Bollywood, where is our Nora Ephron? by Mohar Basu

   

 

India makes films about love like Musafir Cafe and Love. So why does it struggle to make romantic comedies that see the world through a woman's eyes?

I think it is not fair that a woman can watch You've Got Mail for the fifteenth time and still get butterflies when Meg Ryan walks into that bookshop, but Bollywood, an industry that has practically built its empire on people falling in love, has so few films that make women feel this way. You can come up with the old examples of DDLJ and Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Hum Tum but how many shows or movies in the past 5 years have made us go giddy? I had this thought while watching The Love Hypothesis that there is a rom-com shaped void in our hearts that no one knows how to fill. 

As a millennial on bad days and during holiday season, I turn to Nora Ephron, because the lady knew the secret. Romance wasn't just about the grand gesture, the airport chase or a man realising that he couldn't live without the woman he'd spent two hours taking for granted. It was also about the woman. As my friends and I discuss often, romance and rom-com is the only genre where women have agency, women are thriving and good things are happening to them. 

In this genre - the spotlight is on what she wants, what she fears, the terrible decisions she makes, the conversations she replayed in her head and the possibility that the man she was falling for might, actually, be an idiot.

In When Harry Met Sally…, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, Ephron made neuroses sexy, conversation an aphrodisiac and ordinary life something worth dressing up for. Her women had careers, apartments, opinions and very specific ideas about food. They could be romantic without being silly, ambitious without being cold and lonely without being tragic. They didn't need to be extraordinary women doing extraordinary things. They just needed to be interesting.

And Bollywood? Bollywood has a love affair with love. It just isn't always interested in the woman experiencing it. If you have watched Romantics - you know how obsessed our movies and filmmakers have been with the idea of people falling in love.

And if I am being fair, Hindi cinema has given us wonderful female characters and romantic films that have endured for generations. But look at the space available to women in today's mainstream storytelling. The female-led film carries the weight of a social issue, a feminist statement or an inspirational journey. The romantic comedy, meanwhile, is built around a male protagonist's pursuit, with the woman serving as his motivation, his reward or the plot twist that gets him to grow up.

Where is the film about a woman who has a perfectly good job, a complicated relationship with her mother, a questionable taste in men and absolutely no idea what she is doing with her life? Where is the 38-year-old who wants to fall in love but doesn't want to be told that her biological clock is ticking? Where is the woman who can be selfish, funny, sexually confident, insecure and spectacularly wrong about a man without the screenplay treating her as either a cautionary tale or a role model?

This is where the female gaze is crucial. It isn't simply about putting a woman behind the camera or making the male lead look good in a linen shirt. It is about whose feelings get the close-up - whose desire drives the plot, who gets to be complicated.

Ephron's women weren't always right. They were allowed to be a glorious mess. The films didn't punish them for wanting romance and being miserable post break ups, nor did they suggest that finding a man was the ultimate prize. Love was part of the adventure, not the entire itinerary of the vacation called life.

The opportunity for Indian cinema is enormous. Our dating lives come with parental surveillance, matrimonial apps, class anxieties, WhatsApp overthinking and the very Indian art of pretending not to care while caring deeply. There is enough material here for a dozen brilliant romantic comedies. We have the locations, the actors and an audience that continues to show up for a good love story. What we seem to lack is the conviction that a woman's everyday emotional life can hold a film together without a murder, a courtroom or a social evil thrown in for good measure.

Nobody is asking Bollywood to transplant Manhattan to Mumbai or turn every heroine into Meg Ryan. We need our own version of that magic - a woman talking too much, falling for the wrong people, changing their minds and figuring themselves out somewhere between work, friendship and a terrible date. Make space for these stories!

Because the great thing about a Nora Ephron film was never that everything worked out perfectly. It was that, for two hours, the mess of being alive and in love felt worth watching. It felt cinematic and glorious! For an industry that has spent decades selling us romance, Bollywood could do with remembering that women aren't merely the reason men fall in love. They have love stories of their own.

And frankly, we'd quite like to watch them.

 

 

BIO: Mohar Basu is a journalist with Mid-Day and author of bestselling books Shah Rukh Khan : Legend, Icon, Star and Salman Khan : The Sultan of Bollywood. She writes about cinema, stardom, fan cultures and the impact of cinema and the movie industry on society. 

