a.k.a the Desi Dark Academia
Being insanely interested about the ancient Delhi Sultanate and making flowcharts about their lineage
Diligent notes scribbled about the Taj Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and other Mughal architectures beside detailed pencil sketches
Tracing miniature paintings of the Mughal era in your art journal
Quoting Sufi poetry and shayaris of Ghalib, Rumi and Iqbal to your partner
Being inspired by Tagore and writing poetries in your tattered leather journal with an antique fountain pen or acting out his plays with fellow academics
Thumbing through ancient, yellow pages of Sanskrit books and trying to decipher slokas
Getting absorbed in reading Tamil romantic poetries in translation and wishing that you knew the language
Reading about the shastras, appreciating their spirituality but critiquing their casteist, patriarchal or discriminatory ideals
Writing a long dissertation on indigenous cultures or learning a regional language
Working on an essay on Buddhism at 3 am and doodling images of stupas, pagodas or monasteries beside
Studying about vast discourses on Indian mythology, myths about the epics, stories behind the different deities
Learning about the spirituality and science behind all yoga poses; being fascinated as you learn about the chakras and how to liberate them
Going to the local libraries to find thick spined books on ayurveda
Black or deep green silk sarees, with white flowers in your hair
White and sap green cotton sarees with golden borders
Gorgeous lehengas (especially black lehengas with golden patterns)
Embroidered, dark dupattas with glass chips on them wrapped around the shoulder
Oxidised jewellery, heavy jhumkas, glass bangles, bracelets with shiney stones, vibrant necklaces
Elaborate, golden nose rings and silver nose pins
Too many floral patterned oxidised rings
Black, navy blue or sea green kurtas, salwaar kameez, harem pants and patialas
Hair pins, and antique brooches, ghungroo anklets
Talisman jewellery, pendant charms, crystal stones hanging from simple black threads
Layered golden necklaces and bangles with western outfits like white shirts and trousers
Midi skirts with bohemian patterns
Tote bags and side bags with gorgeous embroideries
Let's talk about tea first.
Learn old family recipes of tea from your elders and jot them down in a brown paper and tuck it in your journal
Boil cinnamon sticks, turmeric, ginger and tea leaves for a longer time till the aroma fills your kitchen
Drink black tea in crystal cups while journalling at 5 a.m. on the rooftop
Milk tea in earthen pots and aam sharbat or gulaab lassi from wine glasses.
White noise and muffled music from a dusty radio with antenna
Ragas at sunrise, while nimble fingers surely glide through the keys of the harmonium
sound of the sitar, and the flute
listening to old hindi songs, especially lata mangeshkar's voice filtering through on a rainy day
tinkling and clanking of the ghungroo
clinking together of glass bangles
Camphor fumes permeating through the meditation space
Incense sticks and cones of different varieties lit up and soot collecting at the bottom of the gorgeous holders as they slowly burn out
Sandalwood candles burning in golden holders
Flower dishes made with floating flowers, candles and essential oils
Smell of the lamp oil of a burning diya
Mahals and forts with enormous domes, arched pavilions, numerous flanks, marble pillars and archways
Awe-inspiring temples with huge doors, intricate carvings, long passages, wall art and sculptures
Pagodas and monasteries, long staircases, tucked away in the hills, their rolling drums and meditation halls
Art galleries and exhibitions showcasing ancient portraits of kings, queens, sceneries, Indian women in gorgeous attire, etc.
Museums with long corridors, Harappan edicts, Mughal artifacts
Old restaurants at random corners serving the traditional cuisines with lemon finger bowls
Abandoned palace-like buildings with overgrown trees through cracks in the walls, shrubs, ponds full of lilly pads, algae and lotuses
Old family heirlooms - like an antique hairpin or carved golden hand mirror, ancient pocket watch, ring with a precious stone or a bunch of love letters or an old journal chronicling the nationalist struggle
Brown carved gorgeous photo frames with yellowed pictures inside
Majestic chandeliers, intricate candle holders and incense burners
Ancient metallic small box with carvings of elephants containing various spices
Crystal vials of home made perfume or mason jars of cinnamon-orange potpourri
(Dedicated to the anon who wanted me to create a Dark Academia post on any other culture except the West. I wanted to do an in detail post so I picked up only the Indian culture. India is diverse, so this post doesn't do justice to the varieties and specialities of this enriched country. A BIG thanks to one of my Indian friends who helped me create this post, couldn't have done it without them. No hate pleaseβ‘)
