We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give ― Winston S. Churchill

Antima Khanna

Handmade Stories

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On the walk to Lipi’s Studio

 Shantiniketan, is a small town situated near Bolpur, West Bengal.

For the days, I was there for Poush Mela in Decemeber, I got to visit Santhal Village.

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Mud House
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Main Gate

Santhals are the largest Adivasi community in India.
People live there in the houses made of mud, bricks and wood.

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Courtyard
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Window

It was some 30 mins walk, where I got to experience the simple life of these people.

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There were cows, ducks, hens and goat outside their houses which
you generally don’t get to see in our urban cities.

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On the way, we got to visit one of the NGO, where they were selling some handcrafted jewellery.

1719 The group was dressed for a musical and dance performance.

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They say that if you come to Shantiniketan and not visit Lipi Di’s Studio, your visit is incomplete.

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Nevine, in our White Ambassador

I love pottery and for somebody like me, who loves nature, Lipi Di’s Studio is the most
peaceful place to work.

Lipi di is a person full of life.
This is how she greeted us 🙂

16 Lipi Di with her architect husband Bidyut and their daughter live in the mud house.
The front has the Studio and the back has their house made of mud and bricks .

Their house property is a natural beauty with prayer flags and beautiful plants and flowers.

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The Garden between the Studio and the House

Lipi Di is working in Shantiniketan from last 15 years with the local artisans and her husband.

2122They use mined clay and ash glaze, which is made from garden rubbish in their pottery.

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Here, The pottery shapes and designs are inspired by nature. Like, the lotus leaf in the
above picture and
A leaf, as an incense stick holder.

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Lipi di has a huge furnace in her studio where they keep this pottery on high temperature.
She told us that, whosoever comes first in her studio while they are taking out the pottery from the furnace, gets the first ready piece.

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While looking at the pottery in the studio, I went a little inside and found these boys working
on the clay.

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They were so shy to the camera and even I didn’t want to bother them in their work.

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As these pieces are very delicate, there could be some breakage.
Lipi Di has a special sitting area in her backyard where she has displayed those products.

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You can buy them. Some don’t even look broken after they got it fixed.

Flowers and plants were so beautifully used in her studio.
I had never seen something as beautiful as this magical place.

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We were there in the late afternoon and as the sun was going down, the yellow light on the walls of the studio were making it even more beautiful and warm.

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I brought this plant for my house from her studio 🙂 Lipi Di gifted actually!

 We got to have tea with Lipi di. The kettle was extremely beautiful and so as the cups.

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Aunt Beverly

Lipi Di doesn’t keep her pottery in any of the stores outside Shantiniketan.
So, please don’t get confused with the other pottery available in our cities.

You are most welcome in her studio anytime you visit Shantiniketan.

Last but the least, Last year Nilanjan Banerjee made a short film on Lipi Di.
Below is the link

The address for her Studio:
LIPI BISWAS
Studio : Boner Pukur Danga
Shantiniketan – 731235
West Bengal – India
Ph : 0091-3463-262337
email : marangburu@yahoo.com

With and Without You

Winter in Delhi is as beautiful as the Monsoon in Bombay.

My first meeting with Bombay was in 2011.
Since then, I felt a connection with this city.
This city makes you feel free, free from all the questions you have in your mind.

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I moved to Bombay in 2012 with a dream to stay there, but,
for me Bombay is more sort of a ‘Touch and Go’ city.

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For the first time in 2012, I experienced the rain in Bombay.
I fell in Love with the city then and there itself.

For all the time, I was there in the city,
all I used to do was to take a autorickshaw / taxi and explore the old city in rain.
I wasn’t familiar with the local trains that time.

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I promised myself to visit Bombay every Monsoon
to experience that loving moment again and again.

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This year also in July, I visited the city,
as fortunately, now I have got some really good friends over there 🙂

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This time I didn’t get to experience the rain of Bombay
as much as compared to the previous years.
But still I did everything that I love to do in Bombay.

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I wasn’t carrying my camera this time, but,
for me the equipment doesn’t matter if the moment is correct.
I just had my Iphone and tried my luck.

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I had many other reasons to Love Bombay but one reason that will last forever
is my love for the ‘Monsoon in Bombay’.

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As I say that I love making books, this time I tried my hand on making a Photobook.

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The subject was clear in my mind 🙂

With and Without You is a collection of the moments,
I have lived till date in that city.

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The book is hand-bound with a Black Canvas cover.

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The pictures are in square format ( 12 x 12 cms)
The Book itself is 15 x 15 cms.

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I thought of writing a caption under each photo, but then I leave that upto you to name them.
I believe a caption under the photo restricts you to think beyond that caption
but my book is just a way to show Bombay through my eyes.
Each Photo could leave a different mood to each one of you.

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Last but not the Least,
To live a city you have to come out on the roads and meet the localities,
sitting in your comfortable houses will not make a difference.

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With and Without You
Antima Khanna 
2011-2014
(All rights reserved)