eShe

22/11/2023

"My impression of ‘tribal culture’ is rewritten today – unlike the stereotypical image that city-dwellers have of rustic, illiterate forest-folk, these tribals are educated, tech-savvy, trendily dressed and empowered. Yet, unlike us, they are also more in tune with nature, more protective of the ecology they are dependent on, and more community conscious."

Aekta Kapoor tours a lesser explored region of Arunachal Pradesh along with her best friend Ritu Goyal, and is delighted by the beauty of this northeast Indian state, its pristine ecology, and the empowerment of its tribal women.

Ease India Travel

Aekta Kapoor tours a lesser explored region of Arunachal Pradesh along with her best friend, and is delighted by the beauty of this northeast Indian state, its pristine ecology, and the empowerment…

15/11/2023

A new book by psychologist Scherezade Siobhan 'That Beautiful Elsewhere' spotlights the sociocultural factors and everyday stresses that can lead to mental illness, juxtaposed with a broken psychiatric system in India.

HarperCollins India

A new book by psychologist Scherezade Siobhan ‘That Beautiful Elsewhere’ spotlights the sociocultural factors and everyday stresses that can lead to mental illness, juxtaposed with a br…

10/11/2023

Lahore student Noor e Emaan got a dream opportunity to intern at Asma Jahangir's famed AGHS Legal Aid Cell, which fortified the feminist movement in Pakistan. This is what she learnt.

Lahore student Noor e Emaan got a dream opportunity to intern at the famed AGHS Legal Aid Cell, which augmented the feminist movement in Pakistan. This is what she learnt.

28/10/2023

To what extent did empresses and noblewomen influence the political, social and aesthetic landscapes of the Mughal empire? Quite a bit, it turns out.

24/10/2023

Two keepers of ancient stories, Rashi Bunny and Vatsala Shrivastava from India share how they came together for the concept of "The Untaming", an interactive session to be performed for the first time at the FemmeQ Summit, which begins today.

They create a safe space through their bodies, dialogues, and intuition for the audience to receive powerful tales of times gone by, to nudge their witnessing Presence, to “untame” their “now” and summon the wild wisdom of “once upon a time".

Rashi Bunny is founder director, Banjara Theatre, internationally awarded solo performer, energy worker and clairvoyant healer with global experience.

Vatsala Shrivastava is a journalist and storyteller, collecting and archiving stories and metadata to understand communities and find compassionate solutions for organisations and entrepreneurs.

The 6th FemmeQ Summit is being held from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

22/10/2023

Sarah Bernhardt (1844 – 1923) was known as the most publicised and richest actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in France, presumably on 22 October 1844, she played at least 70 roles in 125 plays over the course of her career, both female and male. Most popular were her dramatic death scenes. (She even played 19-year-old Joan of Arc when she was 46!)

She lived a daring and unconventional life - she had a son outside marriage at the age of 20. In her 40s, she proposed to a Greek man 11 years younger than her. She kept exotic pets. She had several lovers including Victor Hugo. She was the muse of famous artists. She developed one of the Western world's first 'cults of personality'.

Many consider her the most famous actress the world has ever known. When she died in 1923, a million people lined the streets of Paris to bid her adieu as her coffin made its way to the cemetery.

21/10/2023

Today is the birth anniversary of Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929 - 2018), an American author whose literary career spanned nearly 60 years. She is best known for her works of science fiction and children’s books in addition to poetry and literary criticism. Her works reflect her interest in cultural anthropology, Taoism, feminism, and the writings of Carl Jung.

20/10/2023

At best, perfectionism pushes you to work hard and achieve more. At worst, it leads to mental illness that can be crippling in the long run. Here's how to be vigilant.

At best, perfectionism pushes you to work hard and achieve more. At worst, it leads to mental illness that can be crippling in the long run. Here’s how to be vigilant.

19/10/2023

Co-founder of the Stand4Peace organisation, Karen Wooldridge believes in using conflict transformation and peacebuilding tools for systemic change.

