Art Ichol Journal

I Want To Dream
It was no humble endeavour to begin with. I had big dreams for Art Ichol. Bringing
them to fruition necessitated great physical and mental endurance along with
ceaseless dedication on my part and that of all those who became involved with this
mammoth project. Art Ichol cast a spell. It was a vision I had to bring to life.
Of course there were many glitches that were technical, emotional and practical.
I stuck on with all my might. I sold my treasured and prized works of art collected
over many years which I had sworn never to sell. Tough though it was, seemingly
separate events also came together mysteriously and I could see what they were
doing was in alignment with my purpose. They carved the path that would enable
me to build Art Ichol. What I loved most about travelling in the blissful terrain of
my dream-state was how magnetically and wholly this absorbed me. I was often
astonished at my own sense of commitment but, I couldn’t have done any of it
without the whole-hearted support of Sanjiv, my family and a whole community of
passionate and dedicated people.
photo credit: srimallya maitra
It was my aging father who quickly grasped my vision. His expertise in architecture
turned my dreamscape into a blueprint. In March 2012, at the age of eighty-one, he
began designing the buildings for Art Ichol. Once construction began, he was onsite
guiding the workers and checking the quality of craftsmanship, right until the
last brick was set. His technical proficiency kept in check the aesthetics of the design,
not allowing for the bizarre and creative to override the practical. Everything, from
‘The Ceramic Centre,’ to the tent house in ‘Amariya – The Writers’ Retreat’ and the
expansive sculpture gallery at Ichol, were ideas that he brought to life. In our makeshift
office under the mango tree at Ichol, both of us worked side-by-side on-site for
three years. It was my father’s dedication that invigorated him and there were times
when I found it difficult to cope with his energy and determination. My father was
an inspiration to everyone involved with this project, and to say that the creation of
Art Ichol would not have possible without him, is an understatement.