Latest news with #Kalighat
Mint
2 days ago
- General
- Mint
How did we become so scared of colour in our own homes?
Gift this article My sons and I have this rhetorical banter… One of us will ask: 'Who is the most difficult person to know?" To which, one of us responds: 'Myself". When people ask me what I do, I often say I write about design, but what I actually write about, is homes. What makes a home the way it is? Why do we shape it the way we do? How do we think about it more deeply? As my mind sifts through the many spaces I've seen these past few weeks and conversations I've had about the topic of home, the conclusion that I've come to is that many folks are unaware of themselves as they begin making homes. It is a performance, our home. So many different types of performance. Performative authenticity. Performative minimalism. My sons and I have this rhetorical banter… One of us will ask: 'Who is the most difficult person to know?" To which, one of us responds: 'Myself". When people ask me what I do, I often say I write about design, but what I actually write about, is homes. What makes a home the way it is? Why do we shape it the way we do? How do we think about it more deeply? As my mind sifts through the many spaces I've seen these past few weeks and conversations I've had about the topic of home, the conclusion that I've come to is that many folks are unaware of themselves as they begin making homes. It is a performance, our home. So many different types of performance. Performative authenticity. Performative minimalism. I just sat through two days of research on the subject of Indian homes. A cascade of information about consumer segments and the sorts of homes people are making across various income groups and cities in the country. In the case of the vast majority of probably 100-plus residences surveyed, I'd say people had done far too much to their dwellings and mostly, and maybe unintentionally, as an act of exhibition. If you don't know yourself, at a very fundamental level, then it's very difficult to make a home that is more than just an illusion. But then we live in a culture that almost demands a performance, because people living authentically is often just inconvenient. Performance of loyalty, of spirituality, of decorum, of cultured-ness, of piety, of filial adoration. Since the group is considered more important than the individual, most of us are forced into some form of acting, even in our own homes. I come from a conservative Christian background but my home is filled with the iconography of other spiritual and religious inclinations, because some of our best craft capabilities are representations of religion, whether its terracotta figurines, Kalighat paintings or Islamic mirror etchings. Several of my family members would not approve of the imbalance of religious representation or the aesthetics of some of my artworks. And if I were so inclined to be sensitive to their feelings then I'd have to remove at least some of my most precious collectibles, particularly a fierce wall-mounted sculpture Aflame, a fiercely red, gold-ornamented tantric representation of the 14th century Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded, by the art collective WOLF Jaipur. So I understand the diplomatic urge for theatricality. I am only beginning to comprehend and accept my own design, decor and art urges, and if I now live without pretension it is because I find it easier to withstand others' disapproval than decorate my own home on someone else's terms. When I see prevalent trends in decor, the place that particularly stands emblematic of our discomfort with ourselves is the living room. That space which people create very specifically for symbolic if quiet communication to their guests. Across a vast spectrum of Indian homes, people are covering up their living room walls with PVC wall panels, wallpaper stickers, tiles, faux wooden fluted panels, veneers, wainscotting, even stone. To paint, it seems, is no longer enough. Though the act of decorating this way is meant to be another tool of personalisation, what such exaggerations achieve is something more complicated. For one thing, these types of additions reduce the size and scale of a space. It also makes for extraordinary complications if there's any water damage or other problems behind the cladding. Many of these off-the-shelf, online-available decor accessories promise to protect your walls, and help people express some level of individualisation. The only problem is, if a lot of people are doing the same exaggerated thing, then everything quickly becomes tired facsimiles mimicking one another. If you're sitting in a space that's been clad with plywood and veneers wall to wall, and perhaps very little furniture in the room, it doesn't make it a minimalist room, it is the performance of minimalism. Living rooms that look like they're stages, allegorical settings for domestic theatre. I've been trying to understand the mindset that gives rise to this feeling that a portion of the room needs to be covered with more material—particularly with unsustainable material. I use words like theatrics and performative-ness quite deliberately. Because with these over-material filled spaces that only convey that we have the resources to use them, we're either performing to the market, which has convinced us we need them, or to the trendsetters, who make us believe this level of customisation is necessary or beautiful. If you're sitting in a space that's been clad with plywood and veneers wall to wall, and perhaps very little furniture in the room, it doesn't make it a minimalist room, it is the performance of minimalism. The alternative, when we're picky with the nature of the materials we use, the economic use of materials itself—that frugality is more meaningful than performing minimalism by using an industrial and unsustainable material. How did we become so scared of walls and paint colour? There's a