Dearest Reader,

A week back we celebrated the Rabindra Jayanti. As a student of literature, it is a rite of passage for all to read Gitanjali, I was one of them as well. Growing up reading his short stories, I would often weave my version of Bengal, its culture, and its beautiful art.I dreamt of living in Santiniketan. Although I did not find myself in the heart of Tagore land, I did find myself in the district of Medinipur in West Bengal, where within a small village called Naya Pingla, lives a community of Patua artists who go by the surname ‘Chitrakars’.

And once again I found myself lost in the storytelling of artists like Anwar Chitrakar, who have grown up listening, learning, and crafting the secular identity of India which reaffirms my faith in the constitution which sees no faith, gender, or caste, but human beings. In this issue, I like to take you all through the lanes of Naya and unfurl the painted scrolls that depict the tales of gods-goddesses, cats and fishes, Bengali Babus and Bibis, and at times that of 9/11 attacks and as recent as Covid lockdown.

Bridge Bharat is a curated collection of Indian legacy arts and antiquities. We empower both the art connoisseur and the novice buyer to discover, learn, and acquire art from some of India’s finest generational artists.

With this, we unveil our new logo- a testament to our evolution and growth. Celebrating the powerhouse of energy, the creator, who draws inspiration from the cosmos and nature, our logo embodies the artist’s intuitive and powerful being, connecting us to a legacy of timeless artistry

Cup of Curation

Before we move forward here is a snippet from our catalog, Remnants, in which each piece is a testament to the resilience of our culture and the beauty of our past, echoing the rugged textures of fort walls and the intricate carvings of ancient temples. In this issue, I found myself lost within the 19th-century Bengali society portrayed by the master Patua artists Anwar Chitrakar and Uttam Chitrakar through their sartorial understanding of Babu and Bibis and contemporary Devi Puja.

Artist’s Table

The greatest artists are storytellers. They know how to carve the imagination into the real through their form. Located approximately three hours drive from Kolkata there is a small village called Naya Pingla, where national award-winning Patua artist Anwar Chitrakar crafts unique, often sartorial tales (personal and universal) using traditional Bengal scroll tradition. Coming from a legacy of Chitrakars (painters/storytellers), Anwar Sahab defied the cliches. Almost pragmatic yet unspokenly, a weaver of fantasy, his practice transported me across tales-old and new.

Kaafila

I would like to end this letter with an introduction. This time I’d like to introduce Samridhi Gogna, our Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Artists, writers, and fable seekers like me often live within dream castles, it is the methodical and organized spirits like Samridhi who know how to pave the path to actualization. She once asked me what I think of her, and my response was a single adjective- tenacious. From building the foundation of Bridge Bharat to being a loyal comrade, Samridhi is someone who leaves me in awe of her work ethic. Ours is a small team, with each member a pillar. Within this foundation, Samridhi remains our steadfast glue that holds these pillars together.

Know more.

With hopes of opening dialogues and bringing beauty and magic of art into your day I would like to end my letter to you, my dear reader, with love and compassion. And I believe that is our ethos at Bridge Bharat.

I will await your response.

Love.

Avali

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