July 2019

Editor’s Note – British Muslim Women And Their New Identities.

Last month I found myself composing a project proposal on British Muslim women and their new identities. I was shortlisted for the project and called in for an interview. The proposal outlined the emergence of British Muslim women with new

by Shameela Yoosuf Ali

Cinema & Theater·Fictional Arts

Beyond The Clouds-Majid Majidi’s Poignant Story

There’s something magical about Beyond the Clouds, an exquisite yet obnoxious Indian-set movie. Majid Majidi is an Iranian film director whose poignant stories have never failed to evoke the deeper feelings of the viewers. Along with Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen

by Shameela Yoosuf Ali

Fictional Arts·Literature

Poetry Is A Hand Made Out Of Sand

—Kyabchen Dedrol སྐྱབས་ཆེན་བདེ་གྲོལ, translation by Lowell Cook and the author Poetry is the impoverished wick of a spent butter lamp. Poetry is the dog that scuttles an arc around the master’s thrashing body. Poetry is the grinding adzi bead’s sacred blood-spot

by David Allen Sullivan

Politics & Culture

Sufism- Forgotten Conjunctures And The Identity Politics Of Elites

A new tragedy has unfolded in the case of Muslims in Sri Lanka. The cultural junkies who consider themselves as the experts in terrorism-related topics are now looking out for traditional Muslims. On the other hand, Sufi orthodoxy proclaims

by Farhan Wahab

Fictional Arts·Literature

The Perishable Woman

The man

by Snehashree Mandal

Cuisines·Food & Travel

Appetising Chutney Recipes From Around The World

Chutneys and pickles add piquancy to our meals. Small jars and bowls of fruit or vegetable-based condiments on the side of our plates add colour and texture to the savoury food we eat. Some are so delicious we often have

by FemAsia Team

Politics & Culture

Confronting The Dark Side Of The Irish Down Under

When Irish-Australian poet and writer, Anne Casey was asked to write for an art exhibition in Australia, she embarked on a dark voyage of discovery into the lives of Irish immigrant children one hundred and fifty years ago. …………………

by Anne Casey

Fictional Arts·Literature

This Poem Cannot Be Finished Off Writing

This poem cannot be finished off writing, this song not ended, thirst not quenched; Every memory refuses to be effaced, every plot declines to produce, every face is reluctant to endure. A dream unwilling to dissolve, lingers forever– although I

by Cheran Rudhramoorthy

Empowerment

Poise By Purpose

I detest, very much, that word faith. I do so because of the way the word is abused, to convey anti-intellectual, illogical, and a blind acceptance of a conventional mode of thought without any further examination or probing. But I

by Henry Victor

Fictional Arts·Literature

We Look Out For Each Other

People have been sharing images of religious co-existence in this country to exemplify who we are as people – so I thought of sharing a story of my own. My father was a very sarcastic atheist – but his looks

by Thulasi Muttulingam

Fictional Arts·Literature

Who’s Going To Marry You Now?

Who’s going to want you with all you’ve done? I wonder what crimes I’ve committed other than love the way I felt. Is it really my fault that I’ve loved those who were unworthy? Does my potency as a wife

by Kaveesha Coswatte

Fictional Arts·Literature

Rosewater Women

The Hindi word Dalit can be translated as divided, split, broken, scattered… like a handful of rose petals flung into sugared water to flavour gulab jamun soft, delectable, melt in the mouth dumplings… but there is nothing soft or sweet

by Anita Patel

Fictional Arts·Literature

Faith

They had had another run-in. No matter how much she tried avoiding it. And it was right when she had to rush out of the house too. She hated the way someone could belittle another person and then hours

by Saulat Pervez

Fictional Arts·Literature

The Tears We Cry

I stood against the front door, staring up at her, bags in her hand. As my mother’s voice strengthened, my body weakened. I shrank to the ground, hugging my knees to my chest, wanting to scream: shut the fuck

by Hina Ahmed

Empowerment

Jolie-Laide

My body’s first betrayal was not its own. Never abuse, not when it is the nagging nasty reality of a woman’s world that people will tend to sit too close, to encroach into your space, their hands lingering, yet

by FemAsia Team

Fictional Arts·Literature

Hope

It was a humid Saturday afternoon. The mugginess around had caressed most of my friends at God’s Children into an untimely siesta. Sister, in her white habit, too, was busy sleeping. The cleaning lady, Domenica, had taken the day

by Sudeshna Chowdhury

Fictional Arts·Literature

Hold My Breath I Am Fading Away.

Sunshine gives me the shadows of black Rainstorm brings up the darkest night… Windy atmosphere touches my soul, hay… Hold my breath … I am fading away.. These little things put my mind on stake.. That giant man follows me up

by Sheikh Aatif Tariq

Fictional Arts·Literature

Chadar

It’s 42 Degrees. In between the hustle and bustle of Gardezi Bazaar, Beggars line up at the kerb of each street. Upper-class auratein walk with conceit, draped in their fancy chadars, clacking their heels. Mard blast angraazi music, car windows

by Ayesha Tauseef

Fictional Arts·Literature

Tea With The Demon

Tea with the Demon In terms of beauty that hackneyed dragon still beating its wings everything can be broken down a little further each howling beast like the rest of us imperfect, uncertain bearing witness I didn’t like the look

by Magdalena Ball

Fictional Arts·Literature

Memoir To Future Children

It was a beautiful day in some far future time, and the world is at peace and happiness is everywhere. In a school, a teacher enters the class, and students mainly of 12 to 14 years of age stand up

by Mir Basit

Fictional Arts·Literature

How Muslims Should Fight Against Terrorism

Somebody kills Somebody spills blood I too weep for the people who bleed I too curse the people who make another bleed. “Are you a Muslim? Come out and reply.” Somebody yells outside my house They bang the doors and

by Manushya Puthiran

Empowerment

Fighting Menstrual Taboos In Rural India

An Interview with United for Hope The United For Hope organisation is an NGO which was formed to empower rural women with knowledge and skills, to encourage them to gain independence and dignity in their lives. United for

by FemAsia Team

Empowerment

The Gentlest Activist

Surviving And Thriving In Times Of Crisis If we liken ourselves and our lives to ships on the ocean, it is a challenge at times to keep afloat, let alone to successfully navigate the troubled areas of life

by Devika Brendon

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