I remember a few years ago, when I was sitting in a small poetry reading event on my birthday, when my sister’s friend had given me a book. It was covered with a newspaper page, like people who love books do sometimes. She told me to read it and my sister said that it was one of her favourite books of all time. I recall reading the first page of the first chapter and re-reading it a few times because I couldn’t imagine the vision that the author had set. But as I gradually read on, I loved it. I loved the twists and turns and the way I could relate to the characters a little. It was named Third Best by Arjun Rao and it was about a boarding school in Delhi in late 1990s and it was the best mixture of detachment from the outside world and the complex lives of young adults within the campus grounds. Though I’ve never had an attachment to any author and never judged them, even if I didn’t like their books, I specifically loved Arjun Rao’s way of writing and googled him various times, just to see if he’d ever write something else and who he was as an individual. You might be able to relate as I know you must have googled the cast of the show or a movie you really liked and waited patiently, and sometimes impatiently, for its sequel to come out. I’m the same way with books.

Lately, I have really started to like the books of a specific author named Penelope Douglas. They are an American author and writes book series about people in small towns and how their lives interact with each other. I like the sense of close proximity they create in their books, to help you relate to the characters better and also to create a sense of seclusion from the outside world. I highly recommend you to read their books, especially the Devil’s night series. While the base is romance, there is a sort of suspense in their books. You never know what the story actually is, what twists and turns there might be and you hang on to every word, because it might click into place later. And the thrill that runs through your body, when it’s 6 am and you have just got to know why she ratted her love interest out and sent him and his friends to jail.

I could recommend a lot of books and shows to someone. I have seen underrated shows from the 70s to mob documentaries to movies about a serial killer who liked to make perfumes from the natural scent of the bodies of the women he killed. Content is a major thing for me. I like getting to know new stories and how kindness and logic can be found even in the grey areas of life. One of the few perks of content is information. I’m aware of how someone can be killed only with the air in an empty syringe and also how people can recreate and map out the entire lives of an individual who lived millions of years ago, with the help of technology.

This desire to consume information and stories has also given way to my interest in the field of Anthropology. It is the study of the culture and societies and their evolution. The study includes the past and present. Some branches of Anthropology can be Socio-cultural Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology and Linguistic Anthropology. It is also connected to Archaeology. I aspire to study Anthropology and research how people lived in the past and their culture and how they used whatever tools they had for survival. My internship at ILF as a cultural researcher at first, and then a research authenticator has given me an insight into how our ancestors lived and what were their beliefs. ILF has been important for me because it has solidified my desire to pursue Anthropology.

Architecture gives us a peek not only at how our ancestors thought geometrically but also politically. From the availability of grain to the social structure of the then society can be determined from the ruins that are pulled out of ground and the structures still standing. Once done with this information is where anthropology begins. My agenda is to figure out what stories were written when, which cultures were matriarchal and to which tribe was the mango sweetest. Which king left his ways of violence and adopted the belief of Buddhism and how the practice of Sati started. All of this has been heavily fueled by the research that I was brought to do under the internship. Using various methods of research and aligning them in a particular format gave me a better sense of presenting the information. Further, being a research authenticator has helped me communicate better with people in a work environment. But the main thing that I took from it was that I learned about many more areas in India through the team of cultural researchers that I overlooked. Reading their articles on various places from an outsider’s point of view really gave me the opportunity to learn new facts.

Being an individual who is interested in culture and stories, I was very fascinated by National Geographic. I recall watching various programmes on the television on the National Geographic channel. Later, it escalated to me looking up their monthly magazines and searching their websites for their publications. One of the things that I really liked was their Overheard at National Geographic podcast. It is a wonderful podcast following different photographers, field researchers, scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists on their missions. They talk about their theories and what the explorers found on their journeys and shocking and controversial subjects. Through this, we can learn about the major discoveries, like I learned that scientists had been wrong about the date of the destruction of the city of Pompeii. Recently, scientists figured out that Pompeii had been buried by volcanic ash much later than they assumed, which only came to light because of the graffiti the citizens did on the plaster walls of Pompeii. So originally, people thought that Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 CE because the eruption had an eyewitness, a small child from the neighbouring town. But an inscription on a wall in charcoal, which is much easier to erase than graffiti, mentioned a date. The date on the inscription was October 17th, no year. But archaeologists believe that it was the same year. This has led to the uncovering of more evidence and this fits like a puzzle piece, and leads us to believe that Pompeii was destroyed much later than we originally thought. So, it is instances like these that make me so interested in the stories and discoveries of various people and facts. And makes me keep on reading!  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Aastha Banga….

In Manasara, an ancient Indian text on image-making, there is a fairly detailed description of the process for solid figures. The highly specialised craftsmen who these images were organised in guilds known as the sthapathis. The larger bronze figures, called utsava-devas (festival idols), varying from 30cm to 1.5m in height, were made especially for carrying in ceremonial processions because the main shrine images of a temple were too heavy to be carried as they were made of stone or wood. These bronze images were also in private use.

Made with unusually high percentage of copper. The statues were cast by the ‘cire perdue’ (lost wax) process. Under this process two methods were involved. In the first, they prepared a wax model. Over this they made a clay mould. When this mould became hard, they melted the wax out and poured liquid metal into the clay mould. When the metal had cooled, they broke the mould and gave the image the final chasing and burnishing.

In the second method, they first made a clay model and coated it with a layer of wax to reproduce exactly all the details of the form. Then they covered the wax with a thin layer of fine clay. When this dried, they added more layers until a thick outer shell had formed. This is called the negative. Then they headed the statue until the wax melted and ran through openings, leaving a space between the mould and the negative. Into this space they poured liquid metal to replace the wax and reproduce all the details of the figure. When the metal had cooled and hardened, they broke away the outer shell. Then the figure was chased with a chisel and polished. Hence, the first method gave a solid figure and then second method gave a shell.

