The Move

and the bonfire that started it all

19 March 2021.

The Pandemic was raging. Tina, Kai and I were in the midst of a month-long trip to Bangalore to visit and stay with her parents. They needed the companionship of other people (preferably family), and we needed to get out of our 450-square foot one-bedroom apartment in Mumbai. It was a win-win situation for all.

And then one evening we did something that changed our lives in unimaginable ways. We went outside and made a small bonfire. And we sat around it. And for the most part we stared into the flames silently. We were reconnecting with the elements: the ground beneath, the (relatively dark) sky above, and the fire (within).

As the evening progressed and the fire bore down into its most intense self, Tina and I looked at each other and quietly said, “This can be our life.” Yes.

This was the night we decided to move to Bangalore. 19 March 2021. The next day we got to work, and began taking the daily baby steps that would lead to the making of our home, an architecture studio and the Urbs Indis Library and Garden. And here we are three and a half years and millions of baby steps later (with a number of stumbles in between).

PS: I'll be sharing about this experience and many more on Thursday evening in Bangalore, and on zoom. This will be special as it is the first public talk I am giving on the @urbsindislibrary. I would love to see you there!

A Living Archive

Introducing the Urbs Indis Library

Thursday 19 December 2024

6.30 pm IST

IIHS City Campus and on Zoom

DM for registration or zoom link details.