Abusive relationships rarely announce themselves as abusive. They don’t begin with cruelty or control. More often, they begin with intensity—deep connection, possessiveness, jealousy, constant attention, a sense of being seen or chosen. There may be grand promises, emotional closeness, and the feeling that this relationship is somehow different from anything you’ve known before. And then,

Leaving an abusive relationship is often described as freedom—but for many survivors, it doesn’t feel that simple. The moment you walk away, the chaos may stop, yet the impact lingers quietly in your body, your thoughts, and your sense of self. Healing doesn’t begin with relief alone. It begins with facing what remains. Abuse does

It was an American award-winning photographer who introduced me to Varanasi (he spoke about a certain energy in Varanasi that made his photographs alive). Since then, writings of Yogananda Paramahansa, poetry of Kabir, Ustad Bismillah Khan’s music or friends and family’s personal narratives strengthened my desire to visit this city. The first visit only left

When a young girl tried to speak against an uncle, teacher, cousin, she was told, “Shh I don’t think that is true and anyway don’t tell anyone, they won’t believe you.” When a teenager tried speaking up, “You think you have become smart. Just shut up and first learn not to wear such clothes, stop

Violence against women in India is getting more gruesome by the day. The recent cases are different because they were all done by intimate partners, lovers, boyfriends, or husbands. Intimate partner violence or domestic violence is not new in India, but we have clearly not learnt to speak about it, leave alone take strong actions