Allahabad: A City Wedded To Realism (Photo Feature Part One)
Allahabad enjoys a glorious legacy. It’s a city that has been dominated by best minds since time immemorial. Its ancient name Prayag is associated with Rishis (saints) and Devas (demigods) eager to have an opportunity to live in this city. Sri Rama, incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and, Sri Shankaracharya, incarnation of Lord Shiva, both came to interact with this city in their own ways. Needless to state about Kumbh Mela, which provides it a global appeal. And who can forget its role in Independence movement? And in post- Independence era, it still continues to dominate the course of this great nation by giving birth to remarkable thought patterns. Leading politicians, top bureaucrats, great literary figures and etc. all belong to this city. This city wedded to realism is very very slow in embracing ultra-modern changes, but now it has started accepting bizarre changes all in the name of being in tune with time!
Even Allahabad’s Skyline Above A Busy Corner Of The City Speaks About Saints :-)
This city has imbibed secular spirit so well without any adherence to so-called secularism demonstrated by modern India’s so-called secular leaders. It’s beautiful Central Methodist church located in Civil Lines.
Another beautiful church located in Allahabad called “All Saints Cathedral” (Patthar Girja)! Designed by William Emerson this church depicts Gothic style.
A Busy street in Chowk Area. It’s always a great rush here!
Another corner of Chowk area. This area comes in old Allahabad.
Don’t be confused! It’s not a gali of Benaras. It’s Allahabad’s Loknath Ki Gali :-) Here too, like Varanasi’s gali, you would find Lord Shiva, Bull, Bhaang, Mithai, Chaat and sea of people :P :P :P
Yum! Yum! Yum! Sweets being made in Loknath Ki Gali. It’s called Imarti :P :P :P
Parrots on sale :P
This is Baldau’s famous newspaper corner at very busy crossing of Johnstonganj :-) These two brothers started this shop in late 90s and even in era of Internet they have done well to retain the flow of customers!
And here Lord is on sale..I mean their images :P :P :P
Hot Popcorns :P :P Garma Garam Aur Karare :P :P
It’s the place which defines the existence of Prayag..It’s the place which bears testimony to one of the largest gatherings on planet earth called as Kumbh Mela..This is Sangam area, which is confluence of three rivers, namely, Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati!
Visitors from distant lands arrive at this divine place :-)
Usually one finds Pandas beneath such constructions-the people who perform religious rituals on banks of rivers…However, at this time, we are noticing only the devotees :P
Well, it’s a great feeling to be at this place…It fills you with positive energy!!
Evening Hours At Sangam :-) So Beautiful :-)
On Road To Sangam :P
During Mela time it’s absolutely jam-packed!
These routes are created during Mela days to allow smooth passage of vehicles!
Beautiful View Of The Sangam Area!
Now That’s The Place Which Witnesses Millions Of Devotees Each Year :-)
I also left my footprints here :-) :-) :-)
A Bird’s Eye View Of The Sangam Area :P
Glimpse of devotees at this place. They come from various parts of India with a hope to have their wishes fulfilled. But not without taking a dip in the icy waters :P :P :P
This Is Allahabad’s Fort built by great ruler King Ashoka! Now it’s under the control of Indian Army!
This beautiful fort was repaired by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583 A.D. !
This is famous Akshayavat Temple situated inside Allahabad Fort. This temple has so many great stories associated with it from being the only place to survive during great annihilation of universe by the Lord to a place associated with visit of Lord Rama, Sri Sita Maiyya and Sri Lakshmana!
In Uttar Pradesh very few cities have beautiful roads :P
This is Bade Hanuman Ji’s Temple located in Sangam Area. It’s an extremely popular temple among the devotees! Notice the huge number of devotees at this place! Interestingly, every year Sri Hanumanji, who is in lying position in this temple, is made to have total bath by Ganges at least once :-)
Life around this temple. It’s so colourful and serene :-)
These three fellows were having great arguments among themselves..Later they became friends :P :P :P
Modern upper class women might not be interested in buying any item from these shops but women from rural belts spend a long time on these shops to have their beauty enhanced :P
This is a temple dedicated to Sri Adi Shankaracharya ji. Sri Adi Shankara ji was India’s greatest philosopher who added new dimensions in Advaita Darshana. This temple is managed by Shri Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth.
Entrance Gate Of This Temple.
Various episodes from the life of Sri Adi Shankara have been shown via images carved on the walls of the temple. In this one, we find him having a dialogue with another great philosopher of his times Sri Kumarila Bhatta :-)
Now who can forget Sri Adi Shankara’s debate with Sri Mandana Misra- a great Hindu philosopher ? :-) :-) :-)
Just close to this temple one would find this beautiful shop selling decorative items made of brass and other metals!
It’s a beautiful affair to have a lonely walk on these roads in Sangam Area :-)
Close to the Sangam area lies Allahbad’s Daraganj area. Allahbadis best remember it for Niralaji’s presence, who happened to be doyen of Hindi literature. Notice his statue behind the vegetable shop!
