Category Archives: Indian Literature

Indian Summer

Posted on 26/04/2018 by Anu M

I have been away from wordpress for so so long. Travel meant I couldn’t sit down and write a long post. So a collation of several posts on the Indian summer that I did on tumblr. First up the most … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 20th century, Ancient India, Art, contemporary fashion, costumes in art, Culture, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, India, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Costume, Indian Flora and Fauna, Indian Literature, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Paintings, Seasons, Women, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Goddess

Posted on 25/09/2017 by Anu M

During this month the spirits of the ancestors descend on earth to be propitiated.  It is the time to worship the nine Durgas for prosperity in this life and future salvation.  The kings and their pandits set out to visit … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th century, 18th century, 2017 posts, Art, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, Deccan, Goddess, historical costume, India, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian Literature, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Literature, Sari, sari drape, South India | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Spring Post

Posted on 07/03/2017 by Anu M

पहले भी मैं इसी राह से जा कर फिर-फिर हूँ (Pehle bhi main isi raah se jaa kar phir-phir hoon) आया-किन्तु झलकती थी इस में तब मधु की मन-मोहक माया! (Aaya-kintu jhalakti thi is mein tab madhu ki man-mohak maya!) … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, Art, Bengal, Birds, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian Flora, Indian Literature, Indian Women, My Translations, Paintings, Sari, Vintage, vintage art, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 21/10/2016 by Anu M

दन्या चीनाखान की दक्ष महिताओं के नृत्यगीत अल्पना की तो ख्याति सुनी ही थी, उस दिन देख भी लिया. केवल अँगुली  के नैपुन्य से चित्रांकित हर रेखा का ये गजब का संतुलन था और कैसी अचूक सीध! शांतिनिकेतन में नंदलाल बोस की पुत्री गौरीभंज … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, 20th century, Decorative Arts, hindi literature, Indian Literature, Indian Women, Literature, My Translations, Vintage Books, vintage photography, vintage style, Women, women writers | 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

Ashadh ka ek din

Posted on 25/07/2016 by Anu M

आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे मेघमाश्लिष्टसानुं वप्रक्रीडापरिणतगजप्रेक्षणीयं ददर्श॥१.२॥ Ashar has come, filling the southern sky with A cloud, frolicksome as an elephant About to charge, he seems to lower his tusks. (translation of lines from the Meghadoot from here). The month of Ashadh … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 4th century AD, Ancient India, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, Culture, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Literature, Indian men, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, sari drape, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Spring Post

Posted on 15/03/2016 by Anu M

A little late for this, probably should have posted around mid-February but I still have time till Holi so here goes! Everything is yellow and the fiery red of palash (though in our cities you see a lot more gulmohur … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, Art, Bengal, costumes in art, Culture, Flora, Flowers, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian Literature, Literature, Love, Paintings, Poetry, Rural, Sari, Sari Blouse, Seasons, Vintage, vintage art | 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

Lit Post – 2

Posted on 18/09/2015 by Anu M

अब मेरी बेटी का मामला है मेरी कोख में जन्म लेने वाली मैत्रेयी का। मैं इसको उस खड्ड में नहीं गिरने दूंगी, जिसमें गिरकर औरत जीवन-भर निकलने को छटपटाती रहती है और एक दिन खत्म हो जाती है। Now it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 20th century, Accessories, Central India, Culture, Indian Authors, Indian Bride, Indian Dress, Indian Literature, Indian Women, Literature, Novels, regional styles, Sari, Sari Blouse, Television, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Books, Vintage Bride, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment