Such a delightful essay, gesturing beautifully towards so many associations, giving body to nebulous joys; while reading it I thought of many things... How colour is my favourite thing about the sense of sight; how Bhakti poetry and falling in any kind of love is so much about taking on the lover's colours; how the nine rasas have a colour ascribed to each. I thought of how while painting again with my kid I relearnt that mauve and maroon have the same parent colours, just more of one and less of the other (I often think of red as a woman and blue as male, so maybe we're all in the spectrum between mauve and maroon?) I thought of my wardrobe, and how I often spot during a particular phase of life that it's turning into one particular colour; I force myself to break the inertia by making it look more like a rainbow. I've recently realised that rainbow is my favourite colour, because it's also my idea of dynamic balance, like a ragamala made of just seven notes 🌈
Thanks Swaati, I don't have words for the gratitude I feel for you, your responses and your way of looking at the world, which is similar and different in a way that two neighbours have different balcony views. I love knowing that mauve and maroon have a connection, because my mum loves maroon. Isn't it fascinating that you gravitate towards one colour in a phase? and then you break the inertia. And I think I have seen the rainbowness on zoom, your window always popped into an aesthetic unfolding, a bit like your precious and playful papercraft.
Aaahh Raju - 'bringer of colour' defines you so well🤗💙❤️🩵! May your life always be full of many 'bhadkile' colours all at once! What is it about colours I wonder! I have always fought with my husband for bright pops of totally mismatched colours in our house decor. 😆
Funny how I bump into reading about this essay, commenting on the colour purple, after reading about Jamuns in your IG post. Please do NOT tone down your excitement. Why would you ever doubt posting this essay?! Its poetry :) Loved the visuals too :)) Oh and I sooo get the sexiness of the orange highlighter too :p Your Pears comment reminded me of my mom's trust in the brand. I remember them branching into the light translucent mint green option (or was it blue?!). That's when I started loving them more :)
Such a delightful essay, gesturing beautifully towards so many associations, giving body to nebulous joys; while reading it I thought of many things... How colour is my favourite thing about the sense of sight; how Bhakti poetry and falling in any kind of love is so much about taking on the lover's colours; how the nine rasas have a colour ascribed to each. I thought of how while painting again with my kid I relearnt that mauve and maroon have the same parent colours, just more of one and less of the other (I often think of red as a woman and blue as male, so maybe we're all in the spectrum between mauve and maroon?) I thought of my wardrobe, and how I often spot during a particular phase of life that it's turning into one particular colour; I force myself to break the inertia by making it look more like a rainbow. I've recently realised that rainbow is my favourite colour, because it's also my idea of dynamic balance, like a ragamala made of just seven notes 🌈
Thanks Swaati, I don't have words for the gratitude I feel for you, your responses and your way of looking at the world, which is similar and different in a way that two neighbours have different balcony views. I love knowing that mauve and maroon have a connection, because my mum loves maroon. Isn't it fascinating that you gravitate towards one colour in a phase? and then you break the inertia. And I think I have seen the rainbowness on zoom, your window always popped into an aesthetic unfolding, a bit like your precious and playful papercraft.
You are a bringer of colours in my life too, Raju Tai :) I'm so happy to find this piece doing the rounds on Substack again 🌈
Aaahh Raju - 'bringer of colour' defines you so well🤗💙❤️🩵! May your life always be full of many 'bhadkile' colours all at once! What is it about colours I wonder! I have always fought with my husband for bright pops of totally mismatched colours in our house decor. 😆
And you have brought so much colour into our lives dear Raju Tai!
Funny how I bump into reading about this essay, commenting on the colour purple, after reading about Jamuns in your IG post. Please do NOT tone down your excitement. Why would you ever doubt posting this essay?! Its poetry :) Loved the visuals too :)) Oh and I sooo get the sexiness of the orange highlighter too :p Your Pears comment reminded me of my mom's trust in the brand. I remember them branching into the light translucent mint green option (or was it blue?!). That's when I started loving them more :)
ah!! that's so true..the mint pears is so gorgeous.. will buy it next month.. <3 and thanks always for finding the beauty in these attempts.. :) :)
As Sawai Gandharva said, Ek Raag ayega, toh anek aayenge". In your case, it should be ek rang :-)
:) :)