The Indian Standard | MAY 2021

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BY JANANI

SUNAINA RANGNEKAR

On how they dealt with their trauma and became a healer for people around the world

SWETA SRIDHAR On being a South Asian business woman and how her mental health has transformed over the years

ATIT AMIN

On South Asian representation in the media and how he wants to pave the way for future brown creators

OBSERVE YOUR INNER LIGHT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 10

12

Theme Explanation

sunflowers

An Interview with Atit Amin

23

29

31

A Reflection with Neha Sharma

Photography with Atit Amin

An Interview with Sweta Sridhar

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From The Diary: The Oldest Daughter

An Interview with Sunaina Rangnekar

Special Thanks

03

THEME

EXPLANATION

YELLOW

one of the brightest of colors in the spectrum. yellow. it's illuminating, charismatic, optimistic just sunshine however yellow also signifies egoism, betrayal and cowardice how interesting that one color can denote so many meanings how one color can derive feelings of varying levels completely dependent on that individuals prior experiences. safe to say that if a color can do so much, so can any word, any phrase. any single string of thought. being cautious of what triggers you and what could trigger others is highly imperative. just think, why not inspire others to see yellow as enlightening.

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pg 3

TRIGGER

WARNING

&

DISCLAIMER

This magazine may contain detailed information regarding anxiety, depression and suicide. Please read with caution.

The interviews, stories and entries in this magazine are included with the approval of the respective creators. All correspondence and interaction occurred prior to the publication of this issue.

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yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yell

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You don’t have to prove your strength by moving away from everybody. You don’t have to prove your independence by isolating yourself. To me being strong is acknowledging all of the bad aspects of your life and deciding to overcome them – I don’t think running away from our problems and putting on a mask is conducive to growth. I have learned the hard way that every time I repress or suppress any of the trauma that I’ve been through, life has a way of reminding me that there are many things that I still have to work on. Now, I go through life in a way that allows me to continuously check myself but also enjoy the current moment. It’s not always about improving, because the more you live in the moment the more you can see what exactly in front of you and that the constant is you.

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yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yel yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yel

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Have you taken a deep breath today? I forget this all the time and then when I just deeply inhale and then exhale, I feel myself re-centering. Be cognizant of every action... it can be life changing when you understand every conscious moment.

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yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yel yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow yel pg 6

M ImellowN D

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THEME

EXPLANATION

YELLOW

mellow

i slow my breath. realize that time is going to pass by the rate is relative no matter the circumstance i slow my breath and become conscious of everything. i realized, why fight a feeling that is going to occur? why anticipate a feeling that hasn't been warranted? the point is to experience everything but still, anticipate greatness

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photography with Atit Amin

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We're all just little sunflowers. waiting for a chance to dance and grow under the light that serves us all.

What if we just got up... rose every single time we were challenged to fall.

Danced every time we were forced to sit down.

Got up and stood for what we believed in.

Paint It Yellow We are precious to this earth.

Vital to each other.

We grow in a field under the ray of light Sunflowers that just crave the earth.

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observe your inner light

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an interview with Atit Amin

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photography with Atit Amin

I’m a 23 year old filmmaker and photographer based out of Pittsburgh, PA. I’ve been in love with filmmaking since I was a little kid. My Dad always had video cameras around and I made so many movies growing up with my brother. I never seemed to fit in and I just never found anything I was good at until I discovered filmmaking. I was in charge of a motivation video to play in-front of my entire high school. After that video played and ended with video made by Atit Amin, I knew this was my calling. pg 13

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photography with Atit Amin

photography with Atit Amin

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Describe your mental health journey.

My mental health journey started my senior year of high school where I was fully committed to pursue filmmaking as a career. I never seemed like I fit in, I was the only Indian at my high school and college. I always seemed different from the rest and trying to adapt and be myself was really hard at first. I started taking my videography and photography business that I started in high school more seriously. My second year of doing it full-time I was able to cross the six figure mark while studying and being a full time student athlete in college. My mental health was declining when I started to get burnt out and briefly loosing the love of creating in general. I was able to overcome that by graduating college but then covid hit in 2020 and now 2021 seems like the great American comeback for me.

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photography with Atit Amin

What make you understand lonely vs being alone?

