Meeting the Arayar Sami of Srivilliputhur

September 24, 2025

Meeting the Arayar Sami of Srivilliputhur

During my fieldwork in Srivilliputhur this weekend, I had the rare privilege of meeting the Arayar, a hereditary temple artist-priest and custodian of a centuries-old tradition…

September 9, 2025

Why I like small airports of India

Coimbatore, or Kovai, is a Tier 2 city in the state of Tamil Nadu. The district butts into Kerala at the Walayar border, becoming almost like…

August 15, 2025

Why Bharat Matters: A book Review

Why Bharat Matters, by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, was published by Rupa Publications in 2024. The very choice of publisher is telling: Jaishankar could…

August 14, 2025

Independence Day Book Review: The Indic Quotient by Kaninika Mishra

While she originally intended to focus solely on the world of yoga, over the course of her investigations, Kaninika Mishra ended up bringing out the importance…

August 2, 2025

Ayurveda Industry: Shape Up and Step into the 21st Century

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing, is known for its natural, holistic approach. It prides itself on individualized care and personalized treatment. In theory, it’s…

July 8, 2025

Weekend Notes: A Road Trip, Reflections, and Resonances

Last weekend, I set off on a road trip with my dear friend Uma and her 20-year-old son, Anand. Traveling with them was both lighthearted and…

July 5, 2025

Field Research in India: Expecting the Unexpected, Embracing the Unforgettable

Conducting field research in India—especially in rural or far-flung regions—is an experience unlike any other. It demands more than academic preparedness or a solid methodology. It…

July 2, 2025

Learning to Live: My Tryst with an Autoimmune Condition

For the last 2+ years, I’ve had an autoimmune condition. Expect, for a long time, I didn’t know it. Even today, looking at me, you wouldn’t…

July 1, 2025

Top Tips from My Time in the Timeless City

A lot of people come to Kashi. They’ve been doing it for thousands of years. Mostly, they come for religious reasons. I came to Kashi a…

June 25, 2025

The Process of Publishing My India

I’ve just completed a book launch tour of four heartfelt events—spread across India and online. Each gathering was distinct in its venue, participants, and energy. Yet,…

June 9, 2024

Becoming Goan

I’m not converting or anything. Not that you can convert into an ethnicity. It’s really something that you’re born into. Or is it? I am Bangalorean,…

May 1, 2024

Ranking the Dumps

I would like to creating a rating system for bathroom. These are the important aspects of a bathroom:

Tag: india