The one whose paintings’ lithographs adorn the homes of most Indians (especially South Indians), the prints of whose paintings formed a major part of the puja room decor, the one whose works influenced the largest-selling comic series book of India – Amar Chitra Katha; the legendary iconic artist Raja Ravi Varma. Born in the mid-nineteenth century (02 April 1848) in Kilimanoor, Travancore (present-day Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala), Raja Ravi Varma was a royal descendant of an aristocratic family in Travancore. The title ‘Raja’ was conferred upon him by Lord Curzon – the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. 

He was one of the pioneers of fusion paintings. His style was to blend the technicalities and aesthetics of European paintings with the emotional sensibility, iconography and storytelling of Indian art. He made consistent and considerable efforts to revolutionise the vision Indian folk carried of the Gods and Goddesses. Earlier the picturisation of mythological characters and deities was more inclined towards their supernatural form. Raja Ravi Varma gave them a touch of human style. He focussed on the detailing of intricate designs of everything from fabrics and jewellery to furniture and artefacts. His paintings narrated stories, characters spoke of the social order and general social practices and backdrops radiated moods. 

The next Maharaja of Travancore, Ayilyam Thirunal patronised Varma and he began his formal training thereafter. He was skilled in oil and water painting. He received his first commission painting in the year 1870 and the task was to paint a family portrait of the sub-judge of the Calicut Court – Kizakke Palat Krishnan Menon. Popularity and fame knocked at his door after an exhibition of his paintings in Vienna in 1873 fetched him an award. 

Most of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings revolved around the stories of Shakuntala and Dushyanta and Nala and Damayanti from the great Indian epic The Mahabharata. His paintings were also depictions of India’s folklore, ballads and stories from The Puranas. It is noteworthy that he received one of his most serious commissions from the Gaekwad of Baroda in the year 1888. The commission involved making fourteen Puranic paintings for the Durbar Hall of the new Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Baroda. This required immense authenticity and a spectacular Indian touch in his representation of the mythological deities and characters. With assistance from his sister Mangalabai Thampuratty and younger artist brother C Raja Raja Varma, he successfully crafted fourteen illustrations; all of them masterpieces depicting either Lord Krishna’s adventures from The Bhagavata Purana or stories from The Mahabharata or The Ramayana. 

Raja Ravi Varma was an artist who would consciously select themes, genres and mediums for his paintings. He would let the Western influence prevail but at the same time take care that it did not dominate his canvas; always keeping alive the spirit of Indian-ness in his work. Women, their ordeals, their beauty and their ornaments always held a special charm in Varma’s paintings. Women in traditional attire, women reclining in bed or women lost in thought formed a major part of his subjects. His brush strokes would paint costumes and pieces of jewellery with so much precision that they would look just like the original ones. 

He was the first Indian artist to popularise calendar art. In 1894, he also set up a press called the Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press in Lonavala. This came as a revolutionary move in the historical and social sphere of India as the press put to use imported German machines and techniques. Lithographs started trending among the Indian people. Art could now be ‘owned’ by anyone; people started fetching more and more reproductions of paintings from the Indian markets.

Raja Ravi Varma also brought to India certain significant international relations and accolades. He was honoured with an invitation to the World’s Columbian Exhibition at Chicago in 1893 where he showcased ten of his paintings. He was also in close relation with the German painter Fritz Schleicher who was the technical lead of the Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Press. Even when he became the owner of the press in 1903, he continued to spread the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma to the world. 

Postcards also had imprints of Varma’s imageries. They were incorporated in advertisements, matchbox labels, textile prints and a whole lot of general everyday items found in Indian households. His work introduced fine arts to the general public of India. It made art accessible to everyone. Even after Raja Ravi Varma’s sad demise in 1906, his paintings went on to challenge perceptions and emerge as changemakers in the early twentieth-century society of India. 

Many of his paintings form a part of the preserved collections of his works in the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Baroda. His legacy continues to inspire generations of young artists and thinkers. His paintings transcend far beyond time and age. 

Being creative is not easy work. Sure it may seem easier but that doesn’t mean it is easier. Most of the time the answers are so ambiguous that it is hard to determine what is right for that particular piece of work. As ambiguity brings with it various risks some of which involve the relevance of the answer. The answer which could be a tune or a concept or a word that seems perfect right now may not be so perfect when you look at it from a different angle. It’s hard to be objective or choose one route when there are plenty available. But it is equally hard to come up with at least one route. When it becomes hard, we normally tend to give up but let’s find out how we don’t necessarily need to do so by following certain tips and strategies.

Creative Block

Creative block refers to a stage that one experiences when one feels like giving up after failing to find a certain answer to a creative piece even after trying multiple times. It is known as a creative block as it highlights the blockage of creativity due to various issues related to one’s mental health. It can be a really dark place to be in, but there is always a way out.