I understood the difference when I noticed there’s no one to blame for my loneliness but myself. I live alone for the last 5 years. I don’t keep in touch with my friends. I think the difference for me is knowing that it’s easier for me to grow faster alone. I accepted that I don’t need anyone in my life. Being lonely is simply not having anyone in your life and being alone is just being by yourself. I’m not lonely, I’m just by myself. I have friends across the world that will answer my call anytime I need them but I don’t depend on them which is the best part of being by yourself. I personally think it’s dangerous not to know the difference between these two because one can leave you in a darker path. In life there’s only one person that will love you no matter what, which is simply yourself but also my mom can’t forget about her.

photography with Atit Amin

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What made you bring your work to Instagram?

As a creator and photographer. Instagram was simply one of the better platforms for sharing my work. There’s a big problem with instagram which is to stand out and grow from the billions of people on the app.

Do you feel supported by your parents with your dreams?

Unfortunately I felt my parents didn’t support my dream at first because it wasn’t as safe as being a doctor or lawyer. Brown parents in general just love to brag to other parents about their child. It wasn’t really until the paychecks came in and brands/clients paying me to travel the world where they started supporting me. They are fully supportive and assured that I’m in the right path now, still scared like any parents would be.

What would you like to say with your platform?

I personally want to say to everyone who reads this that you only have one life to live. There are no do-overs so if there’s a dream or passion you have, so I think you need to pursue it no matter what anyone thinks or says. I think there should be as many brown models, photographers, filmmakers and actors as they are doctors, and lawyers out there. I’m trying to inspire the next generation of brown creators out there, and my platform is definitely going to be one of the first to convince the brown community that this should be the new standard.

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photography with Atit Amin

photography with Atit Amin

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photography with Atit Amin

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I first publicly spoke out about my struggles with mental health almost exactly 3 years ago. I had an event at college and after weeks of desperately searching for a speaker at our show, I impulsively decided to throw my hat in the ring to share my story. On such short notice, it was a speech that was quite frankly, thrown together haphazardly.

I strung together bits from my Common App essay written two years prior, with small passages from my journal, into something that could pass as acceptable for our 150-person audience. And though turnout was about 100 less people than expected, the fear of sharing such a raw part of me didn’t subside. I stumbled through a few ums, and uhs, and there was an awkward pause as I frantically tried to flip over two pages stuck together, but I made it to the end to warm, supportive smiles from absolute strangers and tight, teary hugs from the best of friends.

I felt fearless for the very first time.

I beamed with this confidence for a whole week, smiling at strangers in the dining hall and raising my hand to answer a question in a very full lecture hall. I embraced this poise with strange ease, allowing myself to feel good just because I knew I could, and more importantly, because I deserved to.

It was perhaps this newfound courage that drove me to post my speech on Facebook on a Sunday night, exactly a week later. It wasn’t for likes or sympathy or recognition.

Posting it was an act of self-love, no matter how it would be received.

My parents don’t know this yet, but my well-intentioned older sister– the forever peace-keeper of our family– called me a few hours later, and with the utmost gentleness in her voice (that still did nothing to soothe the sting), encouraged me to consider taking the video down. It was a really good speech, she assured me, but “Mom’s just a little nervous.” My father shared her hesitation and a few days later, without mentioning the Facebook post directly, urged me to keep my struggles to myself because “not everyone needs to know everything about us.”

It was for this exact reason that later that summer, when I penned an article, brazenly recounting my internship experience as someone who struggles with depression, I did keep it to myself. Though not my best piece of writing, the article still circulated quickly and very publicly. I received emails in my inbox from people across the company congratulating me for my bravery; I got LinkedIn requests from hiring managers from all over the state complimenting me for my honesty, telling me to stay in touch should I ever need a job; my friends and manger shared the article on their own social media alongside the kindest of praises.

pg 24

And yet, I didn’t dare share the piece. I stayed quiet in my thank-yous and private in my overwhelming appreciation for others’ kindness and never once mentioned it to my parents.

It frustrated me to no end, knowing that my parents wished that I would silence a part of me that was beginning to empower me so much. (In retrospect, silence is perhaps too harsh a word– reserve, is probably a better one, but my younger self couldn’t make out the subtle difference.)

Did they, like many other Indian parents, think that depression isn’t real? Or something to be ashamed about? Did they think my depression was a direct reflection of their parenting?

Were they that shallow to care what people may think of them after finding out about my story?

I spent years angry at my parents and angry at the culture that likely informed their actions.

And it wasn’t until very recently-- until I spent a full year, day in and day out with them-that I finally realized my parents and I aren’t so different.

