Trying To Understand

 Yet again, it is that time, rather that day, of the year! Oh, yes, on January 30, most all remember Gandhiji, or at least go through all the motions of remembrance, so as to annoy, to irritate, to vent bitter anger against the opponents, right?

Well, what I am trying to say is that Gandhiji who spent a lifetime trying for peace ends up being the point of hatred for the other(s) on the day of his death anniversary! Well, I try my level best not to get in to dirty politicking in any field. But the way the messages were pouring in on certain wapp groups, it looked as if the sympathisers of certain political parties whom Gandhiji nourished were extremely volatile and more violent than all the British oppressors put together!

If I have understood him on the basis of my read of "My Experiments with Truth", he seems to me to be always in this moment,  right here in the present. Does that mean one forgets the past? Absolutely no way! Rather one uses it to understand oneself best so as to shape a better present.

Look at his narration of the childhood mistakes, of the youthful indulgences, the experiences in Africa, for instance. In my opinion, he seems to chuckle at his earlier self, learn from it, and thus design a better today! Given such a selfhood, how would he have reacted to his professed followers' visceral hatred of the other side?

I do not know if he would be as aggressive regarding certain principles as his self-declared  followers are in their angry bashing of others. In my opinion, great thinkers rarely are rigid. Let me give you another example. I am sure Marx would  have looked at the post-LPG realities more creatively. In fact, he is so very non-dogmatic that inbuilt in his theory is its critique. In my opinion, hence, he is never outdated. His texts help us to learn anew from him.

That holds true of Gandhiji, too, I feel. In a world that is dangerously metro-sizing, it is rather pathetic to pin him down to charkha and village. In my opinion, his basic principles need a new, vibrant interpretation, a feature somehow I think he would have liked. As far as I have understood him, I do not think he took himself too very seriously so as not to relate to the current context.

Unfortunately, his 'b(r)and' followers, who are violence itself in subtle (and not so subtle, too) ways in their own professional and personal lives would cry themselves hoarse (hypocritically!?!) to show the lacunae in others! "Hey, Ram" , I suppose, he would have sighed to see them thus!

Pratima@I have always appreciated Gandhiji's self-deprecating sense of humour which was, in my opinion, extremely sharp and trenchant without being nasty!

Being an artist

 This is the era of 'reality shows'. The impression hence most people have is that art is very easy, is 'child's play', even literally, given the very many singing and dancing sensations on very many television channels. Such perception makes the lay person believe that art means "looking" rather than "being" an artist.

Nothing is far n  further from the truth. Sure you must look presentable today, especially if you are in to performing arts. Gone with the wind is the era of an artist who was so lost to the art that apperance mattered the least.  An M.F. Hussain, without shoes and in non-formal dress, was ill-treated even in those days. Now, when even the youngest palm holds at least a simple camera, not being presentable is a luxury none can afford. 

As a performing artist, moreover, one is helplessly dependent on very many non-artistic technology-driven gadgets.  The sound system and the acoustics of the venue, for example, the non-creaking/screeching, sensitive microphones with the right volume and the proper angle, the lighting system on/off the stage, countless are such aspects controlled by technicians who may not be very sensitive to art.

In other words, a performance is always a collective collaborative effort. The co-artists matter a lot, too, for example. That would not be an issue for an accomplished artist as she/he would have her/his own troupe, and anyways would have the finesse and the proficiency to adjust with whatever/whosoever is available locally. 

Then there are the spectators. For most of them, art is mere entertainment, sheer time-pass. They crunch chips, chat loudly on mobiles, saunter off hither-n-thither! Their demands  and expectations can be wonky, too. After performing wonderfully in the classical mode, a genuine artist would be asked for a very trashy tinsel number. Remeber the Rahul Deshpande episode in Mumbai when his performance was unceremoniously interrupted to accomodate some filmy star!

Beyond all this, there is the deep malaise of petty politics and groupism. Most often, the inflated egos of the mighty and the powerful cannot tolerate any other talent who may appear as a threat to them. Systematically, subtly sidelining such a talent is easy 'game' for the art mafia. 

Art is not easy at all, in brief. Beyond all these external factors, a committed artist needs to practice a lot to perfect the art form. Such practice is sheer hard work. No smart short cuts there! Getting a good 'guru' guiding the great way is essential, too. Basically, moreover, art IS an exploration. At no point can one feel that one has attained the ultimate. The process is a forever journey.

How do I know all this? Well, as a performer, I am an absolute nobody. I sure sing rather well, play the bulbul tarang/banjo in an okay way, can play roles in street plays for sure. Even then funny are the experiences. Undoubtedly, there have been many happy moments, but there have been creepy experiences as well.

Twice when my pre-recorded song was to play, the computer crashed exactly at that moment! At times, I had to re-check the microphone ten times before opening my mouth! A soliloquy was clapped down before my co-artist could even 'set the stage', so to say. 

A street play I wrote, directed, acted in  was almost about to be clamped down. After the actual performance which was a great success, there was to be a video shooting of a special second show which was never allowed to happen. 

 On another occasion, during a recorded presentation, the song was suddenly stopped, there were conscious chuckles so as to fondle the ego of a third-rate non-performer whose jealousy knew no bounds but had the right numbers to back it!

Of course, I find all such gimmicks downright silly and to be absolutely ignored. In fact, I pity such creeps. Once in the college, with the help of non-'star' students, I put up a programme that had all the elements in it, music to mime. The hall full of spectators were hugely enjoying it. Suddenly the peon came, and snatched away microphones because some three buildings away, an exam was on! Yet neither the amateur  artists nor the audience gave up, and we completed the programme most happily.

Well, nothing in comparison are these travails when contrasted  with the tribulations of an author. About these, some other time! In the meantime, if this blog sensitises some even in the smallest way, it has performed its role efficiently!

Pratima@Art is 'fun' in multiple ways!

Tuition Classes

 Well, it was at Hyderabad that I became aware of this menace called coaching classes. The son (mostly; very rarely, the daughter) had to pass his seventh, and that summer vacation onwards, he would be admitted (that turn of phrase is more realistic, closer to truth than 'he would join') to a coaching class that would start training him for the IIT JEE! Solid five years he would be grilled cum groomed, often in the adjoining hostels, to join that elite institute.

Well, what exactly is the problem? Everybody wants the child to be successful, and sends him to tuition classes! That would be the parents' argument. Well, it never mattered to anyone if the boy had, forget the liking, but at least the basic ability for such stringent coaching, and later for the IIT! 

In Maharashtra, too, there was the Latur pattern. The only succour, I believe, would be that sons joined such coaching classes after the tenth, right?

I have always had solid problems with such tuition classes. I have never ever attended one. Self study is the best method. Luckily, my parents thus encouraged me, too! As for the coaching classes, well, they create a parallel education system which weakens the basic one. Parents are ready to pay lakhs for stupid tuitions, but they cannot make the 'ladla' attend school/college lectures regularly, make him study sincerely, develop good learning habits! 

It is quite a vicious circle. Many teachers do not teach because students do not take schools/colleges seriously, and students do not learn/study seriously in colleges because teachers teach in a mediocre way. After the Seventh Pay Commission, teachers at least do not depend on the tuitions payments which once was a reality so much so that colleges had to warn teachers against such two-timing.

Do not the tuition teachers, too, teach in a most mediocre way? In fact, they make students in to exam answering machines! More than creating a passion/love for the subject in the student's mind, they make him a 'marks-ist'.

To get new victims to feed in to their cashbox, they resort to all sorts of wrong practices such as paper leaks, 'managing' the paper setter, and/or the examiner! The ads they release are real fun. The same topper is the topper because he attended ABC to XYZ  classes! Hopefully, in different batches at least!

Such menaces exist not only in the junior college days. Horrible are the C.A. classes, too. The timings are most unrealistic. The students never attend regular college classes. Their commerce teachers complain that they have an attitude problem. They think themselves to be better than, superior to college teachers!

The UPSC/MPSC tuition classes, too, are horrors. The fees are steep. Most students come from poor rural families. Dreams are sold to them . Years are spent preparing for that one last attempt which never happens!