This creative block affects every creative person many times in their lives. But the feeling is always unpleasant. And it affects them even more if they were right in a phase of creative peak just before they hit a block. Creative peak refers to a time when the person is at a point in time where they can utilise their creativity to their maximum potential. In short, it is that phase that every creative person dreams of. For example, it was during this creative peak phase that Vincent Van Gogh created most of his phenomenal works that are revered to this day such as the Starry Night. Creative burnout on the other hand is a similar yet different phenomenon, to know more about creative burnout you can check out our article here!

Tips & Strategies to Get Over Creative Block

Creative block is something very normal and everyone goes through it. And many creative people have overcome this phase with certain tips and strategies. Some of these tips and strategies include:

1. Give yourself a break:

It sounds really dumb and we get it, we are always told to remain focused and think about the problem as much as we can in order to arrive at a solution. But the reality is no matter how much we think about it we can’t seem to arrive at a solution then won’t it be better to leave it be for a while and just don’t think about it at all? The reason this tip or strategy works is because it allows our brain to relax and take its own time to come up with a solution. The more we think about that one problem the more we stress ourselves out as we can’t seem to find the solution. So, stop, take a breath, go out and do something that you love and get back to it.

2. Change of environment:

Ever wondered if staring at the same boring ceiling or wall is what hinders your brain from thinking beyond its capacities? Sometimes the things around us become so familiar that it becomes hard to think of a solution in the same environment where you encountered the problem. A change of scenery or environment may not always be the solution but it could be the first step to the solution as when you are in a new environment you will perceive and experience things differently and this difference will add more perceptions in your brain, helping you in your creative process in the long run. Why do you think authors and artists take inspiration from different places they have visited in their lives?

3. Experiment with different forms:

Sometimes the reason we feel stuck at something is because we are afraid of going beyond what we already know. It’s scary to try a different form or style or approach especially if you have mastered the one you are currently using. But sometimes the answer lies in trying out different approaches than holding yourself back. It can be really really horrifying at first which is why we suggest instead of drastically switching to a new approach we hope you first acquaint yourself with it by mixing elements of it with your current approach. And then who knows you might end up innovating an entirely new approach that is tailored just for you.

4. Practice freely but in a routine:

It’s ironic that something that is free will also be happening in a routine. As if it’s free it should occur whenever and wherever it feels like, right? In reality, it’s not as easy as it may seem. Freedom is liberating and a great feeling at first but soon it becomes overwhelming if there are no rules or laws protecting, promoting and inculcating it in your environment. Hence routine acts like that boundary or law that does the job when you’re facing a creative block. A routine will ensure that you practice your freedom to think creatively as much as you can, but it ensures that you think about the issue in a creative manner at least once every day so that you don’t take your freedom for granted. Routine ensures that you don’t completely run away from the creative work while you’re trying to relax.

5. Seek help:

It’s not easy to do all the brainstorming and executing by yourself hence it is highly advisable to take as much help as you can get. It’s not easy to trust someone else when it comes to your creative work but sometimes working with others not only helps you learn many things from them but also helps you understand yourself, your environment and your style better. And you shall never forget the masterpieces that you had created in the past for many times they hold the answer to your current creative problem. So, revisit them, and collaborate with others but don’t give up.

Going through a creative block is not easy. But it’s not the end of the world (although it may seem like it). Creative block is normal and everyone goes through it. It may seem dark and lonely but if you’re patient enough and put in enough work to get out of it, you will get out of it.  These tips and strategies are not a guarantee that you will solve your problem, but you will at least take the first few steps in the right direction which will help you get out of your creative block.

We have all heard from our parents, teachers and everyone older than us about the bad side of digital media, such as TV, mobile phones, social media, etc. But then our friends love digital media and to be fair it doesn’t seem that bad, right? You get to know what your friends are up to thanks to your mobile phones and social media, you are caught up with the recent episodes of Doraemon, Pokemon, etc. and can talk about it with friends. All in all, there is no harm in using digital media. But rather it becomes harmful when we overuse it.

What do you mean by “overuse” of digital media?

“Overuse”, is a term you must have heard a lot but never quite understood what exactly it meant. And you have all the right to be confused, after all, who decides when you are overusing digital media? Yes, some studies say that after certain hours of usage, it is considered overuse to use social media, but then again these studies are done on humans and no two humans are alike. So, there is a possibility that the studies’ conclusion may not apply to a few humans. And who is to say that you are not one of the few? 

