Showing 41 articles

Making Music from the Heart: In Conversation with Fali Pavri

Author: Manjula Nanavati (compiled by)

October 1, 2024

Born in Mumbai, trained in Moscow and London, Fali Pavri is the Associate Head of Keyboard and the Professor of Piano at the Royal Conservatoire, of Scotland. He joined a New Acropolis Culture Circle audience in Mumbai through a video conference call, from Glasgow, where he both spoke and played for us, passionately, from his [...]

Many Seeds, One Garden: Learning from the Sacred Groves of India

Author: Manjula Nanavati (compiled by)

July 8, 2024

This is a write-up based on an event celebrating International Mother Earth Day held at New Acropolis, Colaba, Mumbai. UNESCO has designated April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day to raise public awareness of the challenges to the well-being of our planet, and to recognize our collective responsibility to promote harmony with nature. At an [...]

Unity Through Diversity: The Universal Language of Rhythm

Author: Manjula Nanavati

May 5, 2024

Unity of all mankind may seem at first a lofty and utopian concept, but the actualization of this intention is perhaps the realization of one principle: recognition and respect for the diversity of the human race. We must understand each other, honour each other’s cultural identity, and value each other’s way of life. To attempt [...]

Harmony in the Orchestra of Life!

Author: Gauri Dhawan

May 1, 2024

Harmonia, in Greek Mythology, is the goddess of Harmony and Concord. She is the daughter of Ares, the God of War; and Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. At first glance, this could seem strange: a force of war, and a force of love coming together to create harmony.  But, let’s take a deeper look at [...]

Discovering Life’s Beauty through Poetry

Author: Dipti Sanzgiri

May 1, 2024

  What is beauty? How do we define it? What happens to us when we encounter beauty? It is an experience that is so profound that many poets have expressed in many beautiful ways.           My Heart Leaps Up My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: [...]

The Mask, Unmasked

Author: Archana Samarth

September 8, 2023

Life is a mystery and in mysterious ways, invites us to unravel it .  The Truth it guards so protectively is expressed in myriad symbolic forms, some of which have survived over centuries, civilizations, and cultures. For one who is on a philosophical adventure of seeking wisdom, these symbolic forms are a bridge to the [...]

The Symbolism of Football

Author: Jim Pang

January 26, 2023

As the year ends with Argentina crowned as being the World Cup winners, it brings the 21st World Cup to a close. One that will be remembered for many firsts: the first time the tournament has been hosted in the Arab world, the first time it has been held in a Muslim country, the first [...]

Harmonizing with Nature: The Ashaninka Tribe

Author: Axelle Defrasne

October 9, 2022

Modern-day living seems to center around finding as much comfort in life as possible and aspiring for some growth, usually material. As a result, we are facing the great challenge of seeing our planet’s resources declining, and a general concern about our survival on earth. The fact that ecological activism is on the rise is [...]

Akbar, The Great Enigma

Author: Manjula Nanavati

November 7, 2021

During the Renaissance, while Europe was experiencing a gigantic shift of ideas in almost every aspect of knowledge, in India, was born a man who, as Emperor of Hindustan, would use his indomitable courage and a restless search for wisdom to weave a similarly audacious social, political, and spiritual vision in the Indian subcontinent. His [...]

A Parent’s Search for New Education

Author: Riddhi Patel

August 25, 2021

What is it about a musician or a doctor that makes him more than a simple technician, one that has developed an expert ability to discharge a particular skill? Beyond the mechanics of these professions, we may find a sincere pursuit of something higher; values such as Beauty, Harmony and Goodness. This came to light [...]

Music and I

Author: Kurush Dordi

June 29, 2021

Today we live in a world dominated by thousands of music streaming apps catering to a variety of genres. Although Pop, Rock, Jazz, Hip hop, and Electronic Dance Music are all popular, for me Western Classical Music is the shining jewel of the treasure box. It has its own language, awakens emotions, and rehabilitates me [...]

Reviving a Culture of Human Values

Author: Zarina Screwvala

March 31, 2021

The New Acropolis Culture Circle explores the diverse expressions of culture through a series of intimate and interactive presentations, in an attempt to revive the spiritual essence that forms the basis of all classical art and culture. Far from being definitive, this article is an attempt to share a synthesis of my learning from some of the [...]