Literature & Books in Kolkata

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February 8, 2016

Have you seen a rickshaw puller reading newspaper? One can easily state this “everyone in Kolkata is an intellectual!” When in doubt, check facts – Kolkata’s literacy rate of 87% far exceeds the all-India average of 74%. There is no doubt education plays a major role in the life of Bengalis and everyone is overqualified for their job; this is particularly true for government clerks and other civil servants!

Owing to Bengali renaissance that happened during the British Raj, literature and fine art blossomed in the city. Prestigious institutes such as the Presidency College, Jadavpur University, Indian Statistical Institute and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta have been the leading lights of education. In fact, the University of Calcutta was the first modern university in South Asia founded in 1857, which boasts of four Nobel laureates Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, C. V. Raman and Amartya Sen. Now can any city in India beat that?

Kolkata is known as India’s first city of books. The city is a temple for creative pursuits, especially in the field of literature. This article presents ten facts about literature and books in Kolkata:

The Kolkata Book Fair

There is no greater testimony for the city being a book lover’s paradise than the ‘Kolkata Book Fair’, which traditionally begins on January 29 and continues till February 9. The twelve day book fair is attended by more than 2.5 million people every year. It is said to be the world’s biggest non-trade fair and also the most participated book fair in the world.

Celebrated Authors

The city has been blessed by authors with literary contributions that are unparalleled. Bengali literature is rich with the works of authors like Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Buddhadeb Guha, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Manik Bandopadhyay, Amitav Ghosh, Mani Shankar Mukherjee, Nirad Chaudhury, Samaresh Majumdar, Satyajit Ray and many more.

Literary style

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is credited with simplifying and modernizing the Bengali prose. The ‘Bard of Bengal’ Rabindranath Tagore introduced colloquial language to Bengali literature, breaking away from traditional models that were based on Sanskrit language. His works, both poetry and prose, have been described as modern, mercurial, fresh, and sensitive. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was an exponent who delved into the romance and complexities of the human mind, especially that of the female. Tarashankar Bandopadhyay painted the realistic picture of the rural Bengali landscape in his works. Authors in the 1950s and 60s were a new breed and gave a modern dimension to their work and wrote with contemporary touch. Academy Award winning director Satyajit Ray was also a proficient writer of books for children.

Notable books to read

Popular Bengali reads include Pather Panchali, Devdas, Anandmath, Choker Bali, Parineeta, Aranyak, Gitanjali, Abol Tabol, Lajja, and Chander Pahar.

Timeline of Bengali literature

Bengali literature can be divided into two periods – the medieval and the modern. The medieval era, dating back to the tenth century, included mystic and spiritual songs and hymns. Modern literature came into existence post after the eighteenth century.

Oldest Works of Bengali Literature

The collection of works comprising mystical poems is called ‘Charyapada’. It was written in Abahatta, the common language from which other languages like Bengali, Assamese, Oriya and Maithili originated.

Hungryalism

This is a path-breaking literary movement that took form in Kolkata. Hungryalists comprise of avant-garde writers who have challenged contemporary ideas in literature and culture, making significant contributions to the language, since the sixties. Some of the famous poets of this movement include Binoy Majumdar, Malay Roy Choudhury, Tridib Mitra, and Falguni Roy. Fiction writers attached to this movement include Basudeb Dasgupta, Malay Roy Choudhuary, Sandipan Chattopadhyay and Subimal Basak.

The Prakalpana Movement

This is also a literary revolution that spawned in Kolkata in 1969. It is a bilingual (Bengali and English) literary movement that included many avant-garde writers in its fold.

Ghost Themes

Apart from romance, drama, thrillers and erotica, Bengali literature also includes supernatural themes. Ghosts are a part of the Bengali folklore and find their mention even in modern Bengali literature, including books, TV shows, and movies. Such themes were often found in the works of top writers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Sukumar Ray, and Satyajit Ray.

Book Shops

If you are a book lover and happen to visit Kolkata, you should not miss on some of the city’s best book shops that are never short of titles and themes that you are looking for. The honorable mentions are Earthcare Books, The Bengali Brigade, Oxford Bookstore, Chitpur Road Printing Presses, Foreign Publishers Agency, and Seagull Books. You can also check out many second-hand book stalls at Free School Street, College Street, and Golpark that offer rare books at incredibly low prices.

Food in Kolkata – Gastronomer’s Delight

By

Biswadeep Ghosh Hazra

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February 8, 2016

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Being a confluence for all types of people from across the world, food in Kolkata truly a gastronomer’s delight. One can sense that Bengali cuisine has a unique blend of Oriental and Indian culinary styles. The special dishes that deserve mention are ‘Sorshe Mach’ – fish cooked in mustard and oil, ‘Paturi’ – boneless fish steamed and cooked in a leaf, ‘Luchi with Cholar Dal’ – puri with pulses and the finally the mesmerizing ‘Mishti Doi’ – sweetened curd and ‘Roshogolla’ (Rasgulla)! In addition, no Bengali meal is complete without the mention of ‘Aloo Posto’ – potato with Poppy seeds, which is indeed a delicacy.

