, but It has been amazing to be able to I guess my passion helped me over- connect with an audience I proba- come that awkwardness. I decided bly wouldn’t have been able to con- to not worry about making it per- nect with in non-COVID times.” fect; my main concern was keeping After having successfully con- it real, and I allowed them to do the ducted several workshops in the past same. My cat jumped at me during two months, Priya – who also col- one of the events, and we all just laborates with other poets – intends laughed it out.” to keep them going post-lockdown.

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 9

SHALINI BHARGAVA

t 45, Shalini Bhargava is a immediately decided to take JG’s powerhouse of energy. For online. After a lot of hits and misses A 21 years, this fitness trainer, for two weeks, JG’s team was finally nutrition expert and entrepreneur ready with their online plan. has been running JG’s fitness centre Leading by example, Shalini was in Santacruz, Mumbai. In the past the first of her trainers to start classes. few years, they expanded from a She explains, “Using the Zoom app group exercise centre to a state-of- and Instagram live feature, I go live the-art gym, Pilates facility, and a at a set time every day for about rehabilitation centre. 40 minutes. Any individual of any Her workplace went quiet and age group can follow the class from empty with the lockdown; the home.” booming fitness industry is one Thousands of fitness videos of the worst hit. Shalini, whose are available on the internet for husband is a doctor, understood free, but having a live trainer-led that the COVID situation would session has its own benefits. Shalini not end any time soon. The mother had to make sure that she did not of two – her 25-year-old son is a lose the personal touch with her celebrity nutritionist and 22-year- clients even if she was online. JG’s old daughter is a law student – livestream fitness sessions, which are

AUGUST 2020 10 | REINVENTION

pre-booked, take in only a limited helped JG’s fitness centre maintain number of participants. In these its clientele but has also helped sessions, Shalini personally watches the brand create a robust name over and corrects postures. JG’s also for itself on the digital platform. share pre-recorded online classes Approximately 60 people join in with instructions for members to each session every day, many from perform their routine at home outside Mumbai. with no equipment. These tutorials As the city is in an unlock phase, encompass a wide range of physical Shalini is hopeful that she will be training like strength-training able to open doors of her centre by workouts, mat Pilates, cardio mid-August. “It will not be easy,” Pilates, masala bhangra, bootcamp she admits. “To follow physical workouts and yoga. distancing, there will be advance Shalini says, “Our sessions will booking of the sessions, and we not only get you sweating thus won’t take in more than 10 people boosting your fitness level but will in a session. Sanitisation norms also enhance your mental health such as temperature checking will during these stressful times.” become part of our operations. This All these efforts have not only is the new normal.”

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 11

TANUJA GOMES former banker who always wanted to start her own busi- A ness, Tanuja Gomes married into a family that runs Furtado, a brand that is well-known for its mu- sical instruments. From here began Tanuja’s own musical journey. In 2011, along with her friend Dhari- ni Upadhayay, Tanuja launched Fur- tado School of Music (FSM). They opened music centres, developed music curriculum for K-12 schools, partnered with them to conduct classes, and also give private music tuitions to their own set of clientele. Daughter of a Gujarati mother and a Sindhi father, business is in Tanuja’s blood, she jokes. Born and raised in Mumbai, Tanuja started doing summer jobs when she was just 16 years old. She believes, “You should never restrict your dreams, and hard work is imperative for fulfilling them.” The lockdown in March 2020 relevant in these times. In April, had something different in store they partnered with 63 schools and for Tanuja and FSM. There was began conducting online music engagement with the existing cus- classes for them. The response was tomers, but something new hap- overwhelming. By then, schools pened as well. With the pandemic were going through a huge creating anxiety and other negative transition process and were figuring emotions amongst people, the value out how they could manage online of music and music education was education. enhanced as people needed a cre- And so, the team took a step ative outlet to vent themselves. further and launched Furtado’s The FSM team went ahead online project called FSM Buddy. to realign their priorities to be She says, “We have had the steepest

AUGUST 2020 12 | REINVENTION

learning curve in the past three of the learner, the teacher and even months. We have been able to bring the parent have changed. “Before moments of joy, calmness and other this lockdown, whenever we tried positive emotions that result from online training, the learners and music education the teachers both to over 20,000 expressed appre- students.” “STUDENTS ABOVE hension,” she shares. FSM Buddy con- AGE 12 ARE EVEN “Today our teach- ducts live teaching MORE ENGAGED AND ers say that they find sessions covering students above the music, drama, lan- FOCUSED THROUGH age of 12 even more guages, dance and life THE ONLINE MEDIUM engaged and focused skills. Much thought THAN IN PERSON” through the online has gone into curat- medium than in per- ing each course, edu- son.” cators have been hand-picked, and Comparing her challenge with the sessions can be taken at the con- the one faced by online grocery venience of the learner. Tanuja e-stores that have managed to believes the performing arts change customers’ shopping can be taught online too. habits over time, Tanuja ex- “We will have to find plains, “In my opinion, ways to enable perfor- many customers will con- mance opportunities tinue to learn online for all our learners as it may be more whether or not things convenient for go back to normal in the them and en- near future,” she says. FSM Buddy is gain- ing momentum not only in India but overseas too. Out of every hundred able access enquires on the plat- to teachers from form, about 25 are many locations. from outside India. Ta- As an organi- nuja believes that sation, we will in the current continue with times, the our reach across attitudes the world.” 

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 13

MENU OF LOVE Lockdown inspired these gastronomy geniuses to turn their passion for cooking into a business opportunity and launch home kitchens By Shweta Bhandral

CHITRANGADA GUPTA & MAIYYA THAPA, BOJU’S KITCHEN, DELHI-NCR efore the lockdown, Chi- down in Delhi, they launched Bo- trangada Gupta, 23, had been ju’s Kitchen together, and now sup- B working at a digital market- ply soft, hot scrumptious momos to ing agency in Gurgaon, while her eager customers across the national grandma Maiyya Thapa, 82, a home- capital. maker from Ghoom, near Darjeel- Since Maiyya’s husband was a ing in West Bengal, was just visiting mechanical engineer who often them. Bound together during lock- travelled for work, Maiyya ended

AUGUST 2020 14 | REINVENTION

up being the primary caregiver for their five children. “Her biggest achievement was sending all her kids to English-medium schools,” says Chitrangada. “The only thing that mattered to her was that all her kids should have degrees and that’s exactly what she achieved.” Like every winter, Maiyya trav- elled from Darjeeling to Delhi to be with her daughter’s family in December 2019. The lockdown in March 2020 forced her to stay on. In the meantime, Chitrangada was two weeks into her new job that the lockdown was announced and she had to work from home. Momos (or steamed dump- lings) are part of the family’s these yummy culinary tradi- momos,” they tion. “My mom decided to start would feed mo- a home kitchen mos to all of my together, calling friends whether it Boju’s Kitch- it was someone’s en (‘boju’ means birthday or just grandmother in a small get-together,” narrates Chi- Nepali). trangada, who did her Bachelor’s in They have been inundated with political science from Delhi Uni- orders, their bestselling products versity. And if her mother is a great being their chicken steamed and momo chef, her nani is the mother chicken pan-fried momos. “We of great momo chefs. “She makes plan on adding more dishes to our the best momos in the world,” an- menu and continuing it as a home nounces Chitrangada. delivery and takeaway venture,” says After a friend remarked, “Why Chitrangada, adding that the mini- don’t you start a venture otherwise mum order is two plates but most you’re literally depriving people of people order about five. The prices

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 15 are quite reasonable considering the quality and care that goes into the making: starting from `150 for a plate of 10 vegetarian mo- mos and `200 for 10 chicken or pork dumplings. While the ladies have no prob- lem churning out large quantities of momos every day, the deliv- ery logistics are challenging. “We started this venture right when the Delhi monsoon began and every time we send out an order, we wait in anticipation hoping that the rider reaches on time!” They worked around the prob- lem by taking orders one day in advance. “It’s easy to start, and everything seems really exciting when the venture is in the initial stage, but it gets harder to inno- vate on how to generate more revenue,” says Chitrangada. At the moment, though, they’re moving ahead at full steam. Place orders at +91 88824 15464

TOMATO MOMO DIP Ingredients: 3 green chillies; 1 big clove of gar- lic; 2 tomatoes (steamed or boiled); salt to taste

Instructions: Take all the ingredients and grind them together to make the perfect momo chutney.

AUGUST 2020 16 | REINVENTION

SHWETA JOSHI, QUARANTINE BAKERS, NOIDA banker who chose to be a homemaker when she be- A came a mother, Shweta Joshi couldn’t wait to start something of her own as soon as her son grew up. She launched Artventure Educraft in 2015, when her son Amey was about eight years old. It integrates art and craft with curriculum, keep- ing kids away from the screen. By 2018-19, she had gained ground with schools as well. Then COVID happened and all her 2020 spring camps scheduled after final exams in Delhi got shelved. Shweta says, “I conducted a few online sessions, but the flow of the class was not engaging and in- teractive. Teach- ing craft skills re- quires a physical presence.” Re- alising that on- line classes were cy meals for the family not working out, during the lockdown. In Shweta start- April, she shared some ed supplying DIY craft kits to her pictures of her baked dishes with a students. But as Delhi went deeper friend. With most bakeries shut and into the lockdown, the supply chain growing apprehension about order- was disrupted and procurement of ing food from commercial eateries, material became a massive chal- her friend suggested Shweta make lenge for her to continue that too. her baked goods available for peo- But Shweta is a creative soul in ple, especially those around Noida, more ways than one. Always a good Sector-15, where she is based. cook, she began dishing up fan- “I jumped at the idea,” narrates

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 17

Shweta. She created a WhatsApp She is excited and surprised to group to share her dishes and see the traction: she has three to instantly got inquiries and orders. four orders every day. To cook in “And that’s how I started my the utmost hygienic conditions is new venture. My son named it her biggest priority in these times, Quarantine Bakers,” she says. and so Shweta has not allowed Her art and craft skills are mirrored any help to work in the house and in her uniquely designed bread and operates the kitchen all by herself. teatime cakes. She is also making “I am very thankful for the love and waves with her cream cakes and support of people,” she smiles. “I am pies, which are a hit for birthdays. getting repeat orders, and people are The 41-year-old discloses, “I keep instilling their faith in me. I think reinventing newer ways to prepare I will continue with Quarantine food with healthy substitutes and Bakers post-lockdown as well.” creatively present them.” Place orders at +91 98118 87936

Instructions: 1. Infuse olive oil with garlic and fresh herbs. 2. Mix yeast with warm water and honey to wake up the yeast. 3. Add the flour, salt, and some of the garlic herb oil to the yeast mix- ture, and then knead the dough. 4. Let the dough rise until doubled in size (about an hour). 5. Add the dough to a small sheet pan or baking dish and poke dim- ples on the top with your fingers. GARLIC & HERB BREAD 6. Use this as your art canvas and Ingredients: be creative. Use sliced vegetables Extra-virgin olive oil; 2-3 cloves to decorate the bread dough. You minced fresh garlic; fresh herbs; can make flowers, mosaics, etc. Top 2 tsp of yeast in half a cup of warm with the remaining garlic-herb oil. water and 2 tsp honey; 3 cups 7. Let the bread rise for another 20 all-purpose flour; salt and pepper; minutes, and then bake until gold- sliced vegetables of your choice. en brown.

