'Being shut indoors with an abusive partner has made life a lot worse for women, and domestic violence helplines have reported a significant rise in distress calls at this time,' observes Shuma Raha.

Many associations of urban dwellers across the country are assuming powers they do not possess and behaving like tinpot dictators, says Shuma Raha.

'Sometimes we remember our plans and preoccupations from early March.' 'They seem laughably unreal now,' says Shuma Raha.

Harvey Weinstein's indictment is important because it sends out the message that a sexual predator can be brought to justice even if the crime occurred years ago, when the victim did not have the courage or the agency to speak out, notes Shuma Raha.

'The vitriol against Deepika Padukone, who is a hugely popular star, will fade over time. But let's not forget what caused it,' says Shuma Raha.

'If enough people defy the law and insist on flouting fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution in the name of religion and custom, does that endow a bigoted, unjust demand with merit?', asks Shuma Raha.

'Tipu Sultan may have had his flaws, but that does not mean he can be axed from textbooks.' 'Besides, if it is Tipu today, who will it be tomorrow?' asks Shuma Raha.

The masses of digital data that you generate throughout your life -- your pictures, posts, tweets, blogs -- can remain intact in the folds of the Internet, points out Shuma Raha.

The government of UP has made it a habit of sorts to move against -- or better still, lock up -- mediapersons who give cause for displeasure, says Shuma Raha.

'It is natural for parents to want to keep their children safe.' 'But there's a difference between putting up firewalls to protect them and snooping on them 24X7,' says Shuma Raha.

'You have to be insensitive and callous to want to shoot the spectacle of persons dying, presumably for the pleasure of posting the picture or video on WhatsApp,' says Shuma Raha.

The year gone by, decoded by Shuma Raha.

'His humble words are no substitute for a clear vision for the future of the country. But humility has its own power, its own impact.' 'And it's probably more than that of a monogrammed suit,' says Shuma Raha.

'Faith, and the notion that it has been 'outraged', is used to justify the most outrageous, illiberal and regressive acts,' notes Shuma Raha.

'It is time again for Durga Puja.' 'Time again to be struck by India's astonishing cultural irony, one where the female form is worshipped as divinity while millions of real women are forced to lead restricted lives,' notes Shuma Raha.

'Ms Williams has had multiple on-court implosions in the past and got penalised for them, too.' 'She cried sexism this time perhaps because she knew the atmosphere was ripe for it,' notes Shuma Raha.

Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which was struck down by the Supreme Court, managed to be anti-women even while it appeared to be throwing a protective arm around them, says Shuma Raha.

'Governments forget that no matter how cunning they are, eventually they cannot ride on anarchy,' says Shuma Raha.

'The cow can always be the CAUSE.' 'Cause for murder. Cause for setting India's people against each other.' 'Not recognising the fact that this can tip the country into an unending spiral of civil strife and set the much-vaunted 'India story' back by years is the ultimate stupidity of all,' says Shuma Raha.

'Despite the pornographic quality of its name, Lust Stories is something of an event in Indian popular culture,' says Shuma Raha.