Prayer meeting in memory of Saroja Ramamrutham

Our dear founder member Saroja has passed into the light, leaving us with only memories of the times we shared with her.We pay respectful homage to her legacy, share happy stories of her at this sad time, and remember her fondly, for her role in creating an organization that continues to foster intercultural relationships. We thank Sunita Shahaney for hosting this memorial meeting.
Date : 1st November
Time : 4.30 p.m
Venue : Residence of Sunita Shahaney
The Park Residences Apt. H-3, 22
Vellaiyan Road Kotturpuram 
Chennai 600 085
We request you to please RSVP by calling 044-24471073, between 12.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

WELCOME TO JAPAN

 5 Tue10.15AM
Avichi Hall (next to AVM Rajeswari
Kalyana Mandapam)
101, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai
Mylapore, Chennai 600 004

YO-KOSO NIHON!Welcome to Japan!

Japan comes to Chennai in a multi-splendored event where members and the various committees of IWA join hands to showcase the various facets of this wonderful nation. Be sure to be there for the event which will feature:
A fascinating talk on The Changing Fashion of the Kimono by IWA member Caroline Sato, an expert on the subject, who was drawn to Japan from  Australia by a love of textiles and the vibrant fashion cultures in Tokyo.
Caroline who has an M.A. in fashion, will trace the changing styles of the kimono through the eras of the Japanese emperors of the 20th century.
Ikebana demonstration by IWA member Cherry Venkatesan who will show us her mastery in the art!
Exquisite Origami display by IWA member Masako Maruyama who is skilled in this traditional art of paper folding!
We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Karen Uchiyama, wife of Hon’ble Mr. Kojiro Uchiyama, Consul-General of Japan, Chennai as our chief guest for this morning.
A big thank you to Cherry Venkatesan for being such a tremendous support
and resource in putting together Japan Day and to the committee members
for joining in with a little showcase from each activity.
Please note that this meeting will start at 10.30 am. Japanese refreshments will be served after the meeting. Please plan to be there for a little longer than usual as the meeting will finish by 12.30 pm.

ARTS & HANDICRAFTS

7 Thu 10.15 AM
Hanu Reddy Residences
39/18, Binny Road
Poes Garden Chennai 600 086

Painted Manuscripts of the Sarasvati Mahal Library A treasure trove of information

Serfoji II (1777-1832) the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur, was a bibliophile whose collection of manuscripts and books forms the bulk of the historic Sarasvati Mahal Library. The library contains several unique painted manuscripts, covering a wide range of subjects, which our IWA member Nanditha Krishna was able to study and which were photographed by IWA member Charu Rajamani’s husband, the late Mr. V.K. Rajamani. This was published as a book, Painted Manuscripts of the Sarasvati Mahal Library.
A historian, environmentalist and writer based in Chennai, Nanditha Krishna has a Ph.D in Ancient Indian culture from Bombay University. She is a professor, and research guide at CPR Institute of Indological Research, affiliated to the University of Madras. She is the president of the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation and founder-director of its many constituents. She is the author of several articles, research papers and 26 books. It is over 100 years since the Sarasvati Mahal Library (which dates back to the Nayak era in the 16th century) became a public library. We invite you to celebrate it by learning about its painted manuscripts!

MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS

12 Tue 10.15 AM
The Folly, Amethyst
Whites Road
Next to Corporation Bank
Royapettah, Chennai 600 014

Sacred Music

Vidwan Professor Ramamoorthy Rao migrated t o Chennai to learn Carnatic music from gurus. He has been awarded the Presidents Gold medal award for Carnatic music. However, his passion for Hindustani classics music led him to Mumbai. There under Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, he further shaped his musical journey.
Vidwan Ramamoorthy has the unique distinction of composing 1800 songs in Kannada, Sanskrit, Hindustani, Brighbhasha and Rajasthani. He has created a devotional style of presentation of Hindustani Bhajans influenced by Hindustani classical music. His perspective on ragas and the spiritual approach towards music is well appreciated. Mr Ramamoorthy Rao currently teaches Slokhas and Bhajans since 40 years. He specialises in meditation through music. He is a cancer survivor and attributes his curing totally to his disciplined lifestyle and his recitation of the Soundarya Lahiri over 100 times a day.
Welcome to a soothing morning of Bhajans and beautiful music.

