Latest news with #TanviMehta

The Star

4 days ago

General
The Star

Seven dead in stampede outside India's Bengaluru cricket stadium, TV channels say

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -At least seven people were killed in a stampede outside a cricket stadium in India's Bengaluru, where an event was being held to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first Indian Premier League title win, TV channels reported on Wednesday. Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings in the tournament's final match on Tuesday. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh)

From Deepika Padukone to the common man, Tanvi Mehta believes everyone deserves mental wellness

Time of India

23-05-2025

Health
Time of India

From Deepika Padukone to the common man, Tanvi Mehta believes everyone deserves mental wellness

In a world where conversations around mental health are gradually gaining visibility, art therapist and mental health advocate Tanvi Mehta is quietly but powerfully leading a movement that fuses creativity, cultural sensitivity, and emotional healing. Whether working with young children in India or survivors of gender-based violence in New York, Tanvi's goal is clear: to make mental health care more human, more accessible, and more rooted in individual global journey—from India to Singapore, Italy, and now the United States—has deeply influenced her practice and artistic identity. Currently based in New York, she works with a nonprofit supporting survivors of gender-based violence and serves as the Social Justice Chair for the New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA). In both roles, she is advocating for a more inclusive and culturally grounded mental health a master's degree in art therapy from New York University, Tanvi has supported individuals across various life stages and circumstances—from children coping with chronic illness to older adults living with dementia, and survivors of domestic violence and trafficking, to those managing complex conditions like bipolar disorder and multiple sclerosis. But her work transcends traditional therapy models. 'What I've learned,' says Tanvi, 'is that art offers an emotional language beyond words. Especially in communities where verbal expression is stigmatised or unsafe, art becomes a doorway to healing.' As a South Asian woman, Tanvi understands the silence surrounding mental health in many cultures. 'Therapy wasn't a concept that was openly talked about where I grew up,' she shares. 'I knew that if I entered this field, I'd have to do it in a way that felt rooted, familiar, and culturally relevant.' That's why her sessions often include culturally meaningful materials, native languages, and symbolic expressions. 'It's not just about processing trauma—it's about reclaiming identity,' she says. She also leads workshops across borders—virtually and in person—reaching clients far beyond geographic limitations. Whether supporting a child in Mumbai or an adult in Manhattan, her approach centers on dignity, self-expression, and emotional access. And it's not just the marginalised or underrepresented who need this work. Even the most privileged aren't immune to emotional pain. 'While celebrities and individuals from upper-class backgrounds may appear to lead glamorous and fulfilled lives, mental health challenges don't spare anyone,' Tanvi explains. 'Privilege might bring access, but it doesn't immunize anyone from emotional struggles. In fact, many public figures are now helping shift the narrative.' She points to Deepika Padukone, who has openly spoken about her battle with depression and launched the LiveLoveLaugh Foundation, and Huma Qureshi, who frequently highlights the importance of mental well-being. 'These women are helping normalize therapy—not as a crisis response, but as a regular form of self-care. Success and struggle can coexist.' As Tanvi puts it, 'Therapy is not about who needs it more—it's about who's ready to look inward. Whether it's a corporate professional managing burnout or a celebrity feeling lost behind the cameras, emotional well-being isn't about appearance—it's about alignment. And therapy is one step closer to that summer, Tanvi is set to release her first children's book—a gentle, culturally sensitive introduction to grief for ages 6–9. 'It's designed not just for kids, but for parents, caregivers, and teachers who want to start emotional conversations early—through art and story,' she says. She also hints that the book may be the first in a series exploring emotional literacy and development. Through her quiet resolve and global lens, Tanvi Mehta isn't just practicing art therapy—she's reimagining how the world sees healing. In a time when mental health is often overshadowed by stigma or silence, her work reminds us that vulnerability is not weakness—it's a starting point for transformation, whether you're a Bollywood icon or just someone trying to get through the day. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .

