September 2017 Vol 1 Issue 3 Sagarika Ghose The award-winning journalist and author on why women need to show up and speak out AR rahman’s find PARTITION OF HEARTS COUTURE MAGIC Indo-Canadian playback A Lahore-born Indian The most stunning singer Shashaa Tirupati’s recounts her migration looks from India Bollywood journey across the border in 1947 Couture Week 2017 contents No Mountain High Enough 06 Saachi Soni has conquered daunting peaks The Song of Life 12 Indo-Canadian singer Shashaa Tirupati Partition of Hearts 16 Sheela Kapur’s memories of 1947 Her Time in the Sun ON THE COVER: Sagarika Ghose 18 Award-winning journalist Sagarika Ghose PHOTOGRAPHY: Dileep Purackal Single Mother @ Work 22 Ayesha Dahra shares her experiences Osama’s Wives 26 The four spouses of Osama bin Laden Minding the Details 30 Facility management doyenne Ritu Grover Travelling Light 54 How to be an eco-conscious traveller A Decade of Couture 36 We present the top looks from The Monsoon Menu India Couture Week 2017. 57 Delectable recipes for rainy days SEPTEMBER 2017 4 | EDITOR’S NOTE NEWS | 5 AROUND THE WORLD JOB NOT WANTED A spotlight on women in the news and news of interest to women ast month I got fed up and quit. Lady JUstice On a Whatsapp group with my husband and kids, I wrote: “I am tired of being blamed Recent court verdicts have been a mixed bag for the lack of ‘interesting meals’ or issues for women’s rights. In Kerala, a 24-year-old Lwith the house help. It is not a job I signed up for. woman had her marriage annulled when the It is a role I am forced to take on simply because Kerala High Court suspected a case of ‘love I am someone’s mother or wife. Managing the jihad’. The Supreme Court (SC) decided that kitchen is not something I enjoy or am good at, forced sex with a wife above 15 years cannot but I do it because no one else will. From today I be termed rape. And the SC also struck quit.” My message was met with a digital silence down ‘instant talaq’ as unconstitutional. We the size of a black hole. win some, we lose some. Of course, I was back to managing the groceries and coordinating everyone’s tiffins the next day. INDIA UNCOVERED As cover girl Sagarika Ghose (p.18) told me over her interview, “Women work all the time. It’s just An annual survey conducted by sexual wellness that most are not paid for it.” We take up so many website ThatsPersonal.com came up with interesting extra burdens over the course of motherhood and results after studying over 6 million visitors, and over Aekta Kapoor wifehood – or simply womanhood – that when 80,000 orders. Baroda, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram Founder Editor, eShe we’re older, we’re either completely exhausted or boasted more female buyers than male. People aged else driven to ‘antisocial’ behaviour like my friend 25-34 were the maximum repeat users, while those Madlén who left her job in Sweden at 58 and is in the age group 18-24 accounted for the highest currently in a homestay in Bhagsu, Himachal social-media engagement. Now you know why Pradesh, backpacking her way around Asia. #AfterSexSelfies are such a rage nowadays. (For the I’m already inching towards her option. I’ve complete report, visit the website.) booked a single ticket to Dubai this month. Dinner will have to wait. Enjoy your September, ladies. SANITARY ALTERNATIVES We’re looking for sustainable alternatives to pricey Editor: Aekta Kapoor All rights reserved throughout the world. To buy a copy, WhatsApp ‘Buy eShe’ to pads. Tampons, though convenient, are equally Design: Arushi Vohra Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. 9818166621 or log on to eShe.in or email expensive and not always advised. Menstrual cups Sales: Saurabh Manchanda Editor: Aekta Kapoor. Printed and [email protected]. To advertise in published by Aekta Kapoor on behalf of the print edition, call Saurabh Manchanda are reusable, but you need to try several brands Contributors: Shillpi A Singh, the owner Coral Content. Published at at +91 9810024424. Anupam Dabral, Alka Mahajan, C3/1 GF, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057. To subscribe to the free digital edition, visit before you find the right fit. And the issue with Kay Newton, Argha Kashyap Phone: +91 9818166621. eShe.in recyclable pads is hanging them out to dry. Ideas? SEPTEMBER 2017 SEPTEMBER 2017 6 | ADVENTURE AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Adventure-sports enthusiast and journalist Saachi Soni climbs mountains, not for the world to see her, but so that she can see the world By Shillpi A Singh t minus-40 degrees Celsius, blue and deep. When I looked down, the weather was unbearably it was completely