Argentina

Argentina (Argentine Republic) – South America.

Argentina image courtsey: wikimedia.org

Silver glitters!

The word argentum in Latin means silver and ‘Argentina’ means the glitter of silver. The Spanish voyagers under Juan Diaz de Solis who landed there (in AD 1516) found local people wearing silver ornament aplenty and they came to a conclusion that there may be mountains of silver on this part of the land! They named this land Rio de la Plata (plata also stands for silver in Spanish) meaning river of silver. Spanish people flocked there in search of the ‘silver mountain’ though they could not find it these trysts enabled them to colonize the fertile land in as early as 1580. It was in Buenos Aires Spain established their first colony which later grew in to a mega city and still continues as Argentina’s capital.

In tune with the Incas.

There are evidences that Argentina’s Patagonia region had human inhabitation since 11000 BC, during 1AD a civilization based on maize cultivation flourished in places like Santa Maria, Huarpes, Diaguilas etc. Argentina’s recorded history starts from 1480 when the king of Inca Empire – Pachachutec – invaded northern Argentina and established an integrated empire by name ‘Collasyu’ comprising many areas previously remained scattered. Even then Argentina’s central regions were mainly inhabited by nomadic tribes. The central and southern areas; known as Mampas and Patagonia; inhabited by nomads were integrated by Mapuches in the seventeenth century.

All factors too good, but!

Argentina Map courtsey: lib.utexas.edu

Formerly Argentina included the present day Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia which have been separated in course of time. Argentina is the second largest nation in area as well as the largest economy in the South American continent after Brazil. Argentina is blessed with rich natural resources, a very favorable climate; its work-force is well educated but all these could not prevent the financial melt-down the nation experienced during 2001 -02. Argentina’s debt zoomed, inflation spiraled, and job rates nose-dived.

In soup!

A protracted war with Britain over the ownership of Falklands Island, political instability and intermittent military rules and faulty financial policy all led to hyper inflation which made Argentinean products uncompetitive leading to excessive imports. Argentinean industries were forced to down shutters, unemployment rose to 25%. Peso-which was artificially over valued- crashed and this resource rich nation became bankrupt. Argentina became a hot subject among international economists who resorted to blame game to prove their points. However a revival package from International Monetary Fund could set the economy back on the rails.

A claim for everything.

Geographically Argentina is sandwiched between the Andes and the Atlantic neighboring countries are Bolivia, Paraguay (in the north) Uruguay, Brazil (north-west) and Chile in the west as well as south. It has a total area of 2,766,890 sq kilometers and a population 36,260,000. The official language is Spanish, literacy is 92%. The Head of the Nation is President and its currency is Peso. It has total 215500 km long railway and two major ports (La Plata and Bahia Blanca. La Plata, Rosario, Thordhoba, San Miguel de Tuchman, Santa Fe, Mendoza are the main cities. (Argentina is a perpetual claimer for the nearby isles like Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich. They claim for the Antarctica Region as well. Argentina has a claim over the Antarctic continent but the Falkland fiasco keeps it off from jumping in to an immediate war with other claimants!)

Altiplano.

The Andes Altiplano is the second highest plateau in the world (number one in height is the Tibetan plateau). It is 11,000 feet above sea-level and sparsely populated. There are numerous live volcanoes in these high and dry lands. The significance to this desert as that it is the driest part in the world – drier than Sahara the mother of all deserts. Atacama Desert lies on the South-Western part of the Altiplano, while the dense Amazon forests cover its eastern part.

The mammoth of a lake!

Argentina travel image courtsey: whitman.edu

Geologists are of opinion that this part was once (in the Pliocene age) a huge lake by name Ballivian Lake! The ground rose to this height to form the Altiplano and the present Titicaca Lake, and salt lakes like Oruro, Salar de Uyuni, Salar de Coipasa are all the vestiges of this huge extinct lake, what strange facts? But it is the 1460 Sq. KM wide Lago Argentina (Argentinean lake) located at the Patagonian area of Santa Cruz which is dearer to Argentineans; as it is their source of pure water.

Sports and games.

Argentina Football Jersey image courtsey: prosport.ca

Almost all nations coming under South American Continent are most known for their gaming skills Soccer is for them their life-blood not just the king of all games. Argentineans are also known for their ability in Horse Polo (pato), rugby, tennis, and hockey. For Argentina it is a footballer their national icon and not rulers or bards. The one and only Mara Dona who entered in the field as a boy under sixteen and reigned the field for over two decades. He is mischievous, an anarchist, a prankster, a rebel, controversial and at the same time a superb artist in the world of soccer. Mara Dona brought in the coveted World Cup for Argentina in 1978 and 1786. It was Mara Dona who raised ‘Napoli’ an unknown small foot ball club in the ranks of the number one in the world. Daniel Pascerella, Mario Kempes, Gabriel Bathisthutta were all the best players Argentina has presented to the world.

