Ghungroos * in the mist
Who opens their doors to strangers? Who let’s their rooms and gardens reverberate with the sound of paanch-taal and ghungroos and have artists talking of birds and brambles? As a matter of fact, some people in Calcutta do.
Lata Bajoria, industrialist, activist, animal lover, minimalist, threw open her house and gardens - appropriately named ‘Spice Bageecha’ - to art aficionados, as a part of a series called @Home, whose tagline describes what it does succinctly - “A sampling of art, dance, music and food hosted by and for Kolkata’s art lovers.”
But who would expect to encounter art in a place which has a jhadu ka ped and a rudraksha ka ped and is overrun by emus, badgers, guinea pigs, rabbits, pythons, hens, cows - et al!
And as we sat in the garden, in the lovely winter sun, artist Suhasini Kejriwal spoke of her work and process, and showed us prints of her gorgeous work. And conversations ensued. On technique, on the pursuit of art, on psychology, on living.
And then she was followed by the utterly gorgeous and endlessly charming Bharatnatyam dancer Vandana Alase Hazra, who spoke and explained and danced. It was a lec-dem and a performance - and an experience.
It was a scintillating morning. I met friends, learnt about art forms, and bonded with my family over an experience. And that’s what got me thinking - what do such initiatives achieve?
On a superficial level, one could call it just something to pass a weekend morning in a pleasant enough engagement. On another level it could be both an introduction and an immersion into the arts in a non-threatening environment. Which of course brought the discussion in my mind back to the relevance of arts to begin with.
I know several people who scarcely ever read books, have never seen an art exhibition, intensely dislike anything classical, think Badshah is the height of culture - but are also wonderful, aware and interesting people. So what does art contribute?
And I mull on how the arts have provided a means of expression and unparalleled emotional connection to me. In its ability to offer diverse perspectives, art has encouraged critical thinking in intensely provocative ways. For me, the arts have enriched my life beyond practical necessities. And that’s exactly where the problem arises.
Art is not a compulsion for those who do not hear its siren call. Life can go on without it.
And that’s where I despair. Particularly with loved ones, who go through life unscathed with poetry which touches a raw spot, untouched by films which examine the quiet corners of a soul, and unaware of paintings which can make a person weep.
To me, this incuriosity about the miracle of the world around us is its own kind of death sentence. Ignoring the bounty of the world's experiences to is really ignore the feast lying right in front of us.
I used to be indignant earlier when someone I cared for refused to read a book I recommended (so that we could talk about it!!) or go to an art exhibition of a well-spoken-of artist. But I gently let it go now. Everybody has their own definition of a rich life, and whom am I to stand in judgement of somebody’s life choices?
As for me, the fact that a city still has gardens which make both pigeons and pandanallur possible in them is a sign that there are still myriad ways to find treasure.
@home is an initiative of Vikram Iyengar of Pickle Factory, Sumona Chakravarty of Hamdasti and Sourjya Sinha of Parklife. Get in touch with any of them if you wish to know about the next session of @home.