A green statue of a man on a bicycle made of waste material at the entrance welcomes us as we enter the house of former politician and social activist Jaya Jaitley. “This cycle was gifted to me by a student of Jamia. He made it out of waste scrap metal. It’s an attractive piece. I feel good art should be for public viewing, so I kept it at the entrance. Children of the colony have made it wear a pink cap and somebody even placed a comb in its hand. This way it’s getting all the appreciation it deserves,” says Jaya.
A second floor flat in the posh Nizamuddin East colony, Jaya’s house reflects her love for handmade crafts and inexpensive knick-knacks. “I’ve set up my house like an old studio flat for a bachelor old lady,” she laughs.
The living room is simple yet bright. Decked up with yellow couches, pink cushions, curtains made up of her old cotton chanderi saris and a wooden chest, each piece reveals Jaya’s love for creativity. “The house is full of old furniture given to me by my mother. I got them from Kashmir 20 years back. I modified my old chanderi saris into curtains. They add coolness to the house during summers.”
From sugar boxes made up of coconut shells to porcelain jugs and jars from Sri Lanka and river grass baskets, the house is full of quirky items made by tribal artistes from India and around the world.
“Old, inexpensive and cute items, which hold a personal touch, attract me. I never spend on hi-end decor items and mostly pick up these things from roadside markets,” she says.
Jaya also has a passions for paintings and the house is full of them. The open kitchen on the other side of the living room is beautified with Patchitra paintings, small painted tin boxes and a Rajasthani pagdi.
The other end of the living room holds a study corner, which is Jaya’s favourite place. The glass on her table has a carving of her favourite poem by Robert Bly titled In the month of May. “The maximum hours of my day are spent here. I generally do my writing here. The poem reminds me of my college days.”
The brightest room in the house is the guest room. With orange walls, bright red lamps from Dharamsala and painted old trunks in earthy colours, the room has a happy and cheerful feel. “The room is done in a South Indian theme with colours of haldi and kumkum. It’s to greet guests with warmth.”
Unlike the guest room, Jaya’s bedroom is simple and elegant. It comprises an old chest, a painted chair, a huge wooden book rack and a painting of a tree and birds by Gond artistes. She adds, “The painting is a continuation of the tree branches in the balcony outside my room. I wanted my room to be a calm space, amidst nature.”