Beating the Heat Sustainably: Cooling Down India’s Concretized Dangerously Hot Cities
Introduction India is grappling with the harsh realities of climate change, especially in its concretized cities where scorching temperatures pose serious challenges. In this blog post, we delve into the pressing need to cool down these dangerously hot cities sustainably. Drawing inspiration from the thought-provoking article “Climate Change: How can India’s Concretized Dangerously Hot Cities…
Keep readingBloody Rose – Marital Rape
– Xiaoxin Melody Xing Of the 185 countries in the world, 77 have laws that explicitly criminalize marital rape, while 34 countries either explicitly legalize marital rape or essentially provide immunity for men who rape their wives. Yet India is one of 34 countries that have legalized marital rape (Marital Rape in India, n.d.). Notwithstanding…
Keep readingSusan B. Anthony’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement
Susan B. Anthony’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement were monumental and have continued to inspire generations of activists. Anthony’s tireless efforts helped to lay the groundwork for the suffrage movement, and her legacy is still celebrated today. Career and Activism In 1851, Anthony began her career as an activist when she attended a women’s…
Keep readingThe Neoliberalism Pit Hole: viewing inequality in the Indian Economic system
First to establish the basis of neoliberalism thinking. Neoliberalism, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, is the idea of introducing a free market and letting capitalism take its free rein while adopting a welfare state with limited governmental control. The issue of neoliberalism lies within the question of “who should be in control?” It…
Keep readingDoughnut Economy: the new model for the new future of India
The time of crisis calls for the action of change. Many have proposed feasible ways to improve society in general. One of the many proposals is the Doughnut Economics by British economist Kate Raworth. The model of the “Doughnut Economy”, as its name suggests, is shaped like a doughnut. The two binding elements that determine…
Keep readingThe Dharavi Slum: a peek into the Indian urban housing issue
One cannot deny the fact that cities have become important actors around the globe. As one of the densest cities in the world, India hosts up to 1.393 billion people in the world. Delhi itself contains up to 32,065,760 people and shows no sign of decreasing. The many functions which a city could bring together…
Keep readingEnergy supply crisis
By Jasmeen Ewaida The world is currently experiencing a global supply crisis that affects a broad range of industries and products, from semiconductors and raw materials to food and consumer goods. An energy supply crisis refers to a situation where there is a shortage or disruption in the availability of energy resources needed to meet…
Keep readingRise of Global Protectionism – The Case of China
By Xiaoxin Melody Xing Introduction The past three decades of globalization are generally regarded as a period of widespread liberalization and high growth in the world economy. Across broad measures, this era has seen rapid globalization of businesses and the lifting of large numbers of the world’s poorest people out of poverty, especially in large…
Keep readingMilitarisation and Weaponisation of Outerspace
By Jasmeen Ewaida Elon Musk’s SpaceX company has recently created a buzz in the media as the quest for space exploration and colonisation is a rather contested and alien concept, as is the idea of the establishment of a human settlement on Mars. The implementation of such a concept brings up many questions but if…
Keep readingIndia’s Relationship with Renewable Energy
Article by Shwetha Sivaraman At the start of February, the Indian government announced it would invest 35,000 crore rupees (4.3 billion USD) in green technology, focusing on solar power and green hydrogen production, in its efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2070. However, as with most of the world, India remains heavily reliant on…
Keep readingIslamic Fascism In Iran: How Iranian Women Led The Country’s Counter-Revolution
Iran has been rocked by a revolutionary wave of the biggest anti-government protests in years following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini was arrested by the country’s so-called “morality police” on 13 September for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory hijab law while visiting Tehran from her hometown of Saqqez. Reports say she was severely beaten…
Keep readingUnderstanding India’s Vulnerability to Natural Disasters
By Shwetha Sivaraman Having experienced 321 natural disasters between 2000 and 2019, India lies within the top four most disaster-prone countries in the world. Approximately 12 per cent of India’s land area is vulnerable to landslides and floods. Between 1980 and 2017, 278 floods in India led to losses totalling $58.7 billion, affecting more than…
