MAADHYAM

People often ask me how I became a content creator, learned to write, and—most importantly—how I found the courage to stand up for myself. The answer is simple: Professor Jerry Pinto. I still remember our first day in class. Forty girls, all slightly nervous, trying to figure out what journalism school had in store. Jerry walked in and said something none of us expected: “You will not call me ‘Sir’. I haven’t been knighted by the Queen of England. I’m not your teacher. Call me Mr. Pinto or Jerry.” We were stunned. Then came a question that truly shook us up: “How many of you can ask your friend to return the money they borrowed, without feeling guilty or awkward?” Only a few of us raised our hands—including me. Then he asked, “How many of you have money saved up that nobody knows about?” Again, just a few hands went up. Mine included. And then… the real shocker. He told each of us to stand up and say, “F@k off.”* You can imagine our expressions. We were frozen. Some giggled...

My grandfather was freedom fighter And on this day 70yrs ago he saw freedom from the British rule He was a true Gandhian and followed his principals He dropped his surname and caste to join the Gandhi Movement So when asked whats your surname here is my reply He wore only khaadi and used only khaadi The Kurta khaadi The Dhoti khaadi The Handkerchief khaadi and even his undergarments Khaadi Every Year he would come and spend time with us He would narrate stories of how he went to jail and how they fought for freedom When we met his friends when we went to Kerala for our summer breaks we spoke about freedom and heard stories from his friends which one may only see in films but are true His favorite song he hummed through the day Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram Pati tapavan Sita Ram Eshwar Allan tero naam Sabko Samati de Bhagavaan I am proud to be his granddaughter He always said you are first Indian then whatever you want be Religion is man made Be good  Be ...

The Dragonfly I’ve always been fascinated by these little creatures and fler they were mystical.  There’s something about them—mysterious, delicate, yet powerful. The day I drew this dragonfly, something within me shifted. It came a day after a close friend lost his father, suddenly and without warning to a Cardiac arrest. One minute he was playing with his grandchildren the next he fell dead on the sofe.  No good bye No time to react No time to process Just gone That moment made me pause. The dragonfly , in cultures around the world, is a symbol of transformation — Not just surface change, But deep, internal change that stems from emotional growth, Mental maturity, And a new understanding of life itself. Reflections Life is fragile. Life is unpredictable. It takes just one event — One breath, one heartbeat, one goodbye— To change everything we know. But in the face of this uncertainty, We must continue. We must rise, And live. Not in yesterday, Not in ...

 “Don’t confuse setting boundaries with lacking ambition. The boldest generation is the one brave enough to protect its peace.” – Sandhya Lal We’ve all heard the murmurs:  “Gen Z doesn’t want to work.”  “They’re entitled.”  “They lack drive.” But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along? Rather than labeling Gen Z as lazy, what if we looked at their mindset with fresh eyes?  What if, instead of resisting this shift in workplace culture, we paused to reflect:  What are they doing differently—and what can we learn from them? As a wellness and communications coach working with teams across generations, I’ve seen firsthand how Gen Z is not destroying the workplace—they’re redefining it . And in doing so, they are offering the rest of us a roadmap out of burnout. The Stats: Gen Z Is Not Lazy. They’re Just Done With Burnout. Let’s begin with a reality check. 50% of Gen Z workers are considering quitting their jobs in the next year due to ...

From Innocent Play to Pressure-Packed Trends: A Tale of Two Generations Growing up, many of us remember sneaking into our parents’ rooms, rummaging through their vanity, and swiping on a tube of lipstick with reckless abandon. It wasn’t about looking perfect or capturing a moment for the camera—it was pure play. The oversized heels, the smudged red lips, and the powder dusted over our faces were all part of pretending, of exploring the idea of being "grown-up." These moments were fleeting, innocent, and most importantly, disconnected from any societal pressure. When Makeup Was Just Play Back then, makeup wasn’t a routine or a statement but a novelty. There were no expectations of perfection, no filters to compete with, and no audience to validate our efforts. We played dress-up for ourselves, for our siblings, or for a good laugh. By bedtime, the lipstick smears were wiped away, and we returned to our carefree world of books, outdoor games, and imagination. The Shift to the ...

DADDYYYYY Me and my dad We love each other He taught me to be me Taught me to fall and rise Taught me to never give up Taught me to enjoy the simple things in life Taught me to argue and  not take things at face value Taught me be good first  Taught me to give and not ask for something in return  Taught me to love unconditionally Taught me to cycle and balance my life Taught me to a be a strong woman so I can stand up for myself Taught me to be independent yet care for others Taught me to have faith and never loose hope Taught me to be brave and have no fear Taught me a lot I'm so glad  He was the person who could answer my questions and I can still share my thoughts and ideas Even though we argue over things he teaches me to think aloud  He supports my ideas and claps and cheers to see me do the things I do and also makes sure I am humble and down to Earth I'm lucky he is there now to teach my little ones the same Whenever he was asked why didn't h...