The Lockdown Squad is here to save you from the boredom that is plaguing us all because of the lockdown! Comprising seven artists and thought leaders, and curated by Bhubaneswar Me, an initiative by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), this squad is going to conduct online sessions till April 20 on their social media pages. "It's all about reaching out to citizens, hearing them out and growing together," says Sophia Simon, Curator of the Lockdown Squad. What can you expect? A few live sessions, other pre-recorded ones from a renowned chef, an environmentalist, fitness enthusiast and a lot more.
"People under lockdown are desperate and are losing it. That's why we thought of bringing together like-minded content creators from different walks of life who are using this time to beat the blues, elevate their skills and grow in their own space. These people, in turn, can inspire others to do the same," says Sophia, who will also be conducting a session titled Let's Talk Ekamara on April 19. She is happy to report that when they reached out to the artists, all of them were more than happy to come on board. "I am sure everyone will have a really good time learning from them," she says. Gradually, they want to feature the work of the public, like a photo series or select videos, so that more and more people can join them. "For the first time, the whole world is in the same situation, everyone is lonely. This is an attempt to pull each other out of our loneliness," she explains.
What's cooking?
Let's talk about the quintessential badi (dumplings made of ground urad dal and then sun-dried), a specialty in Odisha which many people claim that they are desperate to master. Are you one of them? Then join Chef Rachit Kirteeman on April 20 from 11 am onwards. Badi can be made in many diverse ways and it takes time to master, but you can start the journey through this session aptly titled Badi-Builder. "Many people tell me that their badi chura (a coarse mixture of badi mixed with onions, garlic and so on) gets soggy and inquire about how they can make it crispy and crunchy. I can help them nail the recipe through the session," says the chef and adds, "Maybe we can even learn how to incorporate it into new dishes and give it a new-age twist." So, how can we make the most of the lockdown? "Many Odia dishes have stories behind them, like they are made during the rath yatra or a particular month. The new generation is not aware of these stories, so we must take this time to know more about them. Catch your grandmother or your mother and ask them. These traditional tales are one of the things that makes you rooted and if you are not rooted, no matter what you achieve in life, it doesn't matter," he says.
Lend him your ears
It's been a while since Samar Pratap Nayak took to the stage with a comedy set. But meanwhile, he has been taking up several requests on social media to cover songs. Yes! Not just this, he truly enjoys the process and loves singing. "I am not professionally trained or anything though," says Samar sheepishly, who is best known for parodies like Made in India (a hilarious take on the cultural richness of Odisha), Samachar Hain Ya (parody on mainstream news missing out on covering the havoc Cyclone Phani caused). And this is what he is going to do on April 19 for his session Suno, Samar, he will take requests and sing to lighten the mood. "Both music and jokes have a way of cutting across everything, so I am using music now," says Samar. who lost his mother last year and isn't in the headspace to make jokes anymore. So he wants to make use of this platform to reach out to all those who suffer from mental health issues, he himself suffers from clinical depression, who are having a more tough time than anyone else to get through this lockdown. "I feel like this is one way of making sense of the chaos we are in now and cheering everyone else," he says.
For more, check out facebook.com/me.bhubaneswar
