Month: October 2019

A Chat With Ashwin Chikerur – an Urban Sketcher and a Designer from Pune

Published by Samyama

Ashwin Chikerur from Pune has always been intrigued by art. As a child, he used to flip through his grandfather’s art books and as a grown-up, his love for his daughter started an exciting journey of quick sketches. Even though he was out of touch with art for a few years, he found his way back to what he truly loves. Today he is a visual designer and every Saturday,  he heads out with his group, Urban Sketcher Pune, no matter the weather and creates lovely watercolour sketches of his environment.  Hello, Ashwin it’s great to be able to have a chat with you. Please say hello to our readers.  Hello! My name is Ashwin Chikerur, I am currently residing in Pune. I would consider myself a passionate artist, driven designer, and engineer (by mistake). I’m always drawn to things in the bracket of art and design and have been working in the creative industry for more than 17 years now. Tell us when sparked your interest in art. There were various parts of my …

rootsandleisure_emisen_jamir

Emisen Jamir – Author of “Loneliness Is an Orange” Talks About Her Book and the Inspiration Behind It

Published by Kumti

For Emisenla Jamir, the mundane things about life make it beautiful. A writer and an Assistant Professor who teaches literature at Kohima College, she weaves stories with words and draws you in with her charming, comforting and grounded writing. She says, “I’m inspired by everyday life, nature, people and their experiences. It is observations mostly and also an attempt to stay true to myself without deviating into spaces that I have no hold of.”  She published her own book of poetry in 2018, titled Loneliness is an Orange, which speaks about the myriad of emotions we go through everyday. We caught up with her to chat about her book, her ambitions and her love for writing.   Hi Emisenla, please introduce yourself! I’m Emisenla Jamir and I currently teach literature at Kohima College, Kohima. When I’m not engaged in teaching, I read books and (try to) write. Tell us about your book Loneliness is an Orange is my first collection of poems. It was published by Barkweaver Publications in 2018. This collection speaks of everyday life and …

rootsandleisure_sapa_dina

Dina Weber from Germany Chats About The Art and Soul About Bread-making and Her Bakery ‘SAPA Sourdough & Pastry’ in Mysuru

Published by Samyama

Dina Weber, hailing from Germany, now lives in south India – Mysore. She is the heart behind a small micro-bakery called SAPA sourdough and pastry. Her love for bread extends to more than the science of baking. It comes from the deep importance her mother placed on fresh food and the culture of pouring love and forming communities while creating food.  Dona came to India as a learner, traveller and volunteer but she has found her quiet little corner and is living a truly fascinating, life constantly experimenting and evolving in her bake-house. Fresh plums, creamy matcha, edible flowers, artisanal chocolate and single-origin coffee, she tries to keep all her ingredients as pure as possible. Even her sourdough starter is 4 years old personally made in the Himalayas. Dina hosts workshops and provides breads and desserts to cafes and restaurants but if you are in Mysore, pop by for one of her fabulous bake-sales!  Hello Dina, it’s great to have a conversation with you. We were intrigued by your bakery!  Hi, my name is Dina …

rootsandleisure_Anen_Jamir

Meet Anen Jamir, A Singer from Mokokchung, Who is Winning Hearts With Her Talent

Published by Kumti

When we say, Northeast is a talent hub, we definitely are not lying! Today, we have a very talented singer with us, Anen Jamir. A 15-year-old self-taught musician, Anen has made several covers and continues to charm people with her heartwarming voice. We sat down with her to know her inspirations, aspirations and more.  Hello, please tell us a bit about yourself? Hi, I’m still buzzing over the fact that I’ve been given an opportunity to do this! Once again, hi, I’m Rezennenla, but I prefer going by Anen because I’ve heard enough variations of my name. I’m a 15-year-old teenager who grew up in a small town called Mokokchung and is a student of Jubilee Memorial School and I love singing. How did you get started into singing? Well first of all, I only started singing when my friend and I joked about forming a band but actually ended up forming an all girls band. Nothing that serious, just some small gigs here and there and some school programs. I never took my singing …

#RECIPE | Urad Dal Pakodas, an Exclusive Pahadi Recipe For Festivals by Navendu Raturi

Published by Samyama

We are excited to present to you today, ‘Urad dal ki Pakodi’, all the way from the Uttarakhand. Our Recipe maker Navendu Raturi is a doctor and social worker living in Dehradun. He originally belongs to the Pauri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand. Since it is the festive season of Diwali – he has given an exclusive recipe to the R&L team to help us share the festival spirit with a Garhwali festival essential.  Navendu holds his culture dear, even though he was in Mumbai for work for a few years he couldn’t stay away from the mountains and it’s culture, to stay rooted he began his Instagram page @insta_pahadi and avidly showcases the pahadi culture, food and tradition of Uttarakhand. ‘Urad dal ki pakodi’ is a tasty treat made on every auspicious occasion – marriages, birthdays, Mundan, and also Diwali. Urad is considered an auspicious grain in Uttarakhand. Therefore a celebration is never complete without a little bit of a binge. Ingredients (Serves: 4, Total Time: 20 mins) 3 cups of split urad dal with cover …

rootsandleisure_amrapali-house of grace-goa

Meet the Face Behind “Amrapali – House of Grace” a 100-Year-Old Portuguese Home Converted Into a Boutique Hotel in Goa

