18/04/2025
Blue is not only a colour. It's an emotion. India has a rich iconography of blue. Shiv and the neelkantha, Aparajita, krishna, the heavens. Its a symbol of culture. Literal to visual an absorbing discussion by Debdutta Gupta.
Music, Tagore's songs, the love of blue even in Ragachitra, Ragamala paintings. Megh Raga is for the monsoon with the dominance of blue. The sky river and the varied hues of blue across the Indian artisana.
It signifies revolution sometimes red.
In literature we have Thakurmar jhuli. Neelambari and the exotic story of the red and blue eggs. The red became gold and blue became iron. The farmer made it into a sickle making an eternal connection with agriculture. The indigo plantations and blue.
The mystique of blue from the veil of Malati evocatively described by Banabhatta. Kenchuka a blue tunic worn by a chandalika. The two contrasts in the same poem joined by blue is intense.
Van Gogh and his starry night. Picasso and his blue period are some international connects.
Darshan Shah of Weavers has chutzpah. After working on textiles of Bengal for two years and mounting an exceptional exhibition she is working on her next with these short precious interludes.
She has a library of 3000 books and as many rare textiles. An incredible archive.
I knew her when she started with a single line ad in The Statesman's personal column. She has grown from a tiny borrowed space to many floors, a building. I was wary. She is known to have a temper and maybe a bit harsh, consequently I kept a suitable distance.
I realise now that she is as straightforward as they come. She is unapologetic about charging exorbitant prices. She gives quality and everyone benefits in the supply chain. A chat with a weaver in Benaras was a revelation and he said she was a true benefactor, giving them an appropriate remuneration always unlike others.
She is an unabashed lover of Indian textiles and is on the top of my list of favourite people.
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