All posts tagged: Mumbai

‘Books Are Our Favorite Companions’ – Malvika and Mallika, Founders Of ‘The Reading Twins’ From Mumbai

Hailing from Mumbai, twins Malvika and Mallika Mahidhar, share a great passion for reading and writing. Malvika is a teacher, while Mallika is pursuing law and the two also run their passion project called ‘The Reading Twins’. Their blog is a personal journal of everything they read and also a heaven for book lovers. Growing up in a house full of books, they’ve been reading books all their lives. Reading is their primary place of comfort. Grab a cup of coffee as we have an intriguing conversation with these two fascinating women! Hello, Malvika and Mallika! We are excited to have you. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Malvika: I am Malvika. I’m currently a faculty member at a design college in Mumbai. I’m also a writer and am currently working on my first manuscript! Apart from that, I am a self-taught watercolor and acrylic artist.   Mallika: I am Mallika, a reader and a lawyer who loves postcards, clouds and cats. What inspired you two to start your own book blog? We always wanted …

Making Soaps Look Like Desserts ⁠— Meet the Owner of The Sass Bar, Rishika Nayak From Mumbai

Rishika was never one to settle on a conventional job. She knew that she wanted to create something of her own, something different yet a reflection of her personality. And then inspiration hit! Meet Rishika Nayak, a creative soap-maker from Mumbai. She is the owner of The Sass Bar which makes dessert-looking soaps — yes, soaps that look like cupcakes, pastries and everything sweet! Even though you can’t eat it, the soaps are truly a dessert for the skin, as they are made with organic ingredients. Her soaps are unlike anything we’ve seen so far and it was a great fun getting to know her and her brand. Read our chat with Rishika on our blog. Tap on the link in bio or below.  Hello Rishika! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi! I am Rishika Nayak from Mumbai. I’m the owner of Sass Bar – a company that makes handcrafted dessert-looking soaps made from raw ingredients. I I began experimenting with soap making when I was 19, which inspired me to take up …

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A Fun Chat With Stand-Up Comedian and Viral YouTube Star, Merenla Imsong On How She Uses Her Roots To Make Us LOL

Making someone laugh is no easy task. For anyone inclined to comedy, getting any kind of reaction to their jokes can be immensely satisfying. Our featured guest today is the young and super talented viral comedienne from Nagaland – Merenla Imsong – who has effortlessly tickled our funny bones with her honest and engaging content. She attained her social media star status in March last year when her home video titled ‘Presumptuous chinky assumes the North Indian way‘ went viral on YouTube – It’s currently sitting at over 200,000 views! Many of us who are working and living outside of our hometowns, regardless of where we come from, have undoubtedly faced similar presumptions as her famous alter-ego Pinky Singh. So, it’s no surprise that her many characters and “Vegg ya Non-Vegg” videos hit us at our funniest and most relatable spots. We sat down with the rising comedy star – Merenla Imsong – to find out what exactly tickles her funny bones, her comedy inspirations and how she conceptualized her first viral video and more. …

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Meet Naga Yogini Orentsani Kikon from Nagaland – Certified Yoga Instructor and a Fitness Inspiration for Many

Fitness is fast becoming a hot topic in Nagaland – with the young and old alike suddenly waking up to a healthy lifestyle. You can see a lot of local folks going out for a jog in the early hours, fitness centres and gyms opening doors in various parts of the state and conversations about fitness popping up during conversations over locally made green tea. Amidst this new wave, yoga and pilates are soon becoming hot topics of conversation – and has sparked a curiosity among the fitness enthusiasts. Being a recent trend, yoga is still a mysterious activity that the world seem to be obsessed with –  for folks out here. Trust the youths to throw light into anything that’s trending and ought to be explored.  Miss Orenstani Kikon, known as the Naga yogini is on a mission to share her passion, and with that, the benefits of Yoga with the local folks in Nagaland. We chat with her to know more about her journey and the initiatives she has set up in her hometown to enlighten the …

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“Travel Taught Me that We are all Explorers – Looking for our Life’s Purpose” Deepika from Mumbai Shares Her Travelling Stories

They say our real test comes when we’re exposed to new places, people, experiences and how we deal with it. Traveling is no cakewalk, and it does get overwhelming at times, but for an explorer, this challenge is an appetizer and some of the best moments are created when you travel. Today, we take you on a virtual journey of a travel fanatic Deepika Gumaste – a traveller, a Communications Consultant, and a Homemaker. She has voyaged over the globe, whilst juggling in between her home in Mumbai and weaving out stories of experiences. How has your roots/upbringing brought you to where you are today I am a trained classical dancer in Bharatanatyam and was also a part of my school singing group. I belong to a family of nerds, who in all capacity treasure activities such as traveling. I got my itchy feet from my mother. As a kid, I traveled high and low, visiting resorts and family destinations. It’s just now that I have taken to a different sort of lifestyle – one that …

Faces | Human of Shadows, Mumbai

“Shadows are inseparable from us. Doesn’t matter if we can see it or not depending on the light source, but we are never alone. And what happens if we become our own shadow? Mumbai is a dream city for many. When I saw this person who had made a big sewage tunnel his home, I wondered did he also land in this city with some dreams? What were those? Dif they get shattered? While I was silently taking this picture as my heart sank thinking about the life of this shadow human, he turned back and that was the moment that was captured. And he turned back with a big smile; literally posing for the picture! Making me realize: No matter what, keep smiling.”  @ banjara_musafir

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Sumedha Sah – Creator of Snail Mail Project Explains Why Strangers Write to Her

Milan Kundera has succinctly summarised nostalgia and longing in his words, “The more vast the amount of time we’ve left behind us, the more irresistible is the voice calling us to return to it.”Looks like Sumedha Sah from Bombay has paid close attention to these words, and responded by creating The ‘Snail Mail Project’ – a medium to convert a life story into something indelible. It is a cute little project that creatively constructs artwork inspired by handwritten letters from strangers all around the world. This project aims to bring back the long-dead practice of letter writing and strike a balance between the aesthetic beauty and our tech-savvy world. Hi Sumedha! So good to have you here – as the first guest from Mumbai! Please tell us something yourself. Hi! I am equally excited to share my story with the Roots and Leisure community. Well, I am an artist based out of Mumbai, but technically – an architect with a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Architecture. I am 30 years old, and currently pursuing my artist’s …