Two Contrasting Shades – Govind & Pahlaj Nihalani

November 30, 2015

Author – Sushmita Iyer

“Sanskari sabko hona chahiye. Sanskari hona galat baat nahi hai.”
…And with this very sentence, the baton of ‘sanskar’ has been passed on to Pahlaj Nihalani, the new head of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), to keep up with the sanskari times!

Source: The Hindu

A sanskari torch that was held by none other than Bollywood’s favourite Babuji, Alok Nath, will now be associated with Nihalani’s ‘custodian’ act. Sorry James Bond, for you may have a license to kill but not to ‘kiss!’
To update you, the Censor Board of India headed by Pahlaj Nihalani, has cut short the length of the kissing scenes in James Bond’s latest instalment, ‘Spectre’, calling it too ‘excessive’ and not adhering to the guidelines. Interestingly, the censor board chief has not even watched the movie! And what’s more? He has no qualms about it! Too much Sanskar?

This is not the first time when our censor board has raised a stink over a film. In the past, Nihalani banned ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, and ‘the Battle for Benaras’, a documentary that covered the heated contest between Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi during the 2014 general elections in Varanasi. Other films like ‘Masaan’ and ‘Margarita with a Straw’ also had to go through its hawk-eyed scrutiny.

Besides banning curse words, Pahlaj has also beeped words like ‘lesbian’ and raised an eyebrow over the use of the word ‘Bombay’ instead of Mumbai in films. However, what stunned the country was his decision to censor the word ‘rakhail’ (mistress) from the movie ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, a film by Suraj Barjatya, whose movies are the epitome of Sanskar!

But does Pahlaj Nihalani practice what he preaches?

In 1982, Pahlaj Nihalani produced his first movie ‘Hathkadi’. His other films Mitti aur Sona, Aankhen, and Shola aur Shabnam were huge commercial successes, but failed to bag any award. And then in 1994 came the movie ‘Andaz’, starring Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Karisma Kapoor that threw Pahlaj in a storm of controversy. The soundtrack of the movie is still talked about for its double meaning lyrics and picturisation. Sample line: “Khada hai, khada hai, le lo le lo mera and Mein maal gaadi mujhe dhakka laga”.

Whenever asked about such sleazy numbers, Pahlaj shakes his head in denial and says it was not meant to be shot that way. Well, of course, he did not mean that way! It is all in our mind, right? Probably we got it wrong when the camera zoomed on Anil Kapoor’s crotch area, while the song in the background went “Khada hai”! Fortunately, Pahlaj did us a favour by deleting the song from the movie before it reached the theatres. Similarly, the lip-lock between Sunny Deol and Archana Puran Singh by the swimming pool in the movie ‘Aag Ka Gola’. Very Sanskari now?

Contrast with Govind Nihalani

Source: The Hindu

On the contrary, we have Pahlaj’s older brother Govind Nihalani— a Padma Shri recipient — a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema, who has a history of producing cult classics. Unlike his brother, Govind, an auteur film director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer, is not so famous at the box office. However, his films have always made an attempt to uncover the profound hypocritical extremes, thus setting a paradigm.

Govind’s film ‘Party’ is one such example. Released in 1984, the film is a satire aimed at those urban elites who pretend to have an interest in art, however, fail to show any sympathy towards the society. Based on a play by Indian playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar, the film became the official entry to the 32nd International Film Festival of India.
Meanwhile, Govind’s other films Junoon, Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Drishti, and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa have helped him clinch various national film awards. He has also received the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for the movie Tamas, which was set in the backdrop of riot-stricken Pakistan at the time of partition.

Meanwhile, in 1996, Govind’s script for Drohkaal was remade in Tamil as Kuruthipunal by Kamal Hassan, which eventually became India’s official entry to the Oscars under the Foreign Language category. His last movie Dev was released in 2004, after which he did not direct any film for the next 10 years. However, after taking a long break, he did a come back in 2014 with an animated film for kids, Kamlu Happy Happy, which talks about a baby camel who dreams of flying.

While nothing much has been said or written about Govind’s political connections, Pahlaj has clearly displayed his political affiliation on numerous occasions. During the general elections in 2014, Pahlaj produced a campaign video called, “Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi”, thus making his stand clear.

He recently made a video, ‘Mera Desh Hai Mahaan’ that showed PM Narendra Modi meditating atop a mountain, and was played in theatres during the interval of Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo. While some called it a spoof, others criticised the video for using various visuals of foreign countries to show how great India is. In his defence, Pahlaj said that “Images of developed countries have been used to show visions of Modi’s new India”. He also went on to say: “If this is chamchagiri (sycophancy), then I am proud of it”!

