All posts filed under: PEOPLE

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Meet Medophreno Shunyu, a Talented Sketch Artist From Kohima, Nagaland

Published by Visekhono Sachu

Medophreno, from Kohima, is a self-taught sketch artist. Starting as early as when she was in 2nd grade, she’s honed her skills through rigorous and passionate practice. Her forte is sketching portraits but she enjoys experiment with different genres such as calligraphy as well. Talking about her work, she says, “through my art, I hope people see that we human beings are God’s masterpiece and we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Art has been a for of inspiration since her childhood, and she hopes her art can inturn, inspire people. Medophreno had a talk with us about her artworks. Read the full interview below. Hello Medophreno. Can you tell us a litle bit about yourself? My name is Medophreno Shunyii. I am 26 years old from Kohima, Nagaland. If I were to describe myself then it’ll be in just two simple words – an ambivert and an optimist. And I’m also a big foodie. I’m trying to make a career in the teaching field. Until then, I’m doing a lot of things I like, art being …

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Gugu Kuotsu, Owner of Gutouch Restaurant In Kohima, Gives You A Touch of Authentic Naga Dishes

Published by Menule Chirhah

I’Gu we offerThe Gutouch Cafe is a cute eaterie in Kohima Town with an aesthetic setting, adding to the ambiance of the restaurant. The place is famous for its ‘Galho‘ and has been the talk of the town for a while. We decided to have a little chat with the founder of the restaurant , Gugu Kuotsu to get more insight into her restaurant. Hello Gugu. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I am Gugu Kuotsu from Kohima. I am the founder of the Gutouch restaurant, I also have a jewelry brand by the same name –  that offers traditional and fusion-made jewelry. What is the story behind ‘Gutouch’ Well, the name of the Cafe was suggested by my friends like Mengu Suokhrie, Onen Nenty, and Athe Rhi, since I already have a brand name Gutouch, a jewelry brand. In addition, my love for food – especially homemade Naga food pushed me to add a restaurant to my existing brand. I finally launched Gutouch – the restaurant in the September of 2018. Tell …

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Catching up with Uday Benegal of Indus Creed During The Band’s Visit to Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival 2019

Published by Nara Longkumer

“The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mixtape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life.”~ Rob Sheffield We all have unique relationships with our music – as creators, and as listeners. For folks in Nagaland, music is a huge part of growing up, with almost every activity that has shaped the individual involving some form of music – from singing in the choir to waking up to country music playing across the hall, to jamming to rock music to bonding with family over a bonfire and a guitar, music runs in the life and blood of the Nagas. That being said, music performances are a huge part of the most prominent festival in Nagaland – the Hornbill Festival, which happens every year from Dec 1 to 10, with a host of music …

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Chef Elna Yepthomi Talks About Her Journey From Nagaland to Australia & Her Love For Mixing Art With Food

Published by Kumti

Elna Yepthomi’s journey to becoming a chef at one of the well-known clubs in Canberra, Australia, is truly inspiring. According to Elna, much like any other art form, culinary art requires practice, sacrifice, and devotion. Originally from Nagaland, she studied Hotel Management in Kolkata and went on to learn cheffing at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Australia. Through her experiences with cooking, Elna has learned a great deal about life and art. In her pursuit of making a mark in the culinary world, she has developed an even deeper love for her Naga culture and food. “As a Naga chef and proud representative of the Nagas, I see the influence of my roots in my cooking. The majority of international chefs have little knowledge about our local ingredients. This gives me the opportunity to promote our Naga food here,” says Elna. We chat with Chef Elna Yepthomi from Nagaland to know more about her journey, how she incorporates her Naga culture into her work, and her experiences working as a chef in Australia.  R&L: …

Menule Chirhah, Founder of Mini Explorer, Is Helping People Find The Best Places To Eat In Kohima

Published by Neha Fernandez

Meet Menule Chirhah, an avid and adventurous gastronome. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in English Literature, she’s transformed her love for food into Mini Explorer, where she’s helping people discover restaurants and new dishes in Kohima. She’s always been a foodie and has a knack for finding the perfect spot for different types of cuisines. Inspired by this, she took it upon herself to discover, review, and share her discoveries with people.  Greetings Menule Chirhah! Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Menule Chirhah, and I’d like to call myself a food enthusiast. I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in English Literature but when I’m not studying, I like to live life vigorously. I also like exploring, be it food, places, or new experiences. I believe life has a lot to offer and I’m excited about what’s waiting on the other side. What is your key inspirations behind Mini Explorer? As a foodie, I loved visiting new restaurants and trying out new items on the menu. Since my friends know this fact about me, …

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …