Dasa Mahavidya

Interestingly while the devout were / are prepring for the ​Navadurga or Navratri celebrations (the nine virgin manifestations and forms of Durga) worshipped during Durga Puja I was desinging a book on the concept of Dasa Mahavidya – the ‘ten wisdoms’ – seen, yet again, as ten divine mothers worshipped in the Tantric tradition. Extensively illustrated, this book carries some of the finest artworks and imageries, of ten fierce and benevolent deities, painted over years by renowned artist Santosh Kumar Das and late Krishnanand Jha. Titled ‘Gesture, Form, and the Divine Feminine’, this art-study of Mithila style, dives deep into the philosphy and stories of cosmic feminine force. The editor of the volume succinctly sums it with, “…the goddess Shakti—is both— the center and the axis of the world … she moves through space with pointed grace, gestures, and glances – guiding the viewer’s eye in unfolding sequences, like a ritual procession … she holds her ground radiating a steady power akin to the meditative pull of a yantra.” The book, Dasa Mahavidya, has been designed and produced by Ishtihaar for Ojas Art. <September 2025>

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Happy Birthday Your Holiness

With his hand on my head we walked together three steps closer to the chair he was to occupy. I couldn’t lift my neck to watch that roohani face and dreamt of rubbing my nose against his. Reading my mind, he smiled. At the edge of the table he picked up a packet and unwrapped the book showing it to the audience in the packed IHC hall. My head was still bent when he came and handed me ‘that copy’ of the Tibet House book which had been designed by me – and printed at #ishtihaar His Holiness The Dalai Lama smiled while looking at me and patted my shoulder on the way back as we walked the aisle together – a dozen Rimpoche’s alongside. Thanks Your Holiness, may you live forever and see a peaceful world. Years earlier I was blessed to get a private audience with him at McLeodganj. He is charming and his face glows. More images on our website.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama releasing the book 'Tibet House' designed and printed by Rajinder Arora-Ishtihaar

Eid-ul-Fitr 2025

This is the Eid gift I got last night, my Eidhi. As a practice Eidhi is offered by an elder to the younger lot however, this was the other way round. My daughter Chandni Arora Singh brought it for me. Proud of you that you picked it for me knowing fully well that both of us will cry for the rest of the evening reading even the first few lines. I don’t remember if we wished each other, we did hug to the brink of breaking down. Avoiding eye contact, we let the book lie on the table wrapped and sealed in its cellophane cover as if hundreds of lives were throbbing under the rubble of what were once happy warm homes. Sipping my drink and feeling uneasy at the very thought that I had still not opened it I stole glances at its cover illustrations and was traumatised by the copperish-bronze title as if souls trapped in the book were blazing a mirror in my eyes. I wanted to start reading it but didn’t have the guts to open it. I didn’t have the strength. I felt guilty, and almost responsible for the barbaric treatment to a people, to a quam over the last six months in particular and over the last seven decades. I have only managed to read the first Letter since last night. Sorry, I can’t read any to you. After this do you want me to say Eid…. Gurgaon, 31 March 2025

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City as Memory

A Short Biography of Srinagar

Sadaf Wani makes deep, delicate incisions dissecting the flab and unravels hidden, throbbing veins of the city of Sirinagar. “City as Memory”, compels you to mourn – sharing the grief of its people and the city we call Srinagar. She pokes deep wounds and walks over channels that dried long back, having left behind a skeleton of the valley’s glorious past. Though the subtitle says ‘A Short Biography of Srinagar’, she covers nearly 1000 years of its past. Pick this up if you want to be poked; Read, if you want to be hurt, afresh. @sadafwani42 #Kashmir #srinagar #city #memoir