Some of the popular Chola bronzes displayed at museums are:

Parvati: A bronze statue of Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi depicted as the Goddess Parvati. She has greatly elongated body and limbs, combines a certain dignity and liveliness despite the rather primitive features. There are lugs at the base for inserting poles shows that it was meant to be borne in processions.

Figure 1: Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi as Goddess Parvati
Courtesy: National Museum of Asian Art

Somaskanda: Well modelled, with a four-armed Siva sitting beside Parvati. Both wear an elaborate crown. Unfortunately, little Skanda’s figure is broken away.  

Figure 2: Shiva and Uma (Somaskanda)
Dimensions: H: 59.2cm x W:71.8cm x D:31.6cm
Courtesy: National Museum of Asian Art

References:

• Sastri, K.A. Nilkantha. A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. London, Oxford University Press, 1958.
• Tomöry, Edith 1982. A History of Fine Arts in India and the West. Hyderabad: Orient Longman

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Yashswita Kale …

Embodying the true Ganga – Jamuni tehzeeb, the Hindu Solanki Rajput, Maharana of Lunawada (another neighboring Nine Gun Salute former Princely state) performed the coronation ‘Rajtilak’ for the Nawab of Balasinor. Nawab Sultan Salauddin Khan Babi and Begum Zeba Khan; colloquially known as ‘Salad and Begum Zeba’ to friends work tirelessly to harness and live through the multicultural legacy of Balasinori Cuisine, Hospitality and an inclusive brand of Nawabiyat.

The original Balasinor palace was burnt in an unfortunate fire and Nawab Salad’s father, Late Nawab Sahab Salabat KhanJi was merely 11 months old when the treaty of 1947 accession was negotiated. He grew up in the tough and cash-strapped conditions as a young Nawab and his better half Rajmata Begum Farhat Saheba rebuilt a contemporary Balasinor, opening the doors of their Palace as a Boutique Homestay. Since then Balasinor has emerged as a culinary and cultural cult amongst the tribe of boutique travelers. It is a dedicated destination on the coveted ‘Maharaja’s Express’ train itinerary. Rajmata Sa, who is a celebrity chef, regularly features in the multiple international culinary shows. She has to her credit a 15-episode Doordarshan TV show dedicated to her culinary craft. The Begum’s of the palace handpicks young candidates and mentors them over the years to be the chefs of the Balasinor cuisine. A chef trained for a commercial restaurant who often uses cashew-based curries are not permitted to operate here.

Begum Zeba has interesting anecdotes to share about cooking Balasinor food in the kitchens of Marriott for food festivals, where the head chefs have to unlearn a lot, in order to learn the royal recipes. The cuisine is a blend of frontier, colonial, Gujarati and Mughlai which has delicacies that involve a layered approach of cooking and blend of spices that are inherited family secrets. For instance, the Murgh-e-Khusro is a preparation that takes over 36 hours for a chicken breast that is marinated with cottage cheese, nuts and cooked with an Indian white sauce that is based on green garlic and fennel seeds.

Our stay: Our stay here was accompanied by the renowned German photographer Robert Huber aka ‘Safed Hathi’, who asserts that he has not eaten a Keema Samosa like the one served here; while he chows down a fifth serving of the kebabs! Now, this is high praise, given that Robert has been a travelling gypsy in the Indian Royalty circuit for over four decades and has been privy to umpteen royal wedding feasts and bonfire cookouts. Robert has made it a point to visit here regularly since the 1990s. He thinks Balasinor has the unparalled curation of affection and fine food. The palace staff tells me that he only leaves when he finds it hard to fit in his pants or needs to punch a new hole in his waist belt. The palace has an eclectic collection of princely portraits and collectibles. The ‘Baal Mubarek’ – a hair claimed to be of Prophet Mohammad’s moustache is revered as a shrine here and is displayed during the public prayers of Eid- e- Milad. In addition to the largess of the hospitality and cuisine, this region provides for numerous non-crowded day trip options to explore the monuments, tribal arts and neighboring palaces.

Day Trip to Champaner & Jambughoda: While we were indulging in a live BBQ station by Chef ‘Badshah’, Nawab Salad proposed we take a day trip to see Gujarat’s 1st World UNESCO Heritage Site of Champaner, which is about 75 kms from Balasinor. He also called up Thakur Sahab of Jambughoda (another former Princely state) to let us visit his 100-acre large nature lovers’ Palace and share lunch with them. With a packed itinerary for the day, we set out to Champaner first which is a walled city that dates back to 746 AD and was Gujarat’s first capital in the 16th century. Today, there are about 31 protected monuments with excavation activity as recent as 2015. The walled city is an exemplary manifestation of Jain, Hindu and Mughal architecture and has 5 mosques amongst which consists of the Jami Masjid, which comprises a women’s chamber, a rare feature amongst mosques. The monuments narrate the tale of transition from Hindu to Muslim rulers and is surrounded by Pavagarh Hills and a large lake that add to the mystic charm of the landscape.