Kolkatans are crazy about food and they have a knack of trying out new dishes and experimenting with new recipes. Among fast food, Rolls and Golguppas are an all-time favourite. The Kolkata version of the famed Biryani has an additional egg and a big chunk of potato. For deserts, we have the best sweet meat ever made and if anybody disagrees to that, make sure they have a bellyful of ‘Chanar Sandesh’ – sweet made from cottage cheese) or ‘Shor Bhaja’ – another milk-based sweet and seal it off with a plate of ‘Darbesh’ – Bengali style Laddoos.

Explore more about Bengali food delicacies

Sula Vineyard–Of wine, cheese and good music

By

Sana Pujani

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February 4, 2016

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A glass of wine is not a common sight in an Indian dining scene. Well, for a country where wine consumption 1/8000th of France, this seems to be about right. That doesn’t mean there is no wine culture here. Take a closer look and you will find a flourishing wine paradise in Nashik, by the name of Sula Vineyards, situated 180 km from Mumbai.

Nashik – the wine capital of India

Rajeev Samant, founder of Sula Vineyards, Image Wikimedia

In 1996, Rajeev Samant, a Standford graduate, established Sula vineyards on his family estate in Nashik after quitting his corporate job in San Francisco. After experimenting initially with teakwood and mangoes, Samant realised that Nashik has just the right soil and climate that could support the growth of wine grapes. He then decided to cultivate a few varieties of wine grape like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc in his family estate of 30 acres. This started what could be called a wine revolution in India. It takes about 2 to 2.5 years to get the right coup of grapes and finally in the year 1999, he got what he wanted— a perfect harvest.

Next year, Sula entered the wine scene of India and today, the enterprise is a sprawling 1,800 acre of cultivation and Sula Wines is recognized for its quality, its brand, and has found a respectable position with wine connoisseurs.

Sula Wine Fest 2016

Speaking of wine, I am reminded of the Sula Wine Fest, which will be back with its 9^th edition this weekend. The event will feature over 100 international and national artists, more than 25 genres, 23 nations and more than 30 gourmet food and beverage options.

Moreover, bands like The Cat Empire, Kailasa, Balkan Beat Box, Dub Inc, Success, Made in Barcelona, Delhi 2 Dublin, Reggae Rajahs, Madboy/Mink, Tribal Flora, Rodney Branigan and Aqua Dominatrix will be there to enthrall the wine and music enthusiasts this time.

Further, a variety of other activities such as foot massages, tarot reading, and grape stomping are sure to make the event bigger and better this year.

Trip to Sula vineyard

A group of 9 friends, including two teetotalers, left Mumbai at 7:30 am. The journey was a nice one, for the sudden shift from Mumbai’s metro aura to the bare rustic feel of rural can be startling, but in a pleasant way. However, a piece of advice: The journey takes around 3.5 hours by road, and there are very few places, where you can stop by to have snacks after you hit the highway. Therefore, if at all you plan to travel to this place, ensure that you have had a hearty breakfast either before you leave or before you enter the NH3. Another pointer here is to only enjoy the local dishes like Pahe, wada pav, missal pav etc. Anything other than the local cuisine will be a surprise and not necessarily a pleasant one.

The vineyard

We made it there by 12 pm and what grabbed our attention was the gate, which had this huge human-sized wine bottle. As soon as we entered the vinery, we found the reception/information desk to our left and the subsidized Sula wine shop to our right. And when I say subsidized, I really mean it!

The vinery also has a huge, beautifully maintained garden as the front yard. Here is a concrete area in the front corner of the garden, where you can experience the grape stomping fun. The stale grapes are somewhat already stomped and are brought out in a wooden barrel and we had a 20-minute window to stomp the hell out of the grapes that will be later used for wine making.

Wine and cheese

The deck at Sula vinery is made for the wine enthusiast to have a delightful time. It overlooked the garden, creating a perfect setting and we ordered the flagship product Chenin Blanc and Sula Brut Rosé. Now, this deck is a melting pot of culture. You will always find an interesting company here. As luck would have it, we met a couple who had returned from Switzerland and had bought along different varieties of cheese. They sent a platter to every table and we had our first grownup experience with wine and cheese.

After that, the laughs came easier, the talks got candid and the evening became much less lucid. Around 4:30 pm, we decided to call it a day and head back to Mumbai. However, before that, we stopped by a shop and bought lots of classy wine at an affordable price, the lowest being at Rs300, just to keep the memorable experience of wine making close to our hearts!

