AAW #222

Heavy showers marked the beginning of August in Ahmedabad. The monsoon atmosphere has has washed away the scorching heat for good, and we hope that it stays that way. Here is the 222^nd edition of Ahmedabad Art Weekly with an eclectic range of events to make this enchanting weather even more enjoyable! To start with we have the enthralling exhibition of veteran artist Amit Ambalal which, as the name suggests, will take you on an Adventure. You should also check out the CEPT Excellence Award Exhibition which showcases 21 best projects in the forms of drawings, models and portfolios by students from architecture, design and planning faculties.

This week sees the commencement of the Indie Theater Festival which is a month-long festival where 4 distinct plays will be screened on every Sunday, starting with Gujarati ma Ketla? on 4^th August. And if you wish to get on the nostalgia train, be present at 079 Stories at 5 p.m. tomorrow where The Nomad Café is screening ‘AnkhonDekhi’. The event will also be graced with the presence of esteemed actor/director of the film, Mr. Rajat Kapoor.

What better way to enjoy this lovely weather then to witness some old songs and gazals? Well, you are in luck, as you can witness both of them. And that too on the same day! Enjoy the captivating show named ‘Ghalib Unplugged’ which is a poetry recital session on the life and times of Mirza Ghalib and ‘JhumrooKa Safar’, a live in concert by Sanjay Oza, brings you some of the best works of Kishore Kumar. For a more religious and sacred experience, catch ‘SakhyamMadhuram’ which will offer an evening of devotional songs, music and three speeches on the theme ‘Krishna in Today’s World’.

For ones seeking a more intellectual escapade, participate in a heritage walk through the largest utensils museum of the world or attend ‘Aagam’, a lecture on Jainism and its philosophies.

The man behind the rise of modern Gujarati poetry in Gujarati literature Prahlad Jethalal Parekh is the inspiration for our 224th Ahmedabad Art Weekly. Born in 1912 in Bhavnagar, Parekh was a freedom fighter who was highly influenced by Tagore’s work and thoughts. He served as a teacher in Mumbai. As a patriotic poet, his ideas profoundly reflected the concepts and methods of Bapu in lyrical poetry, which had Tagore’s essence of mysticism and lyricism. He even wrote Bhajans and his most significant and impactful work is titled as Bari Bahar. Some other works that gained literary appreciation are named as Ruperi Sarovarne Kinare, Sarwani and Shistni Samasya.