Museum of Material Memory

A testament to time and tradition, this Dussehra register, is a handwritten chronicle that has been maintained by my paternal family since 1972. The register records the names of all family members present at that time and significant milestones and events that have taken place.

October 6, 2024

A Pot Full of Memories: Chatur Bai’s Sipri

Household

This pot or Sipri, as it is known in Sindhi, belonged to my great-great-grandmother, Chaturbai. She was married somewhere in the 1890s and the metal pot was given to her on the occasion of her wedding.

September 29, 2024

The Kadhai: A crucible for food and family

Household

This Kadhai dates back to sometime around 1951, when it was gifted to my grandmother at her wedding. There weren’t many gifts to begin with, but this kadhai – bought from Lucknow’s old Chowk market by my great-grandmother’s youngest sister – stood out from among the sarees and shirt fabric pieces.

September 22, 2024

Amma’s graduation day saree

Heirlooms / Textiles

This Saree was bought by my mother in 1969, for her graduation day from Kasturba Medical College. This called for a grand saree when marking her exit from college and her entry into the real world. Her father agreed and gave her the money for buying herself the saree she wanted, which as it turns out was Rs.70 ( as remembered by my mother) from one of the premier saree shops in Mangalore in 1969.