CULTURE

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Travel like a local”? It’s a popular mantra for avoiding tourist traps and blending seamlessly into a new environment. But there’s a deeper reason why this approach is the gateway to truly experiencing a place: it allows you to immerse yourself in its culture, meet its people, and feel the […]

Social Media has always been full of keyboard warriors spewing ignorant comments about topics they don’t fully fathom. And one such topic from the recent days which a lot of people hold dear while posting their erroneous judgements about, is war. And how beneficial war will be because it will “teach those Pakistanis a lesson” […]

What does it mean to love? The classical philosophical debate between empiricism and idealism can unravel two different traditions of love, loving and being loved. Empiricism is the view that all knowledge and reality emerges from our senses and experience while idealism is the school of the thought that reality is dependent on the creation […]

When the Parsis first came from Kerman and other parts of Iran, they promised to dissolve into the already (and even then) bursting the seams of the city’s populace like sugar in a glass of milk – without overflowing. The Parsi amicability and generosity of spirit reflects even in a cup of Irani Tea which […]

Mumbai is a city for those who know the way. There aren’t many resourceful signages (almost none at the local train stations) and yet everyone simply strides towards their respective destinations. The lean physique of most natives is a testament to their daily exertions in transit and the brisk pace with which they lead their […]

“Am I happy with my life?” Many of us ask ourselves this question to bring back to mind our goals and aspirations.  A majority of the distinguished, lucrative personalities, when interviewed seeking their formula for success, admitted rather proudly to have asked themselves this very question. Having answered quietly in their mind, they went out […]

If you’re travelling on the Delhi Metro and happen to find a book placed on a platform or somewhere near the maps or metro signs with a small sticker, chances are you have found a book put there by the Shruti and her book fairies, who run a Books On The Delhi Metro not-for-profit initiative aimed at […]

Can song lyrics ever be held at the same esteemed position as literature? What defines either of them, and what sets them apart? Both are composed of words, emotions, and a certain vibe. Both are shaped by political atmosphere, societal leanings, and what is fondly known as ‘the times.’ Many would argue that songs could […]

Aloof as the American continent can be geographically, it’s never been far enough to not disrupt, engage, captivate or at times attract criticism or humor (not humour) or even commendation from every corner of the world. Sure, the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans cut it off from the rest of the major landmasses on the […]