These 2 weeks have passed like a blur. There has been a stressed undertone when I look back, and too many moments of doubt and confusion. I have been learning a lot of new things, while at the same time it takes a lot out of me. I must balance my heart to worry less.

An experiment of printing on transparent sheets in inkjet fails
  • I rode down to Mallasamudram through Hosur, Rayakottai, Salem. It took 5 hours both ways. There was a family gathering, a yearly ritual of praying to the kula-theivam. Riding needs a rested mind, and a worryless mind. Both of which I did not possess, but it was okay, the weather was good, and the road was empty.
In the grounds of the temple, Maasaniamman lies on the right, on the left, in the background women are making Pongal
My niece roams around on the edges of the ground, to spite her mother. Her version of fun is to spite. I have been thinking about agency a lot these past weeks. Shreyas noted from his experience at Srishti, that the agency of the learner was of prime importance. I am faltering to create that environment in my class.

The appearance of this prayer/celebration is only a few decades old. The celebration and gathering of the ‘kothiram’, the tamilised version of ‘gothra’, a patrilineal lineage tracker. I wonder how an amman like Maasaniamman, and other amman’s have become tied to ’kothiram’s.

  • Mihir Pathak is visiting bangalore. We spent a few days, and I showed a bit of Yelahanka to him. I saw the first edition of the Pathrango Magazine Khojbeen Mandali is publishing.It is a Gujarati magazine for children. It is a beautiful result of his, Bhansi and Nidhi’s perseverance, and all the contributors.

    You can buy it at the Eklavya Pitra A positive of the image I need stencilled on the screen. Depending on the paper, and the ink, the ink may be too translucent.

  • I have been learning the basics of screenprinting, so that we can start printing packaging for Manesiri ourselves. We have finally some clarity of all the processes, and materials involved. I am excited to get it running this next week.

A positive of the image I need stencilled on the screen. Depending on the paper, and the ink, the ink may be too translucent.
A drawing of all that may be required to set up a basic screenprinting station.
The Manipal campus construction site is creating new human-geological formations.
The characteristics are interesting, it is able to have slates, sand, undulating terrains, pits everything! I do not think water percolates though. Perhaps once soil settles inside the pits. I wish to see what grows on top.
  • I am being challenged and pushed to arrive at clarity of what the future of the Constitutional Observer is. It is a good thing, but I am realising the extent of imagination and clarity that is needed before you present something. It is simpler to communicate when you have an artifact at hand. Talk is endless, debate is endless, opinions are endless. One person questioned why I feel embarassed of my own creative agency, one questioned “What is the USP of your history?”. Everybody has questions, what is my position on it? I must arrive at it soon.

    I must also tackle my own cynicality. I was reflecting with Mihir, ‘iska faida kya he?’ to which he responds, ‘waise is poem ka faida kya he, is paintaing ka faida kya he bi pooch sakthe’. Faida, use, need not be the endgoal of everything. But is the Observer an artistic outcome?