His mountains spoke a thousand words, rose to the sound of lonely music, his landscapes were miniature formats of the original horizons, yet Bireswar Sen’s work has hardly been re-evaluated in recent times. Maybe because this artist who lived in British India was too shy to come into
In the olden times, mats were an integral part of the social fabric of Bengal, and Madurkathi mats were used to sit on and as bedding. These mats are non-conductive and sweat-absorbing, making them an essential household item in West Bengal’s hot and humid climate. These mats
That gooey and sugary yellow swan or the pink tomb that stood atop a puja prasad in our childhood days, often attracted children and their taste buds more than the humble batasha did. So were the pristine white Kadma, that needed a really strong tooth
It was way back in 1930, when an exquisite piece of art right on his lunch plate had excited Rabindranath Tagore to no end. Not just because of it being a culinary delight, but because of the artistry and effort that went to make that
Ifirst met the renowned artist K. G. Subramanyan—whom we all fondly called Manida—on August 25, 1996. I remember the exact date because that day, he signed a book written about him and noted the date beside his signature. The last time I saw him was
“In the 1980s, Kolkata’s fashion scene saw a wave of inspiration from Shantiniketan’s batik alpana. This led to the creation of ‘Ranstitchl’—a style where women’s sarees and outfits were crafted with intricate stitching on a single piece of cloth. ‘Kantha stitch’ sarees became popular, promoted
Tracing Bengal’s ancient and rich heritage of woodworks Daruchitra aka woodwork is the art of wood engraving. It is an ancient craft, used for decorating door frames, pillars, windows, palanquins, boat prows, toys and dolls. The designs are carved out and the plain surfaces are then
The artistic sense of Bengalis invariably found expression in their traditional spirit of hospitality and also in the food they served to their honoured guests, howsoever plain the fare might be. Just as their culinary skills were evident in the variety of items they prepared
Before the British took over, Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal. During Murshid Quli Khan’s rule (1717–1727), the twin towns (Jiaganj) on the east bank and Azimganj, located on the west bank of the Bhagirathi River, were important trading centres. Since the 18th century, Murshidabad has become the
Cartoons have a unique way of capturing reality—blending humour, satire, and storytelling into powerful visual messages. Some artists turn this craft into a lifelong passion with their drawings to reflect society’s thoughts and emotions. One such artist is Mahafuj Ali, better known as MAli, whose