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Art in Delhi metro: Chronicles of commuting, photography projects on view
New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) Capital’s two busy metro stations — Jor Bagh and Mandi House — have been transformed into artful and educational spaces as photographs, daily dairies, videos and participatory maps on two distinct themes line their walls.
The month-long exhibition at Mandi House Metro Station, which falls on the Blue and Violet lines, presents different perspectives of Delhi’s urban mobility generated by young women living in Delhi’s urban peripheries — resettlement colonies, urban villages and border towns.
The show titled “Aana Jaana” (literally coming and going) include a curated visualisation of WhatsApp diaries kept by young women, presented through a data collage of pictures, stories and conversations, participatory maps drawn by women during focus group meetings.
Also on view are safety audit maps conducted in the resettlement colonies, and suggested interventions in public spaces frequented by the women to make these more gender inclusive.
Through simple examples like difficulty in maintaining a WhatsApp diary of their urban commuting due to connectivity issues in Delhi’s border towns, the viewer understands the daily “negotiations” made by some women commuters we all see in metro, buses, auto rickshaws, and walkways.
It shows us how women living on the margins negotiate the ‘freedoms’ of moving (aana) in online space with the ‘dangers’ of going out (jaana) into the city, or the restrictions of entering (aana) online space with the freedom of leaving (jaana) home for the city, a note on the exhibits said.
“Aana Jaana” is funded by an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) UK network ‘Gendering the smart city’ and co-organised by King’s College London, Safetipin, Jagori and School of Planning and Architecture,” presenter India Habitat Centre (IHC) said. It will run till January 31 here.
Not far from Mandi House, the Jor Bagh station on the Yellow Line displays photographic panels on sustainability, and particularly the primordial element of earth or ‘Bhu’.
Part of IHC’s “Habitat Photosphere”, the second edition of a year-long photography festival, weaves the complex mythology that surrounds the elemental narrative of the Earth through four projects of visual artists Juhi Saklani, Syed Adnan Ahmed, Thulasi Kakkat and Zishaan Akbar Latif. It has been curated by noted curator Alka Pande.
In Saklani’s project “A-dvaita/Not two”, one looks at the roots of trees growing out of old walls and buildings, out of other trees, and other most surprising of places. And in Ahmed’s project on rooster fights, there is a strong primal, earthy energy depicted through and through; in the way the roosters are maintained in a condition of aggression.
“Majuli Eroding/Withering” by Latif is a haunting portrayal of a fractured landmass that persists and survives blow after blow dealt upon it by the wilderness of nature.
Finally, Kakkat’s “Theyyam” documents the ritualistic dance of Theyyam, and draws connections between the natural and the cultural ecosystem in the rich wilderness of the sacred groves of Kaavus, IHC said.
It will run till March 31 here.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.