Indian professor who was jailed for comments on women military officer is released on bail

Yahoo

21-05-2025

Politics
Yahoo

Indian professor who was jailed for comments on women military officer is released on bail

By Tanvi Mehta NEW DELHI (Reuters) -A professor who was jailed after making comments perceived as critical of women officers in the Indian army was ordered released on bail by the country's top court on Wednesday, his lawyer said. The Supreme Court also placed restrictions on Ali Khan Mahmudabad's ability to comment on the case and on his social media posts, pending further investigation, lawyer Mohammad Nizamuddin Pasha told Reuters. Mahmudabad, head of the political science department at Ashoka University near Delhi, was arrested on Sunday after his remarks about two women army officers. The two, one Hindu and one Muslim, gave press briefings during the intense fighting earlier this month between India and Pakistan. Mahmudabad has been accused of disrupting communal (religious) harmony and of using words or gestures intended to insult a woman's modesty, website Live Law reported. The Commission for Women in the northern state of Haryana, where the university is located, complained that Mahmudabad's remarks undermined women officers and were an "attempt to vilify national military actions", according to local media. "The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings are important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy," Mahmudabad said in a social media post on May 8. "The grassroots reality that common Muslims face (in India) is different from what the government tried to show but at the same time the press conference shows that an India, united in its diversity, is not completely dead as an idea," added the professor, who is Muslim. Muslims and rights groups have accused some members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and affiliates of promoting anti-Islamic hate speech and vigilantism, and demolishing Muslim-owned properties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi denies religious discrimination exists in India. The fighting between the South Asian neighbours erupted after India attacked what it called terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following an April 22 attack by Islamist militants in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. Pakistan said civilians sites were targeted and the Indian attack was followed by days of intense fighting, until a ceasefire was announced between the arch rivals on May 10. Prior to his arrest, Mahmudabad said that his legal team responded to a summons by the commission, which "failed to highlight how my post is contrary to the rights of or laws of women". "We are committed to making the women feel safe and validated in all their endeavours be it academic or on the borders of this great nation," Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women said on X last week. Ashoka University said in a statement it was heartened with the news of Mahmudabad's bail, ANI news agency reported. Reuters has a minority stake in ANI. Local media had reported the university had earlier distanced itself from the professor's comments, saying they were made in his personal capacity, but that a group of faculty members and students stood by the professor.

What happened in India's attack on Pakistan over Kashmir tourists killings?

The Star

07-05-2025

Politics
The Star

What happened in India's attack on Pakistan over Kashmir tourists killings?

A damaged portion of Bilal Mosque is seen after it was hit by an Indian strike in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India launched strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday, an assault Pakistan has called a "blatant act of war" as tensions escalate between the arch rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir. WHAT IS OPERATION SINDOOR? India said its Operation Sindoor struck nine Pakistani sites on Wednesday that were "terrorist infrastructure" where attacks against it were orchestrated. Sindoor means the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, an apparent reference to the widows created by the April 22 attack that killed 26 men, most of them Hindu. Islamabad has said six Pakistani locations were targeted, and a total of 24 impacts felt from different weapons. WHAT ABOUT CASUALTIES? Pakistan said eight people were killed, 35 injured and two were missing after the attack. India said three civilians were killed in cross-border shelling by Pakistani troops in Kashmir. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER INDIA'S ATTACK? The two armies exchanged intense shelling and firing at various points across their de-facto border in Kashmir. A Pakistan military spokesperson told Reuters his country shot down five Indian aircraft while they were in Indian airspace. India has not confirmed this claim. WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE AIRSPACE? India shut several airports and as a result, Indigo and Spicejet airlines cancelled flights. Air India also diverted two of its international flights enroute from Amritsar to New Delhi. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan. Pakistan International Airlines said airborne flights had been diverted to Karachi, while those on ground have been put on hold. ARE CIVILIANS IMPACTED? Pakistan's Punjab province declared a state of emergency, with hospitals and security forces on high alert. Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, lost power for a while after the explosions. Schools in much of India's Jammu and Kashmir were shut on Wednesday. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by YP Rajesh and Stephen Coates)