Bandilanka S Forgotten Lives

Bandilanka, a fictional village in Southern India, represents many such ones across the Indian subcontinent, still caught up in the age-old customs, and superstitions that are destructive at times. The characters in this collection have each faced some form of injustice or loss. ‘A cleaning woman’s tale’ and ‘Vegetable vendor Sundari’ exemplify sex-discrimination in the village. ‘Widowhood across generations’ describes the fate of widows from all castes, classes, and age groups. ‘The matter of trans lives’ and ‘Tradition’s stranglehold’ show how despite a 2014 law formally recognizing the existence of a third gender, Hijras continue to face hate and persecution, as does the entire LGBTQ+ community. Bigotry raises its ugly head in ‘Night soil removers Kaavanna and Kondamma,’ but is condemned in an interesting reversal of fate. ‘A washerman’s dream’ is the poignant story of a washerman who with his dying breath thanks a loving family for giving him the strength to stand up to a lifetime of rejection because of his perceived low caste. The stories highlight the inherent worth and dignity of the lives of these disenfranchised groups thus challenging socially constructed divides and inequalities of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and age.

Bandilanka, a fictional village in Southern India, represents many such ones across the Indian subcontinent, still caught up in the age-old customs, and superstitions that are destructive at times. The characters in this collection have each faced some form of injustice or loss. 'A cleaning woman's tale' and 'Vegetable vendor Sundari' exemplify sex-discrimination in the village. 'Widowhood across generations' describes the fate of widows from all castes, classes, and age groups. 'The matter of trans lives' and 'Tradition's stranglehold' show how despite a 2014 law formally recognizing the existence of a third gender, Hijras continue to face hate and persecution, as does the entire LGBTQ+ community. Bigotry raises its ugly head in 'Night soil removers Kaavanna and Kondamma, ' but is condemned in an interesting reversal of fate. 'A washerman's dream' is the poignant story of a washerman who with his dying breath thanks a loving family for giving him the strength to stand up to a lifetime of rejection because of his perceived low caste. The stories highlight the inherent worth and dignity of the lives of these disenfranchised groups thus challenging socially constructed divides and inequalities of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and age.

It’s difficult enough being a teenage girl. Add to that being an immigrant, and then having a disability as well. That’s life for both Yasemin and Nirmala. They struggle with what they perceive as their ‘unfinished’ bodies – Yasemin lost her arm in a car accident and Nirmala was born with cerebral palsy. When the end-of-the-year performance "Seussical the Musical" approaches, the two girls desperately want to take part, but are afraid they will be rejected and laughed at. However, as their bond grows, they discover their potential and overcome their fears. Together, they learn they are unstoppable. This story offers a glimpse into the challenges of teen life in today’s immigrant societies. A diverse cast of characters offers a wide array of perspectives into the complex journey towards adulthood. While everyone is born different, our dreams unite us.

Cousins Leela and Meena Rao, widows of twin brothers, lead quiet retired lives in Tucson, Arizona, until a serial killer descends on their South-Asian community, targeting elderly women. Leela is a retired professor of behavioral clinical psychology from the University of Arizona, and Meena a retired corporate lawyer. They persuade Deputy Chief of Police Murali Kalluri to let them assist him in catching the killer. Their sleuthing instincts turn out to be invaluable. As the killer's behavior escalates, however, Kalluri realizes that his two assistants fit the profile of the victims.

Germans of various disciplines not only encouraged but actively framed a discourse that gendered India through voyeuristic descriptions of the male and female body. This study challenges the German's claim to an encounter with India projected on a spiritual plane of communion between kindred spirits and shows that such supposedly apolitical encounters are really strategies of domination. German participation in European Expansion can be perceived as collusion with the British imperialist administration inasmuch as it provided the latter with a justification for existing colonial rule and anticipated future colonial activity. Despite the optimism placed in the post of post-colonialism, the continued presence of European Orientalism can be felt in the late 20th century, hidden under the mantel of global capitalism. Although Germany did not colonize India territorially, Germans of various disciplines not only encouraged but actively framed a discourse that gendered India through voyeuristic descriptions of the male and female body. German orientalist experiences of Hindu India have typically been excluded from post-colonial debates concerning European expansion, but this study challenges the German's claim to an encounter with India projected on a spiritual plane of communion between kindred spirits and shows that such supposedly apolitical encounters are really strategies of domination. German participation can be perceived as collusion with the British imperialist administration inasmuch as it provided the latter with a justification for existing colonial rule and anticipated future colonial activity. Murti sheds light on the role that missionaries and women, two groups that have been ignored or glossed over until now, played in authorizing and strengthening the colonial discourse. The intertextual strategies adopted by the various partners in the colonialist dialog clearly show that German involvement in India was not a disinterested, academic venture. These writings also betray a bias against women that has not been regarded, until now, as a key issue in the literature discussing Orientalism. Missionaries often actively fostered the British colonial agenda, while women travelers, even those who traveled as a means of escaping patriarchal structures at home, invariably abetted the colonizer. Despite the optimism placed in the post of post-colonialism, Murti concludes that the continued presence of European Orientalism can be felt in the late 20th century, hidden under the mantel of global capitalism.

Two crime-fighting South-Asian cousins, Leela and Meena Rao are back on the scene of multiple killings in this compelling murder mystery by Kamakshi Murti, author of Murders Most Matronly. The cousins' ambition is to emulate Christie's Jane Marple - in this latest story, they become embroiled in a series of gruesome homicides. After a bloody discovery at the prestigious Anderson College of star quarterback Sean O'Flaherty, staff and students are drawn into the lives of drug-consumed, Ivy League collegians. When a second body is found, that of a popular Zimbabwean TA in the African Studies department, the cousins must establish how and why these two students have become inextricably linked. As more killings come to light, they seem to point towards radicalism, but are they as straightforward as they seem or is someone trying to distract from the real motive? Faced with a surfeit of suspects, will Leela and Meena be able to obtain justice for the heinous crimes and reveal the truth?

A crook messes up his first murder due to a misplaced phone call, a tenant grapples with his grumpy ex-landlord to get back his deposit, a son revels in his father coming out of depression due to a leopard. An orphan slum boy and his dog caught in Mumbai’s biggest deluge, a young boy's escapades in the hills only to be held captive while witnessing wildfires, a gifted but struggling poet becoming estranged with his wife due to the adversities of life. In this seeming farrago of short stories and poems - you will encounter incredible but real characters dealing with tricky situations, complex human relationships, dreams, superstitions and even reflections on the basic premise of life. From these myriad pieces, some of which are broken, some complete, some colourful and some dark, there emerges a synergy, a harmony in the way they are all cemented together to create a beautifully imperfect mosaic that promises to resonate with your mind and nudge your heart.