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Seema Goswami

Articles by Seema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Monsoon memories, stored in the cloud

A few decades ago, when life was less complicated and less demanding, the monsoon merely meant fun and freedom

Now if it rains, children will be asked to stay home and log on to their laptops, instead of enjoying an unexpected holiday. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Aug 11, 2023 08:16 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Just doing their duty

The price tags don’t vary by much. The best deals, in fact, are online. So why do fliers still shop for luxury at the airport?

Maybe shopping at airport duty-free stores in places such as Bangkok (above) is just what travellers need – a final blast of holiday fun before they go back to the dreary business of daily living. (AlexDreamliner, gnoparus / shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Aug 05, 2023 03:44 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: To cook or not to cook?

It’s certainly not women’s work. But women no longer have to choose between the kitchen and careers. Cooking is a life skill. And it’s strangely liberating

In Chocolat (2000) a French woman (Juliette Binoche, below with Dame Judi Dench) and her daughter move to a small remote village and open up a chocolate shop that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.

lifestyle

Updated on Aug 10, 2023 08:23 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Soirée, not sorry: How to host a dinner party without going crazy

Nigella Lawson won’t host fancy dinners any more. Don’t let that stop you from planning ahead and pulling off a fun, sophisticated night at home with friends

There is no point hosting a dinner party if the experience is just going to stress you out. The idea of having friends and family over is to enjoy time with your loved ones, not fret about whether the soufflés will rise or the jelly will set. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Aug 10, 2023 08:05 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Decoding the modern shopper

Shopping is enjoyable, but also intensely personal. How you shop reveals a lot about who you are. Check out these types

There are many different types of shoppers. In Hustlers (2019) Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu shop in high-end stores, where Wu pays $1,000 in cash for her purchase, proving she’s clearly not a needs-based shopper.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 25, 2023 02:34 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Complimentary angles

Compliments can be tricky and easily misunderstood. In a world where political correctness is prominent, some find it hard to accept or give compliments

Amy Schumer’s compliment sketch features her and her friends giving and expertly deflecting compliments, making fun of the common belief that women are awful at accepting praise.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 04:48 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Joy meets girl

The author shares a list of things they love about life, like lazy mornings, coffee, long-haul flights without Wi-Fi, and the joy of coming home

Living in Delhi has its perks, from the beautiful parks to the museums and monuments such as Humayun’s Tomb. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:23 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: We. Were. On. A. Break!

The terrible lows after the many highs of a good vacation can be taxing. But there are ways to overcome the back-to-work blues

A relaxing vacation (as in The Holiday, 2006) can often make coming back home harder.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:08 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: The inside scoop

It’s refreshing to watch a series about journalists and newsrooms that brings back memories of our younger selves

From the sets to the writing, Scoop (2023) is a rare accurate depiction of how newsrooms function.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 20, 2023 02:34 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Hot days, idle worship

Why are holidays packed with activities? Vacations should ideally mean less stress and more fun for kids and for parents

In the Parent Trap (1998) Lindsay Lohan plays twins who find each other at a three-month long summer camp. In reality, summer camp just means insane scheduling to keep children busy while on vacation.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 20, 2023 02:40 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Books I’m loving

Get ready for summer reading with "Lessons In Chemistry," "The Windsor Knot," "Whips," "Crying in H Mart," and "The School For Good Mothers"

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is about what happens when chemist Elizabeth Zott has to resign from the all-male team at a research institute, and she is offered a job as the host of a cooking show.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:46 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Swim against the stereotypes

Mindy Kaling and Martha Stewart rocked swimsuits recently. Both remain stuck pandering to age-old standards expected of women

Actor and writer Mindy Kaling, known for her curves, lost weight to model swimsuits, looking almost unrecognisable. But it didn’t come off as inspirational. (Instagram/@andieswim)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 05:36 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Get vocal for local

Many people who travel abroad take in the sights, buy souvenirs, but stop short of trying the food. It’s a waste and a shame

When British chef Heston Blumenthal visited Delhi recently, he went to Bukhara just to eat the naan, dal and kebabs that the restaurant is known for. (Instagram/@spectatorseema)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 05:24 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Britain’s royal family and the King of good times

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla was a spectacle to behold, with multicultural representation and a blended family on the balcony.

