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Tired of all the household tasks I tried writing something as a time pass However ended up thinking a zillion other chores That waited to be done even when it bores I am the Mistress of our Abode But doing chores is all I am available for Knitting, Sewing, Gardening, Cleaning, cooking, decorating Which ones made my heart flutter Now give me endless trouble I have dreams and aspirations Desires and Passions Yet all of my time flies by While cooking French fries I wake up at the daybreak And till midnight stay awake But still feel 24 hours are less As the chores don’t decrease nevertheless I am the ‘jobless’ person Doing forty jobs in a day Not even a single penny paid No better than a maid I am given the sobriquet ‘Homemaker’ But lad, Euphemism doesn’t make it better Still the one doing all the work, Often thought to be a ‘free-loader’ I am no machine But I work 24*7 for 365 days in a row Without anyone to intervene Without any promotion or opportunity to grow The Pandemic didn’t help me either Instead, it took my little moment of breather As it made Stay and Work from Home the new norm In turn making my responsibilities further swarm Family time is supposed to heal Weary, exhausted, worn-out souls But it weakens me further Gives me the additional job of a waiter I swear I love my spouse to the moon And my kids to the Andromeda galaxy But every time they take me for granted I wish to make them realize their impertinence As my heart no longer stays enchanted Alas, I can’t go my heart’s way Simply have to hide my misery away Coz I am the Homemaker Whose life’s purpose is to be the family’s anchor Being a Homemaker Is no easy job, I tell you Not a bed of roses But a battle fought everyday With tired spirit and fatigued muscles With shattered dreams and no route to escape Yet I am not complaining, Not any more at least All I want is a little break, And some time to introspect And a bit of Recognition As a ‘Full time working person without any circumscription’ As Salary is out of option . By: Ananya Mishra Research Scholar

INTRODUCTION This complex subject of laws intended to safeguard women and how those very same laws are being abused by women for personal gain is addressed in the bold and timely film Section 375. Both sides of the tale are presented by the narrative's use of point-of-view changes. From the opening scenes the audience witnesses a relation between the Law and Justice. Tarun Saluja (Akshaye Khanna) asserts during a law school event that "justice is abstract, law is an actuality." It stands out in a film that generally appears to take its legal study seriously that Saluja (Akshaye Khanna) is presented as Senior Advocate, High Court—which one is not mentioned. He strongly believes in the rule of law, the right of everyone—including accused rapists—to the assistance of counsel, and the distinction between justice and the law. His younger sister Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadha), who can't stand this last aspect, departed his chamber because of it. ABOUT THE FILM Famous film director Rohan Khurana (Rahul Bhat) is detained and found guilty by the Sessions Court after Anjali Dangle, a costume designer, accuses him of rape. As Rohan's helper, Anjali is sent to his home to gain his approval on certain costumes. When Anjali gets to his house, Rohan and the maid are already there. Rohan sends the maid to the market when Anjali arrives so that they can be alone in the house. Soon after, we witness how Rohan is pushing her and "forcing" her against her will. In the next scene Anjali is observed by her neighbour, stepping out of an auto-rickshaw while her face is covered in a scarf. However, the neighbour notices Anjali"s behavior as being strange right away. Her brother is the first person to discover her when they arrive at her residence, and they then proceed to call the police. Following the filing of the complaint, the police, in accordance with standard procedure, sends Anjali for a full body examination. Major bruises are discovered all over her face and in between her thighs during the examination. In addition, the scrapings taken from under her nails contain traces of Rohan's DNA. When Rohan is examined, it is discovered that his back is covered in nail scratches and that his DNA matches the DNA found on and inside Anjali's body. When all of the evidence is presented to the Sessions Court, the Judge immediately sentences Rohan to ten years in prison. After the Sessions Court issues this order, Rohan's wife seeks the assistance of Tarun Saluja (Akshaye Khanna), a well-known criminal lawyer. When the Sessions Court order is challenged in the High Court, Anjali is represented by Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadha), a utopian lawyer and champion of women's rights who is fighting her first major case. Surprisingly, Hiral was once Tarun's trainee. Tarun attempts to expose the flaws in Anjali's claims under the watchful eyes of judges Justice Madgaonkar (Kishore Kadam) and Justice Indrani (Kruttika Desai). Throughout the course of the case, Tarun presents concrete evidence and refutes Anjali's claims. Hiral, on the other hand, defends her client with emotion rather than logic. She comes across as a lawyer who is zoned out and occasionally raises an 'objection'. Rohan confesses during the hearing, and the details included in the confession were: Anjali and Rohan had an extramarital affair, and Rohan had promised her a major film project. As a result of the relationship's end, Rohan refused to give Anjali the project, and Anjali tried to blame Rohan for the rape. However, everything that happened between the two of them was completely consensual. And Tarun is successful to demonstrate that Anjali's own brother was partially responsible for the bruises that were discovered on her body. And despite the fact that it is a crucial piece of evidence, the court entirely ignores it. WHAT THE FILM GOT RIGHT From the legal point of view, the court maintains the Order of the Sessions Court due to the murky nature of the case and evidence, public pressure, and a lack of conclusive evidence of Anjali's spitefulness. Anjali then admits to Hiral outside the courtroom that Rohan's confession was accurate and that some of her bruises were caused by her own brother and some by herself. Hiral is stunned by this and feels bad about her. The title of the