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The Indian Rembrandt: Pestonji Bomanji’s Art
Pestonji Bomanji (1851 – 1938) brought the Parsi community to life through his vibrant portraits in a realist style. Bomanji joined the Sir J.J. School of Art at the mere age of
Surrendering to the Divine: Wahab Khar’s Poems
Little is known about Kashmiri mystic poet-saint Wahab Khar. He is said to have been born in the early 19th century and died in the year 1912. The dates are uncertain, but other bi
A Layered Kinship: Premchand’s story, “Bade Bhai Sahab”
Familial relationships form the bedrock of our social persona, giving us a lifelong benchmark against which we measure subsequent relationships. For this reason, the tensions of a
Of Life and Death: Anna Molka Ahmed’s Paintings
In 1963, the Pakistani government honoured Anna Molka Ahmed (1917 – 1944) with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz,one of the highest civilian awards of excellence. It was a series of serend
Form and Feeling: S. N. Chemkur’s Book, Art and Beauty
In 1937, a book called Art and Beauty became an instant success and came to be hailed as a masterpiece furthering Indian art of the period. It contained twenty four paintings capt
The Language of Bengal and the Liberation War: Sufia Kamal’s Poems
Begum Sufia Kamal (1911 – 1999) was a Bangladeshi writer, poet and activist. Lovingly known as ‘Khalamma‘ (aunt), Kamal holds a special place in Bangladesh’s li
The Perils of Love: Kunwar Narain’s Poem, “A Strange Problem”
Nature and evolution has programmed us to pay close attention to things that strike us as different. While it empowered our ancestors who had to defend their turf from unknown pred
To Wander Far and Wide: Rabindranath Tagore’s Play, Dak Ghar
Finding an apt piece of writing for one’s current time and circumstance from Rabindranath Tagore’s oeuvre is not difficult. Tagore (1861-1941) wrote prolifically, spanning genr
The Delicate Beauty of the Ordinary: Sughra Rababi’s Paintings
We live at a frenetic pace consuming vast amounts of the world every day. This ‘too-muchness’ of our life has left little space for slowing down and waiting for the world to un
The Ultimate Expression: Muktibodh’s Poem, Andhere Mein
Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh (1917 – 1964) was a Hindi poet and writer, most prominently known as one of the pioneers of modern Hindi poetry. His short life was full of idealism
Gishaoun Ke Geet: Meeraji’s Translation of Songs of the Geishas
Mohammad Sanaullah Dar (1912 – 1949), better known as Meeraji, was an Urdu poet of Kashmiri-Punjabi origin. An unusual choice of name for an Urdu poet, one wonders how he cam
Untouched Spontaneity: Sunayini Devi’s Paintings
Although many artists experience a strong creative pull at a young age, some, like Sunayini Devi, blossom only later in life. Sunayini Devi (1875 – 1962) was fortunate to be
A Minority of One: Dilip Chitre’s Poetry
At a literary conference Dilip Chitre once remarked, “everyone is a minority of one”. He was perhaps referring to the idea that our singular experiences lead us to imagine that
Looking Inwards and Out: S.H. Raza’s Paintings
Sayed Haidar Raza, better known as S. H. Raza (1922 – 2016) was one of the founders of the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay. With its bold expressions, geometric shapes
Confronting Childhood Prejudice: Akhtar Mohiuddin’s Essay, Duniya Te Afsane
Childhood is a delicate time for individuals. A significant portion of our identity and personhood is formed due to our experiences during this period: our struggles and attachment
An Intimate Portrayal: Mario Miranda’s Paintings of Cities around the World
The French word flânerie denotes the act of strolling and observing the world intimately while remaining unobserved. This has come to define the immersive travel experience that h
A Troubled Friendship: Ismat Chughtai’s Essay, My Friend, My Enemy
As we weather the storms of life, our friendships evolve in different ways; they either ripen or sour in degrees as we uncover the brilliant or unsavory facets of our friends’ pe
The Old Bangle Seller: Laxmikanta Mohapatra’s Short Story, Budha Shankari
Laxmikanta Mohapatra (1888 – 1953) was a famous Odia poet and writer known for his versatility. He was a freedom fighter as well and though few in number, his verses on nat
Nothing Left to Learn: Harishankar Parsai’s Satirical Essay, A Sorted Man
