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Dear Raju Chachu… You Took a Piece of My Childhood With You

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Dear Raju Chachu, This birthday feels different. Incomplete. Maybe because birthdays have a way of taking us back to all the birthdays that came before. And when I look back at mine, you seem to be woven into so many of them. Having been born and raised in a joint family, I have infinite memories of you etched in my mind. You weren't someone I met only at occasional family gatherings; you were simply part of everyday life. From my birth to my childhood, teenage years, adulthood, my wedding, and everything that came after, you were there. And perhaps that's why it feels impossible to think of my life story without finding you somewhere in its pages. The Chachu of My Childhood You were seventeen when I was born. I was the first child of the next generation of our family, and you were the last of the previous one. It's as if you were more of an elder brother to me than my uncle. Mom tells me that as a baby, I was almost always in your lap. Apparently, I preferred y...
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The Safety Pin of Love: A Lesson in Grief From My 9-Year-Old

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Today, I am grieving. My chachu passed away after a short and difficult battle with cancer. And yesterday morning, while I was still trying to process the reality of his absence myself, I had another difficult task, I had to tell my nine-year-old daughter, Nishka. She cried. It was a natural reaction. Just six months ago, she had met him hale and hearty. How does a nine-year-old comprehend that someone she saw laughing, talking and living his normal life only a few months ago is suddenly no longer here? Then again, I am an adult, and I am struggling to comprehend it too. But somewhere in that conversation, something happened that I wasn't expecting. I thought I was going to teach my daughter about grief. Instead, she taught me. The Safety Pin of Love After crying for a while, Nishka said something that initially left me completely confused. She placed two coins on the table and connected them by resting a safety pin across them. Then she slowly removed the safety pin and said: “Tod...
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The Goddess Within: Mental Health Reflections Through 9 Days of Navratri

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  Every year when Navratri begins, I feel an inner shift. It’s not just the rituals, the fasting, or the devotion, it’s almost like being given nine gentle reminders to pause and look inward. Each form of Maa Durga holds up a mirror, showing us qualities that are not only divine but also deeply human, qualities that, when embraced, can guide us towards better mental health. Here’s how the nine forms of the Goddess connect with our well-being, and what we can all take away from them: Day 1: Shailaputri – The Mountain Daughter Shailaputri is the first form of Durga, born as the daughter of the Himalayas . She rides a bull and carries a trident, symbolizing strength and resilience. ✨ Lesson for us: Just like the mountains remain unmoved in storms, our mental health depends on grounding ourselves. Practices like mindful breathing , steady routines, or simply walking barefoot on grass can give us the steadiness to face life’s challenges. Day 2: Brahmacharini – Devotion and Disciplin...
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