AUGUST 2020 18 | REINVENTION

PARUL AHUJA, KITCHEN ON FIRE, MORADABAD arul Ahuja and her husband trade, and we tied up with them run a coaching centre in for our chicken supply and with P Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. another vendor for our vegetables,” But schools, colleges, and coach- she narrates. “They would come ing centres were the first to shut halfway, and he would go the rest when the pandemic brought with of the distance to pick up supplies. it a national lockdown, and they Everyone in the family pitched in.” will be the last to open. The couple Parul, who lives on Kanth road, was confronted with a significant TDI City, Moradabad, is happy that dilemma.That is people love her when Parul, who home-cooked is a mother of two food. She is in- teenage daugh- credibly careful ters, decided to about hygiene. work on an idea She sanitis- that was brewing es raw materi- in her mind since al with salt and December 2019 warm water be- when she cooked a full meal for a friend’s party and got rave reviews. Soon, with the help of her daughter, she made a WhatsApp group. They named her home restaurant Kitchen on Fire and posted a menu that people could order from. Friends and family helped to spread the word, and orders started pouring in. Parul’s speciality is non-vegetarian food. But it wasn’t so easy to cook up amazing dishes through the lockdown. As her city was declared a red zone, it became difficult for her to procure ingredients. “My husband knew some people in the

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 19 fore cooking. No one, except her goods and started offering birthday daughters and husband, is allowed cakes last month. “Kitchen on Fire in the kitchen. has not only generated enough Parul has grown a regular income to pay my house bills, but customer base over these past few I have even paid school fees from months supplying lunch and dinner it and have managed to save some to doctors and professionals. With too,” says the 46-year-old happily, the support of her daughter, who adding that her new venture has is studying hotel management, she made her feel empowered. is also experimenting with baked Place orders at +91 80779 92085

water; 1 tbsp ghee; 1 tsp black pepper powder; 1 tsp garam masa- la; 1 tsp kasuri methi; 1 tsp sugar; ½ cup cream; salt to taste

Instructions: 1. Mix all the marinade ingredients and keep aside for half an hour. 2. In a pan, put all the chopped onions, cashew nuts, green car- damoms, cinnamon stick, butter, water and boil it for 3 minutes. Let the mixture cool before making a paste in a blender. 3. Take ghee and butter in a big KAALI MIRCH CHICKEN vessel or a wok and stir-fry marinat- Ingredients: ed chicken pieces to keep it aside. For marination: 1 kg chicken; 1 cup 4. In the same oil, add black pep- yoghurt; 1 tsp black pepper pow- per powder, cumin powder, garam der; 1 tsp garam masala; 1 tsp cum- masala, salt, sugar and kasuri methi in powder; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp garlic and stir. Then add onion paste mix- ginger paste; 1 tsp kasuri methi ture and cream with water. 5. Now add chicken pieces to it For gravy: 2 onions; 7-8 cashew and let it cook till the chicken gets nuts; 4 green cardamoms; 1 cin- tender and gravy is thick. Serve hot namon stick; 1 tbsp butter; 1 cup with black pepper powder garnish.

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SOUMYA SOFAT, SPRINKLES OF JOY, NOIDA “Doughnuts are an affordable indulgence, so a doughnut busi- ness doesn’t have to be complex,” says the 21-year-old, who launched her home bakery Sprinkles of Joy in June this year. “I wanted to bring this simple yet indulgent treat to people’s doorsteps with the as- surance of sanitary cooking hab- its and quality ingredients, almost like you’re cooking for your loved ones,” says Soumya, who person- alises packaging for each order and donates a part of the proceeds to various NGOs. A self-taught baker, Soumya ex- periments with various recipes that she comes across gifted singer, in recipe books Soumya Sofat and online. “I love A had her first the look on some- major encounter one’s face when with fame when she they take that first reached the finals of bite and find out it music reality show does taste as good The Stage on Col- as it looks!” she ors Infinity in 2017. gushes. “Dough- But the final-year student at Gargi nuts, for me, represent absolute per- College, University of Delhi, had fection; they are the ideal canvas for to postpone plans of launching her endless variations to suit your dif- professional singing career after col- ferent moods.” lege this year because of the lock- Though Soumya’s best-sellers are down. Instead, she channelled her the classic sweetly glazed or choco- creativity along with her market- late-dipped flavours, there’s a surge ing and designing skills in making in other flavours as well. She also doughnuts. Lots and lots of them! offers an assortment of cake pops,

AUGUST 2020 REINVENTION | 21 which are very popular with kids. A That being said, I love that I can typical order size ranges from four work on all areas of my business to 24 doughnuts, and though she and am not limited to certain tasks,” currently only takes orders in Noi- she says, adding that she uses only da where she lives, she is looking to recyclable materials for packaging. partner with a delivery chain and Having found that doughnuts are supply pan-Delhi soon. one of the fastest growing desserts Priced `80 to `95, Soumya on restaurant menus and that displays her ware on her Instagram millennials are interested in trying page @sprinklesofjoydonuts. As a adventurous flavours, Soumya one-girl team wearing many hats, hopes to expand to a store that is an time management is her biggest amalgamation of all of her favourite challenge. “The constant pressure things – music, art, aesthetics and, of to perform with a deadline can be course, doughnuts. “My motto is to taxing at times. I like to have my keep my focus on what I do best orders prepared fresh and delivered and always leave room for creation on time, and it takes a huge amount and improvement,” she says. of effort to maintain this standard. Place orders at +91 95609 81764

sugar; a pinch of salt; 1 cup milk; 1 tbsp butter; 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions: 1. In a deep saucepan, take cocoa powder, cornflour, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt. Mix well. 2. Then gradually add milk and stir all ingredients together. Whisk well to remove any lumps. 3. Place the pan over low heat and keep on stirring on low flame until it thickens. Once thick, turn off the flame and add butter and mix until CHOCOLATE GANACHE it turns glossy. Ingredients: 4. Add vanilla extract for flavour. ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 5. Use this to top cakes, cupcakes, 2 tsp cornflour; ½ cup granulated doughnuts or just have it as it is! 

AUGUST 2020 22 | FOOD THE SPECIAL INGREDIENT Launching a home bakery is not just a business decision; it’s an act of passion By Kaveri Jain. Photography by Ananya Jain

hile packing lunch for my came up with the solution: I cut the mom, who was in hospital papad into half, and made it into a W for a surgery, I murmured little cone that fit perfectly. to myself, “If only I had a smaller “What amazing food you’ve been sized papad, I would fit it inside sending for me! All the nurses would this lunchbox.” A minute later, I wait for me to open my lunchbox

AUGUST 2020 FOOD | 23

the moment your dad came in poking around the kitchen. I don’t carrying that cane basket.” That was need a perfect finger to cook amaz- the first thing mom said to me the ing food; all I need is lots of love. day she got back from the hospital. I Everything about food has always was 16 and I had just discovered my been exciting for me: discussing first and lifelong love: food. the menu, collecting the right in- I constantly annoyed my grandma gredients, finding the perfect plates and her old cook with my endless and bowls to serve in and of course questions, always poking my fingers the actual process of cooking it. into the paratha dough. One day For years, my goodnight prayer my pokey finger got what it prob- has included one line, “Thank you ably deserved: I put my hand into god for giving me a house full of our ancient masala grinder and my loved ones, noise and laughter, and poor finger bled like a tap. a kitchen full of food.” In a deja vu incident, on the day Over the decades, my romance India went into lockdown, the same with food has taken different turns, finger again went into the grinder, and grown stronger. Today in this though this time by accident. An period of lockdown, I am happy to hour-long surgery, 14 stitches and a say that, with the variety and qual- broken bone later, I was once again ity of the cuisines and dishes that

AUGUST 2020 24 | FOOD

are cooked in my kitchen, no one and labour. Improved digestion, at home misses going out or order- regulation of blood sugar and being ing takeaway food of any kind; be it good for gut health are just some of chaat or a fancy meal. its many benefits. The unique taste, Over the past few years, I have textures and aromas are unbeatable been documenting my food journey and a result of what is a long, on Instagram @OnUrTable and in diligent process. eShe. More recently in my journey, For years, talks about my opening I have discovered my intense love a restaurant have been at the fore- for breadmaking, specifically the front of our family conversations. process of sourdough. Sourdough is Despite that, I just never took the made by the fermentation of dough, step. With two kids to raise and a using naturally occurring lactobacilli family business to support, it was rather than cultivated yeast. It is my personal decision to leave that simply a combination of flour, salt, aside for the time being. water and a lot of handmade love Yet, life has ways of working its

AUGUST 2020 FOOD | 25

magic. With the lockdown, the fre- to pour in since that day. Our prod- quency of our home-cooked family ucts are innovative; we use only the meals went up. Everyone suggested best quality ingredients and give that I should take this time as an the packaging a personalised touch. opportunity and start putting my In seven weeks of being in busi- food out there for people to relish. ness, we have sent out hundreds of I remember my daughter exclaim- breads, and an unaccounted num- ing, “Mom, you’re happiest when ber of sweet treats, including our you’re in the kitchen, despite the famous brownies and loaf cakes. heat.” She was right, I thought to Food is much more than just myself; the kitchen is my kingdom taste and aromas; it is something and cooking is meditation for me. that makes a difference in people’s Finally after much persuasion, we lives. I live to eat, cook and make all put a menu together for my new everyone around eat! Love and food venture OnUrTable. The orders – who needs anything else?  came instantly and have continued Place orders at +91 98188 68816

AUGUST 2020 26 | COVER STORY

INDIA ON HER MIND From an award-winning documentary filmmaker capturing India’s diversity, to an elected official keeping her city clean, Yasmin Kidwai is the quintessential patriot By Aekta Kapoor COVER STORY | 27

n the day that the Delhi po- India, its colours and diversity. lice raided the Nizamuddin With a Bachelor’s in sociology O Markaz mosque to evacuate and two post-graduate diplomas in over 1,500 members of the Tablighi filmmaking and journalism, she has Jamaat religious congregation for made close to 50 documentaries in defying India’s nationwide lock- two decades, with a focus on rural down, Yasmin Kidwai happened to and social development issues. The be close by, getting the neighbour- films span varied, nuanced topics: hood of Nizammudin West san- from the Bhuj earthquake, the itised with her team of municipal workers. As an elected councillor of the municipal corporation of Del- hi (MCD), the area falls under her constituency, and with coronavirus in town, it was an essential service that the mother of two could not avoid even if it came at a risk. Yasmin was aware that hundreds of Indians and foreigners were stuck inside the mosque’s residential quar- ters. “I don’t know them nor identi- fy with their beliefs, but I do know that they are religious travellers. The Indian government had no business letting them into India in the first place with the threat of a pandemic. And if you knew they were inside, why the delay in evacuating them? Yasmin during a shoot with Dr Manmohan Singh And after evacuating them, why al- low them to travel all over India?” rights of the aged, to women’s role asks the Hindu College alumnus, in Panchayati governance. She has shaking her head with disbelief. “It also made over 50 informational was completely mismanaged.” videos for MGNREGA, which are Yasmin is only a reluctant still screened in villages across India. politician. Born and raised in Her 2015 film about the rural the capital, she has had a long, solar electrification project run by fruitful career as an independent the Barefoot College in Tilonia, documentary filmmaker, capturing Rajasthan, No Problem! Six Months the most fascinating aspects of with the Barefoot Grandmamas, was

