Category: Article

Block printing is not merely an artistic tradition; it is a living testament to the movement of people, ideas, and craftsmanship across regions and generations. The story of block printing in western India is intricately woven with the histories of migration, trade, and cultural exchange that have shaped this arid landscape over centuries. From the… Continue reading The Enduring Journey of Block Printing: Tracing Migration Through Design

INDICA’s Center for Embodied Knowledge (CEK) is pleased to collaborate with Jeevika Ashram, Village Indrana, Jabalpur, MP in hosting the Bhikshavritti Festival – a confluence of art, aesthetics and prosperity traditions of Bharat through performances, discussions and immersive experiences between December 27 to 29, 2024. Speaking to CEK, Shri Ashish Kumar Gupta of Jeevika Ashram… Continue reading ‘Bhikshavritti’ Festival – Celebrating Wandering Wisdom

Dr Madan Meena has spent the past 15 years deeply immersed in the art of Rajasthani block prints, focusing on documenting and preserving this crucial element of India’s design history. His journey began with a meticulous study of block designs, which he believes are windows into the evolution of textile design over centuries. Over time,… Continue reading Initiative To Document Vanishing Block Prints Of Western Rajasthan

Our previous gathering at Jeevika Ashram in the quaint, bustling village of Indrana, Jabalpur offered us a glimmering glimpse into the intricate interplay between culture and ecology of this region. The diverse interactions and discussions during our stay helped us gain a deeper understanding of the living history of community life from various unique perspectives.… Continue reading Exploring The Architectural Heritage Of Indrana

The possibility of rebuilding learning in to include Indic traditions beckons at Jeevika Ashram, located in a village called Indrana 30 km from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The Ashram sits at the base of a hill in the Vindhya Mountains near the Hiran River, surrounded by forests teeming with deers, langoors, jackals and fabled herbs… Continue reading Arthavyavastha – An Indic View Of Economics

Imagine standing at the foot of a hill, and from its crevices, emerge the “Pilla Kalvalu” – tiny streams that sparkle like jewels under the sun. These delicate rivulets, born from the embrace of small stones, hold within them the promise of life. They meander through the landscape, gathering strength with each passing moment, until… Continue reading Who Is Pilla Kalvalu

The Center for Embodied Knowledge is pleased to present a report on Home and Beyond 2.0, another immerse experience for families and especially children to live in harmony with nature. In a fast paced world where everything is available at the click of a mouse, children have had an elemental experience creating a sense of… Continue reading Home And Beyond 2.0

In a fast-paced world racing to compete in modernity and progress, Aseem Shrivastava, Delhi-based writer, teacher and ecological thinker, advocates a different approach to that of most economists. Shrivastava did both his bachelors and masters degree in economics; by the time he had completed his doctorate in environmental economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst,… Continue reading The Truth About The Earth Runs Deeper Than Science

This article was originally published in eSamskriti Decolonisation. A term most of us use these days across sectors, professions, ideologies. Decolonisation of language, politics, law, symbols, names.  As this unfolds, is there a space for decolonisation of Indian Aesthetic Knowledge? If you ask Pilla Kalvalu they will grin and tell you, “… that is elementary,… Continue reading LITTLE STREAMS: EMBODIED WORKSHOPS TO DECOLONISE INDIAN AESTHETIC KNOWLEDGE

All of us remember the thinnais or aangans of our childhood. A space in time where one could feel the cool breeze in hot summers, and also a place to rest for a weary traveller. Dheeraj Annapureddy is a fellow at the Center for Embodied Knowledge and brings to us the value of these places… Continue reading A Reverence For The Transparent Sharing Of Grameen Knowledge