Reads

Dig a little deeper into India’s art and heritage, uncover lesser-known stories and expert insight on everything from the popular to the esoteric.

The mythical origins of shadow puppets

Made in China, made in India, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, or even Turkey, the tradition of shadow puppets has survived for a long time, the second century BC, some say. But as is also custom, scholars have many disagreements on its origins. Folklorist Stuart Blackburn suggests that this tradition, like Buddhism, travelled to the rest of… Read more »

The man behind History Men

In this interview with the author of ‘History Men’ TCA Raghavan, we talk about the ways in which history has been written, understood and shaped in the Subcontinent

Now Reading: Divine gardens, a unflinching memoir & a feast of art

Click on the badge above to follow Pavitra’s Picks for Now Reading Paradise Gardens by Monty Don & Derry Moore The English word “Paradise” actually comes from the Persian word “Pardis” meaning a walled or enclosed garden. And Monty Don’s book Paradise Gardens, with photographs by Derry Moore, explores the most beautiful walled gardens in this book… Read more »

A Play of Shadows

Witness a magical storytelling performance of Tholubommalaata and let your imagination take flight as the evening light suffuses the stage and the colourful leather puppets are seized with a fierce energy

The Man Behind Sarmaya

Meet Paul Abraham, the collector who turned a childhood hobby into a lifelong quest for beauty and wonder. For the story of Sarmaya is the story of one man following his curiosity through the history and art landscapes of India.

The Slave Who Built a City

By Jonathan Gil Harris
The fascinating tale of modern-day Aurangabad and its creation by a former Abyssinian slave and rival of Emperor Jahangir, Malik Ambar, who designed the city and its complex water supply system, and taught the Marathas guerrilla warfare.