News of squatters in a Russian oligarch’s London house gives Mari Marcel Thekaekara pause for thought.
Articles by Mari Marcel Thekaekara
Annus Horribilis
Looking for hope in dreadful circumstances, Mari Marcel Thekaekara refuses to let last year drag her down.
- January 17, 2017
- 5
Tigger Stack – a most extraordinary woman
We will mourn our loss of Tigger. But it’s her life we must celebrate, writes Mari Thekaekara.
- December 15, 2016
- 3
Goodbye Castro: who are the good guys?
The world holds very polarized opinions about the former Cuban dictator, and Mari Marcel Thekaekara tries to put some order.
- December 6, 2016
- 7
The Bird on the Wire has finally flown – sing Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen was iconic for rebellious teenagers growing up in 1970s India, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 17, 2016
- 0
President Trump? Sadly not a nightmare we can wake up from
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on an election result that shocked the world.
- November 10, 2016
- 1
The Triple Talaq
Many Indian Muslim women have had enough, challenging the men who walk the corridors of power in their mosques and madrasas, Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes.
- November 3, 2016
- 1
Trumping democracy
How can any women, any American woman vote for Trump? Mari Marcel Thekaekara asks.
- October 18, 2016
- 1
When India’s soldiers return in body bags
As the country mourns its loss there is a proliferation of mindless patriotism, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 21, 2016
- 1
Reflections on the harsh criticism of Mother Teresa
There was certainly reason to be critical but what difference has it made? Mari Marcel Thekaekara asks.
- September 14, 2016
- 1
Olympian woman brings back much more than bronze
Sakshi Malik’s medal is a victory against the feudal mindset, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 25, 2016
- 5
Has the Dalit uprising in Gujarat given birth to a movement?
There has never been such a concerted show of Dalit strength, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports.
- August 18, 2016
- 2
A harsh verdict on India's poorest, most vulnerable children
In a step backward, the country is allowing its young to be employed in ‘family businesses’, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 4, 2016
- 2
The fight for India’s ‘sweeper caste’ wins award
The country’s ‘national shame’ has long plagued the majority of its people, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 29, 2016
- 5
Gujarati vigilante violence on Dalits sparks protest
The abused caste often lives in anguish, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 21, 2016
- 2
From Kashmir and Chilcot to Black Lives Matter
Will opportunities to move society forward be lost? Mari Marcel Thekaekara asks.
- July 12, 2016
- 2
So the verdict is out, it's Brexit after all
What did the European referendum look like to a visitor travelling through? Mari Marcel Thekaekara from Nilgiri hills, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu, offers her perspective.
- June 24, 2016
- 5
Literary London, then and now, through Indian eyes
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on England’s capital city and how its people, food and cultures have ebbed and flowed over the years.
- June 17, 2016
- 2
From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, always a fighter
Mari Marcel Thekaekara remembers the great boxer and pays homage to his audacious courage.
- June 10, 2016
- 2
Choosing the best of a bad lot isn’t good enough!
Vote Clinton just to trump Trump? No wonder the US is dispirited, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 27, 2016
- 4
Lessons in living, Bermuda-style
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is enchanted by a visit to an island at once familiar and strange.
- May 23, 2016
- 3
Kerala – a conflict of cultures?
Is hype over the southern Indian paradise simply hot air? Mari Marcel Thekaekara asks.
- May 13, 2016
- 4
Life in an Indian slum
This is something that even middle class Indians have no clue about, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 6, 2016
- 3
Tentative steps forward for Muslim women’s rights
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports some good news from India.
- April 27, 2016
- 4
Bangalored: death of a dream
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on how Bangalore mutated from charming town to the city that never sleeps.
- April 19, 2016
- 8
An elephant in my garden
The surprise visitor suggests a prelude to a mammoth problem, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- April 8, 2016
- 6
Targeting children's minds; stymying Indian reform
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is unimpressed by latest pharmaceutical developments.
- April 1, 2016
- 3
Drowning in liquid filth – in 21st century India
We pretend that people are not condemned to the caste system, Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes.
