The Chai that Cheers: The Inside Story
Ruchira tells us the story of tea. She traces the antiquity of this wonder drink and how it spread to other parts of the world. Read more in the...
The Enchanting Journey of Coffee from Ethiopia to the Rest of the World
Ruchira documents the journey of coffee, from the arid tracts of Ethiopia to Yemen and Turkey. It then reached Europe and the USA. Coffee is not just a drink....
In Defence of Social Media
Ruchira celebrates the influx of social media sites that have made like enchantingly interesting. Read more in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths. To see a World in...
Indian Eve: Still a Long Way to Go
Ruchira tells us about the trials and tribulations of being a girl-child or a woman in the patriarchal Indian society, in the weekly column. A Different Truths exclusive. For...
Seductive Chocolate: A Befitting Food of the Gods
The antiquity of chocolate may be traced back to nearly 4,000 years ago. The Cacao tree from which chocolate is derived is an evergreen tree growing naturally in the tropical...
Summer Vacations: Then and Now
Ruchira reminisces about summer vacations. Life in the past was simpler and uncluttered. The simple joys of yesteryears are passé. The concept of family outings has changed now. The...
Enchanting Bengali Wedding Rituals, Rites, and Banters
Ruchira tells us about the many rituals of Bengali wedding, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths. Twenty-six years ago I got hitched. However, I had neither the...
Religious Fervor and Symbolism of Weddings in Andhra Pradesh
Ruchira tells us about weddings in Andhra Pradesh, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths. Nearly four years ago, along with my family, I had flown down to...
The Colourful Kashmiri Wedding
The picturesque northernmost Indian state of Jammu& Kashmir has its own distinct cultural heritage. Here, in a nutshell, are their wedding customs and traditions of the Kashmiri Hindus. A...
Rustling Silks and Flamboyant Hues at Maharashtrian Weddings
Ruchira tells us about Marathi weddings, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths. Marathi weddings are middle-level affairs, a sharp contrast from the big fat Indian wedding projected...