PinnedIsmat AraShe Goes to Bed & Doesn’t Think About DeathA poem from the author’s teenage years.Jul 28, 2023Jul 28, 2023
PinnedIsmat AraHow to turn a bad day aroundIt was the middle of the day, and I had a sudden realisation. I was feeling low, sick and bored. I wasn’t looking forward to the day and…Feb 16, 20233Feb 16, 20233
PinnedIsmat AraImaginary StoriesIt all began as a curious kid. I would often look at people and think about their stories. Sometimes, I still do. What is the girl with a…Jan 8, 2023Jan 8, 2023
PinnedIsmat AraTaking a Break from Death and ViolenceEarlier this year, I quit my reporting job to recover from illness, finish a few personal projects and pursue travelling. Yes, travelling…Nov 4, 2022Nov 4, 2022
PinnedIsmat AraThe Unfulfilled Lives of our GrandmothersWhen I was younger, I would think of my nanna (maternal grandmother) as a monster. Unlike those grandmothers we read about in books or see…Jul 7, 20221Jul 7, 20221
Ismat AraThe Maximalist (Anti-Minimalist) Manifesto"A room of one’s own," Virginia Woolf declared, early in the 20th century. Nestled amidst the comforting chaos of my space, I feel as…May 17May 17
Ismat AraI Wish Books Never had to DieThere is an inexplicable connection that I feel with my books. They are my most prized possession, collected over the years, each book…Nov 11, 2023Nov 11, 2023
Ismat AraWhen Love Brews in a TeacupCould there be a better way to meet someone for the first time than over a cup of tea on a chilly Delhi evening?Aug 19, 20231Aug 19, 20231
Ismat AraA Demolition, and the tragic death of Billo Rani's kittensWhen the demolition notice arrived, more than a hundred residents of the New Delhi slums of Batla House were still coping with the effects…Jan 5, 2023Jan 5, 2023
Ismat AraNexie Singh, a Storyteller in the Profession of a DriverPast regrets and frustration make up the stories of many people’s lives. Those who listen closely, find layers of what truly makes up a…Jun 15, 2022Jun 15, 2022