Trip Images by Sneha Pujani

Curing with Holistic Living: Health and Working Women

By

Sahana Rajan

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February 1, 2016

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Image Source

Starting with a cup of strong beverage early morning, the daily schedule of 75% of working women spans an average of 8 to 10 hours spent at the office followed (and often preceded) by a series of household activities. Today’s women find themselves sandwiched between the target lists of their office and check-boxed functions as house-makers fixated on the label of a ‘mother,’ ‘wife’ or ‘daughter’. Such a hurried lifestyle results in various mental and physical health issues.

If you are currently struggling with your mental health, try online therapy with BetterHelp and see how they can help support you.

What makes the issues of working women any different from that of working men? While we have settled on the fact that the intellectual capacities of a person cannot be determined solely on basis of their gender, answers to the question – ‘Who is the caretaker of the house?’ are still dipped in the waters of socially conditioned outlooks. Thus, working women walk on a tight rope hung in the air, oscillating between the deadlines of office work and demands of home.

Body of Gaia: Lifestyle Diseases

The changes in our lifestyle brought about by urbanization, marked by a system of cabin-ridden jobs have arrived at such a rapid rate that our bodies have found it incapable of adapting to it. Lifestyle diseases refer to those set of medical conditions which arise due to bodily inadaptability to the changes in our ways of living. These changes include sedentary working conditions, maintaining a rigid body posture for a long time, imbalanced diet, disruption in sleeping cycles and lack of physical activity. The most common lifestyle diseases that women suffer from are: multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and depression. A recent study on health of working women (between the ages of 32 to 58 years) revealed that 78% suffer from lifestyle-related acute and chronic illnesses such as obesity, hypertension, backache, heart and kidney diseases.

Among working women, the following factors have formed the matrix of ill-health:

Source

Physical activity: While the morning and afternoons are packed with household work and office tasks respectively, working women do not find adequate time for exercise. They also feel anxious about lack of family members to share household work in case they opted for gym or exercise regimes during evenings. The long-term consequence of insufficient exercise is cardiovascular issues, breast cancer and diabetes.
Diet: Over 40% of working women do not find time to have a healthy breakfast in the morning. They either skip the breakfast or grab a bite of fast food on their way. Both of these habits conclude in higher insulin resistance and greater weight gain. Without opportunities for sufficient physical activity, women resort to fad and crash diets (like Atkins diet, Caveman diet, Lemonade diet and Hollywood diet) which wind up in lethargy, weight irregularity, nutritional deficiencies and low muscle and bone health.

Source

Smoking and alcohol: It has also been found that number of working women who smoke has drastically increased and is associated with stress and fear of weight gain with quitting. The demands of networking in the office have brought the habit of drinking to women’s tables, coupled with the psychologically luring media tactics (like Bailey and Four Loco advertisements). The habits of smoking and alcohol have the following consequences in the long run: mouth and throat cancer, liver cancer and cardiovascular issues.

Source

Duration of sleep: Recent studies have found that working women only sleep about 4 to 5.5 hours daily on an average. With low amount of sleep, the brain doesn’t reach the threshold over which it (enters deep sleep and) can renew the body tissues, release necessary hormones and ready the body for next day of work. Over a period of time, low amount of sleep (less than 7.5 to 8 hours) results in obesity, diabetes and heart illness.
Dress code: The common dress code for women in corporate houses includes tight clothing that causes meralgia paresthetica, a case of numbness in the region below thighs due to constriction. Formal clothing is also manufactured with synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester and rayon which could contain carcinogenic chemicals.
Medical check-ups: The best way to steer away the repercussions of a disorder is by the earliest diagnosis possible. Due to lack of regular health check-ups, many lifestyle diseases are caught only in advanced stages, which eliminates the path of prevention and cure.

Mind of Gaia: Depression and Unhappiness

While there is much talk of the increasing representation of women in the work-life, the substratum of happiness is still far for working women. Having gained financial independence, they find both the home and office as domains that do not support but challenge their opportunities of well-being.

At work: Around the world, women are roughly paid only 60 to 75% of what men earn for work. Called ‘unpaid care work,’ women spend twice to ten times the time taking care of children, the sick and elderly than men do. Further, most of the women face sexist treatment from their male counterparts during their office work time.

At home: That they work the same amount of time and labour as the male members of the family do does not stand as a reason for them to expect sharing household responsibilities. Fueled by the desire to abundantly care for their family and community, they find themselves tugged in war between the demands of their home and office.

These conditions generally produce serious mental illnesses over a period of time. While sexist treatment at office leads to low self-confidence and a negative body image, the demands of home fuel anxiety and isolation. Unable to seek help due to the fear of being accused of incapable of handling responsibilities, they wallow in their pain, which in extreme cases also culminates in suicide and other self-destructive behaviour.

Holistic Living

Image Source

The cure for lifestyle diseases is fundamentally rooted in changing our ways of living. While medicines might help to reduce the symptoms, the illnesses can be managed and their onset prevented by breaking unhealthy habits and letting our approach be well-being oriented than only bodily health.

