Abla nari, a voluptuous woman

Abla nari. A voluptuous woman. A woman in prime child-bearing years.

Her breasts inspire lust; her breasts can feed a brood of hungry children. Her slender waist and full hips can sway seductively, even with a child balanced on them.

A woman who men covert, a woman who men want to possess. A woman who’s chastity is preserved by keeping her locked away.

Why should a woman be subject to such contradictions? Why can’t she be just a person? Does she have to be an object of desire, or a subject of subjugation?

Abla nari, will you ever break free?

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There are words, and there are words. Some words can be easily translated, others need to be described.  In April, I’ll attempt to capture the Soul of 26 'Indian' words in a  drabble of exactly 100 words.

A word a day, in the month of April

Though I made some great friends at the first A to Z Blogging Challenge, and managed to survive the second one, I was not intending to let myself into it for the third year in a row. But when Tina Downey of Life is Good told me about her project for the month, I was inspired to join in too.

There are words, and there are words. Some words can be easily translated, others need to be described. As a part of the A to Z blogging challenge, everyday in the month of April, I will try to capture the "Soul" of a word from an Indian language in exactly 100 words.

And here's why I chose this project.

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If you are born and brought up in India, you are multi-lingual out of necessity. By the time I was four, I was fluent in three languages- English, the language of instruction; Tamil, which was spoken at home; adn Hindi, reserved for conversations with the “help”.

Over the years, I acquired new languages and forgot old ones. But every one of those languages left behind a legacy of words. Words that almost defy translation. Words that have nuances that can only be described. Where the “Soul” goes beyond the word itself. Words that need over 100 words to be captured.

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Happy Birthday, one day late

The world knows him as the man who revolutionalized Science. While most people do not claim to understand his work, he is deemed influential enough to have been named the Man of the Century by Time magazine.

But to me, Albert Einstein is more than a great scientist. He is a man who never shied away from standing up for what he thought was right. His words, “the world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it” will continue to ring true forever.

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Happy Pi Day

"How I need a drink, alcoholic of course."

Yes, I know it is the middle of the week, and an alcoholic drink should be the last thing on my mind. But without this ‘piem’, how do you expect me to remember Three-Point-One-Four-One-Five-Nine-Two-Six, the first seven decimal places of the irrational number better known as “Pi”?

There was a time when I used “Pi” everyday, often several times everyday. When I could rattle off “Pi” to several decimal places. Those days are long gone. But even now, when I think of “Pi”, a smile springs to my lips.

Happy Pi Day.
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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

It has not been easy

Many years back, Marie Curie said, "I have frequently been questioned, especially by women, of how I could reconcile family life with a scientific career. Well, it has not been easy."

Over the decades, a lot has changed, but balancing priorities hasn't got any easier. If anything, it has only got worse, because so many other things have started demanding time and attention. But easy or hard, prioritisation is something that has to be done by every woman, and we do.

But could we do it without judging the woman who’s priorities may not be exactly the same as ours?
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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

International Woman's Day

We are the lucky ones. We may struggle fit into one day all that we are required to, but we know Choice. We may complain and crib (mostly with reason), but we do have a voice that is heard.

Many others are not as lucky. Because of their gender, they are killed even before they can be born, or allowed to die before they reach early childhood. They are deprived of basic needs, and treated as little more than a commodity in a male dominated society.

For them, and for us; purple for dignity, white for purity, green for hope.

Happy Woman's Day

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Surely they can do more????

While going to the swimming pool, I smiled at a group of women standing near the elevator. Half-an-hour later, when I returned from the swim, they were still there, discussing the sartorial choices of a leading Bollywood actress.


One lawyer, one accountant, one high-school teacher, one marketing manager. All women who had held responsible jobs. All women who gave up their career to bring up their kids.

No, there is nothing wrong with being a full-time mother- it is a job I gave my best to, but still failed at- but surely they can do much more with their free-time?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.