Let’s turn inward to preserve our crafts!

  “वो सुनते हैं न कि कभी ड्रैगन था , उसी तरह होगा कि कभी ज़रदोज़ी थी। एक दिन वह आएगा कि हमको किसी मंदिर या दरगाह में भीख मांगनी पड़ेगी।” ,says nazir. Coming such words from the finest zardoz in old Lucknow is heart-wrecking. Unfortunately, not only zardozi but chikankari, handblock printing, chanderi, many…

Memories and Emotions – Lucknawi Itra

“जिस फूल को वाहिद ऐ इक रोज़ ही जीना था, उस फूल को बक्शी है हयात हमने।“, that is Mr. Imran Ahmed, an itra craftsman’s take when someone says: you ruin beautiful flowers to make itra. सलीके से हवाओं में वो खुशबू घोल देते है,अभी कुछ लोग बाकी हैं जो मीठा बोल देते हैं, it’s…

Wajid Ali Shah: An Artist Trapped in a King’s Robe

Wajid Ali shah- The last Nawab of Awadh whose character and stories never fail to invoke curiosity. The man who married 300 women; thriving Kothas, the establishment of Parikhana, and sprawling Kaiserbagh palace made him infamous as a king indulged in debauchery. Certainly, he was an extravagant king who splurged on architecture and art more…

Khurja Pottery: The intriguing inception story of a craft

A small town spreading so much beauty around the world with its timeless craft. Pottery has always reflected the evolution of civilization. Khurja pottery, heard about it many times but never thought that this craft and the city embraced the whole history inside it. Imagine that beautiful teacup that you hold every morning has so…