We have all encountered that one person whose staggering devotion to a cause has left us questioning their logic and sanity. The complete denial of facts or rational explanation is
Awakening Love for the Land: Mahjoor’s Poetry
Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor (1887 – 1952) is often referred to as ‘Shayar-e-Kashmir’, or the Poet of Kashmir and a look at his biography and repertoire is enough to tell
Darkness and Poetic Surrealism: Ganesh Pyne’s Art
A withdrawn demeanor is, at times, just a fragile cover for deep souls wallowing in their own private mythology. What fanciful worlds they dream up and live in, it is impossible
Rosul Ashik: Rassul Mir’s Love Poems
Born in Doru, Anantnag in Kashmir, Rassul Mir lived and wrote in the late 19th century. He was a romantic poet who drew greatly from metaphors of nature all around him. Given
Beyond the Confines of Reality: Krishna Reddy’s Prints
As a viewer, Krishna Reddy’s prints are extremely demanding; he presents us with puzzling images that defy all understanding of convention and expression. When looking at his str
The Tragedy of Rural Indian Life: Kamala Markandeya’s Novel, Nectar in a Sieve
Kamala Purnaiya Taylor, better known by her pseudonym, Kamala Markandeya (1924-2004), was born in a village near Mysore in India. She wrote ten novels, all of which dealt with post
Husn-e Haqiqi: Khawaja Ghulam Farid’s Exploration of the Divine
Khawaja Ghulam Farid (1845 – 1901) was a Punjabi Sufi saint and scholar, much revered in the subcontinent. His collection of mystical verses, sung as hymns in Punjabi and Sar
Discovery of the True Nature of Things: Biren De’s Neo-Tantric Art
Art is often an endeavor to preserve and process the beauty of the perceived world. However, some artists use their canvas to explore the subliminal, the mystical and even the divi
The Spirituality of All that Cannot Die: H.L.V. Derozio’s Poem, A Walk by Moonlight
The current social and political state of the world is proof of the fact that our greed and pursuit of material possessions is a self-defeating cycle. While it temporarily fills a
‘The Artist of All Nations’: Abdur Rahman Chughtai’s Syncretic Paintings
Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1894–1975) was a Pakistani painter noted for his unique work that was influenced by a plethora of styles and themes. His work drew from traditional miniatu
Beyond Dualities: The Hymn of Creation
The ability to think critically and ask questions about existence has been the cornerstone of human evolution. Even religious and spiritual texts have evidence of this curiosity an
Allah Thiruperum: Khazi Mohammed’s Muhyiddin Mala
Links between the Arab world and Kerala have long been active through trade routes. They have also been responsible for many unique socio-cultural phenomena. The Arabic-Malayalam l
Challenging Preconceived Forms: AP Santhanaraj’s Art
There is something singularly fascinating about the intersection of lines and colours in AP Santhanaraj’s paintings. It is apparent that he is an artist who defies convention and
A Loving Admonishment: Fahmida Riaz’s Poem, ‘Tum Bilkul Hum Jaise Nikle’
While politicians do their best to divide and isolate us along the lines of caste and religion, artists often look for common threads that bind us in our shared humanity. Poet Fahm
Aakash Mein Surakh: Dushyant Kumar’s Verses for Social Movements
Dushyant Kumar (1933-1975) was a prominent Hindi language poet and a pioneer of the Hindi ghazal. He worked as a scriptwriter for All India Radio and wrote at a politically sensiti
The Trauma and Tragedy of Women: B Prabha’s Paintings of Women
Most artists have some formative experiences that influence their style and thematic concerns. For B Prabha it was the plaintive expression on the faces of women all around her, a
Mor manat bhin par nai: The jikirs and jaris of Ajan Fakir
Long before Muslims rulers arrived in the Indian subcontinent, Islam had already reached. Starting in the seventh century, contact with Islam was established through seafarers, tra
We Ought to Have Met: Unrequited, Untimely Love in Parveen Shakir’s Verse
On her sixty-seventh birth anniversary last week, a Google Doodle commemorated Pakistani poet Parveen Shakir. Born in post-independence Bihar, Shakir grew to be a tradition defying
‘Tasveer Mein Kamaal’: Raja Deen Dayal’s Iconic Photographs
The pursuit of an abiding passion often results in stunning creative output. Without any formal training, many creatives have left a meaningful impact through their life and work.
