Madhavi Menon

Name: Infinite Variety: A History of Desire in India

Publisher Name: Speaking Tiger Books

Genre: Asian History and Religion

Description:

About Infinite Variety: A History of Desire in India: From Dargahs to cinemas, yoga to mathematics, and make-up to Freud -- Menon's book navigates through multifarious terrains to trace a course of desire running through India’s past. The author carefully takes instances from history, architecture and life in general, to show that India's open relationship with desire existed long before the conservationist uproars began. Menon's book charts out with evidence how erotic love beyond marital ties was celebrated in Bhakti poetry, how Kama sutra’s author remained celibate throughout his life, and other intriguing instances. In this age where gender and sexuality are policed with draconian laws, Menon's book seeks to act as a testimony to love and desire as witnessed in history.