I’m so quick to shush Mom when we pass through the nice white neighborhood during our daily walks, making sure the sharp intonations of Mom’s Kannada don’t stand out from the steady lilt of English around us, just in case the unapologetic presence of an immigrant may set someone off. I automatically take the menu out of Papa’s hand at restaurants and order for him, just in case the waitress may insult him trying to decipher his accent. I’m protecting them from a threat that likely doesn’t exist, but I’m not willing to take the gamble.

When it comes to me, they probably aren’t either. It’s a family trait, I think, to love so fiercely that it just becomes overbearing at times.

And so, I’ve finally understood their true intention behind asking me to stay quiet: it was never to shelter themselves from any judgement or shame, but to shelter me. To shield me from nosy aunties and dismissive uncles and judgmental family friends; to protect me from people who could weaponize my vulnerability; to spend days fielding questions from relatives and nights praying to God that life will be kind to me.

The love my parents have for me is boundless, and I’m learning to respect every part of it– not just their dreams and sacrifices, but also their fears and misgivings. So perhaps that will mean not sharing this piece of writing once it’s published. Or maybe it will mean screaming it from the rooftops, as a way of saying, “because of your safeguarding all these years, I am comfortable enough to live my truth every single day.” I’m honestly not sure yet.

But if on the off chance, Mom & Papa, you are reading this: Thank you for everything. I owe you the world.

pg 25

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when we make mistakes it’s really important to recognize that it’s normal. in the most truest form we are all students. life gives us many opportunities to learn and to continuously prosper, which is why there is no grand purpose. we have the day today and we have each and every moment. are you fulfilling your promises and your purpose today? are you being the best version of who you want to be today? are all of your goals being met every single day? if not, understand that is okay because recognizing that you haven’t gotten there is also progress. every step you make to better yourself is progress even if it doesn’t look like much to you. when you are at the epicenter of your own life you are going to only see the extremes and it’s really important to recognize that you just wanting more for yourself is groundbreaking. trust this though, you don’t have to be the best of the best to be the best.

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B OpetalsD Y

pg 27

THEME

EXPLANATION

YELLOW

petals

each emotion is a part of us. each experience, thought and feeling dictates who we are. we hesitate to rip petals off a flower, to destroy a bouquet. why? because we don't want to tarnish the beauty, yet in the that same vein, we don't hesitate to invalidate our own emotions. we never wait to shut down our feelings, never stop ourselves from saying "other people have it harder" interesting that we are willing to preserve everything but ourselves.

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pg 28

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photography with Atit Amin

pg 29

pg 30

photography with Atit Amin

an interview with Sweta Sridhar

pg 31

pg 32

What would you say to your younger self struggling with ADHD and what is your story?

I would tell my younger self that I am not alone. Especially in the SouthAsian community, there used to be a lack of resources and education around ADHD growing up which made me feel like I had some type of “rare disorder”. I was alone throughout my experience. Because tt was not a common dinner table conversation amongst my family and I was not educated about ADHD until a much later age, I was very confused about why I was unable to perform or think like many others around me.

When I was in elementary school I started to notice that I would get easily distracted, appear withdrawn, talk extremely fast as if my heart was racing.

After learning about ADHD briefly in a class, I remember searching what the symptoms were and started to question what I was experiencing. As I reflected on my own journey - from being told to switch schools to teachers asking me if I was taking medications, I was frankly worried and scared that something was wrong with me. Because I did not know anyone around me with similar symptoms, I let it slide and continued on with my life. As I got older, I realized that not seeking help slowed down my productivity, took away opportunities, and also made it harder to pursue anything because my brain was constantly scattered. When the ADHD started to impact my academics and intensify, I was able to seek professional guidance that made me realize how much I was downplaying my experience from a young age.

Because I always wanted to appear to be “tough and fearless”, I often ignored my condition and tried to fit in as much as possible, especially in social settings. The ability to really stand up for myself, make decisions without the support of those close to me, and recognize the impact on my career and personal well-being took immense courage. I am privileged and grateful that I was able to seek professional resources free of charge at my university and through other organizations that eventually inspired me to create environments and spaces where I have been able to support others in confidence. We may think we are alone in this, but the reality is that everyone is going through their own battles and are often silent about it.

