Vahini's Musings

  Sammakka Saralamma Jatara: A Living Testament of Tribal Faith and Resistance       In the depths of the Medaram forest in Telangana transpires something which cannot be defined within the frames of the religion, festival or pilgrimage. Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is neither about high temples nor modelled idols; it has neither the hierarchical priests. Instead, it is based on the soil, the remembrance and shared souls of the Koya tribal people. Every two years, millions of people come to this woodland to commemorate Sammakka and her daughter Saralamma- personalities that are not only remembered as goddesses, but as beacons of fearlessness, defiance as well as righteousness. Medaram: The Forest of the Holy Land Medaram is not just sacred owing to chance, it is deliberately sacred. The spiritual structure of the jatara is made up of the thick forest, streams and open clearings. It has no stone shrines to which there are idols. Rather, it is the manifestat...

  Ainavolu Mallanna: Faith, Folklore, and the Living Pulse of Telangana   The tradition is in the very heart of the Telangana culture, distant of the lure polished stone avenues of the classical temples, the tradition breathes the breathing of the soil and of the seasons and of the people. Ainavolu Mallanna is not just a God who is worshipped in a village; this is a thing that unites the community recollection, rural existence, and folk faith into one continuous story. The Mallanna is a rounded off version of a spirituality that is quite intimate, ground-level, and deeply human, rooted in the village of Ainavolu (or Inavolu) near Warangal. Its Sacred Geography and The Village Ainavolu is located in an area that was historically influenced by Kakatiya dynasty but the worship of Mallanna came to being before monumental architecture and writings. The divine area that surrounds Mallanna is not grand in any disarming way. Rather it beckons the devotees with simplicity, ...

  Ramappa Temple: A Living Blueprint of Knowledge, Art, and Imagination     Introduction What’s striking about India’s intellectual heritage is how rarely it separates things. Philosophy isn’t tucked away from science, and art isn’t an afterthought. They’re all tangled together like threads in a single, deliberately woven fabric. One of the clearest embodiments of this idea is the Ramappa Temple, or Rudreshwara Temple, nestled in Palampet, Telangana. Built in the early 13th century during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty, this temple isn’t just an architectural gem; it’s a quiet but powerful argument that technology, spirituality, and art can speak the same language. A Glimpse into its Past The story begins around 1213 CE. The temple was commissioned by Ganapati Deva and brought to life by his general Recherla Rudra. But here’s the part that always makes me pause: the temple was named not after the king, but after its chief sculptor Ramappa. That’s surprisin...

  Interactive Storytelling: Video Games as Cultural Texts in Digital Humanities Interactive Storytelling: Video Games as Cultural Texts in Digital Humanities For a long time, the term “cultural text” has been reserved for novels, plays, poems, and films—works that clearly belonged to the humanities. Yet in today’s digital age, video games have grown into one of the most important cultural forms of storytelling. They are not only entertainment but also artifacts that reflect social histories, values, and struggles. Within the field of Digital Humanities (DH) , video games are now examined as serious cultural texts, worthy of the same critical attention as books or cinema. What makes games distinct is their interactivity . Unlike traditional media, video games allow players to actively shape stories, take on roles, and make choices that carry consequences. This makes them powerful cultural texts and a vital subject of study for anyone interested in how digital culture influen...

  Digital Humanities as Public Humanities: Engaging Communities Beyond Academia The phrase Digital Humanities (DH) often brings to mind images of scholars, archives, and academic projects housed within universities. While this perception is not entirely inaccurate, it only captures a fraction of the story. In reality, the essence of digital humanities stretches far beyond academia. At its best, DH functions as a bridge between scholarly inquiry and public engagement, transforming itself into what many now call Public Humanities . This shift not only democratizes knowledge but also redefines how communities understand, preserve, and participate in cultural life. In this blog, we will explore how digital humanities has evolved into a powerful form of public humanities, highlight its impact on community engagement, and consider the challenges and opportunities it presents in fostering collaboration beyond traditional academic spaces. From Digital Scholarship to Public Engagem...

  Narrative Medicine: Why Doctors Need to Read Fiction   Introduction Medicine has long been considered a science of facts, tests, and treatments. Yet, in recent years, educators and practitioners have started emphasizing a different but equally vital aspect: the role of stories. This is the foundation of narrative medicine , an approach that encourages doctors to engage with literature, particularly fiction, as a way to better understand the human experience of illness. Reading novels, short stories, or even poetry may seem far removed from diagnosing diseases, but it builds skills that are essential for effective medical practice—empathy, communication, and perspective. What Is Narrative Medicine? Narrative medicine is an interdisciplinary field that brings together storytelling, literary analysis, and medical practice. The term was popularized by Dr. Rita Charon, a physician and literary scholar at Columbia University, who argued that doctors need to “listen to ...