AUGUST 2020 28 | COVER STORY

Yasmin (third from left) with her Daryaganj constituents; hers is the largest MCD constituency out of 272

nominated for over 20 awards grandfather WM Babar had fought and citations worldwide, and was under Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan voted Best Film at various film in the Red Shirt movement of the festivals. The uplifting documentary 1920s before joining Indian National followed a group of illiterate rural Congress post-Independence. Her women from Africa as they trained maternal grandmother Tajdar Babar as solar engineers in India. Her 2017 is a three-time elected member film Filmistaan, commissioned by of Delhi’s Legislative Assembly. the Ministry of External Affairs, is Her maternal uncle Farhad Suri, a a fascinating look at the worldwide former Delhi mayor, is a three-time popularity, inclusivity and the elected leader in the MCD. secular nature of Bollywood. Yasmin’s father too belongs to a Politics was a subject Yasmin long line of freedom fighters and avoided for many years. Making government servants. A descendent films, being married to an Army of Shafiq Ur Rahman Kidwai, who officer, raising two sons, now 14 was one of the founders of Jamia and 11, and even running a fashion University, Imran Kidwai was gen- label by the side, she was gainfully eral secretary of the Youth Congress occupied. But eventually, her and later chairman of the minori- ancestry caught up with her. ty cell of the Congress. His sister Her political legacy goes back Mohsina Kidwai is a former mem- a long way. Yasmin’s maternal ber of the Rajya Sabha and former

AUGUST 2020 COVER STORY | 29

Union minister. Yasmin’s uncle AR And, in certain departments, it is Kidwai has been the governor of the Central Government, right now three states, a member of the Rajya the BJP, that takes the call,” says the Sabha and chairman of the Union 47-year-old, who is not paid any Public Service Commission. salary as an MCD councillor. Brought up discussing politics She is vocal in her criticism of the on the dinner table, however, only Centre’s handling of the COVID made Yasmin averse to the whole crisis. “India had an advantage com- process. As a young woman, she pared with other nations – but we would rather spend time in villages, mismanaged it from day one. Hon- filming women and children, en- orable Prime Minister Modi should couraging change at the grassroots with her own enthusiastic idealism and unflagging optimism. With her kohled curious eyes, candid demea- nour and generous laughter, she was always naturally gifted at attracting people and evoking trust. No doubt these very qualities made her the perfect candidate for electoral politics. Eventually, af- ter years of protests, avoidance and excuses, she found herself dragged into the ring to fight her first bout. The Congress fielded Yasmin from its largest MCD constituency, Daryaganj, in the 2017 polls. Though the incumbent BJP won Yasmin being interviewed for a news channel the election, Yasmin was among 30 Congress councillors to secure a seat have closed borders at the earliest, in the 272-member corporation. but instead, he kept them open for The complicated character of Namaste Trump in February, and governance in Delhi leaves Yasmin did not declare lockdown until frustrated on the best of days. “The his party had toppled the elected drainage system comes under the government in Madhya Pradesh in MCD, which is my responsibility March. And then he gave ordinary at present, but the sewage system people only four hours notice be- comes under the Delhi Government, fore the lockdown,” she says. “Wow.” which is run by Aam Aadmi Party. The humanitarian crisis created in

AUGUST 2020 30 | COVER STORY

the process also infuriates her. “Now suffered,” she adds with emotion, “I that I’m inside the system, I know it hate this. It angers me when people doesn’t take much to arrange buses have the power to help so many but and trains to transport migrants to they don’t use it or they use it only their home states, or to distribute if it’s to their own advantage. Indi- surplus food grains among areas ans gave full majority and power to that need them. It is so simple for an a man who doesn’t care.” official or leader to end someone’s The most obvious aspect of BJP’s struggle by just making a phone call. divisive politics – its anti-Muslim Even I was able to arrange buses for rhetoric and religious polarisation – Uttar Pradesh migrants and feed doesn’t move her too much. “I don’t take it personally,” says Yasmin, who is a Muslim married to a Hindu. “The Indian right-wing has always had its extreme narratives of hate. Their modus operandi is division and distraction. The BJP and their affiliates have targeted someone or the other all along – anti-Christian, anti-missionaries, anti-women, anti-Dalit. They just happen to be anti-Muslim right now, and anti- anyone with a scientific temper.” But even if she takes an objective view of the RSS-BJP brand of pol- itics, Yasmin cannot help reacting viscerally to news of lynchings and Yasmin with her constituency’s municipality staffers riots. “I react as a mother, as a hu- man. Those who were called ‘fringe out-of-work labourers and garbage elements’ earlier – the likes of Yogi collectors with contributions from Adityanath and Pragya Thakur – are civil society and good Samaritans,” now mainstream. When we stay si- she says, referring to actor Manoj lent and let others be persecuted, Bajpai and scores of ordinary folks we embolden these elements fur- who chipped in for her cause. ther. Using development as a plank “But our prime minister preferred is no excuse to kill people and get petty politics over compassion and away with it,” she states. governance during the pandem- It was finally this last sentiment ic, and it’s the common man who that pushed Yasmin into entering

AUGUST 2020 COVER STORY | 31

L-R: Yasmin, Swara Bhaskar and Swanand Kirkire at Namaste Orchha 2020; with local residents in Orchha, MP politics. “It was an assertion of my drew the creative spirit in her. Driv- identity as a woman, as a Muslim en to encourage the local economy, woman, as an educated working she directed the festival’s first edi- woman, as a mother, as an Army tion in March this year, inviting the officer’s wife, as someone committed likes of actor Swara Bhaskar and to India and its people,” she says, singer Shubha Mudgal. There were but reflects that there are moments films, cultural performances and a she questions this construct. “I find crafts bazaar. “Orchha is a treasure, my identity continuously shifting. a rare town with a syncretic culture. One label doesn’t describe me It’s everything I love about India,” completely. I do know, however, that Yasmin says. “It is my greatest hap- I am not a politician,” she laughs. piness that the festival was a success.” She enjoys her identity as social The lockdown is a hectic time entrepreneur, though. Her new for Yasmin, as she is busy ensuring venture, the Namaste Orchha cul- sanitation in her constituency tural festival, aims to promote sus- using whatever tools she has at her tainable development and liveli- disposal. “I am still surprised when hoods in the little Madhya Pradesh people thank me for things they town that Yasmin often visits for a had found so difficult to get done, break. Its 16th-century forts, palaces but which only require a small and temples, along with its natural effort from me,” she says. “That’s the beauty lying along the Betwa River, power of this seat.” 

AUGUST 2020 32 | YOUTH VOICES

OUTSIDER VIEW International youth volunteers and trainees who visited India to work or teach share their experience and impression of the country By Isha Jerath

languages. I like the way Indian PRABODHA FERNANDO women dress and the colour com- 23, Sri Lanka binations they wear. ndia, to me, is a very familiar so- As a volunteer in a Delhi school, ciety because I’m from Sri Lan- I also saw some negative aspects I ka. What first struck me is that of India. I realised that even little Indians are very good at driving – I students marginalise others based think if you can drive in India, you on their parents’ jobs. I also found can drive anywhere in the world. I people in India to be more selfish love India’s traditions and festivals. compared with Sri Lankans! I don’t Indians enjoy life very much, al- like aggressive people, but I did ways dancing, singing and laughing meet some in India. My experience – I love that! The street food espe- taught me how to deal with people cially is amazing. I love the many and how to spend my money wisely.

AUGUST 2020 YOUTH VOICES | 33

about life moulds their ability to BRUNA OLIVEIRA BRAZ endure things. Facing situations 27, Brazil with that perspective is something efore arriving in India in late I’m trying to apply in my own life. B2019, I did my research on what The volunteer work itself work- to expect, but I tried not to have ing in a pet shelter in Gurugram far any preconceived notions. I wanted surpassed my expectations. I was to keep an open mind and not dis- amazed that Indians can do so much respect anyone’s cultural values. with so little! I learnt to communi- I had many experiences while cate while not speaking the same travelling, many were remarkable. I language. I was taken care of by noticed that things like noise, traffic every person who frequently inter- and pollution – which usually acted with me. I’m not going to lie disturb people from my country – and say I was never afraid. Yet, it was didn’t really disturb Indians! By the not much different from when I’m end of my time there, even I got in Brazil (we are both developing used to them. I wonder if this has to countries and we face similar safety do with Indian religiousness. issues). Still, I had no unpleasant or I didn’t get to learn as much as traumatic experiences in India. Go- I wanted about Hinduism but, as ing there was one of the best deci- far as I understood, its perspective sions of my life.

AUGUST 2020 34 | YOUTH VOICES

first. But it happened so many times MELIKA KIANBAKHT that I realised Indians just like to 27, Iran chat with foreigners and take selfies efore I travelled to Delhi to with us, whether we are celebrities B work for six months, my friends or not! They don’t want to bother, told me that India is not safe, that they just want to talk. They are re- it’s a dirty place. But after arriving, spectful. I got used to this behaviour it became clear to me that I could and began to enjoy it as well. go out even at night for parties. If After Delhi, I visited Agra, Manali, people travel to India for just a few Jaipur and Varanasi. I love Indian days, they probably can’t see its real traditions and clothing. They always beauty, and so they believe it’s dirty have something to celebrate! India and unsafe. But if you travel around was also a paradise for food – being for a while, you will find historical a vegetarian, I had plenty of choices. and natural beauty that you can’t Colours, happiness, emotions, find anywhere else in the world. tasty food, and diverse religions, be- What makes India special is the liefs and skin colours – those are my people; they are really friendly. One lasting impressions of India. I usual- day, a lady walked up and asked if ly don’t like to visit the same coun- she could take a photo with me; this try twice but India is the only one shocked me and I didn’t like it at where I really want to visit again!

