Kamat's Potpourri

AnthoBLOGy: Link Recommendations

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Physician Becomes An Ascetic -- A graphic first person account of a Jain Diskha ceremony. Please read it for several reasons -- to understand how Jainism provides a way out of the family life, to understand the massive job of moving thousands of people from one corner of India to another, and to experience the fulfillment provided by renunciation.

Onamography is an innovative new puzzle concept. Each onnicle hides the name of a famous personality.

See Related Contents at Kamat's Potpourri: * Difference between Renunciation and Relinquishment * Topics on Jain Dharma, History, and Heritage

AnthoBLOGy: The Mystery of Half-Male and Half-Female

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

BBC: The Puzzle of Male and Female Genders Solved

Well, I am not so sure that the mystery is solved, but I have always found the Half-Man-Half-Woman Ardhanarishwara Art of India, quite fascinating.

I ran a query in our picture database and found numerous images, which I have compiled into a separate blog entry: Gynandromorphism in Indian Art

AnthoBLOGy: National Literary Award for Jayant Kaikini

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

The Kusumagraj Foudation and selected Kannada writer-poet Jayanth Kaikini for their first Kusumagraj National Literary award.

Kusumagraj was a noted writer-poet of Marathi language, and I am delighted that such institutions carry on the meritorious work of recognizing true talent.

The Kaikinis and the Kamats are bound together by generations of mutual respect, friendship and warmth, and I am as excited as a member of my family has won this award!

My hearty congratulations to Jayant.

Jayant Kaikini has been blessed with uncanny flair for words and imagination. His talent to coin alankaras (grammatical figures of speech) is unbelievable. Very rarely do we see both a parent and a child excel in the field of literature. Gourish and Jayant belong to that select set of (Kuvempu and Tejasvi), and (DVG and B.G.L. Swamy).

I have read some of Kaikini's short stories. They are graphic and relive the romance of rural and beautiful India. His songs, used in Kannada movies are a rage. Jayant Kaikini is a worthy winner of this award.

See Also: * Grand Guru of Gokarn * Jayant Kaikini's spontaneous poetic tribute to my father (the only occasion I have met Jayant. He has a very refreshing, and a charming personality)

AnthoBLOGy: Review of "The Age of Shiva"

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

First a confession: I didn't really read the book. I heard the book - ably narrated by Josephine Bailey (2008, Tantor Media, 13 CDs, 16 Hours)

Trust a mathematician (the author Manil Suri is a professor of mathematics) to decipher the complex love-hate relationships of the Hindu Joint Family.

I didn't quite get the title of the book -- perhaps the author wanted something to go with his previous work "The Death of Vishnu" -- I kept on expecting some kind of senseless destruction, but it's not that. Some have suggested that it explores the relationship of Parvati and Ganesh, if so it should have been titled "The Age of Parvati", which would have been more apt.

Here's a mock cover I designed for the book, featuring a often recurring theme in the novel (child bringing the feeding mother to emotional and physical climax as it suckles).

This is an intensely woman-centric novel written by a man. It is a beautiful work.

I didn't know the author was a man till after I was finished with the book. The delicate feelings of an Indian woman are brought out in remarkable detail -- I am reminded of depiction of Kunti and Draupadi in Bhyrappa's Parva.

This is a book especially for my generation (the forty somethings who have lived through the Emergency) . I identified each of the well developed characters with someone I know. The maturity, intelligence of Meera the narrator draws the reader into the contemporary history of India and the very fundamental ideas and roles of men and women in India. The plot takes dramatic turns with simplest of events, with Meera our heroine's fate changing completely.

It is a rather lengthy novel. But I highly recommend it to experience the struggles of women in India. It doesn't glorify the Indian mother like Shyamchi Aai or Grihabhanga, but rather puts into words the dilemmas of modern Indian woman.

Links:

Manil Suri's Excellent Essay What Unites India Published in India Today Women of India Book Recommendations Mother and Child: Pictorial Exhibition

AnthoBLOGy: iPad Humor

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

As they said on NPR, Apple forgot to involve a woman in decision making before they came up with the name iPad. Oh brother.

