It turns out that 24 January was National Girl Child Day. In a country with an alarming sex ratio and no secret that it values boys over girls, there should be more fanfare about it. The general lack of awareness of such a stipulated day is not a shining testimony to its success. However, it […]
One more trip around the sun
Well, here we are. That’s yet another trip around the sun ticked off. What’s a birthday without a silly tradition, right? So here’s mine — five things that I did today that I’ll possibly be doing for the rest of my year: Wrote a few pages of a new novel-to-be: Phew, I so really truly […]
Come, Before Evening Falls
Full review If there is one theme that never gets old, it is forbidden love. The more constraints society puts on people, the more ways lovers find to seek each other out. Manjul Bajaj’s gripping novel, Come, Before Evening Falls is one such story, about an impossible love. Set about a century ago in the […]
2011: New beginnings
It seems like the only lists I’m able to follow are shopping lists. However, that doesn’t seem to stop me from making more — that is, more lists of things to do that I will probably never do. Anyhow, it’s customary to make them during the new year, so let’s indulge. Let 2011 be the […]
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Support Irom Sarmila
Irom Sarmila, a political and civil rights activist, journalist and poet, has been on a hunger strike since 4 November 2000 demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (henceforth AFSPA), a draconian law that allows the security forces unrestricted and unaccounted powers in areas that are declared “disturbed”. Under the AFSPA, the […]
A collection of mystery stories
Like to curl up with a juicy mystery story? Take a look at Bad Moon Rising: The Puffin Book of Mystery Stories for a collection of nail-biting stories comprising murder, theft, intrigue and the odd dash of the supernatural. It includes a tale of mine, called “The Reader’s Revenge”, about a writer whose eerie stories […]
Sponsor my run: Help stop child abuse
I did the Great Delhi Run of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on 21 November 2010 to raise funds for the RAHI Foundation, an NGO that works towards ending child sexual abuse in India. Many thanks to all those who sponsored me to support my campaign against child sexual abuse. About RAHI’s work Did you […]
Christmas Stories
Christmas is only two months away, and what better way to get in the mood than with a collection of Christmas-themed stories? Scholastic India’s Christmas Stories volume comprises just that. It has eight stories, including one by me, called “The Santa Question”, and is about an unusual Santa who’s a little rude, lactose intolerant and […]
The Honest Scrap Award
Gargi has awarded me the Honest Scrap Award. It was such an unexpected surprise that I haven’t had time to prepare my acceptance speech and list of people to thank. (It’s your lucky day.) According to the “rules” of the award, I must list ten things about myself. This is sort of hard, since I’ve […]
My Top 10 Books
The Scribble and Edit Top 10 Novels Blogfest is over, but there is no bad time to make a list, especially if it’s one about favourite books. These are 10 of my favourite books — or have been at one point. Definitely not a comprehensive listing and not limited to novels. So, approximately in the […]