As for languages, it is no better. For English, there are these quick fix coaching classes where the teachers themselves do not know forget good, even proper, English! Nor is the language taught properly, despite all sorts of warranties. As for foreign languages, students, who do not learn in colleges because they want to "enjoy", are provided ready made answers to  mug up, I suppose!

As for the CAT/TOEFL/GRE preparation, tuition classes focus on specific skills necessary for a special exam which never get properly taught till the twelfth because the language needed for such tests should have been honed by the twelfth. Actually, excellent books with lots of tests are available. The ETS makes wonderful practice material available, too. 

Where lies the problem? In cosseting and spoon feeding? In rote learning for the exam?  In never encouraging the learner to 'learn'?  In stupid movies that show colleges as 'fun' places for enjoyment,  for eve-teasing cum affairs, and which treat teachers as buffoons? I suppose, also in attitudes such as the eleventh or the FY is the 'rest year'! Who studies in the eleventh? Only boring people! Believe me, brainless mothers encourage their stupid sons in to such silliness! 

Surely, there are systemic problems such as the summative exam patterns that test only the memory. Hence the new law by the government that a child below sixteen cannot join any coaching class is a welcome move. Thus alone can end the Kota Raj!

Pratima@This move would weaken the parallel educational economy. Students would have to study in schools. That would develop the studying habit hopefully. Why waste money, time, teenage and youth in tuition classes, right?

Voting

 Currently I am conducting a skill enhancement course for the college office staff. One of  my very sincere colleague-cum-students wrote to me on January 25 that she would not be able to attend the lecture because she would be busy with the Voters'  Day  work.

Earlier, too, in a friendly chat or two, Mrs Kulkarni narrated the travails, tribulations, and a very rare treasure or two of this tiring, thankless job, going from door to door, collecting data regarding the voters. Tough work indeed! As a government officer, Papa, too, often had to perform that extremely sensitive duty as the In-charge of a voting booth in some far-flung interior part of the state, et al. 

Despite so much sincere spade work by the establishment, a huge chunk of the 'janta' is least concerned about the primary duty as a citizen of a democratic nation, that is, to vote. In fact, if the voting day happens to be a Friday or a Monday, most "citizens" make it in to a longish weekend as the voting day is almost always a holiday. "Enjoy", as it is typically reiterated these days, is the motto! Who then cares for the 'right to vote', right?

The voting percentage is real low in cities. In fact, in "posh" areas, people almost seem to look down upon voting, while in juggies and zopadpattis, there would be record voting. All of us 'educated' people mock such 'shanty' voting. Very rarely though do we bother about our  own prime duty, that is, to vote!

Luckily for us, our parents made it almost compulsory for us to vote. We have never ever given voting a miss. Sanju drives all the way from Hinjewadi to Kothrud just to cast the vote, while Raju and I track down the voting centers in our respective areas till we find the exact location of the center, but vote we sure do!

Voting is indeed the prime duty of a citizen. Sure, in a democracy,  actively performing the  other roles and responsibilities of a citizen does matter. Yet, unless and until the primary duty of voting is not fulfilled, nothing else can work in a democracy.

Even when stories about how Indian voters are very intelligent and aware abound, conscientious citizens are indeed very few.  Should voting then be made compulsory? If we want the rewards of a democratic set-up, "we, the citizens" as the Preamble defines us, must fulfill our duties and responsibilities, and without any incentives! What say?

Pratima@ Voting is the (he)art of the democratic process. Oh, yes, during my Ph.D. tenure, I was once the Chief Executive Officer of the Students' Council Election Committee, and was known as the Lady Sheshan of the campus! Fun it was, but that duty yet again made me aware of the huge responsibilities of a citizen, that is, to vote.

Republic

 The term 'republic' originates from the Latin terms 'res' and 'publicum'. By definition, 'republic', therefore, is of/for/by the public, the people, as Abraham Lincoln would put it. As India as a "sovereign democratic republic" enters its seventy-fifth year, let us see if an acrostic would be possible. 

In the original Preamble to the Constitution which thus defined independent India, the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' were noteworthy by absence. They were introduced much later. That is, however, a totally different story which would need a totally different occasion/context. Right now, this is an attempt at an acrostic which attempts to encase India's vision.

Ratiocinating n radical

Energetic n ebullient

Proud-n-perfect

Unique is the Indian spirit.

Better than the best,

Large-hearted is its mind.

Integrity n ideals in its DNA,

Caring n creative is its soul.

Here is wishing that idea(l)s of the REPUBLIC forever flourish!

Pratima@Imaging ideal India!

Wither? Hither, thither and everywhere!

 Life is indeed a journey. People, however, seem to take that truism to heart! Most all love the small and the not-so-small excursions during that expedition called life. Yes,tourism is a big deal today. An aspect of the sevice sector which fuels economies, tourism is a big time industry. Remember the Maldives episode?

Many forms it is taking, this tourism. Look at Ayodhya. It is a pilgrim centre. Now, however, it is on the itinerary of the state, national, international tourists. A special Shri Ram train trail is on the map, too. I watched a few interviews stating how the changed look of the city has changed its economic profile as well. Yes, hawkers to hotels, interpreters to artisans, all enjoy a changed lifestyle due to tourism.

These days, people take easily available loans, use their credit cards. Tourists, however, they must be, right? As tourists, they have a wealth of programs to choose from, pilgrimage centers, history walks, adventure tourism,  forts and mountains, jungle walks, wildlife safaris, solo trips; the list is literally endless.

I have two problems with the tourists. The first is local. Often tourists do not respect the local laws. They would go to the forests, for example, speak loudly and disturb the wild animals whose habitats are shrinking anyways. They often make the place dirty, too. Visit a fort on a Monday/Tuesday, and you would get a panoramic view of the ills of tourism!

The other, the second, problem I have is conceptual. Tourists are often more interested in pics and selfies, the weirder and the wilder, the better, than in experiencing, enjoying the moment. In my opinion, the best camera is our eyes, and the best storage space, our minds. Most people, however, are more in to the "seen this, done that" mode.  Flaunting is far more important to such people than the feel! Reels are hence more real! 

As a result, traffic woes create tourism tensions. Want an example? Watch the terrible touristy troubles on the Atal Setu!  At times, hence I feel that the online tourism can be a fun feel, too! What say? Well, you never know! The yen for visiting more and more unusual spots is almost an itch. Ah, yes, bookings have already begun for space tourism, I believe!

Pratima@ Travels make you wiser and wittier. That was traditional wisdom. Tourism, too, make the locals richer, and the tourists trendier!

Atta, girl!

 Since 2008, January 24 is special. Want to know why? Well, the day is celebrated as the National Girl Child's Day. Girls are special. Girls are unique. So they are thought of these days across the length and breadth of India, I suppose  The days of female foeticide are not dead. Yet they are more a thing of the past, right? Families are okay with a daughter as the only child, right? No longer is it a taboo for sure!

Why, these days most sportswomen come from villages and three tier towns. Most interestingly, a state like Haryana, where patriarchy is deeply rooted, nay, entrenched, produces star players, athletes, hey, even wrestlers! Equally assuring are the sports stars that dazzle the 'seven sisters'.

I would undoubtedly assert that girls these days are much more empowered every which way than the earlier generations who could not even dream of realities accepted as the commonplace currently.  Comparatively,  education, for example,  is easily accessible. So are career choices. Dowry is less a threat. 

Such sure, however slow, progress does not at all mean that all is well. The new forms of technology are creating new dangers and difficulties for women.  A deepfake image is far more deadly and dangerous to deal with than a photoshopped image as the Mandana scandal shows. With sophisticated cameras available in every and any mobile, one cannot even know when who took which picture, right? 

Girls, too, are lost to the craze for  the reel making fad on the social media which is indeed a web, if not handled carefully. Girls, given the opportunities open now, should not fall a prey to such traps, especially because earlier generations have suffered s lot to get them to where they are now.

Society, too, needs to make spaces safe for girls. It is not merely the duty of the police. It is also related to the attitude of the entire society which should stand by, support a girl's right to say 'NO' to any form of harassment. Body shaming, eve teasing, stalking, eavesdropping on her activities are CRIMES, and must be severely punished both by the authorities and the society because a happy girl signifies a good society!

