Back in the late 1990s, when I was pursuing my Master’s degree in Coimbatore, the half saree was a familiar sight. It was more than just a garment — it was a symbol. A symbol of tradition, of transition, of identity. Girls would walk into college draped in vibrant pavadai davani (as we called it),Continue reading “The Vanishing Half Saree: A Death in Silence”
Category Archives: BLOGS
“Who the Fuck Are You?”
Point a gun to my forehead and ask me to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” or “Jai Shri Ram,” and I will refuse. Not because I hate my country. Not because I don’t revere divinity. But because the very idea of patriotism or faith being held at gunpoint is not patriotism or faith — itContinue reading ““Who the Fuck Are You?””
Religion Was Never the Reason for War
Throughout history, religion has often been used as a scapegoat for conflict. Headlines scream “religious war,” and textbooks summarize centuries of violence as “faith-based disputes.” But if we peel back the layers of history, we realize that religion itself was never the reason for war. The true culprits were human ignorance, insecurity, and the inabilityContinue reading “Religion Was Never the Reason for War”
Adi Shankara: The Politician Disguised as a Philosopher
When we think of Adi Shankaracharya, we usually imagine a wandering monk, a spiritual genius, a torchbearer of Advaita Vedanta. But what if I said—he was more of a politician than a religious icon? It’s not blasphemy. It’s history. Let’s go back to 8th-century India. Hinduism, as we know it today, was splintered. The philosophicalContinue reading “Adi Shankara: The Politician Disguised as a Philosopher”
The Irony of Inspiration: When Illiterates Motivate India’s Students
In most Indian schools and colleges, annual days, cultural fests, or student felicitations come with a predictable announcement: the “chief guest” will be a politician or a celebrity. More often than not, these individuals are barely educated, sometimes proudly so. And yet, they are brought on stage to motivate students to study well, work hard,Continue reading “The Irony of Inspiration: When Illiterates Motivate India’s Students”
The Bully Gene: On Caste, Conversion, and the Invention of New Insults
Not being able to withstand the constant bullying and humiliation by self-proclaimed upper-caste Hindus, thousands of Indians—Dalits, Adivasis, and backward castes—chose to walk away from Hinduism. They weren’t running from God; they were running from godmen. They weren’t rejecting the divine; they were rejecting the denial of dignity. So they converted. To Christianity. To Islam.Continue reading “The Bully Gene: On Caste, Conversion, and the Invention of New Insults”
The Borrowed Morality of Modern Sanatana Dharma
Sanatana Dharma, the eternal path, is often hailed as the most ancient and enduring religious tradition. Rooted in Vedic rituals, cosmic cycles, and an open-ended philosophical inquiry, it once represented a way of life far removed from rigid morality or institutionalized faith. But walk into most temples today, attend a satsang, or browse through theContinue reading “The Borrowed Morality of Modern Sanatana Dharma”
Brothels and Devadasis: The Forgotten Facets of Hindu Society
Hindu society, like every ancient civilization, wasn’t one-dimensional. It carried within it a rich, contradictory, and layered understanding of human existence. While much of modern discourse attempts to sanitize or sensationalize its past, history itself refuses to fit into neat moral boxes. Among the most misunderstood aspects of Hindu society are two institutions: brothels andContinue reading “Brothels and Devadasis: The Forgotten Facets of Hindu Society”
Hinduism: The Most Misunderstood Religion—By Hindus Themselves
Hinduism is perhaps the only religion where gods and demons drink from the same well, argue over philosophy, and sometimes exchange places. It’s a civilisation, not a doctrine. A spiritual experiment, not a fixed ideology. And yet, today, it stands as one of the most misunderstood religions—especially by those who call themselves Hindu. Most HindusContinue reading “Hinduism: The Most Misunderstood Religion—By Hindus Themselves”
When the Vedas Claimed Murugan and Ayyappa
For centuries, the gods of Tamilakam and Kerala lived outside the boundaries of the Vedic imagination. They were vibrant, powerful, and deeply embedded in the soil of the people who worshipped them — long before they were repackaged as characters in Sanskritic epics. Let’s begin with Murugan — the beloved Tamil god of the hills. He isContinue reading “When the Vedas Claimed Murugan and Ayyappa”