Studio 1947 Journal
Stories, Ideas & Perspectives.
As we celebrate local wisdom, here are few stories from traditional knowledge, design, culture & communities
The Lost Art of Bengal's Nakshi Kantha Embroidery: Stories Sewn into Fabric
When you hear about Nakshi Kantha, you might think it's just an old quilt. But for many of us from Bengal, it means something deeper — stitched blankets that hold real stories of family, life, hopes and memories.
When Birth Belonged to Women: Stories of Dais and Displacement
Before hospitals, ultrasounds and epidurals, childbirth across the Indian subcontinent was a home affair — surrounded by women, rituals and the indigenous knowledge of the dai.
পাখির বাসায় ডিজাইন থিংকিং
আমার বাড়ির বারান্দা বেশ নিরিবিলি। বিগত কয়েকবছর ধরে নানা পাখির আসা-যাওয়া লক্ষ্য করেছি — একটা ছোট্ট সানবার্ড প্রতি বছর নিয়মিত এসে কী সুনিপুণ বাসা বানায়!
Saraswati on the Steering Wheel
"Just a slap, but he can't hit me." That line from the film Thappad is an inspiration for many women — a truth I felt anew when I met Saraswati Singh, a woman cab driver from Delhi.
The Desert's Alchemy
Long before industrial refineries dominated global supply chains, indigenous communities mastered the art of extracting salt — not from seawater, but from the soil beneath their feet.
এরা ওরা এবং "They, them, and"
এই নিয়ে ড্রয়ারটা চতুর্থ বার বন্ধ করলো সুকল্প। দুই আর দুইয়ে চার — তার মাথার মধ্যে আসছে একের পর এক সংখ্যার প্রবাহ, কিছুতেই সে ভাবা থামাতে পারে না।
The Plow Story, a Time-Tested Design Methodology
The plow is a tool designed to prepare soil for planting. Its origins trace to ancient civilizations — and its design was deeply rooted in local knowledge systems evolved over generations.
निष्पक्षताको प्रयोग । "The Practice of Impartiality"
बेयार्ड रस्टिन एक अफ्रिकी-अमेरिकी नागरिक अगुवा थिए। सन् १९४० र १९५० को दशकमा उनले सबैका लागि समान अधिकार स्थापनाका निम्ति काम गरे — यो त्यसै समयको एउटा कथा हो।
Timekeeping Before Clocks: Ancient Indian and Bengali Traditions
Long before the mechanical clock, civilisations relied on indigenous methods — celestial observations, water clocks and the rhythms of nature — to track time and order daily life.
Litti Chokha: A Culinary Treasure Rooted in Ayurveda and Sustainability
What if one of Bihar's most beloved street foods is also a powerhouse of Ayurvedic nutrition? Litti Chokha has sustained farmers, warriors and travelers for centuries.
Empathy & Design: Design as a Means of Understanding
In the realm of design, empathy is not just a crucial principle — it's the cornerstone. It enables designers to comprehend people's feelings and craft solutions that deeply resonate.
My 'Boring' Traditional Attire Was Never 'Boring' at All
Packing for college was exciting for Imu — her first time leaving her hometown of seventeen years. A story of sisterly debates, identity and the quiet pride of traditional dress.
Bishnu Sendra Parv (Hunting Festival)
A hunting festival celebrated by the tribals of the Chotanagpur Plateau — the Santhal, Bhumij, Munda, Ho, Birhor and Kharia communities enter the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary each May.
Brewing Beer and Memories
Aliya and her cousins travel back from Delhi to their hometown in Arunachal Pradesh, carrying gifts and flavoured yu — a story of family, homecoming and the taste of tradition.
Sadhu | साधु
जङ्गलबीचमा साधुको एउटा कुटीर थियो। यिनी दयालु थिए। जङ्गलका सारा पशुपक्षी यिनका कुटीर वरिपरि निर्धक्क चर्दै घुमफिर गर्थे — एक दिन साधुले पशुहरूको बथान घट्दै गएको थाहा पाए।
Clothes Have "No" Gender. Isn't It???
एक सच्ची कहानी से शुरुआत करते हैं — स्पेन की एक मुहिम "Clothes Have No Gender"। सच तलाशने की कोशिश करें तो पता चलेगा कि कपड़ों का कोई लिंग नहीं होता।
The Lost Math of Kolam
In southern India, women rise before dawn to create intricate geometric patterns in rice flour. Known as kolam, rangavalli and muggulu, these are visual rituals and ancient algorithms.
The 'Tandoor' Legacy: How Punjab's Village Cooking Shaped Global Cuisine
Freshly baked naan, smoky tandoori chicken, crisp kulchas — all share one thing: the tandoor. How did a humble village clay oven come to influence kitchens across the world?
Childhood Rituals
I grew up in nineties Bombay — a city soon to be Mumbai, at the peak of her 'sapno ka shehar' swag. Here I share a few of the childhood rituals kept under my grandma Papama's care.
More stories are Coming Soon
