Shikhandi and Other Stories They Don't Tell You Quotes

“There is no such thing as an objective interpretation.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi: and Other Tales They Don't Tell You

“Hindu mythology makes constant references to queerness, the idea that questions notions of maleness and femaleness. There are stories of men who become women, and women who become men, of men who create children without women, and women who create children without men, and of creatures who are neither this, nor that, but a little bit of both, like the makara (a combination of fish and elephant) or the yali (a combination of lion and elephant). There are also many words in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil such as kliba, napumsaka, mukhabhaga, sanda, panda, pandaka, pedi that suggest a long familiarity with queer thought and behaviour. It is common to either deny the existence of such fluidity in our stories, or simply locate them in the realm of the supernatural or point to law books that, besides endorsing patriarchy and casteism, also frown upon queer behaviour. Yet the stories are repeatedly told and shown. Gentle attempts, perhaps, of wise sages to open up stubborn finite minds and lead them towards infinity”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi and Other Stories They Don't Tell You

“The Kamasutra warns that conception with women on top can alter the sexuality of the children conceived.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi: and Other Tales They Don't Tell You

“It is not about being a hermit in the forest. It is about overpowering lust and attachment wherever you are.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi and Other Stories They Don't Tell You

“In the karmic worldview, you are queer because of karma, and it may be a boon or curse. In the one-life worldview, you are queer because you choose to be so, to express your individuality or to defy authority (Greek mythology) or God/Devil wills it so (biblical mythology).”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi: and Other Tales They Don't Tell You

“When you make a tomb, make another tomb next to mine.’ When asked why, he said, ‘When my poet friend hears of my departure, he will come to me and want to die and be buried beside me.’ ‘But you have never met him. How do you know he will come?’ ‘I know him. And he knows me. He will come.’ And the poet did come. And the two friends were buried next to each other.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shikhandi: and Other Tales They Don't Tell You