All posts filed under: Rest of India

Folks, Artists and Stories from rest of India

rootsandleisure_artist Srijana

“I Revisit My Fond Memories of Exploring Hidden Places Through My Art” Self-Taught Artist Srijana from Darjeeling Takes Us Into Her World of Timeless Destinations

“I picked up art again after a long hiatus – and today I use it as a form of meditation.” Self-taught artist Srijana from Darjeeling chats with Roots and Leisure about her passion for travel and storytelling – and how she welcomes people into her world through her beautiful sketches. True to this motive, we can’t help but wander into the quiet charm of the many corners, she showcases through her art. We delve deeper into her world to know more about the person and the artist behind these surreal works of art. Here is her story. R&L chats with artist and storyteller, Srijana who grew up in the misty hills of Darjeeling, West Bengal. She talks about her love for art and travel, which are now sources of meditation and calm – and how she combines the two through her series of sketches. Photo: Srijana, an artist and storyteller from Darjeeling, West Bengal. Hi Srijana, so nice to have you here with us! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hello! My name is Srijana, the self-styled …

Rootsandleisure_Cocoa Bark Series Delhi

Artist and Entrepreneur Gitana Singh From New Delhi Chats About Her Venture “Cocoa Bark Series” Which Offers Unique Personalized Homemade Chocolates

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”  ― Linda Grayson Baking and chocolate go hand in hand. For Gitana Singh from Delhi, baking has always been her therapy and a souce of relaxation. A generous soul, Gitana loves gifting the goodies she makes, to friends and family, all the while experimenting with new flavours and toppings. This gave her the idea to start her handmade chocolate venture called “Cocoa Bark Series” last summer. With a wide variety of experimental combinations to choose from, Gitana makes a wide variety of customized chocolates – exactly the way her customers want it. So let’s get to know this multi-talented chocolatier a little bit more. Today, we chat with Gitana Singh, a young musician, foodie and entrepreneur from Delhi. She talks about her handmade chocolate venture, “Cocoa Bark Series” and her journey as a stage artist. Read on to find out more about this lovely soul. Hey Gitana! Thank you for speaking with us. Tell our readers a little about yourself. My name is Gitana Singh. I …

A Chat with 23-year-old Singer-Songwriter, Actor, and Activist Rahul Rajkhowa from Assam

  To be a talented singer and  an entertainer is a blessing for an individual, and to use these talents for a greater cause can be a blessing for many. 23-year-old singer-songwriter Rahul Rajkhowa from Assam is an inspiring young artist, who has already created nationwide news and impact for his hometown, through his music. His music video “The Floods” which highlights the devastating effects of the Assam Floods, got him his first solo feature on Rolling Stone magazine India, national news coverage on NDTV and honored by ‘Twitter India’ as the Youth ambassador for using social media to bring positive change.  This charming musician started his musical journey when he was just 12, as a band member in school. Later when he moved to Delhi for college, he started playing with his seniors at St. Stephen’s College, and very soon he had already put together his own band “Paperboat” – with whom he has toured around the country. He is also a blooming actor, and have acted alongside Rishi Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Ayushman Khuranna …

Rootsandleisure_ProjectOtenga

A Chat with the Founders of “Project Otenga” – A Café in Ahmedabad that Brings Together Slow Design and NorthEastern Roots

Having a professional degree in designing may be one of the keys to conceptualize and define a structure but to be able to metamorphose it into a café of abstract comfort takes a little more than that. It takes persistence, determination and unsparing creativity to fill every corner with ingenious passion. For Kabyashree and Dayananda these elements came in together at the right time and with the right push to help them blossom their entrepreneurial journey that beautifully combines their passion, their design background and their roots Here’s a chat with the founders of Project Otenga, Ahmedabad  – Kabyashree Borgohain from Assam (extreme left) and Dayananda from Manipur (extreme right) . They talk about how the project evolved from a house café in Gandhinagar to a full-fledged space in the University campus in Ahmedabad. Here’s a little background on the founders A native of Assam, Kabyashree Borgohain is a design strategist, a gastronomical food researcher and chef, and an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar . She also has a degree in Fashion and Lifestyle Accessories from and the …

RootsandLeisure_ZerehLalji

This Lady from Gurgaon Makes the Most Beautiful Miniature Doll Houses | Zereh Lalji

“I have a strong desire to constantly express myself creatively  – Be it through gift wrapping, or making crochet toys for my kids. I’m always using my hands.” Two kids, two Masters Degree and two crafty hands has 43 year old Zereh Lalji from Gurgaon occupied and satisfied with what she creates and constructs. Meet this self-taught artist with a prescribed passion for craft where she reveals that the magic lies in the ‘making’. Zereh is into making lovely little doll houses and miniature models that started off initially by building cardboard houses for her kids, later developing into a full-swing hobby. How did the craft scene enter your life? Tell us something about how it all began. I’m a maker and have this constant need to make stuff. I love things that are handcrafted and beautiful. My mum used to design clothes and my dad was very good at fixing and making stuff – doing things with his  hands. Maybe that’s what influenced me. As a teenager I made a lot of small things …