After identifying the misconceptions attached to the figure of the Mughal Courtesan and then defining it in terms of the dual-component structure of adaa, in the face of a dearth of literature that exists on the culture and the agency of the courtesan, this analysis would reinterpret the status of the courtesan figure within the domain of feminist theories and self-assertion. The female desire for autonomy, according to Elaine Showalter, defines a female exclusivity in terms of the dynamic phase, which is a combination of the feminine conflict between self-fulfillment and duty, the feminist political consciousness, and the female desire for autonomy. If one operates the courtesan figure in the Showalter domain, then the means to resist gender hierarchies through literary practices lie in a combination of both demand for exclusivity and real struggle into a truly subversive aesthetic which would have allowed the courtesan to have walked the corridors of power. Juliet Mitchells argument states that the gendered treatment of women came into existence through the ideological form of the novel, with females constructing themselves as the women they are under bourgeois norms by reading and writing novels. Rereading the Silencing of the Sirens would uncover another such exclusive female tradition studying the female consciousness from the courtesans point of view.
After identifying the misconceptions attached to the figure of the Mughal Courtesan and then defining it in terms of the dual-component structure of adaa, in the face of a dearth of literature that exists on the culture and the agency of the courtesan, this analysis would reinterpret the status of the courtesan figure within the domain of feminist theories and self-assertion. The female desire for autonomy, according to Elaine Showalter, defines a female exclusivity in terms of the dynamic phase, which is a combination of the feminine conflict between self-fulfillment and duty, the feminist political consciousness, and the female desire for autonomy. If one operates the courtesan figure in the Showalter domain, then the means to resist gender hierarchies through literary practices lie in a combination of both demand for exclusivity and real struggle into a truly subversive aesthetic which would have allowed the courtesan to have walked the corridors of power. Juliet Mitchells argument states that the gendered treatment of women came into existence through the ideological form of the novel, with females constructing themselves as the women they are under bourgeois norms by reading and writing novels. Rereading the Silencing of the Sirens would uncover another such exclusive female tradition studying the female consciousness from the courtesans point of view.
Bengalis have been great travellers for centuries and are famous for recreating their way of life wherever they go. This book critically analyses skilled Bengali migration within and beyond India and looks at landscapes created by the Bengali diaspora beyond the terrain of their homeland, ranging from those of nostalgia and imagination (Durga Puja/Saraswati Puja) to those of subjugation and loss of identity. This book demonstrates the relationship between landscape and diaspora in terms of perception, imagination, space and place, ethnicity, race, caste, and class. With case studies from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dehra Dun, Oxford, Aberdeen, New York, and the Bay Area (USA), it brings together themes like evolution of the Bengali diaspora, transnationalism and identity, stratification and segregation, urban social space, adaptation and assimilation, and questions of discrimination from other communities. Drawing on ethnographic accounts of over 300 skilled Bengalis, the book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of diaspora studies, urban studies, ethnic studies, migration studies, geography, sociology, history, and political studies.
In view of the fast-changing world order, emerging countries are increasingly influencing the dynamics of regional securities. This timely and in-depth book examines India’s reorienting strategic posture and describes how New Delhi’s security policy in the Indo-Pacific region has evolved and expanded over the past two decades. The author argues that India’s quest to leverage its geostrategic location to emerge as an Indo-Pacific actor faces multiple challenges, which create a clear divide between the country’s political rhetoric and action on the ground. The author critically examines these contradictions to better situate India's security role in an increasingly fluid Indo-Pacific region.
Founded by the chieftain Kempe Gowda around 1537, the story of Bangalore has no grand linear narrative. The location has revealed different facets to settlers and passers-through. The city, the site of bloody battles between the British and Tipu Sultan, was once attached to the glittering court of Mysore. Later, it became a cantonment town where British troops were stationed. Over time, it morphed into a city of gardens and lakes, and the capital of PBI - Indian scientific research. More recently, it has been the hub of PBI - India’s information technology boom, giving rise to Brand Bangalore, an PBI - Indian city whose name is recognized globally. Hidden beneath these layers lies a cosmopolitan city of sub-cultures, engaging artists and writers, young geeks and students. People from every corner of PBI - India and beyond now call it home. In this collection of writings about a multi-layered city, there are stories from its history, translations from Kannada literature, personal responses to the city’s mindscape, portraits of special citizens, accounts of searches for lost communities and traditions, among much more. U.R. Ananthamurthy writes about Bangalore’s Kannada identity; Shashi Deshpande maps the city through the places she has lived in since she was a young girl; Anita Nair draws a touching portrait of a florist who celebrates the glories of the Raj; Ramachandra Guha describes his close bond with Bangalore’s most unusual bookseller; and Rajmohan Gandhi recounts the Mahatma’s trysts with the city. From traditional folk ballads to a nursery rhyme about Bangalore, from poems to blogs, from reproductions of turn of the twentieth century picture postcards to cartoons, Multiple City is the portrait of a metropolis trying to retain its roots as it hurtles into the future.
Kesar’s baby sister Kamal will not sleep. Their entire village in the Great Rann of Kutch is kept awake by the infant’s cries and her parents are exhausted. When Kesar and Kamal’s ba comes to visit, her stories give Kesar a wonderful idea. Perhaps what Kesar needs to put her baby sister to sleep is a little bit of desert magic! A vibrant celebration of traditional artisans from India, this picture book is a sweet sibling bedtime story at heart, featuring a big sister who figures out how to care for her baby sister with some help from her grandmother’s lovingly made gifts. "Set in the Kutch region of India, the bright colors, intricate patterns, and delicate details of Indian attire and architecture are standout features." -- Foreword Reviews (Starred)
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