In a way I am glad with what is happening today. It is making me question everything. From my Convent school harassing me for being the only student with a pierced nose & my parents having to defend & explain that it’s an essential part of Dogra culture.

Students being fined for speaking regional languages & not English, in the school playground, starkly different to multilingualism being celebrated in schools abroad. Those educated in vernacular medium disadvantaged & labelled Graain/Pendu/Ghaati/Bhaiya/illiterate etc.

Religious study a subject taught in primary & secondary schools in UK as opposed to convoluted ideas of secularism which shame practicing Hindus and reduce & ridicule Dharmic traditions.

To Indian women being modern, cool and ‘youngish’ only when stripped off all cultural symbols of bindi, mangalsutra, sindoor etc. If used, to be used only cosmetically. Women wearing all this demeaningly labelled as Behenjis, Auntyjis & Kakubais.

I never saw any mention of Dogra Kings & warriors who expanded the boundaries of India & spearheaded the military renaissance in 19th century in my history books. Also didn’t see much on Ahom Kings, Cholas or Vijayanagar Empire etc. Indian history, identity & pride erased.

When Yoga & Chai & the general idea of India are to be attacked by a global Attack India Toolkit, the prob is with the oldest civilisation & all its cultural symbols. Its existence & its continuity. The resurgence & reawakening is the prob. Even more imp now, to own & defend it.