This is the first part of the three articles to be published on this subject.

What is contemporary Indian art? This is a question that has gnawed at the global literary consciousness time and again. Indian art has its roots in myriad folk styles and traditions and has also fed on the social and political ethos of not only India but also of the world.

The contemporary stream of Indian consciousness is, in fact, a unified ex-pression of the individual creative energies of various Indian artists. In this article I will attempt to draw vignettes of the contemporary heritage of Indian painting and profile the personal journey of contemporary Indian artists.

Indian art of the early 17th century comprised of miniature court paintings, which had reached its zenith during the Mughal Empire.However, with the advent of the East India Company, European form of art was introduced. This resulted in an art form that was a mix of the European art styles and the folk art of India.

Raja Ravi Verma's art is a reflection of this hybrid style. Ravi Verma was in fact, the first Indian artist to apply the traditions of western academic realism to the representations of Indian literature and mythology. Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906) was born in Kilimanoor, a small fiefdom in modern Kerala. Although his paintings had a distinct Indianness in terms of costume, his sensual and diaphanously clad women with the delicate brushwork bespoke of European Renaissance style. 'Nair Lady adorning her Hair' and 'The lady with the Lamp' are perhaps his best works.

But artists chafing under foreign dominion took recourse to the creation of an independent entity or 'swadeshi'. This concept of 'swadeshi' emerged in the form of a revival of art with its roots in the Indian tradition.

Nand Lal Bose was one such proponent of the traditional art form. Nand Lal Bose (1882-1966) taught at the Indian School of oriental Art and was the principal at Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan. Influenced by the Tagore family (Abhaindara Nath Tagore, Rabindera Nath Tagore) and the murals of Ajanta, his classic works include scenes from Indian mythology, life of women and village life.

http://watercolors2008.blogspot.com/

To dispel any suggestions to the contrary, this article is not about politics. Your brain can see this incorrect identification: but which one?

Most individuals have a difficult time performing a task from the opposite lobe than their personality dictates. The left brained like my wife are simply ecstatic about figures, numbers and mathematics. Why am I the one who handles the chequebook and tax returns when that is where she gets her jollies? Women have a way of massaging your brain to make you think left is right and right is left. Directing our attention to their sensual, soft, curvy parts makes a nose ring merely figurative. My reaction of such dedication to math runs from "ho hum," to "I got to stop pulling my own hair out before I go bald and the woman takes up with a hairy accountant." The rest of us who are right brain people have sensitivity and are inclined towards the arts.

Roger Perry a Nobel Prize winner conducted split-brain experiments (not to be confused with split pea experimentation often performed by 3 year olds: sneaking the awful tasting vegetable into the nearest napkin, to shuffle them into the closest toilet at the earliest opportunity). Perry determined that "there appear to be two modes of thinking, represented rather separately in left and right hemispheres." He further suggested that

"Our education system, as well as science in general, tends to neglect one side over the other. What it comes down to is that modern society discriminates against the right hemisphere." Aha! I knew it! I know I am not simply an oddball, black sheep with idiosyncratic peculiarities that are out of the norm. I am actually being "kept down by the man!" I am practically an endangered species. Now I understand why the toilet seat must be down in the bathroom. It is not a guy versus girl issue. It is a left-brain versus right brain one!

Basically the truth of the matter is that we all use both sides of our brain even though observing rush hour traffic would suggest that we seem more like a bunch of brainless zombies from Night of the Living Dead Goes to the Demolition Derby. It is just that the left-brain thinks it knows everything! I keep telling my wife this but all I ever get out of it is a comfortable sleeping spot on a hot couch.

The left takes over like Mr. Spock and dispenses with the genteel right side's irrational images and inspiration. You could almost see a devil sitting on one shoulder and an angel on the other, and we know who usually wins that skirmish. It is as if a brutish dictator rode into town and removed the pleasant easygoing right side and sent it to the dungeon. The carnage is worse than a bunch of 1950's housewives let loose at a 75% off white sale at 'Macy's'.

Here are some of the findings of brain function: The left-brain is responsible for logic, details, facts, math, science, comprehension, perception, reality, strategy, and practicality. The highlight of the right brain is the ability to drool. "Talk about painting a one sided picture!" Everybody knows there is quite a story to a wet spot. Now I face the prospect that, when my daughter wakes up in the morning with a wet mark on her pillow I will know she is right brained and destined for a rough life. Actually, 'righties' use feelings, pictures, imagination, symbols, images, philosophy, fantasy, and religion (which in some circles is the same thing as fantasy).

Then there are the 'middle brainers'. You would think that they'd be a combination of left and right. Maybe they should be capable of swinging from one side to the other. They tend to be genius.' Albert Einstein, apart from formulating the theory of relativity, E=MC2 , was a big middle brain user but more importantly he had cool hair for an old dude. He even came up with a little known universal brain formula. L+R=P (Left brain + Right brain = Politics). Now that makes sense. The left wants to control your life, the right is brainless and needs to be in the dungeon and the middle is the diplomatic bridge between the two. Okay I was wrong this is all about politics. I guess my brain is not functioning properly. It's leaning toward the middle and that can be scary. I do not know if I can stand being sensitive, thoughtful and a genius too!

Contributed by: Giosue' Santarelli

view other WRITING VILLAGE blogs:

http://writingvillage2008.blogspot.com/

http://essay2008.blogspot.com/

http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/

http://anecdotes2008.blogspot.com/

http://bookreviews2008.blogspot.com/

http://conrad2008.blogspot.com/

We all need a love
To hold us
To lift us
To give us
When life threatens
to sink us
A love that will never fails us
A love from god above
A love of comfort
A love of courage
Filled with wisdom and
Caring
A love that is ageless
And enduring
A love passed from
Generation to generation
This is our father's love
A love for all nations


In this ever darkening world
God's love is a light
That shines through
The darkest night
A love to touch your heart
A love for you to share
A love that will not depart
We all need god's love

Contributed by:~Timothy Whitt

http://tourist2008.blogspot.com/

Tired of trust,
Tired of faith,
Tired of your sweet lies my friend,
Take me now,through the truth,
Take me through the fire of hell,
Burn me up, Break me down,
Kill me Today, to save your tomorrow,
Do it, Do it my friend,
For your better fate

'Cause here I'm tired,
Tired of being serene,
Tired of being victim of your pride,
Tired of my civilized mind

Pray,Pray I don't survive,
Demons in me are up on rise,
Wanting to hear your screams,
To have feast of your flesh,
Dying to taste your blood,
To burn you in to the hell

Casue here I'm sick,
Sick of being sane,
sick of your kind,
sick of my tears and pain

Kill me today, I'm in your hand,
Tomorrow things wont be the same,I know,
My soul is on way to glommy heaven,
Lurking in the valley of death and disaster

Here I stand as I am,
Cause I'm sick and tired,
On my kness,with fears and grief,
I'm fading,yes I'm fading,
kill me , kill me I'm going,
Kill me , Kill me ..I'm gone.

Contributed by:~Dhaval N. Vadgama

http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/

Beneath willow canopies
Under the beams of a crescent moon,
I trek the musky marsh
Following the mournful songs of a loon.
His call is a haunting echo
Clinging thickly to the fog
It surrounds the dampened moors
Creeping slowly across the bog.
Flighty is the bird I seek
From across the darkened bayou
Dampened though my spirits be
I begin my search anew.

I'll make love to the sun
languishing in its embrace.
Subtle kisses from my God
caress my waiting face.
His tongue fills my mouth
bringing tiny gasps of pleasure.
His velvet skin scorches me
like a lover's fiery treasure.
His white hot breath
whispers into my ear.
His breathy reassurances
ease my every fear

More poetry at: http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/

Contributed by:~Elizabeth Blevins

and go on a Dream Weave Walk

I would like to begin by saying that I am a relatively healthy human being. As I child I went through a stretch of illness, but from my high school years through my mid 20's I have, thankfully, endured little more that a head cold. Now that I have set the scene, I'll tell you about the rash.

For over a week I had been waking up in the middle of the night with severe itching fits. This only seemed to happen while I was asleep, which is unfortunate because when I am in that state I will do anything to alleviate discomfort, as long as it doesn't involve to getting out of bed. Since I was dealing with an itch my recovery options were to scratch it violently or smear it with the lotion I keep on my nightstand (Don't ask). My wife and I explored possible causes of my ailment, and the two most plausible were an allergic reaction to something in the sheets or bed mites. The sad fact is that both of those situations could be remedied by simply washing my bed linens, but sloth led me to explore other possible causes rather than just completing the simple chore.

Over time a rash began to spread across the left side of my chest. At first I passed it off as simple irritation from my abuse, but the redness soon gave way to raised bumps, which in turn morphed into oozing pustules. I asked my wife for her diagnosis, and after an examination she opined, "It looks like poison ivy. Have you come into contact with any poison ivy lately?" My wife is extremely intelligent, and while I trust her judgment in most matters there were two major flaws in her assessment. First, I live in a very urban section of Queens, NY. Everything, even the trees, are made of concrete and brick. The only green I see on a regular basis is the money passed during the morning crack deal. Second, I have an odd body shape. My narrow shoulders give way to a broad chest, scrawny arms, a delightful beer gut, and thick legs. I am the equivalent of God's Mr. Potato head. This has left me too ashamed to remove my shirt in the shower, let alone a forest.

I continued to ignore it. After all, what you don't know can't hurt you. Early the next morning I was at work performing my daily ritual of shirking responsibility. On this particular occasion I was leafing through the NY Daily News. On my way to the crossword puzzle I read a headline that instantly caught my attention. Generally, any glimpse of an actual news story would leave me glassy eyed, but this article sent a chill down my spine. It told the story of a 19-year-old woman who recently passed away due to complications from flesh-eating bacteria. The piece said this virus began as a rash, and progressed to include body pain, temporary blindness, and rectal bleeding. I tore upstairs to the restroom to examine my rectum, and each time I bumped into something in my frenzy I convinced myself it was do to temporary blindness.

As I sat waiting for the doctor I made a mental list of which I wanted to give my eulogy and whether or not I should be buried with my CD collection. The door creaked open and a beautiful young woman entered the room. She introduced herself as the nurse and conducted a preliminary interview. I realized as I sat there how old I have become. When did the girls I used to check out at the mall become nurses? I must admit, even though I am happily married, there was a certain part of my brain that still wanted to impress her. I had no control over it. For example, in order to get an idea about my immune system she inquired how many sexual partners I was involved with. Without even thinking I replied, "What did you have in mind".

She left, and a few minutes later the door swung open and the doctor made his grand entrance. He was an overweight man in his early fifties who walked with a cane and conducted himself with an overt sense of conceit. I felt as though he was trying to rip off the style of FOX television's "House". He assuredly announced that he had already made his diagnosis, but merely needed a peek at the infection to verify it. Who the hell was this guy, and why was he wasting his obvious supernatural ability at an urgent care facility in Queens? Before I even finished removing my shirt he told me not to bother. He had seen enough, and indeed, his worst fears were true.

He told me I had shingles. I tried to explain to him that given my fear of heights and the fact that I live in an apartment building made this impossible to contract such a thing. Could I have caught it from someone? Was my wife cheating on me with a contractor? Apparently the disease has nothing to do with roofing. Basically it is like grown up chicken pox. When I contracted chicken pox as a child, I never fully shed the disease it just went dormant. Now it had resurfaced and wanted revenge. The thing that really blew my mind was when the doctor informed me that shingles is a form of the herpes virus. Herpes? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with people who have herpes, but I if I have to have it at least I feel like I should have the enjoyment of catching it.

The doctor prescribed Valtrex, which is primarily issued to herpes sufferers. As I stood in line at Walgreen's I became overcome with embarrassment. I felt the need to proclaim loudly that it was shingles that I suffered from, not herpes. That's when I learned the painful lesson that no one wants to hang out with a shingles patient either.

Time has passed and the rash has subsided, but though my skin will be restored to its original form, my emotional scars may never heal. I have already been forced to defend my honour to two nosy guests who discovered Valtrex in my medicine cabinet. If there is any advice I can pass on to the youth of today it would be to be safe, never have unprotected sex with poultry or construction workers. At least, I think that's how it goes.

Contributed by: Brian Mollica

Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the drama or the poem, it is imaginative literature that should appeal to the emotions of the readers. Since it communicates the writer's interpretation of reality, there must be an artistic use of language to signify human experience. But how do we write a great short story? What are the things to keep in mind in order to come up with a short story that works? Here is a quick guide to get you started:

Read

Reading is essential to anyone who wants to write. In order to be able to write a good short story, you must read other short stories first. This will not only give you the motivation and inspiration for your own story, but it will also help you learn how other authors made an impression on the reader and use their style as basis to create your own style and impression.

