Madhu Raghavendra

Taking a swim in the freezing waters of Loch Muick with strong cold winds funnelling down the hills, while hiking to Glas-allt Shiel bothy built by Queen Victoria on the Balmoral estate.
It was hilarious as some friendly hikers passing by uttered out loud, ‘That’s very brave of you.’

But I love taking a feral swim, be in forest lakes of Shayadri or Scotland. Given that I count my life in experiences, deeply grateful for these dreamlike moments.

exclusive poetry exchange with artist and friend, Amy McLachlan at Topping & Company Booksellers at St Andrews

book swap with the Scottish poet Robert Fergusson
(I know he doesn’t seem very excited about it )

from our event Zeitgeist, at the Pathfoot building, Stirling University, with writer Rachelle Atalla, Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow

with fellow poet friends Christie and at Glasgow Greens, reading poetry to the Clyde

Informal discussion on arts and development at University of Stirling

Happy birthday to one of my favourite musicians 🌸

Live art: Made Shatkona kolam/rangoli with ice performed at Zeitgeist

For Zeitgeist, making rangoli with grass in front of the Blue boy, in preparing for tomorrow’s performance at 1pm Stirling University
Art is about nuances. Surreal and meditative.

St Andrews

Announcing Zeitgeist, my first public work as a performance artist.

The performance attempts to make a design with ice cubes in front of the Pursuit of Knowledge Memorial, fondly known as ‘blue boy’ sculpted by Iain McColl.
This work is inspired by the Indian cultural practice of rangoli or kollam which is usually a nature-inspired design made on the floor.
It stems from my core memory of my amma (mom) making rangoli at the threshold of our home everyday, first thing in the morning. Signifying the starting of the day with art.
The performance embraces the ideas of culture and loss, transience of beauty, new learnings, and ecological preservation.

With Zeitgeist it is going to be a journey of exploring new dimensions and horizon of art. Excited to get into yet another cycle of learning and failing.

Thanks to the Charles Wallace Fellowship Trust, University of Stirling and Arts Collection

Had so much fun reading at the Canons’ Gait, Edinburgh, hosted by I am Loud productions.
Great venue and lovely people. 🌸

Reading a poem at the opening of the Art Collection Open Day at University of Stirling 🌸

Shoutout to my scintillating poet and friend, Juana Adcock for creating beautiful Glasgow memories 🌸

Tickets

The golden jute steeped
in the warm stomach of Bengal
instead of paddy.

In 1883 alone, over a million
bales were sent to Dundee.

Jute balled wool and cotton
packed commodities
ventilated gold miners
lined cars and carriages
turned sail canvas across oceans
roped the anchor for the Empire.

When the war broke, jute
took care of sandbags in trenches,
military tents, gun covers,
webbed army uniforms for the Empire.

After the war
jute could not buy rice
with its returns.

A white shadow of the famine lingers
in debt the machinery of dark dreams
still takes from an Indian poet 10£ to see
the Verdant jute factory museum in Dundee.

— Madhu Raghavendra

Spent the International Museum Day at Museums in Dundee

Rembrandt, A Man In Armour

At the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburg

at Inverlochlarig

a nice evening with lecturers Pete, Eamon, and Michael from the Literature and Languages division at Stirling University

One with Gemma Robinson, Senior Lecturer in English Studies, Division of Literature and Languages, University of Stirling

Bihu wishes from University of Stirling, Scotland

At Maa Kamakhya Shaktipeetha this morning 🌸

Looking forward to poetry reading and workshop tomorrow at along with my friend and fellow poet .pathakkhaund

of friendships and traditions

Holi greetings to all💕

Guwahati friends meeting in Delhi 🌸 with the scintillating singer, songwriter and poet

Happy to receive the latest issue of Indian Literature from the editor Sukrita Paul Kumar. This issue focuses on transgender and non-binary writing, with her poignant editorial ’case on gender transgression and it’s aesthetics of expression’.