A Coloniser’s Handbook: Yule and Burnell’s Anglo Indian Dictionary
First published in 1886, the book ‘Hobson-Jobson’ is often referred to with amusement, largely due to its peculiar subject matter. Titled, ‘A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Ind
A Fitting Response to Stereotypes about Women: Mokshodayani Mukhopadhyay’s Poetry
The trope of the vain and vacuous woman has always been easy fodder for lazy poets and comedians. Nineteenth Century Bengal was no different. In the 1870s, the leading poet of Beng
Hindu na, nahee Musalman: Bulleh Shah’s Wisdom for Times of Communal Strife
Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri (1680-1757), popularly known as Bulleh Shah, was a Sufi poet and philosopher. His verses have long been rendered into song by popular musicians across the
Jahangir the World Seizer: Abu’l Hasan’s Allegorical Portraits
Abu’l Hasan (1569-1627) was a prolific artist under the Mughal emperor Jahangir who was honoured with the tile of “Nadir uz-zaman” (“wonder of the age”
‘Voice of Life’: Jagadish Chandra Bose’s Inaugural Speech for Bose Institute
The realm of science seems far removed from the subjective shades of grey that mark our existence. We think of scientists as rigid, cerebral figures who are married to process, def
Passionate Warriors Weary of Wars: Gauri Deshpande’s Confessional Poetry
For a confessional poet, it is difficult to maintain an air of mystery. Like her predecessor Kamala Das, Gauri Deshpande bared it all in her autobiographical poems and stories: exp
Masnavi Shitaiyah: Ghani Kashmiri’s Detailing of Frozen Kashmir
Mulla Muhammad Tahir Ghani, known as Ghani Kashmiri, is one of the foremost Persian language poets in the subcontinent and possibly the most popular Persian poet of Kashmir. While
The Song to Kamadeva: The unabashed desire of Kotai Andal
The famous legend of Kotai-Andal tells us the story of a girl who resolves to marry Lord Vishnu and no one else. In this quest, she appropriates a garland meant for him – an act
A Unique Female Gaze: Sahifa Banu’s Mughal Miniatures
There are countless Mughal miniatures of women engaged in different activities. However, these portrayals, and subsequently, the gaze with which we are forced to look at them, have
The Voice of the Disenfranchised: Gorakh Pandey’s Poetry
We may find ourselves decrying the current state of politics in India, however, a quick peek into the pages of erstwhile poets reveals that the tides of time have only darkened our
Duty to Ourselves: Bhupen Khakhar’s Figurative and Homoerotic Paintings
In our imagination, we rarely, if ever, see artists as mechanical, office-going common folk. And yet, it is sometimes the most ordinary people who live the most extraordinary lives
Arini rang gom: Arnimal’s Poetry of Heartbreak and Waiting
Eighteenth century Kashmiri romantic poet, Arnimal was a path-breaker in her own right. Born in a conservative Kashmiri Hindu society, she lived in a loveless marriage, forsaken by
Creating Home-Grown Gods: Angelo Da Fonseca’s Cross-Cultural Paintings
To be a successful and widely revered God, one needs two seemingly opposing characteristics: ethereality and relatability. While we want our Gods to be otherworldly and intangible,
The Golden Summer: Khushal Khan Khattak’s Poems on Age and Youth
Khushal Khan Khattak (1613-1689), an Afghan warrior poet, is best known for his efforts in preaching for Pashtun unity and exhorting them to rise against the Mughals. He was the so
An Antidote to the self-consumed nature of existence: Kathopanishad
In this age of manufactured lives online, a great deal of angst is generated about individual identity. We go to great lengths to write personal blogs, create social media profiles
Thinking of songbirds and their nests: Habib Kamran’s Bulbuls
Kashmiri writer Habib Kamran’s (1927-2007) story is one of a genius undiscovered in his lifetime. He worked in the education department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government an
Living with Colours: Manjit Bawa’s Artworks
Few artists can encapsulate a multitude of rituals and traditions through their use of colour alone. It is for this reason that Manjit Bawa’s paintings evoke a visceral reaction.