Society and cultures can put unrealistic pressures on constantly being happy, fulfilled, and perfect in every single thing you do. Recognizing that it isn’t possible led me to finally feel free and actively take on strategies to overcome ADHD. From meditation classes, prescribed medications, frequent therapy, and the support of others who have gone through their own experiences. pg 33

What did you experience in college that contributed to your mental health journey?

There were two types of experiences in college that contributed to my mental health journey. The first one was professional and academic-related experiences. As a Business and Liberal Arts double-major, I felt that the environment was focused on your major and internships/job roles. When I walked to classes or sat next to someone new, the first question would be how many summer internship offers I received or why I chose to major in ‘Marketing’ because it wasn’t “as profitable of a career compared to other business majors, such as Finance or Accounting.” Over time, these encounters made me feel inferior, caused me to question certain decisions I made, and impacted the way I perceived my worth. As someone who was recovering from ADHD, I was overwhelmed by the expectations of needing to juggle classes, student organizations, side hustles, social life, sleep, and so much more! There came to be many breaking points where I considered transferring to community colleges near my hometown in the Bay Area and also changing my career paths because of what others told me was “best for me.” As I started to change my identity through these experiences, I ended up ultimately very unhappy because I was not doing what I loved and was constantly putting so much pressure on myself to achieve certain milestones (like securing an internship in the Fall prior to that upcoming summer). I cannot emphasize the importance of doing what’s best for you and not letting anyone make you feel inferior.

The second experience was personal and social influences that contributed to my mental health. From feeling the need to look a certain way if I wanted to be invited to parties, to being there for peers in difficult situations without considering my needs there were some really lonely times and long nights of losing hope. The most impactful experience I encountered was feeling like I had to change myself externally to be where I wanted to be. When I dressed a certain way, I started to observe how I was being treated differently and overall, I valued quantity over quality. The biggest lesson I learned is that many people will be there when you’re at your best, but only a few will be there for you when you are at your worst. While I am incredibly grateful for my support system, I do feel that there were so many battles in my head that I felt was a vicious cycle. In other words, there was a lot of pressure that I put on myself to dress and act a certain way and be there for people unconditionally only to get hurt and realize it was not worth it. Although I appeared to be “thriving” throughout many parts of my college journey, I was in fact going through some really tough battles alone. It was not until I chose to let go of certain people and environments and accept myself that I really grew and found happiness in the simplest of ways.

pg 34

Explain your family dynamic with being the oldest daughter and what pressures that brought?

As the oldest daughter not only in my immediate family, but my extended family, I always had to pave the way for what “success” looks like. I felt that I was always held to very high standards and expectations from gender roles as a female (especially in the South Asian culture) to the types of behaviors that I needed to conform to. My family was extremely protective and went to extreme measures to ensure that I was as protected as possible. I remember asking them why they decided to enroll me in an allgirls private Catholic high school and their reason was because it would protect me and help me focus better on my education.

While I personally do not believe it worked, I do feel like they were almost afraid to show me the reality of the world. I do not think they realized that sheltering me and holding me to such high expectations actually made me want to go out of my comfort zone and do things that I knew they wouldn’t approve of. I was definitely not a rebellious child, but I did talk back to them and wait for the day that I would be able to go as far away as possible from them. My family dynamics eventually changed as I started to open up about my journey and form a closer relationship after the age of 19.

I felt the pressure to always help out in the kitchen, entertain guests, and dress in a rather conservative manner is to not attract any type of attention. I felt the pressure to pursue a STEM-related career in order to ensure a “stable lifestyle” and also consider getting married at a very early age so that I could depend on a man earlier on. Even as I say this, the rationale completely shocks me. The biggest pressure that I felt was related to my relationships. Whether it was friendships or romantic relationships, my family always asked me several questions and really emphasized their ideal relationships for me. It was never about who I wanted to be friends with, but rather certain people or social circles they believed were the best for me. Even now this is a challenge because I set the “example in the household.” When my younger brother gets into trouble or does something that my family does not support, I am always the first person to get blamed for being a terrible role model and not “listening to them in the first place.” As the oldest daughter, there is a lot of protection, but I also feel an added layer of judgement. The bar of expectations is extremely unrealistic for anyone.

pg 35

Tell me about your journey with body dysmorphia?

