Understanding Indian Social Movements: 20 Essential Movies to Watch
Cinema has always been a mirror reflecting the society it represents. And the influence of cinema on society and vice versa is perhaps more fleshed out in India. From the complexities of caste discrimination to the nuances of LGBTQ+ rights, filmmakers have, time and time again, challenged norms and sparked conversations. Today, we look at […]
Interspersing Feminism and Mystery in Ambai’s The Death of a Sarus Crane
Amritesh Mukherjee reviews The Death of a Sarus Crane: Sudha Gupta’s Adventures in Detection by Ambai, translated from Tamil by Gita Subramanian (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). A gripe I’ve had with many Indian sleuths I’ve encountered over the years has been the derivative nature of their stories and surroundings. Granted, I need to read […]
Chipko Movement: How Grassroots Activism Changed Environmental Laws
In 1973, the quiet hills of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district were the site of one of the largest grassroots environmental protests. Local communities sparked a nonviolent resistance to protect their forests, threatened by rampant deforestation, endangering the livelihoods of local communities who relied on forests for essentials like timber, firewood, and water. Led by Chandi Prasad […]
Language Politics in India: Regional Protests and Their National Implications
India is home to one of the most linguistically diverse populations in the world. According to the 2011 Census, the country recognises 22 scheduled languages. But the reality is far more vivid and rich. Over 1,600 mother tongues are spoken in India, representing centuries of regional, ethnic, and cultural evolution. Languages in India are central […]
Vikram Seth’s Hanuman Chalisa: A Modern Translation of a Timeless Hymn
Amritesh Mukherjee reviews The Hanuman Chalisa by Tulsidas, translated by Vikram Seth (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥२४॥ bhoota pisaacha nikaTa nahi(n) aawaimahaabeera jaba naama sunaawai Those who recite your name and your meritFend off every ghost and malevolent spirit. – Tulsidas, Hanuman Chalisa, translated by Vikram […]
A Comprehensive List of 112 Women Translators in India
The chasm between the rich and diverse “regional” literature and the mainstream English literature has always been large. Still, the rise in the number of translations in recent years is steadily filling that gap. Simultaneously, there’s been an increase in translation-specific initiatives and awards in the past decade that have further encouraged translators and translations. […]
How Storytelling in Corporate Culture Can Engage, Inspire & Transform Your Workplace
Do you remember the last time you sat down to read a book? What if I tell you that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%? Or that reading fiction can improve your decision-making capabilities by 50 to 100%? There are hundreds of studies proving the benefits of reading both personally […]
What are Family Archives and How Can You Make One to Capture your Family Histories?
There is a common stereotype about family histories and the stories that evoke the family setup. Sitting with a loved one – a mother, father, grandparent, aunt – maybe before bedtime or lounging in the afternoon, as they recall their childhood, their years of growing up, fables they heard, games they played, their ancestral homes, […]
Shatranj Ke Khilari: Analyzing Satyajit Ray’s Adaptation of Premchand’s Classic
Literary adaptations in Indian cinema are rare. Great literary adaptations in Indian cinema are rarer. Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977), adapted from the eponymous short story by Premchand (1924), easily falls into the latter category. If you’ve ever tried searching for sports adaptations from Indian literature, you’d be sorely disappointed by the meagre numbers, […]
Indian Feminist Literature Through the Ages
Indian feminist literature has evolved significantly through the decades and centuries, reflecting the evolution of the complex socio-cultural South Asian landscape. From the earliest reformist writings to the modern explorations of gender and identity, Indian feminist literature has a wide range of voices advocating for women’s rights and challenging the mainstream patriarchal norms. In this […]
