Utopia, A Review (5 Stars)

 

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.

Return to Innocence I (January)

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. 

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