Ultra Violet is a place for Indian feminists. It’s a place for sharing stories and views and questions. It’s a place for exploration, opinion and information. It’s a place where we can come together to understand what other feminists around the country–or around the world–are saying. If you want to write for UV, please read this. More about UV here.

We’re Talking About…

September 14, 2009

Two Poems by Aditi Machado

Iris and the sun
Iris thought of the sun as a stain
on the sky; it spread so keenly
when it set, perhaps the lake
was blotting paper.
Why she paid to sit in a boat,
no one knows. The oars scratched
at the surface — relentless nibs –,
disturbed the hulking dusk-yellow
ever so minutely, and nothing
was written that night.
*
Ragini to ex-lover
I am [...]

July 29, 2009

‘Silk’ and ‘Palestine Woman’

By Lehar Zaidi

Silk or the reason for my madness
here’s the reason for my madness
-chef emeril, food network
The world is changing for me
opening up
unravelling
like the strings of a cocoon
silk
smooth silk
I had tied around myself
covered myself with
like a shell
of bees
and guzzling honey
from my soul
smooth sacred silk
of the wedding shroud
saree silk
sharara silk
wrapping around my throat
like a noose.
smooth and [...]

March 09, 2009

“Frida To Sharanya”

Sleep wherever is most convenient for you.
Whoever and whatever is left in the morning,
take home. Be kind. All the world is yours for
the taking, long as you know that your little heart is
theirs for the breaking. Leave lipstick on their
china and on your letters. Make sure they know
that you’re a mariposa, blue as copper sulphate,
or [...]