Join Sarmaya and the Citizens' Archive of India (CAI) on a special walkthrough of the exhibition, High Seas, Open Roads: Journeys that bring us home, followed by a dive into CAI's unrivalled treasure trove of oral histories and objects collected from across the subcontinent, recalling the experience of traveling to, and through, India and beyond, a century ago.
About the Exhibition: For a majority of human history, travel was painful, expensive and dangerous — and only attempted when it was riskier to stay. The most heroic journeys even today are undertaken by those seeking not adventure, but asylum. A shared genetic memory of these migrations connects us all. And it stirs at the promise of the open road.
There’s a poignant resilience to the artefacts that travel with us. A handful of letters, photographs and sketches, a bottle of coins. They carry the precious cargo of our memories and our stories. From a dream in Delhi to a museum in Mumbai, the story of Sarmaya is shaped by such journeys. We invite you to retrace those steps through souvenirs, sights and immersive soundscapes that remind us of where we’ve been.
The Citizens' Archive of India is a digital archive of oral history and material memory that preserves the link between generations of Indians and builds the country's story through its best storytellers - its people.
Malvika Bhatia is the Archive Director at The Citizens' Archive of India. She has spearheaded its flagship 'Generation 1947' project, recording eyewitness accounts of those who witnessed India gain independence.
This collaboration is organised as part of the outreach programme for Sarmaya's ongoing exhibition, High Seas, Open Roads: Journeys that bring us home. Visit the exhibition at Sarmaya from January 12 - February 15, 2025.
Image credits:
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Rajeshnandini Krishna's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Mohini Kewalramani's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Soboicar Project, Albert D'Souza's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Lekhraj Kewalramani's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Soboicar Project, Albert D'Souza's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Antoinette Rebello's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Rama Khandwala's collection
- The Citizens' Archive of India, Rajeshnandini Krishna's collection
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