Well-being emphasizes on holistic cure instead of pinning down the symptoms and providing transient solutions. The five aspects of well-being are:

Balanced diet (with special consideration in case of medical condition)
7 to 8 hours of regular sleep
45 minutes of moderate exercise every day: Exercise can include any activity that allows you leisure along with bodily activity – walking your dog, yoga and sports.
Comfortable clothing: While choosing office attire, go for natural fabrics like cotton, silk, hemp and wool.
Positive ways of coping with stress: Those who face issues of sharing household responsibilities must initiate dialogue with their families about the same and create a space where every member can contribute towards house-care. Pick up a hobby that allows you to unwind and allow it to detox your stress. This could involve singing, playing with children and participating in social causes.

Factfile
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.add-resources.org
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.unwomen.org
http://www.businessinsider.in
http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Reminiscing The Journey of Bollywood Music Through The Decades

By

Caleidoscope

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January 27, 2016

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Author: Jitendra Bhojwani

What would Bollywood movies be without music? Ever thought about that? It is difficult, ain’t it? Songs are an integral part of the movies. So much that now even before the film’s release, it is the music that first gets the opportunity in determining the movie’s success rate at the box office. However, its journey has not been that easy. Over the years, it has refined itself only to suit the listeners’ taste in music. And this is evident right from the nasal songs of the 1940s to the pop songs of the 2000s. As Indian cinema has completed a century, it would be interesting to look back at the journey of Bollywood music.

1930s

Alam_Ara_poster — Scene from the movie Alam Ara. Source

In the 1930, Indian movies had found the ‘sound,’ in the movies. However, the concept of playback singing was still at some distance, for the actors in the movies were not just good looking but were also great good singers. In fact, the filmmakers were even ready to compromise on the ‘face value’ if the actor possessed exceptional singing qualities. Songs lacked versatility and ragas were the only major constituent of Bollywood music. However, even during the nascent stage, songs became an integral part of the industry with an average of more than eight songs per movie.

1940s

The 1940s saw playback singing gaining popularity. The music at this point belonged to different gharanas. Lyrics were laboriously prepared to suit the theme of the movie. One of the most prominent styles of this era was heavy thumri-style. Further, nasal singing paved the way ahead for Bollywood music and required certain energy and strenuous training, an art Hemant Kumar excelled at. Under this decade, Bollywood movie industry was gifted with singers like Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar, Mohd. Rafi, S D Burman and Madan Mohan.

1950s

The 1950s belonged to a new, independent and confident India. Ironically, till Britons were here, people detested western lifestyle. However, after they had left, youngsters started embracing their culture. Songs were soulful, free of complicated ragas and saw a rapid, wholesome development. Instruments like trumpet, guitar, harmonica, oboe and sax were adequately used in the movies. Rock rhythms, too, were introduced and lyrics were inspired by the western style. Numbers like Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo, Ina Mina Dika gained popularity. Music directors were the biggest beneficiaries of this trend. Each music director had their own favorite team of singers, orchestra, and even stars. Pairs like Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal gifted perfect blend of music to Bollywood.

1960s

Western music that started in the 50s touched new heights in this decade. The industry saw a liberal use of jazz and rock-n-roll as actor/singer Kishore Kumar and music composer R D Burman rose to popularity. During the mid of the decade, cabaret songs were introduced and was liked by many instantly. This decade also saw youngsters thronging discotheques like never before and songs were composed only suit the dance steps. Indian musical notes saw fewer buyers and lyrics started losing its meaning. Fast music, heart throbbing beats, and alluring tunes dominated the decade.

1970s

Similar to the 60s, this decade, too, continued making movies that were largely based on the gangsters and the underworld. But alongside, family drama too gained prominence. Cabaret music was still alive, however, was slowly being taken over by the simple, melodious songs. These songs often depicted love, romance, and longing and were quite different from the 40s and 50s in terms of hitting the intricate musical notes, altering voice pitches or heavy lyrics. Simplicity was the mantra of these songs. They were more melodious and often had a humming quality. As for fast songs, the beats were often overshadowed by the wavering pitch of voice, a signature style of RD Burman. Around the same time, disco music gained popularity. Equally popular was the newly introduced ‘yoodleedoo’ style of Kishore Kumar, a style that requires hitting uneven notes.

1980s

The Journey of Bollywood Music — Babbar Subhash, Parvati Khan and Bappi Lahiri recording “Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja” 1981 – Wikimedia

It was in this decade that the trend of fast songs and cabaret style lost its sheen. Disco music did continue, but it was not all about the beats. Some melodious notes were perfectly blended to give it a nice texture, an art that was introduced and developed by Bappi Lahiri. The latter years of this decade saw music directors inclining more towards soft, simple music. The decade also saw the entry of new genre in soft music, thanks to the likes of Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan.

