Nayana's Stories

  One would like to believe that the institution of marriage and the context of living as married has received lots of approval and affirmation. Most people feel that marriage provides companionship, confirmation and a structure to live in. There are defined boundaries, roles, and responsibilities that the partners or the family adhere to. The literal meaning of marriage is “the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship” It has been approved by generations together. There are a lot of celebrations events and fun fairs around the event of a marriage. In most cultures, it is the men and the women who get married and most of the time the woman goes to her husband’s home. Both of them have to live up to the cultural coding and the norms that have been defined by that particular society cast or creed.  The modern generation and society approve and legalize the marriage of homosexuals too. If I would reflect on the generati...

  In times of Covid where we are all locked into our own homes, offices with minimum access to the outside world I struggle to make two ends meet. This is not in terms of money, but in buying things for cooking, to domestic work, to looking after the old and the young, all chores come on me. I become my only source of effectiveness, efficiency, support, and help. In such times how do I create alternative methods or creative solutions to do my job. The internet becomes a huge source of ideas inputs and ideologies from the home we can learn from. All channels are flooded with lots of information process methods to deal with the trauma. I think Indians have been much more creative because of the diversity we have in terms of age, culture, regional preferences so on, and multiple ideas and new ways to deal with this phenomenon. I also believe especially in our culture, that there are others to help. We may not get out of our homes but if we ask for help in our country and cul...

  Every human being is a transactional person. Transaction governs our day-to-day life, day-to-day relationships, day-to-day work, and day-to-day roles. How do I define the quality of my transaction with the world? Transaction means giving and receiving in any context. At times the giver gives more and at times receiver receives more. What really makes me happy is an exact balance of this or I also feel happy when on this scale I am the greater giver than the receiver. There are people who are always in the mode of giving, helping, facilitating, and supporting others. It does not matter whether I am richer, more resourceful, or more equipped than the other person. The giver does not operate only from the mind but also from a heart that bleeds and is a feeling person. The receiver most of the time is somewhere lesser than the giver and which is acquiring things resources, knowledge, or any other feelings. They also feel that they are weak and cannot really manage the inequality that...

All of us live a circle of life where we wish to feel alive through different kinds of engagement, activities, pleasures, and desires. Most of the time we get trapped into the syndrome of least we enjoy because life is too short. There is almost a guilt feeling if you are unable to enjoy life and get pulled by frivolous activities. We celebrate birthdays in the fullest ways. However, we do not realize that each day makes us older and closer to death. At the end of life circle, I shall not go into hell or heaven but definitely, I am answerable to my own conscious and own self as to what have I done of this life that I have received. Have I wasted time on things that do not matter, things that do not make a difference, or which are only for consumption? In this spectrum of life and death, where do I pitch myself so that I do not feel shameful or guilty for not living up to any values or visions? As we grow up in life span every philosopher, psychologist, every human theory ...