The rustic feeling which one gets on being streets leading to Daraganj is quite unique :-)
This street is bit cleaner without losing its rustic appeal :P
And Daraganj area has its own railway station. Small stations have their own unique charm :P
And I also came to notice these very beautiful calves in Daraganj area :P :P :P
Daraganj area has many well-known temples. One of them is associated with Goddess Shakti: Alopi Devi’s Temple. During Navratris there is huge flow of devotees :-)
Inside view of Sri Alopi Devi’s Temple :-)
Now how can Lord Krishna remain far behind :P :P This temple known as Rupa Gaudiya Math is part of Vaishnava cult. It’s learnt that Srila Prabhupadaji took initiation here from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati ji Maharaja! Jai Sri Krishna :P :P
And the life goes on in routine way on streets running parallel to this temple :-)
And I also came to notice this Sanskrit College associated with Sampoornananda University, Varanasi, in Daraganj area :-)
Have you tasted Dehati Rasgulla :P If not, then it’s time for you to taste them :P. My favourite shop lies in Bairahana area..During my college days, this was my favourite place for Rasgullas :P …And notice the huge crowd :P
They taste really good :P…Just have them before I come back with Part 2 of photo feature associated with Allahabad :P :P
P.S. :- The copyright of these images rests with the author of this post. Anybody making use of them without prior permission of the author, or without giving due credit to the author, could be penalized as per legal norms.
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References:
Allahabad: City Of True Beauty, Real Romance And Mysticism (Photo Feature Part 2)
Allahabad: A City Wherein Global Salutes The Local (Photo Feature Part 3)
वो जो तुमसे जोड़ता एक पुल है!
वो जो तुमसे जोड़ता एक पुल है!
कही न कही तेरे मेरे बीच
में एक पुल है
जिस पर से गुज़र कर मै
अक्सर पहुच जाता हूँ तुम तक
हां वो पुल दिखता नहीं है
इस यथार्थ से भरी दुनियाँ में
ठीक ही तो है कि दिखता नहीं
या फिर मैंने ठीक ही तो किया
जब मैंने इसे सच्ची दुनिया में
दोष बाधा से बंधी नज़रो से उलझती
हर इस तरह के तिकड़मो से ऊपर रखा
और नहीं बनाया सबको दिखने वाला पुल
वो एक पुल
जिस पर से गुज़र कर मै
अक्सर पहुच जाता हूँ तुम तक
बनता या बनाता इसे दुनियाँ में
तो निश्चित था कि वो ढह जाता
छल कपट से भरी हर निगाहो से
निकलती हर एक उतरन सें
और मिट जाता वो एक सहारा भी
जो अभी मेरे जीने की एक वजह है
वो एक पुल
जिस पर से गुज़र कर मै
यथार्थ के बीच से होता हुआ
अक्सर पहुच जाता हूँ तुम तक
हर रोज, हर एक गुजरते लम्हे में!
उस दुनियाँ में जहा कोई नही होता
सिवाय तेरे और मेरे अस्तित्व के.
For Non-Hindi Readers:
English Version Of The Same Poem
Pics Credit:
A Bridge Between Two Souls! (Poetry)
There exists a bridge between You and I!
There exists a bridge between
You and I
And I travel across it
To reach to you each day.
This bridge remains invisible
In the world governed by reality
Glad that it is non-existent!
In a world marred by evil eyes
It remains invisible to naked eyes
In love with concrete images
And I did the right
By not giving it a shape
To a bridge I travel across
Each day to reach to you.
Had it been built by me
Surely it would have collapsed
Facing every passing moment
The rays of eyes dipped in
Evil and falsehood, treachery and crime,
And I would have lost something
Which sustains my earthly existence
There exists a bridge between
You and I
And I travel across it
Through the realities of visible world
To reach to you each day
In every passing moment
To arrive at a world
Where no one exists
Other than you and I.
Attention Readers:
Hindi Version Of The Same Poem
Pic Credit:
Vishal Bhardwaj: A Genuine Music Composer In Times When Indian Music Directors Have Become Copycats
Vishal Bhardwaj: A Truly Talented Filmmaker And Music Composer
( Also published in Northern India Patrika, December 08, 2013 )
One needs a great musical mind to appreciate the music of Vishal Bhardwaj. We are well aware of his directorial skills, having seen his ability to deal with complex themes in movies like Omkara, Maqbool, Kaminey and Saat Khoon Maaf, to name a few. In my eyes he is a music director par excellence, who still have guts to introduce original compositions in Bollywood given way to borrowed tunes. If we analyze deeply the happenings inside Bollywood’s musical landscape what prevails is recycling of works of others in most blatant manner with no credits to original composers who composed these compositions in the first place.
