Month: April 2021

T P Rajalakshmi

Madras Central Railway Station. The movie reel box had arrived from Bombay by train. Thousands of people crowded the busy Wall Tax road through which the reel box was taken to Kinema Central- where the movie was to be screened. People all along the roads showered flowers, broke open coconuts on the roads, showed ‘arti’ and burnt incense sticks, welcoming the reel. “Watch for yourselves, the first talkie featuring your favorite star TP Rajalakshmi dance and sing in Tamil and Telugu” screamed the posters all along and “The famous drama artiste TP Rajalakshmi for the first time in a talking cinema”, announced loudspeakers in cars and automobiles. The first talkie of Tamil Cinema, Kalidas, rested squarely on the tender shoulders of a girl, who was barely 20, married at 7 and divorced at 11!

Baba Saheb Ambedkar- a true intersectional feminist

Intersectionality is a term used to describe how different factors of discrimination can meet at an intersection and can affect one’s life. It is an analytical framework for understanding how aspects of a person’s social and political identities (gender, caste, class, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, physical appearance, height, etc) combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. These intersecting and overlapping social identities may be both empowering and oppressing.

Letters of Jenny Marx

If I had to tell you exactly everything I have been thinking — and, my dear rogue, you certainly think I have told you everything already, but you are very much mistaken — when I am no longer your sweetheart, I shall tell you also what one only says when one belongs wholly to one’s beloved. Surely, dear Karl, you will then also tell me everything and will again look at me so lovingly. That was the most beautiful thing in the world for me.