ARTS & HANDICRAFTS

14 Thu 10.15 AM
Not a box 
2, 5th Street, Rutland Gate
Near Gallery Veda
Nungamabkkam, Chennai 600 006

Paint with Thejo

IWA member Thejomayee Menon is a Chennai based artist who has been practising art for over two decades. Thejo completed her M.A. and M.Phil. in Fine arts from Stella Maris College, Chennai and went on to become a professional artist as well as an art professor.
It’s the journey of creating something that is often the real fulfilment of an experience with art. JoinThejo, as she takes you through a morning of painting- you don’t need to have any prior experience of painting or art. Get your aprons on and enjoy the play of paint on canvas as we hear Thejo talk about her journey as an artist and as she guides us through the steps of painting.
This is a warn- in meeting restricted only to 40 members for participating, however, any number are welcome to come and see and share the experience. All art material will be provided for the 40 participants. Please do note that if you would like to paint, you should plan for 2 hours of your time as it will take that long for the painting to be done. The meeting for those participating in the painting experience will get over by 12.30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you on this journey with creating your own art to take home.
Please warn-in for painting, by sending your name and membership number via text message / WhatsApp message to 
Kausalya Santhanam @9841558467
Mangai Kamal @ 9840041066

HEALTH & ECOLOGY

19 Tue 10.15 AM

Focus Art Gallery

Raja Annamalai Building

19, Rukmani Lakshmipathi Road

Egmore, Chennai 600 008

We’ve Got Your Back!

Whether from sitting at a desk all day, looking down at a smartphone, or lounging on a couch, poor posture can have many negative effects on your health. It can increase stress on muscles and joints, worsen circulation issues and cause fatigue. Understanding and improving posture can help reduce the strain and improve our physical efficiency.
Our speaker, Dr A J Rajendran is awell-known Physiatrist in the field of Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. He is an alumnus of Madras Medical College and has over 30 years of experience. He is a Life Member of the Indian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (IAPMR), the American Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and Kuwait Physical Medicine &Rehabilitation Society.

CURRENT EVENTS

21Thu 10.15 AM
Curio Play
3. Ananda Road,
Alwarpet.
Chennai – 600 018

“The Secret of Sustainable Living”

73 year old Mr. Dwarkadas Suresh, popularly known as Solar Suresh, is an example of sustainable living in an almost fully selfsufficient urban house. Completely solar-powered, his house also has its own biogas unit, water harvesting unit and kitchen garden. While the house has gained fame due to its renewable ways, so has its pioneering owner. His latest project is a futuristic contraption that extracts water from air. In his words, “the Israelis came up with this technology and now it is made in Mumbai.” It is a miracle of science, better known as “ Air O Water”.
Join us as our speaker Mr. Suresh shares his views with IWA on the burning issue of climate issue and how change has to begin with each one of us.

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

26 Tue 10.15 AM
The KCP Limited
2, Dr. P.V. Cherian Crescent Road
(Near Ethiraj College), Egmore
Chennai – 600 008

Bhava Kavitvam… a peak into Telugu poetry

The romantic poetry of Telugu literature that spanned the three decades  starting from 1910 is called Bhava Kavita.Sreemathi Ramnath, born in a family of renowned writers, has been associated with the world of performing arts and literature all her life. She will lead us through the paradigm of handpicked poetry from this era, illustrating how people living in Andhra Pradesh viewed life and discovered their own meaning of it.
Shreya Ramnath, her daughter will be breathing melody into these poems, which have been set to music by stalwarts like Balamurali and Oleti. Shreya is an auditioned AIR artist, who has given several performances in a genre called Bhava Sangeetam, which is light classical music. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Sociology of Music. Shared in their original Telugu form, Sreemathi will explain the poems’ nuances in English, before they are sung by Shreya.
Join us on what promises to be a fascinating and melodious morning!

