society | Citizen Matters, Blogs

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

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

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

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

Want to make memories? Oh wait, let me take a selfie, first.

February 17, 2015 Divya Sreedharan

Recently, we went to see close assorted family living in the Nilgiris. We took the route that goes via Bandipur, Masinagudi, Kalhatty, Ooty, Wellington. The journey was a revelation, in many ways. At the entrance

Little acts of kindness

November 9, 2014 Divya Sreedharan

At my local park, I sometimes see two young women (sisters, I assume), taking their elderly grandfather for a walk. The gentleman is very unsteady on his feet so the two women have to grip

Marrying off daughters and other stories

May 20, 2014 Divya Sreedharan

Velu is a taxi driver my husband and I know well. He has two sons and a daughter. The good thing is he owns his taxi, he saved up to buy the car. But it

Did you get groped today?

May 6, 2014 Divya Sreedharan

A woman was walking. Her age doesn’t matter. She was walking on the road next to her home. It was evening and she had been out for an errand. The lane was quiet and there

My colour, my choice

February 24, 2014 Divya Sreedharan

Spot the fairer of the two? A woman walks into a local health/beauty store. She has some beauty essentials to buy — lipstick, moisturiser, some talc. And a particular brand she likes for face powder because

Volunteer Diary

Celebrating alternate sexuality

April 26, 2010 Pushpa Achanta

An insensitive and ignorant society labels them eunuchs, hermaphrodites, kojja, ali, ombathu, and so on. But they prefer theterms hijra, kothi, jogappa, panthi, mangalamukhi, gay, lesbian, intersex, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, etc. Often ostracized by their