Pratima@  A safe and happy girl means a good nation!

Rumour mongering

 Have you seen a lizard? Sure you would have. Even if your home is the cleanest, a lizard may enter via the door or the window mesh. Actually, it is quite helpful as it eats up mosquitoes, roaches and other such insects. Many people are quite afraid of it, too.

No, the blog today is not a lecture on lizards. There are any number of YouTube videos available for that purpose! Who cares how (in)efficient they are! Well, that is neither our theme today.

I am referring to the lizard because of a proverb in Marathi. Literally translated, it would read as "a lizard's run is just up to the fence". What it implies is that your world view is as big or small as your vision, your intellectual capacity, and your perspective and/or prejudices. 

Indeed, it is the perspective that determines your outlook. The more limited it is, the more prejudiced and awful you are as a person. Let me give you a concrete example. If a man and a woman are seen together, sick people would immediately jump to the silliest conclusions!

Thus start rumours. Rumours are the bastard babies of sick and silly brains, born(e) out of their negligible intellectual capacities, and warped and twisted perspectives. Such gossips can hook up anyone with anyone. Even if a woman would not touch a creep with a barge pole, is never even seen with the fool, it does not stop such  perverts from spreading silliest and most baseless rumours.

Interestingly, rumours can be rampant about anybody. Today it is the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Countless rumours make rounds about him! On one of the wapp groups, one Ajay Maktedar each day provides nuggets of wisdom about Gandhiji.

In his post on January 23, he writes that many in the Congress did not want Bose as the president et al because he was mentally unstable! Poor Netaji! His only offence was that, given his times, he had an alternative, different vision of making India independent!

Actually, his plan was a daring one, and he was resolute and resourceful enough to make it a reality as well. Yet rumours would not leave him even after his unfortunate death. He was the Gumnami Baba for many! Why would a brave man like him hide himself even after Independence? But how can you expect logic, brain, cogent, coherent thinking from rumour-mongers!!!

Most rumours hence are utmost ridiculous, and downright laughable. One such cringeworthy rumour is that Adani wanted Ravish Kumar out, and so bought the publication/media house. How ridiculous to be such a "bhakt" of a journalist! Honestly, his videos are a proof of how you hate for the sake of hating! The moment one is in to that trap,  everything is in a warped wrap, I suppose. Yet he pontificates constantly about every other journalist's reliability! 

No, I have absolutely no yen for the so-called crony capitalism. Yet I cannot ignore the real hard fact that Adani began his career in 1978/9, prospered in the 1990's, is close to all sorts and shades of  politicians. Does even common sense allow a person of mediocre intellect to believe that such a person with tentacles in every possible political party needs to buy/sell a publication/media house to oust a journalist!?!Get real, right? 

Newspapers/media houses et al actually are often run/bought/sold for tax deductions! I used to freelance on a daily, regular basis for an English newspaper which was just a front for income tax adjustments. The minute it was not thus needed, it was shut down. The careers of people with twenty years of service, and nowhere to go, were at stake! It hardly mattered that those sincere hard-working colleagues of mine faced a huge mid-life crisis. Video-journalism was not rampant either in the early years of this century!

 I think, moreover, that tycoons are wary creatures, and would not get in to a mess with a vociferous journo. Yet countless rumours got spread when he resigned! In my opinion, the entire shenanigans were quite ridiculous, nay, even ludicrous because they were far and further from the lurid realities of how/why corporate (media) houses run! 

In brief, rumour-mongering reduces a person indeed in to a lizard whose run is up to the fence!

Pratima@ Prejudices pervert perceptions!

Charitam Raghunathsy/ चरितं रघुनाथस्य

 Time was when I was to read the "Dnyaneshwari" (she was anyways preparing for her course final examination) and the "Upnishads" with Aai. Well, we did. For some of the "Upnishads", an acquaintance of hers used to be there as well. Next, my idea was to read daily a chapter of the "Ramayana" and the "Mahabharata" with her. This project of ours was not completed though.

Does that mean my parents were not 'secular'? Believe me, they hugely were, in fact, much more than the jingoists professing the 'done' thing in a quite chic way! 

Most people, to give an example, who have put the Preamble as their status today would not know when and why the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' were added to the Preamble, and by whom. Hardly would have they read the actual Constitution either! 

As for Aai-Papa, their religion was more of the personal faith variety. We wanted to read all these great texts so that we get to know our roots truly. For me, reading them together with her was also a way of making her feel less lonely, a sentiment all the old people fear.

In the process, I read up the original "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata". The first aspect of the "Ramayana" that strikes you is that it houses absolutely idealistic characters. Except for the en passim Manthara and the aspersion casting citizen (incidentally, they are shown to be right in their own way!), everybody else is honour in human form.

As for Shri Rama, "charitam Raghunathsy" is simply a marvel. He is integrity incarnate. He is highly honourable. He is truthfulness itself. He is "ekwachani", true to his words. He lives the motto ''pran jaye par wachan na jaye". Even in the "Ramraksha Stotra", he is the ultimate protector of the devotee's body/mind/soul as he has absolute and total control over himself. He is miles away from any evil, even conceptually. 

No disrespect meant at all, but in comparison with the ''Ramayana'', the ''Mahabharata'' is absolutely anthropomorphic. It tells the tale of quite earthy compromises, rather neat solutions out of extremely dicey situations. Jayadrath or Karna Wadh could be an easy to understand example.  

And yet Lord Ram is much more maligned and misunderstood. One of the reasons could be that ordinary people love to tarnish what they themselves can never attain. Yet another, and most probably, the real, reason could be that the 'janta', even the blah-blahing pretentious types, would NOT have read the text.

I suppose, most probably, their knowledge of such texts begins with the childhood comics, and ends with the Ramanand Sagar saga on the National Television. Let me give you an example. The real Sita from the original text is NOT a weepy nobody with a blade of grass as her defence against her abominable abductor. She is very strong, decisive, highly intelligent, thoughtful, and stands by each one of her decisions. You need to read the original text to know her thus, right?

 Similarly, if we were to judge the "ekpatni" Shri Rama with the twenty-first century praxis or theories, that is hardly a critique, right? True, the parameters of a couple's relationship are so different now that none can abandon an innocent partner just because some sick fool made snide remarks against her, or tried to woo/seduce her. A Ramanand Sagar Sita or an Ahilya is just not possible now! Most people, moreover, are moved these days by the trendy  audio-visual and social media rather than the ancient texts.

We cannot judge the ''Ramayana'' by such contemporaneous standards though. The very paradigms are different. So is the value system, and so are the objectives/motives of the Adikavi, Rishi Valmiki. He is depicting a "maryada Purushottam", the ideal perfection who is ethics itself. As for Sita, Rama loves her like life itself. People should read the original stuff, at least, the "Uttarramcharitam"!

Unfortunately, half-baked knowledge, however smart, is always dangerous, right? Yet another issue with the "Ramayana" is that there are very many versions with multiple interpolations. On a wapp group, there was this video, repeated for two days. It was followed by highly enraged, spluttering stutters. 

What was the video about? It showed Osho pontificating in a falsetto about Rama pouring moulton hot lead in to the ears of a tribal because the poor fellow heard the Vedas/the mantras being recited! Unfortunately, such quiddities are taken up to tarnish Lord Rama.

To think of it though, where exactly does this take place in the ''Ramayana"? In fact, Shri Rama is utmost, and genuinely, kind even with the flora and fauna. Remember the squirrel? The Shabari incident? Even the Wali stuff is due to Sugriva. Why, his best "aide" is Hanuman, a "kapi"!  In brief, despite being excellence itself, he is most berated against! Hence the urgent need to valorise "charitam Raghunathsy", I suppose!

Pratima@ Such are the binaries of the so-called intellectuals now that everybody has to be either with us/them! The poor concept called scholarship! 

Down the memory lane

 If Ayodhya has decked up for the event like a bride, no less beautiful is Pune. If Ayodhya is the bride, Pune is the bridesmaid, I would say. This bridesmaid is special though. She is not just attractive. She is highly cultured, artistic and imaginative. The Sunday evening programme that I watched would be some proof of this assertion.