Buenos Aires

Argentina vacation image courtsey: ocs.lsu.edu

Buenos Aires is not just capital of Argentina it is one of the most fashionable cities in the world (called as the Paris of the south) as well as the cultural capital of South America. it is called also as Capital Federal in Argentina to distinguish the capital region from greater Buenos Aires region. Teatro Colon- one of the greatest opera-house in the world, world’s number one foot ball clubs like Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Athletica Furacan all are located in this great city it is in the brothels of Buenos Aires Tango music had its origin. 9de Julio Avenue is the broadest in the world which is 140 meters in breadth. Buenos Aires has a population of 3 million about one out of 12 Argentineans live in the capital! A distinction few national capitals enjoy.

The National Park.

The Glaciers Park (Parque Nacional Los Glaciares) in Santa Cruz is 4460 Sq. Kilometer wide and a major destination of international tourists. it is a vast expanse of glaciers; known as ‘the snow caps of the Andes’ (which has a collection of 47 glaciers), This national park is also a UNESCO approved heritage site comprising two lakes (Viadma and Argentinean) both are contributors of the Santa Cruz River. This eco system has dense forest between glaciers and Patagonian grass lands all these terrains together house about one thousand species of birds and animals.

First and foremost.

• Argentina has the credit to host the first National University in the South American Continent National University of Cordoba (Universidad Nacional de Cordoba).

• Its capital Buenos Aires is the first city in South America to install electrical street lights.

• Buenos Aires has got another first as the first sub-way in the southern hemisphere was constructed there.

• The first child to be born in Antarctica was Argentinean –Emilio Pama.

• The last but not the least Che Guerra the ‘darling all radicals’ was also an Argentinean.

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Jewellery

Jewellery.

Jewellery

Has been here for long time!

From time immemorial jewellery (also spelt as jewelry derived from the French word jovel originated from Latin jocale) had been here adorning men and women spelling their class, rank, and social status. 100,00years old remnants of nassarius (shells of marine mollusks) have been found by archeologists to prove the history of ornaments. For poor people of India their daughters’ marriage is a nightmare as huge quantity of jewellery is the pre-requisite (dowry) to be paid to bridegroom!

It is here to stay!

The passing of time could change the stuff of which ornaments are made of; while their functions remain the same. Cowries, animal bones, tooth, wood, shells and carved stone gave way to silver, gold, platinum, precious stones etc. Beads, shells or bird-feathers worn by tribal chieftains to exhibit their social status were replaced by expensive watches, suits, foot-wears- jewellery worn by the new breed of tribal chiefs –businessmen, industrialists and mafia dons.

Religious value.

Ornaments have much religious significance too, a gold plate worn by Indian woman is her ultimate possession to which she may cling, for her it is not just an ornament but a symbol of all her marital bliss and her whole right as a proud wedded wife, which she will not lose even at the cost of her life. Red saffron dot on forehead of Hindu women, glossary with cross worn by Christians, the bangle worn by members of Sikh religion all are more than just ornaments. For Muslims jewellery is taboo for men while permitted for women. Certain sects of Christians ban their members from wearing ornaments.

Gold and marriage!

Hip Hop Jewellery

Gold is inseparably associated with Indian social life, the main function of marriage is tying of ‘mangala sutra’ (an oval shaped gold leaf - wedding bands) on the neck of the bride by the groom. When a girl is married of certain amount of gold is given to her as ornaments; the quantity of gold definitely depends upon the financial capacity of her father. The gold is measured in sovereigns (one sovereign weighing 8 grams). During the wedding ceremony, the quantity of ornaments (thousands of sovereigns) makes the girl difficult to stand up wearing it and has to be packed separately for convenience! The recent trend is replacing some gold with diamonds and other jewels. India is the world’s largest market for gold and emerging as a prominent place for gems and jewellery; even world gold prize fluctuate with India’s marriage season.

Authority.

The tribe which is greediest for ornaments are dictators who fill whole of their body with ornaments like medals, strings and colorful plates with numerous cores, akin to the radio frequency ID tagged to the materials from a department store! Just think of the ‘V’ shaped core worn by military officers, the emblem on the cap, the cross-belt, pistol, ID card that dangles from neck to pocket etc are ornaments that add beauty to the wearer as well as recognition symbols of rank and power..

Voodoo plates.

There are ornaments of other significance very popular in countries less developed; they are silver or golden boxes which contain folded thin metal sheets on which some witch-craft (sorcery) symbols are drawn or written, these are supplied by astrologers and toots. These materials give confidence to those who wear it; and at times the confidence makes them win. These practices are not unique to backward countries; they are popular in countries with high education levels where they are known in names like amulets, talisman etc. These things are believed to ward off evils and bring luck so that even hard-core ‘rationalists’ wear it in secret! The difference from ordinary people is that they wear it in public as a semi-ornament.

