Blog

Giving the doctor orders: Roop Gursahani

On a neon green background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Intersections Below, the headline: Giving the doctor orders Below, a subhead: You, not a doctor, should choose your story’s ending Next, the session date: 21st January, 2024 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenter with their name: Roop Gursahani And below that, a descriptor: Doctor Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Roop Gursahani is a consultant neurologist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, and on the board of directors of the International Neuropalliative Care Society. He is also a course director of the International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Course, a trustee of the Forum for Indian Neurology Education, and a member of the steering committee of ELICIT (End of Life Care in India Taskforce), a joint initiative of the IAN, ISCCM & IAPC. His interests are epilepsy and neuropalliative care.

2023 and you

The image is a poster. || A dark grey background, with a faint wave pattern running down the right side. || On top, in a yellow rectangle “Open House” || Below, the headline: 2023, but it is mirror-imaged upside down. || Below, a subhead: Reflections on 2023. || Next, the session date: 17 December 2024 || Next, in a circular window, where the presenter’s portrait usually is a blank white circle, and the words “You: TGP Community Member” || Then, below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. || In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

First, good wishes for Christmas and here’s to a happy new year.

TGP Sessions began as a way to bring our community together during the lockdown, and as the world has changed — we can safely say that we now live in a post-pandemic world — we adapted too, going from the weekly sessions to fortnightly, and then once every four weeks as normalcy of a kind returned. While many good things have happened, it is also undeniable that the worst of humanity is also on display, with wars and deprivation, exploitation and cruelty, and the ever-looming climate crisis. And we wonder whether the lessons of the contagion have been forgotten. 

We invite you to look back at 2023 and come share what the year taught you, how you plan to use that wisdom in the year(s) ahead, maybe plans that were birthed which will take shape in 2024. Condensed in up to three minutes.

Please let us know if you would like to speak — mail us at thetgpsessions @ gmail dot com — but it’s fine if you make a last-minute decision to share. We’ll try and make time for everyone, and to also make room for reactions and suggestions to everyone who speaks. 

Register at https://bit.ly/TGPSessions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Photographing faith: Tarun Bhartiya

On a neon orange background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Fringe & Geekery Below, the headline: Photographing faith Below, a subhead: Unaddressed picture postcards from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills Next, the session date: 26th November, 2023 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenter with their name: Tarun Bhartiya And below that, a descriptor: Documentarian, poet, political activist Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Tarun is a documentary filmmaker and photographer, a poet writing in Hindi, and an activist based in Shillong. His imagemaking has been an adjunct to his preoccupations on themes of everyday life of resistance movements, borders and belonging, destruction of indigenous modes of production and, these days, authoritarian religious fundamentalist remaking of the Indian state and society. His films include Brief Life of Insects, The Last Train in Nepal, When the Hens Crow, and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. As an editor he has worked on notable films with film-makers like Vasudha Joshi, Sanjay Kak, Ranjan Palit. He returned his Indian National Film Award in protest against the Indian government’s inaction against the attacks on minorities in India. A part of his long-term photo project Niam/Faith/Hynniewtrep, Unaddressed Picture Postcards from Khasi-Jaintia Hills, was exhibited at Kochi Biennale and Diffusion, Welsh International Festival of Photography. His poems and their translations have appeared in various anthologies including Dancing Earth: Contemporary poetry from North East India (Penguin), Das Baras – Hindi Kavita Ayodhya ke Baad (SAHMAT).

Valley of refuge: Karen L Donoghue & D Junisha Khongwir

On a neon blue background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Fringe & Geekery Below, the headline: Valley of refuge Below, a subhead: Tales of the Mizo diaspora in Happy Valley Next, the session date: 26th November, 2023 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenters with their names: Karen L Donoghue & D Junisha Khongwir And below that, a descriptor: Educators and co-authors Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Karen teaches in the Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, NEHU Shillong. Her PhD is focused on media representations of Northeast India on mainstream Indian media and her research interests include media representation, media and gender, and oral history. She enjoys reading, playing the guitar and listening to music, loves long walks with her dogs and writes poetry occasionally.
Junisha is a Khasi woman born and brought up in Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya. She is an educator and a visual artist. She graduated from AJK Jamia Millia Islamia University. She’s an assistant professor at the Department of Mass Media, St Anthony’s College, Shillong. She is also the curator at the North East India AV Archive.

Half-done: Tara Krishnaswamy

On a neon blue background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Society Below, the headline: Half-done Below, a subhead: The politics of women’s respresentation Next, the session date: 22nd October, 2023 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenter with their name: Tara Krishnaswamy And below that, a descriptor: Active citizen Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Tara spent 25 years in the IT world in the USA and India and then switched tracks to work on matters of representation. She co-founded Citizens for Bengaluru, which works for better governance and civic engagement, and Political Shakti, a non-partisan volunteer collective for increased women’s representation. She has been a vocal advocate for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in government decision-making processes. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications such as The Wire, The News Minute, and Hindustan Times, and her work for women in politics in Bihar won a gold and two silvers at the Cannes Lions.

Screen test: Shiladitya Bora

The image is a poster. On a neon green background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: News & Other Media Below, the headline: Screen test Below, a subhead: Economics for a new age of filmmaking Next, the session date: 24th September, 2023 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenter with their name: Shiladitya Bora And below that, a descriptor: Filmmaker Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Shiladitya is a Berlinale Talents alumnus with over 15 years of experience in film production and distribution. He started his career with PVR Cinemas and has successfully released more than 85 independent films. He was the first CEO of Drishyam Films, known for, among others, Masaan (winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes 2015) and Newton (India’s official entry to the 90th Academy Awards). In 2017, he founded Platoon One Films; its recent production Ghaath (Ambush) premiered at the Panorama section of Berlinale 2023 and was nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Award. His feature directorial debut Bhagwan Bharose will be in theatres in October.

The journey of an idea: Ranganath K

The image is a poster. On a neon blue background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Design Below, the headline: The journey of an idea Below, a subhead: From an abstract brief to a refined end-product Next, the session date: 27th August, 2023 Next, in a circular window, a black-and-white portrait of the presenter with their name: Ranganath K And below that, a descriptor: Illustrator, product designer, artist Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Ranganath is a multidisciplinary designer specialising in illustration, product design and fine arts (painting). He is the founder of Liquidink Design studio, helping several startups and multi national products companies in India and abroad build engaging and aspirational digital experiences that combine creative storytelling and product design. A Bangalorean by heart, he draws inspiration to create from life around him: vintage architecture, culture, street art and machinery. When he is not behind the sketch book drawing, he loves to explore new trails on his bicycle. Ranganath has over 25+ years being a hands-on designer directing and leading design teams at companies like Adobe, RedBus, Hyperion and Oracle before starting on his own studio.