A Hindu widow is supposed to take off all ornaments, wear only black or white, cut her hair short, walk barefoot after her husband dies. It’s a living death for her–she cannot even participate in auspicious ceremonies like weddings, nor is she allowed to remarry. By contrast nothing changes for...
“I want to be able to go out and work too. Purdah and other such practices should end”, says a woman who has been forced to don the veil in her marital home poignantly. “Why is it that men are not forced to wear the veil our?” asks our Community...
The image that comes to mind when we think of the veil is that of a Muslim woman in a burqua, whereas, the practice of veiling or ‘purdah’ (literally curtain) as it is known in South Asia, is not limited to any one religion. It is not simply a...
Daksha’s first period was a happy one –a small ceremony with special offerings was done at the temple, at home, she was given sweets to eat and was told to rest. “At the time, I thought I might have done something good, having my periods!” recalls Daksha. But from the...
From Hinduism to Judaism to Christianity to Islam, religious restrictions surrounding menstruation and the belief that it makes women’s bodies impure are common across the board. While the judiciary has upheld women’s right to equality in cases of Shani Shingnapur, Haji Ali and Sabarimala, where women were denied entry to...
Shanti Lakra confidently zooms through the streets of Ranchi, negotiating the pot holes, traffic and surprised onlookers in her pink auto rickshaw. Her passengers, only females, feel comfortable in her auto, happily chatting with her about their daily lives, discussing the latest films, asking Shanti about her unusual profession as...
When the Forest Department of Goa started destroying the natural forests, the local tribal communities united to protect the forest and succeeded. See the extraordinary story of Goa’s forest warriors. Environmentally conscious citizens of the Cancona forest live in with the nature – borrowing its produce carefully for their cattle...
