Journal
Written from a village in Bengal.
Essays by Sandip Maiti on solitude, memory, ancestry and attention, and short pieces about the Bastu at Turiyo, its people and its seasons.
21 pieces
- AllMaitiEssayEssayThe Ant, The Balloon, and The Beautifully Futile SearchThere is an ancient hum beneath the noise of our lives, a persistent question that echoes in the quiet moments. It is the innate curiosity that drives us to look up at a star-dusted sky and ask, “Why?” Why does this…Read
- AllMaitiEssayEssayThe Joy We Can’t Escape: A Myth of True Detachment?We’ve all heard the advice, whispered in spiritual texts and echoed by modern gurus: “Do the work, but be detached from the outcome.” It sounds profound, a noble path to peace. The idea is to free ourselves from the…Read
- AllMaitiEssayEssayA feeling I want to rememberThere’s a well-worn trope about creators being perpetually unhappy. A certain melancholy that stems from chasing a perfection that never quite arrives. I get it. That feeling is a frequent visitor. But I’m learning…Read
EssayAm I turning into a machine?This isn’t a lament, but a genuine inquiry born from a life that has, by design and circumstance, veered into an experimental trajectory. We are all, in some measure, grappling with the encroaching age of AI. The…Read - AllMaitiEssayEssayThe Memory Keeper’s ParadoxHold on or let go? I find myself circling a familiar theme today, one that has woven itself through the fabric of my life: the nature of memory. It’s a profound and persistent question that haunts me. What becomes of…Read
- AllMaitiEssayEssayOur Agentic World: Is AI Already Setting Our Agendas and At What Cost to Our Minds?I’ve been down a rabbit hole lately, pondering the ever-increasing sophistication of AI. It started, as it often does, with practical applications. I’ve begun to lean on AI — my own “task rabbit,” if you will, like…Read
- AllMaitiEssayEssayThe Unbidden Rush: On the Exhilarating Tyranny of a New IdeaIt’s a curious thing, this spontaneous flow that happens when, even at what I’d call my “very advanced age,” a smart idea takes hold. I still get that unmistakable thrill, that electric excitement. I don’t always…Read
EssayIn Our Hyper-Connected World, Are We Losing Our Ability to Contemplate?I’ve been deeply pondering the importance of reflection in our lives, a practice beautifully encapsulated in the Hindu philosophical triad: Shravana, Manana, and Nidhidhyasana. “Shravana” (listening to sacred texts…Read - AllMaitiEssayEssayConnecting with my Ancestors — a personal journeyI’ve been meaning to put down these thoughts for a while, to explore a path I’ve found myself walking: the path of connecting with ancestors. Can we truly form these connections with those who have passed? And…Read
From TuriyoThe Art of the Goyna BoriPreparing Goyna Bori (dried lentil shaped in the form of jewellery, a delicacy from Medinipur, Bengal) is a dying art. Sitting squarely in the intersection of art and food, the bori is best made by hand.Read 
From TuriyoThe Siva MandirThere has always been a deep connection with Lord Siva in the family. Bandana, the matriarch of the household, prayed to the Lord for a son (when she was carrying) during her trip to Varanasi. She then conveniently…Read 
From TuriyoThe SpaceSpread over an acre, the space at Turiyo is the residence of the Maitis. The old quadrangle of mud huts has made way for brick row houses with tin roofs.Read 
From TuriyoGarden HouseOne of the two houses at Turiyo that host participants in the residency. Minimal furnishings and an attached bath make it a place to unplug from the grid.Read 
From TuriyoThe BridgeThe meandering road through the bastu leads up to the tamarind tree, which stands, stolid, on the northern bank of the pona-pukur.Read 
From TuriyoThe Poppy FieldsGrowing seasonal flowers is a tradition at Turiyo. As winter makes way for spring (Basanta), the flowers bloom in full glory.Read 
From TuriyoNutritious GreensChemical-free vegetables are an added attraction if you visit in winter. Pick some of the best, from nutrition-dense broccoli to red cabbage, and grill your own meal.Read 
From TuriyoDuck HouseThis mud structure houses around a dozen ducks. It barely survived Cyclone Amphan, which wreaked havoc in the region.Read 
From TuriyoThe CommunityThe community lies at the heart of every village. Chauddhachuli is no exception.Read - From TuriyoMandukya MorningsTechnology for good. Early winter mornings spent with Swami Sarvapriyananda, biting into the Mandukya.Read
- AllMaitiFrom TuriyoFrom TuriyoRohini MaitiRohini Maiti is a singer-songwriter and fine artist from Mumbai, exploring R&B, jazz and folk in her music alongside the lens and time-based media, and bringing the two together. She studied for a BFA in Fine Arts at…Read
From TuriyoThe Divine Dance of the SerpentsTwo snakes rise from the pond at Turiyo and dance.Read