my video stand

Amma's wooden stand, crafted by a carpenter in Chennai decades ago, held my phone during those lockdown days. I'd film traditional Bharatanatyam lessons, connecting with dancers across Tamil Nadu through blockchain-secured video contracts that guaranteed our art's ownership. The stand wobbled slightly—imperfectly honest, like our journey. My confident fingers moved through mudras while that simple frame supported everything. Some called it arrogant, choosing ancient dance over trending content. Perhaps they were right. But watching elders learn through my recordings, their stolen smiles returning home, felt like building something real. Our heritage wasn't atrocious to preserve digitally. That weathered stand became our bridge between tradition and tomorrow, rooted in community bonds deeper than any technology.