UNICEF Applauds National Stamp Designs for Child Rights...

The Department of Posts, in association with UNICEF on the occasion of Children's Day in India (Nov 14) announced the winners of the 2019 Stamp Design Competition, whilst also commemorating thirty years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The top two winning entries have been adapted as stamps.

More than 14,000 children from across India participated with stamp designs in the annual competition run by the Department of Posts, this year in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, the Government of India and UNICEF. The theme for this year’s competition was child rights.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations on 20 November 1989, and is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. India ratified the CRC in 1992, committing to protect and promote all rights of children. In partnership with Government, civil society, communities and children across India, UNICEF is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the CRC and 70 years in India working for the rights of every child. 

Speaking on this year’s stamp design competition, a senior official from the Department of Posts said, 

“Every year, the Department of Posts holds a Stamp Design Competition on Children’s Day inviting drawings, paintings and sketches from children on a particular theme. The theme of this year’s Children’s Day Stamp Design Competition was ‘Child Rights’.” 

On the partnership with UNICEF, the Department official continued, 

“The partnership with UNICEF this year has served twin objectives: on one hand, it is generating awareness about philately and on the other hand, it is creating awareness about child rights. Children have sent us excellent art work on what the CRC means for them. Today, children clearly identify new challenges facing them as well as available opportunities. Young people are speaking out for their right to education, demanding an end to discrimination, calling for end to violence, striking for action on the climate crisis, campaigning for digital reform and calling on leaders to protect their future.”

The winning entries – three winners and five consolation prices – will be awarded at a national event in New Delhi on 20 November 2019, World Children’s Day. While the top two designs on child rights are adapted as stamps, the remaining are used for preparing various philatelic items including first day cover, brochure etc. The 1st prize winner will win a cash prize of INR 50,000. The 2nd and 3rd prize winners will receive INR 25,000 and INR 10,000 respectively. The five consolation prizes are worth INR 5,000 each. 

Congratulating the winners and all children who participated, Foroogh Foyouzat, Deputy Representative for UNICEF in India said, 

“Indian children have brought the Convention on the Rights of the Child to life with their inspiring and beautiful stamp designs. Every child who participated is a winner in our shared responsibility to work tirelessly so that every child in India realizes all of his or her rights. In their entries, we can see girls and boys dreams for themselves and for all children. At a time when children and childhood itself are faced with new challenges in a rapidly changing world, these powerful images by children are a great reminder that we must all do more to put child rights at the heart of India now and for all future generations.” 

The following children have been declared as Winners:

First prize winner              :     Ms. Nidhi Rahul Mhatre (15), Boisar, Maharashtra

Second prize winner          :     Ms. Vibhushi Agarwal (12), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Third prize winner            :      Ms. Deepali Midha (17), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Consolation prize winners:      (i) Master Rupam Mahanty (10), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

                                                 (ii) Ms. Vaidehi Vikas Shirsath (17), Bengaluru, Karnataka

                                                 (iii) Ms. Arya Thapa (14), Tadong, Sikkim

                                                 (iv) Master Sarvesh Suresh Joshi (07), Parbhani, Maharashtra

                                                 (v) Ms. Kratika Chittoriya (14), Nagra, Rajasthan

Ingenuity In Expression At The Natya Ballet Dance Festival 2018...

A Biennale celebration of creative excellence in expression through movement - DANCE - The Natya Ballet Dance Festival organized by the Natya Ballet Centre in association with Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) drew a close to its second edition on December 2, 2018. 

The three-day event at SNA premises in the heart of the city beginning November 30, 2018, witnessed a full-house audience all three days, performing arts enthusiasts and Indian culture fanatics alike, soaking in the rich heritage of the timeless art form that is dance. Exploring the pertinent themes of ‘Dance in Film’ & ‘Dance in Theatre’, NBDF 2018 showcased the best of both local and global art forms, at the same time emphasizing on female power in dance & theatre. 

