complete 23 essays

The World We Inherited

We didn't choose the society we were born into. But we navigate it every day — its pressures, its kindnesses, its contradictions, and its slow, stubborn change. These twenty-three essays look at the world we inherited and ask what we want to pass on.

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Essays in this series

30 December 2022

Indian moms and maternity myths

It's been a month since we had a little girl, and my wife and I are actively fighting maternity myths — like the one that says fish bones can enter the bloodstream and block milk ducts.

24 November 2022

To let (Non-veg only)

Nobody bats an eye at "Veg only" rental listings, but "Non-veg only" is treated like a joke. Discrimination based on food habits is real — and it runs far deeper than the vegetarian divide.

20 November 2022

Our actions run the world

We reach our destinations safely because a thousand others obey the rules. We're all connected, and our actions directly or indirectly affect the lives of many — whether we know it or not.

30 November 2022

Patriarchy starts at the hospital

When my wife and I had a baby girl, everyone at the hospital assumed it was a boy. The subtle, unconscious bias toward male children starts right at birth — and it seeds patriarchy in our society.

12 November 2022

The baby pressure

As soon as you get married in India, people ask "when is the good news?" They don't realize how pressuring that question is. Fall in love first. When you're at your happiest, think about having a kid.

8 November 2022

Traditions change with time

Societal and traditional values change with every generation. What was considered wrong or taboo is now considered normal. As humans, we value convenience — and that ensures our traditions keep changing.

4 November 2022

Society makes us feel guilty for spending our money

Coming from a middle-class background, an imaginary guilt stops us from buying what we want. If you've saved enough and have your safety nets in place, go buy the thing you've wanted. Buy it today.

31 October 2022

The wealth that powers life

We obsess over physical appearance and material wealth, but never talk about mental maturity. Our society has no scale for it. The result is a world full of immature adults who never had to measure up.

27 October 2022

Everybody is selling you something

Parents sell us God. Friends sell us love. Society sells us marriage. We're always sold on ideas and buy them without questioning if they're really for us. Build your own school of thought.

23 October 2022

Don't assume what's good for your kids

When I was thirteen, my parents took me to a psychologist because I flunked my exams. They never asked what was wrong. Talk to your kids. Understand them. Don't surprise them with a psychologist.

19 October 2022

Choose happiness over sacrifice

My mom never joined us for meals — she'd eat after we finished. She was conditioned to believe sacrifice is a woman's virtue. It isn't. Happiness shouldn't be conditional on what someone said a thousand years ago.

15 October 2022

Friendships die because of assumptions

Most friendships fizzle out because of unsaid words, life getting in the way, or silence with no explanation. Good friends are hard to come by — celebrate the ones who stayed.

11 October 2022

Having babies doesn't make you privileged

Having a baby doesn't give you the privilege to cut lines, boss people around, or be rude to waiters. The world doesn't work for us — and it won't work for our kids either.

7 October 2022

Evolution has been kind to us

The human body is extremely forgiving. It fixes itself every time we abuse it. But we take our age for granted and damage ourselves early — the moment we course correct, it starts healing again.

3 October 2022

Why should you learn about Emotional Etiquette

When someone comes to you in pain, the best thing to do is listen. Your own trauma should be 10% of the conversation. The rest should be about them. The world needs more listeners than it thinks.

29 September 2022

Being kind goes a long way

My dad was kind to his employees, not because it was polite, but because he knew that was the only way to earn respect. When he passed away in 2015, they wept with us. Kindness doesn't cost a thing.

25 September 2022

Old people are insensitive

A man I'd just helped into an elevator asked where I worked, where my wife worked, and ended with "try to have a kid." He didn't ask my name. He didn't say thanks. Old age should bring maturity.

21 September 2022

Our world is eternal. We are not.

None of the people who walk the beach today will be doing so in a hundred years. Everyone will be replaced. Life is short — let's make use of it by living it right.

17 September 2022

Remember the others

Our world revolves around family. But small gaps in our lives are filled by the 'other' people — the neighborhood barber, the tea master, the old couple who gifted a wall clock at your wedding.

13 September 2022

The secret life of uncles

Retired uncles know how to enjoy life. They're sneaky, daring, and they visit tea shops, bars, and restaurants without worrying about their age or the doctor's advice. They've got nothing to lose.

9 September 2022

Indian parents have become lazy

Indian parents who once swore by arranged marriages are now quietly slipping "Are you in love with someone?" into conversations. They're outsourcing the hard part — and calling it progress.

5 September 2022

Guilt-free brownies, go to hell!

Health influencers have thrown the 128-year-old brownie recipe out the window. Life is short. Spend those few extra calories for your happiness, and go have that real brownie.

1 September 2022

Lockdown is a sneak peek into our old age

The lockdown gave us a glimpse of what old age looks like — staying home, longing for connection, and missing those long, casual walks. We are nothing but wanderers who domesticated ourselves.