About this site

 

About This Site

Before I share the focus of this space, I want to share how it came to be.

Previously, I maintained both a Substack page and a Google Blogger page. However, I found that hosting nearly identical content on both platforms created technical complications. Because the detailed posts on Blogger were being flagged as duplicate content, they were not being properly indexed by search engines. To resolve this, I have withdrawn the content from the previous blog and paused my Substack schedule to consolidate my efforts here.

This site, writtenbybabu.blogspot.com, is now my primary home for writing. I chose this name to be my signature and representative of my work, and it also aligns with my Substack presence at writtenbybabu.substack.com.

What you will find here: This site is dedicated to the retelling and analysis of stories from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Hitopadesha, and other Indian texts. Each post begins with the story itself, but does not stop there. I also explore why particular stories were included, how Bengali versions differ from the Sanskrit texts, how characters are portrayed across traditions, and what later authors may have added, removed, or rearranged. The aim is not merely to tell the tale, but to understand how these texts evolved and why they were written in the way they were.

Why this content: The Bengali in me wanted me to. The Ramayana of Krittibas and the Mahabharata of Kashidas have been part of Bengali households. Then Hitopadesha, said to have been written in Bengal. 

Why I started this:
I have 2 blogger sites
kashidashimahabharat.blogspot.com and babubanglaramayanretell.blogspot.com

The work I did on the sites was a word to word telling/ translation. That still exists and will stay. I plan to expand on that. So I will be taking each chapter from Ramayana of Krittibas and the Mahabharata of Kashidas, tell the story and analyze the story. 
I want to concentrate on Bengal centric texts for now. So along with the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, I will be doing the same (tell the tale and analyze it) for Hitopadesha. 

A One-Man Effort: This is a singular effort. I do not have a team; I manage the research, writing, and technical maintenance myself, alongside my responsibilities outside the cyber world. While I am not committing to a rigid schedule at this time, I plan to post as frequently as possible.

The work here is a result of extensive research and labour. Copying and pasting this content to other websites, blogs, or social media platforms without explicit credit is strictly prohibited. If you wish to share these records, please do so by providing a direct link to the original post on this site.

The art work I have used is something I have generated . Some animated gif images have been created by me and have been used here.
If there is an issue with the art, please let me know and I will remove them.

To support the research that goes into maintaining this, I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When relevant, I include affiliate links to related products, such as books or art prints. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my work!

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About Babu

Namaste / Namaskar / Hello. I am Babu, a retired IT professional based in Bengaluru. Born in Hyderabad and educated in Delhi, I am a Bengali at heart. My career in the Information Technology industry spanned thirty-five years and allowed me to travel extensively throughout India and abroad.

In this chapter of my life, I am focusing on a lifelong interest: sharing the stories I have read or heard over the years. These are stories that I personally value, and I hope they resonate with you as well.

Thank you for visiting. Please feel free to leave a comment; I will try to respond at the earliest opportunity.

Enjoy the stories, the analysis and share it. Let others also learn from it, as I learn, each day at a time.