Very recently I watched “Ek Thi Daayan” which dealt with supernatural elements. It was a theme which had not much scope for a romantic number. However, Vishal managed to create magic with his “Yaaram” song. Gulzar after demise of his best friend RD Burman felt a great sense of loneliness. He wasn’t all wrong in feeling that way. Only RD Burman had that capability to lend perfect musical notes to newsy type lyrics penned by Gulzar. Thanks to the arrival of Vishal Bhardwaj, which allowed Gulzar to breathe a sigh of relief. Vishal didn’t disappoint Gulzar. The chartbusters like ” Yaaram”, “Naina Thag Lenge”, “Darling”, “Chod Aaye Hum Wo Galiyan”, “O Saathi Re”, “Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji”, “Raat Ke Dhai Baje”, “Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola” and “Sapney Me Milti Hai” etc. are the ones which bear testimony to the fact he knows what treatment very sensitive verses of Gulzar actually need.
This very highly conscious music director, dealing in experimentation and improvisation in unorthodox manner, loves to introduce best of the literary works, which until now remained unexplored by Indian movie-makers. The cinematic versions of Shakespeare’s Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet really impressed all film-goers. At the same time, movie versions of Ruskin Bond’s “Susanna’s Seven Husbands” and “The Blue Umbrella’ also left the lovers of cinema spellbound. In fact, even in movie meant for kids like Makdee you can notice the variation he introduced in his music. He has received National Award for his music in Ishkiya and Godmother. Today Bollywood is dominated by musicians who first don’t know what music really means, and second, they are not musicians but technocrats depending on arrangement of music done by the computers. A reason why film music sounds so mechanical and jarring to the ears. Worse, it’s so humiliating when foreign composers make allegations that Indian music makers totally copied their compositions in the name of inspiration!
Happy That This Man Has Got So Many Awards!
Against this backdrop, this genuine music composer evokes a sense of self pride within with his creativity. Let’s hope his fabulous compositions which make wonderful use of various instruments like Piano and Guitar keep enthralling music lovers. One is not against Western music and use of latest technology but against ignorance of richness present in Indian music. There is calculated attempts on part of movie makers to diminish the aura of Indian classical music. Vishal Bhardwaj is the best example of how to blend western notes with Indian classical music. This art needs to be learnt by new age Indian music directors, who, sadly, are more interested in making money instead of truly enriching the world of film music. Anyway, Vishal Bhardwaj needs to be complimented for keeping the roots of Indian classical music green and fresh.
Some of the songs composed by him:
Pics Credit:
कवि और कविताये: समय से परे होकर भी यथार्थ में नए आयाम जोड़ जाते है!
अदम गोंडवी: सही मायनों में जनकवि
कविताओ में बहुत ताकत होती है विचारो के प्रवाह को मोड़ने की, उनको एक नया रूख देने की। ये अलग बात है कि कवि और कविताओ की आज के भौतिकप्रधान समाज में कोई ख़ास अहमियत नहीं, इनकी कोई ख़ास “प्रैक्टिकल” उपयोगिता नहीं। लेकिन उससे भी बड़ा सच ये है कि कविताओ की प्रासंगिकता सदा ही जवान रहेंगी। कवियों को समाज नकार दे लेकिन उनके अस्तित्व की सार्थकता को नकारना समाज के बूते के बस की बात नहीं। उसकी एक बड़ी वजह ये है कि कवि और कविताएं इस क्षणभंगुर संसार और पारलौकिक सत्ता के बीच एक सेतु का काम करते है। ये समाज के विषमताओ के बीच छुपे उन जीवनमयी तत्वो को खोज निकालते जो सामान्य आँखों में कभी नहीं उभरती। इसी वजह से कम से कम मुझे तो बहुत तकलीफ होती है जब कविताओ और कवियों को समाज हेय दृष्टि से देखता है या उपयोगितावादी दृष्टिकोण से इन्हें किसी काम का नहीं मानता। खैर इसे कुदरत का न्याय कहिये कि उपेक्षा की मौत मरने वाले कवि और लेखक भले असमय ही इस संसार को छोड़ कर चले जाते हो उनके शब्द अमर होकर धरा पे रह जाते है। उनके शब्द समय के प्रवाह को मोड़कर नया रास्ता बनाते रहते है। मोटरगाडी में सफ़र करने वाले तो गुमनाम हो जाते है लेकिन जीवन भर गुमनामी और उपेक्षा सहने वाले कवि/लेखक अमर हो जाते है। उनकी आभा धरा पे हमेशा के लिए व्याप्त हो जाती है।