Pune is unique. It is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. No wonder, just a day before the "great (not merely 'big', please note) day",  the Mitra Foundation hosted a wonderful event celebrating the divinity. My colleague, Dr. Rajeshri Gokhale and her family are the fulcrum of this group.  The Gokhale's are in to art in a big way. Her son, Shantanu, is a highly gifted Santoor player.

No wonder, the Mitra Foundation often hosts quality-rich creative programmes. This evening, no exception, was a unique combo of great poetry, superb music, and lovely dance. It consisted of a dance ballet that accompanied the Geet Ramayana lyrics penned by Ga.Di. Madgulkar, known as the Marathi Valmiki. His simple yet superb poems dedicated to the Ram Katha have been set to music, and mostly sung, by Sudhir Phadke.

The Marathi Geet Ramayana is a lovely confluence of the brilliant talents of these two greats.  However many times you hear the Geet Ramayana, you would not only be mesmerized yet again, but you would also find a special unique something each time.

The lyrics appear simple, but every word is like a precious pearl encased in gold filigree. Phadkeji's tunes are raag-based, and yet so mellifluous and apt for the situation that everyone feels like singing along. This evening the graceful Bharatnatyam performance (well, I did feel there was a dash of the Katthak form, too) added a new visual and kinetic touch to the great Geet Ramayana.

Aai-Papa had once taken us to a Geet Ramayana performance  where both were present, the poet, and the singer who, with his troupe, sang practically all the songs. We were very small, and yet I distinctly  remember the evening. Papa got us the cassettes (and the anthology) of Geet Ramayana which we heard again and again. Aai's troupe used to present a few songs (she used to be both the singer and the narrator) in a nearby Ram Mandir where I would go tomorrow in her memory. 

Any day our small garden would yield lots of flowers, I had to make garlands, and offer them at this temple which Aai visited daily till her early seventies.  Later, as long as she could, she would never miss the Ram Navami and Padwa visits to this temple.

 Both of them hugely respected and believed in the Ram Katha. They both had that sweet simple charm that is born of naive idealism. My suspicion is that it was due to their great faith in the Shri Ram story. They never missed the Ramaraksha recitation. The Ram-Seeta ideal gave them lots of support during their tough times of which they had aplenty, and which they faced in a principled, honest way.

I suppose the Rama story touches our hearts deeply because of such intense associations. In a way, it is the cultural fabric that clothes our very being, nay, weaves in to our very identity. No wonder, every town and each city is decked up for the event!

Pratima@ In the blog tomorrow,  I would try to elucidate "Charitam Raghunathsya" to borrow a phrase from  the Ramraksha Stotra, and try to understand why it is so very appealing.

The architect-artists

 As  January 22 approaches, there is everywhere, on each channel, in each newspaper a lot of talk about the proper 'mandir'. Yet again, its preparedness et al might be a big chatter point. I would not like to discuss it because I have not seen the actual photos, absolutely non-partisan, from the place.

The f(r)ightful debates over the issue, however, make me think about the ancient mandirs, the traditional Indian temples. As the Prime Minister is visiting and praying at the South Indian temples, there are many visuals of these wondrous temples. As ever, these architectures,  which are engineering marvels, genuinely inspire awe.

These sky scraping gopuram, how were they built? There were no cranes then! The material, moreover, was not bricks and mortar/ cement. It was stone. How were the pieces interlocked? What was the cementing material? How were the metals molten on such a grand scale?

If the architecture of these temples is awe-inspiring, the art decorating each pillar,  literally each piece of every corner is beautiful beyond belief. What intricate designs, which at times narrate events from the mythology, are carved every inch, each centimeter! Who were these anonymous architect-artists indeed? 

India is full of such marvels. The Kolhapur based "Ambabai" temple, for example, is so intricately structured that during the Vasantostav, the sunrays first touch the feet of the idol till they gradually reach the face of the deity.

To think of yet another example, how was the Kedarnath temple built? At such a height? With the huge snowfall for almost six moths per annum? Both Papa and Aai prayed there. When Aai completed her Chardham Yatra, I drew the Kerdarnath Temple on the greeting card I made for her. Yet again I marvelled at its achitecture!So grand and gorgeous it is that no wonder the Bheem Shila appeared, rather arrived, out of nowhere to protect it during the 2013 catastrophe!

Indeed, who were those great architect-artists, or artists-engineers who thought of and constructed those poems in stone? Who sculpted Ajanta-Elora caves? How beautiful are all such art-works, most often made of monolithic stones! 

Such is the majesty of these achievements, strewn all over India, that our heads bow down in sheer reverence. For all these unnamed architects, engineers, artists, masons without any fame, here is this bow full of reverence!  No amount of respect and admiration would ever be enough to salute the time-defying much esteemed monuments they created!

Pratima@ "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life," said Pablo Picasso.

The Image

 Even if most people might not have read the actual Ramayana, or  even its translation, most all people in India are absolutely aware of a cute story about Shri Rama as a child. I suppose, many mothers, grandmothers, aunts for generations have told the following story to their own sweet bundles of joy.

According to this folktale, Shri Rama's mother, Kaushlya, is feeding dinner to her precious son. To distract his attention so that he would eat fast, she shows him the full moon in the sky. The little boy is fascinated with the lovely sight. He wants it. We all know how sweet and yet tough are a child's sulks. 

None knows how to deal with this innocent demand. As per the story both Papa and Aai used to tell us, Sage Vasishtha comes up with an idea. He gets a big bowl of limpid water, and the reflection of the full moon in the water is as charming as the real one. The kid loves it.

Now why am I telling this story in this blog? Is that your question? Sure my readers are not my yesteryear little nephews. Well, I thought of this tale because, in my opinion, it shows not merely the child like innocence of Shri Ram. It humanises the deity. It presents him as highly imaginative and creative. 

Well, I am not hugely impressed with the hullabaloo that the political and religious establishment, particularly of the Opposition variety, is up to. The entire history and the related vociferous debates, especially after December 6, 1992, are horribly complicated, partisan and opinionated. I lack the historical and archaeological acumen to analyse them in any detail. I, moreover, respect the Supreme Court, and its decisions. The TV debates kind of screaming and screeching  are not my cuppa!

I was more interested in knowing how the image of Shri Rama as a child would be presented. Well, in the cultural landscape of India, we have multiple imaginings of Shri Krishna as a baby, as a naughty kid, as a child. In fact, most devotees love this facet of his 'avatar'. As for Shri Rama, except for a few folktales such as the one mentioned above, his childhood is not much valorised. In fact, Sage Vasishtha gives him the huge responsibility of guarding the 'yadnyakund', the  holy altar, quite early in his life. 

I was, hence, eager to know how Shri Ram would be presented as a child. Well, the image that has started making rounds of the wapp groups and the Google/the internet is indeed sweet. It captures the childhood innocence, the sweet cuteness of a baby boy, the purity of  pristine straightforwardness. Yet, after all, he is to be presented as a deity, too. The arch around the image fulfils this function with depictions of  the 'dashavatar', that is, the ten reincarnations,  with images of Hanuman, and of the eagle as Lord Visnu's vehicle, and so on.

In brief, political storms would rage. The sea of devotion would overflow, and faster/fiercer than River Sharayu in spate. Yet the image would sanctify the ideal, the perfection that the Ramkatha, the epic Ramayana, envisions!

Pratima@ Positive vibes only! Radiating a clean vision from within illuminates boring banality! Pure joy born of genuine optimism is the real solution!

An unusual temple

 Hinduism has many deities,  and each god would have many temples dedicated to him/her. Two divine entities, however, are an exception to this general rule. Very few temples are devoted to them. Most interestingly and quite significantly, the two are Bramha and Saraswati, the creator of the universe and the deity of knowledge respectively.

In a way, both these functions, creating the very universe and the igniting of knowledge and wisdom are so rare that it is but inevitable and normal that their temples should be very few indeed.

