As if she was not too little herself to be spending a painfully-deprived childhood in having to fend for herself, I saw a lean kid, all of 3 years or thereabouts, hiding behind her frock. She picked him up in a manner of quick habit, hinging his bare, soiled buttocks on her waist and tucking him close. She rushed to a chai shop on the road side. I saw the child rolling itself behind the folds of her arms, trying to reach out to something across the counter with outstretched, tiny hands.

The rest here.

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts

Check out his lovely blog and encourage him in his efforts.

Related Posts:

• Microtones of Saveri on Veena-Sung and Played (English)
• What is a Raga (8)?: The Chalan (characteristic phrases) of a Raga
• What is a Raga (7): The Pakad or the “Grip” of a Raga
• Popular Ragas for the Beginner Ear~ Durga
• Mangal Din Aaj

This probably happened because I write on Carnatic music and I like Tamil film songs.

I explained to the originator of the list and my new list of followers that I wasn’t Tamilian, so that they wouldn’t be disappointed later.

It was certainly very flattering to be thought of as Tamilian (as I love the language, food and culture), though I must admit to being perturbed by people following someone solely on the basis of their ethnic origins (I must add, it doesn’t seem to have made a difference to quite a few of the followers that I am not Tam and they’re still on my list. Although I don’t know if they’re still there to avoid my ego being punctured by their departure).

I once went to an Ajoy Chakraborty concert in London. He is a famous Hindustani musician. At this concert, the audience was jam packed with Bongs. I was mistaken for a Bong there. I was annoyed because these people hadn’t turned up when other very good people sang, and that led me to the conclusion they were only there because Ajoy is a Bong (and they were hugely proud of that fact) and not because they care for Hindustani music per se.

Which leads me to think, quite morosely, that if I announce I am a Sindhi, and start blogging on Sindhi music, language and literature, whatever I write/tweet may be almost unread.

Related Posts:

• What is a Raga (3)- Aaroh/Avroh or Aarohana and Avarohana (Ascending and Descending Note Sequences)
• Introducing Yourself to Indian Classical Music 15: Bhajan Break
• Introducing Yourself to Indian Classical Music 14: More on Sur/Shruti or Pitch
• Introducing Yourself to Indian Classical Music 13-What’s your frequency? The Tanpura/Tambura and finding your Sur, Shruti or Pitch
• Introducing Yourself to Indian Classical Music 12-The Saptaswaras in the South- the Carnatic notes

What surprises me is the eerie silence of the Muslim ulema in the subcontinent (particularly in India) in their condemnation of this cowardly act of appalling brutality. Where are those who leave no opportunity to condemn what is inconvenient to them, no matter how comfortable it might be to Islam in general and Muslims in particular? What happens to all those voices which grow louder at times of trivial issues which they think place Islam in danger? What more danger can await a religion than accusation of the kind which we see after such heinous atrocities? When can the Islamic ulemas realize that acts such as these are the ones which actually put Islam in danger.

The rest at Dr. Khan’s blog.

Related Posts:

• Non-rational motivations
• Lies of the Lashkar By Yoginder Sikand
• Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on the Mumbai Terror Attacks (from Yoginder Sikand)
• No place to hide Will we allow mainstream Islam to turn into a moderate fringe, while extremists take centre-stage? By Aijaz Zaka Syed
• Ranoji's Pir

It was and is rare for me to win a prize in a competition or to do well in a competitive exam. I am more non-competitive than I would like to be, otherwise I would have applied myself far more in school.

Anyway, it was the first year of my BA in Delhi and I was aimlessly wandering down the corridor, when a lecturer called me into a classroom where others were sitting and asked if I’d like to do a general knowledge quiz for fun. So I sat down at a desk, did the quiz and wandered off and forgot all about it.

Months later a senior was packing things in gift wrapping paper in the hostel. I learned they were prizes.

One of them’s yours, she said.
“What, ” I asked, “did I do?”

Turned out there was a prize given for general knowledge every year and you had to do that quiz for it. I hadn’t even read the prize list on the bulletin board. The senior informed that there was much amusement because a first year had won the prize.

Now those happy old days when awards for randomly tested knowledge were distributed and even older days when prizes for dressing up like a witch (my favourite fancy dress costume) are long gone, one is especially delighted that one’s readers and blog friends still keeps one’s ego intact.

Lavanya (Desigirl) has kindly awarded me the Superior Scribbler Award. Given that not much scribbling (save for the regular whines I post to let off steam) has happened here of late, let alone of the superior kind, I feel I don’ deserve it. Thanks DG. I accept humbly, and want to pass it on.

I must pass the award on to five people so here goes:

Miapan. Write more, woman.

Spirited Seeker has just started blogging but I know she can write really well. Best of luck on your blogging journey Seeker and may it continue, for all our sakes!

Flaneur Urbaniterecords London through the lens of her camera and her words in all its gloriousness and grittiness. Her blog, Urban Legends, has just celebrated a birthday.

Coolkarni and N A Keerthi’s Rasayana on Indian music. This is a new blog, but there’s already much to chew upon. It’s a good place for some excellent free downloads too!

Vidya Have awarded her before and she doesn’t do blog awards if I remember right, but I don’t care, am giving it to her anyway, she doesn’t have to do the tag. She must be read and read and read, because she truly is superior.

The rules of the award (to be followed by the awardees) are:
* Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

* Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

* Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!*

*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Related Posts:

• Proximity Award
• Regional followings
• Pakistan’s Favorite Indians
• Awards and links to some other blogs
• Resonance Award