DAY 6 in the Series on A Handcrafted Object Of Daily Use
Crafted objects that I use on a daily basis, which are beautiful, functional and sustainable.
Today’s object is a clay cooking vessel - Meenchatti. Our friend, Veni Mathew, got it back for me from Kerala several years ago. I use it primarily for cooking rice, though it can also be used for cooking curries.
Shahjahanabad is a conversation that is vivid and alive, that can take sudden turns, that is absorbing even when uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to comprehend. Despite its seeming chaos and crowds, the city has structured spaces to pause, gather, listen to, and be heard...
https://anishashekharmukherji.substack.com/p/talking-about-shahar-shahjahanabad
Crafted objects that I use on a daily basis, which are beautiful, functional and sustainable.
Today’s object is -- something you have to guess!
If you find that difficult, then here's the link for further clues: https://anishashekharmukherji.substack.com/p/an-exercise-in-perception-and-inference
DAY 4 in the Series on A Handcrafted Object Of Daily Use
Crafted objects that I use on a daily basis, which are beautiful, functional and sustainable.
Today’s object is a Sil Batta
(or Shil Noda in Bangla)
'If you pause to think about what the sil-batta does for and to you, it seems that it may actually be far more progressive and modern to use it rather than the mixie. The energy and resources consumed in its design and production are minimal – the design is well-disseminated, familiar to both maker and user, does not require fancy 3D mock-ups or scale-models, and contains no high energy parts such as steel or plastic. The stone may require high-energy resources in quarrying but further shaping is primarily by hand tools wielded by skilled stone-workers, and causes practically no pollution in production.
The stone for the sil-batta in my family must have been quarried half a century ago. Unless I drop it on the floor and break it, there is no reason why it will not give service for another half a century more and be used by my daughter to pass on to whoever she wishes. Whenever my cook or I use it, the only energy we expend is ours. The taste is fresher, I believe the nutrients are retained, and I do not need to go to a gym to get exercise for my arms!'
DAY 3 A Handcrafted Object of Daily Use
This is a series on crafted objects that I use on a daily basis, which are beautiful, functional and sustainable.
This clay cooking vessel works well to roast brinjal and sweet potatoes, and as a mini 'tandoor'. I bought it some years ago at the Dastkar Nature Bazaar at Andheria More.
DAY 2 in the Series on A Handcrafted Object of Daily Use
Craft is not just about souvenirs or artefacts for display.
Today’s object is a Bamboo Strainer.
This was bought from a seller of Darjeeling and Assam Tea at the Kashmiri Gate Durga Puja, Delhi on MahaSaptami, 30 September 2025
Craft is not just about souvenirs or artefacts for display.
