This 2023 Women's Day post is dedicated to the most awesome Priyanka Tolia and her Design Studio Chitku – a design and craft collaborative established in 2009. Wishing you, your team and this little girl the very best wishes for a peaceful life, full of love and safe women's day, every day!
Happy 2023 :)
Happy 2023:) Wishing you a very Happy, Safe and Peaceful 2023. Thank you everyone for your support, encouragement and appreciation. VarnikaDesigns managed to get back to doing what we have been attempting since 2010 - to make Indian museums and heritage more accessible and inclusive.
‘Impresario:A Heritage Foundry’ Interview with Stephen Barker, author and military historian
On Impresario: A Heritage Foundry we present an interview with Stephen Barker. A heritage advisor and museum consultant for museums in England, Stephen has been researching on the role of Indians as part of the British army during the World Wars. He closely examines their lives and activities on the battlefield and after. ‘The Museum Memories Project’ catches up with him on his latest book called 'Lion of the Skies: Hardit Singh Malik, the Royal Air Force and the First World War’ (it is called 'The Flying Sikh' outside India).
Review of exhibition of Annie Morris and Idris Khan
It’s out! My review of the exhibition of the work of Annie Morris and Idris Khan seen at the Gallierie Isa in 2020 January at Mumbai.
Durga Pujo Specials: An offering for you <3
Wishing everyone a very Happy, Safe and Healthy Durga Pujo 🙂 This is the second Durga Pujo during the lockdown induced by the dreaded Covid 19. Nearly everyone is exhausted and drained - emotionally, physically, financially, intellectually and every other possible way. We have collected a special offering for you which are inspired from Durga Pujo celebrations from Bengal. We would not want you to miss out on the festivities associated with this festival and season ❤ so re live your memories and joys of the season, and plan for the grand one next year. May the power of the Mother Goddess be with you 🙂
Museum Memory #75 by Sharon Misquitta
I have personally visited the site of the Lothal and the adjoining Archaeological Site Museum of Lothal on 15th February 2020. I visited this museum as a part of a study tour organized by the Department of Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier’s College. Dr. Anita Rane-Kothare and Prof. Jason guided us through the museum giving... Continue Reading →
Museum Memory by Stephen Barker
Stephen Barker, Heritage Advisor, Author, Guided Tour leader In December 2018, I decided to fly to Florence (Firenze), on a whim (remember those days of spontaneity?). A relationship had ended at the beginning of the year and with England’s winter now well established, I was in need of a change of scene and lucky enough... Continue Reading →
Dia’s 95: the ‘Bidhoba’ with a swag!
This post is about Dia, in the context of patriarchy, feminism, widowhood, hypocrisy of the Bengali community, sexual need, gender roles, power struggle, and mental health awareness, narrated by her granddaughter in whom she confided a lot but could never get herself to love as much as the grandson.
‘Gotipua’: a tradition where boys dance as girls
'Gotipua' is a dance form where young boys dress up as girls in honour of Lord Jagannatha and Lord Krishna can be traced back to the 16th century and earlier. Let's learn about this unique dance and its 400 year old origin.
Durga Pujo Memories of Kuntal De
Writing Mahabharata is easier than penning my memory of Durga Puja that spans 40 plus years. The rains slowed down, sky was still cloudy and sombre, structures of bamboo and cheap wood would mushroom everywhere in the city, our new playgrounds. We used to climb the structures the whole day and scolded by the uncles... Continue Reading →