D.D. Kosambi bathing his dog Chatya (Image courtesy Permanent Black) Aijaz Ahmad, the legendary Marxist theorist who passed away recently, was of the opinion that universities have been transmogrified into markets and malls selling enticing theories of postmodernism and postcolonialism to students. He was a fervent critic of these theories since he felt that their … Continue reading D.D. Kosambi: Revisiting the Historian and his Legacy—Shashi Singh
Category: History
The Shikari and the Empire: Jim Corbett’s Silence and the Ghosts of Tree Tops—Suchintan Das
“Over wide areas of the United Provinces [Jim Corbett’s] name is familiar to the village folk as that of the man who has brought them relief from the great fear inspired by a cruel and malignant presence in their midst”, wrote Victor Hope, the 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow and the 22nd Viceroy of India. The … Continue reading The Shikari and the Empire: Jim Corbett’s Silence and the Ghosts of Tree Tops—Suchintan Das
Can Periyar’s Politics Be Accepted In Today’s Anti-Caste Discourse?—Diya Maria Abraham
Periyar E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (Image Courtesy: Vikatan) “The Jews are only interested in themselves and nobody else. They somehow contrive to have the rulers in their pocket, participate in governance and conspire to torture and suck the lives out of other citizens in order that they live (in comfort).” “Are they not comparable to the … Continue reading Can Periyar’s Politics Be Accepted In Today’s Anti-Caste Discourse?—Diya Maria Abraham
Rahul Sankrityayan’s ‘Mental Slavery’—Translated By Satyam Jha
Poster by Bisakh Sarkar The greater the antiquity of any civilization, the stronger it is gripped by the bonds of mental slavery. Since the civilization of India is unquestionably ancient, there are greater impediments on its path of advancement. Mental slavery is the biggest hurdle to progress. Our sufferings, our myriad economic, social and political … Continue reading Rahul Sankrityayan’s ‘Mental Slavery’—Translated By Satyam Jha
The Alchemy of Well-Being—Suchintan Das
Angelus Novus by Paul Klee A pot of wine among the flowers. I drink alone, no friend with me. I raise my cup to invite the moon. He and my shadow and I make three. –––Li Bai, Drinking Alone with the Moon (Translated by Vikram Seth) These lines, penned by the eighth century Taoist poet … Continue reading The Alchemy of Well-Being—Suchintan Das
Strange Bedfellows: Battala Print and the Bengal Renaissance—Suchintan Das
James Baillie Fraser's 'Views of Calcutta and its Environs', Plate 24, Aquatint; 1826 The word ‘Battala’ evokes a range of meanings. Literally, it means ‘under the banyan tree’. Historically, it has been both a metonym of commercial print culture as well as a misnomer for obscene and vulgar vernacular literature in nineteenth century Calcutta. It … Continue reading Strange Bedfellows: Battala Print and the Bengal Renaissance—Suchintan Das
Temple Intrigues and Classical Dances: Historicizing the Devadasi System—Arnaaz Zaman
Image Courtesy: The Covai Post As a student of history, I have been interested in the devadasi system in general and its relevance in the genealogy of contemporary Indian classical dance forms in particular. In my opinion, existing approaches and appraisals fail to adequately historicise the evolution of these dance forms. It is only when … Continue reading Temple Intrigues and Classical Dances: Historicizing the Devadasi System—Arnaaz Zaman
Lokayata 