Keep readingChildren For Sale: The Dark Truth About International Adoption
International adoption is often presented in a positive light- whether it be Olympic Champions like Maggie Mac-Neill; a Chinese adoptee who won the gold medal for Canada in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, or the families of famous A-listers like Madonna and the Jolie-Pitts, this narrative conceals a sinister reality. Kidnapping, deceit, and child trafficking are…
Keep readingNavigating the Conflict Between Humans and Stray Dogs
By Shwetha Sivaraman As of 2022, India has the largest stray dog population in the world, standing at more than 35 million. Given that stray dogs are ubiquitous, it is no surprise that their presence has caused conflict with and amongst humans. Kerala, in particular, has garnered national attention over the last year. The state…
Keep readingA world cup of exploitation
-Julian Khan At the end of the year, history will be made. The world will roar as the 21 world cup starts in Qatar. It is the first time a middle eastern country earns the right to host the world’s most prestigious tournament, a moment which symbolizes the rise in status of the region with…
Keep readingThe Catastrophic Impact of Pakistan’s Floods and the Cost of Global Apathy
Pakistan is facing the worst consequences of the climate crisis, partly owing to the actions of the developed world, says Pakistani Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, as the country battles the worst floods in its history. Today, the world’s fifth-most-populous country is fighting for its survival. This summer, erratic monsoon rains battered the country from north…
Keep readingThe Great Indian Heatwave
“The Ministry for The Future” fiction or non-fiction? The book “The Ministry of the Future,” published in 2020, opened the storyline with a depiction —or more like a prediction— of the great Indian Heatwave. The book was intended to be a fiction novel that paints a picture of the future of our world in the…
Keep readingUS Abortion Ban
On January 22nd, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a landmark legal decision, struck down a Texas statute that made it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman’s life was at stake, effectively granting women an essential degree of reproductive freedom. In doing so, the court recognized for the first time that the…
Keep readingThe price of shame: Honour killings in India and the world
According to the United Nations, 5000 women are murdered every year around the world in the name of ‘honour’. However, it is highly likely that the numbers are greater than indicated as many cases do go unreported. Honour killings are prevalent around the world but are widely reported in the Middle East, South Asia, and…
Keep readingIndian overpopulation – consequences
India is the second most populated country in the world with a sixth of the world’s population and is set to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2027, according to recent United Nations projections. According to the 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects, the population stood at 1,352,642,280 and is expected…
Keep readingThe new normal
The COVID- 19 pandemic has brought about significant changes to people’s way of life all around the world. It has deeply impacted each and every one of our lives in one way or another. Education predominantly switched to an online mode. Working from home became the norm. From Dalgona coffee to at-home dance trends, we…
Keep readingEnglish as the Dominant Language: What does this Mean for the Rest of the World?
“I’m drawing a blank”. Sounds familiar, does it not? The beauty of language lies in its expression. The purpose of language is to facilitate communication. Any language failing to do so is rendered redundant, leading to perpetual extinction. Magnifying the concept of expression, is strongly influenced by culture. Culture defines language and expression, shaping its…
Keep readingTHE COST OF LIVING IS RISING IN THE WORLD: HOW SHOULD WE COMBAT THIS?
It seems to be clear to everyone that from the food to the heating of our houses, the price of everything is now increasing. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the price of gasoline decreased, but after a few restrictions started to be lifted, the demand increased, hitting a seven-year high. As reported by BBC…
Keep readingRussia’s invasion of Ukraine: What does it mean for the world?
On the 24th of February 2022, Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, an invasion that threatens to become the most devastating conflict in Europe since World War II. Calling it a “special military operation”, what shortly followed were attacks from multiple fronts targeted towards multiple cities into the country of about 40 million, which…
Keep readingSINGLE-USE PLASTIC IN INDIA. WHAT IS BEING DONE?
