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ambaazaad.bsky.social
Amba Azaad
@ambaazaad.bsky.social
950 followers 300 following 2K posts
Also @Amba.Azaad@mastodon.social
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ambaazaad.bsky.social
This stunning photo - 'Toxic Tip' by Lakshitha Karunarathna needs to be blown up on billboards for awareness campaigns about waste management in South Asia.
She's a finalist for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
A solitary elephant navigates its way through a waste disposal site in Sri Lanka.
August 27, 2025 at 10:25 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
I mean just look at this! They are flat out lying about the rate per 100 grams here because I guess no one has invented a calculator yet? #AmazonEnshittification
Screenshot from an amazon product description that lists the price per hundred gram as incorrect in comparison to the stated prices.
August 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
I'm using a VPN and I STILL couldn't find the actual image of the cartoon being censored.
The closest was this, which was obviously on a website egging on persecution of Hemant Malviya.
A blurred out cartoon by Hemant Malviya of a man representing the RSS bending over for Narendra Modi to inject him in the buttocks Source: https://organiser.org/2025/05/22/293487/bharat/madhya-pradesh-playing-with-hindu-sentiments-know-why-cartoonist-hemant-malviya-is-in-news/
July 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Can't imagine how anyone can warmonger when the Amaltas is blooming all across North India.
Photo of Amaltas flowers in tree branches Photo of Amaltas petals on cobblestones
May 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
4. Sukirtharani (1973 to present)
Original in Tamil, translated by Lakshmi Holmström
“They ask me what the song means,
prying, eager, as if checking out
the sex of a newly born.
I translate her poverty
the hunger she eats,
the hunger she expels“
#DalitHistoryMonth
Translating her In the bedroom scattered with sunlight like crumpled balls of paper, they stir, waking up to the sound of a tuneless song. She walks past, shrunken buttocks swaying, beating out a rhythm on the small drum she holds. They ask me what the song means, prying, eager, as if checking out the sex of a newly born. I translate her poverty the hunger she eats, the hunger she expels, her dwelling place whose air is sprinkled with untouchability her oppressed community. I speak the words, becoming her -- Sukirtharani (translation: Lakshmi Holmström)
April 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Just said hello to a total stranger. But when someone so good-looking passes by you have to say something yanno #Corvids
Photo of common Indian crow looking at the camera while standing on the road
April 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
3. Varre Rani (1973 to 2001)
Original in Telugu, translated by K. Suneetha Rani
“I have grown crops
but starvation fills my vessel
instead of rice.
I was of use everywhere
but I stop like the slippers at the temple threshold.“
#DalitHistoryMonth
Sharpness What's it to the village, it will be all right. It's only I suppressing sobs, at a distance! What's it to the abusing landlord it's only I in the fields melting into tears thinking of my child in the hut! My tears fall instead of water in my palm that has dug wells and ponds. The thorns of excommunication pierce instead of tar's smoothness touching my feet that paved the road. I have grown crops but starvation fills my vessel instead of rice. I was of use everywhere but I stop like the slippers at the temple threshold. What's it to the country, it'll appear all right, it's only I who is not part of anything, at a distance, wiping tears! What's it about development, we have achieved a lot! It's only I lying in this corner grinding my heart! No use sitting like this any long, I will sharpen my sickle! -- Varre Rani (translation: K. Suneetha Rani)
April 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
2. Janabai (1258 to 1350)
Original in Marathi, translated by Jerry Pinto & Neela Bhagwat “Khanderaya, what if I offer You a ram?
Would You be kind and slay my man?
When my man's gone, I'll guffaw.
And then please take my mother-in-law.”
#DalitHistoryMonth
Khanderaya, what if I offer You a ram? Would You be kind and slay my man? When my man's gone, I'll guffaw. And then please take my mother-in-law. When she's dead, I'll get some rest. My father-in-law? Take him next. With him dead, I'll get some peace. My brother-in-law? Give him surcease. Now that death would give me bliss. My sister-in-law's next on the list. Her death would finally set me free. To set out as a Warkari. Jani says: Khande, kill them one by one. And let me stay by your feet alone.
April 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
1. Aaydakki Lakkamma (12th Century)
Original in Kannada, translated by O.L. Nagabhushana Swamy et al
“When you are forgotten and I know myself
is there another body?
