Bhakti Republic with Amit Basole | Radio Azim Premji University

Across centuries, Bhakti poetry has resonated through temples, streets, and the hearts of millions. But among these voices, some rise with a quiet defiance—those of women. In an era of rigid hierarchies, they dared to sing of love, liberation, and equality. Their devotional poetry, delicate yet resolute, were not mere expressions of piety but declarations of justice. From Akka Mahadevi’s ascetic s...

In this series finale of Bhakti Republic, host Amit Basole explores the vibrant tradition of Krishna Bhakti with historian Varuni Bhatia. Krishna Bhakti, known for its focus on Krishna’s playful and youthful persona, has long been a cornerstone of devotion in regions like Brindavan, where his divine pastimes with Radha are revered. The episode explores the unique aspects of this devotional movemen...

The distinguished anthropologist Irawati Karwe wrote, “I found a new definition of Maharashtra: the land whose people go to Pandharpur for pilgrimage.” Pandharpur, near the city of Solapur, is a sacrosanct destination for the Varkari path within Hinduism, centred around the worship of the deity Vitthal or Vithoba, a form of Vishnu. The Varkaris are a part of the Bhakti movement, a spiritual tradit...

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...

In the embrace of 12th-century Karnataka, Vachanas, voices of the marginalized, whispered of Kayakave Kailasa – work is worship. Join Amit Basole on Ep 3 of Bhakti Republic for a captivating exploration of the poetry of the Sharanas. Listen to Vachanas rendered in the soulful voice of M D Pallavi accompanied by Bruce Lee Mani on guitar. Releasing December 20, 2023 on Radio Azim Premji University....

We journey to the ancient, timeless city of Varanasi, its ghats washed by the river Ganga, to find ourselves enmeshed in the warp and weft of Kabir’s verse. Kabir the weaver venerates the Almighty without question, but equally, he scorns the hollowness of rituals in society that clutter the path to this sacred union. His poetry is simple and accessible, yet pungent with wit and incisive with insig...

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, ci...

What do the songs of 1950’s Hindi cinema have in common with the poems of Bhakti saint-poets? As we explore the histories of constitutional ideas through Bhakti poetry, we find a striking resonance in the values underpinning the Constitution of our modern republic. We begin our journey in 20th century Bombay, where the film industry has created a new public sphere for expression by artists, lyrici...