- March 24, 2016
- 4
Dalits and Adivasis protest their unequal share in 2016 budget
The new scheme lacks understanding and will continue to marginalize the most vulnerable, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 4, 2016
- 2
Hope springs eternal
And from the most unexpected sources, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 26, 2016
- 9
Full circle injustice
There’s a reign of terror in many parts of India, Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes.
- February 19, 2016
- 6
To do and die, without asking why
History shows that militarism disproportionately impacts the poor. For the politicians it’s a game, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 16, 2016
- 9
Reduced to immediate identity
Being born among this caste often means discrimination from the very moment of birth, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 2, 2016
- 9
The Robin Hood Army
It’s heartening to read about an altruistic movement with no hidden motives except to feed the hungry, homeless and needy, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- January 15, 2016
- 8
Reflections at the start of the year
One always hopes for the best, Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes looking toward 2016.
- January 8, 2016
- 3
Ending the year on a note of hope
2015 has had its share of bad news. But there is reason for optimism, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- December 17, 2015
- 7
A shining, sustainable example
If we want to save the planet, we need to look to indigenous culture, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- December 11, 2015
- 9
David Cohen – an advocate par excellence
Mari Marcel Thekaekara remembers a much-loved friend and mentor who died last week.
- December 7, 2015
- 4
Living the effects of climate change
As debate continues in Paris, Indians are dying in the latest floods, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- December 2, 2015
- 4
Pedalling Change
New forms of solidarity with India’s poor have emerged, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 20, 2015
- 1
Hollywood places tribal lives under threat
A new film may have dangerous consequences for small hunters, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 10, 2015
- 9
Something to cheer about in India
There are few rays of hope amidst the doom and gloom, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 30, 2015
- 7
Caste – India’s curse
Another day, another Dalit death. We must hang our heads in shame, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 22, 2015
- 9
‘Kill the Beef-eaters!’
A climate of fear is building in India as anti-Muslim sentiment leads to murder. Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports.
- October 8, 2015
- 9
British tribunal victory for Indian worker
Mari Marcel Thekaekara welcomes the news – but wonders when India will follow suit.
- September 25, 2015
- 7
Saudi abuse scandal rocks India
A recent, shocking case underlines the dangers of diplomatic immunity, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 21, 2015
- 7
The Kickback Kid
Mari Marcel Thekaekara explains how a karate girl surprises sexual predators.
- September 11, 2015
- 5
A heart-warming response to the refugee crisis
Mari Marcel Thekaekara finds a ray of sunshine in an email from a friend.
- September 4, 2015
- 5
Requiem for the refugee
An encounter with an elderly Tamil man far from home in Malaysia puts Mari Marcel Thekaekara in a pensive mood.
- September 1, 2015
- 8
Women’s time will come
During a week of bad news, Mari Marcel Thekaekara looks to women who inspire her.
- August 25, 2015
- 7
The good, bad and ugly on Indian Independence Day
Stories of altruism and protest are reasons for hope, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 14, 2015
- 6
The battle against porn
Apologists for pornography abuse the ‘fight for freedom’, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 7, 2015
- 5
India’s forgotten cotton-picking children
Mari Marcel Thekaekara shines a spotlight on the underreported problem of child labour.
- July 31, 2015
- 6
Catholic nun barred, a step backward for women’s freedom
It’s an almost funny story, if it didn’t have a twist in the tale, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 27, 2015
- 4
The ‘world’s pharmacy’ is failing its own
Why is India undermining its reputation by providing shoddy drugs to Indians? asks Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 22, 2015
- 4
Bollywood dreams, brutal reality
An angry Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports on yet more police incompetence and one very brave 17-year-old girl.
- July 14, 2015
- 7
Monsoon blues
Longed-for rain has a sting in its tail as climate-change impacts wreak havoc on India’s farming communities, reports Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- June 29, 2015
- 4
Why The Maggi Affair has angered and enthralled India
Nestlé’s noodles are under scrutiny. About time, thinks Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- June 5, 2015
- 8
Indian schools told to junk the junk food
High-fat, salty and sugary snacks and drinks no longer make the grade, reports Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 22, 2015
- 8
‘Stop moaning – or you’ll collapse in defeat’
A journalist friend in Singapore gets Mari Marcel Thekaekara thinking about her own political reactions.