1990s

The songs in this decade are remembered for their romantic lyrics. After a gap of few decades, the lyricists gained importance they once enjoyed. Romance and longing were the main themes of the music in the 90s. The Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman was instrumental in popularizing keyboard music in this era. While Bollywood bid goodbye to Cabaret songs, the audience continued to enjoy soulful music. Besides soft romantic music, pop song and remix, too, became a huge hit among the music enthusiasts. Meanwhile, new age contemporary ghazals were also introduced and singers like Pankaj Udhas and Jagjit Singh garnered a huge fan base. In fact, ghazals almost became an indivisible part of romantic movies.

2000s

Versatility and experiment are the best terms to describe this decade. The year 2000 is accentuated by several short-lived trends. Heavy lyrics and intricate musical notes were reintroduced in this decade, especially in period movies. Ghazals were presented in a separate album rather than using them in movies. Though starting of the decade saw the emergence of youth-oriented songs, its latter part was more inclined towards composing a mature music with a more settled aura. However, there were simply too many genres, experiments, and musicians to ascertain a particular influence. We can rightly say that it was an era when the music industry wanted to redefine itself thoroughly and experiment with different genres.

Factfile
https://melodyjuction.wordpress.com
http://bollyspice.com/
https://melodyjuction.wordpress.com
http://www.cinemasangeet.com

Tripping Amidst the Greens – Guwahati to Shillong

By

Caleidoscope

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January 25, 2016

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Author: Ruchi Rai

Umiam or Barapani Lake Shillong, Image – One Reverie

An encounter with nature is truly an eternal one. And I can vouch for this, thanks to my unforgettable experience in Shillong. Travelling amidst the hills, I let my worries take a backseat while embarking upon a journey to the ‘abode of clouds’—Meghalaya with my family. Starting our trip from Guwahati early in the morning, it’s a three hours drive on the highway. As we drove up the lush green valleys, I admired the scenic drive and let my mind submerge in the mesmerizing beauty of the greens.

Umiam or Barapani Lake Shillong, Image – Rejaul Arsad

Our first stop was Barapani Lake located in the hills 15km to the North of Shillong. Right on the Shillong-Guwahati highway, this man-made lake is a treat to the eyes. Stretching far into the horizon, the green land borders the dazzling blue water that can be enjoyed by the visitors by taking motorboat rides. Surrounded by pine trees, the place will come to you as a sweet surprise.

It was around 9 am when we entered the city of Shillong. As we made way through the city roads, we could catch a glimpse of their culture and legacy with men and women wearing their traditional clothes. Further, the hustle and bustle did not bother me much, for it was quite different from the unpleasant din of the city. The city is also filled with many cottage-like houses built with an archaic touch.

Elephant Falls Shillong, Image – Ashwin Kumar

We then headed to see Elephant Falls, one of the most attractive and popular tourist spots in Meghalaya. There are steep steps en route to the waterfalls, which is located 12km from the outskirts of the city. It is said that the falls is a combination of three rivers and was named by a British officer after he saw a rock that looked like a giant elephant. As we came nearer, we could hear the crashing sound of the water on the surface and I took a few minutes to grasp the beauty of the falls.

View Point Of Shillong – The Shillong Peak was our next stop. Far beyond the city, tucked away on the outskirts, Shillong Peak is the highest point in the state. We reached the peak point from where we had a breathtaking view of the city. Small houses scattered here and there could be seen amidst the luscious greens. Interestingly, there are also many souvenir shops around the place that are managed by women. This is one of the many examples of Meghalaya’s matriarchal society where women call the shots.

Shillong Peak, Image – Subharnab Majumdar

From there, we drove up the hill further to see Cherrapunji. Once the wettest place on earth, it holds two Guinness world records for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in a month. The valleys and the hills around the town were dipped in different shades of green and the first point of Cherrapunji provides an amazing view of the hills. However, the view gets more obscure due to thick fog during monsoon.

Our next destination was Mawsmai cave. It is a natural cave protected and developed as a tourist spot by the Meghalaya government. Situated 6km from Cherrapunji, it is a major tourist attraction and a treat for adventurous people. It is apparently the only limestone cave which is lit enough for the tourists to help them see the natural formation inside. Making way through the cave and finding the exit and reaching the other end seems like the only goal at that moment.

Nohkalikai Falls Image – Pankaj Kaushal

After cave hunting, it was time for us to have some food and I did not expect to have pure Bengali cuisine far above the hills in Cherrapunji. However, what really impressed me was the diversity in the small town. While enjoying my food there, I saw a Punjabi relishing authentic Bengali food served by a Khasi woman!

That place was different. It was serene, simple, beautiful and attracted many tourists from all over the world. Yet it seemed so unperturbed! Visiting places like these brings a feeling from within that peace lies in no wealth that we run for but in the company of nature and simplicity.