आइये कुछ ऐसी ही कविताओ को पढ़ते है जो गुज़रे वक्त के दस्तावेज सरीखे है।
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अदम गोंडवी की ये कविता मजदूरों के अहमियत को पाठक के मष्तिष्क पटल पर वास्तविक रूप से उकेरती है । उनके यथार्थ को यथावत आपके सामने रख देती है। २२ अक्टूबर १९४७ को गोंडा जिले के आटा गाँव में जन्मे इस क्रन्तिकारी कवि ने समय के पटल पर कुछ ऐसी रचनाये रची जो संवेदनशील ह्रदय में सकारात्मक वेदना को जन्म दे देती है। वैसे इस कविता में देश में व्याप्त दुर्दशा का भी चित्रण है लेकिन प्राम्भिक पंक्तिया मजदूर पर आधारित है जिसको पढ़कर मुझे रामधारी सिंह “दिनकर” जी की ये पंक्तिया स्मरण हो आई:
‘‘मैं मजदूर हूँ मुझे देवों की बस्ती से क्या!, अगणित बार धरा पर मैंने स्वर्ग बनाये,
अम्बर पर जितने तारे उतने वर्षों से, मेरे पुरखों ने धरती का रूप सवारा’’
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वो जिसके हाथ में छाले हैं पैरों में बिवाई है
उसी के दम से रौनक आपके बंगले में आई है
इधर एक दिन की आमदनी का औसत है चवन्नी का
उधर लाखों में गांधी जी के चेलों की कमाई है
कोई भी सिरफिरा धमका के जब चाहे जिना कर ले
हमारा मुल्क इस माने में बुधुआ की लुगाई है
रोटी कितनी महँगी है ये वो औरत बताएगी
जिसने जिस्म गिरवी रख के ये क़ीमत चुकाई है
-अदम गोंडवी
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बशीर बद्र ने वैसे तो जीवन के कई रंगों का जिक्र किया लेकिन रूमानियत के रंग में डूबी इनकी ग़ज़लों को जगजीत सिंह ने स्वर देकर एक नयी ऊंचाई दे दी।ये ग़ज़ल मैंने पहल पहल जगजीत सिंह की आवाज़ में सुनी जिसे बहुत ही सधे स्वर में जगजीत जी ने गाया है। और अब पढने के बाद बहुत भीतर तक उतर गयी बशीर साहब की ये ग़ज़ल।
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सर झुकाओगे तो पत्थर देवता हो जाएगा
इतना मत चाहो उसे, वो बेवफ़ा हो जाएगा
हम भी दरिया हैं, हमें अपना हुनर मालूम है
जिस तरफ भी चल पड़ेंगे, रास्ता हो जाएगा
कितनी सच्चाई से मुझ से ज़िन्दगी ने कह दिया
तू नहीं मेरा, तो कोई दूसरा हो जाएगा
मैं ख़ुदा का नाम लेकर पी रहा हूँ दोस्तो
ज़हर भी इसमें अगर होगा, दवा हो जाएगा
सब उसी के हैं हवा, ख़ुश्बू, ज़मीनो-आसमाँ
मैं जहाँ भी जाऊँगा, उसको पता हो जाएगा
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रमाकांत दूबे जी का नाम शायद लोगो ने कम सुना हो लेकिन इनके द्वारा ग्रामीण लोक में बसी आत्मा में रची ये कविताये कही भी पढ़ी जाई अपना असर दिखा जाती है। ३० अक्टूबर १९१७ को जन्मे इस कवि ने अपनी जड़ो का कभी नहीं छोड़ा और आज़ादी से पहले और आज़ादी के बहुत बाद तक जो भी समय ने दिखाया उसे वैसा ही शब्दों में रच डाला। यकीन मानिए इन पंक्तियों को २०१३ में पढ़ते हुए ऐसा कभी नहीं लगा कि इनको चालीस साल पहले रचा गया होगा। इसकी प्रासंगिकता की अमरता पर हैरानी सी हो रही है। यूँ आभास हो रहा है किसी ने चालीस साल पहले ही २०१३ में क्या व्याप्त होगा ये देख लिया था। इसीलिए तो मुझे ये कहने में कोई संकोच नहीं कि कवि संसार में रहते हुएं भी संसारी ना होकर समय से परे रहने वाला एक विलक्षण जीव होता है।
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खाके किरिया समाजवाद के खानदानी हुकूमत चले
जैसे मस्ती में हाथी सामंती निरंकुश झूमत चले
खाके गोली गिरल परजातंतर कि मुसकिल इलाज़ हो गइल
चढ़के छाती पे केहू राजरानी, त केहू जुवराज हो गइल
- रमाकांत दूबे
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अदम गोंडवी: जो उलझ कर रह गयी है फाइलों के जाल में गाँव तक वह रौशनी आएगी कितने साल में!
कुछ अच्छी कवितायेँ आप यहाँ पढ़ सकते है: कविता कोष
Pic Credit:
Meeting The Giants In World Of Writing: My Precious Moments With Ruskin Bond And Gulzar
Ruskin Bond: From His Writings I Learnt The Art Of Writing Simply!