simplicity and basic-ness to colour and its rendering as a painted material. It is ubiquitous, it is uncomplicated, a fundamental element even, but it is also a frightening, culturally loaded, creative material. To go beyond neutrals is difficult; few do it well. Kerala, the capital of colour-drenched homes, is now largely a neutral hue-loving state. Peruse the pages of the Malayalam design weekly Veedu, and you'll see a surfeit of gabled roofs over white-painted quiet walls. The hegemony of neutrals is complete. Colour is a political and classist tool; we've succumbed to Western readings about colour, without even realising it. I was reminded of these structures and its teachings when I saw the coverage of the video where New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani is doing the most banal thing: eating biryani with his hands. In a lot of the world, including places such as Indonesia, people eat with their hands. Yet, that simple dining etiquette evokes a discussion. Colour is as unusual a political tool as food. We imbibe learnings that we're not even aware of. Traditional Indian aesthetics used colour in the most ingenious ways. One of the chief reasons I love south Indian clay figurines is because of their radical, confident use of colour. The colour-blocking is crazy and brilliantly contemporary. Few designers today are able to achieve that sort of range and hue-partnership in a space. Also read: Workspace evolution: Gen Z inspires new office design trends The reliance on new-tech products that pretend to look like various types of wood, is meant to save us from difficult choices. But the conditions of most Indian cities are such that the more complicated the home becomes, the more difficult its long-term survival. Say with cladding, there's moisture and the evil that it will unleash, the visible traces of dust, and it becomes that much more complicated to change your mind—unlike a wall with colour; if you want to change it then you change it. We change with time, with homes, with experiences, the people we are today are not the same as the ones we'll see in the mirror in a few years. Our homes have to be able to imbibe that. But that means we need to understand who we are at any point in time, to understand also what we are doing to the overall landscape, to our environment. What are your essentials? What do you need? Where do you want to begin? How will your space accommodate the many versions of you? These are the most important questions to begin with, when you're starting the work on a home. If you don't attempt to answer those then you'll end up helming yourself in with elements you don't actually need. Manju Sara Rajan is an editor, arts manager and author who divides her time between Kottayam and Bengaluru. Topics You May Be Interested In
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Those who change partners shouldn't preach, says Dilip
1 2 Kolkata: A year after he was "replaced" as the BJP candidate from his "stronghold", Midnapore, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls , Dilip Ghosh on Thursday took aim at his critics in the party. "I do not need to learn about BJP from those who earlier survived on Kalighat's leftovers, and now live on BJP's leftovers," Ghosh said, adding that those who "change partners" should not preach to him. Ghosh's visit to the Jagannath temple at the invitation of CM Mamata Banerjee had led to a fusillade of remarks against him, with Bishnupur MP Saumitra Khan leading the charge. Khan, who defected to BJP from Trinamool , said Ghosh seemed to have lost the plot. "He has become senile in his old age. He used to claim to be a tyagi (one who renounced all), but I see him as a bhogi (a pleasurist). People don't want to see a person like this, who breaks his vows at such a mature age. Is he planning to join Trinamool?" Khan said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Without naming Khan, Ghosh responded: "Look at his political career and his political associations. We have such netas in BJP who have strange bedfellows at night and try to look innocent the next morning. We have kept them in the party. The day we stop doing that, they will change colours. Such politicians should neither preach to BJP nor me." The former Bengal BJP president faced 'go back' slogans from local netas at Kolaghat. Ghosh was dismissive of their actions, saying fly-by-night operators had joined the party. "I have poured carbolic acid in pits. Snakes have now started coming out. But that cannot stop me," he said. He said he was not bothered by those who had breakfast with BJP, lunch with Trinamool, and then came back to BJP for dinner. "This is the crowd that joined the party during the 2021 assembly polls. They were children when I started fighting against Trinamool in 2015," Ghosh said. Referring to his meeting with the CM, the BJP senior said: "PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a bus to Lahore. But when the time came, he bombed Pakistan bases in Kargil. PM Narendra Modi met the Pakistan PM (Nawaz Sharif) in Lahore. But when the time came, he put the nation first and ordered surgical strikes. In BJP, meeting and greeting has not caused anyone to deviate from our duty — to the nation and the party." Former Tripura governor and BJP veteran Tathagata Roy had also criticised Ghosh for his bonhomie with Banerjee at the Jagannath temple in Digha. "The way he posed before the camera with the CM clearly points to his defection. He must have decided in his mind and looks like he is ready to join Trinamool," he said. Ghosh hit back, questioning Roy's "performance" as BJP party president when he managed only a 4% vote share, saying: "His only interest seems to be his evening get-togethers." Incidentally, Ghosh has been the most successful Bengal BJP president, leading the party to win 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and a 40.7% vote share, then narrowing the gap with Trinamool to only 3%.