Let us today talk of the Bramha temple. It is in Rajasthan, in the Ajmer district. It is near the Pushkar lake. In fact, the town where the unique temple is based is itself called Pushkar. The Pushkar lake is unbelievably beautiful. It literally seems to stretch to the horizon, to infinity itself. It seems Sage Vishwamitra performed penance there, and in return attained the Bramharshi status.  Actually the scenic lake is so unusual that even an atheist would like to perform penance, to pray there!

Now a centre of the annual winter fair, the little town is rather decrepit and indistinct. The Bramha temple was installed by the Adi Shankaracharya himself. Apparently, the temple, unique because of the swan motif,  looks very simple, too, may be, because being so near to the Western-Northern border and thus easily accessible to marauders, it should not be obviously attention seeking, I suppose. Papa visited the temple out of sheer devotion and to fulfill the wish to visit all the major temples. 

Most interestingly, the idol sits cross-legged, the penance pose full of control of the self, especially the body. In his four hands are four unique things. They are the rosary, a book, a special type of grass and a kamandalu. They signify, I would say, knowledge, devotion, a desire for the final upliftment in to the moksha, and the base of existence, grass/food. The legend explaining why the temple is only one of its kind is quite anthropomorphic, and deals with the divine spouses's right to participate in a yadnya.

Interesting is thus the very mythology behind the temple. In other words, such an archaeology enriches our understanding!

Pratima@The real worship is deep knowledge!

Beautiful India

 These days the Prime Minister is on a whirlwind pre-consecration cum political tour. In the process is getting explored the beauty and the wonder that India is. Let me give you a few examples.

In Maharashtra, he went to the Kalaram temple in Nashik. Nashik is as it is central to the Ramayana. Rama-Seeta and Lakshmana stayed here for quite some time during the exile. 

There he listened, moreover, to the recitation of the Eknathi Bhagwat. I am not very sure if very many people outside Maharashtra would know Sant Eknath. Most North Indians sure know Sant Namdeo, and   thus, may be, Sant Dnyaneshwar. Now many might be curious about Sant Eknath, and the entire lineage and heritage of the great saint tradition in Maharashtra.

Next, he inaugurated the Atal Setu near Nava Sheva. It is indeed a marvel of technology.  The very next day, the wondrous bridge was a huge touristy attraction. Cars were parked in a  huge long row by the roadside, while merry Mumbaikars enjoyed the scenic beauty! Traffic rules were literally thrown to the (sea) winds!

His visit to the Lepakshi temple of Veerbhadra made the huge monolithic Nandi there the talk of the town, eh, country. The curious hanging pillar there, too,  got a filip in the mindscape of the populace. 

Next, he was at Thrissur. The typical temple agraharam with its 'thervad' structure must have been quite a revelation to many of the beauty that is India. Well, personally, I am a little curious about how Malayalees maintain those wooden doors in pristine form despite the massive monsoon there.

Well, there are huge debates raging regarding these tours. Whichever way whosoever wants to thus argue, none can deny the glory and the beauty that is India which is getting explored in the process!

Pratima@ It is at such moments that "the full many a gem of  purest ray serene" which Thomas Gray mourned in his elegant 'Elegy' come alive.

Priorities

 What matters? Some assignment completed as best as is possible within the given framework, and despite all the possible lacunae? Or is it the different politicking groups and their possible interests that get  prioritised? From gulley to Dilli, from academics, from the art world to politics, that is the question!

In my opinion, as per the honest, humane, ideal principles, the assignment excellently done with thorough professionalism matters THE MOST. That is my priority in everything I would do. Believe me though, often very many difficulties would get built up as barriers. Some would be visible, others subtle, and therefore more (deceptive and) dangerous!

May I give an example, or two? What should be the priorities of college students? Learning? These days the common man does not think so! The other day the auto fellow whose auto I was riding was honking ten times. But students would not budge. 

He got irritated. Thus started his tirade. "पढ़े लिखे गंवार (=educated fools). पढ़ते कहां?(= When do they learn?) इन्हें तो सिर्फ मौजमस्ती करनी है!(They ONLY want fun and enjoyment!)" That made me think. What should be a student's priority? Enjoy studies, too! Unfortunately, that is a very rare case. 

Give your students genuinely tough assignments that make them think, ideate, re-search, ask them to read at least the basic texts. They would hate you like hell. Ask them to dance, sing, collect trivia, put up stalls. Oh, so very creative, no?!? Studies actually mean learning to learn, and for a lifetime so that whenever any problem crops up, you can enter the solution mode, right? 

Students have their own issues, too. Now with the "autonomous" colleges/universities mushrooming everywhere, students feel that most teachers do not conduct lectures, do not bother to complete the portions as the question papers are set by teachers themselves, and so cover just the portion they might have bothered to teach! Why, once a librarian was complaining that the guide books of the Nirali Publication variety are considered textbooks by teachers! 

 I would not know the truth of either statement because I teach the portions to the very last detail, from the first abc to the last xyz, and I have never used a guide even as a student. Apparently though, those are the priorities today. Yes, marks, moreover, are distributed like bird seeds.

 I indeed know of teachers who give 9/10 to students for subjects like 'Literary Criticism'. The problem would be that the students could not correctly spell 'Plato' (Pluto was the favourite) or 'Sidney' (Sydney was the choice)! They would make  'Aristatl' (Aristotle, please) blush. No better is the fate of Sanskrit/Indian criticism, incidentally!

Yet another issue that often crops in such debates is how some artist gave up medicine or engineering, and chose to become an actor by following his passion. Many students believe this myth! How many of such types have succeeded? What would be the percentage? May be, one? Tops ten? How about the ninety who perished? Rhetoric as empty as possible is the priority for many!

To begin with, why should sports stars or film stars be held as national heroes?  Incidentally, their actual work profile is excrutiatingly tough, too. Yet much much tougher would be the work of a scientist, researcher, doctor, right? When such people are appreciated, a very optimistic, genuine work ethic would emerge. Who cares though? Remember the irritated Spanish doctor who asked COVID patients to consult Ronaldo, the football player, constantly feted and  paid crores for a ninety minutes team event!

Whenever hence people crib that students do not get jobs, I always think to myself if a student wants to gear herself/himself for that profile at all?!?They want to 'chill', 'to enjoy' as the auto fellow said. College is the 'katta' (canteen or some such place)! 

Can we be creative if we do not know the basic principles, the very methodique of thinking? For creating/thinking uniquely, differently, you must know the basic principles, the existing paradigms, right? Otherwise, creativity dwindles down to a trashy copy of Bollywood fashions and the so-called event management which at the bottom is deadly boring because it is the same old games, same silly jokes, and the same awful/trashy dance grooves!

Ah, that reminds me. Ask any committed dancer, musician, painter, author, any artist for that matter, how tough creativity is, how much genuine and hard work is involved in attaining excellence. That is why all the star performers of this or that reality show, however much tom-tomed, are nowhere after that particular season is 'over'. All is stage-managed, strings are pulled, all sorts of compromises are okay, it seems! What is the end result? Tawdry tinsel success!

So what do people do, if they cannot be creative? Terrible and ugly groupism, petty politicking, gossiping, and creating all sorts of seen and unseen barriers for genuine people! We have, moreover, our caste system to come to our aid, whenever issues get tacky/tricky! 

If a doctorate degree holder in Spanish, for  example, some fifteen years after the celebrated degree, cannot write or speak a single correct sentence in Spanish, how fake it is, right, whichever caste he/she belonged to or however poor her/his family was!!?!!!

 Okay, childhood was tough. What happened after a cushiony job was created for such a candidate? What has such a person been doing for the last fifteen years? What was his/her priority once he/she completed a Ph. D. , and got a cushy job? Why not work on one's basic Spanish, improve it at least after, if not before or during, the doctorate?

 Do such candidates accept lower pay because their basic hold over the subject is poor or non-existent? No way! Every single 'pai' would matter!And, yes, far far better and superior students suffered similar, why, worse problems due to caste discrimination, or getting sidelined for a job due to caste!!!

That brings us back to priorities. Such people would keep tab on others, even through students in each batch! What with mobiles, they would find out the resources others use. Well, right now, the world is bursting with resources of all sorts. What matters is not which material, but who uses it, and how!