The world of writing is marred by strange twists and turns. It’s never easy for a writer, whether established or novice, to keep pace with time in an easy-going manner in world dominated by materialistic principles, which treats nurturing aesthetic pleasures as some sort of waste of time. When selling rose becomes more worthwhile task than to appreciate its scent, it’s quite certain that one would not gain much by falling in love with creative pursuits. I faced extremely tough conditions with humiliating episodes taking place quite frequently, but I always tried not to take them to heart, remembering that great writers of previous eras also received similar treatment. Pain and humiliation do not break a writer ( unless destiny has predestined such a fate) but make him gain more insights, not available to ordinary mortals. The other thing that really kept me going ahead with ease despite huge setbacks was constant support of extremely talented souls, who appeared at various stages of my life as friends and colleagues. Apart from them, I feel really privileged that I also got an opportunity to spent some precious moments with towering figures in world of literature. These very special moments still keep me spirited and cheerful in depressing times even as memories related with those meetings have been clouded by the affairs of time.
I met Ruskin Bond and Gulzar at a time when my bonhomie with the writing world was gaining depth. However, after meeting them, I became certain that being a writer was no crime! I always met people who stupidly asked me( and thereby revealing the actual worth of their grey cells) about my work sphere even as I told them that I write! ” It’s okay that you write but what work you do?” That’s the sort of queries which always chased me. Thank God such queries today neither appear nor they have any relevance left in my life. The sight of Gulzar and Ruskin had left me spellbound, although I had met them separately, but exhibition of feelings remained the same.
I became the fan of Ruskin Bond at the very moment when in one of the boring literature classes of my school, I first came to read his story “The Eyes Have It”. The intensity of emotions expressed in this story fascinated my young heart to great extent. Though my class teacher, the other school mates and the old-fashioned academic standards, compelled me to anticipate the story in a given way, I came to visualize many other things as I read this story. And that’s why I met Ruskin Bond not only as reader but also as a writer! It’s the writings of Ruskin which taught me that how you say is equally important as what you come to say! However, the greatest lesson Ruskin taught me was that great writing is simple writing! Never use bundle of complicated expressions, which make a reader be involved more in picking up a dictionary than being lost in the content of the post! It’s one of the reasons why I avoid reading Arundhati Roy unless I have to sleep early!
The impressions left by Ruskin can also be traced in my being!
Ruskin Bond, the Sahitya Akademi and Padma Shri awards winner, visited Allahabad, circa 2003. He had come here to attend promotional event organised by a leading publisher Rupa & Co. I wasn’t prepared for this meeting, but the moment I heard news of his arrival, I got prepared my manuscript related with my first unpublished anthology- The Petals Of Life. When I met him, I saw him surrounded by his well-wishers. I waited for my turn, and fortunately when my turn came he had some spare moments. He gave a fabulous smile when I introduced myself as a writer and informed him about my literary pursuits. When I handed him my poems, he seemed to be very pleased by this gesture. He patted my back and asked me to keep writing. Though he was tired but he still obliged me by giving me his autograph at number of places. Our conversations lasted for few minutes but the undercurrents still remain alive. And so I refuse to leave the company of pen!
Gulzar- the Oscar Award winner lyricist-also visited Allahabad, at the invitation of same publisher, during the same period. My meeting with him was once again a hurried affair than a pre-planned affair. When I reached the place where he was about to arrive after couple of hours, I was apprehensive about the meeting. However, call it my luck, despite presence of huge crowd, I created space for my meeting with this amazing man. It was hard for my eyes to acknowledge the fact that maker of landmark movies like Aandhi, Ijaazat, Kitaab, Parichay and Achanak, to name a few, was sitting right before my eyes. Like always, this time, too, he was clad in white kurta-pajama. And like always donned his lips a typical smile, which any Gulzar fan would easily recognize had he/she been noticing photographs of him quite sincerely. To be honest, I had not read enough literature penned by him but I had watched his movies and heard his songs with exceptional zeal and abnormal seriousness. And that’s why his “surrealism” permeated in my writings as well. Anyway, he remained seated in relaxed way. When I informed him about my credentials, his faced remained expressionless yet I noticed that he was pretty conscious! And as I finished saying what I had to say, he gave a very deep look at me. A stare that refused to leave me and became part of my being. I left the space after spending couple of minutes with him but as I came out of that place and headed towards my home these particular lines from this immortal song “Aknhon Mein Humne Aapke” kept appearing and disappearing within mind’s chamber-
“नज़रे उठाई आपने तो वक्त रुक गया
ठहरे हुए पलो में जमाने बिताये है “
– When you looked at me, the time stopped
And in those moments I came to live many lives.
Many thanks to these gentlemen who appeared at a very important juncture in my life. I needed some genuine encouragement and their generosity in display of emotions proved to be a tonic for my spirit chased by uncertainties. The uncertainties remain the same but my spirit attained the required evolution and so my writings. And so I am still writing! Pervert critics remain the same and situation remains hopeless like always and yet I am above all these negative concerns. A proof that meeting such enlightened gentlemen did not go in vain.
Gulzar: I still remember that I met you!
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Excerpts from the story ” The Eyes Have It” :
“I wondered if I would be able to prevent her from discovering that I was blind. Provided I keep to my seat, I thought, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
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“The man who had entered the compartment broke into my reverie.
