The year end is always a time for a recky. Earlier, those of us who had regular columns in the print media (I had in the Times of India for almost 20 years; the Hindu for five and continue contributing to India Today occasionally when the topic is pan Indian), used to write THE YEAR […]Read More
Ashish Khokar loves and serves Indian arts and culture selflessly, by writing, documenting, filming, archiving, celebrating and awarding. 45+books, over 5000 articles, work with 10 inter/national organisations make his work the gold standard of the field. More details on www.attendance-india.com
The word echo implies a sound that’s repeated when sent back from a surface it touches… an amplification if in the mountains; a ripple effect if by the sea and a voice from the past into the future if under a tree! Seven such voices assembled in Mumbai under a magical Banyan tree for senior […]Read More
Shama Bhate – like many a youngster – was introduced to Kathak because families in post-Independent India were slowly getting away from the stigma of nautch, a word the colonial British rulers had coined to describe our highly-stylised temple traditions of offering service to deities through song and dance. She wore thick glasses because she […]Read More
…Hindustan hamara! Iqbal ‘s immortal words (penned in 1904!) still resonate with many; KBC did a special focus with three Armed Forces talents, one each from the Army, Navy and Air Force. They were all articulate and said all the right things because they knew for once their words will be heard by millions. Millions […]Read More
In metro India, where is leisure time – of a nice walkthrough park – acres of well-kept greenery and elegant buildings? In the heart of Delhi, there’s the Lodhi Garden then there’s the Sundar Nursery. Bangalore has Cubbon Park and Lalbagh; Bombay has Hanging Gardens and Borivali National Park; Chennai, the beach and Kolkata, the […]Read More
Damaru har har baje goes the popular Shiva stuti. Summer is here but drummers are quiet! And everyone in most of the hot and happening North India or South, East or West wish they were in cooler climes. Only one metro – Bangalore is 25 degrees in June! – read my lips T.W.E.N.T.Y F.I.V.E! Landing […]Read More
India that is Bharat is so rich and diverse in its arts and crafts, that all of Europe and America put together may not have such diversity of forms, richness of tribal, folk, ritual content and continuity, historically. This is no sweeping statement but borne out of research. Google now helps even the uneducated to […]Read More
Mona darling! Used to be takia kalam of Hindi films ‘ordinary character – actor, who became a first-rate villain with original one liners like loin for lion! And put him in liquid oxygen! Liquid would not let him live and oxygen won’t let him die! Ajit was his name and pun was his game. Just […]Read More
Pune is today among the most cosmo city with real culture. They talk softly, don’t push and break lines like the rest of India. Behave. Rarely cheat or abuse, unless provoked then the Maratha rule and role come to surface! Peshwas DNA is there. Don’t forget this is also the land of Swaraj is my Birthright. […]Read More
As Holi approaches, the colours of India come to play. Before that, by Basant Panchami there’s Spring in the air, anyway. Then there was the Mahakumbh where 50 crore Indians mostly, brought colours to the sangam of three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati – from all over the world. Then colours are brought individually, […]Read More