Among the 22 artists who created the Indian tarot deck for a museum in Italy, two were school kids — Raajvee and Viraaj Mehta.
If you thought that tarot card and metaphysics were a privilege of a few adults, think again! Teenagers Raajvee Mehta (17) and Viraaj Mehta (13) have a different story to tell — after all, they did take part in the first Indian literatarot project commissioned by the Musei De Tarocchi (Museum of Tarots) in Italy.
Well-versed with the world of metaphysics courtesy their mother, Falguni S Mehta (well-known metaphysicist), they are part of a tarot project headed by Swati Prakash, tarot card reader and Wiccan. “This one-of-its- kind Tarot Museum wanted to publish a beautiful collaborative tarot deck created by teams of 22 artists selected from different continents. I was coordinating from Asia/ India region. The overall theme for the project (2008) was Literature — any great classic of literature, contemporary or historical for each card. Other challenges notwithstanding, I was in a dilemma when Raajvee (15 then) and Viraaj (11) said they wanted to draw a card each. I wondered if children were eligible for such a project, and then decided why not? And I was in for a surprise!”
Among the 22 major arcana cards, Rajvee picked up the ‘Strength card’, while Viraaj chose to work on the ‘Fool’. Ask Rajvee what made her choose the Strength card, she says, “It’s a card I’ve relied on in times of confusion, before an exam or simply to meditate.”
Viraaj, who could easily pass off as the desi Harry Potter, glasses, metaphysics et al, instantly connected the Fool card with his favourite Indian character, Tenali Raman. “I can relate with the carefree attitude of the Fool. He’s unique and witty, just like Tenali Raman,” he explains.
The other tarot card interpretations include Indian symbols like Shivaji (Emperor card), Mahabharata (Wheel of Fortune card), Shakuntala (High Priestess), Ramayana (Sun card), Panchatantra (Moon card), Sufi (Lovers card), Chanakyaniti (Heirophant), Bhagavad Gita (Chariot card).
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}