‘You must be dissapointed,’ he said. ‘I’m not nearly as attractive a traveling companion as the one who just left.’
‘She was an interesting girl,’ I said. ‘Can you tell me – did she keep her hair long or short?’
‘I don’t remember,’ he said, sounding puzzled. ‘It was her eyes I noticed, not her hair. She had beautiful eyes – but they were of no use to her. She was completely blind. Didn’t you notice?’”
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Song: Ankhon Mein Humne Aapke..
Movie: Thodi Si Bewafai
Singers: Lata and Kishore
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music: Khayyam
Gulzar: That’s The Way He Smiles!
Reference:
Penguin’s List Of Books Written By Ruskin Bond
Pics Credit:
In Conversation With Well- Known British Author Jeremy Seabrook On Education System
JeremySeabrook: Never Missed To Say Right Words Always!
In the long writing career, spanning over nearly two decades, I got many chances to interact with enlightened minds and share with them a piece of my mind in matters pertaining to critical issues. A long back ago when I was regular contributor for The Statesman’s Viewpoint Column ( Calcutta Edition), I came in touch with Jeremy Seabrook who was then writing for one of its popular columns.
This conversation related with falling standards of education system took place after I came to read his article” Learning Revisited” published in The Statesman on March 14, 2005.
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My Viewpoint:
Your write-up is an eye-opener, allowing one to reckon with the hidden facets of education. I am appalled at the manner in which institutions offering so-called gems of knowledge, which in reality are antithetical to creative tendencies lying latent within the recipients, have solidified their base. One reason for it could be that parents are now no longer interested in “value-oriented” teaching methods, simply because it stands in the way of attaining ‘name and fame’. No wonder this could be the reason behind the mind-boggling network of coaching factories, which are making huge profit in the name of offering conductive atmosphere for cracking the entrance tests.
This attitude of parents has brought a sea change in the attitude of present day students, who weigh everything in materialistic yardsticks or, in other words, in rupee:dollar ratio. After all, who has time for values in the fast-paced life of ours! The real quest for supreme knowledge would always remain a distant dream in absence of change of mindset, especially the parents. Well, it’s never too easy to change mindset without giving way to measures mired in transparent means. What has guaranteed failure of projects in this regard has been wide gap between theory and practice besides infrastructural bottlenecks. Let’s realize that mere propaganda is not going to solve this issue.
Unfortunately, this is what both Left and Right wings are used to. Their stances, diametrically opposite to each other, have wiped out the vigour of those wishing to make worthwhile contributions, so much so that if one does not yield to their outdated notions one is bound to invite troubles of all sorts. The message is clear: Rise above ideological fanaticism to stop the degradation of education system, something so imperative to prevent the innocent minds turning into robot.
Vivekananda rightly remarked that ” education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and run riot there, undigested, all life. We must have life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas”. Will anyone please translate this into reality?
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Jeremy Seabrook: One Of The Great Writers Who Inspired Me To Keep Writing!
Jeremy Seabrook’s Viewpoint:
Many thanks for your helpful and kind e-mail. Indeed, education has become not an end in itself, noble and worthwhile, but an instrument for material gain and industrial conformism. In this sense, of course, the educational system is only an emanation of the society that produces it, and an expression of the social values and mores of which it is a symptom. Intervention for change involves a complete change in the social and moral structures of globalism-no small thing, but a project we should not abandon simply because of its apparent attainability.
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About Jeremy Seabrook:
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My first book was The Unprivileged, 1967, the story of my own family, a path breaking oral history from the late 18th century to the 1960s. This was followed by City Close-Up, a portrait, through the words of the people, of Blackburn in Lancashire.
In the 1970s, I wrote What Went Wrong? Working People and the Ideals of the Labour Movement; a book which, when published in the USA, was sub-titled Why hasn’t Having More Made People Happier?
Mother and Son, a memoir, appeared in 1980, and an indictment of Thatcher’s Britain,Unemployment, in 1982.
Work on India and Bangladesh followed, notably, Notes from another India and Children of Other Worlds, a comparison of child labour in nineteenth century London and present-day Dhaka in Bangladesh. My book, Love in a Different Climate, described how male same-sex relationships in India differ from those in the West.
I have contributed to most major newspapers in Britain over the years, and have written for Granta. I am a regular contributor to New Internationalist – which has published three of my books in the last decade, most recently Consuming Cultures: Globalization and Local Lives. I write for Race and Class and Third World Resurgence, based in Penang, Malaysia.
Courtesy: http://jeremyseabrook.net/biography.html
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More About Jeremy Seabrook:
“He became an associate honorary fellow at the University of Bradford’s Department of Peace Studies 1995 to 1998 and an associate at the Institute of Race Relations, UK, from 2004 onwards.
He has made several documentaries for BBC radio and TV on social, environmental and developmental issues.
Since 1963, Seabrook has written for publications including: New Society, the Guardian, the Times, the Independent, New Statesman, New Internationalist, Race and Class, Third World Resurgence, Third World Network and others.
