Book Review- Hades: Goddess of the Underworld
Svetlana R. Ivanova’s novella Hades: Goddess of the Underworld fits right in the shelves of light reads, yet with a slight pinch of eroticism.
Mythology
What Devdutt Pattanaik Says about the Kinnars/Third-Genders and Kankalas/Skeletons of Tantrik Temples in Nepal
I was struck by the vivid image of a life size Kinnara or Third gender and a Kankala or Skeleton, right at the entrance of the Guhyeshwari temple. Devdutt Pattnaik explained the significance to me.
A Play That Explores Gender Through Mythology
‘Shikhandi: The Story of In-Betweens’ gives an interesting new twist to how and why a Yaksha gave his penis to Shikhandi
The Real Ramrajya
While Ram includes hijras into his Ayodhya, does the republic of India? Hijras see themselves as a third gender, but do their passports say so? Why do we want to force them into one gender or another?
Queer Sexuality and Indian Culture
Does the human mind have the empathy to include gender and sexual ambiguity in civil human society?
On Krishna’s Chariot Stands Shikhandi
Shikhandi embodies all queer people – from gays to lesbians to Hijras to transgendered people to hermaphrodites to bisexuals. Like their stories, his story remains invisible.
Your Smile, My Tail
When Hanuman returned from Lanka with a burned tail, and recounted his adventures, many monkeys of Kishkinda burst out laughing. “So, you got your tail burned t... Read More...
Love in the Time of Hate
Young India needs to find the strength and patience to face the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of India, find innovative ways to live together in diversity, and not be afraid of rapidly changing ecosystems
Hatred is not Divine
The idea of Judgment Day (qayamat, in Urdu) is not found in Hinduism, or Buddhism and Jainism, for that matter. It’s found in Abrahamic mythology and even in Gr... Read More...
How many gods must our judicial system please?
Hindu wisdom seems incompatible with our courts, where the state almost becomes a jealous God who can throw whoever it deems unfit into hell
So I am confus... Read More...
Bromances from Mythology
Bromance in India means yaarana, dostana. We saw it on full display when Jai and Veeru rode on bikes in the 1975 film Sholay. In 1990, journalist Asho... Read More...
Gay Love Story from Greek Mythology to come alive in Dance Drama in Mumbai
The Humsafar Trust(HST) is India’s oldest registered organization that works on the rights and health of the LGBT (Lesbian , Gay Bisexual and Transgender) Com... Read More...