You are Invited to a Special Presentation

by Pradip Kumar Das

Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 3:00 pm

Cultural Integration Fellowship

2650 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

Ragamala paintings are pages from a garland (mala) of visual melodies (ragas). Many centuries before the Islamic invasions of India, perhaps as early as the third century, or even earlier, there existed short poetical descriptions of ragas, usually in the form of brief prayer verses. Although these verses did not indicate pictorial representations of the ragas they show the trend towards musical/poetical/pictorial associations. The paintings are suggestive of the time of day, season and a variety of moods. The presentation will outline the origin, symbolism and representation of Ragamala Paintings, its development as a function of environment and interpretation and resultant impact on culture.

Pradip Kumar Das graduated with Honours in History from the Presidency College Calcutta and the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. After a career in the corporate sector in India, he now devotes his time to Indian Classical Music, Research and Writing. His published works include “An Introduction to Classical Hindustani Music,” “A Scent of Clover” a collection of his own memoirs, “A History of the Tollygunge Club since 1895” co-authored with his wife, Dr. Amita Das and “Colonial Calcutta-Religious Architecture as a Mirror of Empire.”

Welcome Reception to Follow

Please rsvp to Rita Pease or Sandy Kepler at 415.668.1559 or culturalfellowship@sbcglobal.net