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Daly Memorial Hall (Bangalore, Karnataka)

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  The essence of a place is defined by its heritage, cultural history and overall social transformations across space and time. With the advent of colonialism and modernity, interactions and exchanges amongst and between people resulted in the emergence of dynamic communities and a new cosmopolitan landscape. The historical trajectories of early modern and colonial South India produced distinct changes that eventually came to shape the socio-cultural and intellectual milieu of the heart of Karnataka – the city of Bengaluru. It has always been a beautiful melting pot of customs and traditions from South Asia and beyond, and it continues to be one even in the present. The Daly Memorial Hall and Mythic Society are significant historical examples that illustrate this point extremely well. With a magnificent architectural structure that appears to be rooted in colonial and neo-colonial practices of construction, the building exhibits influences from Greek and classical methods of archit...
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Stories Woven in Ornaments: Traditional Jewellery of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and their Depiction in the Wall Paintings

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J ewellery has been an integral part of the Indian subcontinent since the Upper Palaeolithic period. Over these millennia, humans have transformed their creations from ostrich eggshells to various metals. In India, it is an essential aspect of our culture and heritage. The country is incredibly rich in the diversity of styles from its many states; however, here we will focus on Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their uniqueness and historical significance. The Himalayan ranges to the west feature various kinds of jewellery distinct from those found elsewhere in the country. Ornaments are symbolic of wealth, culture, rituals, and aesthetics.  Uttarakhand has similar yet distinct jewellery in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Similarly, the ornaments in Himachal’s Chamba and Kangra regions are also similar yet different from other parts of Himachal Pradesh.  In Uttarakhand, both the Garhwali and Kumaoni communities wear traditional jewellery as an integral part of the...
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CONNECTING THE DOTS: A CASE OF BANDHANI

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  CONNECTING THE DOTS: A CASE OF BANDHANI The walls of various forts, havelis, and other buildings across Rajasthan are ornamented with paintings based on a myriad of themes which range from religious portraits to everyday life scenes to extravagant lives of royalties and the portraits of British officials. In few of the paintings found on the walls of Jaisalmer Fort, it can be noticed that the portraits of Goddess Radha, Goddess Parvati and of a lady painted on the walls of the Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, are bound by a common factor which are the clothes of the subjects embellished with the tie-dye technique called bandhani. Bandhani is a type of patterned fabric that is crafted with expertise steeped in age-old traditions and knowledge system that has passed down from one generation to the other. This art of tying and dyeing has been in existence in the said region for centuries and its appearance on the wall paintings at Jaisalmer and Jodhpur only cements the continuation ...
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Kirti Mandir: The House of Valour

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Kirti Mandir: The House of Valour  Situated along the banks of the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara, Gujarat, the Kirti Mandir is more than just a monument; it is a profound expression of legacy, artistry, and remembrance. Commissioned in 1936 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, it was built to commemorate the silver jubilee of his reign and to honour the memory of his royal ancestors. Beyond its stone walls lies a narrative woven with mythological grandeur, artistic mastery, and architectural brilliance- a story that continues to echo across generations.                                                               Fig. 1: Kirti Mandir Kirti Mandir was envisioned as a family cenotaph and as a sanctum of memory. The monument is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built to commemorate the deceased members of the Gaekwad royal family. It i...
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