Sometimes, the cultural differences yield embarrassing meanings, but it was not the case with iPad.

Think Before You Name a Brand

There is a beauty store near my house called "Ulta Beauty" and I never stop to smile as I drive pass it.

See, in most of India, "Ulta Beauty Store" would mean "Ugly Store."

I also remember a visit to a town in Karnataka where the entire town was painted by the brand "Hutch". Except that it didn't occur to them that it meant "A Crazy Man" in the local language, and everybody would make fun of the campaign. Hutch spent a lot of money, only to become the butt of jokes and ridicule.

AnthoBLOGy: Some Deep Thoughts on India and Indians

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Fire Accident in Indian Owned Motel Sparks Debate

AL.com:

Motel Tragedy in Birmingham -- Superstitious Hindu man burns incense in room unattended, it starts fire and kills four young girls.

This unfortunate accident has been complicated by the man's stupidity, the negligence of the owner (I assume also of Indian origin --I was told by a hotel supplies vendor that about 80% of all motels in USA are owned by Indians), legal status of the maintenance man, and the current anti-immigrant feelings in USA. Read the comments to get a pulse.

Polio in India

Over my lifetime, I have seen India grow from a hopeless third world country into a proud and prospering country. Now everybody has cell-phones, lots of people have Twitter and Orkut accounts. My family and friends take pride in thinking that they are world-class citizens. It's all good. Then someone sends a painful link. Today it was from Dr. Abhishek Arora who said India is the last four countries (with Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan) where polio virus remains active. So I read up on it. It's a painfully embarrassing matter to read. I was really under the impression that polio was gone from the world. I also learned today that some of those graphic pictures in our Beauty is Skin Deep were actually survivors of the horrible decease Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio Link to Polio Free India Website

Amma's Keynote on 60th Anniversary of Indian Republic

All India Radio will broadcast some of Amma's Musings on the Occasion of India's Republic Day - Jan 26th, Chintana, Bengaluru Station.

AnthoBLOGy: Parade of Kamat Icons

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

AnthoBLOGy: Google Got Balls

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Pardon my attempt at some crude humor, but best said with this graphic:

In standing up to Chinese Government, Google showed a lot of courage, a lot of character and leadership.

I commend Google on this move.

Now if Walmart can make a similar move, there will be real change and reform in China, and who knows, Americam Economy will come out of recession.

AnthoBLOGy: Roll Tide, Roll

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

How about them Crimson Tide!

Alabama, this year's National Champions!!

ESPN: Alabama 37, Texas 21

In true Alabama tradition, the trophy will be displayed in local Walmarts. Lots of jokes about it here.

In Alabama, we have a saying -- "If Walmart doesn't have it, we don't need it".

Quote from SBNation:

Before you start making jokes, fool, read that again: a Wal-Mart Supercenter, y'all, not just any Wal-Mart. You won't just be going to look at the BCS Championship Trophy and then buying some lightbulbs. You'll be getting yourself a new set of radials, gassing up the car, and possibly getting your taxes done all in the same place, man. What other college football team offers all that with the chance to see the title trophy? No one, that"s right. Alabama doesn't just deliver championships. They deliver value.

AnthoBLOGy: Praise of Bidiramma -- Goddess of Bamboo

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

The other day I saw the pupils of Akshaya Orphanage in the village of Karki sing and dance to a folk song in praise of Bidiramma, the goddess of Bamboo.

I found it very inspiring for several reasons -- the way bamboo plays an important role in the Indian life as well has how we have to rely on the poor and destitute to preserve elements of our heritage in the modern world. Modern Indian kids will never hear this song, nor does it makes sense to them. Afterall, when's the last time you saw a bamboo cradle, a bamboo fishnet or even a bows and arrows ?

Their performance prompted me to translate the song, as well as build a section on Bamboo in Indian Culture.

I present you Bidiramma, the Goddess of Bamboo.