Banasthali ahoy!
This winter I traveled to Banasthali Veedyapeeth, Rajasthan, India for a presentation. Vanasthali is situated 75 Kms away from Jaipur, 8 Kms from Nivai on the Jaipur-Tonk road. Yes, in the middle of nowhere but anyplace that boasts of twelve thousand girl students warrants a look. So I reached on a cold December evening with my toes frozen and dentures protesting at the bus-ride. The guest house room was a dormitory and my bath with cold hard water did little to improve my mood. However, the thick colourful rajai/quilt was inviting and the food at the guest house mess truly drool-worthy. I ate hungrily and told the Maharaj/cook as much and I had a friend already. He thought I looked too cold and what with all the late night studying (HA!) I needed hot tea and biscuits at 11.00 P.M. OOH, a mama-hen.
The first splashes of colour: fields of Sarson/Mustard that made me yearn for Sarson-da-saag and Makki-di-roti; alpana/rangoli at the doors to the Shanti Devi Memorial; Rajasthani women in their colourful attire and M.Phil. students at the Kala Kendra (Art Museum.)
After the presentations, we were driven around the campus. Imagine my sharp intake of breath when I walked into the Kala Kendra. Truly, truly humbling experience. That the girls and the art faculty should be so talented!
I came away grateful; my mind awash with colour and the smell of Sarson.
The first splashes of colour: fields of Sarson/Mustard that made me yearn for Sarson-da-saag and Makki-di-roti; alpana/rangoli at the doors to the Shanti Devi Memorial; Rajasthani women in their colourful attire and M.Phil. students at the Kala Kendra (Art Museum.)
After the presentations, we were driven around the campus. Imagine my sharp intake of breath when I walked into the Kala Kendra. Truly, truly humbling experience. That the girls and the art faculty should be so talented!
I came away grateful; my mind awash with colour and the smell of Sarson.