Earlier this year, artist Shakibul Islam went to the Lepakshi temple in Andhra Pradesh. He was shocked to find that the stone relief figures of the 16th-century temple, both male and female, had their private parts discreetly covered by strips of cloth. What was worse, the modesty strips had been nailed in place. When he asked the security guard how this could be done in a site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, the guard replied, “Local families come here. They have done this, so there's no bad influence on their children. We cannot do anything.”
Sandip Roy is a journalist at various esteemed publications including BBC News and The Hindu. He explores themes of culture and society, travel, and environmental issues, often intersecting with topics such as elections, politics, and public policy. Sandip's work has been featured in notable outlets like The Economic Times, Condé Nast Traveller India, and Outlook Publishing, highlighting his diverse interests and expertise in regional and global narratives.