I grew up constantly being told that I needed to lose weight when I indulged in anything, then conversely, being asked why I was “starving myself” when I did not eat to a point of being full. There was a constant battle of not knowing what was nutritious and learning how to consume desserts in moderation. Being surrounded by others who did not look like me did not help. From being put in the back of Bharatnatyam dance routines for being the “chubby girl”, to only having headshots taken of me because my entire body was not “good enough”, I struggled to truly see the beauty within me. No matter what others told me or what types of outfits I tried on, I constantly battled with myself to accept how I looked. I considered dietary supplements, medications, surgery, and other options to change who I was externally because I felt that I was not good enough.

Furthermore, because I did not see others in the media who looked like me in shape, size, and color, I felt that it was a rare “issue” and a burden to society in many ways. The idea that your looks could go a long way with beauty standards at that time was what could get me far in life - I succumbed to this flawed belief As I went through college and joined the corporate workforce, I continued to be insecure about my body and did not truly learn to love myself. What helped me get through my body dysmorphia was connecting with other inspiring women who had gone through similar challenges, and coming up with tangible ways to change such societal perceptions. From partnering with brands that challenge images of ‘beauty’ to really opening up about the type of bullying and harassment I faced, I hope to inspire many younger girls (and boys!) out there to love themselves. There is SO much more to a person beyond how they look and how they dress. My contributions to society and my growth as a person have come from the decisions I’ve made and the values I embrace.

Your weight does not equate to your worth.

pg 36

What is your experience with the brown community on social media?

The South Asian (brown) community's presence on social media has reached an all-time high over the past decade. Given that I barely saw others who looked like me on any social media platform growing up, it has been great to see aspiring creatives and professionals chasing what truly makes them happy while trying to make an impact. My experience has consisted of several pros and cons. The pros is that I have a community that understands my story and has been able to share uplifting sentiments. One of the biggest cons is that there is a sense of competition and lack of support that is not talked about.

The most ironic aspect of the South Asian community on social media is that it preaches inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment, but often does the opposite through “their support.”

The fundamental realization that bringing others down does not lift one up is something that still needs to be spread around all platforms. Whether it is talking about nepotism in the Bollywood industry or inclusivity of beauty products in the South Asian community, I believe that truly promoting what is preached is so crucial. I find that because many South Asians grew up with similar experiences as it relates to their families and upbringing, they are looking to find a sense of belonging through social media platforms. As a result, there is a feeling that is shared and echoed by others through my observations that in order to be accepted, they need to be different and be the best in what they do.

To summarize my thoughts, I initially started my platform on social media very blinded by the intentions of others on the platforms. While I am extremely grateful for the large support system that I have and recognize that I got to where I am because of them, there have been challenging and shocking moments of competition and jealousy from other South Asian creators which has been unfortunate.

My goal is to support and uplift others in the brown community in hopes of uniting and genuinely embracing each other.

pg 37

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as much as we like to think that we are healed and that we are responsible with our mental health, it is very shocking when you get hit with a bunch of things that you thought you worked through. one thing that is so true about all of this is that dealing with pain is an ongoing struggle. there are always going to be things that you have to work on and at the end of the day, you need to know that you have yourself. i keep asking myself, what am i doing to get through these moments - am i reflecting or projecting? am i constantly putting my mindset and well-being first, or am i letting my work get the best of me? it is imperative to understand that no matter how busy you are, you have to put your mind, body and soul first.

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S heart Oof Ugold L

pg 39

THEME

EXPLANATION

YELLOW

heart of gold

we are absolute and precious. why is it so hard to praise others and not others? we forget that whatever we see in others, is a direct reflection of ourselves. we are our words and rather than collecting the wealth externally, let this be the moment that you see how rich your soul is how indestructible you are how valuable your life is we are golden and just little beads of light that can shine every single day

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From The Diary of the oldest daughter of an Indian family

pg 41

The societal pressures of being the oldest daughter of an Indian family is very overwhelming. Over time, we become very dependent on people pleasing & seeking external validation for comfort. I have noticed in my life that a lot of my family dynamic is dependent on how I lead my life. I am forced to get married at a certain time otherwise my younger sister will be delayed; create a career I love but be proper in society; mitigate relationships in a way that is healthy - everything can just add up. This has resulted me into becoming the “therapist friend” in almost every friend group. I always feel the need to help or fix a situation when truly it wasn’t in my control - it wasn’t my place either.

pg 44

I feel sometimes forced to almost place my pressures that I have in my life and hold expectations for others - this projection can be very unhealthy for the relationships that I wish to sustain. I wish I could say that there are things that we can do but unfortunately a lot of this comes down to parental pressure and how we mitigate that relationship. None of us really want to lose our relationship with our parents or feel like we have to choose one or the other but sometimes it can be very hard to balance how we understand the world and how we have to see it through their eyes. In my opinion, open communication can solve a lot of our problems and it’s important to say to the people that we love the pressures we feel and how we choose to go about it.

pg 43

pg 44

photography with Atit Amin

photography with Atit Amin

pg 45

an interview with Sunaina

pg 46

Tell us about yourself.