From Chamapner we drove to Jambughoda which has a 130 square KM wildlife sanctuary with a variety of flora and Fauna. Locals report the presence of Leopards and Indian sloth bears in addition to the abundant hyena’s and wolf’s. The waterbodies in the sanctuary make for great trail and sunset destinations. Tribal hamlets continue to carry the beacon of ethnicity in this area. Thakur Sahab Rana Vikram SinghJi has converted his palace into a Nature Lover’s Homestay which is a top-class nature resort with sun rooms, pools, colonial era rooms, art and history. He was a classmates of the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Doon School, and is credited for his efforts to secure a protected sanctuary status for Jambughoda in 1990. After a sumptuous lunch in the Al-fresco gardens, Thakur Sahab arranged for us to visit the tribal ‘Pithora Paintings’. We were told that only five of these paintings have survived and each costs about INR 5 lakhs ($7200) for the family that had commissioned it. While the art itself is humble, lively and focuses on depicting nature with local deities, the painting is commissioned as an offering to the tribal God on accomplishment of a vow. The painting process is about 60 days long and the host family invites the entire village to dine together during the two months period. On our drive back, we passed through the city of Godhra, infamous for the 2022 communal riots. Balasinor was ready to host us with another spread of its Shahi Dastarkhwan (Royal Buffet), but we spent the evening over a bonfire conversation where we learnt about the hardships Balasinor faced during the riots. Balasinor has about 45% Muslim population and finds itself consistently under the radar on state’s scrutiny. Nawab Salad narrated a life risking personal experience which involved a multi-day undercover mission in which he was driven home from Ahmedabad. He told us how the Late Nawab Salabat Khan led the patrolling shifts around the clock to safeguard the people and property in Balasinor. However, there seemed no glaring trace of angst or bitterness in the community here about the bad days. Nawab Salad often dresses like a Hindu Rajput Royalty, recites verses in Sanskrit as well as Urdu with equal joy and soul. He hopes for the brighter times for his city.

Day Trip to Lunawada: Lunawada town, a 45 mins drive from Balasinor is home to RajMahal of erstwhile Lunawada State. Maharana Siddharaj Solanki, the current titular head of the Solanki Clan graciously allowed us a privilege to see the medieval limestone palace complex and also took time to cook a delectable lunch for us. Maharana Sa is an ardent wildlife photographer, agriculturalist, and possesses a rare trait amidst the Indian Royalty, of being a fitness freak. Over a meal of corn parathas and an array of family secret recipes, he proudly shares his farming accomplishments of being able to breed Yorkshire of English grade and Dairy of A2 class via organic processes. While the palace possesses a grand two-level Durbar Hall which has been recently restored to its glory, the showstopper is the bird mahal. It is certainly one of its kind and propelled Robert to work on his tripod setup for a ‘Safed Hathi’ photography session, denying all inklings of an afternoon siesta. The Bird Mahal is a mini ball-room with 1200+ individual clear glass window panes and a handcrafted native Indian bird painted on each one of them. The ceiling is like a Kayak’s parabola in curved wood and the floor is made up of 5-inch-thick frosted glass tiles. Princess Mrinalini Kumari, who has recently returned after her graduation in design from Florence, is empowering the restoration and reflects commendable patience for a multi-year project to restore Lunawada Palace to its grandeur. Maharana Sa recounts his concerns, since unlike Rajasthan, a remote palace in Gujarat might not be able to make ends meet via tourism and wedding revenues. He reaffirms his commitment to invest in an end to end restoration plan that includes a museum that depicts Lunawada’s contribution to Sardar Patel’s quest with Junagarh state’s accession to the independent India in 1947.

For yet another day trip, Nawab Salad offered to accompany us for a visit and lunch at the nearby & scenic lake facing Joaraver Vilas Palace at Santrampur. Unfortunately, we had to opt out due to COVID circumstances. We also couldn’t find time to visit the world acclaimed Dinosaur Fossils sites with Princess Aliya who has collaborated with the government of Gujarat to build a state-of-the-art dinosaur lifecycle museum and is known for her authority on the subject. We’ll definitely come back to visit this site!

As it was time to depart; Rajmata Saheb graciously signed a pouch made of Nawab’s wedding sherwani for me and Begum Zeba rendered a rare Balasinor Coin to my wife. Nawab Salad ensured to check upon our safety and schedule through every step of our 30-hour return journey to Seattle. We realized that it was not just that we were able to live through a glorious week of indulging in architecture, history and royal cuisine, but we were also filled with a sustained Zen-like satisfaction and affection from this experience. No incessant traffic honks, rash overtakes, queues at the airport seemed to perturb our peace. Life felt like a happy breeze. It is more so fascinating that while the world seeks ‘revenge tourism’ after two straight years of COVID-19 pandemic, Balasinor offers you peace with its open spaces, vaccinated and frequently tested staff members. We were able to luxuriate with quite a filled itinerary, safely with no one contracting the virus. I wish I could articulate the experience even finer. I wish I could translate the experience better. But all I can say is that please go to Balasinor before it’s too late to have an unadulterated first-hand experience of discovering a lost gem.

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Pratik Sharma…

Along with the religious activities, life carries on as usual. Pilgrims take dips in the holy waters to cleanse themselves of all sin. Monkeys scavenge for rice grains or fallen prasad, while a woman sweeps the steps. Varanasi’s culture stems from the religious importance of the River Ganga, considered to be the river of salvation. According to Hindu scriptures, Varanasi was founded by Lord Siva, and is also referred to as ‘Kashi’ or the City of Light, and is an eminent seat of spiritual enlightenment.  

Varanasi was named after two Ganges tributaries, Varuna, and Assi, that form the city’s borders. It is a dynamic medley of tangible, and intangible heritage. Benares is rich in architecture, with hundreds of monuments sprinkled all over, dating back to different historical periods. It is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities. Varanasi is believed to be older than Athens, Babylon, Thebes, and even Jerusalem. The city is equally opulent when it comes to its culture which is seen in the form of art and craft, music, dance, and literature.

