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Monthly Archives: May 2006

Madhumalati’s dilemma

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Madhumalati has three suitors, and she likes them all. The nature of her feelings towards each of them isn’t clear to her but she has to choose one of them before she turns sixteen; otherwise, according to her astrological charts, she would die. Remember this is a pre-modern story and don’t shake your head in [...]

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On Critical Inquiry

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

OK, strictly for University geeks, here is an essay in the Chronincle for Higher Education by Lindsay Waters, who makes fun of an essay (appropriately entitled ‘The History and Future of the Footnote in Critical Inquiry’) Critical Inquiry published recently ranking the greatest literary theorists cited in its pages. Here is the relevant quote:
But even [...]

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World cup

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

In less than two weeks, the biggest sporting spectacle, World Cup begins. Mike Marqusee writes in the Guardian on the economic enterprise that the World Cup is and its winners and losers. Read on.
A recent report from Oxfam - Offside! Labour Rights and Sportswear Production in Asia - reminds us that while Nike pays $16m [...]

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Building a Tank

Monday, May 29, 2006

I see none at all
Who can build a tank
With the body as bank,
Buttress it with mind,
With virtue for steps,
And fill it all full
With water of Bliss.
Before you I declare,
Guhesvara,
Forever shall stand
The tank I have built.
Here is Allama’s response to Siddharama, who in spite of being an ascetic, is immersed in the world and is content [...]

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MexAmerica

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Writer and commentator, Richard Rodriguez has a nice essay in the WAPO on the illegal immigrant as the ‘great prophetic figure’ within the Americas. As people have moved in search of livelihood or pleasure, legally or illegally, the inevitable Mexicanization of America and the Americanization of Mexico does create anxieties everywhere. Bush gets this perhaps [...]

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Sarana’s body

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Hariva nadige maiyella kalu
Urivagnige maiyella nalige
Bisuva galige maiyella kai
Guhesvara, nimma saranange sarvanga linga [Allama, v. 775]
For the flowing river, legs are the entire body
For the burning fire, tongue is the entire body
For the gusty wind, hands are the entire body
Guhesvara, for your sarana, all the limbs are linga.

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