Some of us find ourselves in the work we do, some in the roads we take, and some in the silence in between.
Shivangi Wadhwa
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Steam, Smiles, and Steady Hands
When I used to visit a temple in the Laban area of Shillong, I would see her almost every day. She sat calmly on a stool outside a chemist shop along the main road, her large steamer placed neatly beside her. As I walked back after my visit, our eyes would meet and she would…
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When I fail myself
Sometimes when I fail myself, when I feel like giving up because certain situations or people go beyond my understanding and I simply cannot handle them, and I don’t know what to even do in these situations because i have lost the power to answer back or fight.But I am trying to really pause and…
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Shunya Within
I have never considered myself deeply religious, as I have never naturally felt an inclination toward it. I have also struggled to connect with many traditional texts whose claims cannot be verified in today’s world. Because of this, the rituals, the formal prayers, the elaborate offerings, and the structured devotion never formed the center of…
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A Love Letter to Avocado, Cheese, Cracker & the Perfect Drizzle
There are days when food is just fuel. There are days when I crave something fiery and loud, and days when I want something subtle and quiet. And then there are days when I want to eat freely but carefully because living with an autoimmune condition has taught me to listen to my body more…
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Faith Without Fences
Human beings have always searched for meaning. Across centuries and civilizations, religion, philosophy, and spirituality have tried to answer the same question: How should we live? But the ways people approach this question are radically different, and those differences shape not only faith, but also character, choices, and conduct. If we observe closely, we can…
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If Life Were A Cheesecake
I usually eat a very particular kind of Cheesecake from the same little bakery I always go back to when I am out wandering on my own. It isn’t overly sweet, just perfectly balanced for my taste buds. I enjoy every flavour they make: Blueberry, Strawberry, Biscoff, and Nutella. It is the ritual that I…
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Who Am I Without My Achievements?
I often wonder: Is the self something we discover, or something we create?What is the “true” version of me if I am different with different people, if I shift my intellect, my tone, even my emotional intelligence to fit into various boxes of life, generations, and worlds? And perhaps the other person is doing the…
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Somewhere between Leaving & Arriving
There is a quiet kind of pain in leaving. Not the dramatic kind, not the kind that announces itself. But the kind that sits beside you in unfamiliar rooms, in new streets where your name sounds different, and your memories walk faster than your feet. Moving isn’t just about packing bags or buying tickets. It…
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The Kindness I Know…
Shuttered eyes fail to see dreams of the needy.Hardened hearts do not share the glory of blessings.Deafened ears cannot hear the weeping of the lonely.Silent mouths never offer comfort to the melancholic.Folded arms can never feel sympathy for the broken. How many deeds of kindness can we just let go?Little acts of kindnessbrighten the world…
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Human development in Meghalaya: Why outcomes diverge across districts
Meghalaya is administratively divided into 12 districts, and human capital development differs sharply across them. Districts in and around Shillong, especially East Khasi Hills, consistently show stronger human capital outcomes. These districts benefit from better access to healthcare facilities, schools and colleges, skilled teachers, transport connectivity, and employment opportunities. As a result, residents are more…