Aryaman Kakkar's Archive

To call Benjamin Alire Saenz’s “Aristotle and Dante Dive Into The Waters of The World” a romance would be a disservice to the book and the author. You should not read this book if you expect a no-nonsense happily ever after, or one laden with descriptions of sex. Aristotle and Dante turn a new leaf as they try to feel comfortable in their love for each other, and try to navigate the world beyond their little microcosm. Grief and pain are potent heartbeats that drive the narrative. The grief of loss is one that's deeply explored and given space to; loss of family, friends, and community. You will find yourself searching for your own grief as the many new faces that are introduced as days pass for Ari are populated with celebration and mourning. Saenz is not afraid to welcome stereotypically sensitive subjects into his home. He creates a world where each loss has a deep impact on the reader, no matter the period for which the character remained. Grief and Love are presences that are ...

“You’ve stepped far enough, Ta’al. It’s time to end this!” Lyra stepped forward on her bed and pushed her hands forward, full of imagined forced and power. Not seeing the pillow under her feet, she twisted and fell back on the mattress as her mother entered the room.  “Who were you talking to, bacha? On the phone with your friends?” She didn’t look at Lyra, making her way to the dressing room cupboards where the toilet paper and cleaners were kept.  “No one ma, just talking to myself.”, she groaned, not moving. She shifted around a bit to get comfortable, but the hurt in her lower back was stubborn.  “Ok. Remember that we need to go out tonight. Decide what you want to wear and let me know. I’m going to go get ready after this. Do you know where your dad is?” “No ma. He went to Model Town after lunch. Must be there only.” “Hmm, I’ll call him. You start getting ready in the meantime.” She sighed as soon as her mother closed the door behind her. Her fantasies were her own f...

A major point of difference among Ramayanas is the intensity of focus on a major character. Valmiki focuses on Rama and his history in his opening sections; Vimalasuri's Jaina Ramayana and the Thai epic focus not on Rama but on the genealogy and adventures of Ravana. In the latter [Jaina texts], Ravana is a noble hero fated by his karma to fall for Sita and bring death upon himself, while he is in other texts an overweening demon. I shall attempt to explore these three characterisations of Ravana in a three-part series.  Ramakien Ravana, or Totsakan as he is known in the Ramakien, is the Ramayana's main antagonist, who is depicted as immoral, amorous, and selfish on the surface. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll see some interesting changes in how Ravana is portrayed in various retellings. Tosakanth / Thotsakan is the embodiment of the demon gatekeeper Nontuk, a ten-faced, twenty-armed demon king of Longka. He has a lot of power, but he uses it to destroy everyone...

As a major epic of the Indian subcontinent, the Ramayana plays a paramount role in shaping theological and philosophical ideologies. Within diverse societies, which range from Janakpur and Ayodhya to Lanka, it is retold over 300 times while incorporating elements of indigenous cultures. Yet, some retellings prevail over all others, such as Valmiki’s Ramayana and Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas. I shall analyse and compare these versions of the Ramayana with Chandrabati’s Ramayana. Chandrabati’s Ramayana holds a place equal - if not greater - to traditional versions as a feminine retelling that portrays Sita’s character through the unique lens of women’s folk traditions. More than any other figure in the epic, Sita is rendered with extraordinary skill by Valmiki as a character capable of the expression of a full and finely drawn range of emotions. Although she is often portrayed as the perfect meek and submissive wife, she is capable of being independent-minded, strong-willed, and, when the s...