Exhibition-cum-book release
I am back in Jaipur. I took an evening flight from Kolkata yesterday. I went to the Rambagh Palace hotel yesterday evening for a book release. The book, authored and compiled by Dharmendar Kanawar, has had its formal release in Delhi and Mumbai last month. I wanted to be in Delhi during the release but could not.
I am actually more interested in the exhibition (picture) or the exhibits on Rajmata Gayatri Devi that was arranged for along with the release of the book. The exhibition at one of the Rambagh Palace lawns at the front was amazing. The various aspects of Rajmata Gayatri Devi’s life, captured in camera, was on display.
It is well known that Rajmata Gayatri Devi was very emotionally attached to the Rambagh Palace and it sure made sense to hold an exhibition along with the release of the book. Since Rajmata had a Bengal connection, I am in talks with the Royal family of Jaipur, as well as Dharmendar Kanawar, to hold this exhibition in Kolkata as well.
That was the primary reason why I came over to see this exhibition in person. The Rambagh Palace hotel was awarded the `Best Hotel of the World’ in 2009 and the property remains the pride of India. The book delves into the history of Palace and Rajamata.
Today morning there was another series of Ek Mulaqat.
This time with Amir Raza Husain (picture) who is in town to perform at the ITC Rajputana. Husain, a theatre actor and director is popular for his large outdoor stage productions. He is also the creative director of Stagedoor theatre company set up in 1974. He has been staging his plays at the ITC Rajputana for the past few years now. Last August Husain was at the ITC Sonar in Kolkata for a stage play Murder with his wife Viraat Husain. I will have to give the play a miss as I have a flight for Delhi today evening.
Ek Mulaqat is getting popular in Jaipur and there is a lot of pressure for invites. Also, the idea of holding the event each month, has not been stuck to and the last four Ek Mulaqat events happened in just 20 days.
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