Trusting our intuitions.

Yesterday after attending a meeting, tired, I sat at the oat of IGNCA for an event 'Ghumakkad Narayan'. It was a story telling session.A very animated lady from London was telling an Arabian story. Before that one lady told a story of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, an R.S.S visionary. It was late and it takes about an hour to reach back home. I decided to wait for the next session trusting on my intuition that the next thing will be fun. My intuition was right! trust is the best thing you can give to yourselves and also to your enemies. This was an old story, the story of Ramayana performed by shadows. The shadows were of the leather puppets performed by a talented family of Kerala. It was their 19th generation performing this art.

Backstage. This is the 19th generation of the family performing this art.

'Tholpavakoothuis' a form of shadow puppetry.

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Doors of Kathmandu

The most versatile piece in a building, [the door] has been a mode of expression [for] ages. The door in apartments and modern societies is just a mode of a transition from outside to inside. In traditional cities and neighborhoods, like that of Kathmandu, it’s much more than that. It’s the place where people spend most of their time. Sitting at the Chaukhat, socializing and chatting. The door is not just a tangible unit, it’s the respect you give to your building. Below are the photos I clicked during my site visits and explorations in and around Kathmandu, Nepal. The collection will keep on updating. Update: A wonderful poem by my ex-professor, mentor and friend, Saurabh Tewari द्वार नहीं हैं ये बस लकड़ी के। सदियों से चल रही संस्कृति के। बस रंग नहीं हैं, अभिकल्प नहीं हैं, प्रमाण हैं ये नेपाल की हस्ती के। नेपाल के दरवाज़े देखिए, निपुण प्रभाकर की आँखो से। There is a tradition of offering prayers at the door every morning. The two red dot...

Hunnariya Memoriya, The story of my internship.

Prologue: “ I have not slept for more than 6 hours since the time I started my internship. There have been times when I haven't slept at all. Everyday is a beautiful day here. There is no unproductive or bad day at Hunnarshala. I sleep less because I am always so excited and enthusiastic for the next day to come, the next day with challenges, adventure and something new to look forward to. ” I am Nipun, a student of architecture. What you are going to read is the story of six months that changed my life. Hunnarshala is a not for profit company based in Bhuj, Gujarat. It mostly works in the fields of disaster rehabilitation, housing for poor, and social architecture. It is very specific about the use of sustainable and eco-friendly designs and materials in its projects. The involvement of the users and the knowledge of communities is paramount in its designs. I was going to Spain for my internship for six months but my visa got rejected. Around the s...

The foot print investigators (Paggis) of India

I met three old men for an assignment today. They have a very special skill which has almost died. They say, that there are only 4 or 5 Paggis are left in Kachchh today. Paggis are men who identify the footprints of People and animals and get information about them. They help people, police and even army in investigating the foot traces of terrorists, thieves, lost cattle etc. I went to their village with Naeven Bhai, the driver of Sehjeevan who knew them well. This meeting was one of the best one since a long time. I had only a few hours to cover their story and come out with a photo essay. With a lot of curiosity, I bombarded them with many questions. A crux of what came out is below: They belong to the Sodha community of Sindh, Pakistan. In 1971, during the India Pakistan war, they crossed the border and took refuge in India, in Kachchh. They were eventually given special 'Paggi certificates' by the police and also once invited by the po...

Pictures and words

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