( THIS IS THE 7 th WEEK - 11 TH YEAR of BFL-  PART OF GUEST POST SERIES- POST -7)

THE ACTUAL RAMAYANA

Rama means “Sarveshu Ramante Iti Ramah” – that which revels in every one of us, the pure light of consciousness, the Atman, the Self. Sita represents the ego, the jeeva, the mind. As long as Sita’s attention was on Rama, she was ever blissful - be it in the luxuries in the palace or in the hardships of the forest. Similarly man is happy as long as he is attuned to the inner Self. Prosperity or poverty would make no difference. That is why we find that most of the saints are poor. They never care for prosperity. They are blissful in their inner attunement to the Lord. This is the perfect union of Rama and Sita.

When Sita saw the golden deer she was enchanted. Desire for a material thing possessed her. She asked Rama to fetch it for her. He asked her to desist from the desire but she was adamant. This is what we also do. We ask for material things from God. Success in business, a gift of wealth etc. As soon as her desire was focused on a sense object of the world, her Lord moved away from her. A golden deer is a mirage. Similarly our attempt to find happiness in the material things of the world is nothing but chasing after a mirage.

Lakshman personifies tapas, austerity and single mindedness. (He voluntarily chose an austere life). When desire overtakes us, tapas also leaves. But even if we are desiring and covetous, still we may not come to harm if we remain within the confines of discipline and self control. This is known as the Lakshman Rekha. As long as we remain inside the Lakshman Rekha (self control and discipline) we would still be protected. But once tapas has been given up, such lines are of no use. And as soon as we step out of it, we are captured by the ten headed monster in the form of Ravana. Ten headed=five sense organs + five organs of action driven by Rajas. Then we are under his control and imprisoned.

Ravana is an extrovert who represents material affluence and Lanka is a materially affluent city and is supposed to be made of gold! You could say New York is a modern day Lanka where people live an extreme material life in the midst of luxuries devoid of spirituality. So when Seeta is overpowered by Ravana, she becomes exiled in a materially affluent world (Lanka) away from the peace and bliss of her Lord. We should realize that we too are all at this moment “Sitas in exile”. If we are living a purely material life, that is what we are. But here the story of Seeta begins to take a different turn. Does she enjoy the material affluence and luxuries offered by Ravana? NO! She realizes her mistake and rejects everything that Ravana has to offer. She wants only one thing in life now: Being reunited with her Lord. Desire is given up. She takes up Tapas and Bhakti. When man takes up the practices of tapas and bhakti, he gains peace and contentment which is symbolized by Sita remaining in the Ashokavan. Shoka is grief; Ashoka is non-grief. This means a transcendental state above the dualities of pain and pleasure. Remaining in a state of Ashoka and steadfast in sadhana, we again receive intimations of the Lord. Our spiritual strength and faith arrive (represented by Hanuman) which give us the confidence and assurance that the Lord is always with us.

After this meeting, Hanuman burns down Lanka. The burning of Lanka indicates that material splendor has no value to one who is spiritually awakened. Sense objects lose their allure. They are burnt as if.

The three brothers Vibhishana, Ravana and Kumbhakarna represent the three gunas. Vibhishana=Sattwa; Ravana=Rajas; Kumbhakarna=Tamas (who knows nothing except sleeping and eating). Since Vibhishana represents Sattwa, he always warns and admonishes Ravana who is extremely Rajasic but Ravana ultimately kicks him out. As a natural consequence Vibhishana aligns himself with Rama. Sattwa always seeks light and liberation. That is the significance of Vibhishana deserting Lanka and the camp of Ravana. Sattwa is always attracted to the divine.

