Articles by Aarefa Johari
Bohra community divide over successor simmers
Bombay HC is expected to deliver its judgement on the rightful successor to lead the Bohras, but the nearly decade-long rift keeps community members apart
Published on Jun 26, 2023 08:44 PM IST
Telling Ramayana through images of original 18th century miniature paintings
India has a rich culture of arts and crafts that needs to be made approachable for children. Storytelling is an important way of working with children, so such a book, whose primary purpose is to reintroduce art to kids, is very fascinating. Karni Jasol, director, Mehrangarh Museum, Jodhpur.
Updated on Jan 07, 2014 03:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, New Delhi
Life on the edge: A national cop-out
This past week, one policewoman died and another committed suicide in Mumbai. Across the country, abysmal working conditions and endless work hours are pushing our khaki forces to exhaustion, despair. Rhythma Kaul and Aarefa Johari report.
Updated on Dec 08, 2013 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rhythma Kaul and Aarefa Johari
Filmmaker documents history of Irani cafés
A filmmaker from Mumbai’s Irani community has now made a 46-minute documentary on the history of iconic Irani cafés and entrepreneurs who founded them.
Updated on Oct 08, 2013 09:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Battlelines drawn in urban India: is economic inequality creating anger?
Crimes such as thefts, attempted murders and assaults on women, children and the elderly are on the rise across Indian cities, and there is a growing belief that such criminality is a product of the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the haves and have-nots. Aarefa Johari reports. The class divide | Criminal intentViolent crimes: a rising graph
Updated on Sep 15, 2013 03:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Menstrupedia: a novel handbook for 'that time of the month'
Three young professionals are creating comic books to reach out to young girls and boys and bust common myths about menstruation. Aarefa Johari reports.
Updated on Sep 08, 2013 02:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
A world within
It’s a typical Dharavi story, made even more typical by Slumdog Millionaire and the slew of books about the sprawling settlement that came before and after the movie.
Updated on Sep 07, 2013 04:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
World-renowned violinist to collaborate with mentor
Conductor Zubin Mehta won’t be the only star on stage when Munich’s Bavarian State Orchestra performs at the National Centre for the Performing Arts next week.
Updated on Sep 03, 2013 08:37 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
The battle over blind faith
In a culture where social and educational systems do not foster, and in fact discourage, questioning minds, they are also asking whether legislation alone can wipe out deep-rooted blind faith and its harmful after-effects. Aarefa Johari writes.
Updated on Sep 01, 2013 03:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, New Delhi
Wheels of change
An Indian initiative that takes young entrepreneurs around the country by train, to interact with mentors and community leaders and gain vital exposure, is now being replicated in the US. Aarefa Johari reports.
Updated on Aug 25, 2013 02:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Terrorism Explained: graphic novel guns down popular myths
Published by World Comics India and Mumbai-based Arth Prakashan, the book is the second in Puniyani and Sharma’s ‘Explained’ series — their first graphic book, Communalism Explained, was published in 2011.
Updated on Aug 20, 2013 04:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Now, an app to help identify classical Indian ragas
To the untrained enthusiast, Indian classical music can be daunting. Some can’t tell Raag Bhairav from Raag Bhairavi, others can’t tell any ragas at all. Even music students find it challenging to identify complex ragas.
Updated on Aug 20, 2013 02:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Home sweet home
A unique project seeks to reinvent low-income housing, swapping the vertical model for a more sustainable, community initiative that would mimic but improve existing slums, Aarefa Johari reports.
Updated on Aug 18, 2013 01:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Dream on
If you have a taste for music or ever wanted to play for a band, you have an opportunity coming your way next week.
Updated on Aug 12, 2013 05:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
‘I’m a pro now, but I’m still not an expert’
19-year-old Kamaluddin Khan is a plastics recycler, one of thousands in Dharavi who serve as vital if informal links in the long chain of buying and selling, sorting and moulding that makes up the slum’s massive plastics-recycling industry.
