One of the most fascinating story-telling techniques in the Indian tradition is the hero stone. Sprinkled across the subcontinent, these memorials depict a macho man (but is it always a man or even human?) who has passed, from war, cattle-raids, or murder and must be remembered for eternity. In these episode, Prathik and Revanth discuss the logic and morality of hero stones (and hence also ideas of death entailed), seek to capture their range in style, age, and intention. They then proceed to examine some actual stones and attempt an appreciation of the fine art that they can be.
References:
Memorial Stones: A Study of Their Origin, Significance, and Variety by Gunther Sontheimer and S Settar
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/abs/s-settar-and-gunther-d-sontheimer-ed-memorial-stones-a-study-of-their-orign-significance-and-variety-iah-series-no2-south-asian-studies-no-xiii-xii-393-pp-dharwad-institute-of-indian-art-history-karnatak-university-and-heidelberg-south-asia-insttute-university-of-heidelberg-1982-rs-175/331C1A412CD86FED64BF10293F0E4076
