On Common Ground

“When our father passed away in 2008,we began celebrating his birthdays there by inviting Nur Zaheer,a celebrated progressive poet,and since then it’s been a creative journey,’’ says Shumita,whose house was always swarmed by people like Muneer Khatun Begum from Allahabad singing hori,kajri,thumri and ghazals,Sheherzade Alam,Pakistan’s accomplished potter,and even screenings of short films.

With the venue in place,art lovers pitch in with food,drinks and blankets. The last month also saw slide shows by photographers Amarjit Chandan and Nirupama Dutt sharing their poems in the softly-lit back courtyard. “We plan to host evenings discussing good films by starting a film club,for which we are raising funds,’’ says Shumita.

Like Studio 40,a growing tribe of art appreciators in the city are opening their homes to young filmmakers,and artists to connect with audiences and fellow patrons. The cultural connect is not restricted to cultural places that have been exclusively designed for such activities. This one is personalised and results in people coming together on a common ground.

Discussion Circle,initiated by Prof Rajnish Wattas,former principal of the College of Architecture,has grown in both size and spirit in the last one year. With more than 20 members as a part of the discussion forum,which is held once a month in the homes of the members over coffee and snacks,the conversations are eclectic. “Movies to books,current issues to humour in life,Urdu poetry to English literature,it’s a platform for intellectual simulation,’’ says Wattas.

Thespian Neelam Man Singh’s studio theatre,in the lush-green lawns in her Sector 4 home,is always abuzz with activity and music. All of Singh’s theatre productions are conceived and rehearsed here and it’s also an extended space for creative interactions. “We always have food for everyone who use this space,which is dynamic and special,’’ says Mansingh. From a dance performance by Navtej Johar to film shows on Gujarat,poetry reading by BN Goswami to workshops by groups from abroad,Singh agrees the word-of-mouth invites are always a big hit.

Photographer Diwan Manna’s arty bachelor pad is open to artists and friends for interactions as well as great wine and food. As a ritual,Manna invites all the artists here for lectures and exhibitions at Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi for an extended personal meet,“It’s an enriching experience,especially in a city,where such platforms are few,” says Manna.

Inspired by her global travels and connections,who choose to live together in intentional low-impact communities,like Auroville down South and Findhorn in Scotland,city-based Moonstar Doad thought of a space for the neighbourhood community — Parshada. The lovely home in Sector 18 is an an art studio and a poet’s den apart from being an ‘adda’ for budding musicians,chefs,painters,poets and the place to host workshops on cooking,yoga and urban farming,all of it done over delicious potlucks.

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