Enchante:Lately Opinionated

I joined the Quint as in intern in the year 2017, when it was just a budding online platform for quirky ideas and authentic information. It enriched me and taught me the basics of web journalism workings. I was part of a time when being apolitical was not the corollary of being privileged, rather it was just a term of being politically inactive but aware. Now since the last few years, politics is mainstream and there are rarely any apathetic objectors left, which is essential. With the coming of the new government, an advancement in greater involvement of people can be seen, as the need arises for an active movement. Yes, now if one doesn't voice one's opinions, they can well be living in an ivory tower. The proliferation of politics and ideas is largely online now, in the digital world, which is a space of articulation, expression, assertion, discovery, dissent and verbal warfare: not all for the right causes, but thankfully, most of the times. Youngsters are gett

(Pic Courtesy: The New Yorker ) On the 5th of January, the Golden Globes 2020 event was held, and well known and novel personages were acknowledged and awarded for their riveting performances. The ever-dazzling atmosphere of the venue was all the more illumined with noteworthy acceptance speeches expressing grief on Australian bush fires; appreciating veganism; reminding about voting rights, struggles of the LGBTQ community and awareness about environmentalism. Amidst all the glitter, tears, laughs and pep-talks was that feminist speech which touched me immensely- Michelle Williams, took the stage after her deserving victory for the role of Gwen Verdon in the mini-series Fosse/Verdon and voiced that one thought that burns patriarchs to Ashes- "I am grateful to live in a moment in our society where choice exists, because as girls and women, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice. I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making, not just a s

Asia's biggest book fair is going on at New Delhi's Pragati Maidan and I went this year as well.  So what did I see and learn at the World Book Fair? To visit, you'll need a good stamina, good sense of direction and lots of cunning. I packed some light homemade snacks and two bottles of water to begin with- ADVICE- carry citrus fruits, apples or light crackers to get an instant energy boost. It'll help you in avoiding unwholesome oily food and save money. Coffee and tea is easily available at the entry and exit gates. Keep sipping water. Because it's winter, I wore a jumper and layered it with a jacket and a comfortable jegging. I took my knapsack to be more environment friendly and efficient. ADVICE- wear something comfortable and cozy to keep yourself warm, because inside the hall, you'll sweat af. Carry your own tote bag or shoulder bag; whichever is convenient. The most convenient mode of reaching the book fair is through a metro ride,

It was today (18th August) in the year 1958 that the US decided to give a professor’s perverted love a chance to be expressed – ‘Lolita’ was published after remaining banned for two years because of a suit filed in France against the paedophilic eroticism it portrayed. Nabokov had decided to get the book published pseudonymously because of the content. It was termed ‘scandalous’ by those who had witnessed its general reception when it was originally published in 1955. In India, the ban only contributed to its popularity. Now, after many years, it has maintained a strong foothold in literary circles and even got itself a place in the syllabus for MPhil in English of Delhi University, years after its advent. So is ‘Lolita’ really what it is perceived as? Do Indians, in an atmosphere of perpetual audio visual stimulation, still feel interested in the intricacies of intense and poetic exploration of a middle-aged professor’s (Humbert) psyche when he starts obsessing sexually over his mi

A minister's son stalks a girl along with his friend. The girl reports the alleged threat on her body and mind and the two are jailed for few hours before getting a bail. So the question is, whether all the universe conspires to extend VIP treatment to the ‘privileged’ stalkers, even when the complainant was the daughter of an IAS officer. #JusticeForVarnika, AintNoCinderella #बेटी बचाओ बीजेपी से: Social media was flooding with expressions of protests and condemnation. On the other hand, c ctv's had stopped working and so no footage was available, section 365 (kidnapping) and 511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) were deliberately forgotten, to save the Haryana BJP minister's son Vikas Barala and his friend. Nevertheless, the constant campaigning by the media, resulted in outpourings from the father and party persons in favour of Varnika. She was applauded for her timely response against the contemptible act, and

“Yeh kya dekhne aa Gaye, yeh toh bohot gandi movie hai!”- when a certain citizen blurted out this dimwitted remark in the cinema hall, I immediately realised that India has to go a long way, to understand women’s desires, needs and psychology. The censor board was too frightened to let a “women centric” film, shake the nation to its awakening, and spread awareness about topics which are omnipresent and natural- such as the rights of a woman! Still, the four women from different age groups, in the city of Bhopal, went on dreaming, scheming, and pursuing their ideas of liberation. Whether it is young college student Rehana (Plabita Borthakur) trying to be a part of the “cool” college crowd by adopting their manners; Leela (Aahana Kumra) a parlour employee who dreams to travel and shares a passionate tryst with her photographer boyfriend while juggling a fiancé; Shireen (Konkona Sen Sharma) a married  saleswoman, who lacks the courage to tell her husband about her job and Usha Buaji (Ra