On the other hand, the attack on Ravana is launched by the monkey forces. The monkey forces represent again, the human mind. A monkey, like human thought, has two distinct qualities: asthira (unstable) and chancala (always in movement). The thoughts keep jumping from one to another. These monkeys were under the domination of Vali who represents lust (for flesh and power). He had seized the kingdom and was living with the wives of Sugreevaa (an act of greed and lust). We too are like Vali. We seek power by all means and appropriate what belongs to others to satisfy our greed and lust.  In order to gain one’s spiritual nature, one has to divert the mind from lust and greed to self-control and sacrifice. Vali has to be destroyed from behind, not in a frontal attack. It is like a person wanting to curb his desire for alcohol. He cannot do it by sitting in front of a bottle. We cannot defeat lust in a direct fight. So when we are overpowered by lust, we have to keep away from the object of our lust and destroy it from a distance. This is the significance of Rama killing Vali from behind. Then the leadership of the monkeys (thoughts) passes on to Sugreeva (meaning well-reined/well controlled). When the thoughts are under one’s control, the sea of delusion is crossed and the jeeva (Sita) is rescued from the prison of Lanka. However, the Lord before taking us back into his bosom, would definitely put up a test for us (Agni pareeksha) in some form to measure our sincerity. Once we pass this test, we are reunited with our Lord. 

( It's a simplified and abridged version of one the chapters from my book A GRAIN OF SAND. )

AUTHOR BIO:

NARENDRA MURTY,

Author and Research Associate with Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry

Narendra Murty’s deep driving passion in life has been the study of various religions and philosophies - both Eastern and Western - to which he has devoted more than three decades of his life. He is the author of 6 books, namely:

 

Eating His Money – The Antics of a Metaphysical Clown 

An Odyssey of the Mind – Journeys in the Modern Mindscape

The Religion of Wonder

An Oak Tree in the Garden – Exploring the World of Zen

Sermons of the Dead  

A Grain of Sand – Decoding Images, Rituals and Mythology

Presently, Narendra is working as a Research Associate for Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry. He writes regularly for their online journal Renaissance and conducts courses and workshops on Yoga and Spiritual seeking.

                                              ________________

Anuradha is a meticulous and conscientious reviewer who has been kind enough to review three of my non-fiction books. They are: An Odyssey of the Mind: Journeys in the Modern Mindscape, The Religion of Wonder and An Oak Tree in the Garden: Exploring the World of Zen.

 

What I most liked about her reviews is that she reads with meticulousness and offers fresh perspectives which casual readers often miss either because of their hurry in taking in the contents or their lack of depth of understanding. All her reviews start with creating the context in which the book is beautifully placed. She writes about what she liked about the book and also how it compares with similar ideas expressed by other well-known thinkers and authors. It’s not just about what is there in the book but how it fits into a larger canvas in the world of ideas. I have even got the impression that she does some research to write her reviews which goes beyond merely what is written in the book. Very few reviewers do that these days.

 

I wish her all the best on the 10^th anniversary of her blog and sincerely would like to see her blog growing from strength to strength.

NARENDRA MURTY,

Author and Research Associate with Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry

 

(  THIS IS THE 6 th WEEK - 11 TH YEAR of BFL-  PART OF GUEST POST SERIES- POST -6)

PANCHATATVA

    

Panchatatva (panch + tatva) means five elements or the "panchamahabhutas". These are: Prithvi (Earth), Jal (Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Air) and Akash (Space).
 
The entire universe is created by these five elements.  The composition and mix of these elements in each form - animate or inanimate - varies in degrees depending upon the structure, nature and function of the created object. The variance of the mix is also what creates diversity in nature while the cycle of life perpetuates when all these five elements are present in a state of harmony.  Each element is individually rich with its own core embryonic energy. 
 
We, as human beings are also born with the combination of these five elements.  Understanding the fundamental attributes of these elements helps us in assessing our own latent power, inherent natural traits and character building.
 
Earth

Terra firma, with its tremendous magnetic fields and gravitational force, keeps everything grounded.  Earth's rotation on its axis and revolution around the Sun is completely Disciplined.  Imagine if this movement of the Earth became indisciplined, there will be total chaos.  

Water

The source of life, water is an important element. More than seventy percent of the earth is water as is the human body. It appears in many forms - from rain drops to ponds, lakes, wells, brooks, streams, rivers and the mighty oceans. This very appearance of myriad forms tells us about the basic attribute of water -  that it Accommodates itself in every conceivable and imaginable shape. 

Fire

The source of heat and light, Fire makes everything visible to us. While controlled fire is instrumental in sustenance of life, an uncontrolled fire leads to destruction. Fire is Purity as anything when put into Fire gets transformed to its pristine form.

