Patachitra, an intricate form of scroll painting, is one of the most exquisite and enduring art traditions of Odisha, India. Rooted deeply in the...
Patachitra of Odisha: The Living Tradition of Scroll Painting
The Art and Culture of Odisha: An Evolutionary Journey
The Rich Tapestry of West Bengal: A Cultural Odyssey
Experience Art, Healing, and Creativity: Varunjai Sahni’s ‘Sarvam’ Exhibition, Nov 25 – Dec 4
Red River Rising by Husna: Perfect Portrayal of Tragedy and Hopefulness
Art & Culture
Patachitra, an intricate form of scroll painting, is one of the most exquisite and enduring art traditions of Odisha, India. Rooted deeply in the state’s cultural and religious life, Patachitra, which literally means “cloth painting,†is...
Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India, is a state rich in cultural heritage and artistic traditions. Its history, spanning several millennia...
West Bengal, situated in eastern India, is a state teeming with vibrant cultural heritage and rich traditions. This region, with its diverse...
Step into a luminous sanctuary of healing colours and infinite possibilities at Varunjai Sahni‘s “Sarvam” exhibition at The Stainless Gallery. Chief Guest Mrs. Rama Pandey (Author, Theatre Artist & Journalist) opened the exhibition on Saturday, November 25th, 2023 in the presence of distinguished guests from different walks of life. This immersive exhibition of abstract art invites viewers to explore the tapestry of emotions that lie within us all.
Sahni‘s paintings are vibrant, expressive and each one is a unique journey into the human soul. His use of colours is masterful, with each hue carefully chosen to evoke a specific feeling. From the soothing azure depths of the ocean to the fiery embrace of the sun, Sahni‘s paintings transport viewers to a realm of deep introspection and healing.
His art is more than just visually stunning: it is also deeply emotionally resonant. His paintings speak to the universal human experience, exploring themes of love, joy, loss and hope. As viewers immerse themselves in Sahni‘s world, they are invited to reflect on their own lives and journeys, and to find solace and inspiration in his work.
“Sarvam” is not just an exhibition of art; it is an invitation to heal. Sahni‘s paintings are a reminder that we are all connected, and that we all possess the power to heal ourselves and others.
In addition to the exhibition, Sahni will also be hosting a series of art workshops and interactive events. These events are designed to help participants tap into their own creativity and experience the healing power of art firsthand.
“Art is my way of living and expressing life,” said Sahni. “It’s like a balm for the soul, a refuge from the storms of life. It is a mirror that reflects our deepest selves, and a window that reveals the infinite possibilities of the human spirit. Through my artwork, I invite viewers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. May my work ignite the spark of creativity within us all, and inspire us to transform our lives and the world around us.“
Sarvam invites one and all on this journey of healing and inspiration. To experience the tapestry of healing colours that make up the world around us, and find solace in the depth of each stroke and the healing power of every hue.
Red River Rising by Husna, published by the Locksley Hall Publishing LLP and The Book Bakers Literary Agency, is a thriller/fiction based on the deluge of 2018 in the flood plains and hills of the Periyar river in Kerala. It is a compelling natural disaster novel; one of the very few from the genre in India. The plot takes the reader on a roller coaster ride, unsettling at times, resonating with the reality of a post-truth world. The effects of climate change and environmental degradation, area reality that holds us all accountable, and the author has convincingly conveyed this message in a tragic narrative, angry at times and hopeful of others. The characters are so real and the plotting engaging. In an almost anthropomorphic storytelling, veering between heart-wrenching realism and hopeful idealism. The story revolves around 5 characters who are affected by the river, and hose lives become inexplicably entwined.
The narrative opens with a disturbing relationship a young woman, Lakshmi has with the Periyar River. Her traumatic childhood, social conditioning, and relentless search for love push her to the edge.
Radha – an activist from Delhi, travels to the tribal town of Attapadi in search of her husband Krishnan, whom the authorities allege is an Aisha Maoist sympathizer.
Mani – a resident of Attapadi belongs to the Kurumbar tribe and is involved in the marijuana trade in the region and assists Radha in the search for Krishnan.
Sabu, a fisherman from Vypin is instrumental in the rescue and evacuation of those affected by the floods in the Athesteady reserve forest. He stumbles upon vital information regarding Krishnan.
And at the center I, all is – Krishnan, Radha’s husband who has gone missing. In the search for Krishnan, Radha discovers startling truths that have graver implications in both her personal life as well as society at large. The treacherous waters of the deluge thus play the ultimate leveler and revelationist.