The star of the Coronation was undoubtedly the Lord President of the Privy Council, Penny Mordaunt, who was tasked with carrying a heavy sword at different angles. (Twitter/@pennymordaunt)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 25, 2023 02:07 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

A match but no flame: Why Sima Aunty is a success only on screen

Indian Matchmaking should be retitled Indian MatchNotMaking, given the near-total failure rate of Sima Taparia

When a divorcee called Priya says that hair is very important for her and that she likes a man bun, Sima Aunty produces a -- wait for this -- bald man for her delectation

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 05:10 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: The imitation game

It’s an odd but undeniable trait. Why do we mimic how people around us dress?

From blonde highlights to short hemlines, similar colours and patterns, groups of friends tend to dress alike. It’s a trend visible on reality shows such as The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. (@netflixindia)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:43 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Going out of your mind

You don’t need a dark corner or an empty mind to meditate. Just go about your day and find peace in the little things

Losing oneself in a book or in the sound of a child’s laughter can all lull the mind into a zen state, too. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:09 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Photographic memory

Look carefully. A photo is really a portal, capturing a moment from the past, but also pointing to how much has changed

When I look at old pictures of my parents, I wonder how they went from being stony-faced strangers to that couple that laughed so uproariously, their eyes fixed on one another.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 05:57 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: A budding obsession

Spring is here, but we needn’t travel abroad to find beauty in bloom

In Tokyo’s cherry blossom season, which begins in March, you can find cherry blossoms in the city’s parks and suburban streets, where locals and tourists alike gather to look at them. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 06:23 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Does this spark joy?

India ranked 125th in the World Happiness Report, causing controversy. The author questions what happiness actually means and whether it can be quantified.

In the context of the World Happiness Index, it doesn’t make sense to try and measure happiness on a sliding scale when happiness is a feeling, not a quantifiable property. (Shutterstock; sanchit khanna/HT archive)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 06:32 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Locked and unloaded

The pandemic was a terrible time, but don’t beat yourself up if there are things about the lockdowns that you miss

Connaught Place in March 2020. During the lockdown, air quality in Delhi improved tremendously, thanks to the lack of construction work and vehicular pollution. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 06:55 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Socialising, bite by bite

A good barometer of friendship: The kind of meals you typically have. Coffee is for casual pals, dinner is for the inner circle

Some 3am friends won’t hesitate to help cover up a murder. Shailene Woodley, Reese Witherspoon, and Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies (2017-2019).

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:09 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: The simple knot

Intimate weddings, with a focus on guests, not garish flourishes, are sadly vanishing

Monsoon Wedding (2001) featured a typical Delhi family wedding, held at home, the kind we don’t see anymore.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:18 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Face up to hypocrisy

Mask-wearing has gone from being a socially responsible habit to becoming a class issue

Now that Covid is on its way out, the upper and middle classes have decided to ditch their masks. The same freedom has not been granted to those who serve them. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:21 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: An eye on the future

Salman Rushdie's new novel, Victory City, feels like it draws parallels from his own life

In August 2022, Salman Rushdie was repeatedly stabbed by a fanatic in Chautauqua, New York. He was blinded in one eye and also lost the use of one hand. It hasn’t killed his spirit. (Twitter)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:35 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Warming signs

Fact is: It's the hottest February ever. Here's how you can bid adieu to the season

Winter’s really and truly gone. It didn’t even have the grace to hang around until Holi, as has been the norm. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:46 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Hold your breath

Air quality is getting worse and worse — and it’s not just a Delhi problem any more

You know what’s worse than the pollution? The apathy. Open an air-quality map and practically all of north India is depicted in red. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:54 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Birds of a feather

Some people like waking up early and seizing the day while others prefer to get a late start... but why must these two groups be at war with each other?

