tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347232172011-07-28T16:42:32.710-07:00Exploring the open space beyond national boundariesSridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929858685202650566noreply@blogger.comBlogger31100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34723217.post-1160810146292092522006-10-14T00:05:00.000-07:002006-10-14T08:11:59.310-07:00

Indian classical music is essentially a vocal art form. But both melodic and percussion instruments have traditionally been used to accompany the singer. The most common accompanying instruments used in classical music are the violin in Carnatic (south Indian) music and the harmonium in Hindustani (north India) music. Both are considered Indian musical instruments. Indian, did we say? The truth

Sridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929858685202650566noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34723217.post-1160551706224862292006-10-10T23:55:00.000-07:002006-10-15T19:43:30.906-07:00

One of the books I am currently reading is "Fragmented Memories: Struggling to be Tai-Ahom in India" by Yasmin Saikia. The book is about the history of Assam, or rather its absence from the history of India as taught to most Indians. And it is about identity, sub-nationalism and the associated politics. The book itself is marginally interesting, but the reason I am writing this post is because

Sridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929858685202650566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34723217.post-1158730817881624702006-09-19T22:39:00.000-07:002006-09-20T09:36:26.640-07:00

I was reading Owais Mughal's post on his blog about the Sheedis of Karachi and it got me thinking about the Siddis who live on the West Coast of India. I remembered the old documentaries on Doordarshan from my childhood that referred to them. My interest was piqued and I tried to find out more about them.According to the Wikipedia entry on the Siddi community, they are of East African descent.

Sridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929858685202650566noreply@blogger.com2