Lungta’s 2022 Calendar titled Utopia
‘dedicated to all Darjeeling lovers’ came to me as a gentle surprise. Living on
the other side of the globe, little was I aware of the hard work of these
wonderfully creative individuals working tirelessly to make Darjeeling visible
to the world. This review is my dedication to the labour and imagination behind
this beautiful calendar that sits on my table, reminding me of home each day.
Each month is designed as a chapter
in a book bearing gorgeous scenes from the hills depicted in watercolour by Mr
Nayandra Lama, and each of the paintings is further enhanced by a micro-story
written by Aashwin Pradhan. The stories capture a moment in people’s lives, is a reminder of
the month heralding the yearly festival or are eloquent descriptions that incite deep
inspiration and spirituality within the heart of a traveller.
Accompanying the calendar is another
reminder of home, a packet of fragrant black tea leaves from Mayukh, which clearly
touches one with warm greetings it brings along.
A little girl in a red chaubandi blouse beams happily back at you as the text brings the smile alive, reminding
us of that child we all have met once in our lives. A lost traveller is
redeemed by her innocent toothy smile and a cheerful greeting, thus opening up
a path leading them straight to the heart of the Himalayas. A place where scintillating stories
are waiting to be heard in the jovial company of the hill people.
The Mountain (February)
This beautiful representation of the
most anticipated scene from Darjeeling greets me in February, driving away all
the winter darkness and frigidity of Europe. Everyone visiting Darjeeling
aspires to catch this view, for it is when the mighty Kanchenjunga looms before
you in immaculate white, juxtaposed with the rare sight of the brilliant red
Rhododendron growing on trees instead of in bushes like in the west, your heart
truly opens with the deepest kind of appreciation for nature. And then the blue
rolling hills below does, in fact, create a visual orchestra with the endless
rising and falling like cadences of musical chords.
Homecoming (March)
Here we have our renowned toy train,
a world heritage symbol, snaking its way in the Batasia loop carrying students
back to schools after a long winter break – their mild melancholy quickly
dissipating as they arrive in the queen of the hills, their home away from
home. Bug-eyed tourists gasp in wonder and amazement as the train completes a
roundabout and emerges on the left side of the road, suddenly face to face with
enormous snow-white peaks under the blue sky. The little story conjures up so
many memories that I see myself back there again. A homecoming experience it
truly is.
A New Dawn (April)
Two boys walk by the renowned Nepali
poet Bhanu Bhakta’s statue sporting white masks on their faces – a reminder of
trying times in Darjeeling when the pandemic hit hard. Yet in the face of death
and suffering, the hill people left no stone unturned to lend a helping hand,
say a kind word to the sick, and show compassion by reaching out with help in
small villages tucked in remote corners almost impossible reach. The title
new dawn is aptly described as the hill people understood the true meaning of
awakening to a new reality.
Simplicity (May)
This painting depicts a cluster of
houses down below in the tea gardens flanked by lush green trees and a man
returning home from work. An image of a rustic life comprising cattle rearing
and organic food, tantalising smells of freshly cooked food wafting from the
open windows touch my heart as I gaze at the painting and read
the story. A tired householder resting after a long walk home from work with a
newly brewed smoked milk tea served by his wife while his daughter busily
recites her multiplication tables is indeed an indelible snapshot of a simple
life from the rural villages of the hills encouraging both tourists and natives to put
on their walking shoes.
Time (June)
The month of June displays the top half
of the Clock tower that has stood since time immemorial, along with other buildings
bearing the legacy of the British Raj. As the text points out, this impressive
tower has stood through the ravages of time, becoming one of the heritage
symbols. Generations come and go as the Clock tower silently gazes down upon
the jovial hill people trudging up and down from Chowrasta under their brightly
coloured umbrellas – a picture enough the drown the monsoon malaise.
The Joy in the Harshness (July)
This picture of the tea pluckers at
work in the cascading tea slopes with the backdrop of Kanchenjunga on a clear
day brings a lingering smile. A heartwarming story unfolds under the untainted
blue sky where Kunti and her friends cheerfully gather every day to pluck the dui
paatey suiro, the tender bud and two leaves. Their weathered but bright, happy
faces and their tinkling laughter drown all the asperities that come with the challenging
mountain weather.
Honour (August)
This month features the painting of Major Durga Malla, the first Gorkha soldier and freedom fighter to come out from the hills. The text highlights how our hills have benefited from the sacrifice and drive of well-educated people who have given back to the community in ways that will never be forgotten.
Alive (September)
A dazzling scene from Chowrasta greets us next in September as the hills recover from extended monsoons, and a spark of joie de vivre lights up every nook, corner and alley with festivals on the threshold. The text evokes a compelling picture making us drop everything and travel back instantly through our mind’s eye. The hills inevitably coming alive with the sounds, smells and sights of Dasain.
Rejoice in Culture (October)
A Maruni dancer meets your gaze as she
swirls in a blue chaubandi and fariya held in place by a pink patuka. She bears
all the fineries of traditional ornaments of a dancer. She holds two brass plates, the props she uses to enhance her dance moves. The glow on her face is
accentuated by the bright marigold garland and other ceremonial accessories.
The text throws light on the dance giving more depth to the painting.
Bloom (November)
Back to nature in November, this
month once again paints a nostalgic picture of the uncorrupted natural scenery in
the mountains, where two people are seen walking towards town with their milk
cans dangling from their backs. While capturing an authentic scene from the
hills, the text also invites the traveller to amble
along with them in the mountain wilderness.
The Return of Innocence II
(December)
Everything comes to a full circle as the stories
and paintings culminate in December with a similar title as January. Where January featured
a bright little girl, representing the beginning and the future, December
greets you with a warm and weathered face of
81-year-old Phulmaya and her words, representing the completion of the
year's circle and the past glory of the hills.
The calendar has been smartly cleverly designed by Ms Kritanjali Agarwal in such a way that one can retain it as a tabletop decoration by simply cutting off the part of the calendar displaying the year and the dates.
Please visit Lungta for further information
