When complainant becomes ‘accused’

Priya Ramani took the witness stand for the first time in the case against MJ Akbar of sexual misconduct and harassment Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 “envisages power of the trial court to examine the accused to explain evidence adduced against him/her,” and explicitly points out that it (the section) is meant […]

They dream of survival + savings

Construction workers who were asked to leave Kashmir have joined the streams of migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who come to Delhi for seasonal work – sometimes to be disappointed, sometimes to be exploited Streams of migrant labourers arrive at Anand Vihar train station in the early hours of the morning, all with one […]

Are freebies what we need?

Like rabbits out of his hat, Arvind Kejriwal has been pulling out subsidies and waivers that the public never even asked for. Will they make Delhi a better city — or will they repel voters? Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, had in 2015 promised the Capital would be a world class city in four […]

Past or future?

Khadi is not just a relic of Gandhi’s Swaraj movement – fashion designers have created an ecosystem for it to become a part of everyone’s lives The poetry that khadi is, does not remain a secret anymore. It has lent itself to designers around the world, giving them an opportunity to explore the age-old cloth […]

Sociable contact

Jugmug is a place where people from all walks of life can come and converse over a cup of tea without being conscious of who they are or what they are wearing, rich or poor A lot can happen over a cup of tea. A lot happens in this country over a cup of tea  […]

Remove the straitjacket!

Clothes can make or break gender norms. It’s high time the society understands this and sets it right I have been thinking a lot about gender normativity lately. While I think achieving a completely non-binary approach to gender is ideal, it will be difficult to achieve in a society that has built divisive lines precisely […]

No country for Assam’s orphans

With hundreds left out of last year’s draft, the final NRC on August 31 proves crucial for orphans If you ask six-year-old Ratul (name changed on request) about his favourite pastime activity, the boy has a ready answer. “I just love playing kabaddi,” he says with enthusiasm. The reason, according to him, is simple and […]

Where daughters stand

Spending time with a UP family, this reporter discovered feudal ideas about girls’ education, perceived burden and marriage as an exercise in offloading a liability “She doesn’t need a husband, she must earn Rs 40,000-50,000,” said Naushad, the father of Ruksaar — a 21-year-old who had filed a case against her husband under the Muslim […]