If only some expert linguist in India today could explain in similar simple yet so clear terms as the professor does in the video-clip above about how Tamil and Sanskrit languages also originated and developed over the millennia …. I believe there perhaps would be much greater and more sensible understanding that both are reallyContinue reading “Tamil Vs. Sanskrit: Why this language war over Etymological Cocktails?”
Tag Archives: Language and Culture
Kannada’s parentage: Kamal Haasan won’t apologise for his comment because he’s so intellectually lazy
On a day when Kamal Haasan was nominated by his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) to the Rajya Sabha, after the DMK in Tamil Nadu charitably allotted one seat in the Upper House to MNM in return for its support in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the ageing actor made a thoughtless comment about theContinue reading “Kannada’s parentage: Kamal Haasan won’t apologise for his comment because he’s so intellectually lazy”
The cinema world is neither boon nor bane … “it’s about jobs, stupid!”
Yesterday in The Hindu dt. May 9, 2025, I read a very interesting article about how the well known Tamil novelist Asokamitran had in a couple of his popular novels described both the dark and bright sides of the Tamil Cinema world by using the now defunct Gemini Studios S.S.Vasan’s career as his template. TheContinue reading “The cinema world is neither boon nor bane … “it’s about jobs, stupid!””
The Tamil word பூகோளம் (bhukolam) and its rich Sanskritic roots
After watching the video-clip above, if you are intrigued with the word பூகோளம்…, you are also likely to wonder how old the word would be and how it originated. The Tamil word “பூகோளம்” (pūgōḷam) means “globe” or “the terrestrial globe,” referring to the Earth as a spherical object. It is a compound of “பூ” (earth/land)Continue reading “The Tamil word பூகோளம் (bhukolam) and its rich Sanskritic roots”
The “Literature of Victimisation”: a double-edged sword: (Part-1 of 2)
Many in the world today are quite aware of what in recent decades has gained not only popular but also academic recognition as a distinct literary genre called the “literature of victimisation”. For those who have such awareness but may not be able, when asked, to define it, it perhaps worth reminding them about theContinue reading “The “Literature of Victimisation”: a double-edged sword: (Part-1 of 2)”
The unbearable lightness of being a language-hypocrite
What amazes me about the ongoing “language war” between TN and the Centre is the canard about policy “imposition” … It makes me think we Indians have really no sense of our own history … And hence, our lack of shame about ourselves as a people. We forget that throughout history we had no qualms aboutContinue reading “The unbearable lightness of being a language-hypocrite”
“The Middlemen of Vedapura”: a satirical novel on the political culture of India, especially Tamil Nadu: by Indira Parthasarathy now translated into English by M . K. Sudarshan
https://search.app/4SngPwUMy6zuwSxr6 My 5th book “The Middleman of Vedapura” ( English translation of the 1995 Tamil Novel “Vedapuratthu Vyaabaarigal” by Indira Parthasarathy) is out today and available for sale on Amazon , Flipkart and BlueRose . Please Check out the links below and please do buy a copy for yourself and to also gift it forContinue reading ““The Middlemen of Vedapura”: a satirical novel on the political culture of India, especially Tamil Nadu: by Indira Parthasarathy now translated into English by M . K. Sudarshan”
EPISTLES OF A PROLIFIC PONTIFF (Second & Updated edition) by M. K. Sudarshan – Books on Google Play
If you’re interested in the subjects but not equipped to study Vedanta,Visishtaadvaita and Sri Ramanuja Siddhaantha in Sanskrit or Tamizh or in any other vernacular … and you earnestly wish to read a lucid work on them in the English language, then you must buy this book! It will be an eye-opener for you !Continue reading “EPISTLES OF A PROLIFIC PONTIFF (Second & Updated edition) by M. K. Sudarshan – Books on Google Play”
Dushyant Sridhar sets the cat amongst the pigeons and laughs his way to the bank? – (Part 2 of 2)
Dushyant Sridhar is a young ‘upannyaasaka‘ of rare ability. He is a professional raconteur of purana, itihaasa and other Vedic scriptures. His scholarship, intelligence, eloquence and stage-presence appeal to young audiences and make him an ambassador even abroad for our Indian religious culture, especially of the Sri Vaishnava strain. None therefore should deny him hisContinue reading “Dushyant Sridhar sets the cat amongst the pigeons and laughs his way to the bank? – (Part 2 of 2)”
Are Vedic rituals meaningless? Certainly not… not if you understand it in the Japanese sort of way.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pointing-and-calling-japan-trains Reading the above interesting article and watching the two short video/clips in it, reminds me so much of our own traditional Vedic ritual cultural practices which unfortunately are fast vanishing today in our families and ordinary daily ways of living. While the Japanese Railways devised shisha kanko ritual to regulate their trains in anContinue reading “Are Vedic rituals meaningless? Certainly not… not if you understand it in the Japanese sort of way.”