film 'Section 375' is derived from the same section of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 that contains the definition of rape. In this movie, the accused Rohan is charged with the following offenses mentioned under the Indian Penal Code, 1860: Section 376: Penalty for rape Section 342: Penalty for wrongful confinement Section 354B: Penalty for assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe and Section 506: Penalty for criminal intimidation. And I feel that the film never feels dragged and delivers the messages it intends to deliver early on. It touches on its main premise of informing the audience about Section 375. As it is commonly assumed that "no rape occurs without the consent of a woman," the film emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between "will" and "consent" the two main requirements when it comes to sex. WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE FILM If the acts committed were not consensual, all of these sections are legally applicable. However, the film depicts two opposing viewpoints on the same situation, one more plausible than the other. Tarun appears throughout the film as the devil's advocate, supporting a criminal and being despised for it. He examines and presents facts in an unconventional manner. He is constantly questioning the case's veracity, even having his practicing license suspended at one point. According to my understanding of Section-375 movie it had raised many questions on my understanding of the MeToo movement. The film raised a lot of questions about the # MeToo Movement making it extremely timely. Even though the film received positive reviews from critics. However, it did not perform well at the box office and failed to get the acclaim from the audience and it had received mixed reviews, but it definitely sparked a debate. During the # MeToo Movement, many allegations were made, some of which were true and some of which were false, similar to the movie. Women were seen on social media speaking out about various incidents that happened to them years ago, and this was seen not only in Bollywood but also in the entertainment and corporate sectors. By the understanding of this movie I have felt that women make false allegations for a variety of reasons, including vengeance, previous grudges, workplace animosity, attempting to obtain money through compensation, and so on. The more heartbreaking part is that there are no laws protecting men from false allegations made by women. Feminism is a relevant and important movement in today's world, especially in a patriarchal country like India, but it should not be exploited or confused with pseudo-feminism and misandry. The judges in the film admit that the case has two different theories, either of which could be correct, but because the law was created for and in favor of the victim, it must be followed regardless of which theory is correct. SOCIO-LEGAL IMPACTS OF THE MOVIE After the analysis of this movie, I can say that this movie was a gripping take on the aspects Law vs. Justice and it shows not only woman always become victim of the offences like rape and other sexual offenses and even men can become a victim in the cases where if women are likely to take revenge and have their personal vengeance on a particular person and making the false allegations on them and the sad part is that even though the man is not at wrong the society treats him like a criminal and they will be on the opinion to get him punished by not even seeing the issue from his side of the story. And for these types of the offenses, there are no laws protecting the victims herein this case it is Rohan. I believe that the present societal mentality of the people is deeply ingrained in Section 375; the hash tag #hangtherapist is trending online, and #MeToo is frequently mentioned. And it is precisely this that raises the question of why director Ajay Bahl chose to focus his camera on the idea of a false case at a time when women are finally finding the strength to come up about the sexual harassment and assault they have endured for so long. CONCLUSION The film is cynical about the distinction between law and justice; the law is concrete, but justice is abstract. Tarun establishes in the film's opening line, "Justice is abstract, but law is a fact" and there are numerous similar lines throughout the film. Tarun asserts his right to be heard. "Imagine a world without the constitutional right to self-defense," he says early in the film. This would be a horrible world. Tarun, predictably, blames social media for demonizing his client prematurely and permanently. In doing so, he ignores the fact that the man had already been convicted under the law, so whatever outrage ensued was legally sanctioned. It is clear from the film's plot that the director is more interested in depicting the plight of the accused but does not always make the best effort. In the guise of being a subtle reminder of how no man accused of rape can ever "walk free" even if acquitted by the legal system, the film sends a very toxic and dangerous message. At the end of the movie when Hiral meets Tarun and admits to him that she does not believe that justice was served, Tarun replies "we're not in the business of justice; we're in the business of law". This only goes to show that justice is a nebulous concept, and law is merely a means to an end. In this case, the tool does not exist, preventing justice from being served. By:- Boddu Harshith Sai 3 rd Year BBA LLB (H) BENNETT UNIVERSITY

On my bad days I feel like a sheep disguised in the clothing of fox who knows how to hunt her prey or at least have an idea where to aim. I feel like an imposter who cannot tell her head from toe but is still poised and feigning as a person who has got herself in clear and is embarking an incredible journey. I make my life sound so riveting when in reality I have absolutely no idea about what I am doing and everything appears so whimsy. Maybe it is the unconditional support from my beloved that spoils me or maybe they just say those things to be nice to me because honestly, I do not sound like the person to be in awe of. Every time I look in the mirror the face that stares back at me is of a person who is still doubting the road she has chosen and often looking back to the two diverging roads in the yellow woods and think that maybe the path less travelled upon is not for her. I ask myself, what is the meaning of living and why everything is defined by my ominous future. I have absolutely no desire to get out of my bed, much less to make a name for myself. There is nothing I look forward to doing and lately I have been feeling that everything I do in the name of my passion is being done to keep up my appearances in public. I am not a model kid or student and honestly that façade is now starting to crumble through the cracks of exhaustion. Each day I am waking up and carrying on with the day half-heartedly just so I am not the black sheep of the society. I did this yesterday and today, but tomorrow... Submitted by: Mridula Uppal Student at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College