Unfortunately, sadly such politicking, groupism, gossiping, harassment of the worst kind are the priorities now. What with technologies becoming better by the second, are these age-old priorities right though? Honestly, people are not getting jobs not because of X or Y,  this or that, government, but frankly because they are not ready... to leave their ancient priorities!

Pratima@"The root of productivity is in personal priorities," says Melissa Steigner.

Why celebrate Sankranti now a days?

 Why celebrate Sankranti in the third decade of the twenty-first century, so ask the supposedly progressives or the 'urban naxals' to quote a rather notorious term. Well, the reasons are very many. In our blog today, let us list a few.

To begin with, in the post-globalised world, despite the downward slippage of the American economy, McDonald-isation of the world continues. In such a scenario hellbent on wiping out the local, there is a huge need to hold on to roots, to  the unique traditions.

Next, the Sankranti festival teaches us an important lesson, that is, the need  to be kind and generous with all the beings, especially the farmer's best friend, the bullock. Surely in the rural area, the farmer does offer a sweet, at least some jaggery, as a token of his friend's lifelong services. 

In the cities, I suppose, the birds need  such a  kind gesture. Do you want to know which contraption I am referring to!?! Well, yes, I am talking about the glass splinters mixed thread of high flying kites killing the poor things. Sure we should avoid such cruelty and celebrate Sankranti without any harm to any being, and with lots of positivity.

 There is yet another centrally important reason why Sankranti  MUST be celebrated. Currently, family interaction is depleting hugely. Behind the closed door of each room resides a lonely person lost (in)to himself/herself, extremely egoistic, rude, self-centred. It is necessary that such a banal individual learns a few basic lessons in courtesy and decency. Sankranti is the best festival for such basic training. 

In brief, Sankranti with its simple and elegant message teaches everyone to be generous. No wonder, it is such a favourite festival,  the very first in the new calendar. Long live Sankranti! "तिळगुळ घ्या, गोड बोला!"

Pratima@ Newly understood, old practices yield novel meanings.

Life is a cycle

 Life literally is like the Persian bucket, a traditional tool to draw water from a well. This rural pump would have simultaneously  both the filled and the empty buckets that keep on rotating, drawing water, emptying it, going down the well to get filled again.

Life is like that cycle. Unhappy days chase happy moments away, and happy times are there again despite the sad period. Misery and felicity follow each other. Why, in a big hospital, the paediatric ward welcomes a new arrival on this stage called life, while in the geriatric ward, a super senior citizen may be breathing her last! That is life for you.

Such a chase is apparent even in the natural cycle. Winter,  when it enters its last throes, seems to welcome the sun soon to enter its summer glory. May be, hence we have a pre-Sankranti festival like 'Bhogi' which seems to celebrate both, the sun about to enter a new phase on the 'Rathsaptami' and the earth almost ripe with the rabbi crops. 

Undoubtedly, all our festivals are agriculture-based as our civilization, even today, despite the massive and superfast urbanisation and the comeuppance of the service sector, is agrarian. The sun hence has to be central to the festivals as the sun, what with the photosynthesis process, is central to trees, plants, crops. 

The 'Bhogi' rituals hence celebrate the sun-kissed new produce from the farms. The 'Bhogi' special dishes satiate our tongue in such a way that the body can store the warmth necessary while bidding a good-bye to the lingering winter.

Well, this year, the winter seems to have wilted before it bloomed! Up North, the snow seems noteworthy by its absence, while central India is expecting rains! The  climate crisis is indeed at the doorstep, darkening the festive spirit, disturbing the very natural cycle!

Pratima@ In the beginning is the end. But, given the climate changes now, hope in the end would be the beginning!

When soft voices die

 "Jagu Mai sari raina"  and "Tan man tope waru", those two were renditions on the two sides of an L.P. which was one of the earliest of the records in our "record" collection. Consciously have I put the word "record" in inverted commas because this record was played literally ad infinitum by us. Papa used to like it a lot.

So did I. There was something gentle, soft, tender about those  sur's. I suppose that is the defining note of the Kirana gharana to which belonged the great singer, Prabhatai Atre, whose trademark  performances these two Raga's were.

May be, it is I alone who would feel so, but there was something gentle and soft about her demeanour that decked the cover jacket of the L.P. One always felt that she would not scream at you if you were her student, and committed an error or two while singing.  That trademark  big bindi added, in my opinion, to this kind of pleasant feel about her. 

Yet another touching association when I read about the news of her sad demise was the fact that she, too, like my Aai, succumbed to a  heart attack while asleep in the wee hours of the morning. May be, that is what makes me more emotional.

Undoubtedly, her swara's would linger on as she had dedicated a lifetime to Indian  classical music. Why, at the ripe old age of ninety-two, she was to perform next week in Mumbai!

Surely, as a nonagenarian, she did live a long life dedicated to music. Undoubtedly, her contribution was much recognised, respected and rewarded which may not often be the fate of a talented artist. Why, a gifted music director like THE Madan Mohan  never got the recognition he hugely deserved in his lifetime! 

And yet her passing away somehow seems to take away something personal. It is heart-rending to know that just as that L.P. can no longer play sweetly, given the demise of that technology, nor can the singer whose sur's ended the Sawai year after year! RIP, Prabhatai!

Pratima@Mortal voices may die/Music tho' would Time defy!

In Obeisance

 January 12 is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. In India, it is celebrated as the National Youth Day. To commemorate the day, let us see if an elegant acrostic dedicated to the Swamiji is possible.

Vibrant was he as a youth.

Idealism was his breath .

Vivid was his imagination.

Eclectic was his vision!

Kindred everywhere he found.

All faiths to One Truth be bound

Nary a difference, never at the core

All paths lead to the same infinite shore.

No ebbs never parched this ocean

Deep and vast spread un to horizon,

Asserted Swamiji, is the real religion!

This acrostic "Vivekananda" tries to capture Swamiji's inclusive and eclectic vision and views on religion!

Pratima@ "Ekam Sat, vipra: bahudha vadanti,"asserts the Rug Veda. It means there may be different paths, though the destination they lead to is always the same, the Truth, the Divine Vision! This is the idea Swamiji elaborated, celebrated and consecrated at the Chicago Conclave/Parliament of Religions, and lifelong.

The Prawasi Bhartiya Diwas

 The date was January 9. In 1915, more than a century ago, on this very day, Gandhiji returned to India, seasoned with his South African experiences. The rest, as they say, is history. The date of his return changed the fate of the Independence Struggle,of the Freedom Movement of an entire sub-continent.

To commemorate the day, January 9 is celebrated as the day of the NRI's, the Non- Resident Indians. India has a huge NRI population, too. This group has both the blue collar as well as white collar workers as its members. No profession is a taboo for them. Nurses to nuclear scientists, ayah's/household help to Nasa Experts, the NRI's come in all shapes and sizes, from all professions and specialisations.

Are they the brain drain? Once upon a time, in the sixties and seventies, they were. Not any longer! In fact, right now, often they are a headache. They need to be brought back from all sorts of places! Moreover, the Indian talent, right here in our own country, is far better, much superior, both professionally and as human beings. Want proof? Look at our space programme!

The NRI's, on the contrary, are discriminated against there, are paid lower, have to hop jobs, always have to renew the visa, the queue waiting for the green card is huge, and, anyways, there they live in a ghetto for/of/with Indians alone. The second/third generations are Abroad born confused desi's who belong nowhere. Mired in all sorts of guilts and problems, hope the NRI's will soon wake up, face the reality, and better become the Niwasi Bhartiya's!

Pratima@ Emigration is no longer a glamour. NRI's to come back to the motherland clamour!

Sane advice by a Sage

 In the Indian spiritual tradition, we have the Veda's, the Shastra's, the Purana's, the Upnishada's (part/aspect, in a way, of the Veda's) and the Geeta, the very core of the Indian way of thinking and of the Indian philosophy, explained and interpreted the best way by Sant Dnyaneshwar. 