Factfile –
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Govind_Nihalani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlaj_Nihalani

Home Away From Home, the Kenyan Indians

Caleidoscope

November 27, 2015

Walking on the streets of the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, and you will be intrigued to see shops dotted with Indians, who are locally referred to as “Wahindi” and “Muhindi”. Are they Kenyans and do they consider themselves as Kenyans? Yes, they are Kenyans who were born and raised in Kenya, though they have ancestral roots in Asia. Kenyan Indians are normally referred to as “Wahindi” (plural) and “Muhindi” (singular), the nicknames given by indigenous Kenyans.

Origins of Indians in Kenya

Most of their ancestors settled in modern Kenya during the British colonial rule, when the construction of the Kenya–Uganda Railway was undertaken between 1896 and 1901. The indigenous population were resistant to the British efforts thus, Indian labourers were brought in large numbers to carry out the railway construction. After the railway construction, these Indians decided to settle in the then British East African Protectorate, which covers the region of the modern Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

After the Second World War, Kenyan Asians began handling all kinds of occupations, ranging from business, the police force, bureaucracy and other service professions in Nairobi and its surroundings. Their commercial contribution led to the steady economic development of Kenya and the rest of East Africa.

Famous Indians In Kenya

History indicates that Kenyan Indians wholeheartedly participated in the struggle for Kenya’s independence, thus reaffirming their patriotism as Kenyans. Some of the well known Non-Resident Indians in Kenya are:

Kenyan Indians | Pio Gama Pinto | Source: Kenyaunsolved — Pio Gama Pinto | Source: Kenyaunsolved

Pio Gama Pinto – He was a journalist, politician, and freedom fighter. This socialist leader devoted his life to liberate Kenyan people from post-colonial dictatorship. Pio Gama Pinto was killed due to his outspoken way of living and became independent Kenya’s first martyr in 1965.
Makhan Singh – This Punjabi was the pioneer of trade unionism in Kenya. In 1927, he moved with his family to Nairobi from Punjab at a tender age of 13. Later in 1935, he formed the first trade union in Kenya and was quite active in the Ghadr/Kirti Party that struggled for Kenyan independence. In 1949, he together with Fred Kubai, a Kenyan, formed the East African Trade Union.
A R Kapila – Born in 1926, Aachhroo Ram Kapila was a prominent criminal lawyer of Kenyan Asian background. He is remembered in Kenya for his role in fighting for the rights and compensations of the Mau Mau Freedom Fighters during their independence struggle.
Fitz de Souza – He was a Kenyan Indian lawyer, who became a member of Parliament, and later deputy speaker of the Kenyan parliament.
Shakeel Shabbir – He is the current Member of Parliament for Kisumu, a large city in Kenya. Although he has an Indian lineage, he was elected to the parliament by indigenous Kenyans, which shows that he is accepted irrespective of his origins.

Indian Contribution to Kenyan Economy

Kenyan Indians, though they constitute 1% of the Kenyan population, they control a much larger share in the country’s economy. The Kenyan Asians’ community makes a substantial economic contribution to the larger society and they are found in almost all sectors of the economy. Most Wahindis are in private businesses and they have formed large business groups to keep them together. They have business ventures in all the major towns of Kenya – Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kakamega. Even rural areas are not left behind; Wahindi has moved into rural areas to invest in small and big businesses as well.

The problem with the ordinary Muhindi is (ordinary Kenyan Indians who do not manage big businesses or in politics), they just live in their own bubbles and refuse to participate in the country’s governance. Later, they cry foul when they are treated differently, or when they are told that they are “not Kenyans”! Visiting Kenya in the 1970s, the renowned writer V S Naipaul referring to the inward focus of the Asian community, commented that “the Indian in East Africa brought India with him and kept it inviolate”.

Most Wahindi have settled in Kenya, have tentative roots there; made investments in properties and even buried their loved ones there. However, they are still afraid to love Kenya too much in the fear that their love might be stamped out by a steel boot. So by staying inside their cocoon, they think they are protecting themselves from being hurt. Some of them feel helpless… not feeling Kenyan yet having nowhere else to call home!

No matter how long Wahindi have stayed in Kenya, they don’t feel welcomed in their land of birth – Kenya. Some indigenous Kenyans view Kenyan Indians as exploiters. They are stereotyped as mean businessmen, who pay low wages to their workers and are exploitive in business.