Two bodies are there as man and wife before uniting;
is there another body that experiences the union?"
#DalitHistoryMonth
When a seed falls is there front or back for germination? Only when the seed is lost does the sprout spring. When you are forgotten and I know myself is there another body? Two bodies are there as man and wife before uniting; is there another body that experiences the union? If you want to know do not take another step away. Maarayyapriya Amareshwaralinga / 1292
April 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
I did a doubletake when I saw this signature on the back of a taxi. Then I had to take a photo and smile at the driver. On roads full of cars sporting militant Hanuman and Jat Pride stickers, what a delightful change this was.
Photo of a sticker on the rear windscreen of a white car that says B. R. Ambedkar in his own signature
March 26, 2025 at 6:21 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
For those who wish to support whisper networks: note these posts from fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay about Neil Gaiman. GGK has been described as a sexual predator by someone I see no reason to disbelieve. Start depedestalling him from bookshelves. Hold him accountable for his predations.
Screenshot of post from Guy Gavriel Kay dated 13 Jan 2025: "There are layers and layers of vicious ugliness in New York Magazine’s piece on Gaiman. Broad outlines have been known since July, but this adds sickening detail, including psychological abuse of his own child. I’ll join others in urging caution to the vulnerable as to reading it." Source: https://bsky.app/profile/guygavrielkay.bsky.social/post/3lfn6k4uwq22g Screenshot of post by Guy Gavriel Kay dated 16 Jan 2025: "I have sympathy for John Scalzi and others who were Friends of Gaiman, because, as I keep saying, a reality about skilled sociopaths and predators is that they tend to hide it very well. Leaves people feeling conned or even complicitous. The former is often true, the latter extremely rare." Source: https://bsky.app/profile/guygavrielkay.bsky.social/post/3lfshwlj5p22k Screenshot of post by Guy Gavriel Kay dated 18 Jan 2025: "I do wish those now saying ’Gaiman was nice to me’ could achieve some awareness of how they sound. UNLESS they follow with a (true) observation about how skilled sociopaths can be, and how good at picking their targets for abuse, this is deeply, profoundly, irrelevant. At best." Source: https://bsky.app/profile/guygavrielkay.bsky.social/post/3lfxmzmnaps22 Screenshot of post by Guy Gavriel Kay dated 5 Feb 2025: "Her lawyer’s warnings as to reading the Scarlett Pavlovich lawsuit filed vs Neil Gaiman (and Amanda Palmer) are proper. He posted it here yesterday. The details, which were profoundly disturbing as previously reported, seem even worse in legal language. Read with caution, but be aware of this?" Source: https://bsky.app/profile/guygavrielkay.bsky.social/post/3lhexhbkidc2e
February 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Sameer Project:
Tents, Cash Aid and Medical in South Gaza: chuffed.org/project/1132...
Refaat Alareer Camp in Central Gaza: chuffed.org/project/1133...
Food, Water, Diapers and Milk in North Gaza: chuffed.org/project/help...
Venmo: account.venmo.com/u/Maher-Ali
Paypal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/mah...
Image from Sameer Project's Instagram with a QR code saying "urgent need for winter funds in south and central gaza" Image from Sameer Project's Instagram with a QR code saying Northern Gaza Needs your Immediate Help"
November 9, 2024 at 3:34 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Fascinating how resolutely Americans refuse to talk about their third party candidates. Just now Green Party (Stein/Ware), Socialist Party (Cruz/Garcia) and Justice for All Party (West/Abdullah) formed a voting coalition encouraging strategic voting in each state!
twitter.com/votesocialis...
Screenshot of long text announcement from tweet link in post Screenshot of long text announcement from tweet link in post Screenshot of long text announcement from tweet link in post Screenshot of long text announcement from tweet link in post
November 4, 2024 at 5:07 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
On twitter, Mirna El Helbawi has posted an urgent call for eSIMS for Palestine because they are so low they're rationing distribution to medical staff, journalists and students.
You can donate via
connecting-humanity.org
gazaesims.com/donate/
chuffed.org/project/crip...

twitter.com/Mirna_elhelb...
