An exploration of the themes and characters in the Tamil film ‘Dorothy,' a landmark movie in Tamil cinema that explores LGBTQ in a rural Tamil Nadu setting

The Second Elizabeth: A Life Appreciated A tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at her passing This story was first published on September 22, 2022 in Merion West, two weeks after Queen Elizabeth II’s …

Comparing the reigns of Victoria and Elizabeth II, and how presiding over a declining empire is more arduous than presiding over one that is rising.

Perspectives on Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ from a writer raised in India & living in the West, comparing it with Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata

Few Indian composers have ventured into the symphonic tradition. With 'New Beginnings', Lydian Nadhaswaram enters that lineage. Vishwas Gaitonde examines the work, its origins and the vision behind its creation.

The Crème de la Crème of Tarzan Films The one serious, literate attempt to treat Tarzan’s source material with genuine cinematic ambition A film that closely follows the storyline of its source …

Long Live the Old Year A meditation on the New Year Tick-tock, tick-tock, we the people lurch towards the end of this year — but only in countries which follow the Gregorian calendar. For the …

“” is published by Vishwas R. Gaitonde.

Why Mona Lisa Smiles The question that has intrigued people for over five centuries “The enigma of the Mona Lisa’s smile is not less than the enigma of her creator’s life force.” ~ Sherwin …

On Earth as It Is in Heavenstories by Vishwas R. Gaitonde Winner of The 2023 Orison Fiction Prize, selected by David Heska Wanbli Weiden *available for pre-order* Orison Bookspaper / 220 pp. / $20.00Print ISBN: 978-1-949039-60-3E-book ISBN: 978-1-949039-61-0Distributed to the trade by Itasca Books952-223-8373 / orders@itascabooks.comPublication Date: September 2, 2025 ABOUT THE BOOKTo turn earth into heaven is a tall order, but no matter where they live on this planet, the people in these

Finding Madras in Chennai To celebrate Madras Day, a look at the city of Chennai through its street names — I — That people the world over are besotted with film stars is nothing new, but …

Service is a poorly understood word, often confused with charity. The belief that one can only serve best in poorer countries is also a fallacy, as this essay shows.

The recent history of India's LGBT movement, from the battle to repeal colonial sodomy law Section 377 to the quest for equality and gay marriage

Ballad about an unruly student getting punished at school, and his father escalating the drama taking the school to court. Humor, light verse.

Some nursery rhymes and popular children's poems have coded messages about the plague, a dreaded disease of the past. We have forgotten their hidden meanings

CS Lewis meant the Chronicles of Narnia to be Christian allegories. But what if we examine the tales through the lens of Hinduism?

The rate of deforestation on earth is scary but Jean Giorno's story 'The Man Who Planted Trees' has sparked an eco movement of reforestation. Earth Day

The Aramaic and Hebrew names of Jesus and his twelve disciples and how they transformed into Anglicized names over countries and centuries.

Like Lourdes, the basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, India attracts pilgrims seeking healing. History of this church & why it attracts pilgrims

A ballad in light verse about how a dragon terrorized a kingdom, and how the ordinary citizens came together to overcome the beast