Author. Junglee. Traveller. Sleepless dreamer.
Between ‘pawtriots’ and protesters, finding middle ground in India’s dog war From urban colonies to forest edges, India’s canine crisis is no longer about animals alone — it’s about us. What does a solution look like? Definitely not Facebook fights in all-caps, but a reasonable, empathetic and evidence-based approach We are a planet divided. Not... Continue Reading →
Two policemen, and what their actions say about a bruised Insaniyat in India India is losing its Insaniyat. But it can be found again -- not in mandirs, mosques or manifestos, but in how we treat a tree, an animal or a person who can do nothing for us AREFA TEHSIN Apr 20, 2025 13:26... Continue Reading →
Mewar’s Own Bapu—A Pioneer’s Story Reflecting on a Life of Service By Arefa Tehsin In the early 20th century, as the Indian subcontinent simmered with nationalist fervour and a yearning for social reform, a profoundly influential figure emerged in Udaipur-Mewar—Taffazul Hussain Tehsin. Born in 1907 in the starkly beautiful "City of Lakes" of a desert... Continue Reading →
Shunyata: the influence of Buddhism on life in Sri Lanka ByArefa Tehsin During catastrophes like the tsunami and the economic crisis, the people of Sri Lanka went out of their way to help those who were worst hit. A meditation on how Buddhism has influenced life in Sri Lanka for more than two millennia... Continue Reading →
Jotted down this poem on our anniversary last month.
Faith on a Wing In Sri Lanka, the recent ban on face veils raises questions about free will and stirs up memories of a feisty woman who defied conventions. Written by Arefa Tehsin | New Delhi | Updated: June 9, 2019 7:29:30 am The limits of free will: The ban on face veil in Sri Lanka doesn’t... Continue Reading →
It was happy summer afternoon when Aditya and I were driving down on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. We had our holiday hat on. Suddenly, a vision surfaced - a horse trotting right towards us! After our near fatal accident, Aditya decided to take on the road authorities and fought a case against them for the last... Continue Reading →
Luck, By Chance: In a country divided by our differences, we stand as one in our superstitions Rife with superstition and irrationality, the echelons of our politics and bureaucracy make for an interesting case study. Written by Arefa Tehsin | Updated: June 25, 2017 10:41 am In an age when morality is the excuse of brigands,... Continue Reading →
Love Will Keep Us Alive Written by Arefa Tehsin | New Delhi | Now, more than ever, we need love jihad. For, isn’t that how societies and the world change, one heart at a time? Where even inter-caste marriage becomes an issue, how open are we about inter-religious marriages? (Source: Thinkstock images) Disclaimer: This... Continue Reading →
In our times when we are centered around the so called development at the cost of farmers and environment, Himalay Tehsin, working with the rural India for decades sends these two short heart-wrenching poems after the unseasonal hailstorms and rains this month... क्या बस यूँ ही? चढ़ा पड़ा ओला टूटा खपरैल फूल मजोरिटी की सरकार... Continue Reading →
