Intergenerational feminisms & sustaining our radical movements: Keynote at UAF-AP Launch (Transcript)

(Keynote address delivered at the launch of Urgent Action Fund Asia Pacific, 24 October 2017, Colombo, held in memory of Sunila Abeysekera: 1952 – 2013.) It is an immense, humbling almost overwhelming honour to be standing here in front of you today. The realization of the Asia Pacific chapter of Urgent Action Fund is the… Read More Intergenerational feminisms & sustaining our radical movements: Keynote at UAF-AP Launch (Transcript)

October 25, 2017August 7, 2018 subha1 Comment

South Asian Feminisms: A Memorial for Lala Rukh, 23 August 2017 (Transcript)

This is the transcript for the short talk I delivered at the event South Asian Feminisms: A MEMORIAL FOR LALA RUKH, hosted by A Collective for Feminist Conversations and Women and Media Collective, in Colombo on 23 August 2017. The bulk of it includes an excerpt from an essay titled Forging a New Political Imaginary:… Read More South Asian Feminisms: A Memorial for Lala Rukh, 23 August 2017 (Transcript)

August 29, 2017August 7, 2018 subhaLeave a comment

It’s Really Time We Stopped Rejecting Feminism

Feminism is the only real way to challenge sexism; when we reject feminism, we play right into its hands. You would be surprised at the amount of messages I get from women (writing to say they so agree with something I have written) which begin with ‘I am not a feminist, but…’. There are some… Read More It’s Really Time We Stopped Rejecting Feminism

October 20, 2016 subhaLeave a comment

Holding Space and Speaking: Why, When, How We Say the Things We Say About Injustice

Below are some notes and observations about how, why and when we choose to speak and what we choose to say on social media – but also in general. This is about how we respond to injustice, and how we respond to those who respond to injustice – and while specifically about recent events,… Read More Holding Space and Speaking: Why, When, How We Say the Things We Say About Injustice

July 15, 2016July 15, 2016 subha1 Comment

May 18: We Have a Lot to Mourn

I am astounded; the government has called off this year’s ‘Victory Parade’ and no one is really talking about it. Why are we not talking about it? Why isn’t everyone talking about it? Why aren’t we all so very glad? In an interview with the Sunday Observer, our present Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardena — why… Read More May 18: We Have a Lot to Mourn

May 20, 2016May 20, 2016 subha1 Comment

Ethical Divides: ‘This Divided Island’ and ‘The Seasons of Trouble’

This post has been a long time coming. It has taken many shapes and been many versions of itself. Now I am back home in Sri Lanka, where all the nuances of our lives in this place and belonging to this place somehow pull and tug simultaneously, I think it’s time to say it… Read More Ethical Divides: ‘This Divided Island’ and ‘The Seasons of Trouble’

April 25, 2016April 25, 2016 subha1 Comment

Leaving / Arriving

Today, on the day I leave India, I thought it would be nice to share this picture, which was shared via my mother’s friends on Facebook a few days ago. This is the great South Asian feminist sisterhood, as we know it, circa 1986. My amazing mother Sunila Abeysekera, wears possibly biggest smile in the… Read More Leaving / Arriving

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 subha3 Comments

Subha Wijesiriwardena

A collection of personal, political and critical essays and articles, from Sri Lanka.

Category: Personal