AAW #154

This week, look out for the Swan Lake Ballet, the Great Indian Mango Festival, Hasya Kavi Sammelan and still more drama following in the heels of the Theatre Olympics. Here’s this week’s dose of art and culture in the city, presented in our 154th Ahmedabad Art Weekly.

The performing arts scenario of Ahmedabad has magnified dramatically (pun intended) of late, with the Theatre Olympics in town. Adding fuel to this momentum is the much-awaited arrival of the Royal Russian Ballet’s Swan Lake, which will bring alive Tchaikovsky’s famous musical score through stellar ballet performances. In addition, a street play called Kaala Lifafa is in line to be performed by a local group, and Umra Nind Si Kyun Nahi Hoti? will take place at Ouroboros.

If you are in love with the king of fruits, then treat yourself to the unique Great Indian Mango Festival. And if you enjoy listening to soulful music, then drop in at a guitar concert by Aditya Gandhi and Mircea Gogoncea. The hilarious Hasya Kavi Sammelan is a literary gathering that’s worth checking out. Meanwhile, connoisseurs of the visual arts can take a look at artist Stuti Shah’s exhibition and a group exhibition by students of Reshma, a teacher of art and craft. Make most of this week by taking your family to these events!

This week’s creative inspiration for the 154th Art Weekly is Gujarati language author Jhinabhai Desai, who is popularly recalled by his pen name Snehrashmi. Born in Chikhli, Gujarat, Desai was an activist during the days of the Indian Independence. He was an academician who served as Principal at CN Vidyalaya, and was also a politician in Surat. He is widely admired for his poetry collections Ardhya, Panghat and Atitni Pankhmathi, and his short story anthologies of Gata Aasopalav and Tutela Taar. Recipient of the President’s Award and Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar, Desai was also a significant member of the Sahitya Akademi and Historical Records Commission. Desai, a firm proponent of the Gujarati language,  will forever be remembered for his substantial contributions to the freedom movement and to literature.