The morning lark / night owl division is based on the circadian rhythm. When you feel most energised determines which one you are. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 20, 2023 02:50 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: JLF turns the page

Between discussions and debates, readings and sessions, it is the young people in attendance at the Jaipur Literature Festival that give one hope for the future

Shashi Tharoor is the Shah Rukh Khan of the literary world. At JLF, he is surrounded by a ring of over-muscled bouncers wherever he goes (HT Archives)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 08:09 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Spare us!

So, here we are again

The real tragedy is that the royals can’t bring themselves to love Meghan like he does. And he can’t bring himself to forgive them for failing to do so (Aparna Ram)

lifestyle

Published on Jan 20, 2023 10:35 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

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Seema Goswami

A few decades ago, when life was less complicated and less demanding, the monsoon merely meant fun and freedom

The price tags don’t vary by much. The best deals, in fact, are online. So why do fliers still shop for luxury at the airport?

It’s certainly not women’s work. But women no longer have to choose between the kitchen and careers. Cooking is a life skill. And it’s strangely liberating

Nigella Lawson won’t host fancy dinners any more. Don’t let that stop you from planning ahead and pulling off a fun, sophisticated night at home with friends

Shopping is enjoyable, but also intensely personal. How you shop reveals a lot about who you are. Check out these types

Compliments can be tricky and easily misunderstood. In a world where political correctness is prominent, some find it hard to accept or give compliments

The author shares a list of things they love about life, like lazy mornings, coffee, long-haul flights without Wi-Fi, and the joy of coming home

The terrible lows after the many highs of a good vacation can be taxing. But there are ways to overcome the back-to-work blues

It’s refreshing to watch a series about journalists and newsrooms that brings back memories of our younger selves

Why are holidays packed with activities? Vacations should ideally mean less stress and more fun for kids and for parents

Get ready for summer reading with "Lessons In Chemistry," "The Windsor Knot," "Whips," "Crying in H Mart," and "The School For Good Mothers"

Mindy Kaling and Martha Stewart rocked swimsuits recently. Both remain stuck pandering to age-old standards expected of women

Many people who travel abroad take in the sights, buy souvenirs, but stop short of trying the food. It’s a waste and a shame

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla was a spectacle to behold, with multicultural representation and a blended family on the balcony.

Indian Matchmaking should be retitled Indian MatchNotMaking, given the near-total failure rate of Sima Taparia

It’s an odd but undeniable trait. Why do we mimic how people around us dress?

You don’t need a dark corner or an empty mind to meditate. Just go about your day and find peace in the little things

Look carefully. A photo is really a portal, capturing a moment from the past, but also pointing to how much has changed

Spring is here, but we needn’t travel abroad to find beauty in bloom

India ranked 125th in the World Happiness Report, causing controversy. The author questions what happiness actually means and whether it can be quantified.

The pandemic was a terrible time, but don’t beat yourself up if there are things about the lockdowns that you miss

A good barometer of friendship: The kind of meals you typically have. Coffee is for casual pals, dinner is for the inner circle

Intimate weddings, with a focus on guests, not garish flourishes, are sadly vanishing

Mask-wearing has gone from being a socially responsible habit to becoming a class issue

Salman Rushdie's new novel, Victory City, feels like it draws parallels from his own life

Fact is: It's the hottest February ever. Here's how you can bid adieu to the season

Air quality is getting worse and worse — and it’s not just a Delhi problem any more

Some people like waking up early and seizing the day while others prefer to get a late start... but why must these two groups be at war with each other?

Between discussions and debates, readings and sessions, it is the young people in attendance at the Jaipur Literature Festival that give one hope for the future

So, here we are again

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