AUGUST 2020 YOUTH VOICES | 35

You’re constantly on the lookout – ANDI YURIDNA YUDHA whether you’re getting into a tuk- 22, Indonesia tuk (auto-rickshaw), buying things spent six weeks as a volunteer in in a crowded market, or boarding a IIndia in 2018 while on a break train. You’re constantly in fight-or- from medical college in China. flight mode. I found that thrilling. India has a crazy chaotic vibe. On Once I’d learnt my lessons one hand, I didn’t like the ‘honk- (sometimes the hard way), it everywhere’ kind of traffic. But I did became a bit easier to get by. It’s like like India’s messiness and everything having a teacher who is extremely else that comes along with it. It strict but you still love her anyway inspired me to travel because if you because you know she is the best. can survive in India, you can pretty The truth is, once you find the much survive anywhere! beauty in the chaos, India really is a I fell in love with all the experiences cool country – with its rich cultures and all the people I spent time with, and its fascinating destinations that and I guess I was lucky not to come you can never find anywhere else. across any terrible ones. Lucky Oh, and don’t get me started on the because from the moment you step food! Every time I get the chance out of your home or hostel in India, to eat good Indian food, I never the odds are stacked against you. pass the opportunity. 

AUGUST 2020 36 | FINANCE

BASIS VALUE Hena Mehta’s startup Basis has set out to solve every woman’s pain point of not having the right resources to plan out financial goals n 2016, Hena Mehta got admis- travel, but she would also have to sion in The Wharton School’s forgo her regular salary. “It suddenly I MBA programme. After the ini- dawned on me: how was I going to tial elation of admission wore off, pay for this whole thing? It was a reality began to sink in. Hena re- massive financial goal – one I hadn’t alised she’d not only have to come planned for,” recalls Hena, who did up with the substantial tuition fees, her Bachelor’s in computer science cost of living, health insurance and from the University of Pennsylvania

AUGUST 2020 FINANCE | 37 and has over 10 years of experience male colleagues, all through Basis working in fintech. content and services. After completing her MBA, “You cannot be independent returning to Bengaluru and without being financially indepen- speaking to over 500 women dent. Think about it,” advises Hena. in various Indian cities, Hena “To live a life truly on your own realised she was not alone in facing terms, you need to have complete challenges related to managing autonomy of your money. Earning money. This led her to launch Basis, it, saving it, investing it, protecting a community and content-driven it, and spending it. My advice to all financial services platform, which has so far impacted over 15,000 individuals since its launch in 2018. A SEBI-licensed investment advisor, Basis has 40-odd corporate partners, and covers a wide gamut of content, community and services. The app is jargon-free and targets women and their specific needs using algorithms that analyze five years of data. “Our vision is to build a platform that empowers women with all their money management needs: educa- tion, updated information, tailored advice and curated products. We aim to impact 10 million women women is to take complete own- over the next five years,” says the ership of your financial decisions. 33-year old, who co-founded Basis Outlining your goals and figuring along with her school friend and fi- out how to reach them is empow- nancial expert Dipika Jaikishan. ering and liberating. Chalk out as Hena, who is also the founder little as 30 minutes a week to edu- of Lean In Bangalore (affiliated cate yourself, and be in touch with with and recognised by Sheryl your financial situation.” Sandberg’s Lean In Foundation), She signs off with a quote from narrates case studies of young Jawaharlal Nehru, “To awaken the women learning how to save wisely, people, it is the women who must building emergency funds, planning be awakened. Once she is on the for early retirements, and even move, the family moves, the village negotiating salaries equal to their moves, the nation moves.” 

AUGUST 2020 38 | FILMMAKER

THE HORROR WE LIVE WITH Anvita Dutt speaks about her directorial debut Bulbbul, and why she chose to make a feminist horror flick to rake up dark social truths By Neha Kirpal f you want to marry into royalty, older sister-in-law to the young lead you must pay a royal price. These character in Bulbbul just after she is I chilling words – spoken by an unspeakably brutalised – define the AUGUST 2020 FILMMAKER | 39 horror of Indian patriarchal society a fantastical tale talking about real more than its pet storytelling motif pain,” she explains. of the ‘chudail’ (witch) ever could. Starring Tripti Dimri, Rahul In the new film Bulbbul on Netflix, Bose and Paoli Dam, Anvita says director Anvita Dutt takes on this she had always planned the film for folklore of the female demon but an OTT release. Having a producer gives a feminist twist. and platform that allowed complete After a long career as dialogue freedom to just do justice to the

Facing page: A still from Bulbbul; above (L-R): Anvita Dutt; the poster for the filmBulbbul on Netflix writer, screenplay writer, storywriter film was an advantage, she admits. and lyricist in peppy mainstream “Netflix freed me in the sense Bollywood romances, Anvita’s that they completely supported directorial debut goes headlong my vision,” says Anvita, who is into dark subjects – child marriage, inspired by filmmakers Satyajit Ray, rape, domestic violence and sex Kurosawa and Bong Joon-ho, and slavery. “As a commissioned writer, lists Abhimaan, Minority Report and you write to the director’s brief Pulp Fiction among her favourite and try to deliver to their vision. films. But when I decided to direct my Brought up in various parts of own film, I worked on a genre of India as an Indian Air Force officer’s my own choice – on the kind of daughter, the 48-year-old is a story that I wanted to tell – basically voracious reader. “Books don’t just

AUGUST 2020 40 | FILMMAKER

Lead character Tripti Dimri with Rahul Bose

hold the engaging, seductive power beautiful in the film, and yet of stories. They teach you how this beauty is definitely one stories work. And they teach you seen through ‘the female gaze’, to have an imagination,” she says, not hyper-sexualised but rather adding that she admires authors like endowed with innate power. “She is Ursula K Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, a very beautiful girl in any case – not Agatha Christie and Stephen King, just physically but also as a human among many others. being,” affirms Anvita. “And it is her ne of most fascinating details innate authenticity coupled with Oabout her film is its backdrop her performance and her living and of 19th century Bengal. “I felt that breathing and becoming Bulbbul Bengal of that period had a certain that takes her beauty to the sublime. mythical quality and had an aesthetic She completely surrendered to the appeal that would add to the fable- character. And this is true for all like quality of the film,” explains great actors. They own up the role.” Anvita, adding, “All of India is rich As far as the female gaze goes, she in myths and folklore. There is, in adds, “Look at what Bimal Roy did fact, a treasure trove of material just in Bandini.” waiting for someone like me to play Though Anvita says she wanted with. This time I chose Bengal.” to give the derogatory word The film’s protagonist, played ‘chudail’ a new meaning through by Tripti Dimri, looks stunningly the film, she explains why she

AUGUST 2020 FILMMAKER | 41

Tripti Dimri and Avinash Tiwary from Bulbbul chose its traditional identifiers from and are emotionally moved by it, Indian folklore – the feet turned your gender doesn’t matter,” she backwards, loose open hair, a hint says. of promiscuity: “You have to show The idea of presenting women people what is familiar before you characters in shades of grey is can change its meaning. There is an something that has been catching existing idea. You have to first make on in the film industry and that is people remember that idea, that how Anvita has perceived her two myth, before subverting it.” women leads in the film as well here’s also the disturbing aspect – Binodini and Bulbbul are both Tof violence in the film, which heroines and anti-heroines in their has been criticised by some, but own way. “This is a democracy. All which serves the purpose in that I can do is be true to myself creating a sense of horror rather – and hopefully that will bring than voyeurism. It also justifies the enough dissonance,” says Anvita, subtle anti-men tenor of the plot who says she was surprised how and the protagonist’s anger, though audiences picked up every nuance Anvita hopes men and women will and responded to it emotionally be equally moved by it. “The idea and viscerally. “It has sparked was to bring to light the everyday conversations and it has moved horror that unfolds even today. And them to poetry or art. I am so I think if you are sensitive to that grateful for that.” 

AUGUST 2020 42 | LOCATION

A STEP INTO HISTORY A heritage hotel and a memorable shoot venue for films like Bulbbul, the Rajbari Bawali near Kolkata is steeped in tradition and luxury By Maya Lalchandani LOCATION | 43

The Zamindari suite comes with marble flooring, antique poster beds, a bookshelf and a spacious bathroom

ajbari Bawali, an extraordi- The Mondal dynasty of Bawali nary architectural masterpiece has an extraordinary family R about 60 km away from Kol- history, dating back over 400 kata, has had an eventful history. It years, one which started with the once belonged to aristocratic za- Mughal Emperor Akbar, and later mindars of West Bengal, known for intertwined with tales of the East their ostentatious lifestyles, their India Company and the British Raj. history replete with tales of in- Built 250 years ago, this property is trigue, love and betrayal. Today, run set in a little hamlet known as 24 by a hospitality entrepreneur, it is a Parganas dotted with fields, temples luxury getaway creating memories and palaces of yore. Walking up its for guests, even for Kolkata residents magnificent stately staircase held up seeking a hideaway during lock- by Corinthian pillars, visitors get a down. It is also something of a Bol- sense of romantic nostalgia almost lywood icon: Chokher Bali (2003) at once. One is transported into a directed by Rituparno Ghosh star- mist of history – lavish parties, with ring Aishwarya Rai was shot here, eminent guests wafting past, the as was the newly released Bulbbul, music floating through the walls. directed by Anvita Dutt (p.34). Post-Independence, the zamindars

AUGUST 2020 44 | LOCATION

Above: A film still fromBulbbul shot at Rajbari Bawali; top left and right: charming nooks and corners

lost their wealth and the families reclaimed, and wooden shutters in- dispersed, and the magnificent stalled. Teak wood from Burma and mansion reinvented itself several other antiques from surrounding times, even as a movie theatre. homes, which had been demol- Since 2009, the property has ished, all found their way into the been owned by entrepreneur and Rajbari and were restructured. environmentalist Ajay Rawla, who In its new avatar as a heritage ho- stumbled upon it when it was in ru- tel and an ideal location for movie ins. Awed by its grandeur, he want- shoots and destination weddings, ed to share its beauty and romance the property offers all the modern with people before it all disappeared conveniences that well-heeled trav- with the ravages of time. It took sev- ellers are used to. The Piano Room en years to restore it. Local karigars serves all kinds of cuisines, but the were trained in restoration by the local fare – especially bhetki patu- Aga Khan Foundation. Roofs were ri made with fresh vegetables and restored, ponds created, pavilions fish – is highly recommended. A

AUGUST 2020 LOCATION | 45

It took seven years to restore the property and to incorporate modern conveniences and facilities multi-course ‘Zamindari thali’ in local dancers perform. It is a classic the Thakurdalan is also a must. The setting of Bengali culture, luxury evening masala chai is an elaborate and tradition all rolled into one. affair, accompanied by phuchkas, Suites are vast (from 250 to 900 jaal muri and samosas. sq ft) with high ceilings, four-poster There are other indulgences too. beds, bookshelves and antique lamps The property also hosts Mantra Spa, that create a sense of historical which is temporarily shut due to opulence with light and shadow. COVID. As the area is vast, visitors And if one seeks to partake of the have no worries about maintaining other side of the Bengal experience, social distancing. The Sandhya Aarti one can always take a walk in the ritual at dusk is a spectacle, featuring village, where human rickshaws are Sanskrit shlokas with conch shells still the norm, where women wash and classical dance recitals. The clothes in open ponds and children entire façade is lit with oil lamps run about freely as the sun goes and the heady incense fills the air as down over the Hooghly River. 