Relation with indigenous Kenyans
When it comes to building relationships, Kenyan Indians do not like intermarrying with locals. They prefer marriage among themselves to keep the family lineage alive. Parents discourage their youth from getting intimate with indigenous Kenyans, but there are a few cases of those who rebel and get married to Kenyans. On Sundays, they break from their routine of running businesses and gather together with their entire families in those business groups in order to bond. This bonding helps them to feel at home.

Do They Miss India?
Kenyan Indians, especially those who are idle miss India very much. They think that, maybe, if they were in India, life could have been better than it is in Kenya. But is this true? If hardworking Indians are comfortable in Kenya and are competing favourably with indigenous Kenyans, then notion of having a better life in India is contradictory. As long as they are lazy and not ready to hustle in life, even taking them back to India and showing them their roots won’t help much. Today, anybody can settle anywhere in the world and be successful. Home is all in the mind; the world has become is a global village!

Image sources –
http://magnusbogucki.com

Top 10 Indian Food Bloggers – Divas with Delicious Dishes

Sana Pujani

November 24, 2015

Anushruti RK divinetaste.com

The joy of cooking is exhilarating! To create delicious, mouthwatering food on your own is a feeling like no other. Yes, the rotis may resemble maps of various countries initially, but later the perfectly round, soft and succulent phulkas will be your pride. Global cuisine is an attractive arena, but the challenge of mastering the Indian gastronomy isn’t for weak-hearted!

The quintessential Indian preparations have been handed down by generations. However, when these native MasterChefs decided to log onto the internet to share their creativity, knowledge and experiments, these amateur cooks found their holy grail! For all those who are struggling in kitchen, who seem to mess things up in the process, who wish to unlock the secret of flawless cooking and those who pine for mere ghar ka khana (my home-cooked food), go for the angels who have made cooking a piece of cake.

With their clear-cut blogs, step-wise instructions along with pictures, hilarious/satirical anecdotes and the story behind the recipe, cooking will in true essence became an exhilarating experience for you. The choice, the festivity and diversity that Indian food brings to the table is mesmerizing. Here is a list of top Indian food bloggers, who can be trusted for their distinguished palate, amazing creativity and discretion in matter of food –

Vegan Richa

Vegan, organic, whole and healthy food, all seems nice on paper, but making them a part of our daily diet is a huge task. With Vegan Richa, you can make this a reality. Get your health freak on and enjoy Indian breads, vegan, whole and organic food made by Richa Hingle in your very own kitchen.

www.veganricha.com

Preeti’s Simply Tadka

Tadka is a standard process loved by every Indian cook. Experimental Indian cooks cannot possibly resist adding tadka to international dishes. With Preeti’s blog, explore some fascinating results where tadka goes international. Apart from this innovative streak, the blog also gives some simple and relishing recipes to create a vegetarians paradise. The formal presentation for an A-grade is made a cake-walk. To classý up your dinner party, turn to simplytadka.

www.simplytadka.com

Parzen Patel

Another food lover making her presence felt is Perzen, the Bawi Bride of Mumbai! How many times have you tasted authentic Parsi food and thought ‘damn, if I could cook like this, I will rule the kitchen’! The Bawi Bride blog takes you on a yummy tour through the world of Parsi food. Her blog is not just about ingredients-method-picture; her blog is an experience. You will get to know the dish, the story behind it, the variations and her experimentations. If you wish to foray into the intimidating world of Parsi cooking, hold on to her blog.

www.bawibride.kitchen/blog/

Padma (a.k.a) Padhu’s Kitchen

Started in 2009, Padma’s blog has over 700 true-blue vegetarian recipes. She has tried and tested them all before she featured on the blog. This blog has a special focus on health, nourishment and ease of cooking. This is a particularly interesting blog for bachelors and busy professionals, since it has an easy, visually-aided step-wise instruction, which gives you one-pot meals without compromising on nutrition and of course, the taste.

www.padhuskitchen.com

Deeba Rajpal’s Baking Blog

When the talk is about baking, pictures speak louder than words. Be ready to be mesmerized by the simply drool-worthy pictures of all the magic Deeba creates. As the name goes, this this expert cook’s blog is the place for all baking enthusiasts, be it amateur or seasoned bakers. Deeba has taken the western baking techniques and added some Indian elements to them.

www.passionateaboutbaking.com

Thasneen – Cooking with Thas – “A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Effortless Cooking”

