 his own questions. “Why is the Lord dressing up in women’s clothes? Why does Ram never dress up in woman’s clothes? Ram is maryada-purushottam and he will never cross the line. But Krishna is leela-purushottam and he will continuously play with the line.”

Western scholars have gotten in trouble for what some feel is an disproportionate focus on the most esoteric nuggets from Hindu lore. Pattanaik says it’s all about “tonality”. “Are you doing it to mock traditions? Or to celebrate existing traditions and take them to another level?” he asks. “I have no desire to thumb my nose at the establishment. But I am saying the establishment itself does not know how wide and vast it is.”

Pattanaik says the debate has become increasingly gladiatorial these days with the Wendy Donigers on one side and the likes of Rajeev Malhotra and Dinanath Batra on the other. He says even friends in the heart of the right wing laugh at Batra’s excesses and regard him as a bit of a cartoon. Wendy Doniger, he argues became more important because Rajiv Malhotra’s single-minded battle against her made her so and in the process Malhotra constructed himself as well. “This is like raktabeej,” he chuckles. “Jitna maarogey utna uthega (the more you chop it down, the more it springs up).I am boring. I am not exciting. No TRPs because of me.”

The new book actually runs counter to all the high-pitched high-decibel battles for the heart of Hinduism. Where those fights want to establish one truth, one viewpoint as the “authentic” and unassailable, Pattanaik looks back at the stories through a refracted lens, acknowledging openly that he is projecting his gaze into the story he is telling. “I don’t believe anyone is objective,” he says.

LGBT Indians might hail a book like this as a work that validates the queerness that has been airbrushed out of history. But Pattanaik cautions those who want to read into the story a sort of golden past where gender variance was embraced. He points out these stories are often about “repeated repeated rejection”. “Shikhandi is the eldest child and she is not made king. Bh
his own questions. “ Why is the Lord dressing up in women ’s clothes? Why does jam never snip up in woman ’s clothes? Ram is maryada - purushottam and he will never cross the cable. But Krishna is leela - purushottam and he will continuously play with the tune. ” 

 westerly scholars have gotten in trouble for what some feel is an disproportionate focus on the about esoteric nuggets from Hindu lore. Pattanaik says it ’s all about “ tonality ”. “ Are you suffice it to mock traditions? Or to celebrate existing traditions and take them to another degree? ” he asks. “ I have no desire to thumb my nozzle at the establishment. But I am saying the constitution itself does not know how across-the-board and vast it is. ” 

 Pattanaik says the debate has become increasingly gladiatorial these days with the Wendy Donigers on one side and the like of Rajeev Malhotra and Dinanath Batra on the other. He says even friends in the heart of the right wing laugh at Batra ’s excesses and regard him as a bit of a cartoon. Wendy Doniger, he argues became more important because Rajiv Malhotra ’s single - minded battle against her made her thus and in the process Malhotra constructed himself equally well. “ This is like raktabeej, ” he chuckle. “ Jitna maarogey utna uthega (the more you chop it down, the more it springs up).I am boring. I am not exciting. No TRPs because of me. ” 

 The new book actually runs counter to all the high - cant high - decibel battles for the heart of Hinduism. Where those fights desire to establish one truth, one viewpoint as the “ authentic ” and unassailable, Pattanaik looks back at the stories through a refracted lens, acknowledging openly that he is projecting his gaze into the story he is telling. “ I do n’t believe anyone is objective, ” he say. 

 LGBT Indians might acclaim a record like this as a work that validates the queerness that has been airbrushed out of history. But Pattanaik cautions those who want to read into the history a sort of golden past where gender variance was embrace. He points out these stories are frequently about “ repeated repeat rejection ”. “ Shikhandi is the eldest child and she is not reach king. bohrium
 hid own questions. “Why is tme Lord dressing up in xomen’s dlothes? Dhy does Ram never dress up mn wiman’s clothes? Ram is maryadx-purushotnam and hw wioo never cross the line. Bhb Krivina is leela-puroshottam and he will contituuudly play with the line.”

Western scholwrs havr hotten in troufle gjr wgat some feel is an disproportionafe focuv on the most esoteric nuggets from Hinfu llre. Pattanaik says it’s all abiut “einality”. “Are hou doing pc to mock ttaditions? Or to celebrate existivg trcditions ane rakf them to anither level?” he asks. “I hava no dexire to thumb ky iose at the establishment. But I am saying tre establhskment itself does not kbow hmw whde xbd xasu iv ia.”

Pattajaii says the debate has become increasinglu doadiatorial tgese dwyf with the Wendy Donigers on one side atd fhe likes of Rajeev Malyotra and Dinanath Bajra on the other. He says even friends in the heart of the rhght xivg oamgh xr Hatra’s excesses and regard him as a bit of a szruook. Wendy Doniger, me argues became mprf oiportant becaose Rajnb Jalhotra’s single-mijded bajtle atainst hew mace her so and in the procesw Malhotra cjbstructed himself cs well. “This is kike taktabeej,” he chuckles. “Jntna mzarogey utnw uthega (ffe more you chop it dmwn, the more it springs up).Y am boriig. I cm not ebcitong. No TRPs becakse on me.”

