Folk Tales – Itisaras

Folklores: Reflecting Realities

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020 Ritika Soun 0 Comments Aladdin and magic lamp, anthropology, Arabia, archaeology, Culture, epic tales, fables, Folk Tales, folklore, History, jataka tales, literature, lok sahitya, Mahabharata, monuments, mythologies, Myths, oral traditions, panchtantras, Persia, Ramayana, Religion, Rituals, UNESCO, vikram and beetal

culture, UNESCO, lok sahitya, myths, folklore, folk tales, fables, anthropology, religion, monuments, epic tales, mythologies, Ramayana, Mahabharata, panchtantras, vikram and beetal, jataka tales, archaeology, oral traditions, Aladdin and magic lamp, Arabia, Persia, literature, rituals, history

Culture Society

AMAR CHITRA KATHA- PROBLEMATIC REPRESENTATION OR MERE ILLUSTRATIONS?

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 Debopriya Bhattacharya 0 Comments 1967, ACK, Amar Chitra Katha, Ananda Math, Anant Pai, British rule, Caste, caste-based colourism, chastity, colourism, comics, community, Culture, dark colours, Devi Chaudhrani, Devotion, female, Feminist Perspective, Folk Tales, gender, goddess, History, india, Indian freedom fighters, Kannagi, Kovalan, light colours, literature, lower caste, Madhavi, Marvel, Melanin, Mythology, Padmini, Parameswaran, Parveen, Politics, protagonists, Rajesh, Ranak Devi, Reena Puri, sati, Silappatikaram, suicide, Tamil Nadu, The Atlantic, Tradition, upper caste, westernisation, Zamindar

Owing to its colourful depiction of history by means of illustrations, Amar Chitra Katha became widely read, gained the interest of the children and, in fact, became a household name. But the depiction of women and the portrayal of caste-based colourism is problematic. It is time we address some of these issues and the impact they may create on the young minds.

Culture

Theyyam: When Humans Become Gods

January 30, 2020January 30, 2020 Editor 9 Comments Caste, Caste Division, Caste Oppression, Caste Violence, Culture, Dance, Devotion, Discrimination, Folk Tales, God, Indian culture, Injustice, Kerala, Myths, Nature, Revolution, Rituals, Society, South India, Untouchables, Vedas

Today, Theyyam is the remnant of a bygone era when hierarchies were completely
alien; where people, animals and birds equally coexisted. What makes it central to Kerala’s
socio-cultural fabric is its treatment of caste. This art form is where ‘untouchables’ become
Gods.