Articles by Riddhi Sharma

Overcrowded markets, countless earthen lamp vendors, sugar castles and sweet shops adorn our streets. The makeshift stalls in the schools fetes, college fests and colonies are all indicators of the fact that Diwali is round the corner. Beautiful Rangolis are another facet of this ‘festival of lights’. Traditionally it is…

Amidst the loud cries of ‘Jai siya ram’ the gigantic effigies of Ravana and his brother burnt into flames after being set afire by Shri Ram. Every year such effigies are burnt on the tenth day of Navratra Festival. Shri Ram was followed by Laxman and Hanuman dressed in fascinating…

Our Education system began with the Gurukuls and the gurus. It was in a way similar to the boarding schools (minus the commercial aspect) which we witness in the present scenario. The guru dakshinas these days are way too high then the olden times. The system that we follow at…

As I head towards my college, tiny hands bang at the windows of my car, clad in tattered clothes, their empty eyes greet me with a red rose. At times they entertain me on traffic signals with their dances or singing while on railway stations or dhabas they serve as…

I woke up to a misty dawn at my door step on Sunday. There was no sun nor were any signs of its guest appearance. It was a perfect morning for a hot cup of coffee in my bed, along with the usual morning news capsule. The stage is set…

It was twilight and the sun decided to take a back-seat. It is that time when aunties, uncles, grand fathers and their grand-children march towards the nearby park in the colony. The space holds a distinct significance for every individual. It is a hub of information for the gossip mongers,…

Last month my email inbox and the cell phone inbox persuaded me to take similar actions. The news channels were not behind after all. The so called patriotism had swept all over us and we stood as a nation for the inclusion of ‘Tajmahal’ into the list of seven wonders….

“Tell the believing women tolower their gaze and be modest,and to display of their adornmentonly that which is apparent,and to draw their veils over their bosoms.” The Koran The Chapter of the Light “She shall be called a woman, because she was taken out of man” The Holy Bible Submission,…

Magical healing powers, Bhoot-Pret stories, ridiculous superstitions and so on. We get glimpses of the India that often goes unnoticed but this is not what sainath was hinting at. Many news channels specialize in disclosing such facets of the country. I am in no way in favour of such campaigns…

19th January 1966, Indira Gandhi, the ‘first’ female Prime Minister of India, takes charge of her office. 21st July 2007, Pratibha Patil, the first ‘Female’ president of India, takes charge of her office. The thrill of experiencing something for the very ‘first’ time is overwhelming. But, surprisingly this does not…