- May 15, 2015
- 4
Fighting for India’s health
An anti-tobacco campaign has had some encouraging results, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 8, 2015
- 7
When life comes crashing down
The Nepal earthquake has devastated an already-poor nation. What next? asks Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- April 30, 2015
- 3
Rula Ghani – the voice of a nation
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is delighted that the Afghan First Lady is being listened to.
- April 24, 2015
- 6
Hounded and harassed – but Sharmila Seyyid isn’t giving up
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is full of admiration for the brave Sri Lankan writer.
- April 17, 2015
- 9
Defending the right to watch violent porn – how can that be justice for April Jones?
Enough excuses, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara. Violent porn must be banned.
- April 10, 2015
- 10
Why we should weep for the sparrow
The once-common bird is suffering in modern-day India, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara. But efforts to save them are underway.
- March 23, 2015
- 9
‘Homeopathy is rubbish,’ says new report. Really now?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara takes a pop at the pompous know-it-alls and arrogant allopathic shamans.
- March 13, 2015
- 44
‘India’s Daughter’ film reignites public anger
An unrepentant rapist’s words horrify Mari Marcel Thekaekara and her compatriots.
- March 6, 2015
- 9
Let’s salute those who are doing something positive
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is cheered by a confluence of ideas.
- February 27, 2015
- 7
Party of the poor wins Delhi Assembly elections
Mari Marcel Thekaekara’s faith in Indian voters is restored by the surprising landslide victory.
- February 12, 2015
- 10
Life’s juggernaut rolls on
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is in pensive mood as she looks back on a turbulent 2014.
- December 19, 2014
- 7
Bangaloreans segregate waste to save their city
An Indian recycling scheme gives Mari Marcel Thekaekara hope.
- December 15, 2014
- 5
To kiss or not to kiss? A very Indian question
Mari Marcel Thekaekara looks at moral policing and ‘immoral’ activities.
- November 27, 2014
- 11
Violence in the home is not just a family affair
In search of societal change, Mari Marcel Thekaekara visits a Rotary Club to talk taboos.
- November 20, 2014
- 10
Alcohol ban causes controversy in India
Men don’t approve, but women do – and for good reason, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 7, 2014
- 12
Justice at last for raped three-year-old
A landmark judgment brings hope for child protection in India, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara. But behind it lies a horror story.
- October 31, 2014
- 13
Twin concerns in commercial surrogacy
We need better laws to protect both sides in the rent-a-womb industry, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 10, 2014
- 8
A newborn brings hope
A first grandchild and a new book on ‘feminism and men’ gives Mari Marcel Thekaekera a positive boost.
- September 26, 2014
- 10
Should we ‘Bobbitize’ the rapists?
Her gut response to one girl’s stand against an attacker makes Mari Marcel Thekaekara question her nonviolent principles.
- August 8, 2014
- 11
New times, new battles in India and beyond
Every generation responds differently to the crises and issues they face, reflects Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 1, 2014
- 10
India’s Muslim women say ‘no second wife!’
But not everyone is willing to rock the boat in the fight against polygamy, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 10, 2014
- 6
Fighting sexism – 30 years on
Once a flight attendant, now an activist-writer, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on feminist tactics.
- June 23, 2014
- 12
Glad to be adivasi!
Is indigenous culture doomed? No way, say Tamil Nadu’s adivasi kids. Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports.
- June 13, 2014
- 13
No candle-lit vigils for raped and murdered girls
Mari Marcel Thekaekera blames caste prejudice for a lack of outrage in India.
- June 6, 2014
- 14
Indian orphans sexually abused by western paedophile ring
Will a convicted British paedophile escape trial in Goa? Mari Marcel Thakaekara on a case that is infuriating local people.
- May 30, 2014
- 12
‘It won’t be the normal sort of wedding’
A marriage ceremony that breaks conventions gives Mari Marcel Thekaekara hope in the aftermath of India’s elections.
- May 20, 2014
- 9
Words, words and more damned words
But to save the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls we need action, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 9, 2014
- 9
I don’t want to play God – even when it comes to rapists and child killers
A botched execution in the US gets Mari Marcel Thekaekara thinking about the clamour for capital punishment in India today.
