The Bombay High Court recently remarked on popularising the writings of Maharashtra’s social reformers. Lina Mathias looks at the broader issues herein and the need to bring to public attention the state’s extraordinary number of reformers and their work. Bombay high court On 22nd July this year a division bench of the Bombay High Court remarked on creating awareness about writings of Maharashtra’s social reformers. The judges’ observations opened up many rich veins of thought and impetus for action, well beyond the immediate subject. The bench of Justices PB Varale and Kishore Sant was hearing a suo moto petition…
Author: shubhangi
Shoma A. Chatterji discusses, with frightening examples, how youngsters are getting hooked to Internet and Mobile Gaming and are ruining their life and careers. It is like any other addiction such as smoking, drinking and gambling but much more dangerous. A fair blame should go to the parents who give phones to their kids to get them out of their hair. Most Indians okay with moderate online gaming for kids A 16-year-old boy, addicted to the Players Unknown’s Battlegrounds game on the Internet, faked his own kidnapping and demanded ransom from his own parents because they had taken away…
It’s a robust belief that our ancients were the inheritors of a primitive disclosure from God. This was also seemingly the basis of what their physicians did, or said, by decree, so to speak. This belief holds good in this, our high-tech age, also time, although most thinkers — including scientists — would want to give deft pictures of our supplementary, also profuse, yet diverse nature. The association of disease with death, as inevitability, as G. Venkatesh, Assistant Professor at Karlstad University, Sweden, writes in his poignant, riveting, book, “Till Death Do Us Reunite” is not as much associated, as…
“Art is the most appropriate way to reach salvation” Pramod Bhaginath Pramod Jagtap Bhaginath (35), is an Ahmednagar-based award-winning artist, presently into portraits and landscapes. An art teacher, he writes poems, has written and recorded some songs, likes to write plays, has directed a short film ‘Zing’ and done art direction for many plays. Here he talks about art and life in a candid conversation with A. Radhakrishnan. How did your journey begin? Born and brought up in Ahmednagar city, in a police officer’s family with no artistic background, I used to take interest in sign and election board painting.…
Located tantalizingly close to the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, Elephanta Island is a hugely popular tourist destination listed as a UNESCO heritage site but that alone is not its stake to fame. The tourism-predominant place boasts of a treasure trove of history that reflects in the plethora of architectural marvels/ruins. Manu Shrivastava sketches the beauty of the getaway that can be accessed by a ferry. Tourists lining up at Gateway of India to board a launch to ferry them to Elephanta Island Located at a distance of barely ten kilometers from India’s financial capital is a quaint, hilly…
Indian traditions are ripe with symbols each having a meaning and significance. Anushka Singh explains through relevant examples how these have acquired popularity the world over and how foreigners who come visiting to India are impressed by their vibrancy. The Indian culture and traditions are a takeaway for them. Indian culture, customs and traditions have great significance and have gained global popularity Indian culture and traditions are popular the world over. Foreign tourists visit India to get a taste of the vibrancy that defines this country. Customs and practices originate from religion, ancient scriptures, region, caste, trade, family, etc. They…
Ritika Seth looks at the time of the year when festivals galore show the country in full vibrancy, and the customs, conventions and legends that punctuate them. She finds that there are many festivals that entail a set of customs to be followed and then there are customs and traditions that are festival in themselves. Diwali or the Festival of lights is celebrated over five days and has a number of myths, legends and beliefs associated with it It’s time for the fanfare to begin with the approaching festival season. In India, festivals, customs and traditions are closely related and…
In the absence of a law, it’s difficult to stop a prevalent social practice till there is awareness and sensitisation. Following the Supreme Court order, the government first promulgated the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2018 on 19 September 2018 and two more Ordinances were promulgated thereafter, points out Manu Shrivastava. In a landmark judgment declared in August 2017, the Supreme Court set aside the practice of divorce by pronouncing instant Triple Talaq as ‘violative of Article 14 of the Constitution’ On 22 August 2017, the Supreme Court of India, in a historic judgment, declared instant triple…
Each religious group has its own set of customs symbolising their beliefs originating from scriptures and practices. These customs, however, adorn local colour and flavour over time, in the process acquiring a unique character. India, being a vibrant democracy, is tolerant to all religions and their customs and practices, avers Vedika Jain. Sikh men in traditional attire India is one of the most diverse societies of the world. Not only are there multiple religions but a large number of ethnic groups, communities, tribes, etc. The customs followed by a certain group of people are the result of an interplay between…
It’s imperative to identify that, where widows are concerned, the domination of males, ironically even females of the family and society insisting on adhering to cruel customs, is excessive, to say the least. When women comply with coercive demands and cruel acts, in life, marriage, and in widowhood, there’s poor little that can change for them, argues Gajanan Khergamker. Widows breaking bangles There is a general perception when it comes to the plight of widows. Bereft of their husbands, an Indian widow is perceived as losing her ‘unique’ social status too. And, in this regard, there have been innumerable instances…