Essays

In today's Deccan Herald my article explores the lives and poetry of women mystics like Ambabai and Lal Ded whose works are intertwined...

"I assume no one else reads what I write," a friend once told me. I'll admit that I write in the hope that others (beyond my immediate...

Carnatic classical musicians have a rich and varied collection of compositions, going back hundreds of years. Throughout the 20th...

As the name suggests Natya Sangeet is musical drama where songs narrate a story. The music in Natya Sangeet has a rich classical base...

Losing a parent is never easy. My father passed away sometime ago at 92, leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories. His understated...

In a public meeting at Ahmedabad Mahatma Gandhi said, "There can be no swaraj where there is no harmony, no music”. Let us celebrate his...

Today marks another birth anniversary of the legendary carnatic vocalist M.S.Subbulakshmi. Like all carnatic musicians I grew up...

Globally, women percussionists are a small group, and in Indian classical music they are a rarity. A few have made it to prime-slot...

There is an apocryphal, though riveting tale of Karaikal Ammaiyar, a 6th century poet-mystic of modern-day Tamil Nadu. Abandoned by her...

My article in The Hindu today talks about how rhythm is an intrinsic part of our daily lives. From being a timekeeper to celebrating key...

My article in Mint Lounge explores how music shapes the identity of cities from Nashville to New Orleans and Vienna. How can Indian...

As we celebrate women's history month in March lets take a look at women ensembles in Indian music beginning with Sthree Taal Tarang a...

Have we really changed our perceptions on how women should act, dress, or think? As we celebrate women’s history month my article in...

My article for Deccan Herald argues how an interdisciplinary approach to higher education in India would help develop better learning...

"What is the composition of the audience that comes to such concerts?" This was one of the questions a student at Northeastern University...

“Quite often, in a dry intellectual milieu, we experience the absence of warmth."This article in the Indian Express about the American...

Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life - Rumi As schools reopen and classes begin, I find myself...

"We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us". I write about my grandmother in India Currents and the legacy that she leaves...

Students are reaching out to different companies at this time for a job. Rejection letters can hit you hard and the pandemic has...

Diwali or Deepavali is the festival of lights which is celebrated across India. The festival celebrates the joy of light over darkness...