Screenshot of tweet by @Mirna_elhelbawi dated 2 Nov 2024 saying: With a heavy heart; due to the low eSIM donations, we decided to keep the eSIMs we have at the moment to Medical Staff, Journalists and Students in Gaza. I know that civilians deserve to stay connected with each other and to the outside world, but on the other hand; we cannot tell a Dr or a journalist that we are out of eSIMs. I am so sorry.
November 3, 2024 at 7:58 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
next you know they'll be taking their pet goldfish out on a walk like this
photo of a person carrying a fish in an individual portable tank
November 2, 2024 at 1:48 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
South African writer Shubnum Khan refuses to let her publisher nominate her for a PEN America Award, in solidarity with Palestine. (Reminder: PEN America had to cancel its awards last year because of how many authors withdrew from it in protest of their craven Zionist-supporting stance.)
Screenshot of two tweets by Shubnum Khan saying, "PEN America has asked publishers if their authors want to be considered for awards this year. I've asked that The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years be removed from consideration because of how they've failed Palestinian writers & journalists during a genocide. As a South African writer this might have been a great opportunity for me but as a South African (and human) I cannot in good conscience allow myself to be nominated by an organization that claims to stand for freedom of speech but is not doing what it can to stand against apartheid and genocide."
October 25, 2024 at 5:44 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Tangent, but I'm always amused when I go to check out US related stuff and this happens -
screenshot of error message from mobilize.us website saying the owner of this website has banned the country or region your IP address is in
October 10, 2024 at 5:58 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
LOL.
Literally... giving unsolicited advice.

(I don't actually disagree with the caution, but I do disagree with the extreme prejudice against it.)
screenshot of bluesky reply interaction between two users where one says advice is a consent-only activity, the second replies saying they feel much better about asking before giving advice, and then the first replies to say be cautious about even that, and maybe try asking if someone prefers to be affirmed rather than adviced.
October 8, 2024 at 7:38 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
More interesting than me being 11,17,180 (fixed those numerical commas because I think in lakhs and crores, thankewverrymuch) is that its three days shy of my first year anniversary of being here.
I'd definitely say that after quitting twitter and trying Mastodon, this feels closer to stable.
a bluesky template graphic announcing me as the 11,17,180 user and that I joined on sept 20 2023
September 17, 2024 at 4:30 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
There is something magical about what haldi does to arhar combined with the green of dhaniya and red tomatoes. It is the platonic ideal of dals
Photo of yellow Dal with green coriander leaves
August 12, 2024 at 1:59 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
This is called collusion.
Trying to increase one's social and financial capital, by aligning with the social and financial capital of a serial rapist.
Colleen Doran isn't the only one making such choices in their alignment with #NeilGaiman but she is an instructive example of how rape culture works
Screenshot of post from Colleen Doran saying "A couple of auctions now at Heritage, the splash page from the TROLL BRIDGE graphic novel from @DarkHorseComics by Neil Gaiman adapted by me, and a SANDMAN illo from an Audible promotion for the audiobook. I'm NOT THE SELLER"
August 11, 2024 at 12:39 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
Remember that time Neil Gaiman talked about Harvey Weinstein because he was worried about Harvey's wife Georgina Chapman?
www.vogue.com/article/geor...
Unlike other friends of Chapman’s, Gaiman did actually worry about her being married to Weinstein. “One reason is that I watched the person he tried to be when he was around her—which was sort of, at least to some degree, uxorious—which was not the person that he tried to be the rest of the time. But I never felt that there was anything going on other than that Georgina was actually in love with him. There’s that point where Harvey stops being a person and becomes a cultural phenomenon, though it is worth reminding people that there are human beings here. And that one of those human beings could be affable and charming if he wished to be and also bullying and deceitful. And he was obviously very good at this.” He pauses for a long while and says, finally, “She’s a good person who married a bad person. Or, if you want to be less judgmental, she’s a good person who married a person who did some terrible things. And who now has to make a go of it on her own. And I know she can. And I’m su
July 12, 2024 at 12:52 PM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
quote from essay 'Fire to the Grass' linked in previous post quote from essay 'Fire to the Grass' linked in previous post
July 10, 2024 at 6:51 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
quote from essay 'Fire to the Grass' linked in previous post
July 10, 2024 at 6:50 AM
ambaazaad.bsky.social
quote from essay 'Fire to the Grass' linked in previous post
July 10, 2024 at 6:49 AM