Commencing with renowned American choreographer and Artistic Director of Ananya Dance Theatre, Ananya Chatterjee's Masterclass that introduced a contemporary Indian dance technique called Yorchhā, which brings together movement principles from Odissi, Vinyasa Yoga, and Mayurbhanj Chhau, NBDF 2018's first day also drew the curtains with a contemporary retelling of the Mahabharata, conceptualized by the Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust employing an amalgam of the Japanese technique of Bunraku, masks and shadow theatre, along with the elements of Chhau and Kalaripayattu to present a spellbinding storytelling session. 

Helmed by Anurupa Roy, Founder and Managing Trustee of the Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust, the hour-long enactment of the mythological epic saw a stream of the conscious narrative of the fifteen prominent characters of the Mahabharata. The unquestioning loyalty to their personal beliefs by each that paved way to the battle of Kurukshetra was portrayed effortlessly, whilst at the same time questioning whether the characters had chances to alter their choices that could have made a difference to the consequences. 

While the second and third days of the festival aimed to explore the underlying themes by the means of 'Meet The Legends' and 'Dance Discourses', there was a lot to look forward to, as the experience unfolded. 

“It was a labor of love to bring a festival of this magnitude to the Delhi public, and a rewarding experience to witness the large turnout. Natya Ballet Centre strives to innovate, expand dialogues and boundaries within the realm of dance, which was showcased under one roof, over three days. A coming together of immense talent from different fields.”, said Radhika Hoon, Chairperson, Natya Ballet Centre on showcasing a tribute to dance in the context of theatre and film, by the means of The Natya Ballet Dance Festival. 

On the second day, Sangeet Natak Akademi opened its doors to an insightful conversation with the legend of contemporary Indian Dance, Astad Deboo, who pioneered the contemporary dance style at a time when innovation in Indian dance was not welcomed. 

In his session moderated by Dr. Arshiya Sethi, a scholar, commentator, administrator, consultant and an activist in the field of art and culture, Mr. Deboo discussed how his style of dance has evolved during the years from learning Kathak and Kathakali, to his own unique style and shared his story of how he taught dance to deaf artists and children of the Salaam Balak Trust giving them an opportunity to perform in public. 

This segment was immediately followed by a tete-a-tete between the legendary Kathak exponent Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj and Manjari Sinha, an acclaimed musicologist and classical music and dance critic. 

The living legend shared anecdotes of how he learned Kathak, his journey and the legacy of Kathak which will be carried forward, beautifully binding the past, present, and future. Besides, being a maestro of Kathak, Maharaj Ji demonstrated his prowess at playing the tabla, recited his own poetry and sang leaving the onlookers in a graceful bind. 

The ‘Dance in Theatre’ segment welcomed renowned theatre artists such as Maya Krishna Rao, Vinay Kumar from Adishakti Theatre, Gowri Ramnarayan and Bharatanatyam exponent Jyotsna Shourie along with moderators Dr. Anita Cherian & Saumya Baijal, who shared their insights on how dance and theatre blend in the work and practice. 

Later in the evening, two international performances had been planned, courtesy the famous Dutch dance company Vloeistof - ‘We are waiting at the Border’ - a confrontational public space performance and Leo Spreksel's ‘Ayush’, an amalgamation of Western dramaturgy and Kathak vocabulary, performed by Hari and Chethana and Sirisha. 

Vloiestof has traveled across Europe and this festival served as the platform for it to premiere in India. With four dancers, three mirrors and a huge glass plate, the aim of this performance was to explore new ways to break boundaries and focus on unexpected aspects of borders. 

Commenting on how dance has come across as a powerful medium to fuel change in society, Nikita Maheshwary, Creative Director, Natya Ballet Centre was of the following opinion. 

“We are thrilled and humbled to see that our aim to unfold the plural discourses on dance and open up various dialogues on the shifting paradigms of performing arts has been received so well by audience and critics alike. We are looking forward to being back with our third edition in 2020, as the Natya Ballet Centre celebrates its 60th year, with international and national alliances to showcase many more inspiring artists and performances.”