The film stars Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar, and revolves around a dysfunctional family of three women and their unconventional life choices. The movie follows the journey of three generations of women who interact on a deeper level and find out disturbing details of their past when the eldest of the three, Nayan, falls into a coma and her daughter & granddaughter decide to contribute to her biography in making. Each of the three ladies is plagued by the males in their lives or has experienced difficulties as a result of the other. The protagonist in the story was a female who wanted to pursue her career in writing and was very passionate about it. She married to a guy who was supportive of her writings but the lady’s mother-in-law was against her decision to focus on her career. Although she got great recognition and appreciation through her writings but as she was not good in doing house hold chores her mother-in-law was upset from her. That is why she decided to leave her in laws house and separated from her husband. She took her children with herself and raised them as a single mother. Children’s life without father was miserable but they coped up with that. The protagonist’s second husband used to sexually harass the girl child because of which the children separated from their mother as well. Masha, Anu's daughter, describes how, despite her mother's tendency to be too protective, Anu's colourful character led to her being ridiculed at school as is often mentioned throughout the film, Anu is also separated from her mother, who is now in coma, for the same reason. Although the story showed family problems but the social issue raised here was very well portrayed. It shows the struggle a woman had to go through if she wants to pursue her career instead of focusing on home making. By the conclusion, all three ladies have realised how significant each of them is to their lives. What is the story based on? The movie Tribangha is based on the lives of single mothers and women in professions. Life of working women in a country like India where people think culturally and emotionally more, opposes the opinion of women having a career. India has from past several years a patriarchal society where women is being seen and expected to be dependent on men and if they try to make opinions and choices their voice is shunned. With the passage of time, we see development in our country and many men supporting their wives or women of their family or women in general to have a career and opportunities to grow. But still women have to seek moral support from men to believe in themselves. Without men’s approval it is hard for many women to get their choice of work done. Societal pressure, disapproval from in laws, taking care of children and lack of education are the major reasons of women not being able to have a career. From the day a girl is born, her education is planned in such an order that limits the scope of good career options and the boy child gets more opportunities for the obvious reasons, when these girls grow up, they are expected to earn less than the guy they are marrying which is not only a societal pressure on women but on men as well. And if they are earning more or even less than their to be husbands, they are expected and are asked to leave their jobs because who will take care of children then? And as soon as they stop earning the pressure goes to the men and they become the sole earner of the family and the poor women gets dependent on their husbands. Who likes to be dependent on anyone in this society? People know the cruelty they have to suffer, if the person they are dependent on takes advantages of it. Asking for money, asking for permissions and approvals to get their work done is liked by none but when you are dependent on someone financially then you must do it all. The story talks about single mothers as well. The protagonist in this movie had to divorce her husband to build her career. In the movie the single mother was well established and was able to provide her kids with all the basic amenities, but is it enough to have a good life. Only if husband of the protagonist would have supported her career choice, divorce would not have happened. But the women were expected to take care of the house instead of her passion, she was expected to do house chores and take care of the family. Isn’t this the role of everyone instead of just a woman? Even the children are affected by divorced parents. Living with one and leaving another parent, making a rock-hard choice in such a tender age can mentally affect the child as well. How the issue can be solved? It is a tough question to reply to but its never impossible. If the country is developing and people are adapting new technologies then why cannot they change their minds and thinking. Most basic solutions are to aware people not just men but women as well to get education, to speak up for themselves, to know about the laws and not to let anyone decide for them. One should not let this patriarchy rule them. Many government policies providing education should be implemented properly and should be in reach of people, because education plays the biggest role in developing minds and with mind development comes modern thinking. Acceptance should be there in men and they must be supportive to the women of their families. The campaigns to empower women are being run in the world should be supported, the campaign helps a lot in spreading awareness about problems suffered by women, its implications and how it can be corrected. The taboo that being a single mother is a curse, women focusing on their careers is a shame and they should stick to house needs to be eliminated, people should discuss about it in their day-to-day conversations. Submitted by: Khushi Vashisth Law Student at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat

The misery of the household The fortitude of the woman The durability of the children The amusement of the man. Breezes of humor and despair Entangling with suffering Malicious and treacherous Yet lays the woman in tranquil. Woman how powerful thy sting How pitiful you are to the world How bridal you are to your husband? How caring you are to your children? May friendship begets your heart with love May your sufferings begets greatness May your sorrows begets exultations May your endless trials bring surprises. Submitted by: Pallabi Paul Student at Department of Law, Assam University, Silchar

Submitted by: Shreyas A. Student at Dr. B R Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru

"I see no flaw in being different; A color has different shades, but all the shades find their own place and essence in a painting." Being provided with the same resources and same time limit, I want to add on more to what pre-exists. I want to live like an exception; Being someone, who others only think of becoming. I want to transform the 'if' and 'but', to 'will' and 'would.' I want to revive the art of 'living' and diminish the art of 'surviving'. They might call me out for being the way that I am, for they fail to enjoy the liberation I feel as I ink my thoughts which flow freely. I want to look beyond what’s given, because sometimes what lies latent has more depth to it. I want to experience the metamorphosis cycle I am meant to undergo, for I crave to understand what substance I am made up of. There are times where I waver in my heart and I get shrouded with doubt. But there are also times where I enjoy the uncertainty it brings and realise the power faith holds. There is a beauty to this imperfection, one which only makes me more of a human. If being different is a flaw then I would love to admire it as it sinks in, Because everything that feels real is flawed to beauty… flawed to perfection. Submitted by: Sneha Srivastava Student at Amity University, Lucknow

Submitted by: Aakanksha Goel Student at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat

She was a dreamer and he was a realist. He felt he was too dramatic at times, but his innocence caught her heart each time. While they sat silently under the open sky, appreciating the stars, his eyes fixed on that little bright speck of light in the dark expanse while hers, was fixed on him. He kept trying to focus on the stars to distract himself from the pain, as she patiently gazed at him, praying for him to heal. She then locked her eyes on the brightest star and then shut them close. Mumbled a small prayer. Slowly turning her head towards him she opened her eyes to find him smiling at her. He whispered, "Thank you for being here. I wish I could tell you how much this means to me." She blushed, lowered her gaze for a second, and then chuckled, "Tell me!" His eyes were confused. Before he could frame his thoughts, she demanded again, "Tell me how much it means," and a bright smile stretched across her countenance. He blushed. Uttered some confused words. And then smiled and hung his head. She stood up with a jump. Excited and charged. She pulled him up and held him close. Overwhelmed, he agreed. His heart fluttered with mixed emotions. She had successfully distracted him from his pain. Forgetting that the wound exists helps one heal faster. A week later, they met again. Their emotions held firm in their hands. She had a book wrapped in her arms across her chest and he held an envelope behind his back. He looked at the book with admiration and his cheeks drooped in embarrassment. They exchanged their little presents. She whispered, "Remember, it is just the highlighted sentence," and gave a small smile. He was surprised to look at the book. He flipped pages to find a sticky note, a highlight, or underlining. But couldn't spot one. He flipped through the pages again and then for a third time. He could find nothing. His heart sank. Then he checked the last page. Tainted in pink with a corner doodle. 'I will do anything to make you happy for the rest of our days. I will never let you go. I will never give up on us." She had skilfully doodled a blushing teddy. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes. He looked up at her. She was so lovingly engrossed in his present. A newspaper with endless highlights in different colors. She patiently read through each one of them. He had not highlighted sentences but random pairs of words that together conveyed adorable affection of his heart. The prettiest of those hundreds of words of appreciation was from the editorial. "Primary emotions are shared by all mammals including humans, but when around specific individuals, a significant emotional interplay is established, including high sympathetic activity which with time has become of significant importance and the fear of losing is not affordable." It was cute how the nerdy head had put in all his efforts to convey his heart's emotions. Who could have ever imagined that a news report can even be so heart-warming when scattered pairs of words are brought together with pure intention! She, the dreamer could not help but be immensely touched by his act of kindness. It was their kind of love language that is the most beautiful, yet, no longer practiced. Their eyes locked, and they hugged, holding on to each other. Together, today, and for times to come. Submitted by: Shambhavi Anand Student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal

The Namesake is a 2003 novel by American author Jhumpa Lahiri, published by Houghton Mifflin. It was her debut novel that received positive critical appraisal. It was initially published in ‘The New Yorker’ before being expanded into a full-length novel. The novel that is set in three cities, namely Calcutta, Boston and New York City, went on to become a ‘New York times Notable Book’ as well as a ‘Los Angeles Times Book Prize’ finalist. The book was also adapted into a 2006 film of the same name directed by Mira Nair, starring actors Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Kal Penn in lead roles. It is an English-language drama writted by Sooni Taraporevala that was released in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. The story revolves around Gogol, the lead protagonist, and his experiences through life as he ventures into situations that bring him into internal conflicts because of his cross-cultural background. His parents, Ashoke Ganguli and Ashima Ganguli, are first generation immigrants in the United States. Lahiri explores various subplots throughout the novel but excels at keeping the primary subplot intact in the course of events. Some significant plot points are inspired by real-life experiences of the author, who has excellently stitched the thread of events in this contemporary fiction. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why the story feels like a warm hug in multiple instances, especially from the perspective of an Indian. It is the simple details that are so quintessential to Indian culture but completely alien to the West, that when specifically mentioned, reminds us of them. The world of the Gangulis is set in 1960s America and is written from a third person perspective. The reader is a mere spectator into the world of the Gangulis, with no engagement whatsoever, but feeling every bit of it along the way. Apart from fiction readers in general, this book is likely to strike a note with first as well as second generation immigrants living in the West, or perhaps anywhere in the world but not their native country. Also, the simple language makes it suitable for all age groups. The story kicks off with Ashima and Ashoke’s wedding in 1960 Calcutta, shortly before they shift to Massachusetts. It is a conventional arranged marriage in a typical Bengali family. Ashoke is a postdoctoral engineering student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The author intricately portrays the struggles faced by Ashima in adjusting to this new lifestyle with a new person in a new city, a new country, away from home and family. The relationship between the two of them is also penned down in a realistic manner, one which most people of Indian origin would relate to as they are familiar with the concept of arranged marriage. The attempt at familiarizing the Western audience with this concept appears almost effortless, which makes it even better. Ashima eventually gets pregnant and her yearning for home during this period intensifies- especially the thought of delivering a child all alone in a foreign land with no family member present. This builds up to the primary plotline of the book, that is, the name of the child. As tradition follows, Ashima’s grandmother is supposed to suggest a name for the child but that never really pans out, as the grandmother dies and her letter never reaches Ashima and Ashoke. They end up naming the child Gogol after the Russian author Nikolai Gogol, a name that holds immense emotional significance for Ashoke. The reason behind it, as Gogol discovers later in life, I’ll leave for the readers to find out. What ensues thereafter is a development of an identity crisis leading to a conflict of culture and emotional distance within the household. The novel largely covers the formative years of Gogol’s life and him coming to terms with his identity as an intersection between the culture that he is born in and the culture that he is a part of. Ashoke comes across as a quiet person. He does not ever divulge much about himself. It does not make him an uninteresting character though, as Ashima beautifully complements his silences and reads in between the lines of her husband’s words. He is an honest and hardworking person and a dutiful family man. His fondness of Nikolai Gogol is connected with a train accident that nearly killed him. He had always been a reader, nevertheless. The novel spans roughly 30 years during which Ashima grows from a young timid mother to a mature middle-aged lady. Initially she naturally feels very disconnected from the foreign land and constantly craves the intimacy of home, the closeness of family and the comfort of familiarity. Ashima’s story is that of independence as she learns how to drive and live alone as Ashoke and the kids go to different cities for work and studies respectively. The most noteworthy trait of the author evident throughout the novel is her attention to detail and the words she uses to portray a particular setting. What is also apparent is that there is no specific beginning or end to the story. It picks up from one walk of life of and drops it at another, and despite that it achieves the purpose of the journey that it set out on. You do not feel like their world has somehow come to end as you finish reading the book. The art of words used by the author, doesn’t for a minute make any of the mundane daily life activities appear mundane- be it Gogol’s regular day at school or Ashima’s mornings in the kitchen or their dinner table conversations. In Bengali culture, a person usually has two names- a nickname to be used at home and a ‘good name’ to used formally. Both Ashoke and Ashima knew well that Gogol could not be used as their child’s good name and so came up with the name Nikhil. As a kid, Gogol seemed to like his name and insisted on keeping his name as it is. As he started growing up, however, things started to change. American peers at school would make fun of his name as it resembled words like ‘Giggle’ or ‘Gargle’. The additional snag of having a Russian name truly confounds and worsens the awkwardness of young Gogol as he navigates the intersection of Indian and American cultures. This inevitably leads him to despise his name so much so that he ends up legally changing his name to Nikhil before moving to college at 18. This is symbolic of him trying to build a new identity and starting afresh around a bunch of people who never knew that he had been called ‘Gogol’ for 18 years of his life. It is the beginning of him trying to distance himself from his natural culture that he always felt forced upon or perhaps did not really understand, and integrate himself with the American ways as much as he can. "It is as Nikhil ... that he grows a goatee, starts smoking Camel Lights at parties and, while writing papers and before exams, discovers Elvis Costello and Brian Eno and Charlie Parker"; While all of this is happening, though he couldn’t help but feel a deep rooted sense of betrayal- that Gogol has somehow let his parents down by becoming Nikhil. Gogol majors in architecture at Yale and later works as an architect in New York. He had three relationships: his