Islamic Calligraphy meets Abstract Expressionism: Ismail Gulgee’s Art
In 2007, Pakistan heard the tragic news of the death of one of its most prominent artist, Ismail Gulgee – a murder, no less, in his own house. His death is a mystery that is yet
Ways of Belonging: Eunice de Souza’s Poems
There is a strange comfort in reading the poems of Eunice de Souza, particularly on days that bring despair and isolation. In her razor-sharp, no-nonsense style, she articulates a
Painter, provocateur and exile: Who was M F Husain?
South Asia may know few artists as well as it does Maqbool Fida Husain, or M F Husain, as he’s popularly known. We know him as a painter and as a provocateur; we know of his
Versatility: Ponderings on the Dexterity of Buddhadeb Bosu
There are many writers we encounter who dabble in the arts, and many artists whose meditations we fondly read – drawing connections between the subconscious of the artist and the
A Unique Vantage Point: Homai Vyarawalla’s Photography
It is impossible to imagine a time when photography was an uncommon activity, much less an uncommon profession. Photographs were rare – planned and posed for with careful thought
The Entirety of Human Experience in Brisk, Wakeful Lines: Agyeya’s Poetry
To know and appreciate a piece of art, do we need to know the inner and outer workings of an artist? Does an artist’s reputation necessarily precede their work or colour our unde
The Holy Sinner – Sadequain’s Illustrations of ‘The Stranger’
Artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi (1930-1987) was born Amroha, a North Indian town, into a family of Quranic scribes. Post partition, he moved to Pakistan where he ushered in the r
Sincerity in Art : Zubeida Agha’s Colourist Paintings
Modernism in Pakistani art is said to have been heralded by Zubeida Agha’s first solo show in Karachi in 1949. Agha (1922-1997) was then a young woman – one who had studied pol
A Tribute to Childhood: George Keyt’s Hand-Painted Book of Nursery Rhymes
An artist’s public persona – their speeches, interviews or written works – often comes to define their intellectual or artistic image. Therefore, any artefact that offers a g
The Flower and the Bee: Parijat’s Novel, The Blue Mimosa
Parijat was the nom de plume of a Nepali writer, Bishnu Kumari Waiba – parijat, a type of jasmine that flowers at night. Her most acclaimed publication was the novel ‘Shiris Ko
The Indomitable Power of Love: Sobha Singh’s Rendition of Sohni Mahiwal
There is something about a tragic love story that creates a lasting hold on our imaginations. No wonder there are a million renditions of the same trope across cultural and geograp
Stories for Untainted Minds: ‘The Adventures of Pilla the Pup’ by Uma Anand and Mario Miranda
The complexity of adulthood often leaves us perplexed in the face of simplicity. This fact is made most obvious when we read children’s books. The innocent stories written for un
Love and Lament: Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s Narrative Poetry
Shiv Kumar Batalvi is considered a stalwart in modern Punjabi poetry. A quick web search tells you that he is the poet of lament and the internet is quick to define pathos as his g
The Expanse of Imagination: Lionel Wendt’s Surreal Photographs
We often think of contemporary art as more abstract and complex than traditional art. Modern art is typically understood as a “break with tradition” –a new and different way
Poet Whom Nobody Discovered: Srinivas Rayaprol’s Poems on Ordinary Life
Dom Moraes once wrote a moving tribute to a relatively unknown poet, and countless others like him, aptly titled ‘Poet Whom No One Discovered’. He was talking about the quiet,
“Groping through a giant haystack”: Dom Moraes’ Musings on Writing about People
Dom Moraes is widely known as a foundational figure in Indian English literature. He was an editor, essayist, scriptwriter and journalist apart from being an extraordinary poet –
