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Each time my spouse referred to his wallet as a ‘purse’ it would annoy me no end. To him it was a matter conveying the message to his old mother in Tulu and it did not make a difference whether he called it a ‘purse’ or a ‘wallet’. The last argument between us was on how one should not ‘genderise’ these essentials. The one hamster wheel I have been avoiding…..where we talk about gender equality, why should I get into gender distinctions of words?

Tulsi was her name and in Tulu people would address her as Tholasi. Considered a feminist of her times, she had brought in a revolutionary change in her family, which indirectly impacted our family. The cause for concern back home was the new found economic independence of Tulsi and the impact of the same was extended to our family home. Tulsi and her entire family showed disinterest in working at the family house as domestic workers and this caused conflict. They withdrew th

Listening to Justice Santosh Hegde today on his thoughts on the Constitution during the 74th Republic Day, triggered a revisit to the Indian history of being ruled by Maharajas and then being a colony of the British. Justice shared that Indians adapted themselves quick to the colonial rule because they were always ruled by chieftains and Maharajas. Administratively, this is so true.

A miniature slide in front of the house, a tricycle, and a small bicycle with stoppers springs joy in the children of the house opposite mine. How different was our childhood from that of these children? Reminiscing ……schools began very early in the morning in Mumbai and we were let off by afternoon. Afternoons were siesta time for the family and the children either waited for the elders to nap, so as to sneak out to the balcony and play indoor games or dress themselves in kh

The Karnataka State Higher Education Council came out with a mandate of building on the Institution Development Plan for all Universities setting timelines for submission. The mandate was clear: HEIs had to ensure that there was clear roadmap developed for the University which would enable them to envision the next few years of growth and development of the HEI. While there was a lot of grunting and grumbling on how does an organization plan for the next ten years ahead of ti

During our teenage days back home, each time my mother would spot us sisters sitting idle or doing things of no great value or sitting cross-legged, she would admonish us by saying, “ Why do you sit like a ‘Maddamma’? The word seemed very derogatory because she would at times use it abusively as well. Whenever she had to comment on a relative who was in her bad books or when she had a difference of opinion with some of the ladies, her tone and intonation while using the word

Watched her in and out of the door of her house post 4pm and started wondering why was she so active towards evening. As a young mother, her hands and mind seemed full of planning, managing calendars, schedules and instructions. Her driver, who would sit listlessly in the garage till evening, would sprite to life towards evening. The car would return home only at 8pm and just in time for the cook to serve her dinner. Last Saturday afternoon got me in conversation with her as

Preface

Preface

As I walked past the villa on the 5th avenue, which everybody was talking about, in terms of the rich plantation of banana plants in a small patch of land in front of the house, I was impressed with the way in which the owner of the villa had supports in place for the rich banana yield. The fruit, I thought to myself, is fragile and delicate and here was a family that had taken time and patience to grow these banana plants.

And so we call her Kapudappe……

And so we call her Kapudaappe….

And so we call her Kapudappe……