Sphoorthi Theatre

Why are Women  continuously raped in India? What is happening in India? India is no more a safe place for daughters, wives, mothers and women. I am surprised when Parliamentarian speaks about no more skirts for girls as a remedy for gang rape. Why say no to girls or draw a dress code for girls alone, why not talk about attitude change and emphasis on “Women and girls to be treated with respect”. Rape in India is a common crime committed that goes unheard and unnoticed. The huge haul cry slowly wanes down with no justice made to the victim. The offenders freely move on. In most cases, the victim either commits suicide or dies due to serious injuries in an abdomen, intestines, and genitals due to the assault. Is this something new in India? No, not at all….. Similar crimes like Segregation against women as well as Eve teasing and rape in India are known issues. When it is reported, the local police give less importance or neglect or pressurize victims of rape to withdr...

 The World Telugu Conference - WTC is a conference organized in Tirupati - the Temple town for continuance of Telugu language in the world. Literary achievers and Scholars across the globe attended to share their viewpoint and notions about Telugu language and its present state.  The first of its kind was held in 1975 in Hyderabad under the instrumentation of   the then Minister of Education, Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao. This is the fourth conference organized. Nevertheless, this conference viewed by many native Telugu speakers as gala get-together party among native and NRIs.  T elugu literary figures and cultural organisations from Telangana in Andhra Pradesh boycotted the fourth World Telugu Conference, which got underway at Tirupati on Thursday. Poets, writers, artists, academicians and other noted personalities from the Telangana region stayed away from the three-day event, terming it as an attempt to suppress the movement for a separate Telangana ...

Last January, my post on "Boom Boom Mattukarans-Gangireddu" received good viewers all through the world going through and is placed as one of the popular posts. “Boom Boom Mattukaran or Gangireddu” as they are popularly known in South India, especially in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Boom Boom Mattukaran or Gangireddu- “the bull’s play” is a very popular form of dance. Quite common to watch in rural areas and of course in nowadays in urban areas like Hyderabad (question of survival) it is a common site in every village. This is perhaps one of the very few rural entertainments that have survived through times. A bull, that is decorated with multicoloured cloths and ornaments moves from one house to the other led by its master who plays the 'Nadaswaram' or the “Sahanayi” during Pongal-Sankranti festival to Dusshera festival for a period of 6-8 months in a year. Bulls are trained to dance or perform acrobatics to entertain the crow...

There is a common burning and tension erupting talk in the society-It is of Marriage Institution. We come across both pros and cons effect of this institution. These days Live-in relation is mushrooming in most of the cities especially with people working in IT sectors and Call centres. Hey! What's wrong with it??? We want to know each other well and then decide of Marriage and Kids. Marriages in Indian tradition is very vibrant, colourful, with lots of customary things going on adding meaning to it, family, friends and relatives, music, band and children, eateries, fun-plays, arguments, quarrelsome and fights  with few unexpected sudden arising customs from grooms side and of course huge expenses. Marriages of celebrities is a huge part of discussion for commoners during tea time. Recent "SAIFEENA" wedding, Snageet, Nikah!!! Most of the Indians now wish to have lavish wedding spending crores for food court, function halls, ACs, TVs, Blow u...

I participated in a National Seminar Organised by P.S Telugu University, Hyderabad on “Indian Literature and Dalit Culture” on October 29-31, 2012. One session dealt with the Mayalaya Dalits condition and subjudication to various kinds of atrocities especially women. Can one imagine such things being imposed in a country like India which stands for rich culture, tradition, and heritage? More so with Kerala state-God’s own Land. We today oppose to various fashion shows, Miss Universe, Miss World Contests, and undervalue if girls are dressed in jeans, or short skirts with spaghetti tops and so on. One paper by Ms. Maria Kutty Joseph moved me. It was like suddenly shocking jerks I received. I had read some aspects about Kerala Culture, dress, food, status of women and so on. I never imagined the torture on women especially lower caste women would be so horrible in the19th century or prior to it. No doubt, Brahmin women also underwent the same sorts of torture within four walls....

Kal means stone and Anai means bund-ancient dam built on Kaveri river. It is at Triruchirapally in Tamil Nadu state. It is at 24 KM from Tiruchirapally. My recent visit to Sri Rangam, I got an opportunity to visit the Kallanai . Kallanai was built to divert the water of Kaveri across the Kollidam the fertile delta region for irrigation. It was built by the around the 2nd Century AD. The dam constructed by Chola King Karikal Valaven is an excellent study model for modern engineers including Sir Arthur Cotton. This is considered one of the oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structures in the world, which is still in use. Rajendra Chola (1014-1044). He was victorious upto the banks of River Ganga. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is the name of the place, 61 kms. from Tiruchirapalli, where he built a temple for Brihadees’vara to commemorate his victories. Gangaikonda Cholapuram means, ‘the city of the Chola who took the Ganga’. After his victorious campaign, he did not ask for trib...

I await for Navaratri every year. I decide some new theme for Bommala Golu. This year me and my son decided the theme as "Sri Rangam" with cricket playground in the centre. One side I have arranged the Srirangam Kovil-temple, Ranganathar, Andal, Anjaneyar, Garudan, Devotees, small huts and houses. On the other side is wedding taking place.  I have also arranged the vegetable vendors, Fruit vendor, black smith, Umbrella repairer, mask maker, carpet weaver, cobbler and so on. My son Anirudh spread sand and arranged all the dolls. Its nice to assign some tasks to our children, involve them and also make them participate in the Navartri celebration. I have added new dolls -"Poi Kal Kudurai and Karangattam"-Folklore of Tamil Nadu This village set up is free from Pollution as no motor bikes, cars are available. My Professor presented me with Mand Hechchu clay toy- Telangana Folklore. I also welcome oth...

Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. This period is known as the "Dark Fortnight " of Aswayuja month (September-October). The paksha month starts from Full moon day and extends up to the following new moon day. This New Moon Day is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites. This New Moon Day is also called "Sarva Pitru Amavasaya". Many Hindus choose this day to make offering called Tharpanam or Tarapan to the dead ancestors. Every month has one Amavasya- Each Amavasya is regarded as the important day to remember Ancestors. The Mahalaya Amavasya is regarded as most important day of all the Amavasya. If an individual fails to offer on all the Amavasya day is excusable but not on Mahalaya Amavasya day. The story behind this is taken from Mahabharata. The story why the Pitru Paksha is marked by daan and charity has its deep ingrained meaning in ...

“What if our languages are different, we all have the common Mahabharata. What unites us as Indians and makes us proud inheritors of a rich culture is Rama, the destructor of evil, who later came as Krishna, to protect Dharma,”--says the Pandavani Gayika. When performed before Smt Indira Gandhi then Prime Minister of India- who asked her " Tum Mahabharata Karathi Ho?" She replied spontaneously  " Nahi Madamji, Main to Mahabharath Sunathi hoon" National and International renowned Recipient of Padmashree, Padma Bhushan, Twice D.Litt (Next month 3rd D.Litt) Sangeet Natak Academy Award and employee of Bhilai Steel Plant. One who can recite the whole Mahabharata in the form of Pandavani Lok Gatha. Illiterate, Thumb impressor who has mastered writing her name with difficulty, loves to eat Paan (betal leaves)  and never gets exhorted of discussing folk art. Yes, or else she gets restless with normal conversation. She can hardly remember the names of the places an...