Kusum Choppra

Many of us like to believe that Jharokhas   are a unique feature of the Havelis that   dot   dry, dusty Rajasthan.    They offer the purdah bound ladies private entertainment of the goings on of the outside world,   the streets outside the havelis and the acitivities in the courtyards inside. Plus, the perforated sculpture of the jharokhas   filters the harsh glare of the desert sun, offers shade and therefore cool too. These styles are common to most of the Arab world, again desert. Popularly called Mashrabiya,   those are less of sculpture and more wood and glass lightweight, serving the same purpose: private viewing for purdah bound ladies;   since most are on street homes of the wealthier people, the cool shade is free for both the ladies and the pedestrians on the streets below. The designs of the latticework have smaller openings at the bottom and larger ones higher up to allow for efficient movement of drafts. What of the h...

Ever heard of a woman called Radhakrishna, Radheshyam or Sitaram?   The names sound feminine enough. Why does one only hear of men carrying those names?    Legend has it that they were a " vardaan " to Sita and Radha:   that their names would always precede their men’s because their steadfast loyalty and love placed them above everyone, including Ram and Krishna. Krishna dallied with dozens and married two; a married Radha defied home, family and society, steadfast in her love for her Lord. In banwas, in Lanka, with the agnipariksha and ever after, Sita’s caliber was way above Ram’s raghukul niti against whom question marks still stand for those controversial later days and apparent lust for throne. Despite that, no girls are ever named Sitaram, Radheshyam; only plain Sita, Radha or Krishna.   Boys get the double appellation, even triple with Shivaramakrishna.         The issue here is the usurpation. Why are Men so...