Indianness – Page 3 – Snapshots of my World

Holi Hai!

I must admit, Holi isn’t my favorite festivals in the world. It’s messy and uncomfortable, to say the least. But for some strange reason, I miss being home this year for the slush fest. I miss being with crazy buddies, especially when it’s time to celebrate. Where I now live, celebrations are a very private…

Soul Food

Home made food, the way my mother makes it, is probably the best thing in the world. While I do cook quite decently, I am surely not a chip off the old block. I tend to cook better when I have someone to feed, and as I start loving myself more, I most certainly like…

Go On, Light A Bulb

Swades is and will remain one of the most finest patriotic movies I have ever seen. A few years ago, I wrote about this children’s book (This India, Sheila Dhar) that I managed to get my hands on eventually. It changed my perception of being Indian, just like this movie did. This movie has no…

Overcome Evil With Good

Noted as one of the oldest dance forms, Kathakali is an integral part of the Hindu culture in Kerala. Katha means story and Kali is drama in Malayalam. Based on the vedas, the performance brings the Samaveda (lyrical form of the vedas) to life. The intricate facial paint is non-toxic and made using…

Being Indian

I was in class ten when I first read an essay titled “A Matter of Belonging” by Sheila Dhar, and it left a very deep impact on the way I perceived my Indianness. Although I have tried in vain to get hold of her book titled “This India” (1971), I haven’t succeeded so far in…