- May 6, 2014
- 9
India in the grip of election fever
From the morally bankrupt to the cleanest candidates ever – who will the country choose? Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports.
- April 17, 2014
- 9
What happened to unity in diversity?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is concerned about attempts to dismantle secular India.
- March 20, 2014
- 15
Women on wheels raise money for adivasi human rights
Mari Marcel Thekaekara talks to the intrepid cyclists who took part in Go MAD.
- March 14, 2014
- 12
14 February: a day to celebrate!
No, not Valentine’s; Mari Marcel Thekaekara is much more interested in the One Billion Rising for women’s rights.
- February 14, 2014
- 3
Pink pistols to see off rapists? Don’t make me laugh
Mari Marcel Thekaekera on why niche marketing of a dinky revolver might not be the answer to sexual violence against women in India.
- January 30, 2014
- 13
I am terrified – and optimistic – for India’s future
The tainted Narendra Modi is tipped to become India’s next President. But Mari Marcel Thekaekara hopes that Arvind Kejriwal’s anti-corruption movement might win the day.
- January 17, 2014
- 28
Elephants in conflict with nearby communities face a cruel future
Wild animals are tamed for a variety of purposes. But what happens when they no longer serve that purpose? asks Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 5, 2013
- 2
What exactly are drone strikes trying to achieve?
US politicians who order strikes in Pakistan are adding to terror, not fighting against it, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 25, 2013
- 6
Ancient knowledge could overhaul India’s health system
Mari Marcel Thekaekara argues that we can all improve our wellbeing through traditional medicine and by slowing down.
- October 18, 2013
- 8
The world is looking at caste discrimination, finally
The recent EU vote gives hope that the human rights of Dalit groups will no longer be ignored, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 11, 2013
- 8
When insensitivity is the norm
Mari Marcel Thekaekara deplores government-sanctioned attitudes towards indigenous peoples.
- October 4, 2013
- 14
Should martyrdom ever be glorified?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara argues that life is more valuable than the political statements made by the ultimate form of protest.
- September 27, 2013
- 6
Bittersweet victory for ‘Indian’ Miss America
Nina Davuluri is deemed too dark to be beautiful in India. Mari Marcel Thekaekara explores the irony.
- September 23, 2013
- 10
Does anyone give a s**t?
A new bill in India aimed at protecting manual cleaners of human excrement needs to translate into political action, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 13, 2013
- 12
War-mongering Obama gets closer to winning hypocrite of the year award
Irish MP lambasts politicians ‘prostituting’ themselves for a pat on the head from the US president. Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes.
- September 9, 2013
- 10
Some rapes are more newsworthy than others in India
A handful of cases attract international attention yet crimes against Dalit women go unreported, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 3, 2013
- 13
Why sell your youth to big business?
The tragedy of corporate success is that there is no room to slow down, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 23, 2013
- 4
Casualties of war and political games
Indian soldiers are paying the price for border clashes with Pakistan, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 20, 2013
- 3
One in a billion: born on a Mumbai commuter train
Neither monsoon nor gender can put a dampener on surprise birth, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 5, 2013
- 13
Close encounter of the human kind
Mari Marcel Thekaekara has an unlikely experience at an ayurvedic ashram in Kerala.
- July 29, 2013
- 8
India, porn and sexual violence
Links between pornography and some despicable crimes are clear, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 23, 2013
- 20
Adivasi people: proud not primitive
Mari Marcel Thekaekara supports a new Survival International campaign to change India’s opinion of tribal people.
- July 15, 2013
- 30
Edward Snowden is a true patriot
As a supposed bastion of democracy, the US should support those who expose the truth, writes Mari Marcel Thekeakara.
- June 21, 2013
- 9
The hypocrisy of sexism in India
As a young student is injured for wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes, Mari Marcel Thekeakara says that women will fight on against violence.
- June 14, 2013
- 10
When will the world’s financial powers learn?
Conditions imposed by the IMF and World Bank increase inequality and show little regard for marginalized people, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- June 7, 2013
- 4
Rooting out hate
Mari Marcel Thekaekara thinks we could all learn from the people at a British mosque who met the English Defence League with a cup of tea.