AUGUST 2020 46 | CHILDBIRTH LOCKDOWN BABY

Giving birth is a big challenge in itself – imagine doing it under the shadow of COVID! New mother Varsha Khandelwal shares her experience

was in my seventh month of feeling. As if childbirth wasn’t hard pregnancy. Things were moving enough, now all pregnant women I along happily, with the excep- had to worry about contracting this tion of swollen feet, back cramps virus and the safety of their unborn and fatigue. Little did I know that child. One could sense the paranoia these would be the least of my wor- at the clinic and during ultrasound ries. Soon, news started pouring in appointments. about the dreaded novel coronavi- In late April, after a discussion with rus. It snowballed and the country my doctor, we decided to prepone went into lockdown, which was ex- my delivery by two and a half weeks tended, and extended. as COVID cases were beginning I was to deliver on May 15. I cannot to rise. The baby was ready and it

describe the stress and anxiety I was seemed wise to be ahead of the / PIXABAY PUBLIC CO PHOTO:

AUGUST 2020 CHILDBIRTH | 47 curve. We also decided to change time. Although I understood that our hospital at the last minute and the precautions needed to be taken, switched to one that was less busy. I truly missed holding his hand like I feel extremely grateful that Delhi the first time. has many maternity hospitals and And then, she was here! The I could avoid going to a general operation went smoothly and in hospital for the delivery. four hours I was back in the room. I was required to take a COVID My little darling came in soon test before being admitted. Finally, after and I saw her clearly for the the day of delivery dawned. I said first time. We settled in and began my prayer in the morning and set off for the hospital. There was a full screening at the entrance where our temperature was checked and we were sanitised. My husband and I checked in at noon and my C-section was scheduled for 3.30 p.m. Almost immediately, pre-op preparations began and doctors, nurses and housekeeping staff began buzzing in and out of the room. Everyone was required to wear masks and sanitise their hands once they came in. Nervousness and anxiety about the operation began to assail me, and corona-stress took a backseat. The experience at the time of my firstborn was very different than Varsha with her firstborn son last Christmas this time. At that time, my entire family was present, but this time our new life together. Soon there only my husband was allowed. My were doctors, assistant doctors, mother and mother-in-law were nurses, paediatrician, dieticians, allowed to come in individually housekeeping staff and food servers when my husband took a break. It coming in frequently. Once again, was heartbreaking not to have my coronavirus anxiety crept over me! father around. Furthermore, my I decided to wear a mask and kept husband was not allowed to be with reminding everyone to sanitise me in the operation theatre this their hands on entering my room.

AUGUST 2020 48 | CHILDBIRTH

The maternal instinct to protect my year-old son waiting for me. It was little one kicked in. such a sense of relief. We stayed The next three days were optimistic and believed that we bittersweet. The excitement and had returned home virus-free. Two enjoyment of my new baby was weeks of home quarantine passed accompanied by a constant fear of and all was good. I am so grateful the virus. Being exposed to many for my safe delivery and the health people worried me and made me somewhat paranoid! I interviewed nurses about where they came from and what means of transport they used. Some walked to work, while others hitched a ride with co- workers since public transport was not functional at the time. Though this must have been a big problem for them, it was a relief for me that my nurses were not exposed to crowds in closed spaces like buses and the Delhi metro. When the baby was taken for vaccinations and baths, I could only hope that everyone was following safety protocol outside my room. Soon, I realised that this was a situation beyond my control and the only thing I could do was to sanitise everything frequently and calm myself. At last, it was time to go home! Varsha during her pregnancy this year We checked out, bid farewell to the sweet nurses and walked to the of my family. parking lot avoiding the valet. I was Sometimes, all you can do is send in too much pain to hold the baby positive vibes into the universe and and decided to take over the wheel hope for the best. And mostly, the instead. Oh, home sweet home! universe responds the same way.  We were received with much love, Varsha Khandelwal is a Delhi-based affection and many, many balloons. lawyer, world-traveller and former state- I was in tears when I saw my three- level badminton player

AUGUST 2020 PARENTING | 49

LOVE IN A

JHOLITraditional Indian methods of caring for newborns are beneficial and practical, says physician and mother of two Dr Farah Adam Mukadam in her book New Borns

PHOTO: PRANAV KUMAR JAIN / UNSPLASH JAIN KUMAR PRANAV PHOTO: and New Moms out this month. An excerpt

AUGUST 2020 50 | PARENTING

The Indian Jholi as it isn’t a rigid surface. This I was gifted a jholi and it came with shape-shifting bed is great for the its stand and custom-made cloth development of a round head. sheets that could be easily fastened Two, the baby feels cocooned to the hooks on the stand. My in the jholi and sleeps much better daughter slept with me during the during daytime naps. It functions night and in the jholi during the day. similar to a swaddle but with less The traditional Indian jholi is a pressure on the chest. Three, the rocking motion of the jholi is great for the brain development of the infant. The part of the brain (the vestibular system in the inner ear) responsible for posture and maintenance of the body’s balance is stimulated by the rocking motion. Four, sleeping in a jholi makes the baby favour a flexed posture and prevents an extended back and neck that happens by sleeping flat on a bed. This flexed posture promotes normal motor development in a baby as he or she grows up. All shapeshifting beds aren’t good for the baby though. Water beds have often resulted in deaths by entrapment or suffocation. The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign of the Dr Farah Adam Mukadam 1990s is now replaced by the ‘Safe to Sleep’ campaign of the 2000s. DIY swing of sorts for the baby to In this campaign parents are sleep in. A sheet of cloth is fastened advised to avoid excess bedding and to a support at the two ends and water beds, to put the baby to sleep a pouch-like bed is made for the on his back and to use a pacifier. baby. This may seem like the poor How about we remove all of man’s crib, but it does come with its those unnecessary campaigns and inherent benefits. just start ‘Next to Mom’, ‘Jholi for One, when the baby is put in Nap’ and ‘Breastfeed at Night’ the jholi, the cloth plunges down campaigns? How many more babies

AUGUST 2020 PARENTING | 51 need to die in their cots before baby wriggles and resists, you can those sleep scientists realise it is manoeuvre your legs to get better called ‘cot’ death for a reason? control. In addition, you know exactly what your baby is feeling. The Indian Art of Making the Head If you missed checking the water Round temperature, the water pouring on Aside from co-sleeping and the your baby will come on your legs jholi, there is another intervention and you can adjust the temperature that makes the head round. A cotton cloth is tied around the circumference of the baby’s head during the day which applies mild pressure from all sides on the soft mouldable baby head. Therapists are using baby helmets along the same principle in babies with plagiocephaly but with a more rigid material (as the baby is older and the head is less mouldable). In fact, mothers of newborns are advised to gently press the head of the baby into a spherical shape while breastfeeding. A newborn’s feeding sessions last over a good half hour. Spend five-10 minutes of that time gently massaging the baby’s head into a round shape and that will prevent any flatness.

Bath Time In India, maalishwalis have been to your requirement. The baby is bathing babies on their legs before comfortable, and both your hands the invention of plastic tubs and are free to oil and soap the baby and bath chairs. There are no assistants you won’t miss any spots. Often to to help out either. your pleasure, at the end of the bath The baby is made to lie on the baby falls asleep by the time he one’s legs, given a deep massage is in the towel.  and bathed in hot water. And it is Excerpted with permission from PAN the best way to do it. Even if the Macmillan Publishing India

AUGUST 2020 52 | PERSONAL GROWTH

Seeking Guidance from the Stars

Cassandra Eve transformed herself after a series of traumatic experiences and now guides others on their soul journeys using astrology By Kay Newton peaking with Cassandra Eve her job and home, and losing her you immediately get a sense son to heroin addiction. S of calm, a presence that is “Change is the only constant,” totally in tune with life and her says Cassandra who has worked in calling here on Earth. Yet it was the UK’s civil service, and has also not always like this. The cosmic served as a Reiki master and a past- guidance counsellor has adventured life therapist. “When we’re actively through many life quests and, like growing through life’s changes we a true heroine, she has transformed connect more deeply with our inner her trials and challenges: childhood beliefs and motivations and discover abuse, a violent marriage, leaving what lies beneath them, what’s truly

AUGUST 2020 PERSONAL GROWTH | 53 authentic inside. When I made this they are intrigued,” she says. realisation, my life began.” An astrological chart consultation Born in Cornwall, UK, and now helps clients understand and trust back in her birthplace, Cassandra themselves deeper and the growth has lived in many parts of the world processes they are in. Yet, Cassandra from New Zealand and Australia to never offers a prediction on what is the life of a recluse in India. “When going to happen in their lives. my life fell apart and I hit ground She shares why: “My ex-partner zero, I looked at the one common went to see an astrologer and was denominator in all that had happened and it was ME! That’s when I literally felt my consciousness turn inside out. I became more interested in my inner world,” she says. One day, listening to her intuition, Cassandra walked into a café and serendipitously met a woman there who invited her to a local astrology group where they did her chart for her. “It sent me on another quest, to discover what lies beneath my experience and the external world,” she narrates. And so she went to the library and began studying astrology as a serious vocation. Within six months, told that our relationship was she had begun a diploma course going to break up. From my own and also trained as a rape and incest knowledge of astrology I told him counsellor for a UK crisis line. that it was one potential of the Cassandra’s clients tend to be incoming energy, but not the only women in their late 30s onwards, in one. But the seed had been sown the process of change or ready for it. in my partner’s mind. We did break “Women who know there is more up, yet who knows how that seed to life than the daily norms. Women influenced the process? It was a in transition, at a crossroads, they valuable lesson for my responsibility may not understand astrology yet as an astrologer.”

