Author: Samyama

Owner of Papermelon, Devi Chand from Chennai Creates Sustainable Paper-Based Jewellery

Published by Samyama

Devi Chand, from Chennai, works out of her little studio and creates impressive paper-based jewellery. She found a way to roll paper to create interestingly shaped beads and that gave her an idea to further use in accessories. The sealant she uses also works to make the paper splash-proof! Back in 2009, she started her paper jewellery venture, Papermelon. Even now, she finds joy in collecting all types of paper and upcycles them to make her creations. Just like her, her jewellery is upbeat, happy and colourful. Check out her collection and wear some as a conversation starter. Also, read through our conversation with this cheerful wife, mother and entrepreneur who is living her dream!  Hello, it’s great having this chat with you! Give us a small bio. Hey! I’m Devi Chand, and I make some exciting sustainable paper jewellery. I create from my little home studio in Chennai. I’m a mother of one, who is also a regular visitor at my quaint shop.  Tell us about your venture Papermelon.   I studied design at NIFT. …

Punya Arora, from Bangalore, is Kicking Up a Storm in the Stand-Up World

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Punya Arora is a comedian born and raised in Bangalore and is a self-proclaimed Biryani connoisseur! Her style of comedy is observational, light-hearted and may involve more than one accent. She is also a part-time photographer who is a visiting faculty member at Light & Life Academy, Ooty. What’s amazing about this strong woman is that she has touched every aspect of the media – radio, TV, web series, trailer launch, the stand-up stage, panels and more. The amount of perseverance and courage it takes to keep reaching for a new opportunity is definitely inspirational! Let’s have a deeper look into her life, on our blog. Link in bio and below. Hello! It’s great meeting you, please tell us a little bit about yourself? Hello, my name is Punya Arora. I’m a Punjabi but I was born and raised in Bangalore. I spend half my time in Bangalore and the other half in Mumbai for comedy shows. I’ve done my Bachelors of Business Management from Bangalore and then my post-graduation diploma in Professional Photography (specialising …

Devika Sajeev from Cochin – a Poetry Busker Who Writes About Passersby & Collects Their Life Stories

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Devika Sajeev, a literature teacher from Cochin, has been engrossed in books ever since she was a child. She actively searches for new ways to express herself with all the words she has yet to write and say. Recently, she joined ‘Busking Kochi’ as a poetry busker – where she writes poetry about strangers and passerby’s. “In a world that is too busy running, buskers take time to stop, sit around, speak to people and remind them of the power of conversation”, she says. Learn more about Devika, poetry busker and her love for literature as we chat with her.  Hey! Thank you so much for taking out time for us. Firstly, say hi to our readers! Hi. My name is Devika Sajeev! I live in the beautiful city of Kochi and work as a professor of literature at St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam. I’m a teacher yet I’am still a student of literature. I grew up in a world of stories and storytelling. My mother would tell me a story each night without fail – …

“I Didn’t Find Thangka Painting, It Found Me” – Sahil Bhopal, a Thangka Painter from Kullu

Published by Samyama

Thangka painting – a sort of scroll painting, is a cultural pillar in Tibetan tradition and is essential for Buddhist practitioners as it serves as recorded history. With a deep love for history and the intricate designs, Sahil Bhopal, an artist from Kullu has been painting Buddhist thangkas out of pure passion for 10 years now.  Trained in the Karma Gadri style, it is his love for art that transcends even religion. Talking about his work, he says, “Most of the time, when people look at my work, I see them be present in the moment. Nothing from the past or future is on their mind, they are fully present. I would like them to hold on to that peace and that moment of nothingness.” Read more about his fascinating journey below.     Hello Sahil, welcome to R&L! Please share a bit about yourself. Hi, I am Sahil Bhopal, a 29-year-old full-time thangka painter, trained under the tutelage of master painter Noedup Rongae in the Karma Gadri style.  I was raised in Ladakh and when …

Recipe of ‘Karela(Bittergourd) Channa Dal Sabzi’ By Cardiologist Dr Nimrata Kaur From Rampur, UP

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Hello everyone! Today we are trying something new. While we always see food as a sort of indulgence, we are here today with an interesting health recipe which uses one of the most nutritious vegetables, bitter gourd, contributed by Dr Nimrata Kaur, a full-time cardiologist based in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. She runs her own blog where she shares interesting recipes that are super healthy.  Her idea is to make simple tweaks to everyday cooking. Like omitting refined sugars, using low-oil techniques, using healthier and fresher ingredients and more. Today, she is sharing the recipe of one of her favourites – Dry Karela-Channa Dal Sabzi (Bittergourd Lentil Curry). “I lived in Delhi all my life and shifted to Rampur only after my marriage. Karela used to be a vegetable I never got close to because of its bitterness. One day for lunch, I had this delicious preparation made by my mother-in-law. I asked her what the vegetable was and that’s when I got to know it was karelas. I would have never guessed! They were not …

rootsandleisure-Artsy Cafe-kolkatta

Artsy Cafe, A Creative Cafe Run by a Mother-Son Duo is a New Meeting Hub of Artists and Creatives in Kolkata