Get inspired

For seasoned professionals, there is no need to obtain inspiration because thoughts naturally flow and they only have to put them into words on paper. But for novice writers, it is important to have one because it will not only help you begin your first paragraph but also keep you going throughout. Your inspiration may take the form of an object. a person, or an event that you just can't seem to forget.

Conceptualise your story

Think of something you want to talk about with your readers. Let's say you want to relate a story about a couple who fell in love with each other. What about the couple? What is it about them that you are interested to let your readers know? Focus on this idea and think of other concepts that you want to associate with this couple. Suppose the girl's parents discommended their relationship. What about the parents? What did they do to stop the two from loving each other? This could signal a good beginning for your story. From here, you would have the notion what to write down.

Map out the scenes

In order to keep your writing aligned with your pre-conceived story events, it is good to briefly map out scenes of your story on a different piece of paper. Write down the possible characters of your story and list the main events in order. You don't have to put so much detail on them because this only serves as a rough sketch of how your story will look like.

Choose your point of view

Who tells the story and how it is told is very critical for a short story to be effective. The point of view can change the feel and tone of the story radically. Hence, you must decide carefully before finally resolving with the angle of vision to use for your story. But whatever it is you decide to choose as the point of view, make sure it stays constant throughout your story to maintain consistency.

Conceive your characters

For a short story, create a maximum of only three main characters. Too many main characters will make your story confusing since each new character will provide a new dimension for the story. Each character should be more than cardboard caricatures. Make your characters speak naturally in proportion with their traits. Make them believable but mysterious.

Furnish a good introduction

When you have everything planned out, start scribbling your first paragraph. Introduce your main characters and set out the scene. The scene must be some place you know much about so that you'd be able to supply the necessary snapshot for a clearly described setting. Make your introduction interesting to hold the reader's interest and encourage them to read on to the end. It is also important to hold back significant details and the greater part of the action at this point so the mystery is kept.

Build up a great plot

From your introduction, draw out events that will eventually create a problem or a conflict for the main character/characters. After that, begin laying out an array of clues to keep the reader interested, intrigued and guessing. Intensify the conflict as the story moves forward. This will not only make your reader enthused to read more but will also keep them riveted to your story.

Show don't tell

The characters should be the ones responsible for expressing the story through their actions and dialogue and not the writer telling the reader what is being expressed. Rather than saying, "Annette was really mad at her best friend Christina for stealing her boyfriend", say "Annette felt an ache in her stomach and a strong pang of betrayal as Christina approaches her and flashes her with a sweet smile. She breathed hard trying to calm herself as she speaks with suppressed anger: "I hope you're happy now that you've proven yourself as a friend."

Use active verbs

Put as much life into your story as you can. In order to do this, employ verbs in the active voice in your story. Instead of saying," The flower was picked by Johanna", say "Johanna picked the flower."

Use dialogue every now and then

Dialogue is important in bringing your story to life. Don't just use it to pad out your characters. Use it to convey your character to identify with the reader. Use it in direct quotes like "Go there!" instead of indirect quotes as "She told him to go there."

Keep references handy

A good reference such as a thesaurus or a dictionary is crucial in creating a good story. You can use them to check your spellings and to find the words which best fit your description. Instead of using one lengthy sentence or paragraph, you can utilize one or just a few words to convey what you want to say. Oftentimes, one strong word has a greater effect than a paragraph full of fancy language.

Conclude briefly

Conclusions are tough sledding. For a good ending, it is advisable to experiment and to add a little twist. Make your ending unique but not hanging in a loose end. Make it satisfying without making it too predictable. Keep in mind to keep it short but concise and lingering so that the reader is left with a feeling of resonance. Your conclusion should wrap up everything from start to finish.

Edit and revise

After fashioning the last words of your story, it is time to begin the editing cycle. Carefully go through your work and fix all your mistakes regarding sentence construction, word usage, formatting, punctuation marks, diction, spelling, grammar, and descriptive analysis. Scratch out words, phrases and even paragraphs which don't seem to contribute to the basic elements of the story. After you are done, let it sit for a while for days and even weeks, then edit it again. Reread your story over and over again at different occasions. This will make you see various things you may want to change to make your story shine at its best.

