4 Stories That Will Inspire You To Relive The Past With Your Own Twist

Technology is taking over our lives, one sector at a time. We’re all trying so hard to keep up with the new, that we’ve locked the old in a box and buried it deep in India’s history. But not anymore…

These 4 individuals are inspiring us in their own way to take on a shade of India and make it your own. They’ve gone above and beyond today’s technology driven world and created magic in their own realm of awesome.

The last time we showed you what Indie’viduality could bring to the table and this time, we reintroduce a bit of culture and history…

Vydhehi Kadur

Bringing back Bangalore’s gardens with Muddy Waters

“Muddy Waters is something I started with my mother, who we grew up watching create miniature gardens.  Our gardens were our growing up spaces. A space of escape where no one could find us. Where we could just wind down and get calmer. In the chaos of the city, gardens don’t just bring beauty, but serenity in the environment.

That’s what we try to bring to other people through our venture – who, by the way, have been extremely receptive. Some even call what we do a work of art!

But there were some who said you’re making it commercial, this is commercialization of art, of creativity. But my only answer to those people were each of us needs to make a living. And some of us are lucky to do it with something that we love. Not everyone has to go to an office and sit there 9 to 5 and earn your living. Your passion can also become a source of income for you and your family.

A lot of people also told us Muddy Waters means confusion, it means a bad place. But for us, the business was born out of a place of tragedy, confusion and self-doubt – my dad’s death. We literally started in Muddy Waters. But it has brought us a lot of clarity and joy since. People now want to know that the story behind it is.

And we’re more than happy to share it.”

 

Sreeranjini GS

Bringing back India’s traditional games with Kavade

 “What started as a thinking process for my kids – who were not exposed to the games I grew up playing, turned into a concept that had me saying “I am going to make traditional games and they’re going to be plastic free.” Kavade was born and so was a space for bonding and interaction. Between people of all cultures, and most importantly, ages.

See, that’s the thing about traditional games – there is so much an adult can bring to the game as much as a child can. When you sit down for a game together, you don’t just play. You laugh. You share stories. That’s how people of yore lived. In harmony with each other and with nature. It’s a way of bonding that is truly beautiful. If it has been resilient enough to stay on so many centuries, there is something very strong about it. It shouldn’t vanish just like that.

When people come to the store and pick up a toy or a game and experience that magic, it gives me a high. A high that surmounts setting up franchises or chains purely as a money making venture. I’d rather choose the old way of life that values quality, over today’s consumerist attitude. Any day.”

 

Sangeetha Kadur

Bringing back love for nature with Green Scraps 

“As a child, we used to go the forests all the time, and had big beautiful gardens in our house. And I also loved art. Slowly, the passion for nature fused with my love for art and turned into a career – I’m now a wildlife illustrator and a conservationist with Neralu.

I think loving nature and embracing it is a very innate, human quality. But somewhere down the line we lose that sense of connection. Green Scraps is about starting early, and getting children to connect to nature and trees around them through art, storytelling and dance. It’s only when people understand the trees in their own surroundings, they will step forward and do something about a tree being cut.

I also think we are heading to a world that is chaotic and busy. Somehow, being connected to nature slows you down, makes you calmer and makes you love yourself a little bit more. I want more people to experience that. And experience it early. Which is also the inspiration for ‘Green Scraps’ – an initiative that gets children and adults to experience nature together through the arts. These are attempts, yes, but I truly hope they let people do more beyond that. By themselves.”

 

Aruna Ganesh Ram

Bringing back immersive theatre with Visual Respiration 

“Julius Ceaser, Kannagi from Silapadhikaram, karate kid – these were fancy dress roles that caught my fancy as a child. And grew into a love for theatre and acting. It’s been a calling 12 years in the making. When I slowly realized I was doing more theatre than studying or doing more theatre than juggling a corporate job.

Finally, in 2012, I took it up full time with immersive theatre and started Visual Respiration – which is about engaging the senses through theatre. Where the audience is not merely observing but being a part of the performance – physically, spiritually and emotionally. And every performance is like a rubber meets road experience – where the internal narrative of the piece reaches the audience in a more personal, electrifying way. For me, this is what makes it an exciting space to be in.

Even though there have been demons to fight. The biggest demon being myself. Where I have to fight perfection and move on. But in the end I always manage to channel self-doubt to my advantage, using it to make every piece of mine newer and fresher. That’s the only way you can keep the journey going.”

A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people

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