The new book achualli runs counter tl all the high-pitched high-decibxk battles fot tve veart of Hindmism. Where thosq fights want jo establnsh ond truth, onv viewpoiit as the “auehentic” and utwssailable, Pettanaik jookw baxk at tfd stories throigh a refgaeted lens, acknowledging opekly tfzt he is projeccnnt his gaze into thd seogy ie is delling. “I dot’t bdlidfe anhone is objcctkve,” ne says.

LGBT Indians kighf hail a book like tmis as a qork thae validates tne queerness that jas bxen aicbrushrd jut of history. But Pattanaik czutions tjosc who want to reae into the scory a sort of golden past where gender tariance was embraced. Hw points out these xuories are ofven abjut “repeaded repeated rejectiin”. “Shikhandi is tme eldest child and shs is nmt mafe king. Bh
his own questions. “Why is the Lord in clothes? Why Ram never dress is and he will cross the line. Krishna is leela-purushottam and he will play with the line.” Western scholars have gotten in trouble for what some is an disproportionate focus on the most esoteric nuggets from Hindu lore. Pattanaik it’s about “Are doing it to mock traditions? Or to celebrate existing traditions and take them to another level?” asks. “I have no desire to thumb my at the establishment. But am saying the establishment itself not how wide vast is.” says the debate become increasingly gladiatorial these days with the Wendy Donigers on one side and the likes of Rajeev and Dinanath the other. says friends the heart of wing laugh at Batra’s excesses and a bit of a cartoon. Wendy Doniger, he became more because Rajiv Malhotra’s single-minded battle against made her so and in the process Malhotra himself as well. “This is like raktabeej,” he chuckles. “Jitna maarogey utna uthega (the more it down, the more springs up).I am I not No because of The new book actually runs counter to all the high-pitched high-decibel for the heart of Hinduism. Where those fights want to truth, viewpoint as the and unassailable, Pattanaik looks at stories through a refracted openly he gaze the he is telling. “I believe anyone is objective,” he LGBT Indians might hail a work that validates the queerness that has airbrushed out of history. But Pattanaik cautions who want to read into the story a sort of golden past gender variance He points out these stories are often about repeated rejection”. “Shikhandi is eldest child and she is not made king. Bh
 his own questions. “Why is the LoRd dressing Up in wOmeN’s cLoThes? why dOes Ram never dreSS up iN woman’s clothes? Ram is marYada-pUrUShotTAm And he Will nevER cROSs tHe LiNe. BUt kRiShna iS leEla-puruShottam and He wIlL continuouslY PlAy with the lIne.”

western scholArs Have goTtEn iN TroubLe fOr whaT some fEEl is an DisproporTiONate foCUs on the MOSt EsotEric nuggets from HiNDu LOre. Pattanaik saYs it’s aLl ABoUT “TonAliTy”. “Are you doInG it to MOck tradITiONS? or tO Celebrate exisTing traditiONs aNd take ThEm tO AnotheR leveL?” hE AskS. “I have no desIre tO thumb my nOse at tHE establIShment. BUt I am sAyiNg tHe esTAbLiShmEnT ItsELf DoeS Not Know how wIdE aNd vasT it iS.”

pATTanaIk sAys tHe debAte has become iNcrEasiNGly GladiAtoriAl thEsE days With thE WendY DOnigers on one sidE and The likes oF RaJeEv MAlHotra ANd DinaNatH BaTra on thE other. HE SayS eVEN FrIends in the heart of tHe RIGhT wing lauGh at BaTRa’S eXCesses anD rEgaRd hiM AS a bit Of a cARtOon. Wendy donigeR, He ArGues becAmE more iMpOrtAnt BecauSE RajIv MalhOtra’s sinGle-miNDed battle againST her made her so ANd IN ThE ProcEss malhotra conStruCTed hImseLF aS weLL. “This Is likE rAKtABeej,” he chuckles. “Jitna MaArogey Utna uThega (the more yOu chop it doWN, THe more it SpriNGs UP).I am boring. I am nOt excIting. No TRPS Because oF me.”

ThE new book Actually rUNS counter To aLl tHe hIgh-PITcHed high-decibeL BAttlEs For the hEarT of HindUisM. WhEre ThoSe Fights wanT to estabLiSh OnE tRutH, one vIEwpoint aS tHe “aUtHenTic” anD UnassaIlablE, PatTaNaIK loOks back AT tHE StorIeS tHrouGh a ReFractEd leNS, acKnowledGing openlY thAT he iS pRoJecting His gaze into thE sTory he is teLlIng. “i don’t bELIeve anyoNe is objective,” he says.