Nadir Al-Asr: Ustad Mansur’s Miniatures of Birds and Tulips
Ustad Mansur was a seventeenth-century Mughal painter renowned for his depictions of flora and fauna. His works on birds in particular are highly detailed, and proved to be a great
‘Kunwari’: Amrita Pritam on the Universal Female Experience
Reading Amrita Pritam today is a rare delight; at a time when women who express desire are killed in the name of honour, and men are murdered for loving across religions, to think
An Eye-Witness Account of Disaster : Chittaprosad’s ‘Hungry Bengal’
The Bengal Famine of 1943-44 was the greatest man-made disaster, wrecking over three million lives across India and leaving widespread poverty, disease and displacement in its wake
‘Ami Bidrohi’ – The Fierce Romanticism of poet Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam, the National Poet of Bangladesh, is known mostly for his revolutionary poetry and for speaking out against social injustices. He advocated for religious pluralis
Playing with the Limitless: Mahadevi Verma’s Poetry
At first glance, it is easy to dismiss Mahadevi Verma (1907-1987) as a writer of vividly sentimental and romantic poetry. On deeper inspection, however, you will find a formidable
What is your language, dear: Tagore’s letter to Victoria Ocampo
In a world that is constantly shrinking, we find both joy and experience frustrations in building cross-cultural friendships. One such famed cross-cultural relationship was a plato
A Cultural Invasion: M.F. Husain’s ‘Sansad Upanishad’
In 1986, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi invited four eminent artists to participate in the proceedings of the parliament as members of Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliam
An Poshi Teli, Yeli Wan Poshe: The Wise Shruiks of Nund Reshi
Nund Reshi or Sheikh Noor ud-Din Wali, also popularly known as Sheikh ul-Alam, was a Kashmiri mystic. He is oft regarded as the patron saint of Kashmiris. It is said that Nund Resh
Of Life and Vitality : Unique Bronze Sculptures
When you think of depictions of life, vitality and fluidity of motion, bronze casting is hardly the artistic technique that comes to mind. This cold, hard metal, however, became Me
‘We are Asomiya’: Miya Poetry and Maulana Bande Ali
Miya poetry is a genre of resistance poetry – one where Bengali Muslims in Assam reclaim the racial slur ‘miya’ that has long been used to other them as outsiders or foreigne
Nissim Ezekiel’s Poems on Ordinary Human Expression
Nissim Ezekiel (1924 – 2004), an Indian born poet of Jewish descent, has often been referred to as the “father of post-independence Indian verse in English”. Two of his most
‘A Ploy To Trap Me’: Sarala Devi Chaudhurani On Her Marriage
As one of the first political leaders and activists of her time, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani (1872-1945) was a woman as fierce as they come. She was involved in the freedom struggle an
An Artist’s Vocabulary: F. N. Souza’s, Nirvana of a Maggot
Francis Newton Souza (1924 – 2002), often referred to as F. N. Souza or just Souza, is one of the most well-known Indian artists in the West. Interestingly, he first caught t
Loss and Coping : Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s Poem, Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi
Many of us are familiar with the lyrical ode to intoxication, the famous Hindi poem ‘Madhushala’ (The Winehouse) by Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1907-2003). Of course, the imagery o
A Few Threads of Texture and Form: Nasreen Mohamedi’s Abstract Art
Few of us can find meaning in line and shade, in structure and form. Nasreen Mohamedi, however, distilled her entire life’s meaning and creativity into wonderfully abstract line-
Maaf Rakhna: Mirza Ghalib’s Livid Letter to Shahabudin Saqib
Urdu has long been romanticed, especially in India, as a language of refinement and culture. Urdu poetry carries the additional romance of similes and metaphors, making it a sweet