This blog started off as a picture-upload activity. Soon, Thasneen began receiving requests for the recipes of her yummy-looking preparations! Her forte is not just Indian food, but handpicked delights from all over the world. The simplicity and originality of the blog keeps it real. Log on once to her blog and the cook-in-you won’t be able to resist!

www.thasneen.com

Dassana’s Veg Recipes

This virtual kitchen offers you various vegetarian, vegan and baked recipes to make delicious food. We need to thank Dassan’s hubby for he insisted that his wifey dearest should share her talents with the world. We agree! This blog is relatable for it is traditional, learned-on-go experience of a seasoned cook. Dassana innovates, experiments and lays it all out just the way it is.

www.vegrecipesofindia.com

Kajal Tejsinghani

If quality food is more important to you than the easy associated with the process, head over to Aapplemint.com. This place has some lip-smacking recipes that are customized to sooth a healthy soul. The approach here is to give you a gold-standard recipe with alternative healthy options. Now you can indulge yourself without skewing your diet chart. Tit-bits about the right choice also make the read interesting.

www.aapplemint.com

Anushruti’s Sattvic Food

We are what we eat; this is the life-funda for Anushruti. She is fascinated by Ayurvedic Sattvic food, and how they impact the human mind, and how we react to different food items in our diet. Anushruti’s blog is full of life; it breaks the fourth wall and gets to the reader in form of story-style read. Further, the visually appealing photos are an ode to her passion of photography.

www.divinetaste.com

Sia’s Monsoon Spice

This blogger doesn’t shy away from complicated dishes. Sia takes any difficult recipe and breaks it down in such a way that any amateur cook can ace it. Her roots are in South India and she is armed with the priceless knowledge of recipes from her granny, mum, mom-in-law and a half dozen aunts. As expected, the blog is plethora of tradition mixed with zest of youthful cooking.

www.monsoonspice.com

Sailaja

All those who crave the sour and spicy Andhra cuisine, head over to this blog to create a similar magic in your house. Preparing the mouth-watering Tomato Rasam will no more be a bittersweet memory for you now, since you can whip it up on your own. Apart from this specialty, Sailaja offers you a variety of north Indian, south Indian and Mexican delights as well.

www.sailusfood.com

Indian food blogging has way more to offer than the 11 bloggers listed above.

If gourmandizing is a crime, I happily plead guilty!

To Get Employed | Employ a Curriculum Vitae Writer

Caleidoscope

November 24, 2015

You know what you are boring! Yes, that’s right. Even if you are not a bore you will sound boring, if you write your own CV. What to do then? Look out for Curriculum Vitae Writers who can help you in writing a quality CV. If you are a self driven individual you can search for good CV templates online and customise it as per your requirement.

By a quality CV, we mean, such a CV content which is read beyond the first two introductory lines!

CV also called as ‘Resume’ by some, mainly gives a brief about:

Your education
The skills you got from the same and;
How you used it to your benefit for gaining an ‘experience’

IMPORTANCE OF CURRICULUM VITAE

CV literary meaning is ‘the course of life’ .In Resume’s or CV’s, you basically present a summary of yourself.

With CV’s ‘Your first impression is indeed your last impression’.
Think your CV to be recruiter’s guidebook, that which would guide him throughout the recruitment process. Make it less about you and more about him.
CV helps in branding. You need to present yourself as a brand. Remember, people always like buying branded goods.
Besides your educational qualifications and work experiences, Curriculum Vitae’s also helps them in knowing your:

Capabilities. Note that, capabilities differ from skills. Skills are learned while capability comes naturally. Tricky, eh? That’s why go for Curriculum Vitae Writers.

CV Writers are not just a bunch of people whose English is better than you. A Good CV Writer would always ‘brand you as a story, not as a commercial’.

Personality: Be who you are, because recruiters would know it if you try to fake it. Honesty is in itself would be your X- factor.

Here’s the trick, you should be a people’s person. The only reason we are including this is that even for high cadre government posts recruiters look this quality in the candidate.

Such a nature is indirectly connected to traits like your team skills, your interpersonal skills, and the fact that you are not a loner or a cynic etc. Most importantly this would show that you are a happy person with an active mind.

Accomplishments: Make sure you don’t brag, include only job-oriented accomplishments and save everyone’s time.

BEST PRACTICES OF CV WRITING

If you have got abundant of qualifications and experience, you can give a ‘Summary’ about it at the end of the Resume.

In case you are a fresh graduate or a newbie professional you can add a section like ‘Objectives’ on your Resume. That would explain the Position you are seeking, the Skills you possess for the same and the Environment you expect.