first is with Ruth, his second is with Maxine, and his third is his marriage to Moushumi. Gogol and Moushumi have consistently shunned their Indian heritage and any ideas of being married to somebody of the same ethnicity. They are thrilled that they are "fulfilling a collective, deep-seated desire"; on the part of their families when they unexpectedly click on their first date. The romantic relationship between Gogol and each of the women is exquisitely detailed, down to the details of how they met, what brought them together, their passionate moments, and ultimately their anguish and estrangement. Gogol’s internalised conflicts cause him trouble in his romantic relationships as he struggles to find his way through them. Each of his romances unleash a new hidden piece of himself and bring him to confront an undiscovered part of his identity. The beauty of it all lies in the fact that most of us grow and develop, in or after a relationship and it is not something ground breaking. The author does not try to bring about a unique instance but rather incorporate nuanced layers within the ordinary. Gogol is closest to his sister Shonali aka Sonia and out of all the family members, she is perhaps his comfort person, his escape and his partner in crime. Both are alike in a lot of aspects as they try to fit in the two worlds inside and outside their home and possibly that is why they understand each other reasonably. Several works on Indian-Americans rely on the glitzy storylines of wealthy individuals, stable families, no divorce, Bollywood, music, yoga, and so forth. In The Namesake, Lahiri is unique because she acknowledges reality and the facts. Culture evolves, serving both protective and unifying purposes, but attempts to preserve it as the set traditions, through the adoption of ethnocentric and egocentric viewpoints makes a community regressive and leave the children in the dark. Ashima and Ashoke are first generation immigrants, who grew up in their native culture surrounded by family, and naturally that culture is inculcated in them over the years. Their heart lies in India and they have a deep sense of nostalgia for their life in Calcutta. Conflict only arises when they expect and demand the same from Gogol and Sonia, who were born and brought up in a completely different environment. Gogol and Sonia never liked their trips to Calcutta while it pained Ashima’s heart to think her kids are divorcing their culture and getting ‘Americanised’. While it's true that this book examines ideas like cultural identity, rootlessness, tradition, and familial expectations, as well as how names subtly (and not so subtly) affect how we see ourselves, it's greatly to its credit that it never falls victim to the clichés those themes so frequently entail. Instead, Lahiri transforms it into a tale about a guy and his family, about his life and hopes, loves, and sorrows. This is what makes, you, as a reader connect with the characters and feel what they’re feeling, with them. In conclusion, this book isn't just a good read for immigrants; it's also a beautifully written family saga with universal themes: love, the deep bond between a father and son, teenage angst, feeling pulled in two directions but not quite belonging in either, the unpredictability of life and relationships, and real (and occasionally unhappy) endings. Submitted by: Anushka Guha Student at NLU Odisha

Cinema has been one of the greatest influences in our modern lives, which is a form of art, the sventh art along with painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, play and music. It is important to know the difference between movies, film and cinema. Film is the technology, movie is the business and entertainment, and cinema is a synthesis of the three that focuses on aesthetics. Cinema, a visual art of story–telling with rich inputs of music, screenplay, cast and script that mirrors the contemporary society in which it functions. Cinema is the universal picture and concept that defines humanity. It captures a moment in time that can echo in eternity, with the right work and preservation. From emotional tragedies to candy-floss romances to adrenaline fused thrillers, cinema derives its sustenance, ideas and imaginations from all of its surroundings. It is not only a visual treat to its audience but it also an account of sociological, economic and political set up in which a person is living. Some people mistakenly associate cinema with entertainment and pleasure. Most people go to the ‘cinema’ because they want to have a good time. They want to forget the stress of their job or other worries in their lives and that’s one of the reasons why cinema is so important as an art form – it offers people a momentary escape from reality and their monotonous lives, regardless of what kind of content they’re watching but it is more than that. In the words of Jean-Luc Godard, “cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world”. But for others, cinema a matter of identifying with the characters or a fascination with the craftsmanship that makes high-quality content possible. We love our movies, and for good reasons. Cinema is the only art form that allows us to identify with the characters on an emotional level. We see them as real people struggling with real problems and facing real challenges. We live vicariously through them and find in them our own personal fears and desires, hopes and aspirations. The wave of ‘Literally Me’ characters might be a suitable example of this. That is why we continue to watch movies and go to the movies, even when the next cool thing is just a click away and buying a movie ticket can cost more than a week’s grocery. We watch movies because they can make us experience moments that are outside our everyday lives. They allow us to step into the shoes of a soldier and witness the horrors of a war. They allow us to walk in the rain with a couple falling in love They offer us to fly a plane or drive a car at breakneck speeds. Films have the power to transport us from the time of prehistoric hunters and gatherers to futuristic space explorers. Films provide commonality among across all manners of divide. And they speak for those who do not have a voice. We watch movies because movies matter. They let us suspend our disbelief. They inspire us, scare us, make us laugh, cry, dream, question but most important of all, they make us empathise. Movies allows