Ornaments of god!

Jewellery India

Ornaments- a weakness of human heart makes him adorn not only his pet animals, houses, vehicles but even the images of gods whom he adores are being adorned (covered!) with ornaments! The images of Hindu gods are practically a good display of all sorts of ornaments. A car worth millions of dollars itself is serving all the purpose of an ornament - good quality cars are available in one tenth of the cost. Millions are spent extra to adorn a car with all ornaments as the car itself is an ornament. One can pull out his heart and donate; but not the ‘icon’ that adorns the genuineness of his car. What does it mean a Benz without its three spoke ring or a Ford without its blue oval?

But it is worth it!

In one idle morning take a soft piece of cloth rub (caress) your dear car and watch how it shines, the million dollars spent never goes waste after all the money earned here have to be spent here, none can take it to the netherworld. While in a party watch you dear wife mingling with her friends in all smiles, in her favorite designer costume and dazzling diamond necklace, the sight may be so fulfilling that all the money spent is worth. Putting the buck in some banks never lifts the spirit that high!

God and his heaven.

In fact god must have gifted us with money to be flaunted, putting all in some bank and living like a beggar must be unforgivable crime before the almighty, “my dear little idiot, your place is not here go that way to the hell, because you seemed happy with that set-up” the Almighty may shoo away a miser who put all in bank and lived a life like a beggar and begged admission to paradise after death – those who flaunt already live in heaven.

Ringing in quality.

jewellery Pearl

Wearing bulk ornaments the old day order is passe, minimum ornaments that spell class is in vogue but the slimming in quantity has never to do anything with cost; as the present day neck-lace or rings are worth pounds of gold worn in the past. Designer wears studded with class diamonds, gems and rare pearls worth a fortune; but it is worth it, as diamonds are for ever, or rather for a fistful of diamonds! Love and ornaments seem proportionate as more one loves his wife the more ornaments he fetch for her!

The new breed in the fore!

Jewellers

Making of jewellery was for long time a job of the local craftsman and they were made in traditional design and traditional methods. Rich families had captive craftsmen for the purpose. As a result the necklace worn by great grandma was not different from what the mothers wore. But in recent years a lot of fashion has come in especially in the case of Wedding Rings.

The modern-day wizards!

All that has changed as modern making methods and designs conquered the field. Designer ornaments and jewellery design has turned to be big business, world class designers work day and night to craft a piece that can catch the eye of a buyer who can afford it.

National asset!

All said and done jewels and jewellery is here to stay making our women more beautiful and elating the ego of our officers, after all our officers and our beautiful women are the assets of any nation let confidence and beauty overflow and the nation get enriched.

Khayyam and Jaidev’s relationship with Mohammad Rafi

Khayyam and Jaidev’s relationship with Mohammad Rafi

When we visualise the golden era of music in Indian cinema we primarily think about the giant music directors like Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, etc., or lyricists like Shakeel Badayani, Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri or singers like Rafi, Lata who made major contribution to the music of that age. Among the legendary giants there were other composers who composed music for less number of films but created their identity and everlasting appeal even with the less number of compositions. Jaidev and Khayyam are two composers who received numerous awards for their classic performance and still remain few of the offbeat composers without whom the firmament of music would be colourless.


Jaidev who came to Bombay initially from Ludhiyana to become an actor learnt music from K. Jaokar and Janardan Jaokar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and after ashort span of stay in his home town Ludhiyana, returned to Bombay with his immense command of folk and classical music. As he initially worked with Navketan Banner, he got a scope of working with SD Burman also. His debue with Chetan Anand’s film Joru Ka Bhai, 1955, gave him opportunity to compose independant music but he got recognition with the film Humdono in 1961.


Humdono was also the starting point of Jaidev’s relationship with the man with the golden voice, Mohammad Rafi. The unique style of Jaidev included his tunes which appeared not to end with the antara or the sanchari and uniting them with the mukhra unlike other composers. Rafi’s voice had the effect of sedative which doctor’s prescribe for patients who cant sleep in the song “Abhi na jao chor kar, ki dil abhi bhara nahi” in Hum Dono. The way Rafi pronounced adhuri yaas, hardly any playback singer can think even today. The emotions of the character were kept intact and the musical value of the song was enhanced by Rafi in a tremendous way in Humdono. The ghazal in the film “kabhi khud pe kabhi halat pe rona aya” can be categorised as one of the ten best ghazals Rafi did sing in his life. At the same time the other song “main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” which showed the carefree attitude of Dev Anand, who got admitted in military in the film, had the effect of santoor and the prelude and interlude followed the main song of Rafi that music lovers even memorised them as a song itself. Lata Mangeshkar’s performance in the song “Allah tero naam” in raag gara was probably one of her best performances ever. Jaidev’s return path of the sanchari was again evident in the classical bhajan which is still sung sometimes as prayer song at other times in temples and places of worship. The other film he composed music for include Mujhe Jeene Do, 1963, where Lata’s song “Nadi nare na jao sham” became hit. As it was female oriented film with Wahida Rehman providing the lead performance there were hardly sequences for male songs.


