• A Creation Myth in an Extinct Indian Language

    In ancient times, there lived a man named Phertajido, the first man of the Andaman Islands. He originated from the hollow of a bamboo, and lived alone, roaming here and there in search of food. The Great Narrative of Phertajido The Great Narrative of Phertajido was told in the Bo language, now among the extinct…

  • Who is the Majority in India?

    Nobody. That’s right, nobody gets a chance to call himself or herself the majority in India. As Shashi Tharoor observes in his book India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond, the concept of being in majority in India makes no sense; after all, everyone is in minority. How is that possible, one might ask?…

  • On Keeping a Writing Journal

    In her essay On Keeping a Notebook, Joan Didion put her finger on the reason why writers keep a record of their experiences in the form of a writing journal. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget… Keeping in touch is what notebooks are all about. Joan Didion If…

  • A 1000-Year Timeline to Understand Ukraine Crisis

    Note: We have published a free Kindle Unlimited book on the Ukraine crisis. Please click on the link to get it right now: A Short History of the Ukraine Crisis 9th Century: Formation of Kyivan Rus. This is where the story of modern-day Russia and Ukraine begins. Kyivan (Kievan) Rus was the early, mostly East…

  • Hobson-Jobson: An Essay by Salman Rushdie

    Hobson-Jobson, dictionary of British India, is an eloquent testimony to the unparalleled intermingling of Indian languages with English.

  • Why Didn’t Women Create Great Art?

    Throughout history, one question has been thrown at women in one form or the other: can you do what a man can? Different societies in different times have asked this question differently. Can you cut trees like a man? Can you fight in wars like a man? Can you play like a man? Can you…

  • Basho Haiku Poems About Spring

    Basho was recognised for his work in a poetic form that was precursor to haiku. Let’s read some of his poems.

  • Spring Haikus by Matsuo Basho

    Basho was recognised for his work in a poetic form that was precursor to haiku. Let’s read some of his poems.