Living Archive of Inquiry.

Nov 10, 2026 · :count min read

What are we really seeking when we read the Rāmāyaṇa?

What are we really seeking when we read the Rāmāyaṇa? Are we looking for a historical account, a moral framework, a philosophical position, an ide...

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Apr 30, 2026 · :count min read

Republican: Aspirations, Systems & Realisation West Bengal Election 2026 — A Retrospective

A republican framework rests on three principal constituents: the administrator, the administration, and the administered. The operative word is ...

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Dec 26, 2025 · :count min read

Law, Landscape, and Ṛta: Reading the Aravalli Question

In the matter concerning the Aravalli range, the Supreme Court’s verdict has emerged through a constitutional process. Yet the occasion invites a mo...

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Oct 25, 2025 · :count min read

Navaratri Special: Philosophical Meanings and Spiritual Transformation

Navaratri's deepest significance lies in its representation of the soul's evolutionary journey toward ultimate liberation. The festival embodies a sop...

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Oct 25, 2025 · :count min read

Navaratri Special: Rituals, Customs, and Spiritual Practices

Navaratri encompasses rich ritualistic traditions designed to facilitate spiritual transformation and divine connection. The festival begins with Ghat...

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Oct 25, 2025 · :count min read

Navaratri Special: Regional Celebrations and Cultural Diversity

Navaratri's celebration varies dramatically across India's diverse regions, reflecting local traditions, customs, and cultural interpretations. This d...

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Oct 25, 2025 · :count min read

Navaratri Special : Origins and Religious Significance

Navaratri, meaning "nine nights," is one of Hinduism's most significant festivals celebrating the Divine Mother in her various forms. The festival occ...

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Aug 27, 2025 · :count min read

Airavata's Head: Ganesha's Agricultural Connection

Parvati created a son from turmeric paste scraped from her body and ordered him to guard her cave. When Shiva tried to enter, the boy refused passage....

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Aug 15, 2025 · :count min read

Janmashtami Special: Rama and Krishna- The Dialectics of Dignity and Divine Play

Dividing life into two distinct perspectives is a natural characteristic of any religious philosophy. If we look at examples like Gautama Buddha, Maha...

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Jul 17, 2025 · :count min read

Ancient Stories, Urgent Questions: Why I Wrote Two Plays

Some stories never really leave us. They return in new forms, wearing new clothes, speaking new languages—but asking the same old, essential questi...

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May 29, 2025 · :count min read

Whispers of Laughter and Tears: Tagore

The colours of my May are as yellow as the golden showers. The 7th of this month, the twenty-fifth day of Boishakh in the Bengali calendar, marked the...

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May 29, 2025 · :count min read

My Journey with Natyashastra (Part 1): A Personal Academic Exploration

A decade ago, in March 2013, I visited Manish Da’s (Manish Mitra, the director of the Kasba Arghya theatre group) home for the first time for a lu...

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