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In consultations, Cassandra shares making a choice – choosing not to where an energetic process is tak- change. In that choice you are ac- ing the individual internally and tively choosing to suffer. Generally the meaning of the process, so that when this happens, there is fear of they can meet it in the best possible change. Astrology helps the client to ways. “For example, a client recent- see that change is natural, even if at ly brought up her marriage and I times it is painful, and that renewal can see the energy working in two is inevitable. Nature is a great mir- ways, either towards renewal or an ror for these processes. ending; it’s not staying the same. Speaking about the pandemic right now, Cassandra says the collective force we are experiencing will be felt differently by everyone. “Individually some will feel it as pressure, others as an inspiration to live differently. Often it’s both. Choices are more difficult right now and yet we have to take action in our life. For example, I had to cancel my retreat in Greece this year. It was a difficult choice and I wasn’t happy to do so yet that is part of my unfolding evolution. We have to live more in the moment and more responsibly in terms of our collective experience.” Cassandra’s final thoughts are important for all: “Change is chal- lenging yet when we trust that the We always have a choice with many process is one of evolution – de- possible permutations and yet the spite the fact that it may feel tragic calling is always towards growth.” or frightening – life becomes easier. Cassandra also talks about the Beneath that ever-moving process ‘choiceless choice’, where the en- of change, a deeper self-belonging ergy for change arriving in your life and trust is possible. It supports the creates pressure. When you desper- individual in living a more mean- ate cling onto the old that no longer ingful life. My life reveals that is serves, you experience the process possible for everyone.”  as pain and suffering. You are still Visit BeingWholeWoman.co.uk

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facebook.com/groups/esheworld 56 | TAROT

FROM MARKETING TO MAGIC

Meet two former marketing professionals, Pooja Khera and Karishma Makhija, who gave up their corporate lives to help others through tarot card reading

POOJA KHERA, DELHI Pooja, who is certified in the When a senior marketing profes- science of wellbeing by the sional with over 20 years of experi- University of Yale, believes tarot is ence decides to quit her high-flying transformational and teaches you career and pursue her love for tarot about fundamental universal truths full-time, it does cause some bit of and archetypes. “It is a very powerful surprise. But for Pooja Khera, it was tool for getting clarity, guidance a natural progression after having and thus the ability to make better started tarot card reading 12 years decisions, which can transform ago to turn into a happiness coach lives,” says the 42-year-old. and restart a new career leading Born and raised in Chandigarh, people down the path of spiritual Pooja is also a switch-words expert

fulfillment. and a dating coach who largely / PIXABAY COSIC MIRA PHOTO:

AUGUST 2020 TAROT | 57 works with young women teaching document your progress and then them to love themselves so that they when you achieve that, add another can invite and sustain relationships one to the list. This is the first step to that are truly beneficial for them. growth. You will see that achieving As a spiritual guide, she uses tools one will give you the power to add like chakras and meditation to take another one – I call it the ‘muscle of people through fun, transformative intention’.” sessions and real-life experiences. For those who see tarot as merely Twenty years in the corporate a predictive tool and a crutch for world left Pooja with intense trying times, Pooja clarifies: “Tarot anxiety and pressure to continue with a life path that didn’t really resonate with her. “I didn’t feel like I was being true to my soul calling. At the same time, it was scary to think of quitting because I was drawing a high salary and the position I held was prestigious, which only made me feel even more trapped in a situation that just didn’t feel right in my heart,” she recalls. Eventually, though, Pooja went with her heart and quit her corporate career in October last year. Besides a tarot reader, she is also a certified tarot rituals practitioner, which means she is trained to perform positive and strengthening rituals for various life areas like relationships, career, new is a roadmap to your inner self, a beginnings, healings, and so on. tool for self-empowerment and For Pooja, happiness is a state understanding. It reveals the hidden, when you accept and love yourself clarifies the blurred. You can see unconditionally. “Self-love is the and acknowledge what you are not highest form of vibration one can doing or what is holding you back. feel,” she says, advising everyone That very acknowledgment and the to make a goal for themselves and advice given by a capable reader is document it. “Make one goal at a the starting point of change in your time, strive your best to achieve it, life, all for good.”

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KARISHMA MAKHIJA, MUMBAI Born and raised in Mumbai, Karishma Makhija had grown up seeing her family members hold senior positions in reputed companies and so, for her, that was the default career aspiration as a teenager. “I didn’t plan anything; I just believed that what was meant for me would come to me,” says the 41-year-old who recently quit her 16-year career in media marketing to take up the more spiritually fulfilling path of tarot. “I have always had too many questions in my mind, be it about humanity or the pain faced by humanity, questions about myself and why people go through what they go through,” says Karishma. “I sought answers in various places, and I was greatly intrigued by the answers I received from tarot readers. The cards fascinated me. I have always been drawn to the is always inward-out. I have seen occult since the young age of eight people get good jobs within a or nine, and I intuitively felt this is few months after trying for a very my calling.” long time once they took the tarot And so, a few years ago, Karishma advice seriously. I’ve seen people picked up the subject herself. find wonderful life partners after “Strangely, I can’t read for myself but a long search once they heed the I find my answers while resolving cards and change their perspective,” riddles faced by my clients,” she shares. she smiles. Her current work is Karishma advises everyone to live mostly about providing clarity and authentically: “Peace and happiness counselling people, helping them exist within you; you don’t have to understand their blocks, fears and go looking for it. Just be playful. In obstacles. “I always tell my clients, those moments, we find joy and concentrate on yourself. Victory build happiness.” 

AUGUST 2020 YOUNG LEADERS | 59 YOUTH BRIGADE From Malala Yousafzai to Greta Thunberg, teen girls have proved they have the strength and determination to move the world. Here are a few more doing their bit

BUSHRA AMIWALA Youngest elected Muslim public official in US

ecades ago, when Bushra their daughter would end up being Amiwala’s parents migrated the youngest Muslim holding pub- D to USA from Karachi, Paki- lic office in the country, and a role stan, to start a new life, little would model for Muslim girls and women they have imagined that, one day, of colour.

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Born in Chicago, Bushra moved studies and public policy studies, with her family to Skokie, Cook she launched a campaign for a seat County, Illinois, when she was on the Cook County Board of nine years old. Race and religion Commissioners. Though she lost were always at the forefront of her the election, she gained a whole lot interactions with her peers. “But it of understanding of the American wasn’t until I became older that the electoral system, its politics and conversations became more direct the issues that needed addressing. and the disparities clearer,” says the Interestingly, it was her opponent 22-year-old, adding, “I am lucky who inspired her to keep going to have been raised in the diverse with her political ambition. village of Skokie, where we were Just six months later, she ran for taught to embrace our differences. I the Skokie School District 73.5

L-R: At a briefing with Illinois representative Jan Schakowsky to discuss Census 2020; with Senator Kamala Harris

believe that truly made a difference Board of Education. This time, she in the way my peers and I viewed won, making her the youngest issues of race and religion.” elected Muslim government official Bushra was only 19 when she in the US. Her term ends in 2023. first stood for elections. Then “Serving on the board of education, an undergrad student at DePaul I am at the forefront of the measures University studying management put in place in response to COVID information systems with a double and whether schools will be open minor in community service in the fall or not,” says Bushra. With

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Bushra as keynote speaker at the ‘Young Women Run’ Ignite National Conference 2019 in Chicago

her inputs, she has made the system people of certain races and religious more accessible, transparent and backgrounds have over other inclusive – such as offering halal groups which grants them access to lunches in schools. Also, as someone additional benefits and resources. I who is involved in the search process personally don’t think I have been to replace school board members prevented from certain rights due and administrators, her youth and to my religious background, but perspective may help create a shift there are privileges I don’t hold,” in the education system. she admits. As a Muslim of South Asian Bushra, who has now completed origin, Bushra has a weight of her Bachelor’s degree, will be many expectations riding on her starting a full-time job at Google shoulders. And she has shown up this month, and has no plans to run to fulfil them. With Black Lives for public office in the near future. Matter ruling headlines in the Advising other young women country, she has often taken up the to “remain positive and well- issue of racism in her public role, intentioned, and to dream big and “everything from attending rallies, strive for greatness,” she says she protests and vigils, to being a part of has learnt to embrace failure over the conversation offline.” COVID the years and continues to motivate has hampered many of her efforts herself after seeing how far she has but not dampened her spirits. come. “It’s easier to keep going “We must recognise the privileges when you are looking forward.” 

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MAHIRA JAIN Class 12 student and founder of FunWagon, a social enterprise that offers opportunities for experiential learning

ow old do you have to be ble, or simply not there!” says Ma- to set up a social enterprise hira, who wants to share her love H that organises interactive, for the social sciences with students educational activities for children from all socio-economic classes. and promotes experiential learn- “I believe that children learn life’s ing? Seventeen is just about right most important skills such as lead- if you go by Mahira Jain’s experi- ership, time management, discipline, ence. A student of class 12 at Delhi teamwork, conflict resolution, and Public School RK Puram, Mahira problem-solving outside the walls has already organised several events, of a classroom setting. Having par- excursions and activities with her ticipated in different fields of social startup FunWagon, which caters to activities throughout my childhood children aged six to 16. and teenage years, I am confident “There are limited options for that stepping outside their comfort enriching recreational activities for zone helps children truly apply their kids; either they’re unsafe, inaccessi- skills and then find ways to improve

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Mahira’s FunWagon has conducted a panel discussion CulturALL besides various excursions and workshops

themselves,” she says. cember 2019, FunWagon organised Initially, Mahira targeted schools their first CulturALL Education run by NGOs, but soon, she real- Conference at PHD Chamber in ised she had a chance to bridge the Delhi with a panel of five and an gap between students of all back- audience of over 80 educators and grounds, and to increase oppor- NGO workers. “The aim was to il- tunities for all. FunWagon curates lustrate the importance of cultural and organises full-day events for and innovative education on the students, including tours to the Na- overall growth of a student,” says tional Museum, India Gate, Gandhi Mahira. She quotes motivational Smriti, and Lodhi Art District. They speaker Mirza Yawar Baig: “Teach- have conducted several education- ing is not about answering ques- al workshops with their six NGO tions but about raising questions partners, virtual tours, and virtual – opening doors for them in places walkthroughs on YouTube. In De- that they could not imagine.” 

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JAHNAVI GUPTA, MAHIKA HEDA & MEHAK GARG Delhi University students and founders of Girl Up Inaayat in Delhi, affiliated to UN Foundation’s global Girl Up campaign

he Girl Up campaign, an ini- Launched during the pandemic- tiative by the United Nations induced worldwide lockdown this T Foundation, encourages girls May, the group was founded by and young women to advocate for Jahnavi Gupta, 18, originally from the health, safety and education of Chandigarh, who is now pursuing girls around the world. Inspired by her Bachelor’s in economics. She the cause, three teenage students was joined by her course-mate from Delhi decided to come to- Mahika Heda, 18, who is originally gether and set up a new chapter from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, and in their city. They called it Girl Up Mehak Garg, 19, who is doing her Inaayat, which means kindness or B.Com and is also from Chandigarh. grace. Their aim: weeding out patri- All three founders are students of archy, misogyny and other systems Hansraj College. Their group now of oppression that women face in has eight members, and they expect India, and spreading a little bit of many more to join once colleges goodness and kindness. reopen post-lockdown.

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Clockwise from top left: Girl Up USA activists; Girl Up Romania; Girl Up Brasil; and Girl Up teen advisors

Their group is primarily based Girl Up Inaayat is part of the in the north campus of University larger Girl Up India, which in turn of Delhi but frequently engages in is linked to the worldwide Girl Up inter-state and even international campaign. All groups have their collaborations. Following Girl UP’s individual social-media handles global pattern, they raise awareness and conduct their own events about women’s rights and feminism and activities. Their biggest event through events, fundraisers, inter- of the year – the Girl Up Global views and informative campaigns Leadership Summit – was held online and offline. They recently virtually from July 13–16, 2020, collaborated with SNEHA, a lead- and featured speakers like Hillary ing Mumbai-based NGO working Clinton, Michelle Obama, Meghan in the sphere of women’s develop- Markle, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and ment, and helped raise over `35,000 executive director of UN Women, for their maternal health campaign. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. 