Don’t forget to mention that you would get ‘Job Satisfaction’ with a Job Post like this.

You can count on Resume Templates. As the mere existence of templates is to present things in a clean and proper format.

It’s better not to talk anything negative about yourself or others in the resume.

Use white space effectively. The sentences must be short and crisp. Each must present a new idea, a new you.

Action Verbs must also be used, again Professional CV Writing can be your savior.

HOW TO HIRE CV WRITING WRITERS

The HR is going the hire the best, which is why you should hire a Best Curriculum Vitae Writer. The question is how? This is why we are here.

WAYS TO HIRE CV WRITERS

Professional Resume Writing Services: This is an important and an essential criterion to fulfill before hiring writers. Better go for such Content Writing Agencies who specialize in Curriculum Vitae Writing.
Never pay by pages: Some agencies would charge you by the number of pages their writers would write. In such a case, avoid them. Like we said CV is all about giving a ‘summary’ of yourself. Who would need long pages, then?
Dialogue with writers: You must know which writer would write for you. Talk with him/her as he/she would talk about you, in your CV. Let them know about you in entirety.
Ask for Samples: When you do so, you can Evaluate your prospective CV Writer with the help of this post by, Times Job.
Referrals: Yes, have a word with job consultants, your Ex-HR Manager etc and all those who know the job industry very well. Ask them about the Curriculum Vitae Writing Agencies, you should go for.

Since you are in search of a job, like a Good Samaritan we think the below link can help you, in knowing about the happening and the not-so-happening Trends of the Job Market:

Some of you must still be wondering:

“Why should I hire a CV Writer?”

Then without wasting any time, you should read this post titled by:

Huffington Post.

In this era, general knowledge is important but what’s more important is, specialized knowledge. Napoleon Hill in his best-seller ‘Think and Grow Rich’ said so.

Hence, Curriculum Vitae Writers know what they are dealing with; they keep an in-depth and ‘specialized’ knowledge about CV’s. Now we can say your CV would not be in the mouth of a paper shredder, it would be on safe hands instead.

Get a sense of the soil at GKVK Krishi Mela

Sreesvarna B

November 18, 2015

Exhibitions happen all round the city, be it handlooms or home decorations, electronic gadgets, foodies, antiques, paintings, etc. But ever heard of one place where you get agricultural implements, hand tools, seeds, seedlings, pots, fertilizers, manure, nutritive solutions, organic food from self help groups-including jackfruit bajjies, chips, pickles, terracotta dolls, domesticated animals, fish varieties and every product and by-product of an agriculture field? All these and much more are on display every year at the ‘Krishi Mela’ organized in the GKVK campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. This year too, the farmer’s expo is happening during between 19-22 of November.

Those who decide to take a break and check out what happens around here, avoid bringing your cars, since there will be a massive crowd up to the GKVK gate. Once there, you will find directions, barricades, and policemen who make you go round and round the roads of GKVK until you reach the Krishi Mela grounds. While doing so, you will also find students of UAS, Bengaluru walking as freely in a route they desire, since they know the shortcuts. Navigating through the massive crowd is worth it for those who wish to have a kitchen garden in that little balcony of your house or a terrace garden!

Once you reach there, you will find huge stalls catering to different aspects of agriculture – agricultural technology, nursery, tissue culture, organic farming, agricultural inputs, and agricultural research. Along with this, you would also find a stage where best farmers in various crops being awarded by the minister, talks and presentations by government officials, etc.

GKVK Krishi Mela becomes the heaven for farmers, since they get the best opportunity to witness the latest advancements in the field of agriculture and bring them to their lands. They will find agro-business companies giving them demonstrations of various agricultural implements such as chaff cutter, sugarcane harvesters, areca nut peelers, paddy puddlers, weeders, intercrop weeders, coconut nut shellers, threshers, etc., so much so that farmers can decide on which tool suits them the best and go with it.

You will also find university researchers telling growers about the best methods of farming for a particular crop, starting from how to prepare the seed bed, irrigate the land, harvest the produce and most importantly, – how to store them or sell them at the right time! There will also be stalls on biological control of insects, organic farming in polyhouses, setting up biogas plants and extracting biodiesel for those progressive farmers who want to make money and save the environment. In last year’s Krishi Mela, the successful research on “Drip irrigation for paddy” was showcased for interested students and farmers. Keep your fingers crossed to find an equally important farm innovation this year too.