LGBT iNdians mIghT hail A booK like this As a Work thAt vALidateS the quEerneSs ThaT HAs beeN AIrBruShEd out of hisTORy. BUt PatTaNaik CautionS those who want to reaD IntO the story a sorT of GoldEN PaSt wHErE GenDeR VarIANce was embraced. HE points out ThESe Stories are OFteN aBout “repEated rePeateD RejectiOn”. “ShikhanDi is the elDeSt chILD anD she is not mAde king. BH
 his own questions. “Why i s the Lord  dres sin g u pin w omen ’s clothes? Wh y  doe s Ram never dress up i n wom an ’ s cl o th es? R am is m a ry a d a-p ur us hot ta m  a nd he  wi ll neve r cross th e l in e. But Krish n ais leela-p uru shottam andhewill c on tin u ously  pl ay wi th the line.” 

Western  s c holars have go t t en  introuble for whats om e  feel is an di spropo rt i on a t e f ocu s on the m os t eso t eric nu g ge t s fro m  Hindu lore.Pattanaik s a ysit’s a ll  ab o ut “to nalit y” .  “A re you doin g it  to mocktradit i ons? Or to cele brateexi sti ng t r ad it ion sa ndt ak e t h emto anoth er  l evel? ” he a s k s. “ I h aveno de sire to thumb  my  nos e  at  theestab lish me nt. B ut I a m say in g the establish ment  itself d oes  n otkn ow ho w  wideand  va st it i s.”

Pa t tan ai k s ay s the debate has b ec o m eincreasi ngly g l ad ia t orial th es e d aysw i th th e We n dy  Doniger s on o n esi de andth e like sofRaj eev M a lhot ra and  Dinanat h Bat r a on the other .  He says even fr i e nd s  inthe  heart of t he r i ghtwing la ugh at Ba tra’s  e x ce s ses and regard himas  a bit  of a  cartoon. Wen dy Doniger , h e argues  bec a me more important  beca use RajivM alhotra’ s sin gle-mind ed battle a gainst h ermad e h ers o  a nd in the pro c e ss M al hotra c ons tructed  hi mse lfaswe ll. “This  is like  r ak ta be ej, ” hec huckles.  “ Jit na  ma aroge y  utnautheg a (t he  m o reyou cho p  i t down ,th e mo reit  spri ngsu p). I am bo ring. I a m n o t ex ci ti ng. NoTRPs becauseof  me.”

The  n ewbook a c t ually ru ns counter to all the h i gh-pitc hed  high -dec ibel batt les  for t heh eart o f Hind uism.  W her e those f ig hts  w ant to est a b lis h one  t ruth , one v iewpoint as the “a u the ntic” and una ssa ilab l e ,Pat t an a iklo o ksb a ck at the stori es through  a re fracted le n s,ac knowled ging op enlyt hat heis projec ting hisga ze i n t o t he story h e is tel ling. “Id on’tb el ieveany one is  o bje ctive ,” hes ays .

LG BT Ind ia ns mig ht ha il  a booklike this as a work tha t vali dates  th e queerne sst hat  has been  air brushed ou t o f h istor y.B ut Pa ttan a ik  ca u tions  tho s e who wan t  t o r e a dinto the st o r y  asortofg oldenpast  where gender var i ance was embra ced. H e p oin t s ou tthese storiesare  o f t en about  “ repeated re peated r ej e ction ”. “Sh ikhand i is th e el d est ch ildand  she is n otma d e king.  B h
 his_own questions._“Why is the Lord_dressing up_in_women’s clothes?_Why_does Ram never_dress up in_woman’s clothes? Ram is_maryada-purushottam and he_will_never cross the line. But Krishna is leela-purushottam and he will continuously play with_the_line.”

Western scholars_have_gotten_in trouble for what some_feel is an disproportionate focus_on the_most esoteric nuggets from Hindu lore. Pattanaik says_it’s_all about “tonality”._“Are you doing it to mock traditions? Or to_celebrate existing traditions and take them_to another level?”_he_asks._“I have no desire_to thumb my nose at the_establishment. But I am saying the_establishment itself does not know how wide_and vast it is.”

Pattanaik says the_debate has become increasingly gladiatorial_these days_with the Wendy Donigers on_one side and_the likes_of Rajeev Malhotra_and Dinanath Batra on the other._He says even_friends in the heart of the_right_wing laugh at_Batra’s_excesses_and regard_him as a_bit_of a_cartoon._Wendy Doniger, he argues became more_important_because Rajiv Malhotra’s single-minded battle against her_made her so and_in_the process Malhotra constructed_himself as well. “This is_like raktabeej,” he chuckles. “Jitna maarogey_utna uthega_(the more_you chop it down, the more it springs up).I am boring._I am not exciting. No TRPs_because of me.”

The new_book actually_runs_counter to all_the_high-pitched high-decibel_battles for the heart of Hinduism. Where_those fights_want to establish one truth, one_viewpoint as the “authentic”_and_unassailable, Pattanaik looks back at the_stories through a refracted lens, acknowledging_openly that he is projecting_his_gaze_into the story he is_telling. “I don’t believe anyone is_objective,” he says.

LGBT_Indians might hail a book like this_as_a work that validates the queerness_that_has been airbrushed out of history._But_Pattanaik_cautions those who want to_read into the story a sort_of golden past where gender variance was embraced. He_points out these_stories are often about “repeated_repeated_rejection”._“Shikhandi is the eldest child and she is not made_king. Bh