Pondichery, Mon Amour
Harper's Bazaar India|April 2018

Avid preservationist Kakoli Banerjee traces her ongoing journey in restoring the French town’s rich heritage

Pondichery, Mon Amour

I am in love, hopelessly and madly, with my city.

It is not always that your place of birth or where you grow up is your home. My first visit to Puducherry, in 2001 at the age of 36, was only for a couple of hours. I wasn’t sure if it had anything to offer.

By the year 2007, circumstances prevailed and having bought a dilapidated Franco-Tamil house in the French precinct of the town, more by default than design, I was here to stay. My friend Jyoti Saikia and I spent three years restoring the house, which we call GRATITUDE, along with our dear departed friend and guide, Ajit Koujalgi, then convenor of the INTACH chapter of Puducherry.

By 2010, the city had become home. I can truly say that when you make a choice as an adult to adopt a city as your own, a place where you do not have roots, you try to reach out and embrace all that it has to offer. In a (short) span of eight years, the unique mix of Franco-Tamil culture, the distinct yogic philosophy theorised by Sri Aurobindo and put into practice by the Mother, the city’s proximity to Auroville with its rich global diaspora, and its ability to have retained a small-town flavour gave me a deep sense of belonging. Here I must specifically mention the Mother, Mirra Alfassa, whom I consider my spiritual guide and mentor. Originally from France, she chose to make Puducherry her home in 1920 and collaborated with Sri Aurobindo in a fantastic, spiritual journey. She gave us a vision that became Auroville—a community close to Puducherry that brings together people from all over the world to create a city of the future. She came to be called the Mother because Sri Aurobindo recognised in her an embodiment of ‘Shakti’, the dynamic, creative force of Hindu philosophy.

この記事は Harper's Bazaar India の April 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Harper's Bazaar India の April 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

HARPER'S BAZAAR INDIAのその他の記事すべて表示
Unyielding And Unmatched
Harper's Bazaar India

Unyielding And Unmatched

In an industry where every move is scrutinised, Kareena Kapoor Khan lives passionately, loves her job, and understands that there’s more to her than just box-office numbers.

time-read
10+ 分  |
September 2024
SEEN AND HEARD
Harper's Bazaar India

SEEN AND HEARD

Female authors explore how crucial it is that women write about their personal experiences.

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024
INTO THE WORLD OF JUDY CHICAGO
Harper's Bazaar India

INTO THE WORLD OF JUDY CHICAGO

What makes the feminist trailblazer an icon?

time-read
3 分  |
September 2024
'THE LEGACY OF A SINGER WILL ALWAYS STAY INTACT'
Harper's Bazaar India

'THE LEGACY OF A SINGER WILL ALWAYS STAY INTACT'

AR Rahman believes AI can be used without compromising on the artistic essence.

time-read
3 分  |
September 2024
THROUGH HER EYES
Harper's Bazaar India

THROUGH HER EYES

Indian supermodels remember legendary photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta ahead of his 68th birth anniversary.

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024
THE SHAPE-SHIFTERS
Harper's Bazaar India

THE SHAPE-SHIFTERS

From adorning your body to your mantle piece, jewellery designers are turning to homeware.

time-read
3 分  |
September 2024
WEARABLE ART
Harper's Bazaar India

WEARABLE ART

Three limited-edition timepieces, inspired by Gaston-Louis Vuitton's love for artistry, is an ode to the Maison's legacy of craftsmanship.

time-read
2 分  |
September 2024
AS LONG AS TIME
Harper's Bazaar India

AS LONG AS TIME

Bazaar India delves into the ethos of watch brands.

time-read
3 分  |
September 2024
MILANO MAKEOVER
Harper's Bazaar India

MILANO MAKEOVER

Sabato De Sarno's reimagination of this classic Gucci bag is is an ode to his Milanese becoming.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
A LOVE LETTER TO JAIPUR
Harper's Bazaar India

A LOVE LETTER TO JAIPUR

Designer Surily Goel reveals the making of her latest collection.

time-read
2 分  |
September 2024