The Idea-Smithy – an Indian feminist blog by Ramya Pandyan

Body & Sex | Books | Map Of Emotion | Poetry

Journal Entries, 2016
March 17, 2022February 25, 2025
0 Comments

A love poem in pieces of my heart and pages from my journal.

Keep Reading Journal Entries, 2016
City | Home & Identity

Bombay Meri Hain: A Konkani Slice
March 12, 2022August 14, 2023
1 Comment

My history is a slice of Bombay culture. A Konkani song sent me down nostalgia lane.

Keep Reading Bombay Meri Hain: A Konkani Slice
Fiction | Map Of Emotion

In Memorium: Thinking Of Jaideep
March 7, 2022February 25, 2025
0 Comments

Flowers & an endless supply of pens for you, Jaideep Khare. Written for an @alphabetsambar writing exercise on Clubhouse.

Keep Reading In Memorium: Thinking Of Jaideep
Books | Home & Identity | Map Of Emotion | Politics & Feminism | Pop Culture

A Skin Of Dignity: Kiran Nagarkar’s Legacy
March 5, 2022April 21, 2023
0 Comments

Kiran Nagarkar’s legacy is making me ponder questions of dignity.

Keep Reading A Skin Of Dignity: Kiran Nagarkar’s Legacy
Home & Identity | Map Of Emotion

SOARING SOLO
February 23, 2022March 3, 2023
1 Comment

Life feels easier when you realise they don’t understand you. Can’t, won’t try & probably never will. But that is okay because when there’s no one around to live your life for you, is when you start to breathe. And you realise you don’t need anyone to understand you. It…

Keep Reading SOARING SOLO
Body & Sex | Poetry | Relationships

Why You Didn’t Call The Next Day
February 20, 2022September 17, 2023
0 Comments

A poem about when you kiss a friend.

Keep Reading Why You Didn’t Call The Next Day
Home & Identity | Poetry

I Don’t Belong Here
February 19, 2022September 17, 2023
0 Comments

These carefree whistlersgirls throwing hearts & bodies outto men who will let them falland men who will pick them uponly to throw them backI have been thrown away,thrown over, thrown backI don’t belong here The screaming thundersdripping rage & accusationsto fertile minds that will turn theminto gangrene & cancerThe storms…

Keep Reading I Don’t Belong Here
Body & Sex | Map Of Emotion | Politics & Feminism | Pop Culture | Relationships

Gehraiyaan: Good Galentine’s Release & Okay Solo Date Watch
February 14, 2022February 27, 2025
0 Comments

Gehraiyaan isn’t a great Valentine’s Day release. But it does make for some rich girltalk fodder.

Keep Reading Gehraiyaan: Good Galentine’s Release & Okay Solo Date Watch
City | Map Of Emotion

When Mumbai Awakens Again
February 13, 2022March 3, 2023
0 Comments

I’ve always loved Mumbai but now feels like a new lease on life. A second chance to truly experience every breath.

Keep Reading When Mumbai Awakens Again
Poetry | Politics & Feminism

Fairytale
February 12, 2022September 17, 2023
1 Comment

I want a new fairytale.

Keep Reading Fairytale

IdeaSmith on The Feels This Week: A Curated Life Is A Considered One: “@Harshaman: What a delightful set of throwbacks it was to receive this comment! First, to the days when one would…”
Harshaman on The Feels This Week: A Curated Life Is A Considered One: “Which for me means, looking back at the past with a discerning and curatorial eye I had been thinking about…”
Neha Kapoor on Unlikeable Women: It’s Okay To Dislike Her, But Respect Her: “You always have such good book recommendations!”
IdeaSmith on A Post-40 Primer On Friendship With Men: Hope & Betrayal: “@Soumya: Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, I’ve had a good male role model. Unfortunately for me, I’ve encountered…”
IdeaSmith on Trusting My Judgement Again: Thanks Meena Kandasamy & The Rookie: “@krist0ph3r: ‘Judgement as mental shorthand’ is a great way to look at it. It’s narrow to think of judgementalism as…”
Soumya on A Post-40 Primer On Friendship With Men: Hope & Betrayal: “Hi Ramya, Firstly, my congratulations on a well written post. It didn’t pull its punches. Secondly, it was lovely to…”
krist0ph3r on Trusting My Judgement Again: Thanks Meena Kandasamy & The Rookie: “Wow, that was a lot to process and at some point it got too much for me to handle reading.…”
IdeaSmith on When Did Reading Become Performance?: “@Sid: Oh god, you’re right.”
Sid on When Did Reading Become Performance?: “I think the Poser Reader sentiment also comes from the branding reading as a hobby has had. Successful people say…”
Topher on Lit Crush: Gabrielle Zevin ‘s Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow, The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry: “I too struggle greatly with problematic people who make great things. As a child Bill Cosby brought YEARS of joy…”