Dhīti is a blog for long form essays, expressions of civilizational voice, cinema and literature review, and more.
A review of the new book by Śrī Ratul Chakraborty, titled 'Vritrahan', an ode to storytelling that traces the epic Paurāṇika saga of Indra and Vṛtrāsura at narrative layers that are simultaneously personal, civilizational and cosmic.
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.
Why are the superimposition of caste and sub-caste on varṇa and jāti, and caste censuses for the sake of affirmative policies and appeasement, sure to increase the social unrest in the days to come? It is an urgent need of our academics, politicians, and intellectuals to give a fresh understanding of Indian social systems without the tint of Western lenses and previous colonial understandings.
This essay series challenges the Aryan Invasion Theory, advocating for the Out-of-India Model (OIT) by analyzing linguistic, textual, genetic, and archaeological evidence to suggest that the roots of Indo-European languages and cultures originate in India.
An exploration of the historical forces and psychological needs that shape the current world which we inhabit, and why the traditional Hindu understanding of the world is a comprehensive, integrated solution to those same universal human needs.
An exploration on the misrepresentation of Vaidika and Tāntrika traditions, and media portrayals which are expressions of nothing other than cultural violence.
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.
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.
A review of the new book by Śrī Vikram Sampath, titled 'Tipu Sultan - The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum.'