Category: Editorial

My obsession with “exploring the unseen” started at a very young age. The concepts of ghosts, demons, and other paranormal phenomena always managed to get me excited. I remember how I curated a book with creepy articles, pictures, illustrations and got into a lot of trouble with my mom. I remember how my friends and I from fourth grade formed a secret society where we would go around school looking for ghosts as it was “the trend” back then. We didn’t stop there, we wanted to explore all the creepy urban legends, from “Mohini” to “Bodhilima” to “Mahasona”, as they gave us a sense of happiness. The obsession was real and serious. Did I gain anything from it? I don’t…

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Sigiriya, (Lions Rock) as we all know, is listed as the 8th wonder of the world  and considered a world heritage site by the UNESCO. When you think about Sigiriya, what would likely come to mind would be, the frescoes, the ponds, the mirror wall and of course… the giant rock in itself.  I happened to visit Sigiriya with my family (mum and dad) when I was about 10. While I cannot recall much of my visit; what I do distinctly remember was that, half way into the climb (upon reaching the infamous Lion paws),my mum suddenly declared that she was feeling thoroughly fatigued and wanted to discontinue the climb. My dad immediately complied, ignoring my pleas that at least…

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I was in my room getting my daily dose of adrenaline by watching All of us are dead on Netflix. Thaththi was seated on the couch, disappointed at the fielding of the Sri Lankan cricket team in their match against Australia. Ammi was engaging in a series of phone calls with her colleagues who didn’t seem to grasp work too easily. The clock we barely looked at, now struck 7.40pm. Suddenly all I heard was my mother still on the phone, and ASMR of zombies eating people every ten seconds on Netflix. Once again, the Ceylon Electricity Board ‘disempowered’ us. Minutes later, the string of allegations against the government, their families and their extended families began primarily between my father…

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Some of you might have heard of Bertha Benz. The more likely case however, is that many of you are wondering who she is and why she is worth dedicating an article to. Before I address that however, I would like for you to recall to mind the number of times you’ve seen a slow driver or a mini traffic jam and heard someone say, “argh, must be a woman at the wheel!” With that, I will proceed with the story of the pioneering Bertha Benz. In 1886, the ‘Benz Patent Motorwagen’ was granted and the world’s first ever car came to be. Following developments and modifications, the Benz Patent Motorwagen Model III was introduced in 1888. Despite its impressive…

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Do you think that ladies in your family shop too much? Oh darling, please. I justified my shopaholic habits when Kevin Kwan himself said his best-selling novel “Crazy Rich Asians” was based ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT on REALITY! Don’t come at me when I say outfits in Emily in Paris is faux pas when compared to what is in the couture industry. ‘Haute couture’, this term conjures up images of intricately beaded and feathered garments on elegant models strutting down runways. This is the epitome of high fashion and French sophistication. It extends beyond simple dress and into something intangible, somehow inaccessible, and above average. Couture is special because it celebrates the highest level of craftsmanship and creativity. We…

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Watching StudyTube videos for both motivation and procrastination? If yes, join the club! For both those who love and hate to put their stationary to use outside class, StudyTube is the latest and rapidly growing corner of YouTube where many of our peers are turning for advice and motivation. On the outside, these creators appear to be benevolent, academically inclined and guiding their audience members through their education. However, beneath their perfectly crafted role model exterior, ‘StudyTubers’ are perpetuating pernicious ideas of obsessive productivity, including alarming content such as the ’15 Hour Study Day’ video, which could be devastating to students’ wellbeing. UnJaded Jade’, StudyTube’s golden girl uploaded a video titled, “hustle culture is quaking”, where she reveals her epiphany that there’s more…

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In November 1991, Michael Jackson released the first single for his Dangerous album: Black or White- a catchy song which infused the styles pop, rock and rap. It remained No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six continuous weeks and was his most successful solo single since Beat It.  In Black or White, while Jackson communicated social themes of racial discrimination and social injustice, it was also a song in which the Pop Icon could lash out against public and media speculations pertaining to his skin color. In the song’s rap verse appears the line “I’m not going to spend my life being a color”- and even though Jackson makes it clear that he would not be concerned in…

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When I was young, I always wanted to live on the top of a mountain, where the sunlight would filter through the woods and the wind would whistle in my ear. Looking at the stunning photographs of mountain tops which I found on the internet, I longed to have a house of my own on one of those mountains. I wanted to stare into the clear night sky, unlike what I can see from my home, I want to look into a sky mostly covered from the huge treetops. The idea did not leave me until one day, when I stepped outside one morning, and saw misty mountain tops from a distance. The sight of the smoky blue mountains was…

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Why would a university student care about Disney movies right? I mean Disney belongs to your boxed up childhood, doesn’t it? Truth is, adulthood can be exhausting and once in a while, in those moments when you desperately yearn for the simple joys of childhood, go turn off your phone, grab your old DVDs and be prepared to be engulfed by a world of colourful music, powerful stories and loveable characters. Bonus points if you grab your siblings to come singalong! Now keep in mind, all Disney movies are treasures in their own right, but obviously I had to narrow it down, so my preferences are subjective based on how closely I associate it with my childhood and how my…

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