The last day of The Natya Ballet Dance Festival commenced with a candid talk between Mallika Sarabhai, an eminent choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, actress, writer, and social activist. 

She has been recognized and awarded across the world and Dr. Arshiya Sethi, followed by another ‘Meet The Legends’ session with Leela Samson, who is an exponent and sensitive interpreter of the nuances of Bharatanatyam. 

She spoke about her experience of choreographing a body of work called ‘Spanda’, two decades years ago, which is known for its innovations in Bharatanatyam till date. She also shared details on her latest production named ‘Avani - The River’. The session was moderated by Prof. Naman P. Ahuja, who is a curator of Indian art, a Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Co-Editor of Marg Publications. 

In the same afternoon, the focus shifted to ‘Dance in Film’ where award-winning filmmakers and artists Saba Dewan, Justin Mc Carthy, Sharada Ramanathan, and Vikram Iyengar presented excerpts of their films and delved on the role of the camera in dance. 

The evening culminated with a powerful performance, ‘Aham Sita’, directed by Gowri Ramnarayan of the JustUs Repertory, Chennai and performed by the renowned Bharatnatyam danseuse Priyadarsini Govind. 

A blend of dance, music and the spoken word, it frames five crucial moments in the life of Sita along with the other women of the Ramayana - Urmila Mandodari, Surpanakha, and Ahalya - the act was widely appreciated.

Needless to say, the effort put in by the performing artists and festival directors shone through to put forward a successful second edition of The Natya Ballet Dance Festival, and here's hoping that dance as a performing art and catalyst continues to dissolve boundaries across the globe. :)

An Ode To Expressive Brilliance At #NBDF2018...

From the Inside to the Outside, 

From People to Puppets, 

From the Stage to Public Spaces, 

From Mythology to Modernity. 

A delicate thread of expressive movement binds these four facets of societal perception - DANCE. 

It is an age-old-adage that actions speak louder than words. Dance is one such series of actions that has the ability to spellbind, taking the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions by the means of impactful performances. 

Dance is an unbelievably powerful medium of narrative and social activism that adapts itself to the interpretation of the viewer. There is thought that is put into performances, which culminates into appreciation as the creative effort of the artiste bears fruit. 

Unfortunately, performing arts of the likes of theater, film, song, and dance are losing out gradually in modern times, yet I recently came across an earnest attempt to revive such arts and give them a new lease of life that is The Natya Ballet Dance Festival 2018. 

Helmed by Natya Ballet Centre in association with Sangeet Natak Akademi, the second edition of the Biennale ‘The Natya Ballet Dance Festival’ from 30 November - 2 December 2018 is to be held at SNA premises.

This year, the festival is centered around the themes of ‘Dance in Film’ & ‘Dance in Theatre’ that aim to showcase works that transcend any one medium. The three-day long festival is filled with rich and diverse programs that will present the best of both local and global art forms along with a tete-a-tete with living legends of Indian dance.

A melange of thought-provoking and mesmerizing performances, talks, presentations and film screenings with the host of eminent and distinguished artists from India and abroad is what will mark The Natya Ballet Dance Festival, also along with an emphasis on women power in dance and theater.

Conceptualized by Radhika Hoon, Chairperson, Natya Ballet Centre, and Nikita Maheshwary, Creative Director, Natya Ballet Centre, The Natya Ballet Dance Festival attempts to appreciate bold and assertive works that visualize and interpret conventional storytelling through the filters of social and political upheaval.

Be it the ‘Dance Discourses’ focusing on how art can act as an effective medium to mobilize social change or the ‘Meet The Legends’ tete-a-tete that provides an opportunity for the audience and fraternity alike to gain glimpses into the illustrious lives of the mega icons of Indian Dance namely Pandit Birju Maharaj, Leela Samson, Astad Deboo, and Mallika Sarabhai, The Natya Ballet Dance Festival comes across as an exciting and promising amalgamation of talents from across the globe in Delhi, this weekend.

