Stories written by
Urmi Chanda
Urmi Chanda-Vaz is a regular Scroll.in contributor
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‘In Search of the Divine’: Where Sufism’s syncretic legacy meets author Rana Safvi’s personal faith
A combination of information, insights, and inspiration.
Urmi Chanda
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How the Mahabharata rules the national imagination through a mix of fact and fantasy
Ganesh Devy’s new book locates the epic in the lives of Indians and asks how this became possible.
Urmi Chanda
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What can notions of dharma and contemporary law tell us about the Ramayana? Two books investigate
While Arshiya Sattar teases out the meaning of ‘maryada’ in her new book, Anil and Vipul Maheshwari look at the Ramayana through the lens of contemporary law.
Urmi Chanda
Trending
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Has Modi’s Vande Bharat push come at the cost of train safety?
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How the East India Company tried to use paintings to lionise Robert Clive – and failed
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Sexual harassment allegations by wrestlers are horrific – so why is Modi still backing Singh?
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Is it better to lose weight slowly or quickly? Here’s what researchers say
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Does quitting social media have long-term benefits? Here’s what researchers say
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This book identifies frameworks to foster peace, not violence, through diverse religions
A scholar of comparative religion explains how there are possibilities of pluralism in all faiths, despite how much at odds they seem with one another.
Urmi Chanda
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Suraj Yengde’s new book unapologetically calls out the caste elephant in every room in modern India
In ‘Caste Matters’, a first generation scholar from a Dalit family tears angrily into Brahmanism.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
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This book examines the role and representation of the human body in India’s diverse cultures
Alka Pande’s ‘Body Sutra’ reminds us that the body has always been the site of art and violence, and the symbol and landscape of cultural churning.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
Video
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Watch: Comedian Danish Sait hilariously spoofs a debate between vegetarians and non-vegetarians
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Watch: Manchester City players, staff serenade Elton John with a rendition of ‘Your Song’ at airport
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Watch: Captured rogue elephant Arikomban is transported in a lorry as onlookers cheer
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Watch: Scenes from the collapse of the bridge over the Ganga in Bihar
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Watch: Elephant charges at safari jeep in Karnataka forest, driver reverses vehicle in time
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Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s story cannot be told in an unconvincing, furious account of a violent life
Anuja Chandramouli’s ‘Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Tale of a Tyrant’ is formulaic and shallow, not worthy of historical fiction.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
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Why are most Indian museums so bad at preserving history? A conservation expert explains
On the sidelines of an exhibition at CSMVS Mumbai, Anupam Sah spoke about the state of conservation in Indian museums.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
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Imagine the finest of Maria Popova’s ‘brain pickings’ in a single book. ‘Figuring’ is more than that
A meditative but breathtaking journey through the world of the arts, sciences, and ideas.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
The Reel
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Watch: Trailer of ‘The Night Manager’ part two is out
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‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ trailer: Romantic film stars Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani
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Tigmanshu Dhulia on Irrfan: ‘His observation of life was very surgical, very meticulous’
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Start the week with a film: ‘Charlie’s Country’ is a powerful portrait of defiance
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‘Scoop’ review: A flat view of a highly irregular case of police overreach
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From temple walls to Instagram: The long and rich history of botanical art in India
In India, botanical art has largely been associated with the Company School, but the tradition goes back much further.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
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‘Bombs going off like the rains in Sawan’: A reminder from Indian WWI soldiers on the cost of war
Nearly 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in the war. Through memorabilia and paintings, artist Angeli Sowani depicts their sufferings, sacrifices and valour.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
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This collection of writing on North-East India asks disturbing questions about a clash of identities
The pieces in ‘Insider Outsider’, edited by Preeti Gill and Samrat, are marked by poignance, sadness, and even horror.
Urmi Chanda-Vaz
The Field
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Singapore Open Super 750: Defending champ PV Sindhu faces tough test; HS Prannoy returns to action
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ISSF World Cup Junior: India’s Dhanush Srikanth wins gold in men’s 10m Air rifle event
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Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia rejoin work but clarify that protest against Brij Bhushan will continue
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Indian football: Ashalata Devi, the battle-hardened skipper who is still adding feathers to her cap
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Para badminton: Tokyo Paralympics champion Krishna Nagar’s love for speed and need for calm