How Accessible is India?

Back to India’s realities: In India, post my London return in 2015 November, I was upbeat about creating accessible and inclusive spaces but everything changed with the research here. I became extremely disappointed that I was not able to find visitor surveys or statistics here. Most of our museums do not even know how many...

How UK Museums are some of the most Accessible & Inclusive in the world

Traditional Indian crafts with new life

Usha Prajapati Varia, the founder of Samoolam, emailed me about an upcoming event in the city. Since she is busy working in London could I attend it? Why not? Of course, anything Usha suggests is always unique - and so it was! I read up about Jiyo from their website, it says there: JIYO !...

World Heritage Day: Post #2

18 April is World Heritage Day These beautiful animals and birds are enriching our Heritage ❤ “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” Mahatma Gandhi "We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled...

World Heritage Day: Post #1

  18 April is World Heritage Day. Today #projectinterpret salutes those who protect our Heritage, at whatever cost. Those who remain unrecognised, unknown and invisible. Those who we never get an opportunity to thank for their infinite efforts. Who is cleaning the Ghats or banks of the Ganga every morning before we go and ritualistically...

Mystery object

    I had asked on social media after these objects I had seen a couple carry on their bike on a highway in Andhra Pradesh. Seeing my curiosity and desperateness to photograph them, the biker had slowed down and the lady giggled and let me take a few quick shots. Nobody was harmed in...

Tighten your seat belts for some time travel!

Welcome aboard! You are on a time travel device. And, are advised to hold tight, keep your jaws from dropping and eyes from popping out as Aparna Andhare, the maverick pilot, swooshes you through the lanes and by-lanes of Shekhawati in north east of Rangeelo Rajasthan. The region of Shekhawati is probably one of the...

The Look Book: when they saw us, and how!

My first review as the Mumbai correspondent for Art Fact, the newsletter for ArtsAcre Foundation, Kolkata I could stare at that Persian couple the rest of my life – really! Her hairstyle, their fashionable garments and footwear, his headgear, her direct gaze and his almond dreamy eyes – together they were celebs of their day...

Have you visited your local Museum yet? We have :)

March is here, everyone will get busy with their financial work in India as this month ends the financial year here. It’s a stressful time when you realise that most of your investments have gone wrong and the essential papers are missing! For a de-stressful time, visit the local museum in your city to marvel...

Poetic freedom

Dear Manju Your instant creative responses to this photograph taken at Pondicherry on 31st December, 2018 offered me the luxury of choice... Instead of forcing my choice on the readers, yesterday, on social media, there was an opinion poll. Everyone scrambled to find the poet/ess in themselves. The answer - equal responses to both :)...