With some good music, we then resumed our journey and our next stop was Eco Park. Several hills could be seen from there, too. Far beyond the hills, we could also the Sylhet plains of our neighbouring country Bangladesh. The park is stretched on a green patch over a large area and is home to many indigenous orchids as well

Shillong Image – Subharnab Majumdar

From there, we headed to our next destination Nohkalikai falls, which is the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Interestingly, it has been named after a girl who jumped off the falls. Unlike Elephant falls, this falls collects rainwater which crashes on the plunge pool formed at the bottom and is greenish blue in colour. There are also many souvenir shops around the place.

As the sun started to set, we could see the clouds hovering over the vast abyss in between the green hills. And with this, our trip too had come to an end. While going back to Guwahati, we drove through the city roads once again and it was time to say goodbye to the hills, to the beautiful archaic houses, the shops, the falls, the caves and the fascinating indigenous culture that had left us in awe. I was returning home, but a part of me left behind there, forever!

Factfile:
http://travel.india.com/shillong
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalaya

Vasantotsav in Pune – 10 years of musical excellence

By

Levine Lawrence

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January 22, 2016

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Author: Levine Lawrence

There is no doubt that Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra, which attracts a wide range of cultural events right from rock music to sufi qawwali to Indian classical. However, it is the Hindustani classical music that attracts music lovers in large numbers.

Pune hosts numerous Hindustani classical music concerts and events throughout the year; among them the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Taalchakra and Vasantotsav attract the biggest crowd of music enthusiasts. I have been fortunate enough to attend Vasantotsav consecutively for the last three years and I have been blessed with a darshan of the best musicians in the country today.

Vasantotsav 2014 was the first event, where I was exposed to the Indian classical music scene in Pune and I was taken aback by the enthusiasm and response of music fans. I was enthralled by the music renditions by Niladri Kumar, Kaushiki Chakravarty, Vikku Vinayakram and Anindo Chatterjee. Since then, I have made sure of my presence in both Vasantotsav 2015 and Vasantotsav 2016. This year being the 10th anniversary of Vasantotsav, it was particularly special for loyal fans and organisers as well. Further, this event surely made me nostalgic about the big music and dance festival of yesteryears – Vasantahabba in Bengaluru!

Vasantotsav 2014: The audience arrives one hour before the concert begins to prove the fact that Pune is the national centre for Hindustani classical music!

Vasantotsav-2014: Niladri Kumar is no doubt the reigning star of sitar after Pandit Ravi Shankar. He is at ease in producing both classical ragas and fusion music notes.

Vasantotsav-2014: Hindustani vocalist Rahul Deshpande is a standard fixture at Vasantotsav, since he is the organiser of the event that was established by his grandfather Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande.

Vasantotsav-2014: Teejan Bai is a famous folk music artiste, who presented the episodes of the Mahabharata with musical accompaniment.

When Daler Mehndi and his team took stage in Vasantotsav-2015, many of us were apprehensive about his pop-star image. But his version of devotional sufi music named “Rabbabi” was truly celestial.

Vasantotsav-2015: Trilok Gurtu was supposed to be magical with his jazz percussion and fusion music, but a messed up sound-check session ruined the star’s mood and the audience’s experience as well.

Vasantotsav-2015: Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performed melodiously on his Mohan Veena (slide guitar) along with Vijay Ghate accompanying him on tabla.

Vasantotsav-2016: Kumar Bose, the tabla maestro performed solo on tabla and enthralled the audience with his thirkit and taal that kept the tradition of Benaras Gharana alive.

Vasantotsav-2016: Wadali Brothers, Ustad Puranchand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali mesmerised the audience with their gurbani and sufiyana songs.

The climax for Vasantotsav-2016 was the fusion of jazz music by and American saxophone master George Brooks and vocalist Rahul Deshpande.

Stage design was another spectacular aspect of Vasantotsav, which grabs the attention of viewers with Bollywood-like grand sets designed by Nitin Desai.

Factfile –
http://www.vasantotsav.com

Couples Visiting Paris for a Weekend, Here is Our Guide to Make it More Romantic

By

Caleidoscope

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January 20, 2016

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With an enduring reputation as the romantic capital of the world, Paris is an obvious destination for couples who want to share a special few days in each other’s company and enjoy some amazing sights.

Once you have browsed Paris tour packages and made your booking it is time to get excited about the prospect of what you are going to see and do when you arrive in the city of love. Yan can also use airport taxi transfers Paris to reach your stay at a affordable cost.

The Perfect Romantic Stroll

Romantic Stroll at Canal St. Martin — Canal St. Martin Jorge Láscar via Flickr

If you want to do something truly romantic in Paris it is hard to top the experience of taking a stroll along the Canal St. Martin.

Time seems to stand still in this part of Paris and there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a drink by the riverside and watch the world go by in the company of someone you love.

