Words
Thank you, Sriram, for the phrases. I wonder who the people in the photo are. My heart beats ‘pada-pada’ Around India, you find duplication of words, from mada-mada in Tamil to balle-balle in Punjabi, as a national trait Shoba Narayan [...]
The pink-skinned banana flower is a luxury for Mint Lounge
The pink-skinned banana flower is a luxury You have to be family to be served banana flower Shoba Narayan Updated: Fri, Nov 23 2012. 05 21 PM IST I am cooking banana flower today. It is a good-looking if shy vegetable, [...]
What’s your writing routine
I love Brainpickings. Friends frequently forward stuff to me and many times, it is essays from that site. Today, my friend, Sriram, sent me this link from Brainpickings about writers' routine. When I read and re-read The Paris Review interviews, usually [...]
Social media for The National
How did you spend your Sunday? How much time were you on your computer? Like I am now. Did you talk to people? Or did you type at them? It bothers me. Plugged in and 'alone together', conversation is a [...]
Should I stay or should I go? How an Indian family decided to return home
Excerpt in Quartz, the digital arm of The Atlantic Monthly, one of my favorite magazines. EX PATRIA Should I stay or should I go? How an Indian family decided to return home Shoba Narayan November 17, 2012 Dressing up for [...]
Carnatic and Western Classical Part 2
Dear Bijoy: Thanks for your missive on Bach, the fugue and the music of the Renaissance period. I found them to be very interesting. What is mordent? What are grace notes and trills? Is the below one piece or [...]
Conversation between Carnatic and Classical Part 2
Dear Bijoy: Thanks for your missive on Bach, the fugue and the music of the Renaissance period. I found them to be very interesting. What is mordent? What are grace notes and trills? Is the below one piece or a [...]
When the Lotus blooms
Just read "When the Lotus Blooms" by Kanchana Krishnan Ayyar. Loved it. If you want a glimpse of the TamBrahm ethos of yesteryear, read this book.
Navrasa in an ikebana arrangement for Mint Lounge
Thank you, Malathi-aunty. Navras’ in an ikebana arrangement The ladies behind this ancient art Shoba Narayan First Published: Thu, Nov 15 2012. 08 07 PM IST Veena Dass, one of the foremost exponents of the art in India, [...]
How to write
I get so much mail asking for tips on how to write that I decided to make a post of it. Usually, each email sits in my inbox for days. I can't bear to delete them because I've been where [...]
Deepavali feasting (or fasting)
Pulchritudinous? Seriously? Is that a compliment-worthy word? Read on In The National Before a feast goes to your hips, reach for the thesaurus Shoba Narayan Nov 12, 2012 Nowadays, over lunch and dinner, I make my husband repeat a litany [...]
Carnatic and Western classical Part 1
One of the pleasures of writing is to hear back from readers who have views that are opposite your own; and who are able to educate you about their area of expertise. A while ago, I wrote a piece in [...]