• About

tampha

~ Never lose your sense of wonder

tampha

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Image

Ma Shakti

29 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by Tampha | Filed under Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

I love Orchids!!!!!!

08 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

This is my latest work. I absolutely love orchids; they represent far more than just a pretty flower for me!
Acrylic on canvas (24” x 18”)

Retro Roses

14 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Acrylic on canvas (24” x 18”)
Some memories from another era
A bunch of roses hold together
A feeling of nostalgia
And the possibility of eternity. 

…

08 Tuesday Feb 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

When poets carve a picture in words
When literature is dipped in swords
When music is heard from the soul
Its a revolution that awaits…

When voices scream out of painful silence
When protests are held by a child’s prayer
When its no longer about the individual
The revolution has begun…

Every decade sees one of such
Every person goes through some of such
Who’ll come out of this successful
its hard to tell
In the end after all nothing will remain
and there’ll be peace later despite all the pain
But a wave of change would’ve started
And something new would’ve begun
Perhaps its the seed of the next revolution!

Shaken & Stirred

08 Tuesday Feb 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

An old man with an old tattered photograph in his hand was shunned by the common folk who walked the streets near Mumbai Central station about their jobs & their lives… he wanted to know if someone had seen his son… he didn’t know if he would ever see him and still he searched on asking everyone he met if they had seen his beloved son who had left him years ago to defend a nation ever so proudly…

A mother was left abandoned on the gates of a medical practitioner’s clinic by her children because she had become a burden on them – she was a cripple. She was left behind in the bitter cold of Delhi’s winters and as she dragged herself really shocked wondering if this is what she had taught her children to become, she disappeared into the darkness of the lanes. I was there that evening passing by the shop next to that clinic and the shopkeeper told me about her. I saw her pass by in absolute silence – she looked like she could be from a middle class family. Nobody saw her ever since.

A little girl was sent with a man she hardly knew, married off to a man three times her age. She was brought to an alien land and sold off to another bidder as a ‘virgin’ bride. Why this betrayal she wondered… she didn’t even know what or who to ask? She was now trapped forever in this web and years hence she doesn’t even recollect what her name used to be & she doesn’t remember where she came from. But this one time when she was being sent off for the nth time sitting quietly, looking way older than the 24 years of her life, in the 2nd class compartment of a train… the train began to near the hills of a tea-growing valley and some scent stirred inside her soul and made her cry.

Some stories I witnessed in my life and I don’t think will ever recover from. I wrote these instances down the time when I witnessed them…only a few minutes of my life but it left a lasting impression.

Garage shutter makeover

04 Friday Feb 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

On my short trip to India I was handed a project after my own heart! This large garage shutter was a canvas waiting to be splashed with paints… it was quite a challenge to paint on a surface that was irregular plus I used the unfamiliar medium of emulsion paints! I had a wonderful time creating this mural. The 6 lotuses represent the total number of people in the family & the sun represents the blessings of their ancestors upon them. As and when new members join the family, I will be adding more lotuses to the mural. 
πŸ™‚

Some amazing shots captured by Sakhenbi

21 Friday Jan 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

An offering to the Gods

Drying out the yarns on heavy wooden poles

Looking out!

Stacks of bamboo baskets that hold anything form clothing to dried fermented fish!

And goes without saying that a cuppa tea is absolutely necessary!
These beautiful shots were taken by Sakhenbi on our trip to Imphal in 2010! 

Families!

13 Thursday Jan 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Some families are enormous, some are really small
but no matter what size, its the same for them all!

Families are dads, that frown & say – we didn’t do such things back in the days..
that shirts too bright… the skirt’s far too tight
now give me the name of the people with whom you are going out tonight!’

Families are moms, who flap & fuss, ‘Hurry up, get ready or you’ll miss the school bus!
Straighten your tie, tidy your hair…
how come you always have nothing decent to wear!’

Families are brothers, who taunt & tease,
and stand up for you against all the bullies…
They think they are bigger & better than you
and far more important are the things that they need to do!

Families are sisters who share all your things…
your clothes, your shoes, your books, CDs & earrings…
They use all your perfume & wear your jeans even if they are tight..
and will always stay up with you all through a heart broken night!

And as time passes & the families continue to grow
The story remains pretty much the same wherever we go…
I’m lucky to have a family as huge as it is
And each year there’s always someone more to add to the family list!

Tintin’s birthday

10 Monday Jan 2011

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

It’s my older nephews birthday today & we nicknamed him Tintin as he graced this planet on the date that one of the most famous & loved private detective Tintin also celebrates his birthday. The comic character has been our family’s favourite ever since we first laid our eyes on the first Tintin comic book or graphic novel as they are now called. And the same goes for my nephew… we all just fell in love with him from the first moment. He’s 11 now & I find it so amazing that so many years have passed. He used to be the most adorable baby with his little button nose and his cute mannerisms. Today he’s a strapping 5′ 6” tall and as awkward as any pre-teenager can be. He may not hug us as much anymore or respond to all our strange cutesy weird nicknames we call him but he will always be the first whom we all fell in love with.
Sourab Banerjee, we love you so much.
And then Mihir came soon after Sourab… and now its hard to decide who was a cuter baby… Mihir is like cherry pie, ice-cream, honey & cream… oh dear…  I love my nephews πŸ™‚
Happy Birthday Sourab for 10th January & Mihir for 21st January!!!!

