Imagine living a life in which your identity flows like water, constantly reshaping itself over the course of centuries of migration, echoing the whispers of far-off ancestors. Who embodies this fluid existence? For one, the Romani people, by which term I have come to refer to those often called Gypsies. We have seen their culture […]Read More
Navarasa, which translates as “new emotions” in Sanskrit, is a key concept in classical Indian art that encapsulates the essence of emotional expression. These nine emotions—Shringar (love), Hasya (laughter), Raudra (anger), Karuna (compassion), Veer (courage), bhayanaka (fear), bibhatsa (disgust), adbhuta (awe), and shanta (peace)—function as universal languages that transcend cultural boundaries. Each quantity enables artists […]Read More
Cinema in India has always been a vivid blend of art, storytelling, and culture. From the early silent films to the lavish productions of Bollywood, Indian cinema has reflected the diverse traditions of the country. One such significant film that revolutionized Indian cinema is Kalpana, released in 1948. This was no ordinary film; it was […]Read More
Carrying the name Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, (Cleopatra father loving Goddess) She was the last active ruler of the Egyptian Ptolemaic empire from 51 to 30 BC. Queen Cleopatra is eternal and immortal, being a glorious figure often reappearing in paintings, sculptures, Roman and Ptolemaic coinage, Roman historiography, texts, carvings, Latin poetry, Renaissance art and […]Read More
The words appropriation and appreciation are often confused with one another. Appreciation is when a culture and its things are respected and appreciated, while appropriation is something imperialistic states often find themselves indulging in. the peacock dress that Lady Curzon wore was though designed by Jean-Philippe Worth the handwork of zardozi technique was all done […]Read More
The two queens of the Travancore royal family who were born as cousins and grew up to play a prominent part in the history of Travancore. Granddaughters of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma, who were adopted by the Travancore royal family went on to live lives that were surely influential but in no way […]Read More
Maharani Chimnabai II of Baroda Maharani Chimnabai II born to Shrimant Sardar Bajirao Amritrao Ghatge of Dewas and married to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, she was a prominent female leader of Baroda and an advocate for women’s rights. She went on to abolish regressive systems and became the first president of All India Women’s Conference. […]Read More
In times when women of the royal families dressed up traditionally usually under a “purdah” with their heads covered, Sita devi not only caught the world’s attention with her beautifully draped saris, she also became a muse for various European designers and photographers. Her beauty was so ethereal that many referred to her as the […]Read More
The golden nightingale of the golden age of Indian classical music, a radiant beauty draped in feisty opulence mesmerising the eyes, dropping jaws, getting the feets dance at her rhythms, tunes, songs and pioneering the epoch of recording in India and asserting the right of a performer to protect, own and exploit one’s identity, what […]Read More
Known as the most maverick princess of the Royal British household, Princess Diana who though not became the queen of the country but won immense love as the queen of people’s heart, was a woman of her own spirit, a devoted mother of the two future princes, an eloquent fashionista with a deeply controversial life […]Read More