- June 3, 2013
- 9
Wonder and frustration: living with the animals
Mari Marcel Thekaekara’s home is on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary, which is a pleasure and a pain, as she explains.
- May 28, 2013
- 9
Leave mums alone
As Mother’s Day approaches in India, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on how motherhood has changed along with the online communication boom.
- May 10, 2013
- 10
Bring workers’ rights back into fashion
Angered by the avoidable tragic factory collapse at Rana Plaza, Bangladesh, Mari Marcel Thekaekara looks at how we’ve regressed on employment.
- May 2, 2013
- 9
Britain moves a step closer to combating caste
Mari Marcel Thekaekara congratulates the country’s Dalit community on finally winning legal protection against discrimination.
- April 26, 2013
- 28
The Boston bombing and hope for peace
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on the devastating deaths of innocent people in terror attacks and unjust wars.
- April 19, 2013
- 2
‘We need leaders who want a better world’
The death of Margaret Thatcher gives Mari Marcel Thekaekara pause for thought.
- April 16, 2013
- 5
India celebrates Novartis ruling
It is refreshing to hear a piece of good news that will impact on people living in poverty across the globe, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- April 8, 2013
- 5
The water crisis at home
The people of Bangalore need to be active in finding local solutions to preserve a vital resource, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 25, 2013
- 7
Stop persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan
While minority rights are eroded, Pakistan enjoys impunity as a ‘strategic ally’ of the US, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 18, 2013
- 9
What’s the price of the ‘right’ to alcohol?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on the potential of prohibition in India where women have burnt down liquor shops over alcoholism’s devastation.
- March 8, 2013
- 8
Time for a rethink on food
Mari Marcel Thekaekara says the horsemeat scandal in Britain and a dogmeat experience closer to home has made her consider meat differently.
- February 26, 2013
- 9
One Billion Rose on February 14 2013
As part of the global movement to raise awareness of violence against women, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports on a colourful scene in Gujarat.
- February 15, 2013
- 5
My writing guru: They don’t make ‘em like Sadhan anymore
Contact with a former mentor has triggered memories for Mari Marcel Thekaekara, decades on from her journalism training in Kolkata.
- February 1, 2013
- 16
Dying for a home in Bangalore
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on the plight of a community made homeless by a slum clearance: the latest casualties in the battle for property.
- January 25, 2013
- 9
A tribute to Aaron Swartz
The death of the internet activist is a loss to all those fighting for freedom says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- January 18, 2013
- 2
Praying for a new dawn after Delhi rape
India is at a crossroads after a young woman’s brutal murder shook the world. Mari Marcel Thekaekara hopes for positive change.
- January 3, 2013
- 13
Another shocking rape attack in India
Mari Marcel Thekaekara calls for better policing after the recent attack on a young woman in Delhi.
- December 20, 2012
- 34
Daring to tackle chauvinism
Despite the successes of campaigns like One Billion Rising, we can’t forget that sexism still rages, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- December 11, 2012
- 5
The end for hands-on toilet cleaning in India?
Activists are hoping a 10,000-kilometre pilgrimage will help bring total eradication of ‘manual scavenging’ writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 29, 2012
- 6
One billion rising against gender violence
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is heartened by a new campaign in South Asia.
- November 20, 2012
- 8
Jharkhand – an adivasi extravaganza
The diversity and cultural richness of India’s indigenous groups leaves Mari Marcel Thekaekara stunned after attending a Tribal Cultural Festival.
- November 13, 2012
- 10
Do we get the governments we deserve?
Corruption and bad governance seem to be getting worse says Mari Marcel Thekaekara. Time to revive hope in democracy.
- November 6, 2012
- 8
Cyber criminals nailed by Chennai police
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is heartened by some good news – but there’s a long way to go.
- October 26, 2012
- 5
The problem of rape is getting worse
More young women in India need to engage in the fight against violence and sexual assault, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara – whatever their class.
- October 19, 2012
- 15
Forward, the Fair Trade brigade!