Updated on Jul 15, 2013 01:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
One for the road
What’s tall and broad and red all over? For Fiona Fernandes, that would be Mumbai’s iconic doubledecker buses. They once dominated the city’s roads; now, they are slowly disappearing.
Updated on Jul 15, 2013 01:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Birju Maharaj to sing at three-day classical music fest
This weekend, at the festival of Indian classical music,cultural enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to hear him sing classical thumris.
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 08:52 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Hidden in plain sight
The Sikligars, a Sikh tribe of weapon-makers, lived in the jungles for 300 years. Now, their community is integrating them. Aarefa Johari reports.
Updated on Jun 23, 2013 01:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Non-fiction literature fest draws diverse crowd
From food security and communalism to the difficulties of making bold films, the first day of the India Non Fiction Festival, which opened on Friday, featured various panel discussions with economists, journalists, businesspeople and filmmakers. Aarefa Johari reports.
Updated on Jun 22, 2013 02:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
‘I now wish I had studied better as a kid’
More than 30 years ago, Paul Durai, then a carefree adolescent from a village in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, failed his Class 10 board exams. If he had to give the exams again today — particularly the science papers — Durai is confident that he would sail through.
Updated on Jun 16, 2013 11:53 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
‘I now wish I had studied better as a kid’
More than 30 years ago, Paul Durai, then a carefree adolescent from a village in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, failed his Class 10 board exams. If he had to give the exams again today — particularly the science papers — Durai is confident that he would sail through. Aarefa Johari writes.
Updated on Jun 16, 2013 02:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Recreating versatile women’s jazz from the 1950s and ‘60s
This Saturday, revisit the magic of classic jazz numbers like ‘My one and only love’ and ‘One note samba’, through the voice of Mumbai-based jazz singer Samantha Edwards.
Updated on Jun 15, 2013 09:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari, Mumbai
Dialling in
Amid a spate of suicides, a new BMC helpline has received a flood of calls in its first few weeks as, isolated, lonely and under rising stress, Mumbaiites reach out to strangers trained to help.
Updated on Jun 09, 2013 01:17 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Land locked
Rampant development is costing coastal areas their water lines and wetlands, as flyovers, buildings and car parks encroach into the sea. A recent report found a 97% rise in city structures over 40 years
Updated on Jun 02, 2013 01:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Cry freedom
A new film tells the story of a Mumbai-based freedom fighter, Gour Hari Das, and his 32-year struggle to be recognised by the government
Updated on Jun 01, 2013 11:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Take a trip back in time
Picnic in the shade of ancient statues, trek to Portuguese watchtowers or walk along winding lanes in an urban village as you explore the city’s caves, forts and gaothans. Aarefa Johari writes.
Updated on May 24, 2013 01:46 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Hidden, in plain sight
Rediscovery: The Sikligars, a Sikh tribe of nomadic, rural weapon makers, lived in the jungles of central India for 300 years, unseen and nearly forgotten. Now, their community is reaching out to try and integrate them.
Updated on May 19, 2013 02:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Into the mind of the rapist
The rapist as the other, the sociopath or depraved migrant, is an illusion. In an urban milieu where violent patriarchy is the norm, brutal crimes against women are an everyday affair, often unnoticed behind closed doors. Aarefa Johari writes. Too close for comfort
Updated on May 05, 2013 03:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Meet the screen saver
A new film finally recognises the work of PK Nair, founder of the NFAI. Aarefa Johari writes.
Updated on May 05, 2013 03:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari
Do the hip-hop
Learn how to shake a leg, hip-hop style, on the eve of International Dance Day this Sunday. Sion-based dance studio Arts in Motion will host three dance workshops organised by the Melvin Louis Dance Company to mark the special day. Aarefa Johari writes.
Updated on Apr 27, 2013 02:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aarefa Johari