Purba Ray, Author at Arré

Dear Nice Guys, Stop Congratulating Yourself for Not Being Harassers

If you think you are a “nice guy” who doesn’t harass women, please stop behaving like you have a halo around your head. And if you are eager for the great guy tag, you will have to do much more than look the other way when you see any woman getting molested and humiliated.

Purba Ray July 9, 2016

Gender

Even In Celebration, Women Are Expected To Do It All

The festive season is a lot of fun, except for the women of the house who must labour through chores that they have been led to believe is not just their duty, but also some sort of festive privilege.

Purba Ray July 9, 2016

Gender

Not a Dress, Not a Maxi: How the Indian Woman Finds Liberation in a Nightie

Women fall in love with the nightie so madly, they never want to part ways. And why not? Its tent-like shape doesn’t discriminate – you might have Kareena-like abs or you might be well-rounded, the nightie gives everyone the sex appeal of a potato.

Purba Ray July 1, 2016

Gender

Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighbourhood House Husband

Spider-Man is on a new mission now. After setting the world right, he’s ready to set his home right. What good are his superpowers if he can’t make the dishes sparkle, the carpet bright, and the floors shiny and white?

Purba Ray June 23, 2016

POV

“Where’s the WiFi?” Why City Folks Suck at the Art of Doing Nothing

Chaos works like Isabgol for my thoughts. I am wired to work; chasing deadlines gives me a high that no amount of fresh air from the Aravallis can. Sorry William Henry Davies, I don’t want to stand beneath the boughs (too many mosquitos there.) I’d rather stare at my phone screen than at sheep and cows.

Purba Ray June 19, 2016

POV

Why We Need to Ban the Term “Mid-Life Crisis” From Our Lexicon

After 50, fast-fashion brands are passé for old-fashioned folks like me, and what the hell am I still doing with those crop-tops and coloured tights? I can sense millennials grasp at my audacity. You see, if I refuse to abide by this cultural construct, I’ll promptly be labelled as yet-another-hilarious casualty of the “mid-life crisis”.

Purba Ray June 18, 2016

Gender

“Didn’t Listen to Your Speech But You Looked Pretty”: Is It a Compliment or Is He Just Being Sexist?

The new hire who just presented on “Green transitions and carbon sequestration” gets cornered by one of her colleagues. She’s expecting questions. She gets complimented for her glossy hair instead. Welcome to the world of “benevolent sexism”, it’s even more insidious than its overt counterpart.

Purba Ray June 17, 2016

POV

Why Is It Never The Man’s Fault?

A professor was forced to resign in Kolkata, for images she put up of herself on her social media. For some inane reason this non-imposition has been deemed her fault.

Purba Ray June 13, 2016

Coronavirus

What the World Needs Right Now is Kindness, Not Judgy Souls Who Mock at Someone’s Instagram

For everyone who is policing people on social media, taking exception to folks posting selfies and travel photos, please back off. People who share daily workouts or coronavirus jokes are not being insensitive, self-centred louts. They are trying to hold on to some semblance of normalcy. It helps them stay afloat instead of drowning in self-pity.

Purba Ray June 10, 2016

Bollywood

Suhana Suffer: Stop Whining about the Vogue Cover

Can we please stop the hand-wringing over Suhana Khan on the Vogue cover? Don’t blame the magazine or nepotism – blame yourselves for falling over each other to see her #AirportLook. This is a classic case of the privileged, whining on about the super privileged.

Purba Ray June 7, 2016