Ancient temples – Tales of ancient society sculpted in stone The ancient temples of India are no less than a history book. The intricate stone carving and sculptures tell us about the social customs that existed a thousand or more Read More …
Knowing our trees – knowing our roots Recently I read Independence, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, a wonderful novel about three sisters. The story is set at the time of partition, in rural Bengal. Apart from the beautiful characters of the Read More …
A recent trip to Gwalior, Jhansi and Orchha in the heartland of India was enriching in many ways. It is a land of forts and palaces, that gives testimony of our glorious history. However, while visiting the forts and listening Read More …
সময়টা উনবিনশ শতাব্দী, ঘটে গেছে তুমুল আমূল পরিবর্তন সর্বস্তরে। রাজনৈতিক স্তরে ভারতীয় জাতীয়তাবোধের জন্ম । National Congressএর প্রতিষ্ঠা ১৮৮৫। সামাজিক স্তরে ইয়ং বেঙ্গল আন্দোলন, যুগান্তকারি আইনসমূহ, নারীশিক্ষার অগ্রগতি ও বিকাশ।সাহিত্যগত স্তরে একটা আলালের ঘরের দুলাল বা একটা হুতোম প্যাঁচার নকশা Read More …
The amazing landscape Crowned by the Himalayas, criss-crossed by the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and caressed by the sea, the geography of Bengal spans an expanse, two-thirds of which forms Bangladesh and one-third is West Bengal in India. The advancement of civilisation Read More …
Nandi, the Bull shaped disciple of Lord Shiva is the head of Ganas and is a symbol of strength and virility. The Vayu Purana states that Nandi is the son of Kasyapa and Surabhi. Other Vedic texts point to Nandi Read More …
The winter chill was in the air and we had set off from Bhubaneswar, after a heavy Indian breakfast, for a tribal village near Dhenkanal, called Sadei Berani, famous for Dokra creations. The journey had tugged at my heart strings Read More …
Emperor Ashoka is widely credited with the journey of Buddhism from a regional, Sangha and monk based religion to a widespread way of life, spanning countries and populations. And this journey rests within the personal transformation of Ashoka’s life; from a cruel Read More …
Sunset in the Sunderbans Bengal – the melting point of art and culture Bengal has always had a reputation as the heart of art and literature in our country. It has been a place of great interest to curators, architects Read More …
In the home of a Pattachitra artist in Raghurajpur (Puri), Odisha When I was in school, I remember my father asking me and my sister to accompany him on an official trip to Konark and Puri. During the visit, we Read More …