This brought back so many memories of Delhi for me, Roshni. And of that December and the protests that followed. What it means to stand up and be counted as another body on the ground. To say the Preamble out loud. To feel the power of it in a way that was never taught in Civics class in school. This is important, powerful writing. Thank you for it.
And echoing Sanobar- I've missed seeing your name in my inbox and fell upon this!
Thank you Deepika, "just a body on the ground" I get that soo deeply. I'm slowly trying to get back to reading , everytime your piece lands in my inbox I'm tempted to just run to it! But distracted brain! Will catch up ...soon!
Yesterday I read aloud Julena meri jaan to my husband and teen daughter. We were on a long drive together. I, of course, cried a couple of times in the second half … voice broke and deep gulps.
The teenager had big tears in her eyes as I finished. I don’t know where it comes from … this sense of belonging and justice. And a fierce need to protect the essential idea of humanity. But it’s there. It’s there naturally in the young ones too.
Roshni, you have come a such long way from your first workshop. Slowly feeling safe and comfortable to allow yourself to be seen. Allow your passions, loves, talents, wounds to be named. You have chosen the path and the path has chosen you 💜
This has been such a difficult read. I’ve read the comments and I have re-read the piece (with and without the poem!) but only now have I been able to gather my thoughts to leave a comment here. Because it’s important that you know this is very important writing. To stir up emotions, strong emotions that seem to dull and be distracted over a period of 4 years, is important work. It is not the writers’ problem to make the reader uncomfortable. In fact, It is the writers’ courage, that the reader can borrow to get past that discomfort. Hum craft discuss nahi karenge kyunki phir main aur ro dungi (strong emotion there being *jaw dropping awe and desire to write like this when I grow up*)
Sana ...thank you for feeling the erratic pulse that made me write this .....and telling me how it made you feel. I cannot explain how much it means to know that between the words here on substack now and a person's screen something like this can be transmitted ....
I moved to Delhi an year back, and am working at Holy Family. The way you described the geography of the whole place, I could totally imagine the turns and spots you mentioned. Tbh I never felt a belonging to this place but after reading this, I'll see Julena, CC and those malyali shops differently. When this whole thing erupted in 2019 I was back home in Rajasthan and was having debates with people over the internet about the issue and at one point I gave up. Feels like if I would have been here, I wouldn't have.
Thank you Himani. It's extra special to hear from you cause you live there now ...I hope a community emerges around you and you feel at home. Thank you for reading this so closely and for standing for what's right
Oh Roshni. What have you done. How will I recover from this essay. I wish I could tell you how gripping or well-written or skilled it is, but any comment on craft would just be a footnote in the face of the subject, and the way you own it. Thank you so much for writing this.
This brought back so many memories of Delhi for me, Roshni. And of that December and the protests that followed. What it means to stand up and be counted as another body on the ground. To say the Preamble out loud. To feel the power of it in a way that was never taught in Civics class in school. This is important, powerful writing. Thank you for it.
And echoing Sanobar- I've missed seeing your name in my inbox and fell upon this!
Thank you Deepika, "just a body on the ground" I get that soo deeply. I'm slowly trying to get back to reading , everytime your piece lands in my inbox I'm tempted to just run to it! But distracted brain! Will catch up ...soon!
Yesterday I read aloud Julena meri jaan to my husband and teen daughter. We were on a long drive together. I, of course, cried a couple of times in the second half … voice broke and deep gulps.
The teenager had big tears in her eyes as I finished. I don’t know where it comes from … this sense of belonging and justice. And a fierce need to protect the essential idea of humanity. But it’s there. It’s there naturally in the young ones too.
Roshni, you have come a such long way from your first workshop. Slowly feeling safe and comfortable to allow yourself to be seen. Allow your passions, loves, talents, wounds to be named. You have chosen the path and the path has chosen you 💜
You know I have no words when you hold a piece like this. Hugs.
Something happens to the reader when you bring current events, deep emotions and nostalgia together. Am so happy you shared this: lest we forget!
Thank you Alaknanda! Thanks you
How I missed your voice! Welcome back, Roshni, and thank you - this is a dhamaka of an essay!
Thank you Sanobar -- I might wander idhar udhar and I'm convinced even if my internal compass takes a rest -- you will pull me to Substack !
Lol! Glad to have your company here, dost!
This has been such a difficult read. I’ve read the comments and I have re-read the piece (with and without the poem!) but only now have I been able to gather my thoughts to leave a comment here. Because it’s important that you know this is very important writing. To stir up emotions, strong emotions that seem to dull and be distracted over a period of 4 years, is important work. It is not the writers’ problem to make the reader uncomfortable. In fact, It is the writers’ courage, that the reader can borrow to get past that discomfort. Hum craft discuss nahi karenge kyunki phir main aur ro dungi (strong emotion there being *jaw dropping awe and desire to write like this when I grow up*)
Sana ...thank you for feeling the erratic pulse that made me write this .....and telling me how it made you feel. I cannot explain how much it means to know that between the words here on substack now and a person's screen something like this can be transmitted ....
Powerful, beautiful and essay… and so so heartbreaking. Thank you for articulating what so many of us still struggle to put to words.
Thank you for reading so closely Ila!
Heartbreakingly beautiful Roshni. It stirs a kind of emotion that I thought I had lost.
Mujhe bhi lagta hai that I've lost this specific emotion -- but it knows its way home. Thank you Samira
Wah. Reading it on 6th December adds another dimension.
Thank you-- As I was posting it - the date sprung up on me too and it just felt like the permission I needed
I moved to Delhi an year back, and am working at Holy Family. The way you described the geography of the whole place, I could totally imagine the turns and spots you mentioned. Tbh I never felt a belonging to this place but after reading this, I'll see Julena, CC and those malyali shops differently. When this whole thing erupted in 2019 I was back home in Rajasthan and was having debates with people over the internet about the issue and at one point I gave up. Feels like if I would have been here, I wouldn't have.
Thank you Himani. It's extra special to hear from you cause you live there now ...I hope a community emerges around you and you feel at home. Thank you for reading this so closely and for standing for what's right
Thank you for honouring that December with this beautiful, heartbreaking, energising work of love.
Thank you Koyel for this warm engagement with it
Oh Roshni. What have you done. How will I recover from this essay. I wish I could tell you how gripping or well-written or skilled it is, but any comment on craft would just be a footnote in the face of the subject, and the way you own it. Thank you so much for writing this.
Thank you, Maanav! Baap re.... thank you for helping me see what this does!
Oh Roshni. That last line.
Farah hugs