When people ask about me, I do like to think that I have two selves. A lowercase and uppercase. When we break it down into myself and my ego, we can see everything I’ve gone through to make it to this moment. I stand for what I believe in and I hold my values to the core of my being. I consider myself balanced like the libra that I am.

I see myself as a vessel for divine energy, I’m simply the artist, the dancer, who brings that energy through me. I define myself as infinite, the universe is within me. Within the question of “who are you?” There is an element of purity. I am the product of everything that has happened to me, I am the now.

How was the journey of soul searching for you?

Because of how we are pulled by the binary, it is a dynamic journey. I was born into this dynamic journey because my mother prayed to the gods for that to be prevalent in my life. I’ve been practicing yoga as a kid with my parents. It's hard coming from that and seeing how spirituality is treated today. So many white people appropriate our culture and our spiritual practices without understanding their weight. When I went to studios, I saw that everyone was looking for something, and I got infiltrated by that same sentiment. People would try to rope me into teaching and getting certified, so it was through this journey of finding the true seekers who are not as convoluted in maya, I was able to unlearn the things that held me back.

How is it making friends?

It's not making friendships that is difficult, the hard part is sustaining them through hardship. I like to think of myself as someone who is sociable but also stands by my ideas. People are attracted to that kind of thing until it comes to being accountable. I see these people as reflections who are meant to fill the divine purpose of teaching me something. It's hard being an only child and sustaining deep and longer friendships. I have a lot of people who are my close friends and have been with me for a while, I can be uncomfortable with them and things would still be fine. However, even with all that, it's tough to deal with feelings of abandonment. It's hard to place faith in the idea of people staying long term.

pg 47

pg 48

How was your mental health journey?

My mental health journey has been heavily impacted by the mental health of my parents. My parents had an intercaste marriage that was non-traditional - a love marriage. My father experienced a horrific tragedy in his early 20's when his father committed suicide and homicide, also killing my father's siblings. My mother's family basically adopted my dad and his mother, since he was going to college with my mom's brother. My dad was treated like another son in our family and fell in love with my mother later on. My parents then had me and immigrated to America, experiencing similar problems that a lot of South Asian households go through, in the sense that the man has to be the head of the house and take care of all of the finances and be the sole provider for the family. As a result of the deeply rooted toxic masculinity within my own family, I witnessed my mother go through a lot of physical and mental abuse, directly affecting my mental health. I did not realize how much my parents reflected my own mental health journey until I had to face physical abuse myself. Through lots of family drama and the separation of my parents, I started to understand how to prioritize my own mental health through the form of yoga and my relationship with the Divine. I work to heal and promote wellness through yoga. When others learn from my life experience, I feel that my story has power and that power can be used for transformational good. My mental health journey starts with myself and my family at the core. Through setting boundaries, I am able to have a relationship with both of my parents and have really understood the importance of taking care of your inner-child.

I have always been very self-sufficient with being an only child, however, everything really set in motion for me career wise and mental health wise after coming to terms with my parents' story and everything that has happened with them.

pg 49

SPECIAL

THANKS

so many lifestyle changes had to be made this month. i dedicate this issue to those who cheered me on and truly supported my vision. without you, nothing is possible. you are like my lifeboat when i drown in self doubt - i thank you for allowing me to see that we all have what we need to be happy and successful.

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credits

MAY 2021

Cover MIND An Interview with Atit Amin Photography with Atit Amin A Reflection by Neha Sharma BODY An Interview with Sweta Sridhar

SOUL An Interview with Sunaina Rangnekar Back Cover

VOL 2 ISSUE 5

@sun9nah @by.janani shot by: @editsbynikita @atit.amin @nshaarms @by.janani shot by: @editsbynikita @sweetathansugar @emiliebersphoto @mangiante.photography @marco.dng @kelseypridmorephotography @by.janani shot by: @editsbynikita @sun9nah @sun9nah

SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram Personal Instagram Tik Tok YouTube

@theindianstandard @by,janani @by,janani JANANI

www.theindianstandard.co

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