The works of Amitabh Sengupta show a broad spectrum of styles and reflect the challenges faced by Indian artists in the 20th century. A major exhibition of his work is currently on display at the Kalakendra Art Gallery. Find out more about his influences and his significance for the Indian art scene.
I have just returned from a devotional meditation. It's the anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. He left his body 72 years ago, as they say here. I have been thinking and talking a lot about his commentaries on the Kena Upanishad for the last few days. I came across the word 'intermiscence'. It is almost only used by Aurobindo. [...]
I am slowly approaching Sanskrit. On Thursdays, Nishtha holds a seminar on the Rigveda. The joint recitation in Sanskrit, the detailed analysis of the translation, Nishtha's philological reflections and the explanations on the psychology of the gods open up access to these 'sacred' texts. I remember my Latin studies, the Indo-Germanic roots, the sounds that [...]
The last time I seriously asked myself what I should do was during my studies. I studied philosophy and I was often asked what I wanted to do with it. What a stupid question, I always thought. It's an inner urge, almost a compulsion that you can't resist. Every such [...]
I have known for many years that I would like to practise yoga, but have never done so. Similar to meditation, I didn't feel ready for it, or was put off by Western esoteric forms that ultimately see both meditation and yoga as self-optimization. Meditation and yoga are philosophical, spiritual and ultimately transcending practices, [...]
Many films feature grand hotels that are centrally located and serve as meeting places for the political, intellectual, and economic elite. I have always perceived this as something very elitist, colonial, and power-hungry. What I missed in the films, and what was probably rarely discussed there, is the networking that takes place in such locations. […]
On a boulevard in Paris, a cafe and bad music, sun and many people. So many people want to be seen. They present themselves as busy, sexy, cool, knowledgeable, adventurous, athletic, educated, cultured, or indifferent. Many want others to notice them. They see this as who they want to be. Perhaps they live their lives in a certain [...]
What should I take with me to India? I want to live a different life, in a different society, with different ideas and goals. It's warm there, life will be simple. Apart from the basics like a few items of clothing, I'll need my technical devices such as my laptop, cell phone and camera. And what else? A good flashlight, because the field paths there [...]