At the upcoming FemmeQ summit next week, she will address the following questions:

-- Why peacebuilding is so important in the current crises we face?
-- How to powerfully engage and dissolve contentious situations?
-- Who is responsible for creating peace?

Karen became a student of peace after a 30-year successful career in the sport industry when the non-stop drive and demands to perform led to severe burn out. This existential crisis had her re-evaluate who she had become, and provoked her search into alternative ways of living and leading.

Join social entrepreneurs, changemakers and transformation catalysts at the 6th FemmeQ Summit from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

17/10/2023

Hundreds of agriculture experts and gender researchers from around the world were in Delhi last week for the CGIAR-ICAR agricultural research conference. Here are the key takeaways.

CGIAR GENDER ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute CGIAR Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India

Hundreds of agriculture experts and gender researchers from around the world were in Delhi last week for the CGIAR-ICAR agricultural research conference. Here are the key takeaways.

13/10/2023

London-based political entrepreneur, futurist and psychosocial therapist Indra Adnan believes there needs to be a shift in global power structures that have so far been a "failure at the environmental level, failure on the health level, and failure in organising ourselves to get results."

Indra is author of the 2021 book 'The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age' and co-initiator of The Alternative UK, a political platform that raises compelling local and global issues outside of traditional politics and state players.

She will speak on 'The Feminisation of Politics' at the upcoming FemmeQ Summit.

Join social entrepreneurs, changemakers and transformation catalysts at the 6th FemmeQ Summit from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

Visit femmeq.org for updates.

09/10/2023

Elise Buckle is cofounder of SHE Changes Climate, CEO of Climate & Sustainability and board member of the Climate Action Accelerator. She was appointed as International Gender Champion in 2023.

She is a speaker at the FemmeQ Summit 2023 where she will talk on "why women leaders have a key role to play to address the planetary emergency that is now impacting climate, people and nature".

Join social entrepreneurs, changemakers and transformation catalysts at the 6th FemmeQ Summit from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

08/10/2023

"When we go on shoot, there are vanity vans and makeup rooms for the cast. For the crew, there are generic toilets. My battle started with demanding separate toilets for women on my set, every day! Until one day I didn’t need to ask for it, it was right there, labelled and locked with the girls safeguarding the key."

Having worked for 20 years writing and telling stories for film, television and OTT, Mumbai-based author and media professional Pragati Deshmukh shares her key learnings from the journey.

Having worked for 20 years writing and telling stories for film, television and OTT, Mumbai-based author and media professional Pragati Deshmukh shares her key learnings from the journey.

06/10/2023

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023 has been awarded to jailed Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi. She received the prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all,” the awards committee said.

“Her brave struggle has come at tremendous personal cost,” the committee spokesperson said, adding that Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in jail and 154 lashes.

Currently serving sentence in Tehran for standing up against the Islamic Republic regime for its gross human-rights violations and sexual violence meted to women prisoners, she has not been allowed to speak to her husband and twin teenaged kids for the past 18 months.

“I have chosen to not see my children or even hear their voices and be the voice of oppressed people, women and children, of my land,” she said.

04/10/2023

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873–1954), better known as Colette, was a French author and littérateur, often called France's greatest woman writer. She was also a mime, actor and journalist. A bisexual who married thrice and had several romances in between, her work focused on married life and sexuality, and was frequently quasi-autobiographical. The theme of women's independence in a man's world recurred in her writing. She is hailed for her "genius" and "perfect prose".

Colette's 1944 novella Gigi became the basis for a hugely successful 1958 film and a 1973 stage production of the same name. Her own life inspired the 2018 Keira Knightly-starrer Hollywood film 'Colette'.

03/10/2023

“The international community has closed their eyes to the women inside Afghanistan."

Speaking at a Southasia Peace Action Network webinar, journalists and activists appealed to the world community to recognise gender apartheid in Afghanistan as an international crime.

The Taliban’s 2021 resurgence has intensified concerns about gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Speaking at a recent online discussion, journalists and activists from Kabul and the diaspora appealed …

01/10/2023

“Who on earth can live up to the myth of Mother Mary or Parvati? Becoming a mother is a solitary and unique experience; it can be one of the most nuanced and hardest chapters in your life story and no two mothers will have the same story to tell."