In the other film Kinare Kinare, in 1963, Jaidev asked Rafi to sing duet song with Usha Mangeshkar titled “maya anchal jale kaya ka abhiman”. His other notable songs for Rafi include “aaj ki raat hai bus jalwa dikhane ke liye” and “roop ki dhoop to dhalke rahegi” from the film Jiyo Aur Jeene Do, in 1969. Both were successful with Jaidev’s folk effect in the respective songs.


In the 1970s, Jaidev shifted towards Ghazal singer Bhupinder Singh for most of his songs, with “Do Diwane Shahar Me” and “Ek Akela is shahar me” from the film Gharonda, 1977, directed by Gulzar with Amol Palekar in the lead role. Runa Laila’s song “tumke hona ho mukhko to itna yakeen hai” looked like it was never going to end with the brilliant lyrics of gulzar. The violin was played so brilliantly in the song “Ek akela is shahar me” depicting urbanised folk songs, that it identified the pathos of Jaidev who was a loner in life. The other successful film of Jaidev included Dooriyan, 1979, acted by Uttamkumar and Sharmila Tagore. There Bhupinder Sing’s song “Zindagi zindagi o mere ghar ana ana zindagi” and “zindagi me jab tumhare gham nahi the”showed Jaidev’s unconventional movement in the rise and fall of the antara and sanchari. Jaidev along with Madanmohan had composed music for Rishi Kapoor’s film Laila Majnu, 1977, where Rafi’s songs “barbad muhobbat ki dua saath liye ja”, “is reshmi pazeeb ki jhankar ke sadpe”, “likhkar tera naam zameen par” were superhits and marked Rafi’s tremendous combination with Rishi Kapoor.

Jaidev received national award for the brilliant composition of music in the films Reshma Aur Shera, Gaman and Ankahi, most of which included Rajasthani folk music. Jaidev never got the recognition which he deserved. It is a pity that Jaidev got a scope of composing music for female oriented films where he made the best use of Lata Mangeshkar, because Rafi could have made enormous contribution to Jaidev’s remote style of music composition. Even then the combination of Rafi and Jaidev carry enormous musical value for music lovers across the country.


Khayyam better known as Mohammad Zahur Khaiyyam is the other music composer, who had such an immortal appeal in his compositions, yet had not received the recognition he deserved. He was born in Jullundher, Punjab in 1927, and learnt music from Pandit Amarnath and Hunslal Bhagatram. Khayyam initially used Tala Mehmood in the song “Sham-e-gham ki kasam” in Dilip Kumar’s Footpath, 1954, where he made his debue and Mukesh in the songs “Woh subah kabhi to ayegi” and “phir na kije meri gustaq nigaho ka gila” in Raj kapoor’s Phir Subah Hogi, 1958. Although Rafi had one song “jo bor kare yar ko us yaar se touba” in Phir Subah Hogi, 1958 where it was a duet with Mukesh singing for Raj Kapoor and Rafi singing for Rehman.


But Khayyam acknowledged the golden voice of Rafi in the film Shola Aur Shabnam, 1961, where most of the lyrics were written by Kaifi Azmi and Rafi’s songs “dhunti rehti yeh ankhe mujhme”, “jeet hi lenge bazzi hum tum”, “pehle to aankh milna”, “phool ko dhoonde pyaasa bhawra” had a soft, passionate flavour of the soil of mountains. The songs were picturised on Dharmender. In the film Shagun, 1964, the song “parbaton ke paron par sham ka basera hai” sung by Rafi carried the intoxicating appeal of Khayyam. The next film Mohabbat is ko kahte hai, 1965, picturised on Shashi Kapoor had a fantastic duet song of Rafi and Lata titled “thehriye hosh me alun to chale jaiyega” which was a form of a poetry where each of the poets answered one another. In Akhri Khat, in 1966, Rafi’s song “aur thori der theher” had the same folk effect of Khayyam. Lata Mangeshkar was brilliant with her performance of “baharo mera jeevan bhi sawaaro” and “mere chanda mere nanhe” in the same film.


In the 1970s, Khaiyyam composed music in lesser films but again came up with creative music and received the filmfare award for composing music for the film Kabhi Kabhi, 1975, where the title song written by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Mukesh and Lata were well acclaimed by music lovers of India. His composition in Umrao Jaan, 1981, brought him the second filmfare award and amazed the musical pandits with classical mujra, which became extinct from bollywood music at that time. His songs in the film Bazaar, 1982, picturised on Nasiruddin Shah, titled “karoge yaad to” had ghazal andaz and Bhupinder Singh was sublime with his performance.