Nowadays plastic plays an important and practical role in everyone’s lives. Indeed, plastic is known for its diverse valuable uses, from bottles of water to disposable cutlery and cups and plastic shopping bags. Speaking of disposable carry bags, we all have a large plastic bag at home with lots of folded bags inside. These are…
Keep readingReligion and India
India is rich in religious plurality, home to approximately one billion Hindus, 200 million Muslims, 30 million Christians, nine million Buddhists, and five million Jains. Yet, communalism remains a prevalent issue in India. Communalism is the notion of being attached to one’s own community rather than to society at large. In the context of religion,…
Keep readingDrug Addiction in India- how severe it is compared to the rest of the world?
A massive representation of drug addiction in pop culture was brought forth by the Bollywood movie “Udta Punjab”. While the focus of the movie was specifically for the state of Punjab, otherwise even India as a whole has been inflicted with the massively increasing interaction with different sorts of drugs all around the country. Recently…
Keep readingRising Bold and Brave: Status of Women in the Indian Politics
Female representation in politics, or lack thereof, has always been considered a sensitive topic that has garnered a lot of criticism throughout the years. Historically, figures and statistics showed the majority of decision-makers and political leaders to be male. Unfortunately, many countries today, including India, display the same trend, resulting mainly from the lack of…
Keep readingThe Successes and Drawbacks of India’s Healthcare System
Healthcare has risen to become a desperate need today. The Covid-19 Pandemic has had hospitals and healthcare providers, across the globe, stress-ridden for over 2 years. This calls for a critical look at our healthcare system to celebrate its successes and feed its deficiencies. Over the years, India has developed its health sector tremendously. This…
Keep readingHow are women affected by the Indians’ belief in the zodiac/star signs/soothsaying?
It’s quite fascinating when you google ‘zodiac signs.’ Match your date of birth and one zodiac sign — it will show your power color, favorable nature elements, gemstones, and even your personality. I remember checking my zodiac signs with my friends in middle school and laughing about how precise those zodiac signs were. (We skipped…
Keep readingModern Slavery in India – what is it and what is being done to stop it?
There are currently more slaves living in India than in the rest of the world, with estimates ranging between 14 and 18 million. Slavery is very much still a lucrative business and it nets traffickers around $150 billion a year. To make this even more shocking, one-third of the profits is produced in developed countries.…
Keep readingHuman Rights Day and women’s human rights in India
On the 10th of December of every year, Human Rights Day is celebrated. But what are human rights? And why do we celebrate Human Rights Day on this date? Human rights are the inalienable, basic, and indisputable rights that every human being obtain the moment is born. Human rights are worldwide valid, and they include the…
Keep readingGreen Impact of COVID-19
The global outbreak of COVID-19 has affected every facet of human life, including the physical world. The measures taken to control the spread of the virus as well as the economic slowdown the world has faced have had significant effects on the environment, which can be construed as both positive and negative. To control the…
Keep readingMind Matters: Impact of global athletes in mental health awareness and intervention
The world of sports holds magic within itself – magic that not just captivates the sportspersons but also their audience. Sports – since time immemorial – has had its unique way of impacting society and mind you, it’s not just limited to providing little children with role models. The sports industry is a billion-dollar business…
Keep readingWomen labourers in India
A recent publication from the State Bank of India has just claimed that India’s informal economy has sharply declined from 52.4% in 2017/8 to between 15 and 20% in 2020-2. We can see a formalisation of the informal economy in India, especially through digitalisation and the emergence of the new gig market. The Indian economy…
Keep readingInfant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the death of a child before his or her first birthday. India is the country that suffers from the highest rates of infant mortality in the world. According to the United Nations, there was a daily average of 1,975 infant deaths in India in 2018. The majority of these deaths…
Keep readingEmpowering women through sport
In a world where ‘gender equality’ is so often spoken of, yet so far from being a reality, perhaps it is time to diversify strategies for female empowerment. When we think of sport, the first words to come to mind are probably ‘competition’, ‘fitness’, or ‘athlete’…not, ‘empowerment’. However, the opportunities that sport and physical activity…
Keep readingPeriod Poverty
In many cultures, wisdom on how to manage periods is passed from mother to daughter. When young girls start their first menstrual cycle, their mothers advise them how to manage menstruation using appropriate menstrual products. In addition, girls in many countries receive health education as part of their school curriculum. They are taught about the…
Keep readingWhat does the rise of the Taliban mean for women?
