Comments on: Putrashoka — Grief on the loss of a Child http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/ A Point of View Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:53:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Vidya http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-5599 Vidya Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:04:46 +0000 http://calamur.org/gargi/?p=940#comment-5599 In terms of mythology putrashoka seems to have been a potent curse as well so much so that it was considered a cause of death in that context it can be explained as 'death caused by grief caused by death' (ref verses pertaining to Dasharatha, the background of his curse). I also found a fine instance of Putri shoka in Coleridge's Old man in the alps. Yes my grandparents too lost more than they loved. A survival rate of 4 out of 10 which seems to have been quite commonplace. In terms of mythology putrashoka seems to have been a potent curse as well so much so that it was considered a cause of death in that context it can be explained as ‘death caused by grief caused by death’ (ref verses pertaining to Dasharatha, the background of his curse). I also found a fine instance of Putri shoka in Coleridge’s Old man in the alps.

Yes my grandparents too lost more than they loved. A survival rate of 4 out of 10 which seems to have been quite commonplace.

]]> By: Shefaly http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-5526 Shefaly Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:34:06 +0000 http://calamur.org/gargi/?p=940#comment-5526 @ Harini: Yes a sad interpretation but very common... @ Harini: Yes a sad interpretation but very common…

]]> By: Shefaly http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-5525 Shefaly Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:33:36 +0000 http://calamur.org/gargi/?p=940#comment-5525 @ Harini: I do not recall in detail but there is a reference of her blind love for her sons in there. I am too lazy to go upstairs and get the book and paraphrase it for you :-( When I was at IIMA, we had much material with Indian references. That is not to say we did not read Ibsen and other literary works as well, to relate to a broader context of life. There were the leadership models that fascinated me no end. The Dadhichi model of the leader who gives himself fully to his cause; the Indra model of the micro-manager. There were others too and I am sad that my notes got lost but I am sure Professor Indira Parikh's work is available in the libraries some where. @ Harini: I do not recall in detail but there is a reference of her blind love for her sons in there. I am too lazy to go upstairs and get the book and paraphrase it for you :-(

When I was at IIMA, we had much material with Indian references. That is not to say we did not read Ibsen and other literary works as well, to relate to a broader context of life. There were the leadership models that fascinated me no end. The Dadhichi model of the leader who gives himself fully to his cause; the Indra model of the micro-manager. There were others too and I am sad that my notes got lost but I am sure Professor Indira Parikh’s work is available in the libraries some where.

]]> By: gargi http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-5523 gargi Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:42:26 +0000 http://calamur.org/gargi/?p=940#comment-5523 @shefaly -- it came to me when i was in the gym ... putri shoka is grief at the birth of a daughter :( @shefaly — it came to me when i was in the gym … putri shoka is grief at the birth of a daughter :(

]]> By: gargi http://calamur.org/gargi/2008/09/21/putrashokam-grief-on-the-loss-of-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-5522 gargi Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:13:22 +0000 http://calamur.org/gargi/?p=940#comment-5522 @shefaly - i have read yuganta. I found her take very interesting. i found her analysis of Draupadi very cruel. And that of Bhishma.... viscerally cruel... possibly apt .. but still cruel. i can't quite recollect her analysis of Gandhari - have to re read it. i am not sure about putri shoka... i interpret putra shoka as death of a child as opposed to death of a son. but, you are right ... there isn't too much on the death of a daughter.... @ Nilu - you should read Yungana -- it is a seriously good take on the motivations of the key characters of the Mahabharat... i am glad that management schools are offering such complex and intrinsically Indian work. @shefaly - i have read yuganta. I found her take very interesting.
i found her analysis of Draupadi very cruel. And that of Bhishma…. viscerally cruel… possibly apt .. but still cruel.
i can’t quite recollect her analysis of Gandhari - have to re read it.

i am not sure about putri shoka… i interpret putra shoka as death of a child as opposed to death of a son. but, you are right … there isn’t too much on the death of a daughter….

@ Nilu - you should read Yungana — it is a seriously good take on the motivations of the key characters of the Mahabharat… i am glad that management schools are offering such complex and intrinsically Indian work.

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