There are interesting things for the city folks who has no clue of agriculture but who want to cultivate a gardening hobby. You can find all kinds of hybrid seeds and desi seeds, and help yourself with a hand weeder that would help you remove weeds in your potted plants. You will find orchids at reasonable rates and ornamental flower bulbs and kiekies (that little vegetative stem of orchid which is much cheaper), along with the procedure to propagate them and the amount of manures, earth worms and bags of fertile soil you will need.

Children can rejoice looking at the diverse variety of domesticated animals, right from the massive Haryanvi Murra buffalo, Yorkshire pig, Amruthmahal bulls to rare species of ducks and chicken. You will also find the little self help groups from nearby taluks selling their handicraft products to the city folks including food items, old age wooden dolls called Marapachis, Channapatna toys, Handmade decorative items, funky accessories and all that you find in Commercial Street only a bit cheaper and directly from the producer.

You can also buy a colourful jute or bamboo hat to save you from the hot sun! So gear up again to witness the technology, diversity and agriculture business coming together at this year’s GKVK Krishi Mela!

Bali by Yacht – A Holiday to Remember Forever!

Caleidoscope

November 7, 2015

Are you ready to sail the oceans around Bali? How does a ‘yacht holiday to Bali’ sound to you? Well, we can tell you it’s a pretty spectacular way of seeing the island! You’ll get struck by mesmerizing ocean and sunset views and explore the wondrous underwater world around Bali that bursts with colours and liveliness.

Bali by yacht is an unforgettable experience, just gliding across the sea towards the infinite horizon – it is amazing! Sip cocktails, play music, have an on-board BBQ – the options are limitless! Isn’t it insanely expensive to rent a private yacht in Bali? Well, it can be (if you’re up for the high-end Bali yacht experience!) but it doesn’t have to be. There is a wide range of private yachts available suitable to travellers on all budgets. One thing is for sure, on a private yacht charter boat, you can go on unique sea adventures and sail off-the-beaten-track (or should I say bays!?). Keep reading if you want to find out more about this unique Bali holiday inspired by yachts…

Private!

A yacht trip is super private. After all, it is just you and your friends and/or family on one boat together having the time of your lives. No sharing the sunset and the perfect Instagram-moment with thousands of other admirers. From your private charter boat, it’s all yours!

For everyone

No, yacht charters are not just for the rich, they come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and prices! You don’t have to be a member of some yacht club, The Seven Holiday has got all the connections to get you your beautiful yacht to sail away with a group of your best friends or with your beloved family.

Optional activities

The wind in your hair, the horizon ahead, the sunset awaits in the afternoon and the vibes are all good – just relaxing on your private yacht charter is already enough for a wonderful day out but you can also combine the yacht trip with some activities such as snorkelling, diving and island hopping. How about swimming with the magical manta rays and sea turtles or what do you think of going out for snorkelling trip at the celebrated ‘crystal bay’ around Nusa Penida? These experiences really add even more value to the whole yacht experience.

Bali Yacht Charters are great for:

Honeymooners

Nothing more romantic than the two of you on a yacht sharing a bottle of champagne and saying cheers to your future together as one.

Families

Bring the kids along! Bring your grandparents! Everyone can join on this amazing ocean adventure in Bali! Kids can plunge into the sea (as long as they can swim) and they’ll be amazed by the life and coral gardens beneath the surface of the sea. Grandparents will love to sit on deck, having coffee or a glass of wine, breathing in the fresh air and gazing at the beautiful surroundings.

Group of friends

Nothing better than a yacht trip with friends! Everyone puts in a little money for the yacht and you’ll be having the time of your lives! Go for a free-flow bar and a BBQ on deck – this is what holidaying is all about!

Corporate events

Planning a corporate event and want to do some great team building? Try a yacht trip – a great way to experience something wonderful together outside of the office.

Parties

Sounds pretty great, right – throwing your birthday party on a yacht in Bali seas?! That’ll be a birthday party to remember alright! You can even get married on a yacht for a unique life event. Something out of the ordinary and so very special! How to organize it? No worries, we can do all that for you.

The Seven Holiday is your yacht expert

Yes, come to us for all your holiday and honeymoon dreams but we can also book you in for a sensational yacht charter boat trip. Small to large yachts, with or without activities, including drinks or a lavish on-deck food feast – it is all up to you. Ask us anything and we can probably make it happen (there is nothing we won’t try!).

All of our yacht cruises come with experienced professional captains and boat crew members. You are in safe hands, provided with the best equipment.

Is India Becoming an Intolerant Nation?