You Can’t Miss this Iconic Monument

If ever you needed reminding that you are in the beautiful and romantic city of Paris you only have to search out the iconic landmark of the Eiffel Tower to confirm where in the world you are this weekend.

It is also an amazing backdrop for a cozy picnic in the park and you don’t have to move too far away from the tower and the tourists to find a spot just to yourself where you can wine and dine and glance up at one of the most recognizable sights on the planet.

Step Back in Time

Paris is blessed with some stunning and inspirational gardens that really put you in the mood for love and right up there as one of the most romantic settings you can find in the city is Luxembourg Gardens.

The Jardins de Luxembourg seems to transport you to a different era, especially when you take a ride on the oldest merry-go-round found anywhere in Paris. The gardens are simply perfect for couples and if you visit just as the sun is setting it will deliver some amazing memories to take home with you.

Culinary Delights Everywhere

The French are famous for their culinary exploits and love of food and drink so it makes perfect sense to indulge your taste buds when you come to Paris.

Head to Le Marais, for example, and you will have plenty of amazing opportunities to sample what local food vendors and artisans have to offer, with so many different wines, cheeses and meats to choose from you will struggle to choose which ones to try.

Sharing new taste experiences is a romantic thing to do and enjoying the great food and drink is considered an integral part of your incredible Paris adventure.

A Great Way to End the Day

Paris is a beautiful city by day and after you have enjoyed a packed itinerary in each other’s company a great way to end the day would be to seek out a rooftop bar.

Head to the Terrass Hotel on Rue Lepic, for instance, and you will be treated to memorable views of Paris by night as you sip cocktails or champagne with the Eiffel Tower shining like a beacon of love in the distance.

Paris for a weekend? It’s the place to be for couples who want to enjoy an amazing 48-hours in romantic surroundings.

Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha: Is Alternative Medicine Credible?

By

Sahana Rajan

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January 20, 2016

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Author – Sahana Rajan

Image – Source

Alternative medicine is a field of diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders by using methods which diverge from the mainstream medicine. They are often claimed to be holistic at two levels: they offer treatments for almost every medical condition and in treating one condition, they also positively influence overall condition of the body.

What is considered alternative medicine will vary from culture to culture. While India does not view yoga as an alternative medicine and considers it an integrative approach to curing illnesses, it is seen as complementary and alternative medicine in USA. The main types of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in India are: Homeopathy, Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine.

Often, people use complementary and alternative medicine once they realize that there are no other options left and don’t intend to leave any stones unturned. They might also wish to take control of their health. In alternative medicine, the practitioner often exhibits a greater humane spirit through conversation and dialogue about other (not related to condition directly) subjects. This might attract many to approach alternative medicine and consider it holistic (as it caters to their emotional needs as well).

The criteria to attribute credibility to any system are:

For the ingredients and apparatus- Through empirical findings based on scientific research/study.
For the effectiveness and impact- Through clinical trials.

In case of alternative medicine, no strict laws have been laid down to determine ways in which they must prove their credibility. Those who accept CAM follow it based on either a commonsensical (and often partial) understanding of the practice and its effects or on basis of reviews they might have received through others.

Here are three strands of alternative medicine and the status of their credibility:

Homeopathy Medicine

Source: Independent

Based on the principles of “like cures like” (that says those drugs which induce symptoms into a patient can be used to treat the patient) and “potentizing” (the process of shaking and diluting the medicine at every stage), homeopathy claims their preparations to be more effective than placebo, even though the original medicine is not present in their dilutions. The improvement could happen over weeks or years. However, in few rare cases, the condition of patients worsen (called “homeopathic aggravation”).

Many methods are used to shift “energy” from the parent concentrate to the diluent. None of these methods have been scientifically studied, neither has there been a rational understanding of what this ‘energy’ is and how it is supposed to treat conditions. While highly diluted preparations of the ingredients do not pose any serious threat, many solutions do not mention the level of dilution and thus, could posit adverse side-effects.

Clinical trials carried out to verify the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines are either organised by institutions that support homeopathy (thus, making their results questionable) or are tests, which take check the effectivity in company of mainstream medicine. For this reason, one has to depend on self-reports of users. Such reports can be highly prejudiced by the users’ beliefs.

Unani Medicine

Unani is based on the belief that well-being of human body is dependent on harmony of seven physiological

Source: PsyTreasure

Principles (al-umoor al-tabiyah):

Elements
Temperament
Bodily humors
Organs and systems
Vital spirit
Faculties or powers
Functions.

It is believed that every person has the capacity to regulate herself (tabiyat) by keeping these principles in harmony. The treatment for any condition generally begins by setting up a regimen to balance these principles. Such a regimen is part of dietotherapy, which holds that food is the basic unit through which conditions can be cured. Other ‘regimental’ therapies include massage (dalak), opening of vein to let out blood (fasd), bath (hammam) and exercise (karat). Depending on the intensity of condition, natural medicines could also be recommended. The only function of the Hakim, who practices Unani, is to strengthen the tabiyat of his patient and recover the sense of well-being.

