Posts by Sai Priya Chodavarapu

Dhīti is a blog for long form essays, expressions of civilizational voice, cinema and literature review, and more.

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Sai Priya Chodavarapu

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Book Review | Gods, Guns and Missionaries - The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity

Manu S. Pillai’s Gods, Guns and Missionaries explores how colonial rule, missionary critique, and native reformers shaped the modern Hindu identity. Drawing on post-colonial thought, it highlights how colonialism disrupted caste and religion while sparking a Hindu revival.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 15 min read

Cinema And Books

Rationalism or Prejudice? The Hypocrisy in Attacking Dr. Kamakoti and the Need for IKS in Education

The benefits of gaumūtra are well-established both in Ayurveda and medical literature. Despite this, the Director of IIT Madras, Dr. Kamakoti’s endorsement of gaumūtra's therapeutic values, sparks backlash, revealing the hypocrisy of those attacking his religious beliefs while claiming to champion rationalism. The article calls for the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems in education to cultivate open-mindedness and respect for traditional practices.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 7 min read

Indian Knowledge Systems

Tellings and Retellings - Adapting Hindu Mythology to Cinema

Learning how to balance creative liberty with respect for religious and cultural texts is the key to crafting stories that honor our stories while also being able to captivate modern audiences of all ages. This article explores what makes a compelling adaptation and what storytellers can do to perfect their vision of bringing Hindu lore to life on screen.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 8 min read

Cinema And Books

Book Review | Evolution in Four Dimensions - Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life

Jablonka and Lamb's 'Evolution in Four Dimensions' which challenges traditional views of evolution by weaving epigenetics, behavior, and culture into a compelling narrative that redefines how we understand life's complexity.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 13 min read

Cinema And Books

Cultural Critique of Capitalism - The Suffusion of Dharma

Can capitalism, with its materialistic motives, coexist with or be reformed by dharma's ethical and spiritual imperatives? How does dharma provide a counter-narrative to the cultural dominance of capitalism? This long-read explores these ideas at length.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 22 min read

Culture And Policy

Book Review | Decolonizing Bharat - The Balu Way

A review of Decolonizing Bharat, The Balu Way by Dr. Pingali Gopal which, rooted in S.N. Balagangadhara’s ideas, introduces readers to the Ghent School’s approach to decolonizing knowledge and narratives about India.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 6 min read

Cinema And Books

Stolen Sacrality - The Fascinating Journey of the Pathur Naṭarāja

The fascinating biography of the Pathur Naṭarāja, stolen and smuggled out of a small temple in Tamil Nadu in 1977, sold to a collector, seized from the British Museum and tried in an English court before finally being brought home in 1991.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 15 min read

Dharma Today

Cinema Through Rasa Theory

Indian cinema needs a 'middle film' that blends art and commerciality while staying rooted in the timeless rasa theory. This essay dives into Bharata's aesthetics which prioritize immersive emotional resonance, and transformation in the heart of the viewer.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 10 min read

Cinema And Books

Restitution of Cultural Artifacts

An analysis of the growing demand for restitution of cultural artifacts, exploring historical theft, colonial injustices, and solutions for the restitution of heritage to origin nations.

Sai Priya Chodavarapu 12 min read

Dharma Today

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Sai Priya Chodavarapu

Book Review | Gods, Guns and Missionaries - The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity

Rationalism or Prejudice? The Hypocrisy in Attacking Dr. Kamakoti and the Need for IKS in Education

Tellings and Retellings - Adapting Hindu Mythology to Cinema

Book Review | Evolution in Four Dimensions - Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life

Cultural Critique of Capitalism - The Suffusion of Dharma

Book Review | Decolonizing Bharat - The Balu Way

Stolen Sacrality - The Fascinating Journey of the Pathur Naṭarāja

Cinema Through Rasa Theory

Restitution of Cultural Artifacts