The Varanasi Ghats

 As the Subah-e-Banaras events fade to an end on the Assi Ghat, boats crammed with tourists cruise along the illuminated waters of the Ganga. Often resonating with holy chants throughout the day, the 80-odd ghats of Varanasi are always buzzing with activity. Local children run around in happy groups playing cricket matches or selling souvenirs, while babas with ash smeared across their foreheads, beg for alms. Small stalls flank the ghats, offering hot refreshments.  

These world-renowned stone slabs beautifully represent the Hindu concepts of divinity and mystical elements. These are mostly used for religious ceremonies, bathing, and tourism. At the Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats, where bodies are cremated, men cut logs for funeral pyres.  

Here, families mourn for their deceased, while priests pray to the gods for the soul to attain salvation. The water is sprinkled orange by marigold garlands, and the burning flames of the pyres. The ashes are poured into the waters, in a tradition spanning back centuries, but tainting its purity with water pollution.

Temples of Varanasi

  As you traverse the narrow, winding lanes of the old city, with the scent of incense and smoke lingering in the air, you’ll come across a temple in almost every lane. Varanasi is often referred to as the City of Temples, as its landscape is dotted with close to 23,000 temples. The 24 x 7 fire at the Manikarnika Ghat rages on, to complete the final rites of corpses swaddled in white, red, or gold.  

Nearby, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir, popularly known as the Leaning Temple of Varanasi, is the subject of many awestruck photographers. Built in the classical architectural style of temples in north India, it features an elaborately detailed nagara shikhara. The temple leans at an angle of nearly 9-degrees, which is why its garbha griha or sanctum remains submerged in non-summer months.  

Varanasi is also home to the holiest of the twelve Jyotirlingas, or Shiva Temples in India, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Throughout the course of history, the temple has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. Clad in saffron robes, thousands of pilgrims visit Varanasi every year, to visit Kashi Vishwanath. The temple complex is riddled with several smaller shrines, while the main temple sits at its center. The temple, along with the city, comes to life on several auspicious occasions, including the Maha Shivratri festivities in February.

Varanasi’s Intangible Heritage

  Varanasi’s bazaars are always teeming with a vibrant display of Banarasi Sarees, carpets, and shawls. These glisten with the intricate gold and silver weaves of traditional zari embroidery. Melodious tunes of classical Indian music add a lively charm to the place. People flock to shops to savor the sweet flavors of the Banarasi paan.  

Varanasi’s heart and soul lie in its rich culture that speaks volumes about beautiful literature, soulful music tracing back to the Pauranic days, and vibrant handicrafts. Perfumes, brass and copper accessories, bangles, and others made it an important center for trade. Prominent writers, poets, philosophers, and musicians including Tulsidas, produced some of their best work here.  

During festivals, the city comes alive with lights, colors, and throngs of people. Every year a five-day festival, the Ganga Mahotsav is observed across all the ghats, to celebrate the River Ganga. It honors the nurturing Ganga and the spiritual, traditional, and cultural vibrancy of Varanasi. On the last day of the Ganga Mahotsav, thousands of pilgrims float lighted oil lamps into the river. This tradition is meant to welcome the Gods who descend to earth to bathe in the Ganga’s holy waters. As the day draws to a close, the locals wrap up their chess or card games, and young artists sharpening their sketching skills on the ghats, return home. At dusk, the Dashashwamedh Ghat comes to life, with men, women, and children gathering to celebrate the Ganga. Hundreds of diyas on brass lamps are set ablaze, and hymns resonate all across.  

The crumbling facades of the buildings, the stray leaves floating in the river, and the ghats are illuminated by warm, yellow light. The city of Varanasi is a brilliant example of an eternal human settlement, where both life and death are celebrated with equal vigor. The city finally rests at night, only to come alive with colors, people, music, and ceremonies, in a few hours.  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Deeksha Kamath…

A friend really wanted to visit the Elephanta caves and that’s how my mid-December (important because fantastic weather!) trip to Bombay happened and because of the location, we stayed near Flora Fountain which made all the difference! You know the expression, ‘something came to life’? Well, reaching Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus, of UNESCO World Heritage Site fame) after dark literally felt like the city was coming alive. The first building we saw was the interiors and exterior of the grand Victoria Terminus and suddenly the almost-everyday instagram pictures of friends from Bombay made complete sense. I was in awe of the majesty. During the cab trip from the station to our hotel, I simply couldn’t stop looking out of the window. The buildings were gorgeous. And it wasn’t just one or two of them. Everywhere I looked, I could see a grand structure of stone with arches and embellishments. And to top that off, the buildings were lit to look magical! The lights were placed in perfectly strategic positions to accentuate the best parts of the building and it transported me across space and time. There was a Zara store near Flora Fountain and I have never gazed at a clothing store with the love-struck eyes with which I stared at it (the next day, I was to be mesmerized by a Westside store too!)  

My friend thought the buildings looked better during the day because one could see the details and modern lights on ancient buildings felt incongruous, but I politely disagreed. Of course, the buildings were just as much a visual treat during the day but the magic that they created with the lights dancing around is what dreams are made of!  

It reminded me of a trip to Dubai and even there the thing that charmed me the most was the city’s love of fairy lights. Many buildings in that city too were adorned with lights, the most famous example being Burj Khalifa. That experience filled me with awe and I was left feeling how precious this kind of beauty is! But now, knowing such a space exists so close to home, fills me with joy!   The area is called Kala Ghoda and is a hub of art! You’ll find gorgeous murals all around and they have an art festival too (already planning to go to the next one!). Plus, the area has fascinating museums like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay and the Jehangir Art Gallery which unfortunately we didn’t get time to explore.    Another lucky find which stole my heart was a stationery store called ‘The Bombay Paperie’ which turned out to be the perfect spot to indulge in some self-birthday-gift shopping.

