Culture

Quartet on the Plight of Technical Staff in the Arts Industry Technicians have always been invisible but crucial for performance but the new normal has rendered them redundant. The Quartet also believes that this online mode is here to stay, and no one can see things getting better anytime soon for the arts industry. This, on one hand, has been saving a lot of money for some people, and on other hand has sent back experienced technicians to become farmers. A month before the second wave hit people were accepting the new normal and going out, which provided some work for the industry but post the second wave, it’s been absolutely quiet.

The pandemic pushed several performing artists into despair. With studios, stages and performance spaces shut down, most artists found it difficult to find an alternative to the situation. Unrecognised artists found it even harder to keep up with the government restrictions since most of them were dependent on their daily wages. The private and the public performing spaces have collided and the aesthetics of art have been forced to change for survival.

Our modern drinks or refreshments cannot even begin to come close to our eternal love and closeness which we all feel for tea as our own beverage. There is nothing that a cup of tea cannot solve for you! Moreover, apart from being a mere beverage, tea can also be viewed as a symbol of cultural assimilation as it is one of the world’s favourite drinks which is consumed globally across cultures.

While it is not uncommon for actors in India to stand for elections at various levels, there is perhaps no state in India other than Tamil Nadu where the connection between the film industry and electoral politics is so clear and well-pronounced. From 1967 to 2016, the state had primarily four chief ministers and a few others. Of the four, C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi had been popular scriptwriters for Tamil films in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, while M.G. Ramachandran (1977-89) and J. Jayalalithaa were popular actors.

Music has always been a repose and a resource throughout history. Through fusions, over mutations, it has successfully carried the essence of everyday life of people it originated among. The sole aim of Tribal Music is not just to provide entertainment, it has a culture of its own. Sometimes, it is used to relieve oneself from the tensions and pains arising out of the mundane living, at other times it simply comes out in response to the changing moods and seasons of the surrounding nature, which, also, are integral parts of these societies. It also plays an important role in invocation of the deities and supernatural forces, to accompany the rituals and even daily prayers. Every note, high or low, is an ode to life, as experienced or witnessed by people over centuries that speaks to us even now, generations and traditions apart. Check out this photo essay on the tribal music of India.

Judaism is a monotheistic ethnic religion that is based on the belief of God revealing himself to various Hebrew prophets following a covenant signed with the Children of Israel. Jews account for 0.2% of the world population comprising 14.5 million adherents. India has a sizeable population of the community which has produced prolific individuals who have made contributions in far excess to their proportion – from the decorated Bangladesh War veteran Jack Farj Rafael Jacob to the popular Bollywood actress Florence Ezekiel Nadira are among other examples.

The terrestrial heritage of the Indian peninsula is well documented and popularly known worldwide over. Unfortunately, for a country that is surrounded by water, minimal regard has been given to the under the sea heritage of India. This article aims to explore the measures that have been taken to research, identify and preserve the recessed underwater heritage of India.

The tradition of Siri in many ways forms a crucial part of Tulu culture today, in the narrative epic as well as in ritual performances in the region. This article explores the Siri tradition as presenting differing ideas of the ideal feminine and themes of female resistance against patriarchy, both in the past and in present.

The terracotta horse figurines of Bankura, West Bengal usually reside in urban living rooms as home decor, but did you know they actually have a great religious and ritualistic significance? Read more to find out how these terracotta figurines became a major part of the village rituals and why this industry is now on the verge of decline.

The Kashmir Valley has been fraught with various kinds of conflict over several decades, which has made lives for many miserable. The rise of militancy and excesses by state authorities has ensured uncertainty and a prevailing environment of tension and conflict at all times. In this context, belonging to the transgender community becomes even more difficult as they are not only stuck in the prevailing political conflict but also are shunned by their families and society at large. They take up all kinds of odd jobs to sustain themselves, with matchmaking being a common vocation. After the abrogation of Article 370, while same-sex intercourse is no longer criminalised, their material conditions have only grown worse, and though efforts have been made to ensure their sustenance, they are too few and far in between.