Shoma A. Chatterji reviews a film that carries the trademark Sanjay Leela Bhansali garish loudness, a melodrama that makes no distinction between courtesan and a prostitute. Her assessment: Bhansali has merrily mixed the two and confused the identity of the women of Heeramandi. It fares poorly in comparison with films with similar genre. The problem with Heeramandi is not the too-much-in-the-face-glitz-glamour-colour and swishing ghagras in heavy zardozi work with beautiful dames pirouetting in the background pretending to dance which is more of an apology of dance than pure dance itself. We are more than used to the signature of Sanjay…
Author: shubhangi
Hiraman discovers that donkeys are an excellent source of milk as they produce a rich, creamy product with a high fat content. Now with its usefulness catching up in India, the milk, a known good source of essential fatty acids, proteins, and minerals, emerges as a nutritious choice for a variety of products. The milk can be used to make cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products, as well as traditional medicines. Countries like Italy, Greece and Turkey have a history of using donkey milk (DM) for culinary and medicinal purposes. India is catching up too, for in recent years a handful…
Trailblazer all the way! Fathima Beevi was born on the 30 April 1927 in Pathanamthitta in Kerala to Amaveetil Meera Sahib and Khadeja Bibi. After finishing her schooling at Catholicate High School she graduated in Chemistry from the University College, Thiruvananthapuram. A flair for Law resulted in her securing a Law Degree from the Government College, Thiruvananthapuram. Thereafter she embarked on a career in law and enrolled as an advocate on 14 November 1950. In those days, she had to encounter several glass ceilings which she shattered on her way to topping the bar exams in 1954, becoming a Munsiff in…
The Constitution bulwark man “There should be ‘three-quarter’s problem-solvers and one-quarter crusaders’, in the higher judiciary” – Fali Nariman Indian constitutional lawyer Fali Sam Nariman, during a seven decades career, revolutionised India’s legal system. He protected corporate titans, stood up for human rights, motivated future generations to strive for a fair society and urged jurists to preserve the integrity of our Constitution. Nariman, born in Rangoon, then Burma, attended Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. Later, after his family moved to Bombay, he graduated in 1950 with a degree in history and economics from St. Xavier’s College and a LL.B. degree…
The hero of Bangladesh liberation Mohan Narayan Rao Samant (popularly known as M.N.R. Samant) was born on 19 October 1930. Studied in Wilson College, Mumbai, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1952 in the submarine branch. He successfully commissioned India’s third submarine INS Karanj in 1969 and was a well-reputed officer of Indian Navy. In 1971, the then Naval Chief Admiral S.M. Nanda got the green signal from then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the Indian Navy to participate in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It was the first time since Independence that the Navy was used and it…
Ruchi Verma discusses how indigenous literary traditions encountered Western influences as the Britishers imposed English as medium of education, and as a result, set forth a cultural exchange that transported Indian literature across the shores. Western literary techniques and forms were adopted by Indian writers, leading to the emergence of new literary genres that had a more global appeal and marking a shift from traditional storytelling and poetic forms that were prevalent at the time. India, a land known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse literary traditions, witnessed a long period of colonialism. The colonial influence on Indian literature…
In her essay on Ancient Indian Literature, Nandini Rao dwells on how its rich legacy – both through recreation and shaping religion and guiding human lives – continues to thrive. In buttressing the point, she cites the epic Ramayana and Mahabharata, and Vedas and Upanishads, making out a case that literature in ancient India was not limited to religious and philosophical texts; but also included poetry, drama, and music. Literature is the mirror of a society and its people as it reflects their beliefs and traditions. In ancient India, literature not only served as a form of recreation but also…
Ruchi Verma discusses how indigenous literary traditions encountered Western influences as the Britishers imposed English as medium of education, and as a result, set forth a cultural exchange that transported Indian literature across the shores. Western literary techniques and forms were adopted by Indian writers, leading to the emergence of new literary genres that had a more global appeal and marking a shift from traditional storytelling and poetic forms that were prevalent at the time. India, a land known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse literary traditions, witnessed a long period of colonialism. The colonial influence on Indian literature…
Drawing their roots from Hinduism and Islam, the two traditions brought in devotional ferment conducive to India’s spiritual landscape. Anushka Singh explains how ‘Bhakti’ became an essential element of literature and showed a marked digression from orthodoxy of ritualistic worship and hierarchical structures. These devotional movements provided a platform to express their faith and emotions, breaking free from the rigid religious traditions of the time. Indian literature has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times. However, it was during the medieval period that two significant literary traditions emerged – Bhakti and Sufi. Rooted in Hinduism and Islam…
Gliding through eons, Indian Literature has encompassed in its fold diverse genres, themes and voices. Kriti Kalra finds that it continues to occupy a niche in a globalised world, with a diverse range of genres and forms gaining recognition and acclaim. Many of these works have also been translated into other languages and other media such as films, television, etc. Spanning millennia, Indian literature has evolved through various epochs, reflecting the ethos, beliefs, and aspirations of successive generations. From the sacred hymns of the Vedas to the contemporary novels of renowned authors, Indian literature has traversed a magnificent journey, encompassing…