Indian music on the global stage

November 28, 2024

Indian music, with its history spanning thousands of years, has always been a profound expression of the country’s cultural and spiritual ethos. From classical ragas to contemporary Bollywood tracks, it is a rich tapestry of tradition, innovation, and emotion. Over the past century, Indian music has not just flourished within...

Rebooting Rajasthan; tapping the pravasis

November 22, 2024

The Rising Rajasthan 2024 investment summit, to be held in Jaipur from 9 to 11 December 2024, will hold a Pravasi Rajasthani Conclave on the 10th of December 2024. The aim of the three-day summit, which has started creating a buzz in many cities, is to bring the Rajasthani diaspora from...

Why India belongs to UN high table permanently

October 14, 2024

September UNGA month at Taj Pierre in New York has become my address from years now. Each year, I attend the UNGA week as part of my longstanding association with WFUNA, and it has become a tradition. This year was no different, but there was a moment of personal reflection...

Rediscovering Edinburgh: A Culinary Exploration Of Dishoom And Haldi

September 2, 2024

My recent visit to Edinburgh was both a stroll down memory lane and an opportunity to gain new insights. As someone who appreciates the city’s rich history and vibrant culture, returning to this enchanting place always feels like a homecoming. I have visited Edinburgh several times, but I have never...

Vanishing Camels and the Plight of Our Wildlife

August 6, 2024

I have fond memories of Jhumroo from childhood. Jhumroo was a camel I grew up watching and playing with till he was four years old. Though too big for a child, he was my playmate with whom I indulged in riding, playing and even fighting. My next camel ride was...

CSR funding for arts & culture: An appeal to PM Modi

July 15, 2024

I have recently made a passionate appeal to honourable prime minister Narendra Modi ji seeking his kind attention and intervention to review norms for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. As we understand, CSR funds provide crucial support to bolster the cultural and literary landscape of India. My humble intention...

A whirlwind journey from Kolkata to Oslo

May 23, 2024

When you hear the words Nobel Prize, you are likely to think of Sweden. And yet, every year, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded not in Stockholm, but in Oslo, Norway. Here’s why. The Nobel Prizes, including the Peace Prize, were established by the will Alfred Nobel drafted in 1895,...

Quest for Indian food while travelling abroad

April 20, 2024

Many years back, I was in the South Korean city of Incheon, just before it became a destination for international conventions. While one brings back many memories my from every Bahar Bharat trip — and my work and passions have taken me all over the globe, including many unknown places many have never heard of —...

Rama in Literature

February 22, 2024

The enduring popularity of the Ramayana continues to propel various retellings and re-imaginings of the classic tale of the triumph of good over evil. The Ramayana’s enduring popularity is evidenced by its journey across borders, regions, languages and cultures. The most definitive of them all, is Valmiki’s Sanskrit text, Ramayana,...

Lord Rama in regional Cinema

January 13, 2024

The depiction of Lord Ram in Bengali and various regional cinemas beyond Hindi is a testament to the cultural diversity and artistic interpretations prevalent in Indian cinema. These adaptations not only retell the epic narrative but also reflect the regional nuances, cultural ethos, and artistic sensibilities of each film industry....