The Venus Flytrap: Songs In Another Language

There is no music nearly as atmospheric as a song in another language, a language one doesn’t know. Familiar torch songs may dispense the sweet, alcoholic comfort of their lyrics, instrumental scores may swell with their melodrama, but nothing comes close to the sheer pathos of words one can only repeat without comprehension – as [...]

“Dark Is Beautiful” Poetry Contest

Vasantha Surya and I are co-judging a poetry contest for the “Dark is Beautiful” campaign, jointly helmed by Women of Worth and the British Council, Chennai.
The competition is open to anyone living in India (of any nationality), regardless of gender, aged 18 and above.
Deadline for submissions is February 28 2009.
Detailed instructions for submissions can be [...]

The Definitive Cure For Penis Envy

If you’ve followed my columns, you will know I am a major faghag and have occasional penis envy.
Bitching with one of my beloveds on chat today, I said, “I am so glad you are gay and I don’t have a dick, so that we never fuck up our wonderful connection with sexual tension.” Eureka moment.
Ah, [...]

Hermaphrodites

You know, I really think the world would be a better place if we were all hermaphrodites. Maybe then we wouldn’t be so quick to pick up or put down the arms we bear. Maybe then we wouldn’t always — it seems — be picking the most malapropos moments for either action.

Pink Panties, In Protest!

Ignore my most recent column in its entirety. This is exactly what you should be celebrating on February 14 this year. Girly guerrilla activism! I love it!

Join A Consortium of Pug-Going, Loose and Forward Women on Facebook. I haven’t been this gleeful to get a group invite in forever.
Check out the blog.
The campaign is in [...]

The Venus Flytrap: The Armchair Amourist’s Guide To Valentine’s Day

I’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day in my life. Don’t ask me why. But considering the popularity of armchair activism in Tamil Nadu lately (yoo-hoo, bona fide Sri Lankan Tamil here, and yes I am talking to You), I’m sure I’m perfectly qualified to proselytize on the subject.
Presenting then, The Armchair Amourist’s Guide To Valentine’s Day. [...]

Sangam House at the Taj

Finally, an event I read at makes it to Minnie Menon’s society column.

My Take On The Praise Song

Abhimanyu Singh interviewed me recently on my thoughts on Elizabeth Alexander’s inauguration poem for President Obama for The Hindu (Metroplus – Hyderabad).  I thought his questions were good, and it’s always a relief to be interviewed intelligently, so I’m glad he’s posted up the original transcript here.