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Kamini Dandapani's avatar

This is a wonderful review of an amazing book. I read it after reading V. Sriram's book The Devadasi and the Saint, about the life and times of Bangalore Nagarathnamma. There was also a Bharata Natyam performance that I watched several years back that told the stories of Muddupalani, Nagarathnamma and Radhika.

I have always loved the fact that in India - ancient India, at least - there was never any thinking that the sacred and the sensuous were incompatible and should not coexist. In fact, it was the very opposite, that what are conflicting elements to our modern minds are part of a whole where they must exist together. Sensuality and sensuousness are merely manifestations of inner beauty, and the erotic and the chaste mingle together in art as do in real life. The lusciously voluptuous Chola bronzes are another example of this.

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Kalpana Mohan's avatar

Thank you, Kamini. I didn't do justice to the work, I know. It was too hectic a week. The kids were visiting and there were several wedding events to attend. I wanted to talk more about what a treatise this work is on feminism. Every woman in this work knows what she wants and goes after it using her methods. The parrot is such a character, too. There was so much to say and I feel terrible I didn't give it the time. Some weeks are like that, I guess, and I just have to plan better. There were some fantastic allusions that I wanted to talk about as well. I totally do love your point about the sacred and the sensuous being part of the same thing. It's so beautifully manifest in Indian life and in Hinduism, isn't it? Thank you so much for your observations.

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Kamini Dandapani's avatar

You are being way too hard on yourself! I thought it was a wonderful piece, Kalpana. And I'm filled with admiration for how you have been doing this week after week, treating us to such a fabulous variety of literature and analysis. You have set high standards for yourself and it is only natural that you fall short in your eyes sometimes. But as the reader on the other side, all I see is your marvelous output!

And yes, I love the all-encompassing AND in our thinking; may it always prevail over the easy chokehold of the binary OR.

Looking forward to many more of your reviews!

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Kalpana Mohan's avatar

Kamini I’d love a guest post from you some time! About 1200 words. What do you think? Let’s talk more…

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Kamini Dandapani's avatar

I'd love that. However - it will have to wait at least a month. I have two eye surgeries this month and other stuff going on :)

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Kalpana Mohan's avatar

No hurry! Best of luck and wish you the speediest recovery from your surgeries! Looking forward to the post!

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Kamini Dandapani's avatar

Thank you Kalpana.

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Lakshmy Krishnan's avatar

What an amazing piece Kalpana! I did not know about this epic poem and am now prompted to find and read it! I would like to know more about the aspects of feminism that you mention in your reply to the other comment… so definitely plan to find the translation!

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Kalpana Mohan's avatar

You must, my dear! You will be shocked and awed:-) And enchanted at the same time:-)

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Rajee Viswanathan's avatar

Thanks Kalpana for this wonderful review. Will check it out .

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