Chapati Mystery(CM), a “quaint” publication, started out wondering what T. E. Lawrence and Bhagat Singh would talk about, over dinner. And it kinda went downhill from there. Over the last three years, you would have read examples of ‘Cool History’ from South Asia [’cool’ being a subjective term, here], wrong analysis of US domestic politics [I thought Kerry would win], many, many rants against journalists and historians who write about Islam, Middle East or South Asia, some sober assessments on Pakistan’s political and religious scene, a few ruminations about public intellectuals and digital history and finally enough snark to overcome a room full of Wicker Park hipsters. Do be aware that CM’s only qualified expertise is in medieval and modern South Asian history. You should take our guided tour.
about sepoy
Manan Ahmed, who is writing his dissertation in the history of South Asia and Islam at the University of Chicago, blogs under the sobriquet sepoy. He can also be found hanging out with the grownups at Cliopatria and at Informed Comment: Global Affairs.
He has appeared on Chicago Public Radio, NPR, LA Times, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago news channels, and many on-line news and media publication - often acting as an ‘expert’ on Pakistan. None of the views expressed on this blog can be ascribed to his employer, his university, his landlord, the teenage mutant ninja turtles or leo strauss.
He has always had the tendency to poke authority in the eye and run like hell. While not the bravest of tactics, this has ensured his absence from Gitmo. He loves history, sometimes in a creepy way. His posts are often smug and superior in tone but you should forgive him. He is just an academic, after all.
Sepoy sometimes harangues some of his peers into participating at CM in an ad-hoc capacity. They appear when they deem it fit. They are:
about lapata
lapata holds a ph.d. in south asian literature. More often, she holds a martini glass askew, with an absurd, charming little laugh. She knows that the world is a bad place and she plans on telling you that as soon as we all sit down and get comfortable. She is an artist of the political whimsy.
about farangi
Farangi, N. 1. Foreigner. 2. One out of place. 3. Slang (Ar., al., Pers.) Person of European descent, esp. a Frenchman. 4. Fictional race of diminutive humanoid Star Trek characters, known for enlarged ears and foreheads. Generally viewed as a race of crooks and robber barons. 5. Steve Marlowe: Overwhelmingly handsome and erudite writer, teacher and lawyer from Dayton, Ohio whose psychological difficulties balancing a redneck past and white-shoe present makes for interesting cocktail party chat and occasional misdemeanors.
Sepoy has also invited and received guest posts from Dacoit, Bulleyah, Saurav, Rob and Sumana. Good people, them.
about Chapati Mystery, 4.0 [year four]
All hail Lapata
about Chapati Mystery, 3.0 [year three]
So, this experiment continues.
about Chapati Mystery, 2.0 [year two]
Improbably enough, CM is still around. I have added some new voices as roving reporters. They troll the earth from Delhi to Dallas and bring you news of that which they please. They are a opinionated bunch but I like them and so shall you, so help you Jehovah.
CM will continue to be fascinated with history in all its [dis]guises.
about Chapati Mystery, 1.0 [year one]
This blog will try desperately to stay on topic. The topics could be: specific happenings in the indian and pakistani cosmologies, american foreign and domestic policies, cricket, techno-geek instruments, islam, middle east, the academic world, history, anthropology, the fine art of reading NYT book reviews so you don’t have to read the actual books, the quest for the perfect Apple G5 laptop, grinding out a dissertation, buying a house, looking for a job, urdu literature. ok. thats it. if i manage to post one post per above topic in one year, i will buy me a PRESENT.
discussions