Yours anthropologically

Movies often have an inexplicable grip on us, offering not just entertainment but visuals and words for deep seated feelings. Recently, I attended the re-screening of  Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) —a film that first captured audiences in 2013. It wasn’t my first time watching it. In fact, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve revisited this movie, each time discovering a new layer of life lessons hidden in its narrative. Yet, the re-screening was not just about me; it was about a collective experience, a social phenomenon that highlights the evolving relationship between cinema and its audiences. As I sat in the packed theater, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. The dialogues were not just being spoken on the screen—they echoed from every corner of the hall. Women around me recited lines in perfect synchrony, not ashamed when they faltered but amused, as if the lines were part of their own vernacular. It was then I realized that  YJHD  was no longer just a movie; it ha...

India is buzzing with wedding celebrations, as Instagram and WhatsApp are flooded with glimpses of ceremonies, glittering attire, and, prominently, diamond engagement rings. Once considered an exclusively Western custom, the exchange of diamond rings has seamlessly entered Indian traditions, reshaping how love and commitment are symbolized. The shimmering stone has transcended cultural boundaries, transforming from a luxury item to a perceived necessity for expressing everlasting love. Then there is the Kohinoor, perhaps the most infamous diamond in the world. A relic of colonial conquest, it symbolizes the power struggles of empires and the enduring legacies of colonial exploitation. Yet, despite its controversial history, the Kohinoor remains a coveted icon, with multiple nations claiming ownership of its legacy. The Kohinoor's journey—from Indian mines to British crowns—is a vivid reminder of how diamonds have always been entwined with politics, power, and myth. These two storie...

Love is often romanticized as eternal and universal, but what happens to it in a world without hierarchy or inequality? Would love flourish, or would it lose its intensity and meaning? Love as a Product of Hierarchy In hierarchical societies, love thrives on tension and contrast. The stories we cherish—star-crossed lovers, forbidden romances—derive their beauty from obstacles. Love, in these cases, becomes an act of defiance, a rebellion against societal norms. But if love is born of difference, does it require inequality to exist? And does the inequality itself taint love’s purity? While the tension of forbidden love makes it desirable, it’s often rooted in oppressive systems. True love, then, might not be tied to hierarchy but to the courage to overcome it. Perhaps love’s essence lies not in the hierarchy itself but in the way it inspires connection despite the odds. Egalitarian Society: The Death of Love? Would a society of perfect equality rob love of its drama? Without barr...