How did Krishnan disappear? Where is he? Will Radha be successful in her search for her husband? Can Radha and Mani survive the treacherous waters of the deluge? What is the mystery behind the mass burial in the middle of the forest? All these questions remain the crux of the story.
Red River rising is a potpourri of different genres. Though the central narrative is about a natural disaster it has elements of love, loss, betrayal, and politics woven into it. From the student politics of Delhi to the tribal region of Attapadi, it addresses the human condition that exists in our hyper-consumerist world. Set amidst the devastating Kerala floods of 2018, Red River Rising explores the social, psychological, environmental, and political impact the river has on its unsuspecting protagonists amidst nature’s fury.
Copper Coin Publishing has come out with Sonnet Mondal’s seventh book of poems, An Afternoon in My Mind. Seventy-five poems with a strong feeling of location, particularly ‘home,’ are included in the collection. A warm glow of reminiscence surrounds you at all times. Readers are immersed into a fascinating, sombre, and evocative muck of feelings and reflections that appear transient but linger like a stimulating and sweet aftertaste long after each poem has finished.
Each poem in the book like a story speak of the poet’s unsettled trip into his inner self and of a period that seems to have slipped between the ignored pages of ordinary and vacuous routines of contemporary existence, which he pulls out effortlessly and breathes life into with a timeless beautiful romance.
‘An Afternoon in My Mind’, transports readers back to their childhood memories, mental battles to combat futuristic concepts, healing crevices of darkness, and fighting till the finish with a continual focus on seeing life as a joyful experience. Memories that are redundant, unwanted, or annoying are erased in his poems. They condense into an after-storm breeze, enveloping us in times of tumult and allowing us to walk alone in times of reflection.
In Ranjit Hoskote’s words, “Every road in Sonnet Mondal’s new collection, An Afternoon in My Mind, moves forward to the past. I use this turn of phrase advisedly, for the past is never concluded in Mondal’s poignant and haunting poems, never fully left behind. It suffuses the present as the remembered scent of first rains and muddy streams. It infiltrates the future in the voice of a vanished grandfather and the resonance of a ferry horn.”
Megha Baja has often been referred to as India’s most loved author. Her latest book, The Breakthrough published by Rupa Publications has been playing a humongous role in uplifting human consciousness and has sold 13,000 plus copies already! Megha is one of those authors, whose words simply bypass the mind and go to the heart and create instant transformation. She is an ardent seeker, and a follower of Guru Mahatria.
Megha is an author mentor and an edupreneur whose WoW programs online, and as part of schools curriculums have impacted over a million students, CEO’s, home-makers, entrepreneurs and corporate professionals in the last decade.
The Breakthrough, is a book about you. Though it contains the story of 11 people from across India: Praburam (Alubee), Kavish Gadia (Freadom App), Nitin Nyati (Nyati Builders) Sushiil Mehta (Jains Car Shoppe) Chitra Prasad (NSN group of schools), Dr Asha Vijay (GarbhaGudi IVF), Kanni and Uvaraj (Poorvika Mobiles), Guru Prasad Makam (Guru & Jana Chartered Accountancy Firm), Sandeep Agarwal (Ratnadeep Supermarkets) Arun Kumar Natha (inPace), Mukesh Jain (Meghdoot Textiles) who began their life with nothing, and are today trailblazers, in their stories, you will find yourself. These stories have been inspiring youth and CEOs, entrepreneurs and home-makers – and even eminent film makers who wish to create a series out of the book.
In Megha Bajaj you will find a breath of fresh air – authenticity at its best – fluidity of language and a flow that is inimitable. The book has been a record breaking one and not only had the world’s largest virtual book launch but has been known to gift a breakthrough to anyone who reads it. It is a part of school curriculums, corporate programs. Megha is a sought-after mentor/speaker and film script writer.
The Breakthrough team is conducting an enriching virtual camp this summer called 2022: Summer of Transformation at an unbelievable price for an incredible offer. Your youngster (8-18) will learn writing, speaking, self-confidence and people skills from best mentors across India and the actual cost of this workshop would have been Rs 13,500/- but is being brought to you at just Rs 495/-.
We have partnering schools like NSN Group of Schools headed by the eminent educator Chitra Prasad as well as Gayathri Ram of Shri Natesan Vidyasala – along with other humanitarian educators across the globe who wish to give their students the best experiences possible. Youth organizations are joining hands with us for this summer camp, as are corporates (as part of their CSR) to take the 2022: Summer Of Transformation to as many students as possible across the globe and gift them with life skills that will take them a very long way.
The summer camp will be conducted by bestselling authors, TedX speakers, role-model entrepreneurs and youth icons who will share their stories, their tips and tools to make your youngster have the most incredible real-life learning experiences. Don’t miss this for anything!