dark… as if there harsh at the summit of might be a tunnel like that in the North America’s highest movie Void,” recalls the 24-year-old. Apeak, Mt McKinley. Saachi Soni All that kept her from certain death was carrying 30 kg on her back, and was a length of rope. “Luckily, I just an equal amount on her sled. Her hung along the crevasse because of team of mountaineers had made a the weight in my sled.” In between, she has climbed the mountaineering. But being part of successful summit, and they were Saachi is no stranger to such Mt. Everest, Mt. McKinley and the cleanliness drive gave me an on the way back down. “Suddenly, I death-defying adventures. peaks in the Himalayas – Garhwal, opportunity to contribute to the plummeted inside a crevasse. It was Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, she was Sikkim, Spiti, Himachal, among ongoing Swachch Bharat Mission in initiated into mountaineering by many others. my way, and that’s quite humbling,” Saachi Soni her father at the tender age of seven, In June this year, she was a part says Saachi, who was invited by and spent her childhood, trekking, of the medical expedition to Mt. Narendra Modi to appear on his climbing and summiting peaks all Satopanth, the second highest talk show ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ on over the world. An award-winning summit in the Gangotri Group, Women’s Day in 2014, before he student of mass communication located in the remote Garhwal was elected prime minister. at Delhi University’s Indraprastha Himalaya range. The expedition ach fresh peak ascended teaches College for Women, she happens was special because the team of 25 Esomething, but actual learning to be the youngest Indian to scale mountaineers led by Dr Anil Gurtoo occurs while you’re climbing up. Australia’s 10 highest (75km hike) of the Indian Mountaineering Quoting Steve Harvey, Saachi says, peaks in just 50 hours to get her Foundation (IMF) brought along “If you do not jump, your parachute name registered in the Limca Book 150 kg of garbage collected from will never open. You will be safe, but of Records. She is also the youngest Gangotri to the plains. “It is an you won’t soar. So you gotta jump.” Indian to scale the intimidating Mt. incredibly beautiful and remote In July last year, Saachi set out Elbrus (Europe’s highest peak). area with unlimited and untapped on a solo climb of Stok Kangri. “It SEPTEMBER 2017 SEPTEMBER 2017 8 | ADVENTURE It is sights like these that make mountaineering worthwhile for her. An avid photographer, Saachi has an impressive collection of pictures that she has clicked on her climbs. “A moment captured is a memory made for a lifetime,” she says. She has also met many interesting people on her way, such as Col Prem Chand, also known as the Snow Tiger of India, who was the first Indian to climb Mt. Kanchenjunga in Himachal Pradesh in August last year. “His love for mountaineering is inspiring, and meeting him was pure bliss, something that I will cherish forever,” she fondly recalls. is happy doing chores and helping soon-to-be aired show ‘Beyond She also can’t forget 50-year-old other mountaineers by cooking, Heights’ that will feature adventure Tej Bahadur whom she met during cleaning and running errands, and sports films that have been shot in her recent trip to Satopanth. “He mind you without any complaints. India by Indian filmmakers. was challenging but an enriching had been a part of many difficult He exudes contentment. His Saachi is also gearing up for the experience to say the least. The peaceful aura is infectious,” she says. circumambulation of Mt Kanchen- view from the top was a sight to WHEN SHE IS not aachi did her first-ever adventure junga in September and all set to behold. The peak offered a fantastic Smountaineering course under summit Aconcagua, South Ameri- view of the Karakoram ranges and SUMMITING PEAKS OR the mentorship of Brigadier MM ca’s highest peak, in December-Jan- many other peaks. The descent was BrainstorminG FOR Masur, former principal of Nehru uary. And when she is not summit- trickier and riskier than the ascent. Institute of Mountaineering. She ing peaks or brainstorming for her There was a kind of small hump HER TV SHOWS, saachi is also actively associated with the TV shows, she is busy delivering on the summit, a 35-40 degrees IS BUsy DELIVERING IMF in Delhi. motivational lectures at campuses slope. I got on the ridge, and we motivational lectURES Today, she follows a rigorous and corporate houses. had to descend carefully and slowly fitness regime, takes care of her diet She yearns for the good tidings because one slip could either take at campUSES AND and trains regularly.