Separation’s Geography: Agha Shahid Ali’s ‘By the Waters of the Sind’
Agha Shahid Ali (1949-2001) described himself as a Kashmiri American poet. He was born in Kashmir and educated in Delhi as well as the United States of America where he eventually
Here, As Well As There: Nida Fazli’s Poem on the Suffering which Unites Us
It is easy to find ideas and practices that divide us, superficial markers like ‘caste’ or ‘religion’ that allow us to brand somebody as ‘The Other’. Nida Fazli did the
The Act of Petty Man-Children: Annanda Sankar Ray’s Rhymes Lamenting the Partition
Annada Sankar Ray (1904-2002) was a Bengali and Odia poet and essayist. Best known for his rhymes, his work covers a range of diverse social and cultural topics including a famous
An Elegy to a Delhi Before Colonialism: Ahmed Ali’s ‘Twilight in Delhi’
In today’s world where questions of identity, culture, nationalism and religion are being explored by writers from across the globe, Ahmed Ali’s work is considered to be the fi
An Artist of the Masses: Somnath’s Hore’s Depictions of the Anguished Human Form
Reading Born in the village of Barama, in the Chittagong District of erstwhile British India, Somnath Hore was a prolific sculptor and a premier print maker, having invented and d
A Moment of Sublime Beauty: S.L. Haldankar’s Painting, Glow of Hope
We can often find inspiration and sublime beauty in small, seemingly insignificant, moments. The hallmark of a true artist is their ability to capture this beauty and allow the wor
Safarnama-e Rum-o-Misr-o-Sham: Shibli Nomani’s Discovery of European Orientalism
Shibli Nomani was an Islamic scholar from the Indian subcontinent. He was a poet, historian, political thinker and often deemed to be the founder of Urdu literary criticism. Noman
A Pathless Land: Jiddu Krishnamurti on Truth, Freedom and Spirituality
What starts out as sound spiritual guidance is often overtaken by a cult of personality. Many so-called enlightened leaders have faltered due to a growing obsession with their own
Man Kunto Maula : A Devotional Qawwali of Amir Khusro
Bollywood has recently been on a mission to make Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music, trendy. This genre, however, is said to have been created over 700 years ago as a fusion
Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute: Adi Shankara’s Song of Self
At a time when the political correctness of labels and identities has become paramount, it would serve us well to remember the nature of our true selves. Adi Shankara, an ancient I
Guru Nanak in Mecca : Representing Sikh Philosophy through Art
Sikhism, one of the youngest religions in the world, originated in South Asia. Inevitably, the majority followers are of South Asian descent. It is based on the founder, Guru Nanak
All the King’s Men: Moral and Ethical Qualifications for Government Officials in Kautilya’s Arthashastra
The frenzy of election season often brings a spate of ugly revelations about politicians. The modern system of selection or election of leaders, with its focus on bribery and corru
Says Kabir: Saint Kabir’s Lessons on Mindfulness
Kabir, a 15th century North Indian mystic poet, is revered as a saint. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike have claimed him and honoured him with names they understood for sainthood. H
An Instructional Guidebook for Muslim Women: Maulana Thanvi’s Bahishti Zewar
Literally translating into ‘Heavenly Ornaments’, Maulana Thanvi’s ‘Bahishti Zewar’ is an instructional guidebook written in Northern India in the early 1900s. It codifies
Life Skills, Buddhism style: Tips from A P De Zoysa’s Account of Buddhist Culture
Many of us turn to Buddhism’s age-old wisdom for profound advice on spirituality and inner peace. But, we were surprised to find Buddhist writings also offer wisdom on mundane ac
Of Love and Loss: Raja Ravi Varma’s Shakuntala
