The standards by which a woman's appearance is judged on the news are different to men, there's no question about that. Our clothes are different, for starters, they're much more varied, they're commented upon, there's no question about that. But do you have to be really good-looking? I don't think that's true.
Coming to Rajasthan had been my idea, my dream. In the weeks before we arrived, I had tried and failed on numerous occasions to enthuse my family with the joys of travel in India; reading bits from the guidebooks, telling the children about the history of the Mughals, insisting to my daughter that she really would enjoy curry if it was in India.
When both my parents were unwell I was in that situation that will be very familiar to many women. I had young children in one part of the country, and elderly unwell parents in another. I was in a constant state of guilt. Was I there enough for my mother? Was I there enough for my children?