All in all, when they say that Bombay contains multitudes, believe them, and go explore !  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Chaitali Kulkarni…

Visiting Chennai’s main attractions at the peak of your trip makes you feel like you’re about to catch a suburban train during rush hours. If you enjoy this experience, or at least its sights, the beautiful Chennai Central Station, built by the Igiris in 1873, is worth a visit. 

The quaint but fascinating Chennai Railway Museum and the magnificent Well, the majestic Government Museum will be more comfortable and accessible. The same applies to Chennai’s famous crowded Ranganathan Street. This is a must-have for bargain hunters. However, if the rain turns into a downpour, we recommend going to one of the many luxury indoor shopping malls in Chennai, such as Phoenix Marketcity and Spencer Plaza. Here, meals and spectators can easily spend a rainy afternoon. 

Chennai is famous for its cheap and spicy street food, but when it rains it’s a great opportunity to visit a seated restaurant in the city. Traditional South Indian cuisine-small meats, lots of dosa, samba (lentil soup), and fluffy flat rice balls known as idli-is well represented in Chennai. Ratna Café, in the heart of the city, has been a popular facility since the middle of the last century. But today, an army of fast-growing, energetic young foodies in Chennai could go out for Thai food in Benjarong or Chinese food for a pure white modernist from the Tao city of Penn.

Chennai overlooks the Bay of Bengal, where the water is always warm.Marina Beach is the city’s most popular beach and the second longest city beach in the world. Bathing at Marina Beach is prohibited due to rough seas and dangerous undercurrents. Instead, most Chennaities head down the coast to Kovalam or Mahabalipuram for swimming or more adventurous water sports. It is one of the few surf culture outposts in India.

I’ve always been fond of the beach and its ambience. It was my first time seeing the other side of a beach. It was when I visited Fisherman’s Cove beach. I’ve never really been to the beach at night, but this was my first experience spending time on the beach late at night. I, along with my four cousins, visited the place after sunset, and it was dark. We reached the rock and started to climb that sharp and rugged rock. As we reached the end point, we moved to the next The entire place is still in my memory as if it was photographed. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. The waves made noise as they touched the sand, collided with the rocks, and made sound. That was the moment I realized how huge the ocean was and it made me scared. I felt the volume of the ocean and it felt like I was on top of it. I observed some crabs crawling on the rocks. The salty air gushing over me, the sound of the waves hitting rocks and the glimmering ocean will always be the best memory in my heart.

Standing on the beach and soaking your feet in the water is a ritual we always do. This was the day I realized how beautiful the bond between the moon and the ocean was. It was the full moon, and the tides were rising. Slowly, the reflection of the moon started to glimmer on the water. The distorted shine on the water was a treat for the eyes. The moon was reddish in color, which made the water shimmer like gold. It was like gold flowing from the moon and reaching the shore. It was a lovely sight to see. It was something that the camera couldn’t capture, but my eyes could! I still have the picture crystal clear recorded in my memory. 

The beach has always been a part of my leisure routine. It has been a part of all my emotions. From my childhood, the constant hangout place has been the beach. It’s a place suitable for everyone and to enjoy with anyone. As soon as we enter, we run towards the bajji shop, the corn shop with fire sparkles as they roast it. Palm reading, balloon shooting, and ice cream are the typical fun routine we follow when we go to the beach. It will always be the go-to spot no matter what time of day it is.

Bibliography :

• https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.ihg.com/chennai-ing-rain/amp  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Nivetha Arulmurugan …

  It is an indivisible part of human life. Our choices are different for sure but each one of us listens to some of the other kinds of music. Some love to enjoy heavy rock music, some love to experience peace through the light music whereas some people try to experience the divinity into the depths of a raga. Because of this, we have realized that everything that has rhythm has music. Our breathing also has a rhythm. Have you ever seen a tree breathe it sways to the music of breeze? So, we can say that there is music in every entity.

(Pic credit- Pinterest)

  Throughout history, music has been an important adjunct to ritual and drama and has been credited with the capacity to reflect and influence human emotion. It is the driver/influencer of our emotions like the legend Tansen, his renditions of ragas, a musical form intended to invoke emotion or nature, were said to tame animals and turn day into night, while his voice could replicate the roar of a lion or the chirp of a bird. It has the ability to convey all sorts of emotions to people which can also not be in a  positive way cause everyone tries to perceive or understand music on their own like Helter Skelter by The Beatles which was interpreted by cult leader Charles Manson as a message predicting inter-racial war in the US. This shows that music is also our companion who knew something as simple as rhythmic sounds entwined words could invoke our emotions.  

(Pic credit- Ronald Michaud)

It’s also a way to tap around our reservoir of memories. As soon as one hears the iconic voice of Jagjit Singh or Mehdi Hassan it takes us back to the good old days when one used to sit under the wintry sun of Sunday morning getting oil champi by our mothers. 

This is why music is known as the universal language because it knows no boundaries. It flows freely beyond the barriers of language, religion, country, etc, which also unifies us as a country. India, a country of diversities has numerous styles of music. Some of them are Classical, Pop, Ghazals, Bhajans, Carnatic, Folk, Khyal, Thumri, Qawwali, Bhangra, Drupad, Dadra, Dhamar, Bandish, Baithak Gana, Sufi, Indo Jazz, Odissi, Tarana, Sugama Sangeet, Bhavageet, etc which are beautifully sometimes paired with our diverse dance forms. 

That music carefully curated and woven over the centuries is passed down from history to today’s generation who consciously try to preserve them in their own special way.

Therefore music is the essence of life, actually a being in itself. Showcasing itself through various mediums and being part of our very existence. 