Then how can you define “overuse”? The answer is simple whenever “you” feel tired or drained out, don’t feel like doing physical activities anymore, have trouble sleeping or talking to new people such as new classmates or adjusting to new environments such as feeling very jumpy or restless at a family function, that is when you know you have overused digital media. But remember just like a cold has symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, headache, etc., the things mentioned previously are just some of the symptoms of overuse, it doesn’t mean you can’t get over it or get better, but you need to recognise these symptoms first then only you can start your treatment. Also keep in mind these are just a few symptoms, as the effects or symptoms of overuse will show up differently in different people, but one thing will remain consistent in all the symptoms, “you will not feel good”. You might feel restless, scared, sad or all of them together.

Should I stop using digital media altogether?

Should you stop eating ice cream entirely because you will get a cold if you have cold food items and drinks? Should you stop talking to everyone else in class because one of them was mean? Should you stop answering your question paper in the exam entirely because you don’t know the answer to one of the questions? NO! And that’s exactly why, you should not stop using digital media altogether or entirely as it has its benefits too.

Without digital media would you have known what is happening in other countries to prepare for your MUN debates? Without digital media would you have known the different music genres such as pop, hip-hop, K-pop, etc.? Without digital media would you have known about the various tales of bravery that Little Krishna went on or the life lessons about things you should and should not do from Doraemon?

Digital media is pretty important in today’s age, so it is not at all something you should ignore entirely and not indulge in. It’s like asking our parents to not write whatever they heard in class on paper to remember as our ancestors used to have an oral culture of learning where people used to listen and remember. So, instead of writing it down they should also listen and remember, but the invention of paper and ink made it possible to reduce the burden on our brain and we incorporated it into our daily lives. Just like that digital media has reduced our reliance on written hard-bound materials a lot. This is not only sustainable in the long run but also makes it easier for us to understand difficult to simple concepts better as now we have audio-visual aids at the tip of our fingers to help us break down the written concepts easily. Learning doesn’t need to be confined to a classroom. 

What should I do to prevent the overuse of digital media?

Preventing overuse is not that simple but it’s not entirely impossible. You don’t have to take drastic steps or use drastic techniques such as entirely stopping to use your phones or watching the television. But rather take it slow. One of the techniques could be that if using digital media such as your phone for 12 hours straight is making you feel tired and not feel great in general, then reduce the time that you engage with digital media by 1 hour every two days until you don’t feel so bad. 

Now if you are cutting down the hours that you used to use digital media you must have some free time which will make you think, “What will I do with that much free time?”. You don’t need to study more or fill out another workbook in maths or English grammar, just because you have a little more time now. Instead, use the extra time to make origami or crochet something or maybe finally make that dessert that you saw them making in Masterchef Kids. Yes, you might have to use digital media to get the crochet or origami pattern or the recipe for that Masterchef Kids’ dessert but it won’t be for a long time and once you get a hang of it you won’t need the digital media aid for long. 

How about using this technique, suppose you were using digital media for 12 hours and then you reduced it to 8 hours over a period of time, out of that 8 hours maybe use 2 hours for practising the new crochet pattern or origami pattern while looking at the tutorials and the extra time that you have you can try practising it without the tutorial. Slowly you will get into new kinds of activities that won’t necessarily require digital media at all times of the day but will keep you equally occupied with other things that will help you learn and grow every day. 

Another technique that you can use is doing nothing. Sometimes when you don’t want to do anything, how about just not doing it? Maybe take the free time to just sit and watch the stray dogs run on the street or think about the conversations you had with your friends or mum the other day, take some free time to just think and wonder to help you understand others and the environment around you better. This will certainly help you in developing your emotional quotient or EQ, which is very different from IQ and actually depends on how emotionally aware you are about yourself and about others in your surroundings. One of the ways to develop EQ is by giving yourself the time and space to understand what you are going through and what others are going through.

Conclusion

Now these are a few techniques that you can use to prevent overuse but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other techniques. But these techniques work the best because you don’t entirely stop using digital media overnight but rather reduce your usage and over time fill the free time with something else. Always remember digital media has its pluses and minuses just like Doraemon’s gadgets. It all boils down to how you use it and how much you use it, to ensure you make the most of it. 

For those who grew up in the 1970s and 80s, the song “Ek Chidiya Anek Chidiya” holds a cherished place in the hearts of many. It was more than just a catchy tune; it was a reminder of unity in diversity, beautifully portrayed in the short animated film “Ek, Anek aur Ekta.” directed by the late Vijaya Mulay.

Vijaya Mulay was a renowned filmmaker, film historian, researcher and educationalist born in Mumbai. Mulay’s journey with cinema began in Patna in 1940, where she used to frequent city theatres to watch English films. This passion for cinema led her to pursue a master’s in education in the UK, after which she returned to India and became actively involved in film societies, notably founding the Delhi Film Society in 1959.

