Recently, Zohran Mamdani’s “hijab day” post drew fierce criticism for promoting religious symbolism in public spaces, igniting debates over free expression versus secular neutrality – which he is clearly not upholding. Oops, he did it again! It is pertinent to note here that although Mamdani fiercely advocates the wearing ofContinue Reading
Civilizations often decline through a mix of internal decay and external pressures, eroding cultural memory and linguistic diversity. In the context of India, this manifests as the fragmentation of ancient languages, the fading of oral traditions, and a weakening collective identity. Historical patterns from the Indus Valley to modern timesContinue Reading
Madurai K. Rajeshkanna Among the Divyadesams in Madurai, the temple of Thirumaliruncholai Azhagar Koil (திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை அழகர்கோயில்) holds a sacred and exalted position. Here, the presiding deity, known as Paramaswamy (Alagumalaiyan), bestows his blessings while bearing the five divine weapons (Panchaayudham). The Utsava Moorthy (processional deity) is worshipped as Sri SundararajaContinue Reading
It is normally stated, nowadays even more pronouncedly, that rituals are a waste of time and money. However, it’s at best a secular thought and, at worst, a thought devoid of any thinking. Humans cannot live without rituals. It is rituals that give meaning and joy to human life. EvenContinue Reading
The modern ideas of sovereign nation-state & individual liberty were born in countries like France, Holland, Germany, Italy & Spain. However, the western materialistic & reductionist worldview narrowed down the concept of state & liberty. Nation-states have divided humanity. The liberty of a person is curtailed by the restrictions ofContinue Reading
Women’s bodies have always been part of the terrain of conflict In ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in major fields of life and received the same education and rights as men. Many tribes and communities, like the Nairs in Kerala and the Khasis and Garos in Meghalaya,Continue Reading
The Indic culture of Bharat has always been a torch bearer for various societies around the world seeking the core essence of life. Societies counting from Greeks, Anatolians, Egyptians, Arabs, and Persians to far east lands of Tibet, Indo-China & Mangolia have been the sinks of cultural & spiritual normsContinue Reading
In ancient times, it is said that Nagas came from China and settled in the hills of Nagaland. The name Naga is derived from Burmese Naka (pierced ear) and has no connection with Naga Sadhus or Naga (snakes) whatsoever. During the 18th century, Ahoms rule in Assam began to waneContinue Reading
In stark contrast to the Abrahamic occidental worldview Dharmic indigenous cultures have always been worshipping different manifestations of the feminine. In Bhāratam this started as the worship of Grama Devis (Village tutelary goddess) & Kul Devis (family lineage goddess). The Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh has been identified as anContinue Reading
As an environmental activist who was deplatformed from a speaking venue by transactivists, in 2013 I developed curiosity about the power of this group to force this development. A year later, when Time magazine announced a transgender tipping point on its cover, I had already begun to examine the money behind theContinue Reading