East India
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Not quite division of labour
Published on 14th April, 2019, in Mumbai Mirror. Many assert that the caste system (jati pratha) is essentially ‘division of labour’. However, this will never be said by those involved in manual scavenging, cleaning sewers without proper gear, being forced…
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Who is a Hindu? Making of a Hindu king
The king brings order. But how does one establish himself as a ruler?
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Who is a Hindu? The temple as saviour
Our monumental temples, such as Puri’s Jagannatha temple, were a reaction to the arrival of a foreign faith, and a sign of resistance to it.
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Why entrepreneurs are being viewed as social smugglers.
Nobility was linked to poverty and service. Those who sought to generate wealth were viewed as distorted by greed…
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Goddess with yellow face
You’re all set for Durga Puja, but do you know these myths and legends surrounding the Goddess?
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Historians too should share the blame for the rise of religious radicalism
It is easy to blame radical politicians and religious leaders for igniting the spark. But let’s not forget those who fuel the fire.
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Do Hindus lose their caste when they travel abroad?
If you value caste, then this thought can be depressing, even terrifying. If you are indifferent, it will not matter.
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The Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai
Published on 27th November, 2016, in Mumbai Mirror. We have all heard the story of Ram, a prince from North India, who went to the southern tip of India. But when was the last time you heard of a queen…
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How many gods must our judicial system please?
Hindu wisdom seems incompatible with our courts, where the state almost becomes a jealous God who can throw whoever it deems unfit into hell.
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On Durga Puja, let’s not forget the glory of Odisha’s Gosani jatra
Delving into history takes us to the festival’s Odia roots.
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How Edicts Helped Ashoka
How did the king establish his power in his absence? He needed to establish monuments, pillars with his symbol: the lion, leaving no one in doubt about who was in charge. And then, putting across edicts stating clearly his goals…
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What Is ‘Indianisation’ Of Education?
What we choose to teach our children reveals our prejudices and our hierarchies: it shows us up – what we consider to be true and worthy knowledge and what we dismiss as irrelevant and false – whether we are parochial,…