BOOK DISCUSSION

28 Thu 10.15 AM
The Folly, Amethyst
Whites Road
Next to Corporation Bank
Royapettah, Chennai 600 014
Book Discussion

Design a Book Cover

IWA Book Club invites you to join members Gowri Viswanathan and Deepa Ramaprasad in a discussion of the book ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller. Ann Patchett describes this book as, “An epic spanning thousands of years that’s also a keep-you-up-all-night page turner.” A story of family rivalry, intrigue, witchcraft, love and loss, the book celebrates Circe’s journey towards discovering indomitable inner strength in a man’s world. The creative storytelling of this book coupled with it’s unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense makes it an absolute must read. In keeping with the book’s vivid imagery, we ask you to unleash your  creativity and design what you believe would be an apt cover for Circe.It could be in any medium- a drawing, photograph, collage, mixed media, anything that your imagination conjures up. You may email it prior to the meeting to sabina.narayan@gmail.com or print it on an A4 size paper, and bring it to the meeting.

OCTOBER

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY

1Tue 10.15 AM
Madras Club
(Shamiana Hall)
8, Adyar Club Gate Road, R.A.Puram
Chennai 600 028

International Music Day

International Music Day has been a fixture in the IWA calendar for over 30 years. Initially, there were performances by members and wellknown artists. In 2003, Nirmal Seshadri’s family instituted an award to be given to a young talented musician in her memory. Since then, IWA has been encouraging and honoring the future custodians of the musical arts on October 1st, International Music Day and also Nirmal Seshadri’s birthday. A fitting tribute for someone so passionate about music and the performing arts!
After considering all the applications carefully, the Music Committee comprising of Shanthi Thomas (chairperson), Padma Ashok, Sadiya Khaleel and Malini Krishna, has selected Christina Beryl Edward, a talented 12 year old vocalist who has already released 2 albums and has a fan following of over 31,000 people for her YouTube channel. She started her solo career at the age of 3 and has won many awards, both musical and academic.
Please join us as we honor the talented young artist, who will perform for us.

COOKING SWAPSHOP

3 Thu 10.15 AM
Hanu Reddy Residences
39/18, Binny Road
Poes Garden
Chennai 600 086

A Taste of the Mediterranean!

There are two important philosophies in Mediterranean houses:
1. The first building blocks of a Mediterranean kitchen are bread,wine and olive oil. (This is advice given to newlyweds.)
2. The way to a person’s heart is through the stomach.
It comes as no surprise that one of Phyllis Stathis’s interests iscooking, which she views as a “moral obligation for Greek wives.”The most common ingredient in any Mediterranean cooking is the mighty olive oil. Phyllis not only grew up around olive groves on the island of Lesvos, but she is also married to an olive oil aficionado! Today, Phyllis will give us an insider’s view of Mediterranean culture, the multiple categories of olive oil and explain how they may be used.
Accompanying her talk will be a demonstration of one or two healthy dishes that incorporate olive oil. While Phyllis is really excited to give this talk, she hopes that you will find it interesting and that it will not be Greek to you!

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

10 Thu 04.30 PM
Srikanta Jhaver’s Residence
21, Santhome High Road, Mylapore
Chennai 600 004

Shubho Pujo, Understanding Navratri in Bengal

Durga Puja, an annual festival during Navratri turns the city of joy,Kolkata into a grand creative Wonderland imbued with the spirit of joyful celebration.There is much symbolism and meaning associated with This festival. Theaccomplished Monali Bala, a multi faceted musician, singer, lyricist, composer, teacher and performer will share with us the significance of this festival for the Bengalis. Founder & Academic Director of ‘The School of Music’, Adyar, Chennai, she is also the lead vocalist of the contemporary folk and classical music band, ‘Tuning Folk’.
IWA members are in for an engaging treat with a sampling of music and dance by Monali to fully immerse us in the spirit of Durga Puja. This meeting is generously hosted by our IWA member Srikantha Jhaver at her beautifully appointed home. A delicious menu to temporarily transport us to Kolkata awaits!
This is an evening meeting with High Tea for members only.

IWA DIWALI

15 Tue 5.00 PM
Mayor Ramanathan Chettiar (MRC) Hall
75/2, Santhome High Road
M.R.C. Nagar, R.A. Puram
Chennai 600 028

Dil-wali Diwali!

