Many of these objects – the Dori Danda, the Sev Sancha, the Hamam Dasta – are no longer used, but sometimes I find myself using them intentionally, just to remember my grandmother. At first, I was drawn to moments where we were together in the kitchen, the small rituals. Over time that turned into an interest in the kitchen itself.
My tête-à-tête with my family history began when my parents introduced me to a treasure trove of old objects, letters, artworks, and collectibles belonging to Dadu, my paternal grandfather, after he passed away.
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY PUNEET SINGH SINGHALDelhi, India This is the oldest photograph we have of anyone in my family. It was taken in 1969. …
One of the most integral parts of the wedding day is the card, and it became important and special at my parents’ wedding too. Both sides created their own wedding card. But what is fascinating is a short message, handwritten on the card in black ink by my mum, addressed to my father!
Thakuma making kaanthas, the cotton spreads on which babies are laid or swaddled, made from layers of the soft cloth of old sarees and dhotis, stitched together, then embroidered using the simple kaantha stitch, tiny lines of colourful threads running across the fabric. Like the life-lines drawn from far away Khulna and Mymensingh – the origin points of her life.
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