Srivi Shares

Last Friday, as we started our new semester, our department conducted a timely workshop on Pedagogy and Diversity. We invited a consultant from the Center for Teaching Excellence to lead the workshop. We had an interactive, lively discussion on power, privilege, authority and connectedness in a culturally diverse classroom. As can be expected of a successful workshop on difficult topics, there was quite a bit of empathetic listening, free sharing of anecdotes, and passionate venting of emotions. But this open exchange, safe space environment also left some people feeling awkward and uncomfortable for various reasons. Since I teach many courses on controversial or "hot topics" including but not limited to media's role in shaping racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, and other forms of cultural identity, I could immediately see the parallels between my own classes and the diversity & pedagogy workshop that we attended. It made me understand that a safe classroom d

We are in the midst of celebrating a four day festival called Pongal. We honor the Sun, the earth, farmers, and farm animals during this time. Naturally, it is a much bigger and more important festival in rural areas than urban ones. On the first day called Bhogi, the home is subject to deep cleaning. It is like "synchronized spring cleaning." In each street corner, a pile of old stuff is collected and this trash is burnt up in a community bonfire. The biggest celebration is on Day 2. New crop like rice, lentils, sugarcane, turmeric and ginger root from the fields are part of the communal cookout. At dawn, families will set up a large decorated pot out in the open sun singing "Pongalo pongal" to allow prosperity to overflow in our lives like the boiling pot of sweet rice dish. It marks the start of Thai, the month of optimism, hope and new beginnings. Farm animals are celebrated the next day, especially cows who are vital to the Indian food economy and culture. I th

Boys don't dance, they say - They play games and sports They wrestle and tumble They wear blues and greys. Boys don't dance, they say - 'Coz they will be called a wuss A sissy, a wimp, a girlie boy Maybe even gay or worse. Boys don't dance, they say - Maybe taekwondo or judo Maybe hip hop, tap or jazz But never ballet or graceful Odissi. Boys don't dance, they say - Perhaps a fiery tandava The dance of virile Shiva But never sensual or delicate. Boys don't dance, they say - If they insist and they plead Then learn from a real male guru Careful not transgendered Narthaki. Boys don't dance, they say - If their mothers hadn't spoilt them Allowing such transgressions From a very young age. Boys don't dance, they say - If they absolutely certainly have to Then let them do so for a few years But never into adulthood, of course. Boys don't dance, they say - If they end up learning on thier own Let them dance in the closet or bedroom But never on stage o

Leaving Houston International airport with my preschooler, I had the usual mommy worries: Did I pack my son’s favorite DVD? Would the airline goof up on my “Asian vegetarian child meal” request? Will he stay home with grandparents so I could sneak out to attend kutcheris? But I need not have feared. Not only was my boy absolutely chamathu (roughly translated as obedient) on the flight, he was the best companion I could have asked for to enjoy the December music and dance season in Chennai. Right after we landed, I bravely decided to take him to the lec-dem mela organized by Dr. Sunder of Music Forum and Sruti Foundation . It was a talk by Dr. Radha Bhaskar where she was sharing wonderful exemplars of manodharma (loosely translated as improvisation in performing arts) by stalwarts like MLV, MDR and Veenai Balachander. It turned out to be a very child-friendly setup with an informal atmosphere. I felt comfortable sitting cross-legged on the floor while my little one listened wit