Shikha Kumar is a features writer, whose primary interests include books, feminism, gender studies, and pop culture. She’s always up for discussions on Urban Dictionary, Lena Dunham’s brand of feminism and the potato wedges-french fries conflict.
Articles by Shikha Kumar
A peek into the workings of the human mind
Folio Prize-winning novelist Akhil Sharma’s anthology of short stories delves into the strange, yet familiar workings of the human mind
Updated on Dec 30, 2017 10:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
In pieces: A gripping play on life after a child goes missing
Watch the India debut of Ruby Moon at G5A this weekend.
Updated on Nov 11, 2017 01:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
From Parsi homes to your phones: Chronicles of a community
#TheParsiProject, an Instagram series by Anushka Gupta, is dedicated to bringing the community’s architecture and stories to life.
Updated on Nov 03, 2017 08:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Naan Sense: See what connects Indian eateries abroad to the idea of home
The art show, The Real Taste of India, offers a commentary on how identity becomes homogenized organically.
Updated on Sep 30, 2017 08:59 AM IST
Aussie cricketers Michale Clarke and Shaun Tait blur boundaries of patriotism, profess love for all things Indian
From food to fashion and the fervour, a look at how they are good at being Aussie, Indian style!
Updated on Sep 25, 2017 05:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar and Farhad J Dadyburjor
Former Aussie captain Michael Clarke says Australians are kind people, but Indians are kinder…
He feels that out here, in India, there’s another level of kindness altogether!
Published on Sep 23, 2017 11:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Award-winning recipe author presents easy-to-cook meals to turn a bad day good
Brunch got Maria Goretti cook up easy DIY recipes to reiterate the obvious: when all else fails... food solves the problem!
Updated on Sep 02, 2017 10:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Star conservation architect Abha Lambah picks her five favourite projects
The architect’s whose work on the Royal Opera House in Mumbai is getting continued applause. She picks five out of her many projects
Updated on Aug 26, 2017 10:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Whose heritage is it anyway? Gurinder Chadha defends her film
Mired in controversy over the storytelling in her new film 1947: Partition, Gurinder Chadha fights back
Published on Aug 25, 2017 06:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Mumbai teenager brings school kids and slum children together for a grand concert
In its fifth year now, a charity music concert put together by Mumbai teenager, Mrinalini Somani, is a true testament to the power of music in bringing people together
Published on Aug 19, 2017 10:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
#Brunchreads: Five books that should be on your August reading list
Brunch shares the titles that are on our bookshelf this month
Published on Aug 12, 2017 11:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
White people shouldn’t align themselves with Hinduism for commercial gain: Canadian-Indian author Scaachi Kaul talks tough
Koul’s debut collection of essays is hilarious, yet sharp, with observations on navigating life as an immigrant and a woman of colour
Updated on Aug 05, 2017 11:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Plus-sized beauties emerging as the coolest game-changers in international fashion
Thin is always in for mainstream fashion. But with the plus-size movement gaining ground in the West, India is opening up to the idea of greater diversity
Updated on Jul 16, 2017 02:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
India seems to be making some of the same mistakes that Pakistan made: Mohsin Hamid
Man Booker Prize-nominated author Mohsin Hamid’s opens up on his latest novel Exit West, his dreams of a borderless world and how India needs to learn from Pakistan’s mistakes
Updated on May 18, 2017 02:01 PM IST
I was obsessed with Karisma Kapoor’s clothes in Dil To Pagal Hai, says Rhea Kapoor
Stylist-cum-producer Rhea Kapoor talks about what’s life like in the Kapoor household, styling, and producing a film at the age of 21
Published on May 06, 2017 08:52 PM IST
I’m attracted to big bass, boys on bikes and being in the mountains, says singer Anushka Manchanda
Singer Anushka Manchanda on growing up listening to rock and roll, her Viva days, and Lay Me Down, her video with Monica Dogra
Published on Apr 29, 2017 10:01 PM IST
A new documentary turns the lens on satirical performance poetry in Dakhani
A Tongue Untied, by writer and filmmaker Gautam Pemmaraju, focuses on Mazahiya Shayari, an old tradition of satirical performance poetry that is just as relevant today
Updated on May 01, 2017 05:01 PM IST
A new book places erotica in an unusual setting: The imaginations of Punjabi widows
Author Balli Kaur Jaswal, whose latest novel Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is garnering rave reviews, opens up on writing a story about women defying expectations
Updated on Jul 20, 2017 11:51 AM IST
Move over Mr, Ms and Mrs: Ungender now allows titles like Ind for Individual and Pr for Person
These brilliant gender-neutral titles ensure you no longer have to worry about ‘fitting in’
Published on Apr 15, 2017 09:27 PM IST
Books on the Brunch shelf this month
Here are the books we recommend you pick up this month
Updated on Apr 15, 2017 06:13 PM IST
The man who cycled from India to Europe for love
PK Mahanandia’s epic story of cycling from India to Sweden to find his lady love in the ’70s is now fodder for bestsellers and movie scripts
Updated on Mar 27, 2017 02:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar
Gender neutral model Petr Nitka: I’ve faced no hostility
On her maiden trip to India for Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort ’17, Petr Nitka opens up on her life as a gender neutral model
Published on Mar 18, 2017 09:25 PM IST
Meet India’s newest sexual minority: The asexuals
Among the wonderful things that social media has encouraged discourse around is the very idea of sexuality. Now, through forums, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, asexuals are joining the bandwagon, spreading awareness, busting myths and confidently embracing their orientation
Published on Mar 18, 2017 09:23 PM IST
The pastry expert’s guide to ditching flour, eggs and sugar
In her new cookbook, pastry chef Pooja Dhingra -- a favourite with Bollywood celebrities -- ditches flour, eggs and processed sugar to make desserts that are healthy and tasty
Updated on Mar 26, 2017 09:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar, Mumbai
I would like to dress Ryan Gosling: Kunal Rawal
Designer Kunal Rawal on being childhood friends with Sonam Kapoor, dressing Ranbir Kapoor and the challenges of being a menswear designer
Published on Feb 25, 2017 11:35 PM IST
Like everybody else, I was very scared – Paul Beatty, on Trump’s win
Man Booker-winning author Paul Beatty opens up on his influences, his learnings from psychology and being an American in an uncertain political climate
Published on Feb 25, 2017 11:33 PM IST
When Bahubali gets a National Award, it’s devastating: Adoor Gopalakrishnan
A panel discussion at Gateway LitFest saw filmmakers Anjali Menon, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Vasanthabalan and Bejoy Nambiar discuss Indian cinema, and the many struggles faced by non-Bollywood films
Updated on Feb 28, 2017 03:58 PM IST
Tales of heritage that sweep across generations and continents
In her latest novel Before We Visit The Goddess, award-winning author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni explores the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, and the significance of heritage
Updated on Feb 20, 2017 07:31 PM IST
#NowReading: New books on the Brunch radar this week
Here are the books that have our attention this month
Updated on Feb 21, 2017 05:42 PM IST
Are malls the new venues for music concerts?
Vengaboys, Shaggy and Honey Singh have one thing in common — they’ve all performed at a mall in Mumbai.
Updated on Feb 16, 2017 07:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Shikha Kumar, Mumbai