Actor-writer Koël Purie’s debut as a playwright 'Mummy’s Dead, Long Live Mummy!', produced by actor Ira Dubey's theatre company, depicts the nuanced themes of modern motherhood with a light, humorous touch.

Actor-writer Koël Purie Rinchet’s debut as a playwright ‘Mummy’s Dead, Long Live Mummy!’, produced by actor Ira Dubey’s theatre company, depicts the nuanced themes of modern mothe…

29/09/2023

Rita Meher cofounded Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF) in 2002 to serve as a platform for films from South Asia for audiences in the US. Today, Tasveer has the distinction of being the only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival in the world, and receives hundreds of applications each year.

This October, the 18th edition of TSAFF is all set to take place in-person from October 12 to 15 at multiple venues in Seattle, USA, while the online event will be available to viewers around the world on TasveerTV from October 16 to 22.

This year's line-up features diverse genres and captivating themes. The selection includes 23 features, 60 shorts, 20 documentaries, and 63 narratives among others. "I like to call it a buffet!" says Rita Meher in this interview with eShe's Aekta Kapoor.

Rita also shares how her cinematic journey began with an incident of racial hate following the 9/11 attacks in the US, and what it took for her to stick to her mission for over 21 years.

Visit tasveer.org for more details and the complete schedule.

Follow us for more conversations with inspiring women.

27/09/2023

“Feminine intelligence is a deep knowing that we are all part of a living universe; an innate sense of responsibility for the survival, thriving and flourishing of human and planetary life,” says Karen Lee Downes, cofounder and managing director, FemmeQ.

Join social entrepreneurs, changemakers and transformation catalysts at the 6th FemmeQ Summit from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

Visit femmeq.org for updates and to register. Early bird discount is available until September 30th! Hurry!

27/09/2023

"Pottery has taught me that multi-tasking is truly overrated and one must occasionally surrender to the pleasures of slowing down."

A pottery workshop helped Rajasthan-based mom Priyamvada Singh and her little sons bring home a sack full of wisdom and a bag full of smiles.

A pottery workshop helped Rajasthan-based mom Priyamvada Singh and her little sons bring home a sack full of wisdom and a bag full of smiles.

26/09/2023

Dr Sangeeta Sahi is a posthumanist doctor, exploring how mind and conscious levels interface with the physical aspects and its expression through personality, behaviour, habits, tendencies and cultural conditioning.

She is also the founder of Unified Human Foundation that provides creative solutions for NGOs, charities and nonprofit groups through economic and social support.

Dr Sangeeta is a speaker at the FemmeQ Summit 2023 where she will be exploring the topic of “The technology of peace and its role in integral healing”.

Join social entrepreneurs, changemakers and transformation catalysts at the 6th FemmeQ Summit from 24-27th October in Strasbourg, France, at Chateau de Pourtales.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

Follow FemmeQ for updates and to register.

01/09/2023

Considering the daunting challenges faced by women cricketers in Pakistan, their victories on the world stage are all the more remarkable. The book ‘Unveiling Jazbaa’ chronicles this astounding history.

Considering the daunting challenges faced by women cricketers in Pakistan, their victories on the world stage are all the more remarkable. The book ‘Unveiling Jazbaa’ chronicles this astounding his…

29/08/2023

Naomi Shihab Nye is an American poet, songwriter and novelist of Palestinian, German and Swiss descent. The 71-year-old has published or contributed to over 30 volumes of poetry and won several awards and fellowships.

She once said in an interview: “Poetry calls us to pause. There is so much we overlook, while the abundance around us continues to shimmer, on its own.”

23/08/2023

Richa Tilokani goes on a night safari with her family at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. What will they discover in the dark?

15/08/2023

As India celebrates 76 years of Independence, eShe TV puts the spotlight on what freedom means to Indian women.

