“Contrary to popular perception, it is not Urdu but Dakhni that is spoken widely in the south, especially by Muslims. Dakhni is deeply rooted in the cultures of Chennai, Bengaluru and parts of Andhra Pradesh.” – Yunus Lasania for Sarmaya Talks. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting.… Read more »
Exploring the cultural and spiritual significance of water in India and around the world
Big ideas in music, food and architecture that were born in India
From the yellow clay of his village to the rOtring pen discovered during a trip abroad, Jangarh approached each medium with curiosity and courage
“The wall paintings at Fathpur were first catalogued by E W Smith in 1895. Exactly a century later, I photographed them. Some that Smith saw have since disappeared; some not recorded by him, are now visible. What survives gives us a good idea of the Mughals’ worldview and their attempts at founding an all-inclusive culture.”… Read more »
“Set in Agra, 1627, Mansur: A Novel reimagines a day in the life of an imperial Mughal atelier. Ustad Mansur belonged to a distinguished group of master painters in the service of Jahangir. He specialised in watercolour life-studies—of unmatched realism and finesse—of flora and fauna, both native and exotic.” – Vikramajit Ram for Sarmaya Talks.… Read more »
Understanding the politics of 19th-century Mewar through a rare coin die
Over 2,000 years ago, a new technique of minting coins was introduced to India. We still use it today, both to study history and write it
On 19 August 2023, on World Photography Day, we opened our archive to a group of photography enthusiasts to explore the journey of early photography in India.
“Contrary to popular perception, it is not Urdu but Dakhni that is spoken widely in the south, especially by Muslims. Dakhni is deeply rooted in the cultures of Chennai, Bengaluru and parts of Andhra Pradesh.” – Yunus Lasania for Sarmaya Talks. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting.… Read more »
“The necropolis of the Qutb Shahi Sultans at Golconda, Hyderabad, is a unique collection of 100+ monuments across a 106-acre landscape. Since 2013, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has partnered with a host of agencies to conserve the monuments and restore their gardens.” – Ratish Nanda for Sarmaya Talks. Ratish Nanda is a conservation… Read more »
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“I use the latest cutting-edge AI technology as well as 19th-century techniques to create images unique to my aesthetic and understanding of the world”
For numismatists or coin collectors on a budget, commemorative coins are a great way to get started. Here’s what makes them special
Let’s look into the legends of three animals frequently found on old Indian coins.
Between November 1878 and October 1880, the British army in India fought a series of battles for geo-political control over Afghanistan. One photographer followed along
From minting money to printing books, and from taking photographs to making art, technology has dictated the evolution of many a human endeavour
“Ilkal sarees are the most affordable staple wear of the women of North Karnataka and Southern Maharashtra. This heritage weave is now on its way to being recognised nationally.” – Vrunda Sekhar for Sarmaya Talks. Vrunda Sekhar is a handloom specialist from Karnataka. She has been working with weavers in the research, revival and marketing… Read more »
“Through this illustrated talk we will cover the reasons for the deleterious decline of hand-block printing traditions in the 18th Century and their revival and regeneration in the India of today.” – Dr. Ritu Sethi for Sarmaya Talks. Dr Ritu Sethi is the editor of Global InCH, the online international journal of intangible cultural heritage,… Read more »
How albumen, a sticky substance found in egg whites, took the elite European hobby of photography and turned into a global phenomenon