Essays

Everywhere we turn, we seem to be facing uncertainty and anxiety and fears are not far behind. In my article for India Currents I write...

My teacher, the late Seetalakshmi Venkatesan, introduced me to the vachanas of the Kannada mystics Akka Mahadevi and Basavanna. As a...

Every one of us who’s been to a Bharatanatyam dance recital would have heard a tillana . Tillana s are recognisable due to their use of...

The word rhythm comes from the Greek word rhythmos which means a regular recurring motion. Rhythm forms a critical component of a...

The flute is the earliest known musical instrument in the world. Flutes made of bones and ivory were found in the caves of the Swabean...

The Bhakti Movement: Understanding Kirtan and Bhajan The Bhakti movement originated in the 6th century in India. The period is...

This last year has been hard, not just because of the pandemic, but in coming to grips with the rampant anti-blackness and casteism...

To many of us, the last few months have felt dystopian. My piece in Deccan Herald today on how the shift is impacting us on many fronts...

This article appeared first in The Hindu here . ---start reading--- “Yevvade Vaaduevvade?” (Who is he?) These are the opening words of a...

When hugs become verboten in these pandemic times, how do families demonstrate their love for one another? My article in The Hindu...

What is it about #music that jogs memories, alters moods and moves entire audiences? My article which first appeared in The Hindu ,...

As Indians we disagree on many things, but one of the few things we seem to agree upon is the popularity of the Venkateswara Temple in...

'We never shy away from talking about our neighbours’ private lives. Neither do we hesitate in offering advice to complete strangers on...

I never knew my friend’s unexpected visit to my house would stir up a hornet’s nest. “I’m just around the corner, are you guys home?”...

In the Sunday magazine of The Hindu today, I write about how the message of the Bhakti mystics is relevant and applicable to our everyday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uqsBlp_3uE In this beautiful vachana, the Kannada mystic Basavanna says we are all equal, none...

A small town in the Cauvery delta comes alive in January each year. Carnatic musicians and rasikas all over the world turn their focus to...

It would be a mistake to dismiss  s as merely a religious or spiritual activity, despite most stories being set in the Hindu epics....

The challenge with having adult children is that your beliefs and actions are constantly questioned in the light of how “woke” you are....

What would you like to do this Friday?” my husband asks. As I peruse the listings for concerts, I am amazed to see how many youngsters...