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Kolkata, a city of deep history and culture, is embodied in Artsy Cafe, a place for every flavor of arts and expression you can imagine! Authors, musicians, visual artists, and more gather in this hub to support each other and create a thriving community of artists. Created by a mother-son duo, Manjyot Kaur and Arshdeep Singh, Artsy had been a long-time dream for both of them. We had a lovely conversation with the duo to see how far the cafe has come and what is just around the corner.  Hello! Thank you for inviting us to your cozy corner. Please introduce yourselves to our eager readers. Arshdeep: My name is Arshdeep Singh. I was born and raised in Kolkata. I have an undergrad degree in Business and have worked across various industries (Development, EduTech, Policy, and Hospitality). I simply love collecting experiences and knowledge each job has to give. Along with Artsy, I also run my own Branding & Design Studio – Kwa:zi which is based out of New Delhi. Manjyot: Hi I’m Manjyot and …

#FACES | The Beautiful Locals of Spiti Valley and Key Monastery, Himachal Pradesh

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I visited this beautiful monastery for the first time in June during my Spiti trip. I always wanted to witness this spectacular monastery as it is located in a pocket space surrounded by breathtaking mountains. Kye Gompa or Key Monastery is 4,166 metres above sea level and is the biggest monastery of Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.  On an amazing yet slightly chilly day, while enjoying the view, I saw these two gorgeous ladies and asked them if I could take a picture of them. They were excited to let me, take their photos!  I talked to them about how they live in Spiti in the winters, how their life is and if they have ever been out of Himachal. They both told me how they love when so many people from all over India come to visit (June-Oct is the peak time) when it’s usually quite silent. They mentioned how they have never been out of Himachal but the lady on the right has a granddaughter studying in Bangalore. These two friends own a homestay where …

Amrita Giriraj, from Chennai, Turns Botanics into Classy Jewellery With Her Venture ‘Alankaara’

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Amrita Giriraj from Chennai fell in love with the art of fossilising botanics like flowers and leaves, while she was working on a post-grad project. It was in Kanyakumari, where she led the foundation of her jewellery venture called ‘Alankaara’. Her brand is vastly different from any other jewellery brand that we’ve come across — it captures the essence of a place by preserving it’s flora in jewelry pieces. Alankaara reflects her true self — humble, creative and deeply connected with nature. Since then, she has won the SISA (Start-up of The Year in Social Impact), travelled to Kenya and the Himalayas how flora can also bring you closer a place’s culture. She says, “Over the last 2 years, I’ve immersed myself in what I do and I realised I’m actually a story-teller. Each handcrafted jewellery is a story waiting to be heard and loved.” Meet our amateur botanist and jewellery designer – Amrita It’s great to have this chat with you today! We are beyond excited about your craft. First, please say hi to …

Meera Desai, a Musician from New York, Who Traveled to Ahmedabad To Create Her EP

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Everyone is searching for that one form of expression which truly makes them feel alive and authentically themselves. For Meera Desai, it was being a singer-songwriter. Raised in New York, she was exposed to different forms of music but it was Indian Classical music that touched her heart. Today she is based in Ahmedabad and is creating music and collaborating with different artists. She has released an EP with 4 beautiful songs and has joined the band, Heat Sink. The band released their EP too, with her as the lead female vocalist and co-songwriter. We caught up with her to chat about her music, new songs and more.  Hello Meera! Happy to have you here. Please start us off with a brief bio. My name is Meera Desai, I’m 24, even though no one believes this because I look 17! Right now, I’m based in Ahmedabad, but I was born and raised in Long Island, New York. I grew up singing in choirs and doing mostly western classical vocal but when I was in high …

Recipe of ‘Poosanikai Mor Kootu’ made with Ash-Gourd, Coconut and Yogurt – a Family Recipe From Tamil Nadu, by Preethi Venkatram

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Saturday is here and we have another exciting family recipe all the way from Tamil Nadu! Contributed by Preethi Venkatram, our dish of the day is called Poosanikai Mor Kootu or Ash gourd, coconut and yoghurt curry. Preethi discovered her talent for cooking when she shifted to North Carolina, USA. She started her blog ‘cookingwithpree’. A mother to 2 kids, she hopes that one day she can pass it on to her children just as her mother and aunt passed on their recipe books to her. Her blog focuses on simple and easy vegetarian recipes with vegan options. She has a knack for experimenting with different cuisines while keeping them healthy. Pree says, “I don’t believe in cooking separately for kids and adults, so all my recipes will be kid-friendly, with no compromise on taste for the adults as well.”  Mor Kootu has always been one of Pree’s favourite yoghurt-based recipes from the Tambram cuisine. Her mother paired it with a spicy Vathal Kuzhambu and rice and used white pumpkins as the main ingredient. The …