Feminism
I have to confess that I have never understood what ‘feminism’ means. ‘Women’s rights’ and ‘Women’s freedom’ become a common slogan and a rallying point in the beginning of the 20th century in India,...
View ArticleSongs 9 & 10
On 30 September 1986 when I got up in the early morning in Gonda, I wrote the following two songs as I heard the birds singing. The first one (9) is Raga Bhupala. The second one (10) is in a light...
View ArticleUsing ‘Mother’ for God and Nature
In Song 9 I call nature as ‘Mother’. For us in India, the ‘mother’ figure is an all-inclusive term — reverence, respect, love, care, concern, compassion, discipline, sacrifice etc. The order of...
View ArticleReconversion and Rice Christians
The reality of mass-movement conversions and the challenges it now faces in the form of re-conversion are used by opposite political parties to stall Parliament and corner the ruling party and the...
View ArticleWhen the Muktiveda is silent…
On 5th September 2015 in our weekly discussions, one bhakta asked, “What are the hidden social norms and values which could help a Hindu bhakta find a solution to everyday issues where the Muktiveda is...
View ArticleJeeyar
The sannyasis in the Vaishnava sampradaya are called ‘Jeeyar’. Though I was familiar with this title, I never knew what it actually means. But this morning Dr. Anandapadbanabacharya (Podigi, Ramanuja...
View ArticleSong 11 – Hail
I like Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, but my favourite form of music is Tamil Pan Isai (traditional Tamil music). The gentle form of it raises our spiritual awakening and helps us feel the...
View ArticleSong 12 – I Come To Your Feet
This is also set in Tamil pan isai (music). I started to write this in September 1985 and completed it on 5-4-1986 at Lucknow. இப்பாடலும் தமிழ்ப் பண் இசையையே சார்ந்தது. இதை 1985-செப்டம்பரில் எழுத...
View ArticleTrying to Straighten a Cyclical Worldview
When I read any comment about Hinduism that twists and turns the facts to one’s particular point of view or ideology, it makes me smile and also think. Trying to explain and understand Hinduism from...
View ArticleEvasive Response
In certain situations it is very difficult to give a specific answer or solution to a question. The person who seeks the answer may ask for it out of a survival situation with an immediate need....
View ArticleThe Real World of the West
We join with the world community to express our condolence for those killed in the terrorist attack in Paris and equally condemn such a cowardice attack. However, the response when western nations are...
View ArticleEvasive Response Song
After writing my article on Evasive Response, I wrote this song: வெகுசிலர் தத்தளிக்கும் போதிலே தண்ணீரில் குதித்து தன்னுயிரைப் பணயம்வைத்து தரைசேர்ப்பார் ஒருசிலர் தரைமீது நின்று தத்துவம் பேசி...
View ArticleSilent Sermon
Recently, Sri Suki Sivam, in a Pattimandram (debating assembly) in Mega T.V. shared one important illustration about the need of ‘Sat-sangh’. A church father noticed that one of the wealthiest members...
View ArticleTextual Exegesis
One need not wonder how speakers can do it when they give long religious discourses, either as an exclamation or a question. The Puranas (along with many other scriptures) are huge in size, but even by...
View ArticleSong 13
When I feel discouraged I often meditate on the encouraging words of God. This poem is one such mediation I wrote on 08-04-1986 at Gonda: 13. அருள்தாரும் தேவன்தருவான்புதியவாகுத்தத்தம்...
View ArticleSong 14 – Why I Sing
I also wrote this song in Gonda in 1986, but I don’t remember the exact date. Considering the nature of this song, I may have written it after the previous one. 14. ஏன் பாடுகிறேன் என்வாழ்வில்...
View ArticleMedia Menace
This deluge in Chennai not only exposed the poor planning of the city’s development and the goodness of individual to serve, but also exposed the true nature of some of the media. In the name of...
View ArticleRationality of Reason
When rationality is glorified beyond its reasonable limitation, I wonder what the very reason itself is. When someone like Swami Vivekananda claims that rationality is the only valid evidence (pramana)...
View ArticleDemocratic (Ir)Responsibility
It may not be the right time to share such a personal opinion, but as I am helpless like the people of Chennai, I need to vent my anger. One of the several evils that democracy brought with it is the...
View ArticleSong 360 – A Request to Forget Me
360 மறக்க வேண்டுகிறேன் கையெடுத்துக் கும்பிடுகிறேன் கெஞ்சி ஒன்று வேண்டுகிறேன் என்னைப் பற்றி எவருமே ஏதுஒன்றும் சொல்லவேண்டாம் காலமென்னும் ஓட்டத்திலே கால்கடுக்க ஓடுகின்றேன் இறுதியாக எப்படியோ கரைநானும்...
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