Memories of the License Raj: Guest Post by Mira Saraf Memories of the License Raj: Guest Post by Mira Saraf — Read on wanderingsoulwriter.com/2018/09/13/memories-mira/ Guest post I wrote for my good friend Piyusha Vir 🙂
Category Archives: Personal
Accepting Our Blind Spots
A few weeks ago, a woman named Shilpi A. Singh messaged me, as she was doing a piece on acroyoga (a blend of acrobatics, yoga and Thai massage) and wanted to speak to some practitioners and members of the community. Those of you who know me, know that I have practiced this on and offContinue reading “Accepting Our Blind Spots”
The Counter-productivity of Labels
I’m taking a break from Kerala posts but just for today 🙂 Last night, I found myself pulled into a debate about the Aziz Ansari episode, as a friend of mine related a personal anecdote of mine on a group forum. “Why didn’t she just do x?” “Why didn’t she just do y?” “Why didn’tContinue reading “The Counter-productivity of Labels”
The Wonders of Kalaripayattu
The kalaripayattu performance that follows the kathakali is nothing short of spectacular. The practitioners move like dancers, their bodies a combination of ridiculous strength and flexibility. Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art that originated in Kerala, with roots that date back to the Sangam period literature (3rd century BC – 2nd century AD). Every soldierContinue reading “The Wonders of Kalaripayattu”
Letters to the Dead
I thought that when I saw your funeral pyre, I’d finally believe that you’re gone. But as I watched the logs of wood turn black and white, start to crack and finally, core charred, collapse into dust – mingling with your ashes, as I watched the flames liquefying the air above, or the fresh logsContinue reading “Letters to the Dead”
A Few Thoughts on Gratitude
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. – Randy Pausch These words came from this absolutely beautiful book I am reading called The Last Lecture, written by the late Carnegie Mellon Professor before losing his battle to Pancreatic cancer in 2008. I’ve probably written about this before, butContinue reading “A Few Thoughts on Gratitude”
A Rant On Boundaries
Those of you who know me, know I have a knack for meeting very strange people, and a large collection of funny stories to show for it. This week however, things reached a new level for me. Three incidents have occurred in the last four days – all unrelated – and now I just wantContinue reading “A Rant On Boundaries”
An Open Letter to the Parents in My Life
A few years back, during Game of Thrones season, I made the mistake of posting on a friends Facebook wall that I could not watch that weeks episode because I was sleep deprived. Another girl who went to high school with us immediately commented something to the extent of “why are you sleep deprived Mira?Continue reading “An Open Letter to the Parents in My Life”
The Things You May Not Do
The things that cannot be bought By money, self-satisfaction Synthetic smiles or shared Rose-tinted delusions You may lull me into Submission for one night Or two or three but only In flesh, muscle and bone Skin deep, yet to pierce vein So wipe away that smugness Scrub it, scourge it from your face Underneath yourContinue reading “The Things You May Not Do”
The Pieces of Who You Were
Words, it bears remembering Are simply acoustics, sounds And breath warmed by the body Mixed till sweet, sour, bitter or pungent They cannot break your skin, Choke air from lungs, pierce organs, Burst arteries or sever limbs Yet somehow they tear through Eardrums, towards skull, seeking Deepest abscesses of minds Darkest corners of souls RootingContinue reading “The Pieces of Who You Were”