Shahana Siddiqui

Shahana Siddiqui, PhD, is medical anthropologist at Universiteit van Amsterdam.

Jamdani as the battleground

Against my better judgment, I found myself in a rather heated online debate with Indian Bengalis regarding a video made by a popular Indian influencer on the issue of Jamdani. Ishita Mangal, in her series on regional Indian outfits, highlighted the Jamdani saree as a symbol of pride for West Bengal, noting how the British attempted to destroy or erase it but ultimately failed.

20h ago

The ‘bhodroshomaj’ that is killing women and girls

In the absence of critical discourse on marriage-class-sexuality, patriarchal relations, i.e. kinship, to a man remain the primary option for accessing resources for women.

1m ago
April 14, 2025
April 14, 2025

Jamdani as the battleground

Against my better judgment, I found myself in a rather heated online debate with Indian Bengalis regarding a video made by a popular Indian influencer on the issue of Jamdani. Ishita Mangal, in her series on regional Indian outfits, highlighted the Jamdani saree as a symbol of pride for West Bengal, noting how the British attempted to destroy or erase it but ultimately failed.

March 14, 2025
March 14, 2025

The ‘bhodroshomaj’ that is killing women and girls

In the absence of critical discourse on marriage-class-sexuality, patriarchal relations, i.e. kinship, to a man remain the primary option for accessing resources for women.