In this eighth episode of India Booked, Ayushi Mona speaks to the stalwart academic and writer Ruth Vanita.
They chat about her journey writing about the courtesans of India (in Dancing with the Nation: Courtesans in Bombay Cinema and Memory of Light), what inspired her to write about the courtesan culture, how Victorian morality changed the ideas of pleasure in Indian society and made the "dominant attitude" as anti-pleasure, her favourite cinematic depiction of courtesans, and much much more. Tune in now!
The India Booked podcast uses literature as a lever to bring multiple facets of the country alive. It's perfect for not just bibliophiles and trivia junkies but also people interested in learning more about India. Each episode focuses on a different theme, ranging from business and food, to history and politics, geography and spirituality. It unfolds as a 40-45 minute conversation between the host and a celebrated author to talk about everything India.
Ruth Vanita is an Indian academic, activist and author who specialises in British and Indian literary history with a focus on gender and sexuality studies. She also teaches and writes on Hindu philosophy.
Write a comment ...