Published in Dislang·May 7Ten reflections while making a DIY tableKavya Mukhija One. As I grab everything that I need to make a DIY table, I realize that, as a person with a disability, I’ve been living a DIY life as well — a life where ‘do it yourself’ was the only way to do things. Two. The realization hits…Disability3 min read
Published in Dislang·Apr 6When food eats me upNamrata Living with chronic illnesses makes you look at life differently. The very food, which was till then, a comforting factor, an exciting activity and a fun thing is suddenly reduced to something that is relying more on algorithms, numbers, bites and calories. My relationship with food was special. I…Chronic Illness5 min read
Published in Dislang·Mar 31The choice to chooseSweta Mantrii I think I may have evolved a tad bit ever since I wrote about this thing called companionship. Or, maybe, I am simply soaking in the feeling of experiencing liberation after getting my heart broken in a way I thought would never happen. Nevertheless, I am still confused…Disability5 min read
Published in Dislang·Feb 15The Greatest Obstacle & Other PoemsAishwarya Othena The greatest obstacle The long white cane is an ingenious device. For obstacle detection it usually does suffice But beyond the roads and rubble that sometimes make me stumble - It finds itself helpless against unsolicited human kindness which may not, perhaps, make me fall, And yet becomes the greatest obstacle of all. If I…Poetry2 min read
Published in Dislang·Feb 13Love ParanoiaAbhishek Anicca There is a question always lurking in the shadows. Behind the conversations that come alive on the other side of night, sliding into DMs. In casual flirtation turning into somber consolation. Soul connection fizzing out with the revelation of truth. After every rejection. Always the same question. Is…Love4 min read
Published in Dislang·Jan 26Disabled, Disposed, DisplacedNatasha Chandhock At lower than 10 percent battery, I’m unable to get up and get the charger, My leg is cramping, my back is spasming, My head is hurting, And with intrusive thoughts having taken over, I’m asking myself why I’m breaking my body into parts, Why I’m doing to myself what they do to me, As…Disability2 min read
Published in Dislang·Dec 27, 2021The breathless otherNamrata (**Trigger Warning: Medical Abuse**) Me: Doctor, I am facing a lot of difficulties in breathing for the past few weeks. This is accompanied by severe dizziness and I have had a few unexplained falls in my house. I am… Doctor: Then you should stop breathing. You know, never do things which are difficult…Autoimmune Disease6 min read
Published in Dislang·Oct 28, 2021Caught in a conundrumHarshita It is very tough for me to put a very personal part out there. Mostly because we live in a society where sharing your feelings and your experiences of marginalization are looked down upon and your self-expression is often labelled as nothing but attention-seeking. Since this piece is…Coda5 min read
Published in Dislang·Oct 16, 2021ShameSwati Agrawal I think I wear shame well. Shame is an old friend. I remember the unison cries of ‘Jassi’ (after a TV character) as I walked down my school corridors. I could hardly look at the mirror without grimacing. I would look at my stretch marks, my tan, and…Fibromyalgia3 min read
Published in Dislang·Oct 14, 2021My Aching HeartSeerat Sethi It all starts somewhere for each of us. In our heads, picking out reasons for why this must have happened to us? A spiritual reason? A purpose? A mistake for which we must be punished? Even for the non-religiously/non spiritually inclined amongst us, we somehow get stuck in…Autoimmune Disease6 min read