us an opportunity to look at human beings with all their flaws and still accept them for who they are. As one of the greatest film critics, Roger Ebert said, “We are all born with a certain package. We are who we are. Where we were born, who we were born as, how we were raised. We are kind of stuck inside that person, and the purpose of civilization and growth is to be able to reach out and empathize a little bit with other people, find out what makes them tick, what they care about. For me, the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. If it’s a great movie, it lets you understand a little bit more about what it’s like to be a different gender, a different race, a different age, a different economic class, a different nationality, a different profession, different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us. And that, to me, is the most noble thing that good movies can do and it’s a reason to encourage them and to support them and to go to them.” Cinema was about revelation, an aesthetic, emotional and spiritual revelation. It was about the complexity of characters and their contradictory and sometimes paradoxical natures, the way they could hurt one another and love one another and suddenly come face to face with themselves. It was about confronting the unexpected on the screen and in the life. It dramatized interpreted, and enlarged the sense of what was possible in an art form. But with the digital age and ‘Netflixication’ of this audio-visual art form, cinema is slowly losing its meaning. The most worrisome data of concern is the ratio of people aged between 14-24 that are losing their interests in cinemas. People of this age group gave a 23% decline in watching a movie at cinemas in 2019 according to a website named BGR . There is a dire need for making the youth aware of the purpose and significance of ‘true cinema’ and what it promises to offer. True cinema, or what is referred to as ‘art house’ cinema, has a unique impact on people and society. Unlike mainstream commercial films, true cinema is not made for profit or mass appeal but is a form of artistic expression that seeks to challenge, inspire, and provoke its audience. These films often deal with complex issues and themes that require us to engage our minds and think critically. Through films like ‘Bicycle Thieves,’ ‘Breathless,’ ‘Persona,’ ‘Aparajito,’ ‘Stalker,’ and 'The Seventh Seal' we can gain a deeper understanding of the human condition, exploring the depths of our emotions and our existence. Moreover, truecinema has the power to inspire us to be better people. Through films like 'Amélie,' 'The Lives of Others,' and 'The Tree of Life,' we can see the beauty in life, the power of love, and the importance of human connection. These films can inspire us to be more empathetic, compassionate, and understanding, making us better individuals and citizens. Furthermore, true cinema has a significant impact on society, challenging social norms and exposing injustices. Films like 'Do the Right Thing,' 'Moonlight,' and 'Pariah' deal with issues of race, gender, and sexuality, forcing us to confront our prejudices and biases. These films can serve as a powerful catalyst for change, inspiring us to fight for justice and equality. Now, if cinema is such an important medium, then it is important for us to understand and watch movies more critically and be an active recipient of it so that we get the most out of it. Because when we understand the nuances of a medium, we can enjoy the most subtle moments within that medium. Watching movies critically and thoughtfully, gives us better insight to deal with our social anxieties, broken hearts, loneliness, conformism and the absurd. It helps us connect with one another as better beings. Movies may not be able to cure disease or save millions of lives, but they can certainly transform them, one frame at a time. negatives and prints of many films are deteriorating, and unless they are properly preserved, generations. With the advent of digital technology, films can now be easily reproduced and distributed, but this does not mean that they are immune to the ravages of time. The original negatives and prints of many films are deteriorating, and unless they are properly preserved, they may be lost forever. Film restoration may not be the coolest topic when it comes to cinema, but it is an important one. The importance of cinema preservation extends beyond the films themselves. The preservation of cinema is the preservation of our cultural heritage, our history, and our identity. Could you imagine films like The Godfather, Citizen Kane, Mother India, Citylights, Star Wars, Taxi Driver, Mera Naam Joker, Mughal-e-Azam, Deewar, Lawrence of Arabia or any other film close to your heart being lost to posterity, never to ever be seen in its original quality or, even worse, never to be seen at all because the original copy was improperly stored? It may seem unimaginable, but this has happened countless times before to other films. One recent example being a 100-year-old silent film Behula made in 1921 by Kolkata’s famed Madan Theatre, directed by a French filmmaker Legrand Camille featuring one of India’s first superstar Patience Cooper made in the heyday of the silent film era. This film was considered to be lost forever until five-reel print was found in the vaults of the Paris-based Foundation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, where it had been preserved for all these decades and has been recently acquired by National Film Archives of India. It was screened at the 7th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2022 in Mumbai at Regal Theatre on 5th December, 2022. This was an initiative of Film Heritage Foundation and the International Federation of Film Archives under the direction Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and under the guidance of Shri. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Martin Scorsese. The impact of cinema on people and society cannot be overstated. These films have the power to challenge, inspire, and provoke us, broadening our horizons and making us better persons. As it is very correctly, "Art is the closest we can come to understanding how a stranger really feels." Cinema is a form of art that has the power to connect us all, creating a better world for everyone. Submitted by: Shoaib Shaikh B. L. S. LL. B at Government Law College, Mumbai.