Love… Always.

Food travels!

20 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by Tampha in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Visiting India after such a long gap was a much needed break and it was also an experience that was a treat for all of one’s senses! It was the most amazing culinary experience. From the spicy ghee dripping parathas of Northern India to the typical fauji mess-style food and the simplistic Meitei cooking…and to add to all of this lots of lovingly made home cooked food everywhere we went. Each morsel was a culinary journey.

The mouth watering ghee-dripping, high calorie, aromatic Dhaba food along a highway in Northern India
Shatabdi express (train) served all this – a neatly packed vegetarian sandwich, a samosa, some sweets & I don’t recollect what the thing was in that red packet. It was all very neatly packed & service was amazing which was a great experience considering the not so great experience on Jet airways!!
Tenowanbi

This variety of beans I’ve so far only come across in north eastern states of India. Its eaten raw in salads & has a delightful crunchy taste. It goes amazingly well with a paste that’s made with fermented fish or ngaari and it tastes heavenly if you’re into that sort of thing! πŸ™‚

One can never go wrong with deep fried fresh water fish
Singju – It’s the manipuri equivalent of a salad but is 99% of the time way too fiery for the non-north eastern palate! The 1% is for children and tourists! It’s incredibly healthy, crunchy and full of flavours. If you haven’t had singju in Manipur, you’ve pretty much missed the plot! 

And some more fried little fish which were bought from the local fish market in Dimapur, Nagaland… perhaps fresh catch from the nearby river?! I can assure you, it was delicious!  

The Brahmans or Bamons in Meitei culture traditionally prepare the feast for all ceremonial or religious occasions. They have a penchant for making food taste heavenly even without such ingredients like ginger, garlic & onion and even meat and fish. Each dish they prepare is a testimony to an extraordinary culture that spans hundreds of years that is featured in a place as epic as the Mahabharata and in modern equestrian sport. 
And the countless cups of tea daily… so many cups shared over so many thoughts, joys, laughter & pain.
Next destination : Dimapur, Nagaland – the land of mysterious tribes & magical traditions!

Walking through a local market in Dimapur

The amazingly sweet & colourful maize corn that’s commonly found in the northeastern states of India

Bhoot Jholakiya/ ghost chillies/ Oomorok… whatever you’d like to call it… it doesn’t temper the hotness of this chilli variety… tread..i mean taste with care!!

Fat juicy silk worms… high in protein & apparently very yummy.. nope..I didn’t try it! 

So green…so greeennnnnnn

Bee pupae still in their honeycombs
Dried fresh water fish of all possible varieties
Dimapur & Nagaland in general was full of delectable surprises. As is with every ancient tribal or ex-tribal society, there’s an interesting mix of flavours and characters in the local cuisine. Dimapur has some fantastic restaurants that’ll even surprise the seasoned restaurateur. 

 Raj Kachori Chaat at Gangaur in Kolkatta. Kolkatta street-style food is the bestest everrrrr!!!!! When visiting Kolkatta, one must sample all the amazing street food you get there – puchka, jhaal-muri, dahi chaat, momos, chowmein, rolls… yum yum drool drool

The classic egg-chicken roll from Nizams! 
If one begins to write about the varieties of cuisines one can find in India, one would run out of pages. Each cuisine from each region is distinct and an extraordinary experience. I’m sure I’ll still have plenty to write about Indian regional cuisines in the days to come… till then Bon Apettit!!

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Flickr Photos

The woodsOutside the classroomunhinged at the Summer school
More Photos

Fresh

  • A dream of the Underworld.
  • The dilemma
  • Hayfever Season!
  • Mother’s Day free printables
  • Summer afternoons

Blogs I Follow

Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar
Unknown's avatar

Vintage-y

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Site Title

Monica Ingudam

of art, expressions and personal growth.

Nilgiri: The will of the hills

thegirlwiththedaffodils

Not your ordinary daffodil

Miss Walking Shoes

Tales of a Female Nomad

the paper kind

creative living

Backstrap Weaving

By Laverne Waddington. My weaving , my inspiration, tutorials and more........

ronovanwrites

Author, Poet, Blogger, Father, Reader And More

kaurspeaks

A fine WordPress.com site

FREE BIRD

live life on your terms...

REMINISCENCE

a soliloquy journal made public

The Daily Post

The Art and Craft of Blogging

Marketing strategy for deep tech companies

Marketing strategy for deep tech companies

soilovefood

i dream of food :)

FINDINGTHEVOICES

A Talk show by Monica Ingudam presenting Inspiring, Educative, Empowering and Entertaining Voices. @ISTV Manipur every Tuesday 7 pm IST

Rooted

a legacy of textiles & the stories along the way, across the distances

oinamkeirungba

A life without impossible dreams is not worth living....

The Way I See It !

Ravi Dhingra Photography

Sew She Sews's

Just another WordPress.com weblog

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

is no substitute for the real thing !!!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • tampha
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • tampha
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar