Guest Post: Madhu Gopalan of Aadab Hyderabad.

This is going to be a guest post by the very talented Madhu Gopalan of Aadab Hyderabad fame. I have been closely following her photo album of the same name on her facebook and it struck me how much I wanted to feature her work on Hyderabad on this blog. Then followed another thought that whatever decriptor I might write below her pictures, it will never be quite like what she sees her city as. When I see her blog Aadab Hyderabad (which you must read if you have a feeling for history) I am always touched by how much love she has for where she comes from. So here in the 1st ever guest blog on artnlight, Madhu Gopalan & her Hyderabad.

If ever a city was a paradox, it has to be Hyderabad. A hip, happening IT destination with a bright future, swanky malls, never-ending expressways and a colourful nightlife in one avtar, and in another, a quaint, exotic little town steeped in history, with reminders galore of its glorious heritage everywhere you look.
The history of Hyderabad is replete with stories out of a fairy tale - kings, queens, forts, battles, treachery and of course, love. Each building, each wall and each stone has its own story to tell. While I for one, am stuck happily in the past, inevitably, times have changed and slowly but surely, the old is giving way to the new. Here are some images from my attempt, to capture what is left of the old, before the new completely takes over.
The Golconda Fort, the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, till the city of Hyderabad was created:

The piece de resistance, the Charminar - with its construction by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the brand new city of Hyderabad was born:

The Chowmahalla Palace, that epitomizes the opulence, splendour and elegance of the Nizams of Hyderabad:
Remnants from the life and times of Hyderabad's nawabs:

Like Shakespeare said, what is the city but the people?

The colourful bazaars of the old city:

Priceless heritage monuments that have seen lives lived and lost, and empires risen and fallen:

And how could I leave out Irani chai - my...cup of tea :)

That was Madhu Gopalan and her photographic Hyderabad. Do write in with your views and comments :) And see you soon with new exciting posts!

Block printing in Bhuj.

Bhuj is a minefield of artisans and craftsmen. One couldn't stop wondering about the huge amounts of talent in the villages of Gujarat. If in Rajasthan I was travelling from state to state marvelling at her gorgeous palaces, in bhuj, we went from village to village admiring the varied handi-work of the men and women - be it bell making, embroidery, block printing, mirror work, the list is just endless. I am especially smitten by block printing. And I love the thought of one day having a collection of blocks myself. We stopped at this place which clearly caters to a large part of urban India's fascination with ethnic fabrics. It was clear from how single-mindedly and professionally they just went about their work, very much used to a steady stream of visitors oohing and aahing at their work.
The owner took us through the process, told us how they use only natural dyes, how a certain plant is boiled for hours on end till it all turns blue and how it is then sundried to form cakes of indigo.

But what stole my heart was the very many intricate blocks that just seemingly littered the compound. I could just potter around all day photographing them.

Isn't this one a beaut? Sharp metal for the dots and soft wood for the flowers.

I could have given an arm or leg for a block of this brilliance.

circles ans squares

and squiggly little patterns

I waaaannnttt!

And this is how it is neatly done.

But it is the concentration and patience and precision of an artisan, that goes to make each piece as beautiful as it is.

Maheswari Janarthanan, Illustrator.

3yrs. 300 posts. That's how old this blog is right now. And now with the numbers aside, bringing you one of my facebook discoveries. Maheswari Janarthanan is a brilliant illustrator. I love her quirky sense of humour that shines through most of her art. I just have to smile when I see her heart filled clouds, haloed fireflies and busy angels. This girls heart is in her work.Take a peek.

This is my favourite. Its called 'a beautiful mind' and has elephant parachutes, candy trains, icecream clouds and kites that fly from the moon.

:)

clothes line

romance :)

Purple funk.

And here below is the most endearing shiva temple I have seen drawn. its called 'Faith'. I like :)

And for those who've not had enough, here is her blog: paperplanes and her flickr stream.