A new book by an Indian writer explores the origin of Japan’s bizarre quirks from singing toilets to poisonous hot pot meals. Despite secreting a neurotoxin that’s certified thousand times more poisonous than cyanide, the Fugu or puffer fish is a sought after luxury food in Japan. Pic/Getty Images In her new book, Orienting: An […]
Book Review: Pagalpanti in Japan Read More »
Provides fresh and fascinating insights that can be inspirational and valuable for a wide range of audience “Kamala Harris and the Rise of Indian Americans,” edited by Tarun Basu, is an evocative collection of essays which try to capture the rise of Indian Americans across a wide range of domains from politics to administration, entrepreneurship
Rajesh Mehta’s Review of “Kamala Harris and the Rise of Indian Americans” Read More »
She is 39. He is 37. Keteki and Ved, the protagonists of Anjali Joseph’s new book, Keeping in Touch, meet at Heathrow Airport. She is returning home to Assam and he is on his way to Bombay. Such a beginning is liable to give an impression of entering the far-too-familiar landscape of a boy-meets-girl-at-airport-they-fall-in-love kind of
Ishpita Mitra’s Review of “Keeping In Touch” by Anjali Joseph Read More »
Is Asian geopolitics becoming increasingly complex? Since its independence in 1947, what has been India’s approach to its shifting environment? In spite of having been a leader of the Nonaligned Movement during the Cold War, has India been largely an after-thought for global leaders? What is the significance of India’s current status as a counterweight
India and Asian Geopolitics by Shivshankar Menon Read More »
Foothills. Such a lovely word. It signals an elusive geography—neither high-altitude mountains, nor flatlands or plains. As we learned from postcolonial theorists like Homi K Bhabha and Edward Said, foothills have that quality of the creative in-between space where differences can flourish. In anthropologist Dolly Kikon’s masterly crafted book Living with Oil & Coal: Resource Politics
Bengt Karlsson’s Review of “Living with Oil & Coal” by Dolly Kikon Read More »
Easterine Kire, the prize-winning Indian novelist from Nagaland, has provided us a lovely collection of short stories through The Rain-Maiden and the Bear-Man, accompanied by beautiful colour illustrations by graphic artist Sunandini Banerjee. The title-story concerns a man who, though blessed with the love of the beautiful Rain-Maiden, is captive to the sadly common male
“The Rain-Maiden and the Bear-Man” by Easterine Kire Read More »
Wandana Sonalkar is a self-proclaimed atheist and in this autobiographical account titled ‘Why I am not a Hindu Woman’, Sonalkar critically reflects on her position on why she has chosen to renounce her religion. This work adds to the list of works where authors are writing to declare their religious positions like Kancha Illaiah’s ‘Why
Why I am not a Hindu Woman Read More »
It is a man from that eastern extreme of our country who is the subject of this biography. His story is outstanding evidence, if any is needed, that India has a talent for ignoring its best sons and daughters. How can it be that such incredible achievements as those of Shri Toy remain unknown, unrecognised
Biography of Shri I. Lanu Toy, “TSÜNGCHI SAMANIR KA” by Repalemzüng Longkümer’s Read More »
In Singing Gandhi’s India, historian Lakshmi Subramanian examines Gandhi’s relationship with music through his letters, significant events and other documents. Leaning on bhajans Subramanian begins by introducing the reader to the early nationalisation project aimed at collating and creating a new ‘classical’ tradition of Indian music: Hindustani classical in the north and Carnatic in the south.
Basav Biradar’s review: “Singing Gandhi’s India: Music and Sonic Nationalism” Read More »
