Divya Sreedharan Citizen Matters, Blogs

Ground realities

June 9, 2016 Divya Sreedharan

Our little man went back to school on Monday. We watched him put on his new t-shirt, wear his new pair of shoes. We watched him walking with his new school bag, new lunch bag,

What social media skirmishes tell us about ourselves

May 7, 2016 Divya Sreedharan

This Mother’s Day, remember the “mother of all battles” that happened in Bengaluru some weeks ago? No, it was not fought on a cricket pitch. Rather, it involved moms who were part of a common forum

The Politeness Project

April 7, 2016 Divya Sreedharan

One evening, my son and I were at our local library. The place has one of those stubbornly heavy glass doors that basically require you to pull (or push, or vice versa, and yes, I

When communities celebrate the gift of giving

November 28, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

Call me old-fashioned, but flea markets at malls leave me cold. For me, true celebration happens when communities and families chip in, not for themselves but to help others. And how better to ring in

Of human tragedies…

November 22, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

So, did you read about what happened in Mali; that, there were 27 dead bodies after Malian commandos stormed the besieged luxury hotel to free those trapped inside? Incidentally, there were 20 Indians among the

Maid in India–Better Terms mean Better Times?

October 31, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

Our peripatetic Prime Minister recently choked up on one of his visits abroad. He was talking about his mother and her years of working as a domestic help. Following that emotional outpouring, reams were written,

Living as a forgotten memory

September 25, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

The year 2015 will end on a momentous note for my family–my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Not that the occasion matters to my father. Places, events, dates, anniversaries, birthdays, festivals, names, and sometimes, people too,

Lives of quiet desperation

September 4, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

She seemingly had it all—the vitality of youth, varied and interesting career choices, a vibrant life, a vivacious personality. Yet she is now no more, after allegedly plunging off a Bengaluru high rise to certain,

When moms dress sexy and other urban stories…

August 8, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

Should moms be expected to dress like, well, moms? Meaning, they shouldn’t look like attractive women, avoid “sexy” clothing, and only wear shapeless outfits and er, those dreaded “mom” jeans. On the other hand, if

Not so “social” any more

July 25, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

In the past 10 days, two people have had life-changing experiences. And been written about, because of social media. One was hounded and shamed online. The other was hailed as heroic, again, online. One lost

Sizing things up

July 11, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

How do I slim thee? Let me count the ways… A while ago, I was getting my then-five-year-old ready for school. It was one of those beautiful and bracingly chill Bengaluru mornings where all you

Raising a nation of superbrats

June 23, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

Anamika * has six cellphones, all the latest smartphone models. Bharat * has a refrigerator and a television set in his bedroom. So what, you wonder. Many of us already do. Anamika is barely six.

Working moms, happier moms?

June 4, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

An article in the New York Times says having a working mom leads to economic, educational and social benefits for her children. The children of such mothers tended to “complete more years of education, were

Being a bystander or being the change

March 14, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

So an out-of-town cop beat up his daughter in public, over an alleged affair. People, including the girl’s own mother, stood by and watched. I am sure the mother was distraught. But she did nothing.

The Potter’s Boy

February 24, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

S’pot’ the difference! Pic: Divya Sreedharan One of the boys in the photograph above, is a Transformers lover, he makes paper planes, he goes to school, he attends birthday parties and playdates. And he loves