“This,” he indicated the binding, “is new. Made for the English. But &

“This,” he indicated the binding, “is new. Made for the English. But – ” the old man opened the folio. Inside was a miniature painting. With an inscription at the top in what Laertes thought was Hindi, it showed scenes of a story – he could tell this because two of the characters, one blue-skinned, the other ivory, recurred over multiple panels. “What story does this tell?” asked Laertes. “The story of Radha and Krishna,” answered the antiquarian. “It’s from a poem by Sur Das, our blind poet.” “They had John Stagg in England.” Laertes said, “also blind.” The old man nodded. “This was painted perhaps a hundred years ago. The poet lived three hundred years ago.” Laertes appreciated chronological markers. “See here, this is Lord Krishna.” The old man pointed at the male figure with blue skin, wearing what appeared to bs a crown. “And that’s his wife Radha,” he pointed to the ivory-skinned woman, who clearly represented the former’s companion. “And you see here,” he pointed to the next panel, “Krishna wears her clothes.” Laertes looked – and it was true. The blue-skinned Krishna’s hair was hidden in a dupatta edged with pearls. His arms were bare, and a long pleated skirt wrapped around his waist. “And she, his.“ Radha, too, wore Krishna’s crown, and the shorter tunic of men, with shalwar. "Why is this?” “To know,” said the old man. “That the worshipper and the worshipped are the same.” “The Lover and the Beloved,” said Laertes under his breath. It made sense to him. #thegiaour #laertes #lordbyron #thesequel #lgbtqtravelers #crossdressing #crosplay #genderidentity #beloved #cinema #literature #transrights #transrightsarehumanrights #loveislove #mythology #powercouple #destabilize https://www.instagram.com/p/CVIT7GplWv_/?utm_medium=tumblr -- source link

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