What's Eating Mehak Mathur?

Succession, Media Conglomerates, and Democracy  Hello Blog,  I was deeply inspired to write this piece after finishing HBO’s  Succession . While at first glance the show might seem to focus on four siblings vying for their father’s approval and control over the family business, the series actually offers a profound critique of media conglomerates and their influence on shaping not just national but global narratives. Succession  reflects a theme central to Noam Chomsky’s work on media and public opinion. For those unfamiliar, Chomsky’s arguments—particularly in his book  Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda —explore how the public forms opinions about their country’s welfare. Are these opinions shaped by independent, well-reasoned thought, or are they influenced by the media's carefully curated narratives? Chomsky’s key argument is that the media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion. Every headline, every story, every news segm...

Digital protest in a digital-first nation!  The Bengal rape case has gripped the country, shocking every citizen and prompting difficult questions for the government. Amidst the awakening to the need for stronger women's rights, Generation Z has transformed the face of activism. (This is an opinion article.) In 2012, a woman was raped and brutally murdered in the country’s capital. This was followed by a botched investigation and a years-long court battle to hang the culprits. In 2024, a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in her own office while resting after a long day (a thirty-six-hour shift)! During the initial “Reclaim the Night” protest in the region, a small group of men disguised as protesters stormed into the hospital vicinity, attempting to destroy evidence present at the crime scene.  (Source) . Bengal is culturally and socially different from the rest of the country. In the Bengali dialect, there is no gender. In Bengali society, women have command over the hous...

Notebooks, Notes, and Some Thoughts on Journaling.  Hello Blog, As someone born in the digital age, I found comfort in pen and paper. I have a vivid memory dating back to when I was five years old; I would find my way into the scrapyard of my house in Delhi NCR and fetch some old paperwork once belonging to my parents. I would act like a teacher and proceed to correct them. I am a true Kayasth, a label I always love to be associated with and proud of. I am always with my pen and paper. The art of journaling has been passed down to me by my late grandfather. I have access to some of his diaries but have never read them. I believe that his thoughts should be left alone, even though the weight of these thoughts now on paper is eternal. Quite honestly, I can't comprehend his writing—it is too cursive. I have been journaling since I entered sixth grade. As of today, I have journaled through some seven diaries, and reading some of my old diaries has always been a treat for me. "Sudh...

  Hello Blog, Disappointed with the streaming services, I am out of it...  In the winter of 2017, my brother came into the living room and downloaded an application on our smart TV. He said it was going to change the way we watched television. I certainly did not anticipate how much his words would become a reality. I was excited to get my hands on this new thing called Netflix. As a kid who grew up watching the elusive world of Ekta Kapoor, who produced those annoying 15-minute soap operas (with significant time spent on advertisements), the fact that I could watch a show or movie at any time, anywhere, and an entire season all at once was something I never imagined possible. My world is entirely different now. Today, I am that greedy audience member who is never satisfied with any media content I consume. As most of you are aware, I am always on the lookout for more and more interesting formats of content. I recently watched Netflix's Wild Wild Punjab. I have to admit, I abs...

Things I've Learned from Being Chronically Online: Q2 Series Hey blog, It's been 15 days since I published my last post, and a lot has been on my mind. So, let's get back to business, shall we? FYI: Some parts of this post were drafted when I was still in college. Some information might be outdated, but my opinion still holds its validity.                                         In my pursuit to make decks and keep up with the world as quickly as possible, I end up being chronically online. Imagine my reality: spending up to 10 hours on a mobile phone. Yes, some of you might say, "Oh my god, Mehak. Get a life," or "Touch some grass." I understand there are serious addiction problems, but my "work" forces me to be online. In the process, I get to witness the best and worst sides of humanity (the netizens). The most interesting articles, videos, or any sort of content that I have consumed r...

Adulting: A toddler's perspective of the new life   Hello blog,   How long has it been? I don't remember. But I have been drafting a couple of long-format blog posts. I wrote a couple of things here and there. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to complete them. I have been extremely busy with several things.  I missed writing and being this 22-year-old nonchalant person who is exposing her innermost thoughts and feelings about pop culture, Indian politics, and travelling. See, I have borderline traits of a baby girl while being all serious and very businesslike.  Muda kya tha, yar? So here's a life update.   XIC: The Journey has ended.  Last month, I put a nail on my time laundering in south Bombay and its colleges. I got my postgraduate degree from Xaveir's Institute of Communications. I met some really interesting, kind, and knowledgeable people there. There were a lot of people who would really take care of you and give you the guidance you need if t...

Beauty and Maintenance    I have easy schedule from college since the past week. It is so shocking. Classes are getting cancelled and my will to go to college has been reduced drastically. This gives me time to do the thing I love the most, window shopping. I just love going to malls and walking in stores and walking away taking nothing. I recently visited Tira's offline stores, at a mall near my place. The service is great. They have all high range  to low range products. They leverage artificial intelligence, with their smart mirrors at the centre of the store. The vibe is just amazing.  But...  I HAVE A PROBLEM. I don't know which makeup is right for me.  I don't know if any sort of makeup is right for me. Every time, I am at a beauty retail store,  I am worried of being looted, being judged because I have zero knowledge about make-up.  I see people my age, coming to college all decked up. They have a ritual. They wake up, they clean their face...