In a telephonic conversation with The Statesman, he reflected on his journey both on and off stage during the tour.
The panel consisted of moderator, writer, and translator Poonam Saxena; the editor of the book, Rakhshanda Jalil; and contributing writer Mridula Koshy. Together, they explored Delhi’s ever-changing identity through the lens of the book.
Padmashri Geeta Chandran conceived and curated the two-day event that celebrated the vibrancy of Indian dance across styles and generations.
She may refer to her craft as ‘Every day Art,’ however, Shilpa Gupta’s artistic expression is anything but “every day”. From cough syrup bottles to barrier tapes, her installations catapult mundane objects into powerful political statements.
Tara, a successful lawyer from Delhi, is at the center of the story. Tara is sure of herself, but she also feels lonely. Her parents, her younger brother, Lila, and Kunal, the brother who’s adopted, are all around her.
The festival was an experiment for site-specific performances - the venue in Majuli is next to the river Luit - that intend to encourage performers and members of the audience to look beyond the proscenium and amphitheatre.
The event was graced by the presence of dance exponents Padma Bhushan Dr. Raja Reddy, Padma Bhushan Dr. Radha Reddy, and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi (Member Secretary, IGNCA).
Colourful processions showcasing rich and traditional tribal culture, community prayers and public meetings were organised at a number of places in the state under the banner of the Indigenous Faith and Culture Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) to mark the occasion.
Basanti has the credit of training over 1,200 women from poor families in stitching in the last one decade. Among them, 200 girls have become entrepreneurs and run their own independent business enterprises.
The fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rishi Aurobindo, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Bidhan Chandra Roy were among the prominent national figures who were arrested and kept here adds to the significance of the place. The museum tells moving stories of the Indian freedom fighters.
