Her students thank her for their love for English Literature and are all in admiration of her sense of fashion. Meet Shampa Mukherji, former teacher of Modern High School for Girls and Garden High International, designer of her own line of saris and now, the host of a series of virtual and in-person talks on all things creative.
My Kolkata caught up with Mukherji on the eve of the latest editions of Moksha Talks, where she will be in conversation with academic Bubla Basu at the Creative Arts Academy on February 27.
How Moksha took shape
It all started 28 years ago, when Mukherji had a surgery and was restricted from doing any heavy work. Stuck at home, she called her mother and asked to bring a white sari the next time she came by. “I had some paint, so, when I got the sari, I spent the next few days painting on its pallu. Once it was done, I forgot about it. But one day when I wore it to school (Modern High School), everyone started talking about it. They were surprised to hear that it was my creation. They requested that I make something similar for them,” recalled Mukherji.
Next, she started designing small batches of saris and soon, she had her own boutique that she named Moksha. She made exclusive hand-painted saris and dupattas. But she never stopped there; she went into the depth of design. “I studied various artforms, like batik. I did research on the designs I would create. Once I did a series on different forms of the sun on black dupattas. The imagery of the sun in various cultures and civilisations. It garnered much appreciation,” she said.
Rituparna Sengupta tries a sari hand-painted by Shampa Mukherji at an exhibition
Speaking to My Kolkata, Mukherji said that Moksha Talks is the name of the dream that has been struggling to take shape inside her. She felt the need to be ‘free’ and soar: to discuss literature or a piece of art, to search for metaphors in films and plays, to understand the ecstasy of creation that performing artists or writers go through. That's when she decided to conduct talks with people from various walks of life. She started recording and uploading them on YouTube.
What is Moksha Talks?
The conversations that Mukherji conducts with her guests delves deep into a subject related to art, culture, literature or history. “I am conducting this conversation with people I know and who, I know, have lots to say about a whole range of subjects,” she said.
Her first session was in October 2023 with interdisciplinary artiste and actor Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee and academician Nandini Mukherjee. In the presence of family, friends and acquaintances, the trio discussed Rabindranath Tagore’s Roktokorbi.
The next session was in November 2023, where eminent performing artiste and author Sohini Roychowdhury discussed ‘Dancing with the Gods: Shaktism’ keeping in mind the festival of the month, Kali Puja.
In the month of December, to ring in Christmas, the guest was Kushal Andrew Biswas, associate professor of Women’s Christian College. The duo discussed the ‘Myth, Magic and Mystery — All make Christmas history’.
The fourth episode was in January 2024 with Nandini Bhowmik, Indologist and priest by profession. She discussed breaking stereotypes of marriage.
Mukherji in conversation with Nandini Bhowmik
Now for February 2024, Shampa Mukherji will be in conversation with teacher, film critic and author Bubla Basu, who is coming from Mumbai. The topic of discussion will be ‘Macbeth: One, Two. Why then ‘tis time to do it!’. It will be held at the Creative Arts Academy from 7pm.
Talking about this session, Mukherji said, “We are expecting people to come and listen to the enriching conversation. Since I am from an academic background, a lot of the sessions will be based on such topics, but I am sure there will be a lot to learn from and take home.”
Looking back at time
A collage of memories from Mukherji’s time as a teacher
Mukherji was a student of Modern High School for Girls, and, later in 1981, she joined the same institution as a teacher. She has also been a Consultant Teacher at Calcutta International School, teaching English Literature and Language, teaching O Level and A Level classes between 2012 and 2014. She then went on to teach in Garden High International School from 2014 to 2022, teaching Language and Literature. Currently she coaches ICSE and ISC students of Classes IX, X, XI and XII at home.
Remembered as approachable and seen as a popular teacher among her students, Mukherji feels blessed. Although she retired from school, at 66, she still feels connected to her students through her passion for teaching and learning. Through Moksha Talks, the sexagenarian hopes to keep the light of knowledge burning within her.