At 7 years old, like thousands of Bohra girls before her, Masooma Ranalvi, now 51, underwent female circumcision. And, like the thousands of young girls before her, she too, was lured by women in her family with the promise of an outing to get ice cream or a special treat.
India may be the world's largest secular democracy but that doesn't mean it's easy to practice atheism there.Young atheists trying to gain more recognition say government policies and laws still exclude them and cultural acceptance is hard to come by.
People across the globe are watching to see if there's ultimately a resolution to this US government shutdown. And what they're saying — and hearing — isn't great. Many folks around the globe say the shutdown looks crazy. It looks silly. It looks like lawmakers are arguing about something that doesn't entirely matter.
Ruffina Farrokh Anklesaria immigrated to the US from Trinidad 15 years ago. She settled in Ferguson, Missouri, and says she's seen the town's diversity transform. Right now, Anklesaria is teaming up with other members of the community to highlight the positive side of the small Missouri town, but she says as an immigrant, she still sees racial divisions in the US.
Women in India often hear from an early age that they shouldn't be out in public without a purpose and a place to go. And certainly they shouldn't be out late at night without the company of a man. "Don't loiter," they're urged. But a group of women in Mumbai is challenging that notion by going on late-night walks together and just hanging out. Rhitu Chatterjee tags along for a "loitering session" that manages to feel both sinister and uplifting.
The rape and murder of a young woman in India has provoked protests and promises of legislation. But here in the United States it's also stirring a broader discussion of Indian society and of a woman's place within it.
About 600 million Indians live without toilets, and women and girls bear the brunt of that shortage. While men can and do relieve themselves almost anywhere, many women must choose between scarce, dangerous public facilities or expensive pay toilets when they need to pee.
When Ayesha and Marco D'Souza started the adoption process, they knew some baby girls in India were not even allowed to be born because of sex selection. And they know that some view girls as a burden. Still, they weren’t choosing a girl out of charity, they say. They just wanted a daughter.
Every day more 250,000 lunch box deliveries are made around the Indian city of Mumbai -- and hardly any delivery goes wrong. This is all part of a century old tradition known as the Dabbawallah System. It was recently featured in the Indian film, The Lunchbox.
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Global Politics
In Mumbai, 'shock and horror' over Trump’s statements about women
PRI's The World
October 14, 2016
“This is happening in a country we look up to as a progressive, and really a developed nation.”
Culture
Her first days in America were lonely, but this immigrant from India built a life here
May 11, 2015
Life in India was crowded and full of people. In America, Naazish YarKhan learned to build relationships all over agin.
Conflict & Justice
Why It's Not Easy to be Atheist in India
PRI's The World
December 10, 2012
India may be the world's largest secular democracy but that doesn't mean it's easy to practice atheism there.Young atheists trying to gain more recognition say government policies and laws still exclude them and cultural acceptance is hard to come by.
Global Politics
Want to know what the world is saying about our government shutdown? We asked
PRI's The World
October 16, 2013
People across the globe are watching to see if there's ultimately a resolution to this US government shutdown. And what they're saying — and hearing — isn't great. Many folks around the globe say the shutdown looks crazy. It looks silly. It looks like lawmakers are arguing about something that doesn't entirely matter.
Justice
A Trinidadian immigrant reflects on her hometown of Ferguson, Missouri
PRI's The World
August 21, 2014
Ruffina Farrokh Anklesaria immigrated to the US from Trinidad 15 years ago. She settled in Ferguson, Missouri, and says she's seen the town's diversity transform. Right now, Anklesaria is teaming up with other members of the community to highlight the positive side of the small Missouri town, but she says as an immigrant, she still sees racial divisions in the US.
Lifestyle
#WhyLoiter reclaims public — and inner — space for Indian women
PRI's The World
September 17, 2015
Women in India often hear from an early age that they shouldn't be out in public without a purpose and a place to go. And certainly they shouldn't be out late at night without the company of a man. "Don't loiter," they're urged. But a group of women in Mumbai is challenging that notion by going on late-night walks together and just hanging out. Rhitu Chatterjee tags along for a "loitering session" that manages to feel both sinister and uplifting.
Conflict & Justice
Delhi Rape Provokes Discussion Among Indian-born Women in the US
PRI's The World
January 07, 2013
The rape and murder of a young woman in India has provoked protests and promises of legislation. But here in the United States it's also stirring a broader discussion of Indian society and of a woman's place within it.
Development
Women in India agitate for their right to pee
PRI's The World
November 25, 2014
About 600 million Indians live without toilets, and women and girls bear the brunt of that shortage. While men can and do relieve themselves almost anywhere, many women must choose between scarce, dangerous public facilities or expensive pay toilets when they need to pee.
Culture
This Mumbai couple waited to adopt a daughter: 'We just wanted a girl'
PRI's The World
September 16, 2015
Updated
When Ayesha and Marco D'Souza started the adoption process, they knew some baby girls in India were not even allowed to be born because of sex selection. And they know that some view girls as a burden. Still, they weren’t choosing a girl out of charity, they say. They just wanted a daughter.
Arts, Culture & Media
What Harvard learned by studying India's lunchbox delivery system
PRI's The World
April 16, 2014
Every day more 250,000 lunch box deliveries are made around the Indian city of Mumbai -- and hardly any delivery goes wrong. This is all part of a century old tradition known as the Dabbawallah System. It was recently featured in the Indian film, The Lunchbox.