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Miniature Delights! Mother-daughter duo Sudha and Neha Chandranarayanan have an unusual vocation – making clay miniatures of India’s most beloved foods wo years ago, on Neha shape of a miniature dosa. “I just Chandranarayanan’s 18th loved it; I am a huge foodie,” says T birthday, her mother Sudha the Chennai-based engineering gifted her fridge magnet in the student. Sudha, a Trichy-born

AUGUST 2020 ENTREPRENEURS | 67 graduate in chemistry, had a flair for – is completely handmade. clay crafting from a young age, and Both Sudha, 50, and Neha, 20, has made a successful career of it for find working on miniatures to be the past 15 years. And so, the two deeply satisfying. “Our miniatures decided to bring their love for food are lifelike as we focus on the and clay crafting together in one intricate texture, colour and shape unique venture, Cn Arts, launched of every component. Be it the earlier this year. mouth-watering vada pav, pav bhaji,

L-R: Sudha and Neha; the miniatures are 3 – 11 cm in size, and are sold as fridge magnets and key chains

Worldwide, clay miniatures are pani puri and chole bhature from often made in the shape of flowers, north India or the scrumptious idli, dolls, bonsais or tourist attractions. dosa and biryanis of the South, every Sudha and Neha decided to take component is crafted minutely,” inspiration from Indian cuisine, “as says Neha, adding that they have Indian food is rich in terms of its developed over a hundred different variety, taste and spices apart from types of miniatures so far. being very healthy,” says Neha, who Crafting the miniatures is a learnt the art of clay crafting from multi-step process: “We start her mother in childhood. Every with the plates and cups designed component of their art – from authentically according to the the rice grains, vegetables to even food – be it circular, triangular or mustard seeds and other condiments oval with partitions as well. Then

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we make all the other ingredients their favorite food in the form of one by one, be it the paneer cubes, miniatures. They use them to give vegetables, spices, rotis, and so on. as gifts during parties, weddings and Finally, we arrange them all together other occasions. We feel happy to be over the plates and cups, and it is a part of their celebration through then coated with a sealant to make our products.” They also customise it water-resistant.” orders for clients – so you can have The miniatures are about 3 cm to a rava idli instead of a plain one if 11 cm in size, and are sold as fridge you so wish! magnets and key chains through Starting such a venture has its

It takes three hours to craft a dosa and up to three days to make complicated thalis like these ones

their Instagram store @cnarts_14. own set of challenges. “We prefer “Besides family and friends, we working in sunlight so that we can had started getting many requests do all the detailing well,” says Neha, from abroad and started shipping adding that they spend eight to 10 worldwide just before lockdown,” hours each day on their miniatures. says Neha, who is doing her Due to the time constraints, they Bachelor’s in computer science often end up declining new orders engineering at SRM University. as they don’t want to compromise Their venture has been gaining on their quality. popularity with time, she says. Both mother and daughter “People get so very excited to see also have other demands on

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Sudha and Neha work from home and choose to invest more on time and dedication than expensive tools

their time but being focused on and other rice varieties where each their vision has helped them stay grain has to be made separately. balanced. Neha is a bright student Feedback from customers is academically, and has charted out a always positive and encouraging. A strict daily schedule for both study little boy called them recently to tell and miniature-making. Sudha, them that his cute miniature paneer whose husband works in a public tikka gave him even more joy than sector company and who also has the real paneer tikka and he looked an 18-year-old son, manages their at it every night before sleeping and home along with her career. every morning when he woke up. The process of crafting food in A famous restaurateur once asked clay has taught them a lot about them about the Masterchef who different cuisines and dishes from had made the finger-licking food in around the country – from starters their authentic south Indian thali, to main course to desserts. It takes mistaking it to be real! them a minimum of three hours Says Neha about her delightful to craft a dosa to even three days craft: “Real food can’t last beyond to make complicated dishes like a certain amount of time, but our thalis, Italian food, sizzlers, biryani miniatures last forever!” 

AUGUST 2020 70 | AUTHOR INTERVIEW

DESTINY’S WOMEN Classical dancer, martial-arts expert and author Gitanjali Kolanad on her latest book and the system of devadasis in India AUTHOR INTERVIEW | 71

oronto-based Gitanjali Kola- Sexual freedom is a double-edged nad has a lived a life immersed sword; it means no one protects you T in Indian art, history and from the sexual demands of high- culture. She practised and taught caste men. And it is one thing to bharata natyam for over 40 years, choose to be a devadasi as a grown performing solo or choreograph- woman, it is quite another to force ing shows in major cities across the it on a child. Just like child marriage world. Her work is often multi-dis- and caste injustices, the institution ciplinary, arising out of collabora- of devadasi, which is both casteist tions with international artists from and sexist, had to be abolished once other disciplines. But dance is only free India began to recognise and one aspect of her creativity. She enshrine equal rights for citizens also practises and teaches the an- within its Constitution. cient martial art of kalaripayat, and is an award-winning writer of two non-fiction titles. We caught up with her about her riveting debut novel Girl Made of Gold (Juggernaut), set in an older time in India when girls of lower castes were “married to the gods” as devadasis and left at the mercy of predatory temple priests. In your new book, there is an element of sexual slavery for the devadasis. However, many today including dancer Aranyani Bhargav present India’s devadasis as L-R: Gitanjali with dance guru Kalanidhi Narayanan enviable figures – women with sexual independence and individual freedom. The most outspoken opponents What is your take on this image of of the devadasi system came devadasis being glorified today? from within that community. I asked a North Karnataka devadasi Muthulakshmi Reddi’s mother a similar question. She responded was a devadasi and Moovalur with her own question: “If it was Ramamirthammal was a devadasi so great to be a devadasi, why who ran away so she could marry the were only low-caste girls initiated? man she loved rather than be forced Wouldn’t high-caste girls also be to take a patron. Both of them were eager for all these benefits?” After deeply involved with the Indian that, I shut my mouth and listened. independence movement, they were

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fiery revolutionaries, but in order to to make that choice? The system fit the facts to their agenda, Western didn’t provide that autonomy. or Western-educated academics The glorification of devadasis had to paint them as ‘bourgeois’ or by young women dancing today influenced by ‘Victorian morality’. is an indication of the success of Is it really ‘Victorian morality’ to the process Rukmini Devi and fight for girls to have control of their others of her generation initiated, bodies, their sexuality, their career whereby the dance form was severed from sex work; this allows them to engage in dance but pay no price, as those women had to. If these dancers found it impossible to get married (to an Indian man), or hard to rent an apartment, or were approached by men for sex after a performance, since dance equals sex work – all of which were still part of my experience dancing in Madras even in the 1980s – maybe they wouldn’t think being a devadasi was so wonderful. Even within the Tamil devadasi community, not all of them were great dancers or musicians. While performing a javali that’s still quite popular today, Nimattale mayanura – in which the dancer asks, “Where is that nose ring you promised me?” – Gitanjali demonstrating the art of kalaripayat the dancer would come down and feel around in men’s laps, stroking choices? Here are the words of the them surreptitiously. When dancers granddaughter of Ranganayaki, glorify devadasis, they do so by the famous devadasi of Tirutani: ignoring a whole range of practices “But my mother and I, we didn’t like this one, the worst being the learn dancing. I have an MA in rape of young girls for a price. social sciences. We are not for the Almost every ancient culture has its devadasi system, we are against it. ‘levels’ of prostitution that segregate We have developed an aversion for sex workers into those for ‘regular men’ this dancing.” Shouldn’t she be able and those for royalty. How would you

AUGUST 2020 AUTHOR INTERVIEW | 73 compare the devadasi system in India the family waited till she was 18 be- with other similar systems in the world? cause she was somewhat mentally I think it is most comparable to the deficient. The NGO that was work- geishas of Japan. Similar obsessions ing with them told me that even if existed – with paying a high price they were put into school and got and having the rights to a girl’s ‘first good jobs, once the background of night’, for example, and the cultural the girls came to light, they were practices such as music, dance and expected to have sex with any man the tea ceremony. And the way the art forms flowered within that hot- house setting – beautiful, talented women dancing for a knowledge- able and receptive audience. It is the same environment within which bharata natyam developed. The devadasi system may have been dismantled after Independence but prostitution continues. Does the devadasi system also continue in some other form today, away from public glare? The word devadasi is used to cover a lot of different practices. In North Karnataka, there are women called devadasis who are associated with a temple, come from low castes, do sex work and are considered ‘auspicious’. Academics like Saskia Kersenboom make much of that ‘auspiciousness’, but when I asked these women about it, they laughed who wanted it. derisively: “So? They call me in Another system that comes close through the back door, I remove is the bar girls of Bombay. They the evil eye, they give me `10 and I generally belong to performing-arts leave. They won’t even let me have castes, and men come to them not a glass of water.” Their first night is for sex but for the illusion of love. In sold for a high price even today, and fact, it was when the law prevented among the women I spoke to it was them from dancing in bars that they as young as 11, and definitely be- were forced into sex work.  fore 16, except for one girl where Read the complete interview on eShe.in

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PARADISE LOST

Author Avanti Sopory writes about the beauty, heritage and folklore of her homeland Kashmir, despite being forced to leave it at gunpoint ross-border militancy, curfews, at gunpoint to leave behind their terrorism, the forced exodus ancestral homes in Srinagar in the C of the Kashmiri Pandits – the early 1990s, author Avanti Sopory beautiful vales of Kashmir have been could have chosen to dwell on the marked by continuous conflict and negative and to paint Kashmir in complete breakdown of civilian- shades of bitterness in her writing. state trust in the past few decades. As Instead, the Gurugram-based

someone whose family was forced mother of two writes about its SINGH / UNSPLASH SUMAT PHOTO:

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Avanti Sopory beauty, folklore and fairytales. In this wished to bring out the unseen, interview, the 42-year-old shares unheard and the undiscovered her thoughts on her homeland. part of Kashmir – a state that has In your latest book The Kashmir That birthed leaders of international Was, you have tried to recreate an older, repute, actors par excellence, world- idyllic time in Kashmir - Bollywood class musicians, and artisans hailed movie shoots, theatre enthusiasts, laid- for their supreme craftsmanship. back village scenes. What inspired you Kashmir was once a thriving centre and what was your vision for this book? for local and national theatricals. It I think it is important that the was once as normal and as beautiful youngsters of the country and as any other part of India. Indians in general should know Kashmiri Pandits often admit to having that there is more to Kashmir than mixed feelings about Kashmir – there meets the eye. The many years of is love and nostalgia but also anger and unpleasant narrative about Kashmir betrayal. What are your thoughts? have shadowed its real and more As you have rightly said, there are romantic culture under a garb mixed feelings. I was born there and of hatred and fear. As a native, I spent my childhood there. In 1990,

