-The Indian Express Never mind what the bhadralok class thinks. The poll campaign has exploded the myth of Bengali exceptionalism. As West Bengal is witnessing the pathology of the prevalent electoral politics, the illusory character of the “cultural capital” the Bengali bhadralok community boasts of is becoming increasingly clear. Yes, this bhadralok class — quite often fixated at the glory of the late 19th and early 20th century Bengal — loves to...

-TheIndiaForum.in The crises of Punjab’s agriCulture are rooted in the same history that made it the granary of India. Ensuring sustainability for farmers and the farm sector requires an engagement with the shifting trajectories of agriCulture over the last seven decades. Despite Punjab’s meagre size, the region has remained an important constituent in the self-imagination of the Indian nation. The imprints of Punjab’s agrarian economy and Culture have continued to expand in...

-Scroll.in Old customs and foods no longer have the same meaning because the rice varieties associated with them are long gone. In Bengali Culture, like many other Cultures in Asia, “eating rice” is synonymous with “having a meal”. The Sanskrit word “anna” and the old Bengali word “odan” mean both “rice” and “meal”. A standard Bengali expression – “Have you eaten rice?” – is a polite way to inquire, “Have you had...

-The Indian Express If the sight of a group of men torching images and effigies of a young woman does not make our stomachs churn, then, perhaps, we have become completely habituated to the idea of violence against women and past efforts to address the issues have been in vain. The arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi on the charge of sharing a protest “toolkit” and the burning of posters and effigies...

-The Indian Express In keeping with her interest in climate change and vegan food habits, Disha Ravi works as a culinary experience manager with GoodMylk, a company involved with making plant-based food accessible and affordable to people. Bengaluru: In an interview last year to US author and professor Gayle Kimball, who is compiling a book on Gen Z girl climate activists, Indian climate activist Disha A Ravi, 22, weighed in on a...