He has also written over 40 books, including;
Travels in the Skin Trade – looking at the psychology of western men who travel to southeast Asia for sexual adventures (Pluto Press).
A World Growing Old – the implications of an ageing population, north and south (Pluto Press).”
Courtesy: The Guardian
What will be her future?
References:
The Statesman ( Kolkata Edition)
Celebrating Holi, The Festival Of Colours, In League With Poetry Session and Comedy Session!
Colours Fascinate Everybody
The people having rendezvous with colours of Holi are in festive mood today. I don’t wish to act as spoilsport by making readers ponder over serious issues. I remember good old days of Doordarshan, when on the eve of Holi, it used to telecast late night poetry sessions, wherein poets, belonging to various parts of country, read their fun-filled poems. It’s really sad that glorious traditions have given way to cheap thrills on Doordarshan.
Though I am not going to present fun-filled poem, it (the poem) nevertheless speaks about the festival of Holi. It sheds light on distortions that have hit the festival of Holi. This Hindi poem addresses the disturbing scenario, which prevent the masses from embracing the festive mood in right spirit. It makes chilling disclosure that people in cities and villages have given way to dangerous disputes involving bloodshed. How can these people in grip of limited perceptions would ever be able to enjoy the prevailing festive fervour? That’s the essence of this Hindi poem penned by Dr. Ganga Prasad Sharma” Gunashekhara”. He hails from Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. I also need to thank SC Mudgal, New Delhi, a friend on one of the social networking sites, for making me read this poem.
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तारकोल, कीचड़ सने, चेहरे रूप-कुरूप.
होली में सब एक-से, रंक, भिखारी, भूप..
होली खूनी हो गई,रक्त सने हैं पाँव.
कान्हा अब आना नहीं, लौट के अपने गाँव..
होली खूनी हो गई,रक्त सने हैं पाँव.
कान्हा अब आना नहीं, लौट के अपने गाँव..
कैसा हो यदि होलिका, सींचे जीवन- आस.
रंग-बिरंगे रूप, ले मह-मह करे मिठास..
गदराए गेहूँ खड़े , बौराए-से आम.
होली ने सब को दिए,मन-मन भर के काम..
सरसों,तीसी,चना हो,या गेहूँ के खेत.
मस्ती में लहरा उठे, होली आते देख..
जिसमें अपनापन नहीं,नहीं नेह का लेश.
ऐसे घटने से रहा ,बैर भाव या द्वेष ..
होली में फागुन फिरे, धर बासंती वेश.
पावन पाती प्रेम की, बाँटे देश- विदेश..
फागुन की मादक हवा, उन्मादक परिवेश.
खिले गुलाबी रंग -से, केशरिया गणवेश..
बँसवारी, अमराइयाँ ,ऐसी लुटीं अशेष.
फागुन वापस जा रहा, ले अपना संदेश.
-Dr. Ganga Prasad Sharma” Gunashekhara”
Once Upon A Time..
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And yes, now it’s time to laugh. Enjoy two comedy clips from two different movies. Enjoy this “Mahabharata Episode” from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, which is a landmark movie in the genre belonging to comedy. The high standards which it came to set have until now remain unsurpassed. The “Mahabharata Episode” is such a hilarious episode in the movie that it never fails to give rise to maddening laughter. I have watched it umpteen times, but even then when I watch it for one more time I am but all smiles. For non-Hindi readers let me apprise them of the plot of this episode. It’s all about possession of dead body which due to a blunder on part of the people, originally in possession of body, got trapped in live drama show, impersonating the lady who was about to play that role. This dead body is most sought-after object by various rival groups.
The bizarre methods employed by these rival groups to get hold of this dead body, right in the middle of the live show, based on a mythological theme, is terribly rib-tickling. After all, the actors in the play thought that this lady character belonged to their group, but which in reality was a dead body in hot demand among the dangerous rival groups.They trespass the ongoing drama, as new characters, and then there is huge confusion as they come into conflict with the original characters of the play. For me this movie brings back the memories of days when Doordarshan was darling of the masses.
The Mahabharata Episode From Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
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This second comedy clip is from movie” Pyar Kiye Jaa”. Two legendary actors, Om Prakash and Mehmood, have touched the pinnacle while dealing with shades of comedy. That’s comedy at its best. Neat and clean comedy with no impressions of double-meaning dialogues and cheap gestures. In this scene Mehmood, appearing as wannabe movie producer in the movie, is narrating the elements involved in making of his forthcoming horror movie to Om Prakash. Just notice the expressions on faces of both the actors as they remain deeply involved in act of mutual conversation.
The Comedy Clip From Pyar Kiye Jaa
Pics Credit:
Pain Is The True Vitalizer Of My Soul!
Pain Serving As Panacea!
Listen my beloved
Love is never put on scale
In love do you measure the
Worth of emotions, desires and wishes?
Why do you wish to heal the pain
Emanating from injuries you fail to see?