Raja Ravi Varma’s creations are ubiquitous – in the images of Lakshmi and Saraswati we have grown up worshipping, in recreations of buxom women and children gracing calendars a
A Child’s Innate Wisdom and Capacity for Love: Lessons from Tagore’s Poetry Book, Crescent Moon
Most of Tagore’s poems for children don’t seem to be written for children at all. In his collection ‘Crescent Moon’ (1913) for instance, each poem is like a gentle admonish
The Floral Beauty of Women: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ‘Durgeshnandini’
In 1865 Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the first major novel in the history of Bengali literature, ‘Durgeshnandini’ (Doorgeshnondini) . While most of us recognize Chattopad
The Namelessness of Childhood: AK Ramanujan’s Love Poem for his Wife
This beautiful ode to love and childhood is an intimate conversation between two people who are getting to know each other, bit-by-bit and story by story. In this letter to his wif
May Roses Be To Your Mouth: Knowles’ Compilation of Kashmiri Sayings
The beauty of local languages is in the intimacy they evoke. The sounds, words and phrases are all a melody to the ear of the attuned. Cultural values, a people’s ethos and their
A Colourful But Perilous World: Bhojpuri Sayings from Fallon’s Dictionary of Hindustani Proverbs
S.W. Fallon (1870-1880) would have slipped through the pages of Indian history if it weren’t for his remarkable records of Indian vernacular languages. With a keen interest in lo
The Revenge of an Untold Story: Lessons from a Kannada Folktale, ‘A Story and a Song’
For generations, women have been repositories of society’s deepest secrets. Even in his recording of folktales across the length and breadth of India, A.K. Ramanujan often noted
Longing for the Divine: Manikkavacakar’s Bhakti Poems
The Bhakti Movement played a crucial role in the literary development of several Indian vernacular languages. It caught the public imagination, especially in the popularisation of
Poems from His Earth: Hiren Bhattacharyya’s poetry of nature
Possibly the most popular name in Assamese poetry, Hiren Bhattacharyya’s poetry brings up the lush imagery of nature; of paddy fields, of waves of green, of ripples in the air an
Draupadi: Mahashweta Devi’s Haunting Tale of Revenge
The second story in Mahashweta Devi’s ‘Breast Stories’ collection, ‘Draupadi’, is the kind that gets under your skin and haunts you for days afterwards. Unlike Jashoda fr
Breast-Giver: Women’s Position in Post-Colonial India
Mahashweta Devi’s ‘Standayini’ or ‘Breast Giver’ is a hard-hitting story of a “professional mother” who suckles the babes of a rich household only to meet an ironic e
Taaos Chaman ki Myna: Naiyer Masud’s confluence of history and imagination
A young widower’s yearning for his daughter’s happiness entangles with his duty to be honest and loyal to his occupation. Talking birds, the landscape of mid nineteenth-century
Main Tenu Fer Milangi: Amrita Pritam’s Promise of Undying Love
As the first prominent woman Punjabi poet and writer, Amrita Pritam made waves for her voice and for her personal life. She wrote on partition and she wrote on the pain it inflicte
A Tragic Hero: Portrayal of Ravana in the Jain Tradition
In the midst of Dusshera and Diwali season, we often recount the famous story of the defeat of Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama and his subsequent return to Ayodhya. The burning of
Mourning in Muharram: A Marsiya by Mir Anees
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a period of mourning for Muslims worldwide. While practices differ worldwide, the first ten days of the month are marked by
Savitribai Phule’s Love Letters to her Husband, Jyotiba
Love can be awfully self-consumed; To a couple in love, the concerns of the larger world hold little value. Savitribai Phule and Jyotiba, however, were a different breed of lovers.