Since today is 2-22-22, it is the first palindrome of the year. The word palindrome refers to a sequence of numbers, words, or phrases that read the same backward as they do forwards.
History of palindromes
Henry Peacham is credited with introducing the word ‘palindrome’ in 1638. Intriguingly, the first known palindrome was written in Latin, dating from Roman times; it reads: “Sator arepo tenet opera rotas”, which loosely translates to, “The sower Arepo holds the wheels with effort.”
Even though English writers cited Latin and Greek palindromes in their literary work, poet John Taylor is believed to have coined one in 1614 that read: “Lewd did I live, & evil I did dwel”. This sentence is considered to be the first English-language palindrome. In English, there are many word pairs which are understood to be palindromes. Examples include,
A palindrome date is also believed to bring good fortune to many cultures around the world. On these special days, they use their ‘power of thoughts’ to manifest the life they desire.
Britney Spears made headlines last year due to her dramatic personal life. Now that Britney is a free woman, she’s ready to tell her own story. On January 11, 2022, Britney posted a picture of a typewriter on Instagram with the caption: “Shall I start from THE BEGINNING???”
Britney Spears was finally released from Jamie Spears’ conservatorship on November 21, 2021. A few weeks later, on her 40th birthday in September 2021, she announced her engagement to long-time partner Sam Asghari. She has hinted on Instagram that she is working on a memoir in recent weeks.
She speculated in her post that she is writing a memoir. Several others expressed their excitement over the news, as well as their encouragement and support.
Britney’s journey so far has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, from having a successful career at a young age to living a troubled personal life. However, the artist has remained strong and now plans to live her life according to her own terms. Her conservatorship ended in 2021, and she also accused her family of not being there for her or supporting her while her father was in charge of her conservatorship. According to her earlier Instagram post, she will not be working on her music any longer. The decision to stop making music was Britney’s way of saying, “F*ck you”, even though it only benefits her family by ignoring her real work.
In her new memoir, Things I Should Have Said, Britney Spears’ sister Jamie Spears shared her side of the controversy surrounding her family.
A New Year signifies a fresh start and hope for the future. Penguin India’s Penguin Transform program offers a list of 12 international bestsellers to help one become a better reader. A reader is to read each of the 12 books over a 12-month period, and each title promises to transform their outlook on life.
BY SAMAN LUQMAN
Here are books:-
01/12′ Educated’ by Tara Westover
The memoir ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover will inspire you to have faith and achieve more in life.
02/12′ 12 Rules for Life’ by Jordan B. Peterson
Jordan B. Peterson, a clinical psychologist and author, uses his works and ancient wisdom to present 12 principles to live by that can offer solutions for contemporary problems.
03/12′ A Wrinkle in Time’ by Madeleine L’Engle
It’s a great read on the list for kids and young adults. It makes you rediscover love and support for your family and helps you fight for your loved ones. A Disney film adaptation of L’Engle’s bestselling book has also been released.
04/12′ Forty Rules of Love’ by Elif Shafak
The beauty of this story will make you believe in the power of love and how it can change you for the better.
05/12′ Thinking Fast and Slow’ by Daniel Kahneman
This book explains how our minds are tripped up by errors and prejudices and offers practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking. In its blurb, the book promises to help you make better decisions at work, at home, and in everything you do.
06/12′ Zen and the Art of Simple Living’ by Shunmyo Masuno
Popular Buddhist monk Shunmyo Masuno offers 100 tips (one for each day) on how to apply the essence of Zen in everyday life to feel relaxed and fulfilled.
07/12′ Think Again’ by Adam Grant
This book explores the idea that rethinking, unlearning, and relearning can help us achieve greater work-life balance and wisdom. It is written by organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant.
08/12′ Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig
The international bestseller ‘Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig will take you on an incredible journey and make you question: How should we live?.
09/12′ Breath’ by James Nestor
James Nestor travels the world to discover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices to find out what went wrong and how to fix it in his book, Breath, according to the blurb.
10/12′ Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernadine Evaristo
’Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernadine Evaristo, winner of the 2018 Booker Prize for fiction, takes the reader through the lives of twelve characters in Great Britain 100 years ago.
11/12′ Normal People’ by Sally Rooney
Many millennials and adults will relate to Sally Rooney’s award-winning novel, ‘Normal People’. The story of self-discovery, modern love, and friendship is beautifully written.
12/12′ When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi
As a medical student, a neurosurgeon, a lung cancer patient, and a new father, Paul Kalanithi recounts his life. He also asks what makes life meaningful and virtuous.
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