Reads
“Echoes of the Land has been a revelation for us at Ojas”
In conversation with Anubhav Nath, founder of Ojas Art, on the collaboration with Sarmaya and the vitality of indigenous art
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Spotlight
A Return to The Land – A history of Warli paintings
How did the art of a people from the Sahyadri mountains of western India capture the imagination of the nation and the world? The evolution of Warli paintings from Jivya Soma Mashe to the Vayeda Brothers
Spotlight
How to draw a tree like Sukhnandi Vyam
A member of the Gond-Pardhan community, Sukhnandi Vyam considers his art as an expression of the tribe’s identity and spiritual connection with nature
Spotlight
Gopa Trivedi’s fables of an inevitable future
Drawing from the practices of Rajasthani miniature painting and printmaking, Gopa Trivedi turns abstract concepts—time, decay, renewal—into provocative, fragmented frames
Spotlight
“My landscapes are testaments to the silent lands of Assam”
Through this series of woodcut prints, Chandan Benz Baruah looks back at the forests of his childhood with love for what they gave him and rage for what’s being taken from them
Exhibitions
Sarmaya X Ojas Art present ‘Echoes of the Land’
Highlights from our two-week exhibition at Ojas Art, Delhi, which showcased the works of 20 artists from the Sarmaya collection
Spotlight
Dark Mother – Goddesses of wrath
Within the mythology of the Mother Goddess there exists a duality. Just as her benevolent aspects are depicted in many forms, here are some of her fiercest and most terrifying forms
Talks
‘From Madras to Chennai, a City’s Journey’ by Sriram V
As a Chennai-based heritage activist and historian, Sriram V knows the city better than most and shares his delightful insights in this lecture
Talks
‘Kalamkari Through The Senses’ by Rajarshi Sengupta
A sensorial account of Kalamkari textiles, the masterfully crafted and brilliantly dyed cottons of southeastern India
Reads
‘Sisters Who Watch Over Us’ – Telangana’s powerful local goddesses
Among the Dalits and Bahujans of South India, the seven sister-goddesses are revered as protectors of the land and preservers of its people. Meet the gramadevatalu of Telangana
Spotlight
Reign of the Goddess
As the festive season draws near, we get to know some of the great goddesses of our culture in the 33rd issue of Sarmaya Spotlight
Spotlight
Work & worship – Goddesses of learning and living
The road to learning—and earning—is guided by these benevolent goddesses
Spotlight
Miracle cure – Goddesses of health
The devis, matas, ammas and other female divinities who have been called upon, time and time again, to save humanity from disease, death and its own hubris
Spotlight
Mighty mother – Goddesses of plenty
She predates language, defies borders and annihilates evil. Dhartari, Durga, Lakshmi, Mariamman–meet the mother goddesses of India
Collections
The Nautch Bungalow, Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar
This photograph of the Nautch Bungalow at the Shalimar garden in Kashmir was taken by Burke and Baker in the late 19th century. Mughal king, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) built the Nautch Bungalow for his beloved wife Nur Jahan in 1616. The garden is one of the few surviving Mughal gardens, based on the Persian ‘charbagh’ style. To… Read more »
Collections
Untitled (Still Life)
This undated work is a still life painting by K H Ara (1914-1985). His artistic expressions were characterised by robust nudes and still lifes, marked by a life-affirming positivity and zeal. He was a self-taught artist who ran away from home to pursue his artistic career in Bombay. Born in 1913 in Andhra Pradesh, KH… Read more »
Collections
Negapatam
This detailed map of Nagapattinam (previously spelt, Negapatam) was created by the Office of the Trigonometric Branch, Survey of India, Dehra Dun. The map gives a complete overview of the city, highlighting its water tanks, churches, and temples. Owing to the enormous endeavours of the Survey of India, precision in documenting became more important as mapping… Read more »
Collections
Durbar of the Rajah of Travancore, Reception of General Outram and Staff
This coloured engraving shows an assemblage at the Travancore royal court with James Outram and his staff and Maharaja of Travancore, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1814-1860). General James Outram was appointed as a political agent in Lucknow in 1854 and became the region’s first commissioner after the annexation of Oudh State. He was a British… Read more »
Collections
Residency at Chaderghat, Hyderabad
This photograph of the British Residency in Hyderabad is attributed to Lala Deen Dayal (1844-1905). The British Residency, located on the banks of the Musi river, was built between 1803–1806 as a Palladian palace by Samuel Russell of Madras Engineers. It served as the official residence of the British officers appointed as the Resident at… Read more »
Exhibitions
Memories of the Water Bearer
To a weary traveller or parched soldier in 19th-century India, there was perhaps no sight as welcome as the approach of a bhishti. A quick untwisting of the mouth of the mashaq slung over his shoulder, and cool clear water would splash into a grateful cupped palm.