The DD Blog
Leading Mumbles into Conversations
Chanaya Gupta on building a brand rooted in inclusivity and community
Chanaya Gupta is the founder of Lazo Store, a women’s fashion brand rooted in empowerment and community. She’s a dancer by heart, an entrepreneur by soul and a fitness freak by her muscles. We recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Chanaya about her journey of building LAZO, what it’s like building a community of women who feel comfortable and free to dress however they like and lots more.
Thriving as A Single Woman in your 30s and Beyond
What becomes of a woman when she stops looking at romantic partnerships as the ultimate trophy or motive for being alive?
Tales of Womanhood: A north-eastern perspective
This isn’t just my story; it’s my mother’s and all the girls of the North East region of India. Although we proudly identify as Indian citizens, our experiences are different in that we often face racism and discrimination. The environment in the North East, especially in my hometown Sikkim, is quite different compared to the mainland.
On Laapataa Ladies, and the stages of women reclaiming their identities
Stage 1: Conversations that plant the seed There is a scene somewhere close to the interval, where Yashodha asks her mother-in-law, "Kya aap aur main saheli ho sakte hain?". She is prompted to think about this for the first time after seeing the interaction between...
Sisoti: Decoding Draupadi’s First Open Mic
Sisoti. The film Kutch Express begins with a group of women giggling in the deserted streets of Kutch. They’ve fed sleeping pills to their husbands and mothers-in-law for the night. It’s that one night of the month where they come together; to be themselves. To laugh....
On Pauses and People – Building Decoding Draupadi in Public – Feb 11 to 18.
Last week, I was on a 4-day break from work. Both C4E and Decoding Draupadi. And that means, no movement on large things. When I've taken such breaks in the past, I usually come back to an unorganised inbox, some missed messages, and a LOT of confusion. This time, I...
Compounding & Long-term Thinking – Weeks 3&4 at Decoding Draupadi
If it is your first time here, some context - this year, I'm writing a public review of what we did at DD each week. If you've got some time, start here - Week 1 & Week 2. Order in Chaos As of today, there are 348858 open things at DD. We don’t wake up to one...
Week 2 – Building Decoding Draupadi in Public
If this is the first time you are landing here, hello! This year, I plan on sharing a public review of what we do at Decoding Draupadi each week. The idea is to be more accountable and create a space for me to learn from you. Here's the first note from 2024 - "What...
[Week 1] 52 weeks of building Decoding Draupadi in Public
Last year, some of us at C4E came across a post about Elon Musk asking Parag Agarwal, “What did you get done this week?” Now, a lot of people may not be a fan of this. They even thought it was rude and brutal. When Saurabh Garg saw this, he decided to fill in a...
A collection of stories by women that inspire.
The lives we lead today are often influenced by the women we grew up around. From our aunts' bold cadence to our mothers' quiet strength, they shape our perception of what’s possible. These women become the embodiment of courage and possibility. At first, we witness...