Air

Air is a powerful source that is important to sustain life. It empowers all the other energies to function. The flow of air in the form of winds is free from the limitation of directions. Air flows in different directions thereby representing Freedom.

Space 

Space is the basis and essence of all things in the material world. It is the very first* element in creation, is Universal and is the 'holder' of everything. 

Since the 'panchatatva' directly relate to our "Self" isn't it time we probed deep and asked ourselves the following simple questions:

a) Are we disciplined in our work-a-day life or are we victims of our own procrastination and lethargy?
 
b) Are we accommodative in nature or are we hell bent with an argumentative attitude to settle scores?
 
c) Is our thought process pure leading to right morals and noble deeds or do we find ourselves in conflicting crossroads?
 
d) Do we cherish Freedom in real sense and thereby give due dignity and space to others or are we engrossed in leading a selfish life?
 
e) Are we universal in our approach or still engrossed in the gymnastics of secular and communal, caste and creed? 

Lastly, the brief understanding of the 'panchatatva' should also guide us towards a better awareness of our environment.

* In Nasadiya - The Creation Hymn of Rig Veda the opening lines are: "There was neither non-existence nor existence then. There was neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond.  What stirred?"

 

 Rajender Krishan-1951 born, a professional in Marketing since 1968, Rajender Krishan Chowdhry (aka Raj Chowdhry) is settled in New York, USA with his wife Meera Chowdhry and his two children who are also settled there. He is blessed with two grand-daughters and two grandsons. He believes in freedom of expression. He is passionate about Kabir and poetry. Photography is another area of interest.  Rajender’s Maxim: “I wander a lot. Do you? If you do, then follow me and let me also follow you. Following each other we may discover what has been a stroll so far. Life is simply wonderful.”  His published books are available on Amazon.

 

 

(Originally published on Boloji.com on August 19, 2012.)

 

( THIS IS THE 5 th WEEK - 11 TH YEAR-  PART OF GUEST POST SERIES- POST -5)

THE GRACE OF KEHWA

    

The earliest memory I have of pain is from when I was around six or seven years old.  I was quite unwell with what was probably a really nasty case of tonsillitis.  What I remember most about the pain is how it felt like someone had poured shards of glass into my throat and even the slightest of movements led to the most excruciating pain. Even now, four decades later, whenever I am down with a cold and a sore throat, I often, instinctively compare the pain I have to the pain I had during that particular episode. I was probably laid up in bed for a week at most but for a six-year-old for whom movement is life, it felt like an eternity.  Even though I remember the distress that had taken hold of me, there was also relief.  Every hour or so my mother would bring a small cup filled with a translucent, golden amber coloured liquid.  Even before she had walked in, I knew it was kehwa – a drink made by boiling cinnamon and cardamom until it turns a beautiful golden colour and it is sweetened with sugar or honey. As the mixture bubbled away on the stove, the scent of cardamoms and cinnamon would waft through the entire house.  Kehwa has a very distinctive scent, the most beautiful love child of cardamom and cinnamon.  She would bring a small cup of kehwa and spoon the mixture into my mouth.  Sometimes she would add a couple of peppercorns and sometimes a sliver of ginger – both a remedy against colds in particular, and misery in general. As she fed me the soothing mixture, she would often tell me the story of how kehwa came into existence. 

Many, many centuries ago, before time was something you could trap into a clock, there was a land where all living beings existed peacefully. In this world there was a gentle forest where all manner of things grew and in the heart of this gentle forest beneath the shade of a beautiful cinnamon tree, a cardamom plant grew.  As it grew, nourished by the gentle forest, it became more and more aware of cinnamon, without whose shade it would perish.  He would spend his days looking up and admiring her beautiful ovate leaves and her tiny blood red flowers.  Though they both spent considerable time together, it was cinnamon who plucked up the courage and confessed her love for the tender hearted cardamom.  Cardamom upon hearing cinnamons declaration of love was so overcome with emotion that he spread his roots closer towards hers and over time, their roots became so intertwined that you couldn’t tell one from the other.  They lived together in love for centuries.  One day when time had finally been trapped into clocks, a witch arrived at the forest, looking for herbs and medicinal plants when she noticed the pair.  After investigating thoroughly and taking home some of the fruit that both offered, she decided they were worth taking home and growing on her farm.  She knelt down to try and take each one out with the root still intact, when she discovered they were so intertwined that if she tried to separate them, both would perish.  Now she was a good witch, the kind who knew that you did not split what nature had brought together, so she did what every good witch does, she spoke to them.  She told them of the healing properties each held and asked for guidance.  They told her to come back after sometime. This was something they needed to decide together. For days they conversed until they both agreed upon a solution.