Now let’s have market dignity and justice…Mari Marcel Thekaekara feels a surge of fresh hope for Fair Trade.
- October 12, 2012
- 6
Sorry is the hardest word
Mari Marcel Thekaekara contemplates the importance of forgiveness in healing relationships before it’s too late.
- October 5, 2012
- 14
When did rape cease being news?
It’s India’s fastest-growing crime, yet is often ignored, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 27, 2012
- 9
Lessons of the past for young Adivasi
In her latest post from India, Mari Marcel Thekaekara explains how a group of local indigenous children gained pride in their ancestry.
- September 14, 2012
- 11
Playing fair
The world’s conflicts require journalists to be unbiased and incorruptible. Time to rise to the challenge, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 7, 2012
- 12
Gujarat massacre convictions must continue
British Indians need to be among those bringing the people responsible for the 2002 carnage to justice says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 30, 2012
- 15
A bit of healthy non-competition
As Olympic fever fades, Mari Marcel Thekaekara celebrates a less ruthless approach to play seen in India’s indigenous communities.
- August 21, 2012
- 29
We should all be more neighbourly after Wisconsin
The Sikh community at the centre of the latest US shooting have much to teach us about togetherness says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- August 10, 2012
- 15
India needs to stand up to sexual predators
After a brutal mob strip and attack a woman, it’s time the country got serious against such violence, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 31, 2012
- 10
We need to wake up to child abuse
Mari Marcel Thekaekara argues for better monitoring of care homes after a recent scandal in India.
- July 20, 2012
- 16
Can Bollywood shatter India’s caste system?
India’s leading film star Aamir Khan is shining a light on tough social issues and the country is taking notice, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 13, 2012
- 18
India’s whitening obsession goes vaginal
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is horrified by the latest addition to the global skin-lightening fetish as women are encouraged to bleach down below.
- July 6, 2012
- 11
India’s modernity onslaught
Mari Marcel Thekaekara laments the remorseless rejection of traditional ways as India rushes towards its brave new future.
- June 27, 2012
- 4
Poor Indian kids checkmating the odds
One man’s drive to teach dalit children chess is putting pride back into a community, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- June 7, 2012
- 19
Garden party with the forest people
Mari Marcel Thekaekara learns a lot about her own back yard when her adivasi friends come to visit.
- June 1, 2012
- 10
Inside India’s forest communities
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is enchanted by the adivasi communities deep in the heart of Tamil Nadu.
- May 28, 2012
- 13
Making caste a thing of the past
An ‘anti-untouchability’ video project is raising awareness of the crimes against dalits which blight Indian society, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 21, 2012
- 12
Some thoughts on becoming a woman in India
In some Indian communities a girl’s first period is treated with great fanfare, in others it is a carefully kept secret, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- May 11, 2012
- 13
The Girl Store
Mari Marcel Thekaekara is appalled by the tactics used by a website to raise money for poor Indian children. But do the ends justify the means?
- May 4, 2012
- 21
Climate change first hand
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on her experience of the world’s crazy weather.
- April 27, 2012
- 9
Women in India are not asking for it
After an exposé reveals the true thoughts of Indian police officers about rape victims, Mari Marcel Thekaekara says attitudes must change.
- April 10, 2012
- 7
Child worker abuse still rife in India
Mari Marcel Thekaekara visits an organization fighting for children’s rights in Delhi and hears some distressing stories.
- April 3, 2012
- 10
Norway-India children plot thickens
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reacts to recent developments in the story of the Indian children taken away from their parents by social services in Norway.
- March 30, 2012
- 5
The cycle diaries: into ‘real’ India
A bike ride through the heart of India to raise money for indigenous children captured the imagination of everyone involved, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 19, 2012
- 6
The aftermath of genocide
Ten years after the violence that led to hundreds of deaths in the Indian state of Gujarat, deep divisions still remain, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 2, 2012
- 41
America fights to save its cornfields
A new herbicide linked to a slew of health defects is causing extreme worry for environmentalists in the US, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 24, 2012
- 7
Could you live on $2 a day?