In addition to these great texts, there are  lovely and lyrical stotras that encapsulate an entire way of thinking, of being, of becoming. These are easy to understand, moreover. Not everybody, for example, can understand the "Amritanubhaw" by Sant Dnyaneshwar. His abhanga's, on the other hand, speak to each and every common man. 

One such great stotra in Sanskrit is the Panjarika Stotra, composed by the great Adi Shankaracharya. There are different accounts of its origin, either as the basic advice/updeshamrut to Satykama Jabala by Guatama Rishi or as Adi Shankaracharya's exhortation of an old aged scholar at Kashi wasting his time on an empty analysis of syntax.

Whatever be story of its origin, the Panjarika Stotra is divided into two, the dwadash(twelve) and the charpat. The latter is an intense appeal to break the cage/the panjarika of the banal life commonly lived, and experience the genuine Atman.

The dwadash panjarika, I would say, is undoubtedly addressed to the common citizen, the ordinary man.Yet it is also an appeal to the high and the mighty, be it the ruler or the pandit/the vidwan to be "sarvatra samchitta", to be truly inclusive and equal because "in you, in me, in others, there resides the one and only Lord". 

Most interestingly, the Adi Shankaracharya calls this divine principle all share as "Vishnu". In other words, the differences such as  Shaiva-ites and Vaishnav-ites appear irrelevant to the great seer. He ends the great stotra with " if there is no "vivek"/the mature balance, the conscious conscientiousness, that sure paves the mighty road to the hell". Well, all the powerful of all sorts and types, I wish, would forever remember this wonderful insight, and flex neither muscles (either real or metaphorical) nor egos. What say?

Pratima@True inclusivity refers to paying due respect to each and everyone, without sacrificing self-respect, right?!?

Yaad gane ki aawe!

 Remember that breezy performance by Kareena Kapoor as Geet in "Jab we met"? Heartrending is the scene when that bubbly girl literally comes face to face with the reality of the love she innocently believed in. What makes her entire shell-shocked retreat in to loneliness absolutely convincing is the song that plays in the background.

"Aaoge tum jab O Sajna" in that unique voice, classically well-trained and yet capturing evocatively her sense of loss as her illusions come crashing down, belonged to the great Rashid Khan who, unfortunately, is  no more as he succumbed to cancer.

Yes, great classical maestros have certainly sung for films. It could be Bhimsen Joshiji's "Ketki gulab juhi" or Kishori Amonkarji's "Geet gaya patthore ne'', not to forget Latadi's umpteen renditions in three minutes of any number of  classical (in all senses of the term) "cheez"  in Raag-based songs. Of course, my topmost personal favourite as far as classical greats singing for films is "Prem jogan ban" by THE Bade Gulam Ali Khan in "Mughal-e-Azam".

Yet these ultimate melodies, master pieces of mood music, perfectly capture the feel. "Prem jogan", for instance, is the ideal, in fact, the only possible background for the ultimate romance that is doomed. Given the story, one feels Tansen possibly could have sung just this very "Sohini" Raag as the background to  the real, eh, royal, tragedy unfolding then.

That is not the case with "Aaoge Tum". The bandish is in dire contrast to Geet's disillusionment. Yet Rashidji's rendition captures the haunting hues of her innocent illusion. May be, that is why it is very touching. I am, of course, a nobody to comment on so great a singer. Yet my tribute to his memory would be that he alone could have done perfect justice to the complex  emotions. Hence the title of this blog which refers to, plays with, the words of  another melody he rendered eternal. So this last, the final bow! RIP, Rashidji!

Pratima@  "Music, when great voices die/lingers forever in the memory"! I am sure Shelley would not have minded my minor changes to his great lines!

Gossipmongers

 There are certain cheap people without any work to do. Their own lives are dullness itself. They themselves are brainless, moreover. So it is a curious combination, empty minded, brainless weirdos with lots of time on hand. What do you think could be their profession? Yes, you guessed it right! They are third rate cheap gossipmongers. 

Let me give you an example or two. Look at the Amitabh family. How does it matter to anybody how he disposes off his hard-earned money? Time was when he was totally broke, and he reinvented himself again and again to be what he is today, successful in his profession and with a good bank balance. 

Did anybody help him in his difficult days, in his dire straits? None! The no-brainer clowns and cartoons are, however, busy speculating about which part of his property he gave to whom! Obviously, it is cheap jealousy because they themselves have no property as they lack everything, talent, brains, creativity, and sincere genuine work ethic. 

The only property they have is empty brains and loose tongues! How to deal with such fools? To begin with, ignore them completely. Behave as if these devil's creations do not exist at all. Of course, that irritates them more and more.  They continue to jabber and blubber. Boring cheap fools! Poor things! What else can they do, right?

Next, never ever let them know the truth. With all the wrong information tidbits they beg from here and there, they stitch together a see-through, silly story which makes THEM appear extremely stupid, foolish and cheap, which anyway is their reality, right? 

They are not even worth a smirk, these silly, empty fools with third rate lives. To make them reveal themselves this reality of theirs, false clues which are nowhere near the truth are the best tactics. Shivaji Maharaj used this guerrilla technique most effectively, and made the mighty moghuls lose everything! Long live the stupidity of cheap creeps!

Pratima@ Gossip is the best tribute third rate psychos with a criminal mindset pay to people they cannot bring down, despite trying very hard!

Hey Ram!

 Was he or wasn't he a vegetarian? That is the question! Big issue it is currently. What I found quite funny about the controversy is that once upon a time, not so very long ago, citizens of a certain inclination would always doubt that Lord Ram ever existed at all. Such people would always shout from the rooftop that Ram was just a literary character.

 Why, recently at the Dusshera time, he was disowned, and Ravana was glorified so much so that there were threats against Ravana Dahan, burning the image of  Ravana on the Dusshera Day! Even then I found it funny that such people dismiss Ram as a mere  literary character, while the antagonist from the same literary text is real for them!

I am absolutely sure that most such people embroiled in the controversy would not have read the Ramayana. Tough to believe they would have! At least they could refer to the Ramraksha Stotra which is quite commonly recited in almost every household.  Even if it is not recited by them/theirs, it should have been an easy cross reference for them as it is not as big as the Ramayana!

In the Ramraksha Stotra, which consists of just thirty-eight couplets, Shloka Number Eighteen clearly begins with "falmulashinau"(फलमुलाशिनौ ) which absolutely transparently and obviously indicates that Lord Ram (and his brother Lakshmana, too) subsisted on fruits and roots! If that is not vegetarian, what is?!?

In their hatreds and dislikes, what have certain people reduced themselves to! Such 'citizens' would assert everybody's right to eat whatever he/she wants to. They would, however, insist that a deified literary character (as they see him) better hunt animals and eat the meat because it suits their interpretation, their version of the story! Hey Ram indeed!

Pratima@Anthropomorphism is interesting indeed only if it sheds light on issues fundamentally human(e)!

Traffic Jam!

 Traffic jam is the truth today. Wherever you are, in the city, on the outskirts, traffic jams are the norm. In a city like Pune, at any point of time, morning to evening, this midnight to next midnight, every second, each minute, there is a terrible traffic jam.

Why is it so? Well, there are varied vehicles, countless cars, autocratic autowallahs, two-wheelers twisting and turning on the road, loathsome lorries, and bicycles. At times, you may even get to see a bullock-cart and a horse-driven baggi.

Well, why such many and any vehicles? The culprit is the EMI. People juggle money thus, and show off. Every family hence has at least two two-wheelers and two cars. When the number of newer vehicles thus explodes every day, any number of flyovers would not be enough.

The public transport possibly could be efficient, clean, and on time. May be, then many may use it and thus would reduce the chaos. Similarly, as in the international metro cities, there should be a very heavy toll when it cones to the major city centers. People would not take out cars then! 

Never know though! Everybody cribs about the petrol prices, and yet the city bursts at seams with vehicles!The traffic jams are, moreover, due to the lack of civic sense. The drivers must follow traffic rules, and jump neither the signal nor the lanes!

Well, roads are narrow, and just building fly-overs may not be a solution. The metro train with a chain of autos with fixed fare could ease a bit of some road rage, I suppose. Is not there a need to limit the number of vehicles? Would that solve the huge chaos at Hinjewadi, and beyond, that is, on the express way where the weekend traffic jam is the norm.