‘You may take us but whenever you use our fruits, they must be used together’, Cinnamon said.

The good witch agreed and assured them that their wish would always be honoured. 

When the good witch came back and dug up the cardamom plant, she found that he had moved his roots away and they were no longer intertwined with those of cinnamon.  She took them both home and planted them separately.  They took root where they were planted and they bloomed.  The good witch used their fruits and invented concoctions and mixtures which became famous for their healing properties.  One of those concoctions was kehwa.  It cured colds, upset stomachs, agitated minds and broken hearts. Her fame grew and people from all parts of the world travelled to be healed by her mixtures.  The recipes travelled but in every recipe she kept her promise.  Every mixture she made, she kept them together.  That was how it came to be that you used both together.  It became a sacred covenant between the lovers and the healer and even today it endures. 

‘So you see’, my mother would say, spooning the last bit of kehwa into my mouth, ‘it is not just a healing mixture you drink, it is a testament of love’.

It is story I have loved the most, of all the stories I have heard as a child and as I grew different parts of this story stood out at different times in my life.  As a child I loved the idea of talking plants. As a teenager the love story became more relevant and I too would pine for a love like that.  Now, as a woman of a certain age, the healing that comes from faith bring me immense joy and sometimes nowadays when I too spoon some kehwa into the mouths of my little babies, I tell them not just about the love between cinnamon and cardamom but the grace, compassion and healing that has continued ever since.  

   

 

  

Bio for the blog - Saba Mahjoor is a freelance writer.  Her column 'A Little Life' is published by The Hindu. She lives in England with her husband, two children and an army of rogue squirrels.

( This is the 4th WEEK -11TH YEAR-GUESTPOST SERIES - POST -4) 

A Note of Gratitude

  

I am deeply grateful to Anuradha for her responsiveness, for her help in preparing some of my books, for her insightful vision and flair for good literature, as well as for her loyalty to this very important passion of hers! We have known each other for several years now—ever since my first book—and she has always been not just a critic, but someone whose words have been a crucial source of support for me! I wish her to find the best books in the world and never give up! May life and this pursuit always bring true pleasure!

PROFILE :  

Egor Klopenko is an award-winning children’s author, storyteller and creator of The World of Kindness — an international literary and theatrical project inspired by his books.

The author of more than 20 books for children, Egor writes about kindness, courage, empathy, imagination, self-discovery and the quiet magic that connects people. His work has received international recognition, including the Children’s Book International 2026 American Writing Award, 2026 International Book Awards, The Golden Wizard Book Prize, International Author Excellence Award 2026, Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, Independent Author Awards 2026 and recognition from the Literary Global Children’s Book Awards and National Indie Excellence Awards.

His books have also received praise from literary critics, publishers and publishing professionals internationally. His work has been featured through NetGalley and is being developed for international publication and translation.

Egor is currently developing The World of Kindness into an international theatrical project, bringing his stories to the stage through puppetry, paper theatre, animation, projection, original music and live storytelling. The first productions are being developed for children and families in multiple languages, with the vision of bringing the world of his books to audiences around the globe.

His goal is simple: to create stories that leave a little more kindness and light in the world.

He can be reached through his Instagram handle : https://www.instagram.com/egorklopenko/

(This is the 3rd WEEK- 11TH YEAR- GUEST POST SERIES - POST 3)

Foray into new territories: Connecting with newer tongues

 

When Anuradha Sowmyanarayan (AS) reached out for a guest post, I was hesitant.  I had my fingers in several pies, so I was reluctant.  But I’m glad I found time to peek into her blog, gather insightful information, and eventually share my two cents.

“Ten Years of Writing, and a New Chapter Begins.”