Two young men returned to India to try. But for many millions, this is reality, not a short-term challenge, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 15, 2012
- 8
A bride burnt every hour: the horror of dowry deaths
So why aren’t Indians up in arms about it? Time to name and shame, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- February 7, 2012
- 22
Re-colonizing Africa?
India’s plans to buy up land in Africa are shameful, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- January 31, 2012
- 23
Norway snatches Indian children from their parents
Two young Indian children have been taken into care in Norway because their mother fed them with her fingers. Mari Marcel Thekaekara is appalled.
- January 23, 2012
- 67
The United States of India
Mari Marcel Thekaekara gives us her kaleidoscopic thoughts on multiculturalism within an ever-changing India.
- January 13, 2012
- 4
Supermarkets battle for India's soul
India is allowing direct foreign investment, and the supermarkets are sharpening their knives, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 30, 2011
- 6
Bangalore’s urban agriculture boom
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on how Bangaloreans, fed up with soaring vegetable prices, are growing their own organic food.
- November 24, 2011
- 1
Just changing the world
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on the recent conference for ‘Just Change’, a cooperative of poor producers, consumers and ethical investors.
- November 15, 2011
- 8
Chicken à la injection
Wild stories fly around about chicken farming but the reality remains less than wholesome, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- November 1, 2011
- 3
Shouldn't police chase the real criminals?
Police infiltrating activist groups? They should be watching the bankers, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 24, 2011
- 3
Let's make the economy work for the people
With the wealth gap widening, Mari Marcel Thekaekara on a plan to link ethical investors with producers and consumers all over the world.
- October 14, 2011
- 10
Can America's Spring change the world?
It is time for a change from rampant capitalism and the current protests in the US could be a starting point, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- October 6, 2011
- 5
Why let a genocide get in the way of naked ambition?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara, on how Narender Modi could be a prime ministerial contender for the 2014 elections in India.
- September 16, 2011
- 13
India’s drug ‘lifeline’ under threat
India’s patenting laws mean it produces many drugs cheaply for developing countries. But corporate greed is putting this in jeopardy, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 8, 2011
- 5
Disappearing girls
Female foeticide in many parts of Asia reflects the grim position of women, argues Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- September 5, 2011
- 8
‘Complete knowledge for long life’ – Ayurveda leads the way
A visit to an ayurvedic doctor convinces Mari Marcel Thekaekara that we need to balance the way we live.
- September 1, 2011
- 15
A closer look at India’s anti-corruption hero Anna Hazare
Mari Thekaekara wonders whether an undemocratic activist should be blackmailing the Indian government.
- August 23, 2011
- 20
To England, with sympathy and concern
In the wake of the riots, Indian writer and activist Mari Marcel Thekaekara on both the stark differences and worrying similarities to the situation on the subcontinent.
- August 12, 2011
- 8
Dear prime minister, how about food security in India?
Give poor people cash, not free or subsidized food, argue certain economists. The poor insist that food makes more sense, reports Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 22, 2011
- 1
Mumbai: bomb blasts again
‘These terrorists are cowards and the worst enemies of their own people.’ Why do innocent people have to pay with their lives for the sins of evil politicians, asks Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 16, 2011
- 7
India ruling bans anti-Maoist militia
Mari Marcel Thekaekara salutes Indian Supreme Court’s verdict that arming civilians to take on supposed Naxals – leftwing extremists according to the government – is unconstitutional.
- July 15, 2011
- 0
L'affaire DSK: An affair to remember
Whatever the ouctome, the rape case against former IMF boss Dominique Strauss Kahn has opened up debates about predatory males the world over, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- July 4, 2011
- 10
Define Feminism: a poem
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on the contradictions of what feminism is to her and what it isn’t.
- June 20, 2011
- 10
Two gracious women I knew
Mourning the loss of her beloved Aunty, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on artful manners that seem to be disappearing with the older generation.
- June 13, 2011
- 3
There's no escaping racism in India
Prejudice against inter-state and foreign migrants is on the rise, writes Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- June 3, 2011
- 62
A second French Revolution?
Big boys who work hard must play hard, too? Ask the women!
- May 26, 2011
- 7
Mayday on May Day
We’ve ‘moved on’ to a brave new world in which, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara, you have to swim with the tide… or sink. Instead of moving forward, we seem to be regressing.
