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 […]

The DU election circus is much ado about nothing

Delhi University Students Union elections are due on September 12. Patriot visits North Campus to find out that the campaign is all about colliding ideologies, not about student issues such as library and sports facilities, hostel accommodation and women’s safety The best way to gauge the future of Indian politics and upcoming politicians is through […]

A river runs into their homes

Six thousand people living in the margins of Delhi’s floodplains are temporarily uprooted. Their lives are on hold until the waters recede As heavy rains ravage many states in North India, a flood alert was issued earlier this week in parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi government issued an advisory stating, […]