You never know though! Remember that terrible traffic jam at the Everest!?! Hope sense prevails!

Pratima@Terrible are the traffic woes!

 

Laugh awhile!

 At times, that total and horrible injustice called life simply gets on nerves. In such situations, which better solution than jokes? Hence here are a few. Not silly, for sure! 'Coz they are good ones, eh, puns!

1) It is already January 6. How time flies! Much faster than supersonic jets. Hence this one!

What did grandfather clock say to the AI-smart wristwatch? 

Hour you doing?

2)Why are snails slow? 

Their house is their backpack.

3) Which is the smartest insect?

The spelling bee! For sure!

4)Whenever there is a tide, the ocean is super friendly. Why?

Waves, eh!

5) This is the last one, but a good one indeed.

What did the right eye say to the left?

Between the two of us, there IS something that smells!

Pratima@ When Life is a croak/What is better than a joke!?! /So Smile, laugh, guffaw/he he hu hu ho ha!

Vision

 One of the batches whom I taught Spanish had seven students who were visually impaired. That batch truly helped me a lot in multiple ways. This was circa 2015. The internet hence was not actually bursting then with oral/aural apps for the visually impaired. 

The only access they had to the language was via my voice. Yet their learning of the language and their preparedness for the course final exam, both were way too far better than the so-called 'norm'al students with their uppity attitude. One of the visually impaired student literally remembered the entire book, page by page, line by line just by listening to me attentively. Indeed i learnt a lot from him!

Once while I was teaching them the colours through the passport as the text input, one of the girls asked me if eyes at all have colours. I got goosebumps listening to that question, and I still do. Such sensitisation to, and unique answers to, the plight of the visually impaired actually began with the vision the Braille script got in to their lives.

Before this 'vision'ary gift entered their lives, the blind as they would be crudely called (one of my students told me that they would be asked such crude questions as, while eating,  how they would find their mouth to put food in to it!!!), led very difficult lives. Often considered a curse even by their near and dear ones, their lives were burdensome.

Before the advent of the apps, it was the Braille script that made their lives worthy. Louis Braille, who invented it, knew the plight of the tribe himself, blinded as he was by a freak accident in his early teens. His re-search of the script, named after him, literally brought light in to their lives.

More than the white cane associated with the visually impaired as a symbol of concern, it was the genuinely 'vision'ary Braille script that led to the enabling of this group of the differently abled. Hence the celebration of the Braille day every January 4, his birth anniversary, because the touch-n-feel script he initiated truly led very many from darkness to light. Indeed he gave many, both the visually impaired and the so-called 'norm'al, the real 'vision'!

Pratima@ What matters more is the vision, not mere sight!

Yen

 Yen! The very word reminds us of Japan. 'Yen' is the currency of Japan. To my mind, however, the other meanings of 'yen' represent Japan truly. 'Yen' means strong desire, propensity, urge, craving for something. 

Japan, in my opinion, has a yen for resilience, a quality I respect and admire truly. Look at Japan. The very first three days of the New Year brought colossal calamity after  terrible disaster for Japan and the Japanese. First the earthquake, next the mini-tsunami, followed by a sortie plane hitting a jumbo with almost four hundred passengers, who escaped unharmed unscathed despite the burning inferno.

Did you look at the houses? Very few collapsed like a pack of cards. People were calm. As if it is a daily normal activity! Simply great resilience! How do the Japanese, apparently a fast aging population,  manage overcoming catastrophes calmly?

I suppose it is their yen for Zen. That is the philosophical base.  In real lived lives, moreover, right from childhood, they are trained for  earthquake readiness. Most households have a special earthquake kit in place. The buildings have to be built as per the earthquake resistant mode and parameters. Stringent laws are strictly followed, without any corrupt hanky-panky. 

No wonder, despite such a huge  catastrophe, the yen as a currency never loses its creditworthiness. The Japanese yen for Zen may have helped them overcome Hiroshima-Nagasaki. Yet the tragic event apparently added to their innate resilience as well. No wonder, this country, perched up the dreaded Ring of Fire, repeatedly rises like the phoenix from totally burnt-out ashes!

Pratima@ Let us learn from Japan this Phoenix yen every which way!

Patient

 Oh, the very title of our blog makes you wince? In the very first week, on just the third day of the New Year, why the reference to illness, hospital, that awful odour that permeates a hospital which is a mix of the floor cleaner, medicines, blood, pus, and so on? Is that your question?

Well, do not worry. We are not at all using the word 'patient' as a noun. We are using it as an adjective. If the word 'patient' as a noun is all that is worrisome, as an adjective, it is all that is positive. That is the beauty of English, both the change in a word, as a part of speech, and the change that thus takes place at the level of meaning.

Well, right now, I do not want to bore you with discussions of syntax and semantics. Let us know, let us understand why patient as an adjective sounds good. Indeed a patient individual is a person who is tolerant, calm, composed, forbearing and uncomplaining.

Now certain vocations need you to be patient. Yes, I am referring to parents, and next, teachers. Both know that change never happens overnight. Revolution is actually evolution, is what they both know. 

That brings us back to the New Year. Yes, the New Year Resolutions! You want them to flourish, and not fizzle out. Be patient. Take baby steps. You may falter a little. Do not give up. Be patient! You would realise you have started to change, slowly, may be, but surely! Revolution is evolution!

Pratima@ If you change, they say, the way you look at things, the things you look at change. For  the better, let me add!

Hell hath no fury!

 Indeed hell hath no fury like Mother Nature in her worst moods. The very first day of 2024 was greeted with Mother Nature's foul frame of mind. What a huge tantrum she threw! Yes, I am referring to the 7.5 Richter earthquake that hit Central-Western Japan.

A number of videos which I saw showed the massive power of the huge earthquake. In some unidentified office, the wall clock was dancing wildly on the wall, and its very frame was re-shaping itself in such a way that would have shamed Dali's, or any surrealist artist's, melting clock!

It was a shallow earthquake with an epicenter in the sea . A tsunami would be inevitable. Hope the waves do not rise sky high. Why, some two hundred kilometers away in Tokyo, the tremors were felt. The walls built to save towns from the sea water are no use in such cases.

In one of the close-ups in one such video, I saw the retreating water in those typical tsunami formations. Hope the tsunami waves are not terribly high. Remember the 2004 tsunami that hit Southern India? Horror it was indeed!

Yet another whim of Mamma Nature that I saw this evening was the Ventura County being pummelled by surf that billowed up to two meters! The Pacific is anyways the deepest of all the oceans. Its rogue waves were truly a terror to see.

Well, despite our forays in to the space, we are helpless like tawdry tin toys when Mother Nature chooses to turn nasty. Be it the water or the wind or the sky, fearsome they are in their fury. Terror these  "panch mahabhoota" are whose absolute power  Aai often talked of.  It must have hurt her heart a lot to constantly remember that her favourite most child sailed across such dicey conditions. A mother after all!

Pratima@ Let us learn to respect the "call of the Nature" (literally, not figuratively, please), wild and weird are its echoes! Lesson No.1 reiterated by  Day No.1 of 2024!

Yet again a new beginning!

 2024 has formally dawned. Crackers are bursting, lighting up the emerging new year. Here is hoping the entire 2024 would be equally illuminated.

Yet again begins a new year. Yet again resumes the eternal game of dreams that hopefully would be a fulfilled treasure. Sure they would be, as enlightened efforts encourage their effulgence.

In India, as across almost the whole world, there are going to be decisive elections which are sure to charge up the ambience, both before and after the voting. Yes, as I noted in my December 1 blog, there would the Paris Olympics, with some AI inputs as it takes place in Paris exactly a century later. Many such unusual events await us in the year that has just unfolded!

Let there be peace, let there be no war this year. Let the wars begun in 2023 finish fast. Let peace reign 'coz peace alone brings in prosperity.  Let peace and prudence prevail! Let each note of this new song be full of peace, set to the rhythm of joy!

Pratima@ Each new beginning brings in new fulfilments and new responsibilities!