At the outset, hearty congratulations on a decade’s achievement. May daffodils bloom and spread joy all around. Let the daffodils continue to bloom alongside asters, irises, lilies, gladioli, roses, and rouse more sensitive souls.

Quoting from the blog chatter page: “Book Food Language”

“Ten years of writing, learning, experimenting, submitting, waiting, receiving responses, facing rejections, discovering new possibilities and, above all, continuing to write. When I look back at this decade, I realise that the journey has been much more than maintaining a blog. It has been a journey of learning through writing and growing through experience.”

 

The Simple Mantra

Continue to write, edit, present, and repeat it all, without giving up. After all, that’s the roadmap to recognition.

We’ve read innumerable success stories. 

Walt Disney, after several setbacks and learnings, achieved long-term success through resilience.  J. K. Rowling faced multiple rejections and poverty as a single mother before Harry Potter was finally picked up. English writer John Greasy has probably faced the record number of rejections – seven hundred plus, but he went on to publish over six hundred books, under pseudonyms too. As a prize-winning author and poet who has faced many rejections in my literary journey, I deem it appropriate to share a few thoughts –

 In the game of writing, one must keep creating, keep sharing, and keep learning.  The journey is continual.

 

The following lines, I believe, will reflect your creative journey.

 

YOU HAVE IT WITHIN…

 

The night was dark and silent.

The only light was the cursor; it blinked on the screen.

She sat, hesitant to key in something onto the page.

What would she write about?

Work, Hobby, Passion, Home, Kitchen, Life…

In her heart, she knew she could, if she persisted.

 

The afternoon was sultry and quiet.

People were resting in their airconditioned rooms

The whirring fan overhead was the only noise in that room.

She was keying in – writing her thoughts on the blog page.

She wrote about people, places, poets, personalities and more…

In her heart, she knew should would, if she persisted.

 

The evening breeze was gentle and soothing.

As she worked in her favourite niche,

Words, paragraphs and pages came tumbling as torrents …

 

“Pootling contains an attitude towards time.”*

“A city that gives shelter.”*

“Give the instrument its own designated space.”*

Reading as a scooter pillion — Is it possible?*

 

And then, she became unstoppable…

 

(* - taken from the blog posts)

 

 

About Me: Hema Ravi is a poet, author, reviewer, and editor of Efflorescence. She is also an event organizer, independent researcher, and resource person for English language development workshops. Her creative work - poems, short stories, travelogues, and articles has appeared in reputed international journals and leading Indian publications. Her writings have won prizes in literary contests.

She has authored several books, including The Greatest Sweepstake (short stories), Joie De Vivre (108 poems), The Cuckoo Sings Again (short stories), Everyday English (self-tutor), and the Write Right Handwriting Series. She has co-authored Sing Along Indian Rhymes and Everyday Hindi.

After serving briefly in the Central Government and teaching English and Hindi for over two decades, she now freelances in IELTS, Communicative English, and Soft Skills. She has conducted sessions for IIT Madras initiatives such as SheViL STEAM (IViL.iitm) and has been a guest faculty trainer in the IITM communication programs (2020-2021)

As Secretary of the Chennai Poets’ Circle, she nurtures creative talent. A lifelong learner, she believes Learning never stops.

( This is the 2nd WEEK- 11TH YEAR- GUEST POST SERIES - POST 2)

Ten Years of Writing, and a New Chapter Begins

  

 Last Saturday, 5 September 2026, my blog completed ten years.

Ten years of writing, learning, experimenting, submitting, waiting, receiving responses, facing rejections, discovering new possibilities and, above all, continuing to write.

When I look back at this decade, I realise that the journey has been much more than maintaining a blog. It has been a journey of learning through writing and growing through experience.

And today, as I complete the first week of my 11th year, I thought I would begin this new chapter with something close to my heart.

An invitation to those I admire

Before I start approaching the writers, bloggers and people I admire and look up to, I thought I should write about the idea first.

I am planning to invite one writer, blogger, or a person who has done something meaningful and noteworthy in their chosen field to contribute a guest post to my blog.

There will be no prescribed theme.

The person can write about a subject of their choice—something they are passionate about, something they have learnt, an experience they would like to share, an idea they believe in, or simply something they would like readers to know. If everything goes well, I hope to make this a weekly celebration every Saturday for the entire 11th year.