(Pic credit- Still from the movie- Call me by your name)

  Here’s a link to a playlist carefully curated to get the feels of my love, Delhi

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37PdSvZEvi9QGFqRF44IDQ?si=15aeac217da34092  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Devanshi Basu …

George Santayana

Honestly, is it too hard to care for priceless things? Do we care about how irretrievable our vacuous inflictions can be? It breaks my heart to imagine how ruthless we are being. How much of ourselves are we losing, as we stand aloof, blithely watching the days of our past fade into a void of neglect and dereliction? Can you hear the cacophony of decay yet? Do you care to?

Indeed, the past is a cycle, it always comes full circle. We are humans, after all. Humans, who had committed those mistakes in those bygone days. How are we any different from them? Multifaceted and disparate in some way, but when did human nature and its diabolical fallibility ever alter its ways?

A familiar apprehension clenches my heart, as almost every feature of fascism matches that of the regime of my country. Controlled press and media, a slow and steady onset of a one- party nation, religious bias, suppression of freedom of expression, disdain for human rights, ultranationalism and protecting corporate power whilst imposing fiscal sanctions over common man. I wonder if they see what rabbit hole all of this is winding into, or are a lot of them carried away by the cult of a leader, another badge of fascism, by the way? Intricately intertwined, isn’t it?

When that one distantly-related fellow, who himself knows not how to listen, rambles about how womanhood intrinsically attaches one to domesticity, I wish I could grab a duct tape, besides willing them to understand that it is society’s inferiority complex and insecurities that makes a ‘second sex’ out of women. I wish they understood that human society was never originally misogynistic, and that it was warped into this structure of sexism that became a tradition. Perhaps, they never knew that the ancient civilizations, like the Indus Valley civilization and the early Vedic society, treated women with respect and as equal to men.

When some pedagogue ingrains into young ladies the idea that “one can never go against society”, I wish they pondered upon the irony. It was the effort of the liberal few who stood apart from teeming multitudes, that enabled education to be availed by all females today.

Sycophancy never birthed the path to liberation, rebellion did. Do they know that even a British man could establish the Indian National Congress when India was trampled and tormented by his own country? Certainly, there are specks of light in the dark, too, because that age-old sycophancy can never make a way out.

That snob who derides that person with their English as torn as their nation, I wish they understood that they are the ones speaking a language foreign to a country which made it its own—but English was never Indian. It matters little if one doesn’t speak it, unless they need to. They do not understand so they think that a language can amass the entire education which the world spins around. They do not understand why I am writing in English, why English is our first language in our admission forms even though our mother tongue was never that. They do not understand their past. They are like adults with amnesia who do not remember their childhood, what their past was like—they do not understand their identities, they do not care to.

When I see my nation rife with communal hatred, I wish they remembered that a Hindu Queen could own mighty ships and trade with the Portuguese in a Mughal Court. I wish they remembered that one of Aurangzeb’s daughters was actually a liberal poet who was hidden behind the bars of society, and adopted Sufism—the path of the liberal mystics. I wish they remembered that Jahangir would touch the feet of his mother out of respect, honourably greet her, doing sajda and taslim, and carry her palanquin, when she would leave the fort, on his own shoulders, even though she was a Hindu woman–and this is not even a miniscule drop in the ocean.

When they denounce homosexuality as some soi-disant distortion stirred up in the modern age, I wish they knew that the “Madho” in “Madho Lal Hussain” is the name of the boy he loved with all his heart even though he was a poet who lived four centuries before us.

When they dismiss people as either black or white characters, I wish they remembered that the same Akbar who piled up corpses in the Chittor Siege could also commence Din-i-illahi and still not enforce it and transform the cultural fabric of Mughal India for the better. That same Akbar could ride his horse with all speed to thwart the forced sati of Rani Damayenti, even when he was in his forties.

They never understood that history is what makes them who they are. It is what has made our society what it is today. Most are conditioned to see history as a one-dimensional, unfeeling monotony, books which we study and keep at the tip of our tongues just for the exam to score those cent marks. As a profession, it is highly neglected and politicised. History is not boring lessons and yawns, it is just the system that often makes it so rampantly misinterpreted—it is wrong. However, it’s never too long to make a change. If you are someone who does not understand that history and heritage is not just a few textbooks, I will refuse to agree. It is what lives before our eyes, our customs, language, culture, ideals, our prejudices, our follies, a part of our being as a society.

It is true that we will make the same mistakes until we learn from them. Nonetheless, we turn blind to our own past even though every corner of it is screeching in our ears to be heard because it can teach us the way to the right path, like a discerning mother holding your finger tenderly in a dark and lonesome tunnel.

How do you truly understand yourself without knowing all the trauma, happiness, crests and troughs that you have walked past? You wouldn’t be who you are if all that happened to you wouldn’t have happened to you. Your existence has no meaning if you abjure your own past—it is like treading a dark tunnel without knowing what hides inside it. It is similar when it comes to history, heritage and culture. You cannot truly understand your existence, your being, the world surrounding your being if you do not understand, accept or respect where you come from. The utmost least that can be done is to render respect. How much should we lose, either due to baseless politics, mindless negligence or deliberate ignorance?  

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Rasita Sarkar. …

Chemistry has always been a mystery…..that’s what I had heard from almost everyone I asked about the subject throughout my childhood. But I never believed it. For me, chemistry till the 10th standard was pretty easy and fun and I genuinely liked it. It was only when I reached in 11th standard that I realized how wrong I was and how right all those people were (no offense, I still think chemistry is a great subject). The subject was so difficult to cope up with and always seemed like a never-ending maze full of confusion and queries. One of my classmates got so scared of the subject despite being a brilliant student that she changed her stream in 11th standard so that she will never have to deal with chemistry or any related topics. I found the move a smart one.

