4 Comments

Beautifully written Pallavi. Entire history encapsulated in your article 🙏🏼

Expand full comment
Feb 3, 2023Liked by Pallavi Aiyar

Great article Pallavi, thank you!

Yes Al Andalus left its magic imprint in modern Andalucia, which we owe to the Damascus Caliphate, a very advanced and refined society, far more so than its western contemporaries. It also left an imprint on our character ....You might want to look into this in a another post.

While the take over of most of Spain by the caliphate was fast and largely bloodless, a small but hard headed group of christians in the nortwest decided Islam was´nt for them, and decided to fight the invaders. The reconquista brewed todays Spain, until recently fanatically christian, always ready to fight "the moors., and to spread roman chistianity all over the world. A form of spiritual reconquista waged by succesice kings which undoubtebly protected indian americans from the greed of our conquistadores., but brought ruin to much of Europe, ruining Spain in the process

Expand full comment
Feb 3, 2023Liked by Pallavi Aiyar

I lived in Spain during the end days of the Franco regime. I was able to freely travel but had to be careful of what I said and to whom with respect politics and then cultural influence of the church. So much has since changed for the better.

Thank you for your story!

Expand full comment
Feb 3, 2023Liked by Pallavi Aiyar

First and foremost: you look grand and on the mend. The spirit is visibly there.

Second, it is a pleasure to contradict you on paella. According to Amit SCHANDILLIA: Don't forward that text (highly recommended source of facts published in Delhi), paella is a corruption of pulao, from the sanskit pulaka, to Persian pelav, to Turkish pilaf and Hindi pulav, only to retun to India as pulao. Alexander brought the dish back from Sogdiana (pg. 38). Avicenna put down the first pilav - paella - recipe.

Expand full comment