A Quiet, Cozy Resistance
Meghna Chaudhury has crafted a cozy No-Agenda Space where women can rest in their entirety.
February, 2025: Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote that marriage is about finding “guardians for our solitude”—people who give us space to be ourselves without intrusion or mistrust. This idea extends beyond marriage; it is a vital aspect of community-building. Finding spaces and people who allow us to coexist without demands is a rare gift.
Meghna Chaudhury has crafted such a space—one where women can rest in their entirety, free from performance and forced conversation. The No-Agenda Space was born from this vision.
“The space comes from my own self-awareness that, in the end, we are all performing,” Meghna said. “Whether in the roles we are born into, the roles we are transitioning from, or the ones we aspire to, it has always been a performance.” These performances are often tied to rewards, and refusing to play along can mean losing them. “With all of this in mind, and with my belief that ‘sometimes all we need are guardians of each other’s solitude,’ this idea took shape.”
Since January 2025, Meghna has opened her home in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, to two women each day. Those interested can register through a Google Sheet linked in her Instagram bio. Once there, they are free to do as they please—work, nap in a bedroom, read from Meghna’s extensive collection (and even annotate the books), pet Millie, her deaf and affectionate dog, or help themselves to the community food kit.
The only rules: No small talk. No forced networking. No money. However, Meghna is considering an option for participants to contribute ₹700 to fund a stranger’s therapy session.
Unlike cafés or coworking spaces, the No-Agenda Space is deeply personal—it exists within Meghna’s home. “The goal is to offer women and marginalized folks a ‘place to rest’ or objects that induce restfulness,” she explained. “That’s why there are books, soup packets, fragrances, flowers, and my dog. Different people practice the ethics of care in different ways.”
Walking through the wide patio, past a desk cluttered with paintbrushes and sketchbooks, you enter Meghna’s bright, sunlit living room. Lined with colorful books, potted plants, and inviting furniture, the space exudes warmth, carrying a faint scent of apple and cinnamon--a curated 'Smell of the Day'. Millie, the ever-present, ever-comforting rescue dog, makes her presence known. “Once you start petting her, you cannot stop,” Meghna said with a smile. And Millie won’t let you.
Aishwarya, a journalist who moved to Bangalore three months ago, found the initiative unique—a place to connect with others in silence, without the pressure to sustain conversation. “The first thing that struck me was the warmth of the space and the host—especially with all the books and comforting tea,” she shared. “I loved how open Meghna was to sharing her space, and even her food! There’s something about being surrounded by women—it’s grounding, liberating, and comforting all at once.”
The No-Agenda Space radically reimagines leisure and third spaces. In a fast-paced, judgmental world, Meghna’s living room offers an escape from the need to perform and conform. As she puts it, “In a world of fastness, I hope to offer people a place where they can live at their own pace.”
And for those who enter, it is a quiet reminder that rest, too, is an act of resistance.
(Check out meghnachaudhury on Instagram for more updates. Since this article was written in February, more women have been inspired to set up their own no-agenda spaces all over India. Meghna has also put forth a new idea; locality “friends” who do shared activities and chores, connected through Slack.)