The concept of mono no aware that I discussed in part 2 finds expression in Japanese art and literature including in the works of the latest Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro. Even though the concept originated in the Heian Era (8th-12th century), it started gaining prominence in Japanese culture with the works of the 18th century … Continue reading part 3: The Japanese sense of Aesthetics
Category: Culture
Part-2: The Japanese sense of Aesthetics
The Japanese sense of aesthetics is a fine combination of the awareness about the impermanence of things on one hand and appreciation of the inherent beauty of the moment on the other hand. The emphasis on the element of transience or the changing nature of things in Japanese culture and art comes from not only … Continue reading Part-2: The Japanese sense of Aesthetics
The Japanese Sense of Aesthetics
The word Haiku reminds me of millions of awful micro poetic compositions that pass for as haikus in the blogosphere. The other day I came across a couple of such alleged haikus. I don't remember the wordings but one was about the miserable office wage and another was about the boss who was an asshole. … Continue reading The Japanese Sense of Aesthetics
doordarshan days
In those good old days of Doordarshan raj, I never had a fight with my wife for the remote, it being still a remote possibility when I had my first TV. Otherwise also you could not fight as there was no alternate channel to switch to. While watching the Bengali Movie Dhananjoy (with subtitles) a … Continue reading doordarshan days
part 3 : the sentinels of vishnu
continued from part #2 In Treta Yuga, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Kumbhakarna and Ravana. Assuming that most of the readers are familiar with Ravana, I will skip writing about Ravana now. Along with Ravana, Kumbhakarna is also well known, so well known that one who sleeps too much is called a Kumbhakarna and … Continue reading part 3 : the sentinels of vishnu
part 2: the sentinels of vishnu
Dying dance form Prahlad Natak staged during Kalua Jatra in Berhampur, Odisha. Image source: DNA India Continued from Part #1 Hiranyakha’s brother, Hiranyakashipu learns of his brother’s death at the hands of Vishnu in the form of a boar. It fills him with rage and he vows to take revenge. He thinks that the boon … Continue reading part 2: the sentinels of vishnu
the sentinels of vishnu
Ancient Indian legends or the stories from our puranas are not mere stories for entertainment. Each story also illustrates an eternal truth or an important lesson. Some of the puranas like the Bhagvat purana attempt to illustrate the principles of upanishads and other philosphies for the easy understanding of the common man. The two prominent … Continue reading the sentinels of vishnu
oh sister, my sister
(This time, in stead of I writing a blog post in response to the topic of Indisipre Edition #165, I asked my son Dipayan to write one. Being the beginning of the academic year, I saw him having too much fun and I wanted to curtail it. But I was proved wrong as he … Continue reading oh sister, my sister
Let’s hear it folks- in pristine form.
I am no expert in any kind of music. I don't need to be . A connoisseur of food need know the details of the recipe. Classical music and folk music are both ancient in origin and have been carried forward by a tradition of pass over to the next generation, sometimes through family ties … Continue reading Let’s hear it folks- in pristine form.
Bangalore Literature Festival 5.0
Right at the moment of start I was stuck by the usual fear: "Will I get a place for parking? Even if I get it how far will it be from the venue?". Added to this fear was the feeling of loss as we missed a couple of interesting sessions caused due to poor judgement … Continue reading Bangalore Literature Festival 5.0
PEBBLES AND WAVES 