Let others proof read

Have your friends look at your work. They may just be able to see mistakes which you have missed. For instance, they may be distracted with some words or lines which you adore dearly. In this case, you have to decide on changing it or cutting it off completely.

Writing a short story may not be easy but it can surely be done. With some knowledge on the basic elements and some passion and patience, it's effortless to pull together a story with just a few ideas. Just keep in mind that you are writing not because you have to, but because you want to. Keep the spirit up! Give it a go now!

Contributed by: Rachelle Arlin Credo

Dream Weave Walk: http://dreamweavewalk.blogspot.com/

I have often wondered at the etymology and semantic content of the word 'hypocrisy'. After hunting in vain for its Latin, French, Lativian(?) origins , I finally realized that the word had about it almost a kind of onomatopoeic quality. The word actually sounded its meaning. For it assimilated within its alphabetic confines all the qualities that define a hypocrite.

The 'root' of the word itself is 'hypo' or 'hippo' ,hinting at the 'hide'-like opacity of the animal which acts as a barrier ,discouraging access to the inner 'persona'. Simply put, it means a dissonance between the outer and the inner self. To use an analogy, ,when a person bowing to his schizophrenic tendencies ,attempts to play 'Jekyll and Hyde' , in modern day parlance he can be dubbed as a hypocrite.

The 'genus' of the hypocrite family has several species and sub-species.For one, there is the 'Dolly -Clone' whose gentle sheep-like behaviour or one-time friskiness makes the people around him confide and trust his 'sheep-like eyes'till they find to their shock and disbelief that he is a 'tiger -in -sheep's-clothing'and not the sure-footed Taurian goat they could trust.

Then come the 'money changers'who are true in that they talk as well as think about nothing but money. But the dissonance lies in that they talk about financial contentment and absence of desire for more money. But in actual fact they crave money, expect monetary benefits at every turn and if thwarted turn their malicious fangs upon those who dare to come between them and their desire for money.

There are then the spiritual 'Houidinis' who with the magic and charisma of their personalities project a spiritual aura . They talk about upliftment of the spirit, about rising above the worldly 'greed'call of material acquisitions, about achieving a sense of utter contentment.But the truth is stranger than fiction for their claim on worldly goods and their desperate craving for it breaks legal as well as human barriers.

There are also the 'sychophant 'hypocrites, a species , that is found in the office environs. This species is characterized by a fawning behaviour pattern which emerges in the presence of the boss. Their ballet-like movements around the boss are a sight for sore eyes. They may hate and despise their bosses but all their energies are focussed towards keeping the boss happy by any means-be it flattery, be it gifts or be it by getting odd jobs done.

Then there are the 'Gemini contenders'. These species are outwardly positive, progressive and god-fearing but are actually negative and regressive ,belonging to the ilk of the damned. They are characterized by hyperbole in their projections, be it work-related or a projection of their alleged compassion for the 'children of the lesser god' or a projection of their attainment of god-like bliss.In the hypocrite crime gallery , they are 'Jack-the-rippers' who rip away the faith, trust,illusions and sensibilities of people around them brutally , accompanied with a psychopathic glee.

And finally , there is the Hydra-headed Hypocrite whose hypocrisies are many and varied , whose moral corruption is so great that as a good samaritan ,if you lop off one of his numerous heads, another grows in its stead to create havoc. There is no escaping the wretchedness of this hypocrite whose talk of greatness is mired in the slush of corruption, whose projection of love and compassion has the roots of selfish opportunism, whose Machiavellian manipulations go beyond the descriptive decorum of a word and who like Mephistopheles has sold his soul to the devil for material advancement.

Hypocrisy in today's world has become a by-word for success for it hints at a society which belies transparency and thrives on half-truths.

Hypocrisy is dead !

Long Live Hypocrisy!!

Long Live Hypocrisy !!!

Contributed by: Rachna Singh

http://anecdotes2008.blogspot.com/2007/09/anecdote-6-isis-and-his-chain.html

http://anecdotes2008.blogspot.com/2007/09/anecdote-5-isis-speaks.html

Read Poetry:

http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/2007/09/dark-champion-speaks.html

http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/2007/09/you-said-what.html

http://poetical2008.blogspot.com/2007/09/heart.html