By Girija Madhavan Images of the 1920s and early 1930s are reprints of the descriptions of my father, M. Venkatesh and mother Mukta, a memory bank for me. Venkatesh was an engineer in the Mysore State Railways. Mysore was a conservative society, each community adhering strictly to their customs but living together in amity. My…
By Girija Madhavan A few months into a new diplomatic post, normally of three years, I would settle into a comfort zone, at ease with the local language and customs. As time wore on, a familiar angst would appear, “Where next?” Our stay in Japan, where my husband, A. Madhavan, had been posted as Ambassador…
‘MS’ – The Muse of Music By Girija Madhavan The 103rd birth anniversary of M.S. Subbulakshmi [1916-2004] falls on 16th September 2019 and will be marked by lovers of music. She was known as ‘MS’ to her admirers and was special to me too. In 1942, I remember attending an ‘Upanayanam’ in Madras, [now Chennai]….
By Girija Madhavan My abiding memories of Japan, apart from the friendships formed there, are of the art and aesthetics of the country. My husband, A. Madhavan, was posted as Indian Ambassador to Japan in 1985. Before we left Japan in 1988, a “Festival of India” was celebrated there featuring Indian classical and folk art,…
By Girija Madhavan Cherry blossom, “Sakura”, is the national flower of Japan. In spring, the trees begin to bloom. Japan waits for the pink and white tide, starting in the warm tip of Okinawa, to spread over the country and finally reach the heights of cold Hokkaido. Newspapers print the cherry blossom forecasts of various…
By Girija Madhavan Indian diplomats enjoy a variety of cultural events when posted abroad; musical recitals, dances or ethnic programmes of the countries they are accredited to. In Japan, a different experience was to be invited to witness an old fishing tradition in Gifu, Cormorant Fishing. My husband, A. Madhavan and I were among a…
By Girija Madhavan Images of Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms, bullet trains or electronic devices come to mind when thinking of Japan. Less familiar is another Japanese icon: the Geisha in a kimono, with traditional hairdo, white makeup, scarlet lipstick and an aura of mystery and allure. In Japanese, the word “Gei” stands for art and…
By Girija Madhavan An oil-painting of a pastoral scene in green and gold, catches a ray of the morning sun where it hangs on a wall in our home. The workers in the field seem to come alive, the foliage moves in the morning breeze in contrast to the static hay ricks in the background….
By Girija Madhavan Chanoyu,” or “The Way of Tea” is a Japanese tradition of serving tea, a ritual evolved over centuries. It is the ceremonial presentation of “Matcha” or powdered green tea by a Tea Master [man or woman] to a small group of guests, generally in specified tea houses. With Zen Buddhist origins, it…
By Girija Madhavan Mysuru is hosting Dasara, its most important festival. Elephants are brought from jungle camps to lend their caparisoned presence to the procession. Parks display pots of salvias, zinnias and dahlias; flower beds of cockscomb, cosmos and chrysanthemums. Traditional sports like “Kusti” [wrestling] are a feature of Dasara. Local wrestlers participate in matches,…
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