News18
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mango Mania And Tropical Sips: Summer Specials 2025 Are Here to Refresh Your Palate
Last Updated: Whether you're craving a Thai-inspired raw mango salad, a creamy mango tiramisu, or a gin cocktail with hints of saffron, this season's specials promise something flavourful As the heat turns up, the city's culinary scene cools down with refreshing delights that celebrate the flavors of summer. From mango-laced desserts to herbaceous cocktails and tropical salads, restaurants and bars across Kolkata are serving sunshine on a plate — and in a glass. Whether you're craving a Thai-inspired raw mango salad, a creamy mango tiramisu, or a gin cocktail with hints of saffron and coconut, this season's specials promise something fresh, fun, and fabulously flavorful. Here's a curated roundup of Summer Specials 2025 that deserve a spot on your must-try list. Paprika Gourmet Mango Tiramisu Paprika Gourmet brings a summer twist to a classic Italian dessert with their Mango Tiramisu. This creamy indulgence layers mascarpone cheese and ladyfinger biscuits with luscious mango purée, topped with fresh mango slices — a perfect blend of tropical freshness and rich texture. Yauatcha, Kolkata Tokyo Cooler Beat the summer heat with Yauatcha Kolkata's Tokyo Cooler, a vibrant, non-alcoholic refresher that marries the tartness of raspberry and lemongrass with floral notes of elderflower and the fruity sweetness of peach and guava. A sip of this cooler promises instant revitalization. Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick Mango Gelato This iconic sweet shop celebrates the season with a silky-smooth Mango Gelato. Infused with the natural sweetness of ripe mangoes, it's a blissfully cool treat that captures the essence of summer in every spoonful. Ambrosia Mango Sticky Rice Ambrosia introduces a Thai-inspired summer dessert with their Mango Sticky Rice. Sweet sticky rice is paired with juicy mango slices and finished with a drizzle of rich coconut cream, offering a delicious medley of textures and tropical flavors. Fabbrica Originale Fab Limonata Light, fruity, and herbaceous — Fab Limonata by Fabbrica Originale is a delightful summer beverage made with strawberries, orange, and fresh basil. It's a sip of citrus sunshine with a playful twist. Lucky Tigerr Ying & Yang Lucky Tigerr's Ying & Yang cocktail balances bold botanicals with delicate floral notes. Made with gin, blue pea, yuzu, and a peach blossom tea syrup, it's finished with a frothy egg white top — a visually striking and deliciously harmonious drink. ATM Bar & Kitchen Pilgrim's Gin Spice A tribute to Kalighat's rich artistic legacy, Pilgrim's Gin Spice is a bold cocktail that blends the sweetness of local coconut with the aromatic complexity of saffron and cardamom. This drink is as soulful and layered as the stories of the pilgrims who inspired it. Bonne Femme The Perfect Mango Mousse Bonne Femme redefines indulgence with The Perfect Mango Mousse, served inside a whole mango skin. Light, airy, and deeply flavorful, this dessert is as visually stunning as it is satisfying. Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences Mango Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Novotel's Mango Salad is a zesty, vibrant dish that combines sweet mango slices with a refreshing lime vinaigrette. Perfectly suited for summer, it's a light and flavorful option that awakens the senses. Tess, Hyatt Centric Ballygunge Kolkata top videos View all Yum Mamuang Part of Tess's Thai Food Fest, Yum Mamuang is a raw mango salad bursting with bold, authentic Thai flavors. Crisp shredded mango is tossed with chilies, crushed peanuts, herbs, and lime — a harmonious balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty notes in every bite. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : alphonso mango alphonso mangoes health benefits of mangoes langda mango Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 30, 2025, 09:14 IST News lifestyle » food Mango Mania And Tropical Sips: Summer Specials 2025 Are Here to Refresh Your Palate