This year in our Dil-wali Diwali (Diwali of the heart), we are celebrating the idea of togetherness and family. Bring your son,daughter, husband, grandchild, or anyone you would like to celebrate with, for a fun-filled Diwali carnival where everything is about sharing!Share laughs as you watch our entertainment program, especially created by this year’s board members.  Share smiles as you introduce your loved ones at home to your loved
ones at IWA.Share moments as you admire the festive clothes of friends and take a selfie.Share memories as you reminisce about the time you played the same  carnival games in your childhood at the beach. Share food at the “Great Big IWA Potluck!” The “Great Big IWA Potluck” is a community buffet table where the food has been generously shared by our members. For those interested in participating, please let a board member know. We invite  contributions of sweet or savory snacks, for a minimum of 50  people, preferably homemade and carrying your affection for the members of
this vibrant community.
Please note:Food and stalls will be open for the entire duration of the event.
Guest charges of ` 300 are applicable for guests above the age of 12 years.

CURRENT EVENTS

18 Fri10.15 AM
Madras Club
8, Adyar Club Gate Road, R.A.Puram
Chennai 600 028

“ Beyond Belgian Chocolates... to Gender Equality and Feminism”

Our guest speaker is the Consul General of Belgium to South India,  Mark Van de Vreken. Dynamic and driven, Mark has been in Chennai for a couple of years now and has adapted to our culture and cuisine amazingly well. He believes that South India and Belgium have many similarities and has been leading several initiatives to foster ties between the two in the areas of culture, cuisine, social issues and industry. A firm advocate of women’s rights, he will share his views on “She Decides”, a feminist movement in Belgium and the importance of Gender Equality in her foreign policy, his experiences in India and how South India can collaborate further with Belgium.

HEALTH & ECOLOGY ,CURRENT EVENTS

22 Tue10.15 AM
Luz House
176, Luz Church Road
Mylapore
Chennai 600 004

Trimming The Big Fat Wedding

Weddings are a time for joyous reunion and exuberant celebration. But accounts of food wastage and environmental pollution have many questioning the way celebrations are carried out. It is important that the resources of the community are used responsibly at every stage. 
Kanika Subbiah, Founder, Wedding Wishlist, shares her expertise on how to have a smart, waste-free wedding while still making it a memorable and beautiful experience for the couple and their guests. Digital invites, donating excess food and no single-use plastics are some easy ways. With a gift registry, couples can choose to receive gifts that are meaningful to them, or towards experiences or charities. Kanika tells us how having a waste-free wedding is not just easy and costfriendly but welcomed by guests across the board!

MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS

24 Thu06.00 P.M
Museum Theatre
Museum Compound
Pantheon Road
Chennai 600 008

A Hundred Strings, Wooden Mallets and Magic

The santoor is a folk instrument native to Jammu and Kashmir and was
referred to as the “shathatantri veena” (100-stringed veena) in ancient
Sanskrit texts. Made of wood, it produces a bell-like and beautiful
sound that has been likened to the dulcimer.
A former rock musician who trained in Western drums and led a band
for five years, Mumbai-based Japanese musician, Mr. Takahiro Arai’s
musical journey turned to the santoor when he experienced a chance
meeting with Mr. Setsuo Miyashita, a santoor exponent and senior
disciple of Pandit Shivakumar Sharma.
Instantly drawn to the instrument, Mr. Arai began to learn how to play
it, eventually relocating to Mumbai from Japan in 2007. He has since
honed his gift for the rare santoor under the tutelage of Pt. Shivkumar
Sharma and become one of its most sought-after players.
Join us for a magical evening of music at the Museum Theatre.
Guests are welcome at no extra cost if accompanied by an IWA
member.
Please be seated by 5:45 p.m. as the recital will start at 6:00
p.m.
No refreshments will be served.

BOOK DISCUSSION

31Thu 10.15 AM
Hanu Reddy Residences
39/18, Binny Road
Poes Garden
Chennai 600 086

A Writer’s Journey

V Sanjay Kumar, winner of the 2018 Bridport Prize for Short Fiction, is author of the novels Artist, Undone, Virgin Gingelly and The Third Squad. Growing up in the Madras of the 60’s and 70’s, he stayed on Mowbrays Road and studied in convents. After an MBA degree he set up and managed businesses in  investment banking, stockbroking, banking software and contemporary art in the city of Mumbai. Currently a Director at Sakshi Gallery, Bangalore, he became a full-time writer in 2010. A clever story-teller he situates his stories in the two cities he knows well, Chennai and Mumbai. His stories are written in a fluent style with oodles of wit peppered with biting candor and can sometimes be surprisingly poetic. Join us as he takes us through his journey to finding the writer within.