An eventful week in Delhi

I returned from Delhi after a week and from the airport went straight to attend His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s talk on Mother Teresa hosted by Sunita and Naresh Kumar. On Friday evening I attended a photographic exhibition Sangam: A Tale of Three Cities at the ICCR. Honestly its worth to take out time and visit this exhibition which will be on for few days.

While in Delhi, I met Aman Allana, Chairperson, National School of Drama (NSD). The NSD is one of the institutions the country can be proud of. The Mandi House area, Delhi's cultural hub, has its own old world charm. It is here where the Delhi's politicians and culturati mingle.

Some of the iconic buildings and institutions like the Rabindra Bhawan, Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, National School of Drama, The Little Theatre Group, Triveni Kala Sangam, Ficci, Kamani Auditorium, Russian Centre of Science & Culture etc., are located in the Mandi House area which is close to the India Gate.

Allana took charge of NSD from Anupam Kher. I was very impressed by her vision. She, in fact, is the brain behind the forthcoming Theatre Festival in Delhi from 8th to 23rd January, 2012. This festival is expected to be perhaps one of the largest of its kind events in the world.

Over 100 plays from all over the world would be staged in the Mandi House area. We in Kolkata have reason to feel proud of the fact that about 15 of these plays would be on Tagore, including one from Poland. It would be more apt to call it a grand festival a `Theatre Mela' with food court, exhibitions etc., for which the countdown has begun.

I often wonder why some of the best things and events happen at the same time or day in different cities or places forcing you to choose only one event while the heart yearns for lot more.

I shall not be in a position to attend the Delhi Theatre Festival or Mela since I'll be in Jaipur for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and then there is the Literary Festival of Jaipur followed by the Polo Cup.

While planning events at the national or international scale, it is essential to factor in the weather. In fact, it is one of the most important elements that can can make or break an event.

I myself have had run-ins with inclement weather on three occasions. I shudder to think how those big open-air events were washed out by the sudden rains. Not to talk of political or social rallies, it is quite a task to organize any event in the open during the summers.

But the problem with political and protest rallies is that, unlike normal events, these cannot wait and one has no option but to go ahead and try out their luck with the weather. Probably that is why it is wiser to organise events between October to February in the Indian sub-continent.

I also attended fashion designer Sabyasachi’s Peeli Kothi event at Hotel Leela. It was a very selective gathering and I was there at the newest five star properties in the capital to witness the collection of Sabyasachi on the invitation of Madhu Nair who owns the Leela Group of Hotels.

I had missed the Peeli Kothi event when it was held at Taj Bengal Kolkata in August end. I was impressed by the way Indian ethnicwear from almost all zones of the country were showcased by Sabysachi. 

I was indeed privileged to watch a show in which classical singer, Shubha Mudgal, lent her golden voice. After the event I made it a point to meet Sabyasachi and Shubha Mudgal (picture) and congratulate them personally.

I shall be in the Pink City Jaipur middle of next week .

ess bee