For the sake of humanity: Gandhi’s Letter to Hitler
Letters have been the most powerful modes of communication, traversing borders and cultures for as long as we can remember. Even today, the written word holds immense power. As our
The Astute Critic: B. R. Ambedkar’s Path to Embracing Buddhism
We all know B. R. Ambedkar as the towering political figure who fiercely campaigned against social discrimination. He not only revived Buddhism in India, but also popularis
Mythology and Folk Romance: Himal-Nagrai and the Nagas of Kashmir
An hour’s drive away from Srinagar city lies a fabled spring from a popular Kashmiri folk tale, called ‘Himal and Nagrai’. The stone marker there commemorates the l
A Confrontation between Two Worlds: Amrita Sher Gil’s Letters and Painting, Two Girls
Often likened to Frida Kahlo, Amria Sher Gil was the daughter of an aristocratic Sikh scholar and a Hungarian socialite. Her mixed heritage bestowed upon her striking good looks an
A Unique Travelogue: Fakir Mohan Senapati’s “Utkala Bhramanam”
The very first specimen of travel writing in Odia, ‘Utkala Bhramanam’ (Utkal-ancient name for Orissa and Bhramanam-tour) was, in fact, not a travelogue at all. In his first eve
The Downfall of an Empire: Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Verses from Exile
The glory of the Mughal empire had already begun a steady decline by the time Bahadur Shah Zafar ascended the throne in 1837. He was well in his sixties and had witnessed the rise
A Lively Irreverence in the Face of Death: J. B. S. Haldane’s ‘Cancer is a Funny Thing’
The notion of death, especially one’s own, can have a sobering effect on the most tenacious of souls. J. B. S. Haldane, however, was not one to submit to its grim hold. John Burd
Time, Love, Desire and Other Musings: NM Rashid’s ‘Hassan Koozagar’
N.M. Rashid wrote what is arguably the greatest free verse poem in the Urdu language and a glorious statement to love and creativity. His poem, ‘Hassan Koozagar’ (Hassan the Po
An Ideal Date: Basawan’s ‘Alexander the Great Visits Sage Plato’
We often dream about meeting a spiritual or intellectual leader who can give us life-changing advice or bring us a moment of epiphany which leads to self-awareness. We imagi
Sacrifice and Selflessness Explained through Cannibalism: The Kashmiri Folktale ‘Akanandun’
Children’s folktales are similar in structures, themes and morals across the world. What is a bear in one culture, turns into a horse in another but the morals behind the stories
Talking in Tales: Munshi Charanjee Lal’s Collection of 10,000 Hindustani Idioms
The genius of a people can be told from the proverbs, idioms and maxims they employ in common parlance. How visual languages can be! How easily they transmit cultural values, way
Voices of a Woman: Kamala Das’ ‘The Looking Glass’ and ‘Herons’
Kamala Das was one of the first Indian poets to adopt the English language as a medium of expression despite widespread criticism. As a result, she was a formative and formidable i
Sultana’s Dream: Sketching a Feminist Dystopia in Early 20th Century Bengal
In 1905 Bengal purdah was still prominent and women’s education not so much. But in a prominent Bengali Muslim household, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain had her own little feminist dyst
Longing and Tragedy in a Kashmiri Queen’s Verses: Habba Khatoon’s Poetry
Mughal-e-Azam tells us a tale contrary to the otherwise glorious accounts of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It tells us a heart-wrenching story of a blooming romance between a courtesan
A Secret Vigilance: Hakim Muhammad Yusuf Hasan’s Book, Do Shiza
The onset of teenage years and the subsequent exploration of sexuality is marked by certain difficulties. Especially for parents who are mistrustful of their children flirting wit
Humour and Defiance: Ismat Chughtai’s Essay, The Lihaf Trial
Humour has a long-standing relationship with defiance; satire and irony have launched as many revolutions as bullets and missiles. And yet, there is a different kind of humour–a
Intersecting Politics with Poetry: Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Poem, Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat
Faiz Ahmed Faiz is most famous today for the many love ballads he has inspired. Yet in his own time, he was a member of the Progressive Writers Movement and an avid Marxist, often
The Quintessential Anxiety of Adulthood: Rabindranath Tagore’s Letters
1887 was a wholly unremarkable year for Rabindranath Tagore. Except for the fact that he turned the ripe old age of twenty seven. Although Tagore had published several short storie
A Slow, Watchful Patience: Salim Ali’s Essay, Stopping by the Woods on a Sunday Morning
As slick city dwellers, it is easy to develop an aversion to the crows and pigeons that seek asylum in our balconies. But Salim Ali, the original ‘Birdman of India’, shows us a
In the Voice of the Other: Rassul Galwan’s Autobiography, Servant of Sahibs
In 1923, W. Heffer & Sons Ltd. published an unusual book titled Servant of Sahibs: A Book to be Read Aloud. The book is an autobiographical account of Rassul Galwan, a Ladakhi