In this bonus episode, we travel in time to Bombay of the 1800’s. The opium trade had brought copious wealth to the city. Among those who had cashed in were prominent Parsi and Gujarati merchants who set up textile mills with the profits. When the cotton trade soared, the textile tycoons looked for other avenues to invest their money. They financed the film industry. By the turn of the century, cinema halls had mushroomed all over the city and the industry attracted actors, dancers, singers and writers. Songs were an inseparable part of these films, piggybacking on the tradition of Gujarati and Marathi theatre. Radio provided an avenue for broadcasting film songs, which became hugely popular across the country. The stage was set for a new movement to write its way into history — the Progressive Writers Association.
Credits: 
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Riju R Krishna, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar 
Listen to Bhakti Republic Ep 1 - Saara Jahan Hamara 

YouTube Resources 

आज आनंदी आनंद झाला -  आशा भोसले
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrBl0TRkHGg 

Sinhagad (1933) Full Marathi Movie - Baburao Pendharkar, Shankarrao Bhosle, V. Shantaram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0KYv8RTO7Q

Bhakti Republic With Amit Basole | EP1 Bonus - Bombay Talkies | 23rd August 2023

Emerging in 12th-century Karnataka, Vachana Sahitya gave voice to the Sharana movement. The Sharanas were ardent devotees of Shiva, spreading their message through vachanas, verses composed and sung in simple Kannada, which were infused with profound thought. They advocated social equality and rejected caste, challenging Sanskrit dominance and the prevailing literary and social norms. Many of the Sharana poets came from marginalised groups. Their vachanas criticised rituals and hierarchies, emphasising a personal connection with the divine. 
While saints like Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, and Akka Mahadevi are the most prominent names of the movement, the tradition was equally enriched by the contributions of about 240 sharanas, including thirty or more women. Their simple lyrics championed social equality and resonated with the common people. As the vachanakaras challenged not just established religious practices but the very fabric of caste and hierarchy, they left an indelible mark on Kannada culture. Their thought and teaching became the foundation of a revolutionary literary and social movement.

As Amit Basole elucidates in this episode of Bhakti Republic, the core tenets of the movement find resonance with the values enshrined in the Constitution of India. The title of this episode, Kayakave Kailasa, is a key concept in the thought of poets from artisanal backgrounds. It translates loosely to “Work Is Worship”, but carries a deeper meaning. The sharanas believed that the body is the temple of Shiva, and that every act of it, conducted selflessly and honestly, is a path to the divine. 

This episode is enriched by vachanas performed in Kannada by singer M. D. Pallavi and accompanied by Bruce Lee Mani on guitar. You can enjoy the soundtrack in a special music playlist released by Radio Azim Premji University.

Bhakti Republic With Amit Basole | EP3 - Kayakave Kailasa

Did you know that Indian Yellow, the pigment with which Vincent Van Gogh painted the luminous moon in his masterpiece Starry Night, was prepared from the dried urine of cows fed exclusively on mango leaves? Or that India, despite being the world’s largest producer of mangoes, exports less than 1% because Indians can never be done eating their produce? Or that we may be throwing away the most nutritious and medically valuable part of the mango — its seed?

The mango is undeniably the king of fruits, evoking passions that span literature, diplomacy, botany, agriculture, and economics. It is a fruit that unites and divides us equally, as we discover in this luscious episode of Unboxed, featuring a trio of mango aficionados who agree to disagree on their favourite variety.

Social science professor Sharmadip Basu swears proudly by West Bengal's GI-tagged Himsagar. Amit Basole, an economist from Mumbai who is passionate about Urdu poetry and Indian literature, is torn between the feted Alphonso and the evergreen Langra. Biology professor Divya Uma has a soft spot for Karnataka's rosy-red Raspuri. 

Eavesdrop on their lively discussion about the mango's cultural significance, ranging from ancient literature and religious stories to its nutritional benefits, and the startling reason why champing on a mango peel may give you an itchy mouth-rash. Discover why the mango’s political economy unfailingly makes headlines, and learn how this delicious summer fruit remains on our tables — and in our memories — year-round through various condiments and products.

Whether you call it aam, mangai, aamra, or mango, just uttering the word can evoke a plethora of sensations and emotions. Seasoned with the voices of enthusiastic mango lovers from a bustling mango mandi in Bengaluru, this slice of Unboxed is a juicy celebration of a fruit that embodies the essence of India for India’s Aam Janata – the Mango People.

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar 

For a comprehensive list of resources for further reading and exploration, visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/unboxed-harmonium-india

Unboxed - Mango People with Sharmadip Basu | Radio Azim Premji University

You are listening to Radio Azim Premji University, our campus radio station. Azim Premji University was founded in 2010 with the vision to contribute to the realisation of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. On our channel, you can tune in to a variety of engrossing shows on themes ranging from democracy and culture, science and mathematics, and more. You can also experience a slice of campus life. If you are a seeking student, an arts aficionado, curious about science, or just passionate about India, subscribe and start listening.

Credits:
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

New tracks tagged #Amit Basole