Kani tribes learned many skills by keenly observing nature. Ants and dragonflies in forests were their teachers. Those skills got expression in their art, customs and traditions. But the march of modernity has disrupted the lives of Kanis. Their art forms have nearly vanished. The customs and...
Attitudes towards race, colour and gender are constantly changing depending on time and place. People holding lofty ideals in the past have sometimes left records that today appear regressive. Autobiographical jottings flesh them out. I read one such piece of writing recently. Chinna Annamalai...
Hakki Pikki is a semi-nomadic tribe that roamed around the entire country. The community originated in North India but is mostly found in South Indian states. In Karnataka, they are called Hakki Pikki, meaning bird catchers, while they are also called Nakkavando in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil...
Bharathimani who died earlier this week was not only known for his interesting and thought provoking writings but for the dignity with which he handled life’s challenges. His daughter said on his passing away that he faced disease with dignity. Bharathimani had several faces: actor, writer and...
Normal life is returning to Chennai. There is likelihood that it would be disrupted again if rain pours. Fear is still there among the people. It will be there until the end of December. I have been living in this growing city for nearly 35 years. Without any letup, the damage from rains and...
I watched the movie Jai Bhim whose theme is the plight of Irulars. The suffering that a section of people undergo has been portrayed artistically in that movie. Jai Bhim has kicked off a debate. Writers, representatives of marginalized groups, as well as people holding positions of power and...
In Tamil Nadu, the word Sooran has an interesting connotation. The word rhymes with Veeran, the brave, but Sooran is not just brave but also skilled, talented and brainy. Tamil Wiktionary says Sooran excels in the intellect. Sooran can also refer to a dog, a lion, a cock, a bear, fire and the...
It’s that time of the year now when the dragonfly flies in formation. But, why now? This is the time the ecological balance goes askew and the dragonfly appears to set it right. In a few weeks, the northeast monsoon will set. We are already seeing signs – hot, humid air. Such air is best for...