Throughout her career, Vijaya Mulay made significant contributions to Indian cinema and education. She served as the joint secretary of the Federation of Film Societies alongside film critic Chidananda Dasgupta, with Satyajit Ray as its founding President. Her work at the Central Board of Film Certification in the early 1960s shaped the Indian film industry. She also played a vital role in producing several educational films widely used in schools across the country, promoting a progressive and inclusive approach to education.

In 1967, Vijaya Mulay fostered a lifelong friendship with celebrated French filmmaker Louis Malle, who assisted her in making her debut film “The Tidal Bore.” This film, depicting a natural phenomenon along the Hooghly River, garnered international acclaim and was India’s official entry at the Mannheim Film Festival. Its success not only marked a significant milestone in Mulay’s career but also showcased the potential of Indian cinema on the global stage.

Mulays’s accolades include the V Shantaram Award for Lifetime Achievement for documentaries and the Vikram Sarabhai Lifetime Achievement Award for educational communication. She was also awarded the national award for best writing in cinema.

In 1975, Mulay led the Centre for Educational Technology (CET), where she produced educational films broadcast across thousands of villages. One of the most notable films from CET’s animation studious was “Ek, Anek aur Ekta”. This film, a heartwarming tale of unity in diversity, won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film. Its success reflected Vijaya Mulay’s commitment to progressive education and inclusive ideals and demonstrated the power of film as a tool for social change.

Vijaya Mulay’s vision of a diverse yet united India is evident in “Ek, Anek aur Ekta,” a film that resonates even today amidst political turmoil. At a time when diverse rhetoric dominates, Mulay’s work reminds us of the importance of unity and inclusivity.

As we remember Vijaya Mulay’s legacy, we honour her contributions to Indian Cinema and education. May her films inspire generations, fostering a spirit of harmony and understanding in our society.

They say it’s easy to write about the feelings to help you process your emotions better. But sometimes these feelings can get pretty dark and not so easy to process and that’s when your writing ends up becoming dark as well. Writings that are this dark in thoughts and emotions is not everyone’s cup of tea but those who have a taste for such writings just can’t stop preaching about the depths of such writings. It’s the subtle hints here and there, the deep angst and yearning that bring about the satisfaction in the end. Satisfaction not of lovers uniting but of finding oneself amidst the maddening crowd of blind lovers. Satisfaction of finally gaining back your sanity and vision after the rosy dusk of love has settled. And lastly, the satisfaction of knowing that you are indeed a human for you loved with all your heart and now you shall hate with that much passion for “you” matter. The book Inamorata’s Labyrinth by Sherryl Samantha Pal takes on this treacherously satisfactory journey to remind us what truly matters

Inamorata’s Labyrinth: A Closer Look

With a collection of short stories and poems, Inamorata’s Labyrinth takes us on a journey that is sad and dark in the beginning but you will find hope for a new beginning. A beginning that may lack the company of a certain someone you were very close with but will have the company of a person who has been there for you since day one, i.e., you. Navigating through negative emotions and sadness through the various characters in the book you are bound to find a kindred spirit and understand yourself better.

Inamorata’s Labyrinth not only affirms in you the belief that it’s okay to love like crazy but it also reminds you that it’s okay to fight for yourself and put yourself first no matter what. It reminds you that it’s okay to fall into the deepest depths of despair but you must rise. It reminds you that sadness is not something you should run away from but rather accept it like you accept joy. Lastly, Inamorata’s Labyrinth reminds you to never forget the happiness you felt with yourself just because you have now become familiar with sadness over the loss of a type of happiness you felt with someone who is not there anymore. 

Truly raw and pure, each page of Inamorata’s Labyrinth holds an emotion that is bound to resonate with readers from every walk of life. The poems though short carry with them such pangs of reality that by the time you reach the last word, it will feel as if somebody has poured a bucket of cold water on you. Inamorata’s Labyrinth is truly a labyrinth of emotions, a journey that the reader takes from the first page to the last and yet feels lost and content by the time they close the book.

Afterword

After successfully publishing her first two books, Arcane: Silhouettes, and Esterdale, Inamorata’s Labyrinth appears to be a harmonious blend of writing style that Pal has presented earlier in her previous books. But what sets this book apart from the other two is its depth and maturity when dealing with complex emotions and feelings of love, loss and betrayal. Inamorata’s Labyrinth is a must-read for anyone looking for a type of satisfaction that can only be achieved when you start on the journey to find yourself again. It will remind you to never ever take yourself for granted no matter how grand and pretty the rosy dusk of love may look but at the same not be ashamed to love another with as much love as you have for yourself when it feels right to you. The heavy importance given to your feelings and emotions is what makes this book stand out from the crowd.