Block Printing – The Story continues… As discussed in the previous blog, Block Printing was revived from 1960 onwards by dedicated individuals like Shrimati Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Shri Brij Bhasin also played a significant role in uplifting this craft on Gujarat. At a local level, few artisans like Shri Ismail Khatri of Ajrakhpur showcased exemplary leadership in…
What is Team Work?
In all endeavours success depends totally on Team Work. The very acronym of the word ‘Team Work’ explains what it is: T – Togetherness W – Willingness E – Empathy …
Why We Must Support the Handloom Industry
Contribution of Handloom Industry In these days of energy crisis and global warming, it is more sensible to encourage the eco-friendly handloom industry rather than textile mills and power looms that are energy and infrastructure intensive. Using Handloom fabrics can help in reducing Global Warming. Handloom is a highly comfortable fabric that is most suitable for…
What Should a Cloth Bag Cost?
That depends on how much you value it… Why NO to Cloth Bags? Ecoexist (a Social Enterprise in Pune) started promoting cloth bags in 2009 with a campaign called UseMeAgain. They were speaking to a public that had been spoilt into the habit of receiving free plastic carry bags from vendors on demand. Vendors were…
Why Do We Not Touch Papers, Books and People With the Feet?
All Things and Beings are Worshipful In Indian homes, we are taught from a very young age, never to touch papers, books and people with our feet. If the feet accidentally touch papers, books, musical instruments or any other educational equipment, children are told to reverentially touch what was stamped with their hands and then…
Why Do We Prostrate Before Parents and Elders?
Prostration is considered as the greatest sanskara in the Indian culture. Indians prostrate to their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder, in turn, blesses them by placing their hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily; when we meet elders and particularly on important occasions like a…
A Life of Insipiration and Service – Swami Chinmayananda, the Master
“Only in the silence of quiet mind can you realise your oneness with the supreme reality [Brahman].” – Swami Chinmayananda Swami Chinmayananda: How He Taught In early years, Swami Chinmayananda held Marathon discourses of 41-100 days duration. Later, as he crisscrossed the globe, delivering one lecture series after another without respite, his jnana yajnas settled…
A Life of Inspiration – Balan to Swami Chinmayananda
Swami Chinmayananda’s Formative Years “The future is carved out of the present moment. Tomorrow’s harvest depends upon today’s ploughing and sowing.” – Swami Chinmayananda In Kerala, the birthplace of Adi Shankara and many other spiritual giants, was born Balakrishnan Menon (Balan), who was to become Chinmayananda. He was born in the city of Ernakulam on…
Block Printing – from Then to Now…
Block Printing – Its History Recorded history of block printed fabrics, date back to the Indus Valley civilization i.e. around 3500 to 1300 BC. Exact reliable early history is difficult as textiles rarely survive the tropical climate. From the Harappan period onwards, export of textiles, specially cotton is confirmed. A piece of fabric, showing Indus…
Shankara – The Spiritual General
Shankara – Came at the Right Time Bhagavadpada Acharya Shankara was not only a great thinker and the noblest of Advaitic philosophers, but he was essentially an inspired champion of Hinduism. He was one of the most vigorous missionaries in our country. Such a powerful leader was needed at that time when Hinduism had been…