Is it the mural of Ajanta or India’s map, the debate was about whose artistic qualities were greater? Sumanta was naturally inclined, as he spoke of Chaitya, effortlessly spanning over five hundred and thousand years of history, his eyes brightened; yet, when it came to speaking of the country, I could hardly move an inch […]
From Ajanta to 1947: Unfolding India’s Independence in Verse Read More »
Archaeological A tram line has passed beneath my pillow, and a new electric crematorium has just been inaugurated beside it. Those who come to fall asleep or to wake up there, all faces seem somewhat familiar to me; as if they have fallen from the same branch. Underneath my pillow, a great city floats in
Four Poems by Rik Amrit Read More »
The Cold Winds of Kashmir and Abhinavagupta’s Enduring Legacy The cold winds of Kashmir carry whispers of an ancient time when its valleys were alive with philosophy, art, and the mystical teachings of Śaivism. Today, Hinduism may have largely receded from the region, but in the 10th century, Kashmir was an intellectual and spiritual beacon,
Abhinavagupta & The Importance of Abhinavabhārati in Understanding the Nāṭyaśāstra Read More »
I haven’t been able to write even ten sentences together for nearly a year. The only thing I managed to write during this time was a letter—to my counselor. Right now, I’m trying to type with a fractured distal radius in my right hand, hoping life might become a little clearer. Writing in a personal
Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Masturbation Read More »
The way we react to news—do we ever bow down to the events in our own lives with the same intensity? Take the #DepressionKills wave that gripped us after Sushant’s passing at the start of the lockdown. But, have I truly stood by the people closest to me battling depression? I think about these things
Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Conversations Read More »
Lately, I often feel that I am quite happy. Perhaps even lucky. I got to experience lockdown—a glimpse into how Brahma lives a single day in eighty years. Sometimes I tried to recall Sartre, telling myself that if solitude creeps in while we’re alone, it means we’re in bad company. But even that didn’t happen.
Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Entertainment Read More »
The word “country” is an equivalent of the sky. The heart, a parallel to the sky. I quite enjoy these linguistic games. In this way, the word “book” takes me on a ticketless tour of the Middle East. With the current state of books in West Bengal, there’s a touch of guilt that accompanies this
Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Words Read More »
The last bell of the fair has rung. Just as an artist packs up alone in a hotel room after a show, preparing to head home, the books lined up in the stall carry the same fatigue. Despite repeatedly asking the tour manager, the hotel room and train seat couldn’t be changed; had they been,
Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Books Read More »
বাংলায় পড়ুন No matter how much Sri Krishna directs towards Brahmajnana in the Gita and advises against desiring the fruits of one’s actions, if Arjuna did not find solace from his despondency within that knowledge, I doubt how effective Arjuna’s role as a listener would have been. Even if Arjuna were not the true recipient,
My Journey with Natyashastra (Part 4) Read More »
বাংলায় পড়ুন Without further preamble, let us now consider the chapters and topics of the Natya Shastra. For until we know exactly which aspects are being discussed in the context of drama, we will not have a clear understanding of the qualities and skills required of an actor and a dramatist. The confusion will persist
My Journey with Natyashastra (Part 3) Read More »