- May 20, 2011
- 4
Indian elections, democracy and all that
We tend to treat our government as a joke and our democracy as a farce, says Mari Marcel Thekaekara of India. But often, the electorate stuns the intelligentsia.
- May 16, 2011
- 4
Osama is dead
After the death of Osama Bin Laden, Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on the killing of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and wonders what that has to do with justice or morality.
- May 9, 2011
- 3
India
South Asia’s giant, from the Country Profile series in our New Internationalist magazine.
- May 1, 2011
- 0
Stepping back to civilize ourselves
Spring is in the air. Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on work cycles, days off work, and those who don’t own their souls anymore.
- April 29, 2011
- 0
Lonely crusaders
‘History is replete with the horrors of war, torture and barbaric brutality. Our only hope lies in our heroes, sung and unsung.’
- April 20, 2011
- 2
Saving the girl child, and brides and prejudice
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reports from two states in India where girls have disappeared.
- April 7, 2011
- 4
Japan's tragedy: a wake-up call?
Mari Marcel Thekaekara says that a few centuries from now, if civilization as we know it still exists, history will judge us harshly. Will we ever learn?
- March 30, 2011
- 4
Adivasis and alcohol
For the women of India, it’s a matter of life and death. Quite literally.What to do? An action plan has been proposed.
- March 14, 2011
- 0
Not until it happens to you
A very personal narrative on vulnerability, crime, human rights, and numerous reality.
- February 25, 2011
- 4
Not so hopeless after all
Marginally speaking: How women of Kalol fight for their rights - and win.
- February 11, 2011
- 1
Starting a campaign, wish us luck
Alcoholism is a very real problem in India. While liquor industries are counting their phenomenal profits, many many people are suffering.
- February 4, 2011
- 8
Marginally speaking
Our new blogger Mari Marcel Thekaekara, based in India, considers stories that never hit the headlines. Read her first post here.
- January 25, 2011
- 6
Vedanta undermined!
Victory for the hill tribes of India in a David and Goliath battle.
- November 1, 2010
- 0
Our kids, their kids
Children of safai karmacharis (people engaged in sanitation work) in Gujarat are being forced by teachers to clean toilets and mop floors in school. Mari Marcel Thekaekara listens to their stories.
- October 28, 2009
- 0
Honey is life
Gathering wild honey is an age-old tradition in South India. Mari Marcel Thekaekara and her husband Stan see how it’s done.
- September 1, 2009
- 7
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
Although Gandhi is a household name all over the world, Babasaheb Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution and the first person to fight effectively for the rights of dalits (aka ‘untouchables’)
- April 1, 2009
- 0
Independence Day + 1
Mari Marcel Thekaekara reflects on the state of the Indian nation in middle age.
- August 21, 2008
- 0
A lifetime in muck
Unbelievably, people still exist whose task in life is shovelling shit, as Mari Marcel Thekaekara explains.
- August 1, 2008
- 0
Free Binayak Sen!
The arrest of a doctor who works with poor communities in central India, on trumped-up charges of associating with ‘terrorist’ Naxalites, has sparked worldwide protest. Mari Marcel Thekaekara appeals for support.
- September 3, 2007
- 0
The Corporation that Changed the World
How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational
- May 1, 2007
- 0
Brand-hopping beauties
An alien consumer culture is blitzing Indian women. Mari Marcel Thekaekara takes its measure.
- September 1, 2006
- 0
Tsunami business
It could have been their finest hour. But Mari Marcel Thekaekara encountered bad behaviour by bingos after the tsunami in Tamil Nadu.
- October 1, 2005
- 0
Combatting caste
Mari Marcel Thekaekara on the enduring evils of an ancient system of oppression and the struggles for dignity.
- July 1, 2005
- 0
Each in their place
There’s caste and there’s class. And in some places the two intertwine. Mari Marcel Thekaekara writes from India, where the struggle for Dalit rights is gathering strength.
- February 1, 2004
- 0
Calvin Klein and the tea pickers
From Gudalur to Gloucester, some unusual alliances are being forged, reports Mari Marcel Thekaekara.
- March 1, 1999
- 0