As Khayyam, like Jaidev, composed music in mostly offbeat films their presence was felt whenever the directors came up with thoughtful stories, powerful direction and rich lyrics. Although they have provided less number of songs for Rafi but the creations of the combination should be restored for the epic value of the folk and classical effects in the songs.


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1.

Bhupinder Singh in his TV interview in DD1 Channel said he was an absolute admirer of Rafi. He said he got a scope of acting in Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat, 1964 where the songs were composed by MadanMohan. There was a song “hoke majboor usne bulaya hoga” which had to be sung by Bhupinder, Tala Mehmood, Manna Dey and Rafi. He wanted to share the microphone with Rafi. As Rafi was shorter in height than Bhupinder a tool was provided during the recording to match both Rafi and Bhupinder.The song was very successful and was a landmark in Bhupinder Singh’s life.

Article By Souvik Chatterji

Master of Law from Warwick University, Coventry, UK.
Master of Law from Case Western Reserve Univerwsity, Cleveland, Ohio,USA.


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Navaratri

Navaratri – The Nine Holy Nights.

Navaratri festival

A celebration of womanhood.

October 12, 2007 is a very special day for the Hindus as it marks the beginnings of the Navaratri festivals; a celebration that spans nine nights; each day with its own significance. It all starts from the bright fortnight day of the month Puruttasi as per the Indian Calendar (September 12^th to 21^st) when the Sun enters the Asterism Sign (location of a prominent group of stars) as per astrology. The most significant part of these continuous celebrations of nine consecutive nights is that it is entirely dedicated to Durga a symbol of womanhood in its frighteningly virile forms.

Durga the fearsome goddess!

Navaratri Pictures courtsey: mayukhi.com

Durga the goddess worshipped during Navaratri is dark, tongue protruding, bears the head of one demon in one hand and a hack on the other hand and she stands on the top of a man. She wears a necklace made of skulls! One lion leaning against her right leg and there is a demon with bison-head towards her left leg. It is believed that she is blood-thirsty and like sacrifice of animals!

Nine nights – nine roles.

Standing apart from the usual concept that Indian culture promotes the docile and submissive image of woman, Goddess ‘Durga’ or ‘Kali’ is worshipped as the embodiment of courage and determination. Durga is a woman goddess of many splendors, in fact she represents a mystical woman who can be a goddess, a consort, and at the same time an annihilator. Based on her moods she has nine names like, Kumari, Trimurti, Kalyani, Rohini, Kalika, Chandika, Sambhavi, Durga and Subhadra.

Nine sources of power.

Navaratri festival image courtsey: t2india.com

It is explained that Durga is the embodiment of woman-power and these names stated above are only the nine sources of power of which she is made of.

Kumari is playful and innocent form of Durga it is innocent and lovable. Trimurti is the giver of good children. Kalyani is giver of good education and reliable friendships. Rohini keeps a girl away from sinful deeds and thoughts. Kalika is the giver of courage. Chandika is the giver of wealth. Sambhavi assures success in enterprises. Durga is the annihilator of impediments. Subhadra is the giver of cherished objects.

The other side of the trinity.

As per the Indian concepts there is a trinity in gods as Brahma is for creation and Vishnu for preservation and Shiva for destruction. The womanhood also has the trinity as Saraswathy the consort of Brahma (she is the goddess of letters and worshipping her is believed to be useful in gaining knowledge) is to deal with creation and Lakshmi (is the goddess of wealth and worshipping is good for financial security) with Vishnu for preservation and Kali or Durga the wife of Lord Shiva represents the destructive aspects of the universe in tune with her husband Shiva. The personified aspect of universal power is known in different names, in her mild aspect she is Parvati or Uma, but she is known as Kali or Durga.

Myth an asset.

India is a land of myths, if the myths are considered an asset of a nation India is the richest nation in the world, in that count it can easily outstrip Greece which is the next best. Behind Navaratri celebrations also there are so many of them, as the most prominent myth may be this.

Lord Shiva and his tapas

Lord Shiva has ascetic qualities with him; he occasionally goes in to deep ‘tapas’ (a meditational trance with penance). On one such occasion his penance lasted too long and it began to affect the day to day affairs of the world; as Shiva is a god with many portfolios (he is the god of virility and his absence had a telling effect on men; they too began to develop aversion to sexual life. The Devas (demigods) of heaven thought of rescuing humanity by luring Shiva in to action.

A mission impossible.

