Goutham Avarthi's Viewfinder

Introduction No compromise on cow slaughter with the Muslim league by M K Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi fondling a newborn four hours old calf ;  held by Balwant Singh at Sevagram Ashram The Congress was holding its annual session in Madras in December, 1927. We were staying in the house of Srinivasa Iyengar. Our host prepared a draft-resolution concerning Hindu-Muslim unity, and brought it to Gandhi for his approval. Gandhi had at that time withdrawn from active politics, and was devoting himself heart and soul to khadi work. When the draft was placed in his hands, he said: "I am prepared to agree to anything, to any conditions, that will bring about a settlement between Hindus and Muslims. Where is the need to show this to me ?" However, in deference to the wishes of its author, he cast a cursory look over it and said: "it will do." Gandhi went to sleep soon after evening prayer, and awoke at an unearthly hour the next morning. He also awakened Mahadevbhai. Hearing their...

          In contemporary discourse, the term "Aryan" is a relatively rare occurrence, except in the context of ancient India.   Following its unfortunate misuse by Germanic demagogues during the 1930s, it's not surprising that it has fallen out of favor. While it might have linguistic connections with words in non-Indian Indo-European languages, recent comparative philological research has cast doubt on some of these relationships, such as Irish "Eire," German "Ehre," and Latin "arare." The one unequivocal relative of this Indian word is Old Persian "Airiya," which evolved into Modern Persian "Iran." Thus, we can reasonably assert that a powerful group of Indo-Iranians in the early second millennium B.C. identified themselves with a name similar to "Aryan." The branch that migrated to India became the Aryans par excellence. Pottery with Mother Goddess and Snake Paintings **Aryan Invaders: Myth vs. Reality...

  Introduction The term Dravidian is commonly used to refer to all of the non-Aryan population in the peninsula of India. The Dravidians are considered to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the land. They predominate in the southern and eastern parts of India but form a considerable part of the population in the northwestern part where the Aryans predominate. Lost in Antiquity The history of the Dravidians is lost in antiquity. Long before the Aryans came to India, they were the domiciled inhabitants. They have preserved no literature and left no monuments that throw light upon their origin. Theories of Dravidian Origin There are two main theories with regard to the origin of the Dravidians in India. The one most commonly accepted is that they came through the northwest passages in the Himalaya Mountains at some time far earlier than the Aryan invasion. The physiognomy of the Dravidians is very similar to that of the Caucasians, and has but little resemblance to the Mongolians. Moreo...

Bhartrihari, a prominent figure in the world of Sanskrit literature, stands as a distinguished Sanskrit grammarian and lyric poet, often compared to the likes of Horace. His literary legacy is encapsulated in three remarkable satakas, or "centuries" of verse, each delving into distinct aspects of human existence - Sringara Sataka (Century of Love), Niti Sataka (Century of Worldly Life), and Vairagyra Sataka (Century of Renunciation). Intriguingly, Bhartrihari embodied the roles of a lover, sage, and king, all in one. His life and works continue to captivate readers, and his words remain widely read and quoted, even today. Yet, much like the enigmatic charm of his verses, the details of Bhartrihari's life remain shrouded in uncertainty. This is a common characteristic among Sanskrit writers of antiquity. While some historical accounts hint at his possible identity as the Buddhist grammarian mentioned by the Chinese traveler I-tsing during his 7th-century AD vis...