KANTHA: embroidered cultural history. AIR Talk. June 2022.
Kantha is an embroidery craft practiced by women in Bengal, typically using old saris and cloth and layer them with stitching to make a light blanket, throw, or bedspread, especially for children. The simple Kantha made at home after the birth of a child and used as a spread is called ‘Muthuna Kantha’ in colloquial terms meaning loosely ‘Wet Cover’. The 300 year old Kantha hanging at our home falls in this category and is more important due its place of origin in East Bengal, now Bangladesh and for its simple design. Also for the fact that the design has children dressed up, probably with shoes, which is amazing. As in all family myths, the story of birth is remembered as a dramatic technicolour dream and the Kantha plays a pivotal role. Kantha stitching is also used to make simple quilts, commonly known as nakshi kantha. Old sarees are also stacked on each other and hand-stitched to make a thin piece of cushion. This is normally used as a bed cover. Kantha saris are very popular and are traditionally worn by women in Bengal region. Nowadays, 'kantha stitched’ kurta (or panjabi) and churidar and many other garments and gaining popularity due to their aesthetic value and handmade characteristics.
Will 'Sidhu Jyathas' be ever born again in Bengal? September 2021.
A candid Conversation between Dr Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, Founder, Director, BFIC and the Illustrious Professor Aloke Kumar.
With Google almost in every home, will 'Sidhu Jyathas' be ever born again in Bengal? Or is the era of Antiquarian over? Does Bengal and Kolkata need its own dedicated archive showcasing Antiques, Memorabilia, Collections and Souvenirs from Its Glorious past... for tourists, visitors, researchers and enthusiasts?
Nurturing Heritage through Art Leadership. April 2020.
Understanding the importance of Intangible culture is important to keep the tradition alive, understand its relevance in the contemporary scene, and to nurture artisans for making a sustainable development for artists and communities.
Stories of World Culture. World Peace. April 2020.
Indian Museum Series. Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
World peace suffered a series of setbacks last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 2020 and April 2021, pandemic-related violent incidents were recorded in at least 158 countries. These incidents ranged from individual attacks aimed at people of Asian descent through to anti-lockdown demonstrations that turned violent. Understanding the meaning and relevance of World Peace in today’s context.
I N D E P E N D E N C E Day in the Age of Digital. All India Radio. AIR Talk. August 2014.
Our Independence Day Celebration meant wearing our school uniform and rushing to school in the early morning to hoist the flag and sing the national anthem in full throated emotion. This transformed into dressing up early and joining the community in hoisting the flag watching the young boys and girls singing the National Anthem and Vandamattaram , not of Bankim but of A R Rehaman. With the Prime Minister of our country for the first time being born on the other side of the Independence has made a marked difference at the way we think of our Independence Day.