Manu Mukundan

November 6, 2015

Author – Manu Mukundan

Image Source

The great Indian media is voraciously celebrating the recent inhumane acts of violence based on caste and religious intolerance, as always by conducting countless debates, features etc. Political leaders are trying to maintain the impartial nature of their political parties. Even the President of the Republic of India, has recently urged the people to refrain from acts of intolerance that malign the tolerant culture of our glorious nation.

The constitutional validity of beef ban or the decision to promulgate laws for protecting the divine bovine can be best left to the nation’s lawmakers. What aggrieves a liberal Indian like me is the level of intolerance that is being exhibited in an unabashed manner across the country.

Religion and caste-based discrimination and quarrels are a reality that we have to acknowledge. They are deeply entwined in the political and social fabric of the nation, and trying to eradicate them will be a utopian attempt.

So, is there no solution to this social evil? The answer is a definite yes. A society with a pluralist outlook is the only solution for this menace. It can be achieved by the active involvement of political, religious and cultural leaders, if they set aside their differences.

Recently, renowned writers have returned their awards as a protest against the silence of the Sahitya Academy over the recent killings of writers like M.M.Kalburgi and the growing tolerance in the nation. And guess what the government did? They came out with a statement that writers are politically motivated. Where is politics in protesting over the killing of a fellow writer? Why cannot a writer protest when a human being’s life becomes less worthy than that of a cow?

Isn’t the government responsible for protecting the life of its citizens? Isn’t it responsible for guarding freedom of expression of its citizens?

Apart from intolerance towards Indian citizens, cases are being reported about acts of prejudice towards foreign nationals by people who think they are the sole spokesmen of Indian patriotism. The recent protests by Shiv Sena activists against Pakistani Cricket Board and Pakistani artistes show the intolerance we Indians display.

Our customs and beliefs should be confined to our individual sphere. When someone breaks this confinement and tries to enforce their beliefs in a fascist method, then our Nation starts to lose its plural character.

In order to restore this pluralist character, there should be a coordinated and aggressive push towards the education and dissemination of liberal ideals among the common people. The government, political parties, cultural and non-governmental organizations, religious leaders should lead a crusade against intolerance and start taking aggressive measures to mould the minds of at least the budding generations.

The left wing plays a crucial role in this process and it should take the major chunk of the responsibility to bring about social reforms. It is then that we can truly carry out the wishes of our nation’s forefathers.

“Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu”

Top 7 Cultural Festivals of India You Must Experience

Biswadeep Ghosh Hazra

November 2, 2015

Mark Twain rightly said, “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most constructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.” The months of October to December form the most culturally charged months of the Indian calendar.

A festival not only means joy and happiness, but it also means an essential display of tradition, values and culture. These festivities are entwined with the culture and lives of the people and have impacted them greatly. Every state in India has their own major festival and people become culturally alive during this time. Here are a few top cultural festivals of India that embody the diversity in the respective states –

Pushkar Mela – Rajasthan

The largest fair in the state of Rajasthan, the Pushkar Fair as the name suggests, is a camel and livestock fair held all across the town of Pushkar. The fair now attracts tourists from all over the country and the world. Apart from the regular transactions of livestock, several competitions are held such as ‘The longest moustache’, ‘The bridal competition’, ‘Breaking the pot (matka phod)’ and many others. The men are busy with the goats, camels, sheep and cows while the women pass their time in the stalls selling native jewelry, clothes and textiles. The fair is held during the months of October and November.

Durga Puja – West Bengal

Cultural Festivals of India, Ma Durga puja — Ma Durga Puja – Source

Undoubtedly, the most reverred festival of West Bengal, this event happens during the time of ‘Shukla paksha’ (Hindu calender), which stretches over several days that are named Maha Panchami, Maha Shasti, Maha Saptami, Maha Asthami, Maha Navami and Bijaya Dashami. Mahalaya Amavasya marks the inception of the festival and on that auspicious day, people give tributes to their deceased relatives. The festival ends with ‘Kojagori Lakhsmi Puja’, which is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi on a full moon night. The festival marks the triumph of good over evil. The festival falls mostly in the English month of October.

Hornbill Festival – Nagaland

Cultural Festivals of India, Hornbill Festival — Image Source

The Hornbill Festival is celebrated in the Northeastern state of Nagaland and is generally called the ‘Festival of Festivals’. This particular festival has huge cultural value as it displays a plethora of events under one single roof. The festival takes place in between the dates of 1st to 7th December in Kohima. Each and every tribe of the state take part in this beautiful festival of colors and traditions. Nagaland has a rich cultural and traditional heritage, which can be understood by this extravagant festival alone. The name is derived from the Indian Hornbill, a bird that is an essential character of the folk tales of the state. Several stalls are set up at the festival to display art and crafts, herbal medicine, games, beauty contests, rock bands, traditional archery, Naga dance and wrestling and many other such stalls.

