Category Archives: Authors

Mohan Rakesh

Posted on 09/01/2017 by Anu M

Taking the support of history or historical personalities does not make literature history. History compiles and catalogues facts in a time bound manner. This has never been the purpose of literature. To compensate for the vacant chambers of history is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, Ancient India, Authors, Buddhism, hindi literature, History, Indian Authors, Indian Literature, Indian men, Literature, My Translations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

प्रेमचंद के फटे जूते/Premchand’s Torn Shoes

Posted on 02/08/2016 by Anu M

Source: Flickr. Most folk would have seen the Google Doodle of 31 July 2016 in honour of Premchand’s birth anniversary. My translation of Harishankar Parsai‘s essay Premchand ke Fate Joote (Premchand’s torn shoes) below. Original Hindi version from which I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 20th century, Authors, Early 20th Century, hindi literature, India, Indian Authors, Indian Dress, Indian Literature, Indian men, Literature, My Translations, Photography, Vintage Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lit Post – 3

Posted on 09/10/2015 by Anu M

Kamala was simply dressed in a pink silk sari, fastened on the right shoulder with the diamond coronet which Tara had lately given her. The thick soft tresses of her long jet-black hair were wreathed with white roses, and she … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1940s, Authors, British Raj, Chinese, Colonial, Early 20th Century, fashion, History, India, Indian Authors, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Literature, Indian men, Literature, Men, Photography, Studio Portraits, Vintage Books, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, Vintage Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Costume Books

Posted on 17/08/2015 by Anu M

I have been reading a couple of books on Indian costumes and thought I would write a bit about two of them. Queen Subada, Detail from Shahnamah, Sultanate School, 1450. Costume Details: Phiran: of transparent material, form-fitting and ankle length, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Ancient India, antique, Art, Asia, Authors, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, fashion, Hinduism, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Jaina Literature, Jewellery, Medieval India, Sanskrit Drama, sari history, Theatre, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aya de Yopougon

Posted on 07/01/2015 by Anu M

Sari Break. Immigrant Côte d’Ivoire ladies in Paris offer up their honest opinion on leopard prints. From the utterly delightful bande dessinée I am presently reading, Aya: Love in Yop City, set in 1970s Côte d’Ivoire. Everyone should read Aya … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s, Africa, African, Art, Authors, Comics, Contemporary, Culture, fashion, french illustrations, Illustration, retro, retro fashion, Vintage, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ashapurna Devi

Posted on 18/05/2013 by Anu M

In her trilogy, Pratham Pratisruti, Subarnalata, and Bakul Katha, Ashapurna Devi traces the progression of the feminist movement from colonial to post- colonial India. Anita Ghosh in Feminism In Indian Writings In English,  edited by Amar Nath Prasad. Covers of Ashapurna Devi’s books (click to see larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Bengal, Colonial, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Indian Dress, Novels, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pandita Ramabai

Posted on 11/11/2012 by Anu M

Pandita Ramabai, author of The High Caste Hindu Woman and an early feminist and social reformer, converted to Christianity and went on to found the Mukti Mission. It isn’t completely clear in this picture, but Helen Dyer records in her biography of Ramabai that she … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880s, Authors, India, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Book Extract Post

Posted on 04/11/2012 by Anu M
Posted in Authors, India, Literature, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Period Drama Post

Posted on 04/11/2012 by Anu M

The movie adaptation of Maitreyi starred Hugh Grant and Supriya Pathak and is a listless Jean-Claude Carriere adaptation in which the costuming is the least of its troubles. But it is as uncertain as Hugh Grant’s French accented English in the film, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Cinema, India, Period Drama, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When Mircea met Maitreyi

Posted on 04/11/2012 by Anu M

She is without doubt the most gifted and enigmatic of all the girls I have known.  But obviously I cannot marry. What will become of my freedom? Mircea is twenty-three, I am sixteen. But both of us are a bit too … Continue reading →

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