Are Indian girls free to make informed choices for their lives – about work, marriage, finances, or even something as simple as what to wear? Do Indian women have freedom of movement and equal access to opportunities or even public spaces?

eShe editor Aekta Kapoor speaks to three panelists, all of whom run independent platforms to support women:

Sangeeta Duggal Relan is an associate professor at Delhi University who has taught for over 30 years. She is the founder of AboutHer, an e-magazine about women, their relationships, and their life challenges. She also runs a podcast about women trailblazers.

Dr Manisha Bose is a lecturer at Assumption University in Thailand. She is founder of We Women Network in Bangkok and chapter head of , a global movement.

Shweta Saxena is a Pune-based eco-entrepreneur, television personality, and the founder of Woman TV & Pune TV by Shweta Saxena, a digital channel for women across the globe. She is a branding psychologist, TEDx speaker and digital ad filmmaker.

Follow us for more conversations with amazing women.

12/08/2023

As India and Pakistan mark 76 years of independence from British rule and simultaneous Partition, a look at the intertwined stories and work of three young oral historians from the region: Ananya Jahanara Kabir, Aanchal Malhotra and Anam Zakaria.

As India and Pakistan mark 76 years of independence from British rule and simultaneous Partition, a look at the intertwined stories and work of three young oral historians from the region.

10/08/2023

The sixth international FemmeQ Summit will take place from 24 – 27 October 2023 in Strasbourg, France. eShe® is proud to be media partner for the Summit.

Cofounder Karen Lee Downes says, "Feminine intelligence is a deep knowing that we are all part of a living universe; an innate sense of responsibility for the survival, thriving and flourishing of human and planetary life."

Register for the Summit now!

Taking forward the journey towards conscious leadership, the sixth international FemmeQ Summit will take place from 24 – 27 October 2023 in Strasbourg, France. eShe is proud to be media partner for…

08/08/2023

Mindless scrolling on social media when we're bored creates further boredom and disconnection with the physical world! Author Neera Maini Srivastav shares 5 hacks to overcome boredom that worked for her.

Mindless scrolling on social media when we’re bored creates further boredom and disconnection with the physical world! Author Neera Maini Srivastav shares 5 hacks to overcome boredom that wor…

04/08/2023

HIGHLIGHTS: 4 Indian authors on the modern female protagonist and young-adult literature | eShe TV

Does the younger generation look up to strong female protagonists in books? Will boys pick up books that feature girls in the lead? Who decides one kind of literature is for women and another for men?

eShe editor Aekta Kapoor invites four novelists to share their views: Salini Vineeth, Arva Bhavnagarwala, Shalini Mullick and Preetha Vasan.

For the full conversation and podcast, visit: https://eshe.in/2023/08/04/eshe-tv-4-indian-novelists-on-female-protagonists-and-young-adult-literature/

31/07/2023

"I was battling a block so I decided to seek out a guru. On cue, I got a WhatsApp message about a two-day spiritual retreat with a new guru who appears to have led quite a few folks to enlightenment, at least on YouTube." - Aekta Kapoor

I was battling a block so I decided to seek out a guru. On cue, I got a WhatsApp message about a two-day spiritual retreat with a new guru who appears to have led quite a few folks to enlightenment…

28/07/2023

From a poverty-stricken childhood in Mumbai to the Academy Awards red carpet in LA, Saraswathi Balgam's rags-to-riches tale is dotted with grief, gumption and meditation.

Maya Lalchandani Dancing Atoms

From a poverty-stricken childhood in Mumbai to the Academy Awards red carpet in LA, Saraswathi Balgam’s rags-to-riches tale is dotted with grief, gumption and meditation.

17/07/2023

Despite India's history of compassion towards all living creatures, the human-animal conflict is getting worse with more urban development and human activity in areas otherwise occupied by wildlife.

Humane Society International - India (HSI), an NGO present in 50 countries, is working to promote the human-animal bond, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, and promote animal-free testing and research.

eShe editor Aekta Kapoor speaks to two representatives from HSI India on the subject.

The first guest is the MD of HSI India, Alokparna Sengupta, who has written extensively on animal welfare issues and has been part of several government and scientific committees to bring in animal friendly policies in India.