Pain which nature wants to heal
Shall always get healed
And sometimes unhealed injuries
Refine the soul further
Or let them remain unhealed
Floating in the ocean of heart as insoluble capsules of pain!
It’s an unbearable dishonesty on your part my beloved
An act unfair to dilute the pain simmering inside
Listen I have learnt lessons
To move from one pain to another
In the company of light
It’s time for you my beloved to touch new horizons
And leave me far behind
To walk all alone on the isolated path
For I have also learnt
How to remain alive with no trace of life inside!
When Ways Get Separated!
The same poem in Hindi with a slight modification in style and treatment.
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सुन मेरे मीत: तू कुछ जख्मो को हरा ही रहने दे!
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जो इश्क करते है वो
इश्क को तराजू में नहीं तौलते
अरमानो, ख्वाहिशों, जस्बातो
का लेखा जोखा कैसा मीत!
जो जख्म दीखते नहीं उन
पर मरहम लगाना कैसा?
जिन जख्मो को भरना होता है
वो अपने आप ही भर जाते है
या वक़्त के साए में ढलकर
रूह को थोडा और निखार जाते है
या नासूर बनते है
तो नासूर ही बन जाने दें?
सो लिहाज़ा तेरा तडपना, आज़माना
अब बेमानी सा लगता है
कि एक जख्म से दूसरे जख्म तक
का फासला तय करना हमने सीख लिया है
सो बेहतर है कि तू आगे बढ़ चल
रौशनी के कारवां संग
और छोड़ दे पीछे मुझे
अजनबी सी राहो पे तन्हा चलते रहने को
कि अब मर के भी हमने
जीते सा दीखते रहने का हुनर सीख लिया है।
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Trying To Be On A Different Path But Like Always All Alone!
Elucidating Ways To Avoid Negative Forces While Resurrecting The Positive Ideals
Appreciate Real Beauty Instead Of Destroying It. Creation Takes Time But Destruction Takes Few Seconds!
A trap is always there for genuine souls. A sponsored hand is always there. Negative forces are all the time trying best to keep you confused about the reality. A truly conscious mind is aware of all these developments quite well.The sponsored love, sponsored hatred, sponsored disputes, sponsored issues, and , above all, sponsored whistle blowers, supported by hidden negative forces, make the cause of genuine souls weak. That’s the worst development. That’s why if there arises any opportunity to wipe out negative forces, do it well, not for the sake of one’s natural moral duty but for the sake of cause of genuine souls. It would help to create space for right people.
The only option left for positive forces is to keep doing what’s in their hands. One cannot change the whole world.That not even an Avatara (Lord’s incarnation) can do. However, we must do all that’s possible in our own capacity. At least, in that regard, we should not be reluctant in playing our part well. Our whole energy gets lost in blaming others. Let’s learn to play our part well. Our small insignificant steps also matter a lot in resurrecting right values. I agree negative forces are in operation in much organized way but that’s no excuse for the right souls not to do anything. Let’s play our part well. It’s entirely in our hands either to be swayed by Manisha’s innocence or Katrina’s sex appeal!
We need better rulers. We need conscious individuals, who can get their priorities right. That’s the only way we can bring better changes. Or else, a “better future” shall always remain an utopia. It’s a sad commentary on state of present day affairs that people at helm of affairs are behaving in irresponsible manner. This tendency has to be curbed that you can fool all the people all the time !
And as we do that, let’s allow the wrong souls to laugh at our efforts. Their ridiculing, their taunting, their silly remarks and their devaluation should only encourage the right souls to remain on right track. A good and powerful soul should refuse to be disappointed. Let that’s be the case with all good souls really wishing to act as agent of change. Let’s that be the guiding force of all positive elements. I don’t know about others but my aim is absolutely clear: Wipe out the negative forces in totality as much as you can.
But be careful as you get involved in the process of resurrection of better ideals. “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” So never ignore the strength of stupid people. The power of stupidity should not be undervalued. It would take few minutes to wipe out Lord Rama but the arrival of another Lord Rama takes place million of years. It’s easy to demolish any good formation but to simultaneously create another beautiful world at the same speed is beyond the capabilities of human beings. That could be better understood if we witness the impact of atomic attack in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The future generations paid heavy price for attack which lasted for few minutes. “लम्हों ने खता की है…सदियों ने सजा पाई ” ( The errors got committed in few seconds, but many generations paid the price). Therefore, the good souls need to be wise enough while handling the “Aasurs” ( Demons) and “Aasuri Vrittis” ( Demoniacal Orientations). The beautiful souls should realize their worth and keep themselves safe until the “Lord’s Will” finally ask them to quit the drama of life. This beautiful Urdu couplet says all:
हजारों साल नरगिस अपनी बेनूरी पर रोती है,
बड़ी मुश्किल से होता है चमन में दीदावर पैदा।
– Allama Iqbal
( For a thousand years the narcissus has been lamenting its blindness;
With great difficulty the one with true vision is born in the garden )
Innocence Always Clean Bowled Me!
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