They deputed Kamadeva (Indian version for cupid) to invoke sexual urge in Shiva so he may end his penance (Kamadeva has a bow made of a sugar-cane stem and arrows of fragrant flowers; he can shoot flowery arrows in to the breasts of people; those who are struck with this flowery arrow will immediately get bitten by love-bug). But these were valid only on ordinary mortals; to his dismay when the poor cupid realized the fact it was too late!. When the arrow was shot Shiva could sense something wrong and he opened his eyes!

Death of Kamadeva!

When Shiva was woken up from a trance he could see the mischief cupid played and the culprit was caught red handed! In a fury Shiva opened his third eye (Shiva has a hidden third eye on his forehead) and burned cupid in to ashes (it is in the myths that the third eye of Shiva has a power to radiate laser-like rays that can burn anything it comes in to contact). Cupid had to pay with his life for his ignorance.

Death of cupid a very bad news!

The death of Kamadeva (cupid) was not good news to the world and Lord Ganesha was deputed by the inmates of heaven to solve the issue. He retrieved the ashes of the cupid and recreated another one and Shiva; repented of his drastic action invoked life in to the ash-clay idol. But the end product turned out to be not what the makers indented but a ferocious demon by name Bhandasura (the duty of Shiva was destruction and he meddling with creation caused all the chaos!) who went away with intensions akin to demons and he practiced severe penance (tapas) and made Shiva appear before him. As Bhandasura’s maker Shiva could do nothing but to give the boon he required - as no man on earth can kill him.

Birth of a Monster!

With the power of the boon Bhandasura started a killing spree butchering anyone whom he had seen and there was another headache for the mandarins of heaven. As no man could kill the demon the onus of the job had to be shouldered by a woman this was the purpose of the birth of Durga the goddess. She took nine roles one each of the Navaratri nights (nights are the time for demons) and tried to exterminate the demon but success eluded her.

Victorious 10^th day!

Durga at last took a different shape of a very enchanting woman and approached Shiva and succeeded in revoking his support to the demon. On the tenth night she set for the head of the demon and fulfilled her mission. (It is said that in her efforts to please Lord Shiva she gained a bonus also as Subramanya the god was born in that association. Navaratris are the nine nights of her struggle with the demon and Vijaya Desami (victorious 10^th) is her day of victory.

Celebrations.

Navaratri image courtsey: asianculturalcentervt.org

It was said in the beginning that the celebration of Navaratri includes nine nights, the first night begins with the worship of goddess Gauri seated on an elephant this is Gaja Gauri Vrata (worship of goddess seated on elephant), this is done by women for the longevity of their husbands. The ninth day is for Goddess Saraswati - the goddess of knowledge - here the worshipped (Saraswati Puja) objects are books, intended for the betterment of educative skills of students.

Kolu (arrangement of small idols), Bhajans and Keerthans (hymns).

On these nine nights little girls are given special treats like new dress, toys, sweets as per their desire, in fact these all celebrations are for the honor of womanhood and girls stand on the threshold like a half blown flower. During these days all houses set beautiful settings for exhibiting small images of deities, as well as dolls of all hues, it is the duty of virgin girls to set ‘kolu’ (as this settings is called). In the evenings prayers (bhajans, and keertans- both are melodious songs in praise of gods) sung by the family members little girls from the neighbors also join the concert and either a feast or light refreshment of banana and jaggery (coarse dark sugar pellets) are served for the participants.

Welcome to the world of letters!

Navaratri celebrations in India

Initiation to the world of letters is done on Vijaya Desami day, young children are lead to the most literate man of the village and made to sit in his lap, there will be a platter before him the child’s right-hand forefinger is guided to write the letter ‘A’ (first alphabet in its mother tongue). It is believed that the child will gain power from the guru (the initiator) and grow as a bright student.

For the school going ones freedom from home-work.

The Navaratri festivals are also known as Dasahara, and Puja festival, during these period students are free from reading and writing lessons! Their books will be placed very near to the image of Goddess Saraswati. At the end of Navaratri (the tenth day known as Vijaya Desami) students will take bath early morning go to the temple, pray, apply sandal paste on their forehead and come before the place where the books and image of Saraswati is placed squat and take the book, open it and read a page. This is the symbolic opening of the education year that is to start from that day.

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Free Burma Campaign

Cry my beloved country!

Burma a nation with a rich history that spans thousands of years and linked with all the neighboring nations has become isolated and got cut off from the rest of the world. The ruling generals have made it a living hell. The long roots of military have penetrated its roots to every institutions in that unfortunate country like education, law-making, judiciary and execution.

Monks protest in myanmar image courtsey: boston.com

The military is implementing their agenda in a generation of people by spoiling their mind thought and actions. They are binding people in the chains of fear and letting them grow in an atmosphere that is devoid of free thinking and innovation. When the whole world wakes up to belong to the 21^st century, this great nation is destined to live under a barbarian regime that is insensitive to the extreme.

Once tasted blood!

The uniformed have tasted blood and they refuse to go, there is no sign of them returning to the barracks in the near future. Mere talking of democracy is enough to make the junta mad as the uniformed are well fed, well dressed and well cared for, as premier citizens under their own rule. The military officers live in good houses get their cut in every deal that is made. Civilians who clamor for equality (equal share for the pie in the military perception) are ‘dirty democrats’ who are to be suppressed for the wellbeing of the nation!

Treating all alike!

“Crushing all enemies on land, underground and at sea, all enemies, we will crush them totally, until they are uprooted, decimated”. These are poetic utterance the army is fed with, who are these enemies after all? Those who demonstrate democracy is the answer! Under ‘tatmadaw’- the Burmese word for rule by the military junta – the Burmese army is engaged in executing orders from the top with unusual fervor and crush down demonstrating public whether they are monks, journalists or women make no difference!

Besieged by enemies!

Myanmar conflict image courtsey: victorianweb.org

For the military the whole nation is besieged by enemies from within outside and around its borders and but for them the whole nation will fall apart! And the onus of keeping the nation together is on their shoulders! Certainly managing a nation especially a faction- ridden nation like Burma is no easy thing, if it is so tiresome a job why they can’t entrust the job to a democratically elected system, why can’t they entrust the pains to some elected people and return to their barracks? The junta has admitted that they have arrested thousands of protesters and 109 of them have been released. The fact remains that no one knows how much are dead, wounded, arrested and how many died in custody, there is no one accountable there is no records of the dead or arrested.

Ban Ki Moon and his strong words.

In fact the Burmese army is in war for the last forty years since it has seized power, they had the tedious task of eliminating ethnic conflicts, regional strife as well as troubles from peaceful demonstrators who clamored for democracy. If they could exist fighting forty years another span of forty years is not a tall order at all! Pressures from international agencies are no problem to a junta that is only concerned with self aggrandizement and propaganda. Ban Ki Moon –UN Secy. Genl. -Recently on a conversation with Ibrahim Gambari the UN envoy who returned after his mission to Burma blasted the regime for its neglect to democracy and non-respect to human lives. Burmese junta has heard stronger words than these, and never paid any attention to it so far!

Lion and the lamb.

Aung Suu Ki image courtsey: freeburma.org.uk

Recently to deceive the international community the junta has extended its invitation to Mrs. Aung Suu Ki for talks –Aung Suu Ki is under house arrest for the last 12 years- but nothing to be expected from the talks as the junta has set a bundle of preconditions for talks! A military dictator asking preconditions for talks to a woman who is under house arrest for the last twelve years, what an irony! We will discuss everything under the sun but implementation of democratic process would be the condition number one for talks!

Shari Villa Rose.

The US Ambassador to Burma recently talked with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Burma she formally requested to the Burmese Minister to stop cracking down peaceful demonstrators, the outcome of the talks is was negative as we all guess, and in her words the talk was ‘unproductive’ she continues “what we have heard in private was not very different from what we hear from the Government and the public”.

Very pious indeed!

Zalmay Khalizad

Please listen to the words of US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad “if the Burmese regime does not respond constructively to the demands of the international community in a timely manner, US is prepared to introduce a resolution in the Security Council imposing sanctions”. Very ascetic and pious words generally not accompanied by US envoys. Sanctions make only ordinary people suffer and are nothing to a regime that is not concerned with the welfare of its own people. The military know how to survive with whatever is available at the cost of ordinary people.

The god father of all evil forces!

China Flag

China the new power to reckon with is there as a member with veto power in the Security Council which considers the whole issue in Burma is its purely domestic affairs and it is improper to meddle with. If anybody meddle with Burmese internal affairs “we are there to veto the resolution” what a kind god father! When Burmese are murdered for demonstrating in peace, North Koreans and Zimbabweans die of starvation, all fault is of the people and the regime which has caused all these are innocent. Perhaps the ‘god-father’ may be comparing all these with those events happened at the Tiananmen Square.

Related Reading

• Myanmar - Burma

India in the Western Eye

India in the western eye.

It was a fine Saturday morning stock markets closed and there was practically nothing left for me to do, a stroll through the crowded streets seemed a good idea; a book stall can do wonders when one has got time to spare. That day also worked some wonders although in a different fashion. The Book stall owner with his usual smile brought good news “Sir we have a prepublication offer on a three book series on world nations. The book itself is a good bargain for the discounted prepublication price and to make the offer irresistible on offer is a set of National Geographic CD roms on Forces of Nature and one on Designs. Then there is also a six CD single pack from The Discovery Channel School titled World Geography worth Rs 1245 free with the book.

