A life devoted to dance and social causes (1918-2016) Ottaplakkal Neelakantan Velu Kurup (O.N.V. Kurup) who passed away recently at the age of 84 was one of Kerala’s foremost poets and lyricists, whose oeuvres over a period of five decades and more enriched the literary firmament in Malayalam and left an indelible imprint in the minds and hearts of lakhs of Malayalis. The outpouring of grief at his passing and the sea of mourners who turned up to pay their last respects at his funeral was ample proof that this simple, unassuming man of letters who wore his humility on…
Author: oiop
The Indian Parliament, when in session, often attracts ridicule as it is marked by pandemonium and chaos, with very little business transacted. Much to the frustration of ordinary citizens, who see representatives they have voted for, achieving very little on their behalf. How does one make the Parliament count? Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan addresses this vital issue. The mayhem and paralysis in every session of Parliament and state legislatures drive most citizens, commentators and observers to despair and cynicism. Almost every session is marked by noisy scenes, chaos, cacophony, disruption, repeated adjournments, obstruction and paralysis. This pattern repeats itself in almost…
The debate over ‘intolerance’ was one of the defining issues of last year. Dissent and criticism are necessary pillars of democracy and there should be no attempt to stifle that. In the latter part of last year, the word ‘intolerance’ was freely bandied about and it even took on the connotation of a taboo word as whoever dared to mouth it found himself or herself being pilloried on social media sites and in some extreme cases, were even exposed to physical assaults and penal action. The great ‘intolerance’ debate has now been given a decent burial as the focus has…
With the shutting down of the iconic music store Rhythm House, South Mumbai has lost a glittering jewel of its rich heritage. But this is a sign of the times and all we can do is celebrate the good times while it lasts, says Narendra Kusnur, as Rhythm House organised a last musical session for its fans. On February 28, a group of music lovers got together at the Rhythm House store in Kala Ghoda, South Mumbai’s cultural precinct, one last time. A surprise music session had been planned to bid farewell to the place which had played a huge…
Most of us have experienced headaches in some form in our lives. Ever wondered about the severity and kinds of headaches? A. Radhakrishnan gives us an account of the diverse, painful world of headaches, and some home cures for it. The escalator was broken, and the only way out of the airport was up a flight of stairs. I had a big suitcase and a sore knee. I began dragging my bag and was making a loud thud on every step when a man behind me grabbed it and carried it to the top. “That was so chivalrous,” I gushed,…
Often, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, seems like an indulgence. But there are historical reasons behind the setting up of the Rajya Sabha and it is expected to play a very important role in our democracy, says Prof. Avinash Kolhe, as he explains the Rajya Sabha’s context. TThe winter session of the Parliament ended on Wednesday, 23rd December 2015. Compared to the monsoon session, this session was more productive in terms of the Bills passed. The Lok Sabha passed 14 bills whereas the Rajya Sabha passed 8 bills, and together these houses passed 8 bills.…
Our Parliament has witnessed speeches of greats like Jawaharlal Nehru, and the crass mud-slinging and disruptive behaviour of members as in recent times. Describing some of the highs and lows, Dr. P.M. Kamath rues the falling standards of the Indian Parliament. If we divide great men who participated in the national freedom movement, survived to see a free India, and participated in drafting a Federal, Democratic Republic with parliamentary form of government, they can be sorted into two broad categories: One, those who thought within the inherited ‘box-thinking’, and second, those who always thought ‘out of the box’! I say…
There are road trips where one goes straight to the destination, the journey is incidental. Then there are road trips, where the journey is as important as the destination. One stays to savour the pit stops, look up rarely visited sights, marvel at the road or the lack of it, and take in the wonders of the Indian countryside. From the concrete jungle of Mumbai to the lush greenery of a real jungle, this road enticed and beckoned this traveler with the allure of the unknown. Text and photos: Anuradha Rajan Aroad trip from Mumbai to Kanha National Park sounded…
A life devoted to dance and social causes (1918-2016) Adoyenne of Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, Mrinalini Sarabhai who passed away on 21 January 2016 at the age of 97, was revered during her lifetime as one of the pioneers and ambassadors of Indian fine arts and culture which she propagated and popularised all over the world. Born in 1918 in Kerala to illustrious parents, Dr. Swaminathan, an eminent barrister and Ammu Swaminathan, freedom fighter, social activist and Parliamentarian, Mrinalini had an equally famous elder sister Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, who served in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s army, and…
Sreemoyee Piu Kundu made her literary debut with Faraway Music, (Hachette) in 2013. Sreemoyee’s second book, Sita’s Curse (Hachette)– an erotic fiction, launched in May 2014 was a national best-seller, widely covered in Vogue, Times of India, Indian Express, Open magazine, Femina, Mail Today, Mid-day and Hindustan Times, amongst other leading publications. The ten-city launch drew huge audiences and was well-publicised with Sreemoyee earning the epithet, ‘Erotica Queen,’ by DNA. Sreemoyee’s third novel You’ve Got The Wrong Girl (Hachette) breaks new ground as a woman writer foraying into the realm of lad-lit in India. The book was out in January…