The typical winters are shy to show their true nature in tropics, but they are omnipresent. The railway station is not so packed yet the crowd is enjoyable. Carrying a millions of stories and many yet to come the wagons are whining. The luggage was taking rest over the dust, as it knew for long this is to come. The fulcrums are moving leaving behind wide farmlands, waterbodies and tunnels, sleeping over drylands and vast valleys, waking up at the ridge. At times winter showed her true nature. The morning was interesting as had to share the seat with a passenger who loves to smoke local weed every 300th second. As the borders changed, people changed, destinations changed. The smiling food delivery agent was a refreshment himself. Crossing ravines of Chambal, picturesque Gwalior was standing royally greeting his guests. The city of hearts where people are in search of a better life, is waking up to the winters. The white flag hoisted over the land goes beyond the eye sight. The experiences made me more excited to reach my destination which I was longing. While crossing the bridge which spans over the river that borders, saw the boat carrying goods to faraway land, the boatman was standing at the bow as if he is bearing a flag. Heading to the colonial structure which makes you feel England is a stone throw away. I stood at the gate looked at the face and tried to respect, but he is in a slumber but I felt like the forehead telling me “see I am going to be here peacefully, let me go back to my sleep”. The garden and statue adorned in the corner excited me more than the classrooms. Routinely meeting new faces from different parts of the nation was enriching, one realises the diversity this country provides is unparallel. Each person you meet have a different and definite reason to tell and decisions around it and how those decisions influence the socio-political life. You walk around you see people with different ideology, orientation, thought process but all are connected by a common thread. Slowly I started attending classes, on a mundane day I walked into Dr. Mathangi Iyyer’s class. One travels from faraway hinterland to urban crowd, see timescale changing in seconds sitting there. When she swayed her hands I felt as if justice was being served. Like a child I sat at room no. 21, a magic of arguments was unfolding in front of me. Flipping through the cases, understanding the facets of justice being changed in moments, which takes you back to one. Here I met the quintessential poem reciting wannabe flamboyant yet naïve friend, out of somewhere. You just pick him up or he picks you that’s it the code becomes part of your life. The roads and pathways were dressing up to give way for summers by shaking and dusting up, with the nexus of local winds. The birch leaves and young minds both were yearning for moisture. I find the bougainvillea flowers at my balcony are more pink than they usually are, sometimes as a secret mission the newspaper boy throws newspaper into these bushes and I have to find it. While having my black tea at the balcony I didn’t know this is the day I am going to see the girl with most beautiful eyes. Whenever her sight falls on me I was praying let the period of limitation shall not apply this time. Walking with elegance and innocence at same time cladding the white scarf, I understood how it will be raining in desert. The aisles and corridors conspired for our eye locks, the stairs bowed for us, the wind gave notice of her arrival. It seemed like bougainvillea of my balcony took inspiration from her cheeks. In every girl I saw her face, the routine pathway to campus felt new to me. It was like nature saying be loved. Whether you like it or not exams will come to you, call of duty. Forth coming days were becoming attached to library hall which has hanging lights and fans from tall roofs where you smell age old books and find a connection with letters. While walking pass through the portraits of alumni, one feel proud and happiness you see we all sat on this creaky chairs at some point of our life. Confused between whether it is my bed or library give sound sleep, spending sands in front of books you start realising fellow humans need to be appreciated, protected and at times you have to fight for them if there is a reason. When veil of silence is lifted it gives way for a perspective we never found existed, which is what art of conversations gifts you. At times we forget to talk, open up because we are scared we will be judged. Open talks need to be appreciated because after very long time these conversations prevails. Exams gave way to internship days, where you are just a child born again. Internship gives you freedom of donning multiple roles sometimes a student, an advisor, an orderly, a son; an extra ordinary opportunity to explore one’s talents. It’s at the chambers I saw between those big ears, multiple roles are done by my senior shaking off every dust of previous one easily and get into next smoothly. Teaching me the basics of court etiquettes to saving from vultures of higher echelons, a camaraderie with multiple facets was brewing. Dictation to drafting to reading to scolding all were making you a better person than yesterday. Walking past the pillars and busy lanes where you see injustice everywhere and can't pursue the same, one just shrug it off or compromise you start realising this system is not bad its people are not cruel they are looking for hope in every face they meet. With the baggage of old blocks plastered with hopes, I ascended the steps of abode of judiciary where same verdict is justice and injustice. While walking to the sanctum I saw milady of justice camouflaged in bougainvillea with those unflickering eyes; She moved close and whispered in my ears - Welcome to lawyer’s paradise! Submitted by: Mohammed Ilyas Campus Law Centre, Delhi University