I went to attend a documentary done by B K Behl today at the Habitat Centre. He's a learned film maker with an interest in Indian art and he's made a remarkable set of documentaries on the topic. It was a follow-on from the Ajanta paintings to latter day. I didn't quite agree though that there was a similarity ALL ACROSS India - that's not possible according to me. There doesn't seem to be much evidence of exchange of art and ideas between Ladakh and Orissa like he alluded to. So I can't really agree. That they were two dimensional - yes. That the temple at Thanjavur was amazing and so were the paintings in it dedicated to Lord Shiva - amazing. That the Kailashnath Temple at Ellora is breathtaking - yes. But the strands that connect it all.... I'm not so sure.
One thing that I will say about the whole series. It's a good introductory insight into Indian art.
At Habitat Centre today Penguin books was having a doo dah. They were selling their books at 10% off and had some pretty good deals. William Dalrymple was to speak - and I wanted to attend, but I had to leave the talk and the book reading early because I was driving back home and I didn't want to get too late. I did however spend the last of the cash on me - which was meant to be given for my mobile phone bill (already late).... on a book called "Nine Lives" by William Dalrymple. I thought I may get lucky and get his autograph. But then.... I figured... since I was driving in Delhi after 7:00 at night....
That maybe I should just get back home. The BRT can be hell and so can the traffic.
Welcome to living in one of the biggest metros in the world.
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