One Saturday.
One guest.
One story, thought, experience or idea.

It is my small way of celebrating not just my blog, but also the people whose work has inspired me along the way.

Ten years have taught me much more than writing

When I started blogging, I simply wrote.

I wrote about whatever interested me. There was no elaborate plan, no great strategy and certainly no understanding of how much the blogging world would change over the years.

Slowly, I began submitting my writings to websites and magazines.

Some selected my work.

Many rejected it.

Both experiences taught me something.

A rejection was not necessarily the end of a piece of writing. Sometimes it meant that I had to improve the writing. Sometimes the publication simply wasn't the right fit. And sometimes, there was no explanation at all.

I learnt to accept rejection without allowing it to stop me from writing.

Over the years, I also learnt things that I had never imagined I would.

I learnt to make videos and reels. I learnt, slowly and somewhat reluctantly, how social media works. I began understanding the importance of sharing one's work and connecting with other writers and readers.

I attended webinars, participated in TBRs and bloghops conducted by Ritu Bindra and Cindy D' Silva, and discovered how much there is to learn simply by being part of a writing community.

Books opened another door

Books have always been an important part of my blogging journey.

What began as writing about books gradually became something more structured. I started approaching publishers and authors for review copies.

Some responded positively and sent me books to review.

Many never replied.

That too became part of the learning process.

I created my own book review policy, which helped me communicate clearly with publishers and authors about what I could offer as a reviewer.

I have now also joined the community of ReviewMyBooks, another new step in my continuing journey as a book reviewer.

The world of book reviewing has introduced me to authors, publishers, fellow reviewers and, most importantly, books that I might otherwise never have discovered.

From reading to reading with children

Another meaningful part of this journey has been my association with Pratham Books as a Reading Champion.

Being connected with Pratham Books and its programmes has reminded me that reading is not only about reviewing books or writing about them.

It is also about sharing stories.

I participated in their programmes for children and conducted a few reading sessions at home. Watching children listen to a story, respond to it and engage with a book brought a different kind of joy.

It made me look at reading not merely as an individual activity, but as something that can be shared and passed on.

And then came the publications

The journey has also taken my writing beyond my own blog.

Recently, my work found space in publications such as Gulmohar Quarterly, On Eating and SWARA.

One of my poems was also published in a PoetrySoup anthology in the USA.

Each publication, however big or small, has brought a sense of encouragement.

Someone somewhere had read my work and thought it deserved a place.

For a writer who continues to write largely because of the love for writing, that means a lot.

The most important lesson: keep going

Ten years of blogging have taught me that writing is not always about immediate recognition.

There are days when a post receives appreciation.

There are days when nobody seems to notice it.

There are pitches that receive enthusiastic responses.

There are emails that remain unanswered.

There are articles that get accepted.

There are others that are rejected.

There are new skills to learn, new platforms to understand and new people to meet.

Through all this, one thing has remained constant—the desire to write.

I may have changed the way I write, the subjects I explore and the ways in which I share my work. But the passion has remained.

That, perhaps, is my biggest achievement after ten years.

A new Saturday tradition

So, as I enter the 11th year, I don't want to celebrate only by looking backwards.

I want to celebrate by bringing other voices into my space.

Every Saturday, I hope to invite someone whose work I admire to write for my blog.

It could be a writer.

A blogger.

An author.

A reader.

An artist.

A person doing meaningful work in their chosen field.

Someone well known or someone whose work deserves to be known better.

The topic will be theirs.

The words will be theirs.

The Saturday space will be mine to share with them.

I know that plans do not always unfold exactly as we imagine. Some invitations may be accepted, some may be declined and some may perhaps receive no response at all.

But that is also part of what these ten years have taught me.

Make the effort. Send the invitation. Keep the door open. Keep writing.

And if this Saturday tradition succeeds for the entire year, I will have 51 more stories to remember from the beginning of my 11th year.

Ten years behind me.

An entire year of possibilities ahead.

And, as always, one more blogpost to write.

Here is to the 11th year of Book Food Language—and to all the voices that may join me on this journey.

(This is the 1ST WEEK- 11TH YEAR- GUEST POST SERIES - POST 1)