Book Review : Shikhandi & other tales; Devdutt Pattanaik.

01 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Arjun Related posts, Constructive Criticism: Book reviews, Mahabharata, Mythology

Tags

alternate sex, arjun, arjuna, bheem, ghatotkacha, indra, Krishn, Mahabharata, mythology, shikhandi, shiva, transgender

Oven–fresh offering by mythologist Devdutt (which means God-gift; and ironically, is a namesake for Arjun’s conch in Mahabharata)

Devdutt takes up the unexplored theme of ‘queerness’ or alternative gender in Mythology. In Part I, he tracks the universal existence of ‘queerness’ across Indian, Persian, Aztec, Viking, Japanese, Mesopotamian and Greek mythology.

Part II is a carefully chosen plethora of ‘queer’ tales. I could discern an interwoven pattern Continue reading →

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Bollywood brigade: Pencil sketches

28 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in My Pencil-sketches

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

Aamir Khan, Bollywood, dimple kapadia, madhuri dixit, neelam kothari, raveena tandon

This gallery contains 6 photos.

Double click on first image to see slide show. Thank you!

Philosophy of hair straightening: the long and short of it.

25 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Random Musings, Spirituality

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

adaptability, change, desire, hair, keratin, permanence, philosophy, scars, yearn

Every day was a battle. Born (well, born bald, technically speaking) with frizz and tangles, I lusted after
the sheen of a silky cascade. I yearned for the low maintenance, and the tactile pleasure of sliding my (own) fingers through my (own) hair.. Continue reading →

Atheism to theism – via a man and a meal.

07 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Arjun Related posts, Mahabharata, Spirituality

≈ 45 Comments

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Born to a theist Papa and an atheist Mom, I had the luxury of choice. I chose to be an atheist.

Being a science student automatically made me lean heavily towards ‘proof and results’. Temples contributed liberally to my disgust of theism. Think impatient Pujaris (We are the proprietary middle-men to Heaven.) Think lecherous peddlers (A hundred rupees note will get you instant darshan, Madam!) Think repugnant God-men (I distinctly remember meeting one with red eyes, grey beard and saffron robes. When I and my brother refused to genuflect, his eyes darkened in incredulous rage. P.S: The only en’light’ment he saw must be at the end of his ganja–chillum!)

Meanwhile a wily God with a zany sense of humor decided to ensnare me with two most unlikely baits. A man and a meal… Continue reading →

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