Also on the show is Keren Nazareth, senior director for the street dog program of HSI India, who has experience of resolving stray animal conflicts in Asia and Africa.

Follow us for more conversations with inspiring women.

06/07/2023

Bengaluru-based children’s book author Roopa Pai studied to be a computer engineer but soon veered into writing children's books. She has the knack of simplifying complex scientific and spiritual concepts into engaging stories using colloquial language for the young kids of today.

She’s written 20 children’s books so far and many of them are bestsellers, enjoyed as much by adults as by children. Among them is the award-winning 'The Gita for Children', which was translated into several languages and is listed by Amazon India as one of ‘100 Indian books to read in a lifetime’.

Her TEDx talk ‘Decoding the Gita: India’s Book of Answers’ has received over two million views to date.

In this video, she talks to eShe editor Aekta Kapoor about her unlikely journey, what kids today are reading, and her latest book 'Yoga Sutras for Children'.

Follow eShe for more conversations with amazing women.

01/07/2023

Enterprising artist Sangeeta Babani has painted everything from canvasses to cars. Now she's painting murals on Mumbai's flyovers and underpasses, bringing colour and life to the city's streets.

"Everybody who looked at the drawings, including my husband, declared it impossible to execute, as the theme needed perfection, and the deadline was just 15 days,” she says of her latest project, a 900-foot mural across the Milan flyover in Santacruz, Mumbai, commissioned ahead of the G20 summit.

Enterprising artist Sangeeta Babani has painted everything from canvasses to cars. Now she’s painting murals on Mumbai’s flyovers and underpasses, bringing colour and life to the city& #…

13/06/2023

Gender representation in South Asian films and television is marred by sexist storylines, domestic violence and normalisation of sexual harassment. Who decides that this is what viewers want or need to see?

Gender representation in South Asian films and television is marred by sexist storylines, domestic violence and normalisation of sexual harassment. Who decides that this is what viewers want or nee…

06/06/2023

"Most women aren’t feminists because we were taught to be, it's an entire journey. We learn to stand up for ourselves because it’s necessary for survival, and that is the story I want to see in our movies – about women who haven’t become feminists yet. About the life events that push us to a point where we’re forced to question the imbalance.”

Actor and writer Saloni Chopra's directorial debut 'Coconut', made during the pandemic in Melbourne, explores a modern romance where love and identity are at a crossroads with culture and tradition.

Actor and writer Saloni Chopra’s directorial debut ‘Coconut’, made during the pandemic in Melbourne, explores a modern romance where love and identity are at a crossroads with cul…

31/05/2023

“Today, when deforestation and wildlife depletion is happening at an alarmingly high rate, it is essential to increase the amount of female participation in the scope of conservation. Without their active participation, the probability to conserve will be negligible.”

Ambalika Singh Rathore loved wildlife since childhood. Being the first woman driver, guide and naturalist at Panna Tiger Reserve was a dream job for her.

Ambalika Singh Rathore loved nature and wildlife since childhood. Being the first woman driver, guide and naturalist at Panna Tiger Reserve was a dream job for her.

25/05/2023

Energy healing modalities, or complementary therapies, go to the root of emotional patterns, subconscious beliefs and spiritual dilemmas to help you heal blocks and live life to your fullest, writes Aekta Kapoor.

Energy healing modalities, or complementary therapies, go to the root of emotional patterns, subconscious beliefs and spiritual dilemmas to help you heal blocks and live life to your fullest.

19/05/2023

"Just because [the filmmaker] happens to be a woman does not mean they'll bring a gender perspective to the production. It's not about male or female/femme, it's more about patriarchy, capitalism and market forces."

Beena Sarwar speaking at eShe's Directing Change: Gender Representation in South Asian Films and Television in association with Southasia Peace Action Network

18/05/2023

What better way for kids to spend the holidays than with a stash of some amazing new books? We’ve got you covered with this all-new summer reading list for children of all ages.

What better way for kids to spend the holidays than with a stash of some amazing new books? We’ve got you covered with this all-new summer reading list for children of all ages.