Karina Pandya

  In the world of Indian indie music, very few artists manage to truly touch a chord in the listener’s heart.  Anuv Jain  is one such rare voice. His deeply personal music resonates with millions across the world, carrying a unique blend of genuineness, harmony, and rhythm. From quiet heartbreaks to expansive melodies, Anuv’s songs feel like pages from a diary—raw, intimate, and emotionally honest. A sleeper hit,  Baarishein  was his first-ever recorded song and went on to cross 200 million streams on Spotify. Interestingly, the first song he ever wrote was  Meri Baaton Mein Tu , penned when he was just 16 years old. Since then, his music has only spiralled upward, steadily drawing in listeners from across the globe. Inspired by real-life experiences, Anuv often takes months to write a song before releasing it, allowing emotions to fully take shape. Despite his undeniable talent, he chose to pursue music professionally only during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dur...

 Vietnam is surely going  to feel like one long story waiting to unfold as we travel from north to south, with every destination adding its own colour, flavour, and rhythm. and I JUST CAN'T WAIT! Hanoi – Where the Past Will Never Sleep Hanoi will immediately pull us in. Founded over  1,000 years ago , the city will feel deeply rooted in history while still buzzing with  đổi mới  (modern change). We will explore Hanoi on foot—wandering freely, getting a little lost, and letting the city guide us naturally. :) In the Old Quarter, motorbikes will buzz past as street vendors call out  “ăn đi!”  (Come eat!), and everyday life will spill onto the sidewalk. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, locals will practise tai chi at sunrise while others will sit quietly with a strong cup of Vietnamese coffee. Hanoi will feel calm, chaotic, and beautiful all at once. One of the most unforgettable moments - I'm sure will be visiting  Hanoi Train Street , where we will sit with ...

  On January 18, 2026, I participated in the Dream Run at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a journey that began at CST and concluded along the iconic Marine Drive. This run was more than just a race for me—it was a way to represent a deeper purpose, one that lies close to my heart: raising awareness about epilepsy. As I gathered in the wee hours of the morning at Gate No. 7, I found myself in a space that carried both the rhythm of the city and the weight of its history. Runners surrounded me on all sides, and it was astonishing to see so many people assembled before dawn, united by a shared sense of anticipation. Each runner carried their own story, their own reason for being there, and the air was thick with quiet excitement. From CST, the route carried us through the beating heart of Mumbai—a city that, like the people running through it, never stops moving forward. This spirit of constant motion and resilience echoed the very essence captured in my book  Inside Mumbai: Stories fr...

There was a time when I believed that thinking deeply and caring a lot meant I was sincere, emotionally aware, and just… a good person. I used to replay conversations, imagine different scenarios, and analyse silences or distance between myself and others. Nothing went unquestioned. But the more I thought about everything, the more stuck I felt. What I once saw as caring slowly turned into rumination, and it drained my peace more than I realised. I eventually had to ask myself: did all this thinking actually matter? And the answer was no. What mattered was how it left me feeling. I used to overthink constantly—especially the small, trivial things that led nowhere. I wondered what people thought of me, read into gifts, silences, and distance, and replayed moments that were long over and completely out of my control. I imagined how things   could’ve   gone differently or wished they had. That’s when the mental loop really kicked in. Even though these thoughts felt important at t...

For a long time, I believed my career path looked confusing on paper. A BA in Psychology, followed by years in corporate roles, and then becoming an author—it didn’t seem to add up. But now, as I begin pursuing a diploma in counselling, it feels less like a shift and more like a return. I’m circling back to psychology. What some might see as a detour feels, to me, like a homecoming. Was this my core interest all along, or was writing my true home? I’m still not entirely sure—and maybe I don’t need to be. I chose psychology for my undergraduate degree because I was drawn to the idea of a medical career, inspired by my mother’s path. I didn’t have a clearly charted roadmap back then. What I did have was curiosity—about people, emotions, behaviour, and the invisible forces that shape our choices. Psychology gave me a language for what I had always sensed: that stories, struggles, and inner worlds truly matter. Life led me into counselling rooms and clinical settings in unexpected ways alo...

  When a child throws a tantrum, becomes unusually quiet, or clings excessively to a caregiver, the behaviour is often labelled as “bad” or “problematic.” However, children do not always have the words or emotional skills to communicate exactly how they feel. Instead of using language, they express their emotions through behaviour. By observing these behaviours closely, we can begin to understand whether something is right or wrong. Throwing tantrums, displaying anger, becoming silent or withdrawn, or even showing clinginess are often signs that a child is struggling internally. What appears to be misbehaviour is usually a child’s way of expressing that one or more of their needs are not being met. For instance, a child who throws frequent tantrums may be feeling overwhelmed, tired, or frustrated. A quiet or withdrawn child may be experiencing anxiety or sadness, while aggressive behaviour can indicate difficulty coping with strong emotions. Childhood begins at birth and continues ...

Over the past decade, India’s mental health landscape has undergone a visible transformation—from a largely silenced and stigmatised topic to an active and evolving public conversation. What was once confined to hospitals and clinical spaces has now expanded into workplaces, schools, social media platforms, and everyday family discussions. This shift has been driven by growing awareness, rising life stressors, increased digital connectivity, and a younger generation that is more open and accepting of mental health concerns. Together, these factors have fuelled the rapid growth of India’s mental health ecosystem. Therapy and counselling, once viewed as urban and elitist services, are now increasingly accessible through online platforms, mobile applications, and multilingual resources. Widespread smartphone usage has enabled individuals, even in smaller towns, to explore mental health information privately and without fear of judgment. Teletherapy has further bridged geographical gaps, a...