I'll be there at The Natya Ballet Dance Festival to witness the masterpiece come to life. Will you? :)

All About #TILEGurgaon: The Indian Luxury Expo...

The last couple of days have seen the best names from the luxury circuit gather under one roof as The Indian Luxury Expo (TILE) made its impact felt across the length and breadth of the city at Kingdom of Dreams, Gurugram. The high-octane luxury extravaganza presented curated products, exclusive launches and previews, and bespoke pop-up experiences.

A number of prominent brands from a potpourri of industries including travel, fashion accessories, jewelry, real estate, hospitality, art & collectibles, apparel, home décor and luxury automobile brands participated in the Expo.

Some of the noteworthy ones were Jaguar and Land Rover, Ducati, Gitanjali, Nakshatra Diamonds, Hand Painted Stories, Think Tonk, Tie Hub, Mahindra Lifespaces, Grohe, Raymond Made to Measure, INV Homes, Ford Mustang, Embassy, Amex, DAG, Porshe, Gallerie Splash, Kawasaki and Harley Davidson, to name a few.

A successful book launch of She & He by engineer-turned-author Astha Mittal was held and breathtaking artworks by renowned artist Ram Indranil Kamath, which help in understanding the link between Hinduism and Hindutva, were also exhibited at the event.

Having managed to pull off a spectacular luxury show, Karan Bhangay, Founder, #TheIndianLuxuryExpo said

“We are delighted to see the fervent participation of different industries at the event this year. Gurugram is known for having a keen demand for luxury, owing to the standard of living enshrined by its citizen. The city brought forth a wonderful opportunity to display our curated set of brands, for the discerning audience.

Celebrated brands across industries participated and partnered the Gurugram Expo, clearly indicating a growth of interest and consumer sentiments attached to this sector.

Luxury consumption spearheading a country’s economy undoubtedly reflects its affluence and taste. India is set to become the world's fastest wealth creator in the coming years.

Realizing the increasing importance of the country in the global luxury industry, The Indian Luxury Expo endeavors to bring the top-notch luxury brands and the connoisseurs under one platform.”

Home Makeovers With HouseFull By Ramola Bachchan...

Ramola Bachchan is a well-known name when it comes to the curation of lifestyle exhibitions - recall Runway Rising. She is now ready to provide a platform to showcase the latest trends in interior design, decor, and lifestyle categories at HouseFull 2017 - a home decor show.

Now in its fourth year, the show is to be held at The Ashok, New Delhi and is going to be a two-day gala display spanning 6-7 October 2017, a preview of which, highlighting ten participating brands was held at Handmade World Gallery, MG Road, a couple of days back.

This year the capital will witness participation from established brands of the likes of One and Only, Elementto Wallpaper, Three Sixty Degree, Rameshwaram Silver Furniture from Udaipur, along with new entrants of the likes of Bruzae, Hastens, Murano Glass, Devika Diwan, Amber Décor, and many other leading brands.

The two-day home decor show focuses on showcasing the latest trends and creative design in furniture, home accessories, artworks, soft furnishings, lighting, rugs, outdoor furniture, gift items and much more. HouseFull witnesses visitors from various fields such as architecture, interior designing, bulk buyers, and real estate.

The USP of this exhibition according to Mrs. Bachchan lies in how beautifully the show absorbs both, luxury and consumer-friendly brands, making it a show not-to-be-missed. This year's edition is scheduled pre-Diwali when most of the home shopping takes place in India in the purview of the upcoming festivities.

According to Mrs. Ramola Bachchan who was present at Handmade World Gallery,

"Talent is in abundance in our country and it is exciting to see the young minds exhibiting the entrepreneurial spirit and being a part of HouseFull exhibition." 

Building on the momentum of the previous editions, all the components are in place for another well-received show. :)