“How much for the book”? I asked. “ sir, three volumes 2500 pages, as a ‘gold card holder’ (a special privilege offer to regular customers) you get substantial discount extra”. This offer was irresistible to me though I usually avoided such ‘offers’. “A pack of discs worth Rs 4000 free it is too much! What disc is that when good quality CDs available for one tenth of that price”.

“Sir it is a publication by the world renowned Discovery Channel and it covers whole nations of the world, please see the book; you will definitely buy one”

I browsed through the samle book and found it worth the amount; more over the Rs 4000 worth discs were a lure that caught the mind –if it is worth Rs 4000 it must be some real thing!. I ordered the book and the CD packet and returned home happily.When the book and the goodies finally arrived i was quick to browse through the book and to check the cd’s too.

I checked the cd titled Discovery Channel School World Geography’. Was impressed by the opening sentence that read “ Discovery Channel School, a leading provider of quality education resources that help teachers bring the world to their students. It covers all nations region wise. Hence more of less a time of two to 5 minutes was only devoted to each nation.

I browed through the country index and quickly found India. I was shocked to see how ignorant were the team that covered the feature.

Please follow their text ‘India is the second most ‘populist’ country in the world. Though it is hard to get on exact count, scientists estimate that more than one billion people live in it’ They forget or are ignorant of the fact that India’s censes system as recognized by the United Nations is the most efficient in the world. In this aspect they must have been talking about Burma! Please remember that the product is of 2007; a very latest one.

Next ‘Indians are free to work in whatever jobs they want, but that wasn’t always possible from this to the last part the theme centers on dalit issue and that alone as if they have to say nothing about a great country that has gained much braving against all odds since independence. It all seem like the early tricks of evangelists who used exploit painful situations of one nation for their selfish gain. It remains a fact that India’s dalits constitute a minority and their recent progress is praiseworthy and they have occupied all top positions of the nation.

But there are many non-dalits in this nation of whom they have nothing good to say only blaming them for the dalits’ fate. I have three questions to the publishers of this product

1 Why you have said nothing of the racism -when those nations were mentioned – it very much exists in developed nations,

2 why you did not see any thing that is good in India and kept mum about its opportunities and challenges?

3 why you presented such unbalanced views on India that is the greatest democracy in the world? As a media product your publication should have done justice to a great nation with a balanced view.

If space constraint was the reason showing all shameful aspects about India in such elaborate way is not justified. There are many countries in the world poorer than India engaged in greater discrimination to their people. The present position India has gained in the world is hard earned and it is the result of determination and hard work of its people. India is growing with 8% plus GDP and has been accepted as the super power of information technology, these are things even common people know what happened to the team of the ‘Discovery Channel School a leading provider of quality education’! is hard to guess.

Among the thousands of people who were scanned by their vicious camera not even a single well dressed human being is visible while whole the beggars, waifs and strays filled the shots. I was humiliated by the stark cynicism the camera had shown. India has so many things like poverty and diseases; every nation on earth has such things, why ‘Discovery’s camera has forgotten to show such things of other nations, and why they have forgotten to show good things of India. It all must be a purposefully manipulated to project to show India in a very bad light, their sympathy to Indian dalits seems suspect.

I’m giving below the exact words of the commentary as it is on the cd. This will give u a better picture of how things look from their angle.

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India – (time alloted 2:23)

India lies in the massive south asia peninsula. It is approximately a third of the size of the united states and is bordered by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Nepal and Pakistan as well as Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

India is the second most populist country in the world. Though it is hard to get an exact count, scientists estimate that more than one billion people live there.

Today Indians are free to work in whatever jobs they want. But that was not always possible. As lays 1949 India was made up of many tight knit social groups called junta or castes that determined a persons occupation, friends and even whom they can marry.

Early conquerors from southern Russia and Central Asia put people into casts when they conquered India in the second millennium BC. They created castes t give everyone a special purpose and to create order in Indian Society. There are many different castes in India. Hindu priests called Brahmins were the highest cast. Merchants and Farmers were members of a special caste called the vaisias while the peasants and laborers belonged to the lowest caste the Sudras. Unlike the Brahmins, Vaisias and Sudras; Dalits were people without a caste. They were not able to lie and work in the same area as non dalits. But the worst thing about being a dalit was how others treated them. Dalits were considered untouchables because people from higher castes thought that just touching a dalit would contaminate them. The Indian government abolished the term untouchable and all discriminations against dalits in 1949 in order to make India a modern, democratic country. The Indian Government has been working to stop discrimination against dalits by sponsoring schools and providing medical care. Some dalits have overcome oppression and now have power in Indian Society. These successful people and others use their time and money to promote more schools, healthcare and a better life to other dalits in India. It will take time to change the way dalits are seen in India but as a pull together these people who were once untouchables are improving their lives and looking towards the future.

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If the text does not impress you then watch the visual if possible that wills sure do the trick.