It was a rainy day in early October, we were in school. And we had a chemistry lab of two hours that day. At much as I feared chemistry, just five months into 11th standard, I loved the labs, they were fun and rewarding. But unfortunately, that very day as the bell rang and we all started taking out our practical files and lab coats to the lab, our teacher came in class and announced that we won’t be having lab due to some issue in the lab because of heavy rains. She also told that since only half of the class was present that day, it was a practical decision to not have lab class. I was sad, no, I was devastated….and I was angry, at the heavy rain and the rain gods, at my school building and definitely at my chemistry teacher, who looked too young to teach us chemistry but here she was in all her blazing glory. It was turning into a bad day but what came out of my teacher’s mouth next definitely took the cake…” we will study theory for next two hours”…and my brain was like whatttttt? Noooooo!

I was trying to comprehend what I heard….two hours of non-stop chemistry on an unpleasant rainy day, well the higher powers must definitely hate me. But as I was contemplating my dreadful luck, one fine gentleman from my class, who was indeed good in chemistry and our teacher definitely adored as a student said something to the teacher which I thought at the time were the most beautiful words to come out of any person’s mouth.”; Ma’am, half of the class is absent today and we are already ahead in our syllabus so can we skip chemistry today and sing songs or something for one hour after that you can solve our doubts…eh” the boy said in a very careful and hopeful tone, knowing very well that our chemistry teacher loved to sing. The students of my class pleaded along in unison while I held my breath for her response (hopefully ‘yes’).

We all happily cheered as she said “okay” after a couple of seconds, which for us seemed like a lifetime. It was only then I realized that I wasn’t alone finding the subject difficult to understand, other students too were relieved after our teacher announced her agreement to the class.

We ended up taking turns in singing songs for about the next 45 minutes (not me, of course, I am terrible) and then we got our doubts cleared followed by learning a bit of chemistry. And surprisingly for the first time, I liked this advanced chemistry and I liked the feeling of not dreading it. Who knew the only push I needed to not dread chemistry were a few songs, making the subject easier and giving me a little push of motivation. I found myself listening to Katy Perry’s “Firework” on loop as I flipped through the pages of thermodynamics and Hydrocarbons.

Well, who knew chemistry had such a great relationship with music, for me at least xD!  

The Mermaid Experience

In the last 10-12 years Facebook and its subsidiaries have become such an integrated part of our lives. From boomers to Millenials, Gen Z to Gen Alpha, there’s hardly anyone left unscathed from its charm. It’s addictive, easy to use, and literally a source of income for so many. Of course, Facebook has its own drawbacks, but still, we prefer it, use it and enjoy it as well. As weird or embarrassing it can be for a Gen Z, I don’t like its appeal, never did and I don’t think I ever will.

And trust me it’s really weird for a person like me to not like it, a person who has given in so many times into peer pressure than would actually like to admit. But my reason is pretty much simple and straightforward and if I had to explain it in one sentence I would say ;First impression is the last impression.

It all started on a warm day in middle school. The year was 2010. Facebook was fairly new and very simple with simple features and UI, devoid of all the fancy things it has now. We had a computer class and the most we were allowed to do was to make a PowerPoint presentation. Internet and especially chatrooms were specifically off- limits. I still don’t know the reason behind.

During the two-hour computer class my teacher snuck out of the classroom for some time and that very moment my friend went to check the teacher’s computer system dragging me along with her. I had no idea what she was going to do but went with her just for some adventure on an otherwise boring day. She logged into her Facebook account and that was the very first time I was introduced to the wonders of social media. I was looking curiously with a glint in my eyes as she explained to me the features of Facebook and I kept staring at the computer screen like a curious puppy. While explaining she got a notification on her account which she explained was a message from her Facebook friend. Being the curious person, I am I asked who this friend was. She said that her friend is a mermaid who lives underwater and has a special internet connection just to run the Facebook account. I snorted and didn’t believe any she said. She looked visibly offended and went on to show her chats with that very online friend quickly. I actually looked at them and was stunned for some time. The chats were all about how amazing it is to be a mermaid. And it actually felt like the person operating was a real mermaid living under the ocean. And before I could say anything my friend saw the teacher coming from the window and quickly logged out from the system and we raced to our seats as fast as we could.

I asked my friend that whether she thinks the mermaid person is real or not and she just laughed. And then we never brought this topic again.

I still kept thinking about how there’s an online world where all people do is fabricate lies to make themselves feel better. I did make my own account some 4 years after that but never for once let it all go to my head. And I am still not comfortable with the whole idea of mermaids, doesn’t matter they are real or not.  

Perfect biscuit exploration

We all have one thing that we don’t like to eat as a kid. No matter how good it tastes or how nutritious it is or even how many people love to eat it. Even we don’t like to eat it then we won’t, at any cost, despite the million times our parents beg us to or blackmail us to cancel all the holiday plans. We still won’t eat it.

I also had one thing, a particular kind of biscuit when I was around 8 or 9 years old. It was the single most popular biscuit at that time. Everyone adored it, they would eat it with milk, with water, or even without anything at any time of day or night. But I didn’t and I couldn’t. I had tried it once but just hated it. My parents tried to convince me hundreds of times to try and eat again but I just didn’t and after a few months even they stopped.

