Untangling the Mundane: Collection of Essays on Life, Longing, and Belonging

Book excerpt: We all know that Biryani is the most popular Mughlai dish in India. But have you ever wondered why the Biryani has potatoes added in the Kolkata variety but never outside Kolkata? We know the story of Ram and Sita, but what about Laxman and Urmila? What happened to Urmila Laxman's wife after Laxman went to exile, accompanying his elder brother Ram? We know about the Oedipus Syndrome. But what about Yayati Syndorme? We all have an opinion on the Kashmir issue. But do we know its history and why Kashmir is the way it is? For us who can see, the world around us is so colourful. But what about those who can't see? Why do sports invoke so much passion across all cultures? Which was the world's first narco-state? The reader will be surprised when you know about the world's first narco-state. What are the choices we have when we die? Most often, society marginalizes women's bodies as we consider men's bodies as the default. But why is it so? These are some thoughts you will read in this compilation of essays. These essays interpret mundane and commonplace thoughts in our daily lives in entirely new ways. Commonplace things are not commonplace. They hide profound meanings. One needs to unveil them with sensitivity and humaneness. All these essays are highly eclectic and do not fall into any specific genre. The author is a blog writer. The essays included in this volume are the top twenty popular essays first published in the author's blog since 2019. Essays included in this volume are on social commentary, literary book reviews, social criticism, and sometimes even personal reflections. The essays are provocative and would make the reader think. They are highly topical and contemporary. A few relate to various historical events as well.