Published by Samyama

Simran Kaur is the face behind Amrapali, a boutique hotel built on the strong bones of a 100-year-old Portuguese home. She is a true multi-talented woman with a major in English, a minor in photography, and is a pastry chef certified by Le Cordon Bleu in London. With her skills, love for the craft, and collaboration with local artisans, Simran brought Amrapali back to life. The hotel is renowned for its warm color palettes and carefully curated details that adorn every corner of the space. It has been featured in various lifestyle magazines such as Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, Vogue, and more. Amrapali is a humble abode that focuses on providing exceptional service, despite being the base for many worldwide fashion brand photoshoots and even being featured in the film ‘Golmaal Again’. Hi Simran, could you please give us a brief introduction of yourself? Hi, my name is Simran Kaur and you can find me either in Mumbai or in Goa. I am an English major with a photography minor from Bryn Mawr …

rootsandleisure_bambusa_restaurant_mkg

A Chat With Temsuienla – the Owner of The Bambusa Restaurant in Mokokchung

Published by Kumti

A young and inspiring woman from Nagaland, Temsuienla is devoted to providing a good ambience and delectable food to anyone who comes at her restaurant called the Bambusa, located in Mokokchung. She is motivated by the idea of providing a memorable dining experience by keeping the quality of the food as well as the services consistently high. She spoke to us about how she started this restaurant as a part of the Bambusa franchisee in Mokokchung and her journey as an entrepreneur so far.  Hi Temsuienla! Lovely to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers.  Hello, thank you for this opportunity. My name is Temsuienla, and I live in Mokokchung, Nagaland. I am a working woman and belong to the Mokokchung family of Bambusa franchisee. I am currently running The Bambusa Restaurant here. Tell us about your restaurant! We have always believed in supporting local Nagaland-based businesses and ventures, and we are thankful to Bambusa and Co. for believing in us and partnering with us in opening a Bambusa franchise for our folks …

rootsandleisure_winny_saree_stylist_hyderabad

Ashwini Narayan, from Hyderabad, is A Saree Stylist Who Making Saree Trendy, Easy and A Fashion Statement

Published by Samyama

Ashwini Narayan, originally from Mumbai and now settled in Hyderabad, is on her way to create a new perspective for the saree. No more, shall it be branded as a tool for the traditionalists. She has moulded and wrapped in various funky, fresh and free designs to accommodate various age groups and personality types. Ashwini tells us that if you are a free-spirit, try out lighter cotton and khadi and keep your draping shorter or try the kashta drape (pant-like) or wrap it as a skirt. But if you are looking for a more elegant design, aim for silk and experiment with your folds or pair your drape with a professional jacket! She holds workshops and is immensely active on Instagram and always has a world of knowledge to share. Let’s see what drew her towards saree and how she’s changing the perception about it! Link in bio.  Hello Ashwini, we are so excited to be having this chat with you and love how passionate you are about your craft! Give our audience a brief …

rootsandleisure_faces

#FACES | Naga Boys Playing Football in Their Local Village Ground

Published by Kumti

“Look at all those village boys finding their way to fun.  They don’t mind the bruises, the mud stains, the scorching heat – all they care for is the victory. Victory when the worn-out ball passes through the bamboo posts. Aye! Our native isn’t anywhere near to FIFA countries but what a sight and what blissful feeling to witness these boys delve into a world of their own in the green lushes field. I know just by looking at them play that they are not themselves; not just ordinary. There is a force unseen that drives them on the field. Indeed Argentina away from Argentina. Every village has its own football story and you can find it in your Soyim (birthplace) too.” -Apen, a storyteller from Nagaland 

rootsandleisure_abhilasha_singer

Abhilasha Sinha, a Singer-Songwriter from Delhi, is Making Waves With Her Soulful Music

Published by Samyama

This soulful singer-songwriter from Delhi is quickly making a name for herself in one of the largest music hubs in the world, New York. Abhilasha Sinha is incredibly passionate about music and can’t remember a time without it. From lively road trips to jam sessions with her mother and her harmonica, music was part of her life growing up. Currently pursuing her masters degree in Music Business from NYU, she leads a passionate life as a singer-songwriter. She recently finished her India tour and is producing more songs just around the bend. Let’s have a peek at what’s going on with her! Head over to the link in bio to read our conversation with this lively artist. Hello Abhilasha! It’s so exciting to be able to have this conversation with you. Please do give us a brief snippet of your journey so far. I’m a 25-year singer-songwriter from New Delhi, now living in New York. I’m a feminist, a food lover, body+skin positivity advocate, and an avid thrift-store shopper. I’ve been living in New York …