It was during the month of October when our class teacher announced that we would go to a factory on an excursion trip from school. It would be to some factory. I was very excited, a day away from school at a new place with all my classmates would be just perfect! Finally, the day of the excursion came and we went to some factory just outside the city on a bus. No one had any idea what kind of factory it was. We reached there and were taken to a big hall with a projector at the front. We all admired the room and talked and laughed among ourselves for at least 15 minutes. It was only then a representative from the factory came and started talking about the company to which the factory belonged. After that, we were shown an animated documentary about the company on the screen which was very interesting to watch. It was during the middle of the documentary when I realized that it was very some company which produced my very dreaded biscuits among other things like candies and chocolates with the biscuits being their most famous product. I was intrigued and a bit scared among other things as the realization hit me. I didn’t have any idea what to expect. After the documentary was over few people brought the same biscuits to the room for everyone, the biscuits were warm as they were freshly baked in the factory. We all were given two biscuits each. Most of the people just ate them in one go. I was apprehensive but as soon as I felt the warmth of the biscuit, I finally decided to eat them for the first time in forever. And to my great surprise, it was a delicious experience. I just loved them and wanted more and more.

We were shown the whole factory. We even saw how the biscuits and candies were made. It was really a great experience overall. On the surface, nothing had changed after the excursion but deep down something fundamentally changed within me and I was not apprehensive of things anymore especially that particular biscuit. It was indeed the perfect biscuit for me at that time and I had the best time during my trip. Even my parents were surprised and happy and proud of me after that day.

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Harshita Tiwari …

This enthusiasm towards heritage studies led me to discover the enriching initiative of India Lost and Found (ILF). The segment of ILF which has amazed me the most was the Mapping segment. I have been associated with this segment as a Heritage Mapper for six months (30 March 2021 – 30 September 2021) and I must admit that it was a wonderful experience for me.

Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Amit Sir for providing me with an opportunity to excel in my research interest towards heritage. India, being one of the world’s oldest civilizations, possesses an all-embracing confluences of cultures, religions, traditions, customs, etc. making her a centre of rich heritage (Heritage, n.d). I belong to Chinsurah, an urbanscape on the bank of the river Ganges in the district of Hoogly in the southern part of West Bengal, an eastern state of this country. Chinsurah has always been a cultural hub since its inception. It represents a confluence of diverse cultural flavours from 16th century onwards. 

Dutch Cemetery

Chinsurah was a prosperous trading post of the Dutch East India Company between the 17th and 19th century. Besides, British, Armenian, Iranian, native Bengali, etc. had been living here since then. Along with Chinsurah, there existed a string of European settlements along Hooghly’s west bank, making the region the “Europe on the Ganges” (Vajpayee, 2017). This is my hometown which has always thrilled me about its heritage and led me to try to understand its importance in the heritage map of the country.

Motijhil Mosque

The voluntary post of Heritage Mapper at ILF has bought me the opportunity of researching my hometown’s heritage closely. In this journey, I would like to express my immense gratitude to Gaurav Sir and Maryam Madam; my two mentors for constantly guiding me during my internship period and also after its completion. With their kind support, I have also been able to map the heritage sites of some historically significant nearby places of Chinsurah, such as Chananagar, Pandua, Hooghly, Bandel, etc.

Edwardian Clock Tower

My aim as a Heritage Mapper was mainly to map the ‘Built Heritage Sites’ of the chosen location with a focus on the lesser-known sites. For this, I have been initially given training on how to research the available sites using literary sources and through field visits. I have also given a list of heritage sites for a concise categorization which has helped give a sense of the diversity of ‘things’ that might be considered to be official heritage (2.1.What is heritage?, n.d). Besides correctly marking the geo-coordinates of the heritage sites, I have also tried to include the other details to it, such as its characteristics, oral history related to it (if any), etc.

Bankim Bhavan

The most satisfying part was obviously the field visits to collect the raw data about the sites. From the remnants of the old Dutch Cemetery to Motijhil Mosque, from the traces of old houses in Suri Para to the rooms of Bankim Bhavan in Jora Ghat, from the five centuries-old Sandeshwar Temple complex to the big clock tower in the memory of King Edward VII of England, I have roamed here and there and every time, fallen in love with these magnificent representations of our composite culture.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that followed , I was not able to do frequent field visits. Going to the sites, searching for a new one, talking to the nearby people, understanding their perceptions about heritage has been fascinating to me all the time. With the blessings of the people of Chinsurah and its surroundings, I have been able to map 261 built heritage sites from the districts of Hooghly.

Sandeshwar Temple Complex

During this whole journey, I must say that have been able to rediscover my hometown and its surroundings and it helped me boost my research interest in heritage studies; as a result of which I, along with my two co-researchers have been able to initiate a reconnaissance survey about the perceptions of people about their heritage in Chinsurah. All these have been possible because of my association with ILF. I strongly believe that the mission ILF has taken to boost the picture of the built heritage sites of India through its different segments is appreciative and I wish for its success wholeheartedly.

References:
2.1. What is Heritage?. (n.d). OpenLearn Retrieved December 13, 2021, from What is
heritage?: 2.1 What is heritage? – OpenLearn – Open University – AD281_1

Heritage. (n.d). Incredible India. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredibleindia/en/experiences/heritage.html

What is Heritage? (n.d). UMassAhmerst. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from What is
Heritage? (umass.edu)

Vajpayee, S. (2017, January 3). Photos: The forgotten history of Chinsurah, a part of
Holland on the Ganges. Scroll.In. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://scroll.in/roving/728222/photos-the-forgotten-history-of-chinsurah-a-part-of-holland-
on-the-ganges

The views, information, or opinions expressed above are solely those of the author(s) involved and do not necessarily represent those held by India Lost & Found and its creative community.

Hi, I’m Debajit Ghosh …

A trainee of Archaeology by profession, a poet by nature, I always try to feel the essence of Human Culture through a fascinating journey of my discipline. Being a heritage enthusiast, I aim at highlighting our relationships with our heritage through research paradigm.