An emerald inscribed for a Mughal emperor. A Safavid-period knotted wool carpet. An Ottoman-era curtain, intricately embroidered with metal threads, which was part of the covering of the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in Mecca that Muslims consider the metaphorical “house of God.” Like tiles in a mosaic, the collection inContinue Reading
Doubtless, you can rattle off suhaag-raat clichés from the movies: a pinch of saffron in a glass of milk; rose petals on the bed; giggling relatives at the door. Around the world, nuptial intimacy has been both a public and private experience. Some customs are as abhorrent as they areContinue Reading
An old friend walked out of his job as a producer with a prominent TV channel because “I couldn’t take the promoter’s pontifications and manipulations any longer”. When he speaks of the change, the hurt is apparent and there is fear in his voice about the future. “I don’t knowContinue Reading
The five stages of grief look different when one is mourning a planet. There’s typically fear, frustration, anger, guilt and sorrow, says Panu Pihkala, an adjunct professor of environmental theology at the University of Helsinki with a special focus on eco-anxiety. “As with any expression of loss, there is muchContinue Reading
There isn’t a lot that’s overtly Indian about the designs of Cartier and Christian Dior. Yet, when British anthropologist Phyllida Jay began working on her new book, Inspired by India, those French fashion houses are where the road led. She had suspected that might happen. It was part of theContinue Reading
I recall everything about the day January 29, 1990. It was 0845 hours in the emerald jungle of Nagarahole in southwestern India. The ten-meter-tall Randia tree I had carefully selected was 200 meters from the wild tiger resting near its kill. I climbed the rickety bamboo ladder gingerly and foundContinue Reading
An office environment relies on optimism and strong vigour and it is believed that colours profoundly affect people’s emotions therefore, choosing the appropriate colour scheme to paint your office walls is crucial. For an office space, choosing colours to ensure that people feel a sense of belonging and happiness asContinue Reading
The traditional cap used by the people of Kashmir is known as Qaraqal in the local language. Considered to be the royal cap of Kashmir, it’s the symbol of honour and dignity for Kashmiris. The term Karakul comes from the ‘Karakul’ breed of sheep, which is native to Central orContinue Reading
Marble is one of the go-to materials for designing a luxury home as they are solid, durable, reliable and aesthetically appealing for home interiors. Remnants from natural stone present an opportunity for creative applications beyond conventional uses. With consumers becoming more ecologically conscious, upcycling of design materials has risen overContinue Reading
In Germany and presumably most of the Western world, the signal the players of Germany’s national football team wanted to send when they placed their hands over their mouths for a World Cup team photo was clear: “FIFA is muzzling us,” as Germany coach Hansi Flick then said. The mouth-coveringContinue Reading