Dhīti is a blog for long form essays, expressions of civilizational voice, cinema and literature review, and more.
The Saga of the Padmanabhadasas - A Glimpse into the Cultural Practice and Patronage of the present day Travancore Royals, Part 3
Śrī Padmanābhasvāmī Perumāḻ, the lord of Thiruvananthapuram, and the royal traditions associated with the region. It highlights the rich cultural heritage of Kerala, particularly the dance form of Mōhiniāṭṭam, taught by Guru Gopika Varma ji, a member of the Travancore Royal Family.
The Battle Against Hindus in Manipur
Ostensibly, the civil war in Manipur is a clash between Kuki and Meitei tribes over poppy plantation disputes and Scheduled Tribe categorization. Behind these tribal rivalries, however, lies a broader civilizational struggle, with Christianity playing a significant role. Only by understanding these arcs can we create long-term strategies for survival and peace.
India’s Lesser Known Storytelling Traditions - The Narrative Paintings of Paiṭhāṇ
Paiṭhaṇ paintings come from a flourishing tradition of narrative illustrations and are the work of the village artists from the Mahārāṣṭra-Karṇāṭaka border region belonging to the *Citrakathi* caste, the earliest ones traced to the town of Paithan near Aurangabad.
Dharma in the Bhāratīya Frontier - Multan, Part 2
Deepak Srinivasan presents an in-depth analysis of the rich history of the ancient Bhāratīya city of Multan (now in Pakistan). In a part 2 of a captivating story of a land long-forgotten, we read of Sikh rebellions, demographic shifts, and post-Partition ruins.
Balagam - a Telugu Film on Kula Rituals that Belies Marxist Sociology
This movie demands a dispelling of the niceties though. It compels us to sit up and shake things a bit. It does so not with any explicit agenda but just by being itself, by ignoring us. In fact, it is the precise absence of any agenda, that easy self-awareness that lends authenticity. It is like our Civilization - Organic, Flowing and Continuous.
Tantra Vimarśa
Tantra, often misunderstood as dark mysticism, is deeply embedded in the fabric of Bhāratavarṣa's spiritual practices, transcending rituals, schools of thought, and deities. Inextricably linked to Bhakti, Karma Yoga, and Vedānta, Tantra's extrinsic and intrinsic techniques inspire diverse worship methods across religions.
Dharma in the Bhāratīya Frontier - Multan, Part 1
Deepak Srinivasan presents an in-depth analysis of the rich history of the ancient Bhāratīya city of Multan (now in Pakistan). In a captivating story of a land long-forgotten, we are taken through the tough battles it fought to retain its identity and centrality to the civilizational heritage of the Hindus until the Partition occurred.