No stringent clinical trials have been carried out to check the efficacy of Unani Medicine. Moreover, Unani often uses kushta (fine powder containing toxic metals like mercury, iron rust, arsenic and mercuric chlorise). It is critical to undertake research and regulate its use to avoid adverse side effects. In October 2015, AYUSH began a series of clinical trials to check the authenticity of traditional medicine (including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani and Siddha).

Siddha Medicine

Source: Siddha Life Care

Founded in Tamil Nadu, the central principle of Siddha medicine is the set of eight super-natural powers (ashtamahasiddhi). Those who attained these powers were called ‘Siddhars.’ The three basic elements (humours) of Siddha and Ayurveda are identical: Pitham, Vaadham and Kabam. The imbalance between them is claimed to cause diseases. Such an imbalance is said to be caused by environmental and internal conditions. Diet and way of living are the two major factors that trigger onset and cure a disease. Eight diagnostic signs are used: tongue, eyes, complexion, voice, touch, stool, urine and pulse. Three categories of medicinal treatments are meted out: Herbal, Inorganic and Animal. Along with these, a regimen is established to ensure the equilibrium of these three humours. In comparison to Ayureda, Siddha Medicine makes greater use of metal and minerals.

There are rarely any scientific research or clinical trials on Siddha Medicine. One clinical research to “evaluate the efficacy of two Siddha drugs, Sindhuvallathy Mezhugu and Kalladaippu Kudineer, for kidney stones” was last verified in December 2014 and fails to provide reports of the outcome.

So, is alternative medicine credible?

If the credibility of a system of medicines is based on clinical trails and empirical findings, then no system of alternative medicine is credible. Clinical trials have been held either from starting points that assume its success or have been left unreported halfway. The Central Council of Indian Medicine provides certification to institutions and individuals practicing Homeopathy, Unani, Naturopathy and Ayurveda in India.

The only way in which the alternative medicines’ systems can be deemed credible is the positive way in which they could affect the patient’s lifestyle by directing her to set up a disciplined regimen, consume healthier diet and physical exercise.

Factfile:

http://www.ijppsjournal.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://clinicaltrials.gov

Trek to the Luscious Dhoni Falls, Kerala

By

Caleidoscope

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January 18, 2016

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Author: Veena Nair

Image – Veena Nair

When I was a little girl, I would wake up by the sound of a red-whiskered bulbul that perched on the tree next to my window. That used to be my morning raga at one time. And to this date, I have not found a lovelier way to kick-start my day. As I grew old and became entwined in the webs of college, work and family, the little girl in me yearned for her ‘morning alarm,’ which has now been replaced unceremoniously by a mobile phone.

However, last month, I met my good old feathered friend once again! This serendipitous meet happened during a drive to Dhoni reserve forest, situated in the midst of smoky mountains surrounded by the Western Ghats. Rapidly emerging as a favourite weekend spot for tourists from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the forest is situated 15 km from Palakkad.

After an hour’s drive from Coimbatore, we reached our destination, which is famous for its lush green forests rich in wildlife. However, the main attraction is the splendid waterfalls, which can be reached after a four-kilometre hike through a rocky mountain path within the forest from the base of Dhoni Hills. Though tiring for non-trekkers, a dip in the waterfall washes away all weariness.

Image – Veena Nair

We paid an entry fee of twenty rupees at the entrance guarded by the Kerala Forest Department personnel, who checked our bags for plastic bottles and wrappers that are not allowed. Private vehicles are also not allowed to enter the forest.

I walked through the zigzag rocky path surrounded by big tall trees on both sides and could hear the sound of water gushing down the hill. I also happened to notice different shades of green and wondered when was the last time I saw so many colours at once. Though there are many shortcuts at different levels, the climb can be a little arduous for non-trekkers. Therefore, make sure to be equipped with enough water and snacks.

After a nearly two-hour walk, a tired and a bit bruised me finally reached the waterfall. Though not a giant one, it is a series of cascading waterfalls at different levels, which creates a pool of water that then goes down the hill. We found a small pool above the waterfall where we could take a dip. My happiness knew no bounds when the cold water ran down my spine.

Image – Raghuprasad

We then walked back to the base and this time, I was accompanied by a forest guard who told me the forest was originally named as Dhwani (sound) but got rechristened as Dhoni over the years.

The best time to visit Dhoni Falls is between September and February when the flow of water is maximum.

As I drove back home sitting in my car staring at the traffic on the national highway, I could not help but wonder how man has embroiled himself in a world run by the sounds of raging automobiles, vibrating cell phones, blinking laptops, when he was born amongst swaying trees, chirping birds or just a rooster crowing!