The Writer’s Flight

  By Namrata Kohli  Columnist Woman Wise Recently we heard the news of AR Rahman and Saira separating after 29 years. Rahman shared on social media, stating, "We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end." A couple of days ago, I was reading about Sarika (who had a love marriage with actor Kamal Hassan) and after sixteen years of marriage, she was left homeless after her separation from the actor. She had nothing but a car to her name and spent nights in it. That image kept running in my mind like a breaking news scroll.   It made me wonder— across different kinds of marriages, why is divorce/separation becoming so rampant? Why do couples separate after decades of marriage, and when children are there in the picture? No this isn’t about Kamal’s divorce or ARR’s personal matters—it’s about divorce and separation itself. When couples separate early in life, there’s a certain meaning or hope for starting over. But when you’re in your ...

  Many Indian travelers are no longer satisfied with traditional, cookie-cutter travel itineraries. Defying conventions they are willing to travel the globe seeking new cultural or sports based immersive experiences By Namrata Kohli  Every gig you take away from home is a ticket to a new story, a new culture, and a new adventure. For Indian travelers, the emerging trend of "gig tripping" - planning international trips around concerts and sports events - is gaining significant momentum. Data from EaseMyTrip reveals how this evolution in travel preferences has led to a 20% rise in bookings for destinations hosting major concerts and sporting events during November/December 2024. According to Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, “Around 40% of Indian travellers are willing to fly short-haul for events, while 35% are considering long-haul destinations. The trend extends beyond music to sports events, with 45% of Indian travelers showing interest in supporting their fa...

  By Namrata Kohli  Have you been to a museum which only talks about thought over things, spirituality over materialism, intangible rather than tangible, and is all about philosophy rather than artefacts. I am referring to the just opened country’s largest museum dedicated to Jain philosophy which is 50 km from Pune.  A visit to  Abhay Prabhavana Museum in Pune, spread over 50 acres with a built up area of 3.5 lakh sq ft, is a journey inwards rather than outwards. After all, e very trip need not be about going to Goa or Bali. Travel should also allow us space for spiritual growth and development.  Located along the scenic banks of the Indrayani River, in the historic lands of Pune, near the ancient 2,200 years old Pale Jain caves, the Abhay Prabhavana Museum is poised to become a global cultural landmark, which will give the visitors a sense of profound Indian values, as seen through the teachings of Jainism.  Just as art lovers plan special trips to...

  One of the most disturbing trends in our society today is the bystander syndrome- the phenomenon of staying silent in public in an acute crisis moment of anything from an accident to animal abuse to sexual violence. People choose silence over speaking up, reserve over reaction, muteness over utterance.  It's as though the whole society has gone numb. Perhaps their heart draws them to the site of dire disaster but equally soon the brain rejects their reflexive response and nudges them to move away and ‘mind their own business’. And this has become a culture of sorts and a defining mob mentality or herd behaviour. Who  will break the ice? I feel that women have it in them to lead this change. After all, as mothers, as caregivers, as role models, your  acts of kindness and service publicly, will set an example, particularly for younger generations. Even as the society is relegated into shadows of self-doubt, silence and mute spectatorship, the onus is on you to become...

  Audio Nirvana Are you besotted by the unique charm of vinyl records- the crackle, the warmth, the nostalgia. Unlike traditional “collectables” lists defined by monetary value, these are records picked for their importance as artefacts, whether rare, revolutionary or representative of an era By Namrata Kohli   “I’m quite fond of vintage records, especially LPs (Long Play) and EPs (Extended Play). My collection includes a stack of Hindi film and classical music gems such as Guide, Teesri Manzil, duets from old films, are some of my all-time favorites collection but I have a special place for a collection ‘Talat Mahmood in Blue Mood’. The warmth and depth of his voice, captured on vinyl, is unparalleled. It's this love for the golden era songs that inspired me to organize the Talat Mahmood memorial show, a tribute to the timeless melodies of Talat Mahmood on his centenary year,” says culture curator Sudesh Chawla who recently hosted a tribute to this legend at Kamani on his cen...

A-first-of-its-kind knowledge center based on philosophy of Jainism was inaugurated on 5 th November by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at Maval, on the outskirts of Pune in Maharashtra . Established by  Abhay Firodia, Chairman Force Motors,  a Pune based leading automotive company, this Museum represents a significant milestone in preserving and promoting India’s spiritual legacy as seen through the lens of Jain philosophy.  An alumnus of Scindia School, this “Museum of Ideas”, dedicated to Jain values  was inaugurated on Abhay Firodia's 80 th birthday.  The inauguration was graced by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister and Maharaja of Gwalior, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, International Court of Justice, The Hague, Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh of Mewar; Padma Bhushan D R Mehta, Founder of BMVSS; and Padma Bhushan Anna Hazare, Gandhian leader, Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Government of India. The event re...

  Happy Diwali. This festival of lights I will not say light the world. Or burn like a candle and keep spreading goodness etc etc. Instead, I will just say awaken the light within. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Nourish and nurture yourself. Self-care is not selfish; it’s essential. By ensuring your own cup is full, you can better navigate responsibilities and offer your best to others. Societal expectations often place a high value on nurturing others. But I feel women must attend to their own well-being first, to effectively support their families, careers and communities. Take charge to recharge yourselves--- emotionally, mentally, and physically. I have seen so many housewives relegating and sulking in the shadows of self doubt, low self-esteem, self-deprivation; often guilty to ask for either time or money for their own needs and desires, be it shopping, beauty care, or even meeting their kith and kin. We cannot hopelessly romanticize burnout and self-sacrifice, because th...