If you grew up in late 20th century India in a rising middle class family, you were probably raised with typical middle class values that form the backbone of this article. Fast forward a few decades and now you are raising kids in a country and culture that is not familiar to you because you... Continue Reading →

"In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice." Charles Dickens Child ‘protection’ Bringing up the young is a responsibility that all living species take seriously, and adults often place themselves in perilous situations to save their young.... Continue Reading →

How a mother lost her children to the State (and fought to get them back) We all have very warm associations with the ways in which we were brought up. The meanings of our experiences are so intricately woven around cultural traditions that they are often impossible to fully explain to an outsider. Why something... Continue Reading →

The first month of 2018, Masala Chai was devoted to the theme of Identity that was kicked off by Kalpana’s delightful memories of her home in Himachal in the shade of the Himalayan ranges. Through discussions, we were able to understand how and why she is so closely attached to her childhood, without being burdened... Continue Reading →

Our post last week “Why I consider myself a Himachali”[1], received a record number of visits and our Stats at Masala Chai are booming. It was also featured on the Facebook page of another group where it received many positive responses. The warmth and affection that Kalpana infused the piece with has evidently touched a... Continue Reading →

By Kalpana Jamwal I arrived to Delhi in the summer of 1999 to live with my parents and two younger siblings. Up until then, I had been living in a village in Himachal with my paternal grandmother whom I lovingly call ‘Ammaji’. Although my parents and two younger siblings had moved to Delhi, it was... Continue Reading →

Being a mother is serious business in India, and much cultural activity focuses on the preparation for motherhood, a role that is granted special status. This article is based around the narrative of one woman as she weaves her story of motherhood in response to interview questions. Kamla’s responses bring out dramatic generalisations, serious presumptions... Continue Reading →

In the year 1963, Asit Sen released the Bollywood film Mamta that was based on an award winning Bengali movie Uttar Falguni. Riding on the box office success, Sen went on to make Tamil and Malayalam versions of the film. In each language, the film has a different title, and just an analysis of these... Continue Reading →