Farah Ahamed

What happens to a mother tongue when its original vehicle passes away? Might language, in this case, be the ideal conduit for grief and acceptance?

The parched earth waits / Watching flashes of lightning / Gestures of love cross the dark sky / The monsoon is near

Afghani poet Parwana Fayyaz’s poem Three Dolls is shaped by her lived experiences of war, exile and state oppression. It struck a deep chord with me because, like Fayyaz, I also have sisters.

‘The Vagina Monologues is going to educate the public. Why does the government have a problem?’ The female director being interviewed on the radio is infuriated. ‘It is just a play.’

In the art of filmmaker Deepa Mehta and writer Ismat Chughtai, Farah Ahamed explores themes of patriarchy, infidelity, and a testament to the desires of women.

The room was narrow with only a bed, a tired green armchair and faded orange and red curtains. On one wall was a series of three pale watercolours depicting an uninspiring landscape, on another, a long mirror. She thought of her own room with its fine furnishings, the brocade curtains, embroidered cushions, silk rug and paintings. Never mind, it was only for a day…