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when my family moved to Delhi, I How did your community get back on wasn’t aware that, in my little mem- its feet after the events of January 1990? ory box, I was carrying the most Kashmiri Pandits have been forced precious and treasured times of my out of the valley a number of times. life. Those childhood memories are But each time, we have risen from still frozen in my hippocampus, like the ashes like the phoenix. We are stills from a movie. When I close a resilient set of people. Educa- my eyes, there is a jigsaw puzzle of tion has been of primary impor- various events, conversations, an- tance, irrespective of the social or ecdotes, discussions, artefacts, jour- cultural status of the families. My great-grandfather was the first orni- thologist in Kashmir, and an author par excellence on the subject. Both my maternal and paternal families are replete with academics, media entrepreneurs, social workers and thought leaders. History may not have been kind to us, but we have all been able to carve out a niche for ourselves. Many Kashmiri Pandits feel let down by successive Indian governments for lack of support and rehabilitation. What are your views? Yes, that is true. Successive govern- ments have been hostile towards our Avanti and her brother in Srinagar in 1986 condition and our cause has been completely sidelined. For 30 years, neys, food, places, family, cousins, we have been at the receiving end friends, school... Whenever I shut of hopeless lip service, dished out my eyes, these memories haunt me. by each political party. We are a dis- I guess anyone who is forced to placed community within our own leave their home and hearth under country. Even in 30 years of our ex- the merciless threat of the gun has ile, none of the ruling governments every right to feel angry. To make has been successful in providing a matters worse, our exodus was sustainable structure for us. never acknowledged by any ruling Modern-day Kashmiris of both religions establishment, media, or anyone in face discrimination in the rest of India power. Nobody blinked an eye! – the Muslims for being Muslims, and

AUGUST 2020 AUTHOR INTERVIEW | 77 the Pandits for “running away” from terrorism, sabotaged development militant-torn Kashmir in the 1990s. and exploited the religious Have you also had to face such censure? sentiments of the people. They When we had just migrated to Delhi, continue to create a noise around I overheard a woman on a bus say, the so-called ‘atrocities’ in Kashmir “Why did these Kashmiri Pandits at diplomatic, social, political and run away from the Valley? They are international levels. That’s the cause a weak bunch of people who could of the unrest in the Valley. not stand up and fight.” There was It may sound strange to many a tinge of ridicule in her voice. As but, socially and culturally, Kashmiri a child, I didn’t understand what that meant, but now I wonder what the woman had been thinking. She probably didn’t know that we were a handful of law-abiding families up against a planted and planned group of militants who had threatened us to leave our own house or face death. Wasn’t this some kind of discrimination in my own country? I think that people living in other parts of India were – and still are – often ignorant about the mass exodus of lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits from their birthplace. Are there any films, authors or artists in popular culture who you think have Avanti’s book The Kashmir That Was on Kindle successfully portrayed the traumatic experiences of the Kashmiri Pandits? Pandits and Muslims have a lot Yes, there have been plenty. But in common – be it their food, what comes to mind right now is names, wedding rituals, or spiritual the movie Shikara (2020). I think alignment and Sufism. it was very brave of Vidhu Vinod Both Kashmiri Pandits and Chopra to make such a film. Muslims have lived for long What according to you is the solution to in mutual warmth, respect, the “Kashmir problem”? cooperation, community strength, Kashmir will cease to be a problem mysticism, spirituality, devotion, and the day Pakistan stops meddling. empathy. We hope to relive those Since 1947, they have sponsored days once again. 

AUGUST 2020 78 | AUTHOR INTERVIEW IMAGINING THE FUTURE After working as an engineer for two decades, SB Divya now weaves incredible sci-fi tales in her second career as author n SB Divya’s 2016 novella Run- time, nominated for the presti- I gious Nebula Award for science fiction, a gritty, under-equipped young tech genius competes with the most advanced cyborgs in a challenging multi-terrain marathon set in the distant future. As the pro- in real life. The technological inspi- tagonist battles the elements, pain ration often comes from the latest and even betrayal equipped only in research and developments. I draw fragile gear put together from oth- the human and social elements er people’s garbage, the gripping, from observations about my life or fast-paced narrative brings up issues news items,” says the 44-year-old relevant to the present world: eco- Indian-American, who worked for nomic inequality, corporate mo- 20 years as an electrical engineer nopoly, and social injustice. before becoming an author. There are other absorbing, evoc- Born in Pondicherry, India, Divya ative stories in Divya’s 2019 col- moved to the US with her parents lection Contingency Plans for the at the age of five. “My father was a Apocalypse (Hachette, Rs 399) full business professor (now retired), and of fantastical situations, genderless, mother raised me full-time until my ageless humans and brilliant ma- teens, when she became a software chines – a must-read not just for engineer. I got into science fiction sci-fi fans but anyone who loves a around the age of nine or 10. I also good book. “Most of my ideas tend enjoyed math, science, oil painting,

to be mashups of different elements and bharata natyam,” she narrates. CREATIVE SARGEANT PHOTOS:

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processing and digital communi- cations at University of California San Diego. “Today, however, with the popularity of AI and machine learning, I’ve been able to put my undergraduate knowledge to better use,” she says. Her experience contrasts with ordinary girls in India who have to struggle to even complete their education or opt for subjects of their choice, forget the STEM fields, which require more years of study. “It can definitely be challenging if parents aren’t supportive,” admits Divya, adding, “That said, I think opportunities for education can come after becoming an adult and even after getting married and having children. My mother got her Currently based in southern degree in computer science well California, Divya continues to visit after I was born, and I kicked off my family in India every few years. writing career in my mid-30s after “In my teens, I was inspired by taking some online classes. I had a a school science project about the preschool-aged child by then, too! life-cycle of stars that put me on It’s not easy, but I would say that it’s the path to astrophysics, which was almost never too late.” originally my major in college. I Five years ago, Divya joined made the switch to engineering Escape Pod, the world’s first sci-fi about halfway through my under- podcast, and is now co-editor of the graduate studies. Then I discovered platform. “I’ve learned a lot from that Caltech [California Institute of my years with the podcast. Initially, Technology] had an interdisciplin- it helped me become a better short- ary department in computation and story writer. Now, as an editor, I’ve neuroscience. That major let me had the privilege of discovering combine physics, biology, and elec- new writers, I can open doors for trical engineering. It was a perfect greater diversity and representation, fit for me,” she shares. and I have learnt a ton about audio Divya did her Master’s in signal and narration work.”

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At present, Divya is working on and finally, release to the world.” her next novel due to release in 2021. In the midst of the coronavirus “Ever since I started publishing, pandemic, Divya admits to being friends who read science fiction “pretty disappointed” in humanity’s have asked me when I’m going reaction to scientific expertise. “It’s to write a story about artificial clear that science education still has intelligence. Since this is also a field a long way to go for the general I’ve studied and worked in, I had a hard time encapsulating all the nuances I wanted to express about AI in a short story. Machinehood is my answer to that,” says Divya. A novel set in the end of this century, it explores the conflict between human and AI labour, the ethics of using AIs in that capacity, advances in biotechnology, and the meaning of intelligence. The main characters are a mixed-race American ex- special forces woman and a South Indian biogeneticist (also a woman), and the story is a political thriller. “I’m hoping that Machinehood is entertaining, engaging, and sparks lots of conversation about the use of AI and biotech,” she smiles. The greatest personal benefit that Divya has gained from her en- gineering career has been to learn public!” she remarks. and embrace a growth mindset – a “But science is also where I find lesson she applies to her writing hope for the future of humanity,” career as well. “Engineering has she goes on. “Academics and re- taught me to understand and accept searchers are finding clever ways to lack of perfection as well as outright continue work from home. Beyond failure. For both writing and tech- the pandemic, I think we’re on the nology, I find myself using a similar cusp of new breakthroughs in phys- development system: define a prob- ics (regarding dark matter) and bi- lem, break it into manageable tasks, ology.” Scientists and writers always brainstorm solutions, draft, debug, have work to do.  RARE VIEW | 81

Quarantine Coupling Part II How an ordinary Indian couple solved their lockdown problem By Aekta Kapoor fter months of feeling an- burden drained her, and she was gry with her husband for physically exhausted. A not sharing the load of The second problem was the housework during lockdown, emotional burden of decreased she finally took a new approach: self-care and lack of love. Since using love and self-change, in- she was arguing with her husband stead of anger and blame. all the time, love and romance She realised she was facing two had flown out the window, and different problems. The first was bedtime was more about sullen the physical burden of increased remonstrations rather than the housework. Conditioned after affectionate cuddles and playful years of male privilege to just sit flirtations that had nourished her back and expect someone else to in the past. do all the cooking, cleaning and She developed a four-part chores, her typical Indian hus- strategy to address both issues. band hadn’t so far made any at- Positive reinforcement: Looking tempt to do his bit in the absence back at the parenting techniques of domestic helpers, and it had all she had used over the years for fallen on her to pick up the piec- her kids, she decided to use posi- es. She also had a full-time career tive reinforcement with her hus- of her own, and so the increased band as well. When he did do a PHOTO: KETUT SUBIYANTO / PEXELS SUBIYANTO KETUT PHOTO:

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chore, however rare it was, she She happened to watch a doc- congratulated him as she would umentary in which older couples a little child, even rewarding him talked about their long marriag- with hugs and kisses. Initially, this es. She noticed how much they felt strange and regressive to her, cared for one another, asking the but that’s when the second step other to speak first, treating the of her strategy came into play. other as the most important per- React with love not anger: Since son in the world. “I miss this,” she she had committed to self- mourned. “I miss being the cen- change, she began to observe tre of his world, his queen.” her feelings and the sensations So she decided to train him to in her body. Each time she felt be caring. Every time she felt the annoyed with her husband, she need for love, she told him, “Ask programmed herself me how I am feeling,” to ‘turn off the anger “I MISS THIS,” or, “Ask me what I switch’ and ‘turn on want to eat today,” or, the love switch’ in SHE MOURNED. “Ask me how my day her head. As a result, “I MISS BEING was.” He dutifully did her responses to- so, and both of them wards him mellowed THE CENTRE OF realised how even a down, their conver- HIS WORLD, HIS small, simple gesture sations became more QUEEN.” could effectively satis- constructive instead fy one’s human need of heated, and his for love and care. responses towards her changed Mind your own work: One of her from avoidance to engagement. greatest flaws, she realised, was Ask and ye shall receive: One her tendency to take on others’ of the things she’d learnt about work. If her husband didn’t do his husbands was that they didn’t share of the dishes and cooking, pick up verbal hints or body lan- or was late, she’d do it herself out guage cues (except for sex) and of frustration. But now she com- needed to be told in clear terms pletely stopped doing so. Better what was expected of them. And late than never, she decided, and if they had successfully solved stopped minding his business for relationship issues in the past, it him. It worked. He showed up. was due to clear communication. And that’s how their home was Why was she sulking now, in- a calmer and more loving space stead? What did she really want? for the rest of the lockdown. 

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