Indian food is an amalgamation of cuisines from various ethnic, religious and caste traditions, though sometimes there are rigid rules about consumption of food perceived to be favoured by the ‘lower caste’ people. Happily, comercialisation and the social media are today helping to bring down some barriers, though not all, writes Vandita Morarka. Food practices provide a veritable lens into the cultural practices of any community. India is geographically large and culturally varied, as are the food practices followed throughout the nation. While there has been an evocation of Culinary Nationalism by various authors, Arjun Appadurai in his essay on…
Author: oiop
Many report cards have been written for the Modi government’s performance, especially this year. But is it fair to judge so early? asks B. Ramesh Babu. He says the government needs to be given more time, while pointing out areas where it needs to tighten its belt. Calling for a “report card”, looking over it with a microscope and highlighting the “performance failure” of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has become a national pastime. That he assumed office only 18 months ago, hardly long enough to make a fair assessment of the new…
Not many are aware of the the dance-drama form called Ankiya-naat and Bhaona of Assam. Dr. Kanak Rele demystifies this theatre form and tells us its genesis, evolution and current avatar. The state of Assam has played a very important role in the development of the dramatic tradition in the Northeast. The tradition that has emerged in this area from the 15th-17th centuries AD is the result of the all-pervading Vaishnava bhakti movement that swept not only this area but the entire country. The message of Shankardeva The history of the theatre in Assam can be termed as the history…
The rate of extinction of species on earth has never been as rapid as today. The irony is, we who have triggered this, will also be the worst hit. The time to act is now! Early one morning, while paddling silently across the Nagar (snake) river in Karnataka, I looked up to find four huge, grey forms step gingerly out of the thick, green jungle. “Haathi, haathi”, whispered the boatman. It was cold and a wispy mist rose up like steam from the river. The elephants seemed almost ghost-like. I really marvel at how graceful, silent and quick elephants are,…
The matriarch of classical dance (1937-2015) One of the finest exponents of the dance form of Mohiniyattam, Kalamandalam Satyabhama who passed away recently, won renown more as a teacher and choreographer, after taking the momentous decision to step away from the limelight as a performer at a young age of 24, at a time when her dancing career was all set to go places. As a young girl she developed a fascination for dance and came under the tutelage of famous trainers like Kalamandalam Chinnammu Amma after enrolling herself as a student of the prestigious Kalamandalam founded by the famous…
A man of many arts (1890-1954) Baburao Painter, film director, painter and sculptor, nicknamed ‘Father of Indian Film Art’, was also known by the sobriquet ‘Painter’, as he was a well known scenic painter with several theatre companies. Born Baburao Krishnarao Mestry on 3 June 1890 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, he taught himself to paint, and sculpt in academic art school style. Between 1910 and 1916, together with his artist cousin Anandrao, he was a leading painter of stage backdrops for Sangeet Natak troupes and those of Kirloskar Natak Mandali, Govindrao Tembe and Bal Gandharva, as well as Gujarati Parsi theatre.…
The toe ring is an essential accessory of married women in many cultures in India. But today it’s getting as popular with unmarried girls, and even men! Shoma A. Chatterji examines the appeal this ring holds and the health benefits attributed to it. Dayyare dayyare chadh gayo paapi bicchua Hai hai mai mar gayee koi utaro bicchua These are the first two lines that pay a music-and-dance tribute to the toe ring commonly known as the bicchua in Hindi. The song is from Bimal Roy’s biggest commercial hit Madhumati and the dance was performed by none other than one of…
A valiant and true hero (1975-1999) Anuj Nayyar was born on 28 August 1975 in Delhi. His father, S.K. Nayyar, was a visiting Professor at the Delhi School of Economics and his mother, Meena Nayyar, worked as Librarian at the South Campus of the University of Delhi. Anuj studied at the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. He was a bright student and was good in sports too. He joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into 17 Jat battalion in June 1997. In 1999, the Pakistani military personnel had intruded into the Kargil area. The Indian…
The twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat are in a way, a study in contrasts. While Gandhinagar is a new city, and was accorded its exalted status more recently, Ahmedabad has been the pride and joy of a succession of dynasties and rulers since the 14th century. It has seen the rise and fall of many rulers and the architecture and buildings of Ahmedabad reflect that dynamism and the resultant exquisite artistry. Today, the twin cities stand together as proud symbols of an era gone by, and a future which holds many promises. Text and photos: Dr. M.A.…
The Modi government in Delhi has changed the rules of the media game, much to the consternation of the capital’s traditional media, says E. Jayakrishnan. Modi’s extensive use of the social media and refusal to give unrestricted access to Delhi’s journalists unlike the previous governments, has made him a target of adverse campaigns. Ultimately, will the media choose to focus on the larger picture? It’s been a momentous year for the Indian news media. Buffeted as it is by the winds of change – from the advent of the Modi sarkar, the remarkable growth of the social media, and the…