The news of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has taken the world by storm. It was announced in mid-August that Afghanistan, or “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” as it is now known, had been handed to the authorities of the Taliban after the country’s former president left power. The Taliban first established its governance in Afghanistan…
Keep readingClimate Change: South Asia under threat
Climate change is a substantial issue we have been facing for decades and it is becoming an ever more pressing concern. We have all heard about it, but what is climate change, and what kind of consequences do we have to face? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes climate change as “a change…
Keep readingMillions of Missing Girls
Discrimination against women is an ongoing and well known issue around the world, however, in India it continues to such an extent that many girls’ lives are ended before they’ve even begun. The Populations Research Institute suggests that because of prenatal sex selection, 15.8 million girls were prevented from being born between 1990 and 2018[1].…
Keep readingInfertility- its true impact
Infertility is the inability to conceive even though a couple frequently has unprotected sex. This might be due to either the female or male’s infertility or the female’s inability to carry a pregnancy to full term, resulting in a miscarriage. Common causes of female infertility include anaemia, ovarian disorders, and depression (leading to lower libido).…
Keep readingIs life improving for the transgender community in India?
India’s transgender or “Hijra” community has been part and parcel of the subcontinent for about as long as civilization has, and is currently estimated to comprise of five million people. With a recorded history of over 4,000 years and occupying a special place in a plethora of ancient texts, the hijra community is a testament…
Keep readingA child’s development over the years
“Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.” – Nelson Mendela Children make up a considerable percentage of our world’s population today. The United Nations defines children as “people under the age of 18”, and it is estimated that there are over 2.2 billion children worldwide, which amounts to approximately 27% of the whole…
Keep readingIs discrimination ever positive?
The enhancement of women’s rights has been considered as one of the important roadmaps to equality. Many volunteering groups, activist groups, and individuals are in the women’s rights community and are still fighting for women’s rights even today. However, according to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, it will take another 50 years to…
Keep readingBeing a global citizen
When we learn about human rights and responsibilities, we learn a term called citizenship — joining a community and political realm which requires rights and duties in a limited and mutual relationship. And as a citizen of a state, we are all closely interconnected, and we are expected to care about the people within the…
Keep readingChild labour in the fashion industry
“Lives of littles ones are destroyed, when child labour is employed.” Child labour has been one of the most pressing issues since the beginning of time, which has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. It is not unusual to see children as young as seven or eight taken as cheap labourers in various industries, or…
Keep readingWomen Warriors of the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has put great strain on people all around the world and many of us have required extra help. With this in mind, numerous women belonging to Self-Help-Groups in India took it upon themselves to lend a helping hand to ease the situation in their country during the pandemic. A Self-Help-Group or SHG…
Keep readingFertility and Egg Freezing- Do women or men decide?
In recent years, egg freezing, or in medical terminology, oocyte cryopreservation, has evolved from a headline news novelty to a commonplace procedure undertaken by many women usually in their late 30s and early 40s, including heavyweight celebrities like Sofia Vergara and Kim Kardashian, who wish to preserve their fertility for the future. This new modern…
Keep readingRape: Why is it so common, and are countries’ responses effective?
Rape is the intentional penetration of a woman without her consent and remains one of the most common and dangerous crimes worldwide. Rape stems from the longstanding social issue of toxic masculinity. Fundamentally, rapists feel the need to rape to establish dominance over women. In many countries, including India, a patriarchal society exists, where women…
Keep readingGender roles, stereotypes, and the importance of equality and independence
Why does humanity need to get past gender and start focusing on development for individuals? Society’s differing expectations of men and women have become the norm over time and are quite evident in the roles different genders are expected to play. Gender roles are established by the society itself based on the sex of a…
Keep readingSubscribe to our blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
SHAPE 