We all grew up reading mythological stories either from comic books, or we listened to our grandparents narrate it to us - almost as if they were a part of it. These stories would paint too many pictures inside our heads back then, but out there in the real world, they have been represented by many talented artists. Can we correlate?

India in the late 18th century and early 19th century was characterized by the existence and oppression of British imperialism. One of the many atrocities committed by the East India Company was operating the largest drug cartel, which not only destroyed India but ruined China as well. Read more to find out how there was a Bombay connection too, in this trade of opium.

“Once in every five years, each person in India is equally important. Once in five years, the magic of democracy is repeated and the impoverished, the rich, the malnourished, the obese, the literate and the illiterate sail in the same boat.”

Our planet is destabilizing and it is not difficult to notice with the extreme weather events, temperature drops, climate changes, and ongoing disasters across the world. People today are being diagnosed with Eco-anxiety - a newly recognized psychological disorder affecting those who are bothered by these environmental cataclysms. If you too are worrying about this impending doom, then rest assured, you are not alone.

As social beings, we reinforce the meanings and values of our lives through a collective of people. Due to social distancing, we have lost touch with the essence of the collective, and our values and traditions have reached a saturation level.

Cartoons are not just a means of entertainment, but serve several other crucial functions in a society. From exposing the fictitious sides of governments to becoming a powerful mode of dissent when verbal communication is under attack – cartoons serve more functions than are just overtly obvious.

“It is pertinent to acknowledge and appreciate the fact that rising against an oppressor does not necessarily have to be as violent as the sentiment suggests. It can be a nuanced and creative expression, be it through dance, music, or drama.”

India is a multi-lingual country, home to many dialects and registers of language. Seraiki, being one of them has been the prized heritage of a lot of people. However, it is one of the many victims of linguistic erosion in India. Read more about this language here.

The concept of sustainable traveling or ecotourism has been doing the rounds for quite some time now. It involves traveling responsibly to areas that conserve the environment, respecting the well-being of the people, and just being very aware of what one is doing. Are people in India becoming the much-needed ecotourists though?

In an era of increasing intolerance for slightest of humor, comedians stand their ground and rattle the public and political spheres with their pungent satires.

The era that we live in cannot eat, sleep, or work without the Internet. Inspite of being a part of a world which is moving so aggressively towards a more digital lifestyle, is it too hard to imagine that Internet Shutdowns are still a thing?

Debates around the post of Governor predate the establishment of the post itself. We find a rich record of debates around this from the Constituent Assembly records. Even after seven and a half decades of independence, the role of governors has still been a bone of contention between the centre and state governments over the years.

The techniques of art and dance in the world of performing arts is probably the most cherished and celebrated. Their reputation precedes them- the sheer bliss one experiences by even hearing the word ‘dance’, witnessing and performing it is unmatched. The beauty of both fine arts and dance lies in their versatile nature - the ability to modify and adapt to changes in the surroundings. This quality was demonstrated no better than in the pandemic- no matter how low a point they hit initially, dance forms managed to encompass the situation with its own grace. Similarly, strokes of a brush on papers give vent to the overwhelming emotions that were experienced during the pandemic. In this interview with Dr. Himanshu Srivastava, established Bharatnatyam dancer, research scholar and painting artist, we engage in a conversation where we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the world of dance and vice-versa. To know more about the impact of the pandemic on the classical dancers and the dance industry, please watch interview with Dr. Himanshu Srivastava, here- We, at Itisaras, believe that awareness and action are integral for change, and for the same we have launched a petition on change.org that urges the Ministry of Culture to extend institutional support to the people of the Performance Arts sector. Please join us and sign the petition -http://chng.it/zhFTnGdPMm Interviewed by- Kunal Chauhan Transcribed by- Manavi Badoni Video Editing by- Nisarg Avashia Text Edited by- Debanjan Das

Anusuya Vaidya, Director at Akshara Theatre, in an interview with the team of ITISARAS. Steeped into the performing arts industry at an early age, Anusuya represents a life long commitment to the field. The interview started with the acknowledgement of the role performing arts have played during the pandemic and the hope that people have now realised their importance. On the other hand, for the artists themselves, the pandemic has been a ‘make it or break it’ situation with immense difficulties and challenges. Discussing the idea behind ‘Akshara Theatre: a home for the mind of India’ Anusuya took us on the journey of its establishment in1972. She took us through the Ramayana performances all over the world, thus working with the lighting and sound team in her early teens which was the start of her career. From places like Kolam, in Tamil Nadu, Deolali, in Maharashtra, to world-renowned universities of the United States of America, Anusuya has experienced it all. To know more about how the pandemic has impacted the performing arts sector, especially theatre, please watch our interview with Anusuya Vaidya: https://youtu.be/EAEqxeyvCf8 We, at Itisaras, believe that awareness and action are integral for change, and for the same we have launched a petition on change.org that urges the Ministry of Culture to extend institutional support to the people of the Performance Arts sector. Please join us and sign the petition - http://chng.it/zhFTnGdPMm Interview taken by Kunal Chauhan Written by Khyati Srivastava Video edited by Anmol Bains Content edited by Nishtha Dhani

Vasundhara Vee, a popular name in the Western music circles of our country was interviewed by Vrnda Dhar, an editor of Dhaara Magazine on the impact of the pandemic on the music industry in general and the independent music industry in particular. She discussed the dynamics of influence in the music industry, the usefulness of building contacts over followers, how the artists stood with each other during these difficult times, among other things. To know more about the impact of the pandemic on the independent music industry, please watch Vrnda’s interview with Vasundhara Vee, here- https://youtu.be/hSmg7rpFFfM We, at Itisaras, believe that awareness and action are integral for change, and for the same we have launched a petition on change.org that urges the Ministry of Culture to extend institutional support to the people of the Performance Arts sector. Please join us and sign the petition - http://chng.it/zhFTnGdPMm Interview by Vrnda Dhar Transcribed by Meghashree Dev Video editing by Nisarg Avashia Content editing by Debanjan Das

The dynamics of this world has witnessed umpteen number of movements, change makers, and the human force willing to bring that change. But, as an individual it is our duty to make an informed choice. What to believe and whom to follow is on us. More often than not realities turn to be illusionary but one can always make a way out of it.

India is celebrating 73 years of Independence today commemorating its successful overthrow of the colonial rulers in 1947. A lot of promises were made to the citizens of our country post independence. The question is - Who lived upto it?