Thrissur Pooram – Kerala

This festival is held annually in Kerala and is held specifically at the Vadakkunnathan Temple situated at Thrisuur. On the occasion of Pooram which is the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star and is the largest of all Poorams. The festival has deep cultural and traditional implications with the people of the state and therefore it is all the more important. It was mainly started by Raja Rama Verma and the surrounding temples participated in the festival. The festival has events like Flag Hoisting (Kodiyettam), Firecrackers, display of ornamental caparisons, royal fans, peacock feathers and sacred bells. In spite of being a Hindu festival, the Thrissur Pooram has borrowed heavily from the local culture of Kerala.

Konark Festival – Odisha

Cultural Festivals of India, Konark Festival — Image Source

This dance and sand art festival is related to the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha and is organized to spread awareness about the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage monument. Organized the first time in 1989, the festival has tremendous cultural and traditional values. Situated 35 kilometers to the northeast of Puri, the Sun Temple has millions of visitors all the year round and is declared a world heritage site. The extravagant and exquisite architecture of gods, chariots, elephants and horses are a remarkable sight. The annual festival, held at the open air auditorium showcases different classical dance forms (Chau, Mohiniattam, Odissi, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, and any other forms of tribal dance) sand art, at the backdrop of the temple.

Kila Raipur Sports Festival – Punjab

Cultural Festivals of India, Kila Raipur Sports Festival — Image Source

Popularly also known as the ‘Rural Olympics’, this festival of sports take place in Punjab and covers a wide variety of sports. Kila Raipur is situated in Ludhiana, Punjab and the sports festival is celebrated every year in February and thousands of people including foreigners attend the event. In addition to sporting events, animals like bulls, dogs, camels, donkeys, mules and other animals are also used. The purpose is to cultivate individual strength for working in the fields and garnering the specifics. The winner is awarded and respected.

Ladakh Festival – Jammu & Kashmir

Cultural-Festivals-of-India, Ladakh Festival — Image Source

The Ladakh Festival is actually a mélange of festivals that are collectively referred to as a whole. Some of these festivals are named Hemis, Ladakh, Losar, and Sindhu Darshan festivals. The Ladakh festival takes place in the month of September and is organized by the state tourism department. The festival is as much of cultural importance as it is traditional. Almost all festivals are performed wither inside a monastery or in the vicinity of one. The summer transforms the valley into a combination of vibrant colors, which stays during the entire course of the festival. The festival has dance, art, processions, yak and dragon dances and what not.

Plants that are Perfect for Gifting on Christmas

Caleidoscope

November 1, 2015

Plants that are Perfect for Gifting on Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching and you are obviously busy selecting gifts to send to your near and dear ones. While there are so many options of fancy gift boxes and hampers out there, you might want to do something unconventional instead. This holiday season choose a gift that perpetuates the idea of a green Christmas. Yes, we are talking about gifting some beautiful plants here. Christmas plants are environment friendly and they help in purifying the air while also bringing in a dash of Christmas cheer to wherever they are placed. Along with that, you can cherish a plant for a long time to come, unlike any other gift, even flowers.

Why Plants are the Ideal Choices for Christmas Gifts?

Gifting is a way of sending good wishes and showing that you care. Plants can be the best way to express of your feelings. Plants are great gifts for the elderly. With a bit of care, a plant can greatly improve the air quality in a home, thereby, proving to be of significant benefit to everyone in the family. Plants are equally loved by kids too. A pretty houseplant that is non-toxic can be placed anywhere, even in the bedroom. The sight of it can cheer up your kids every morning in a way one would hardly expect. Plants freshen up the air around all the time while teaching the kids a thing or two about caring for another living thing. It is a great way to encourage kids to become more responsible.

Best Christmas Plants for Gifting Purposes

While there are quite a few plants that can be gifted on Christmas, following are the two most suitable and prominent varieties out there.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are extremely elegant plants that you can consider sending to aunts, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, and teachers. Anyone, who you think would love a mix of formality and warmth mixed in the gifts they receive, will love a beautiful plant. An interesting thing about this plant is that it is stunning and has been a part of most traditional Christmas photos.

Poinsettias are basically tropical specimens, originating in Mexico. The plants do not like cold and hence, one must keep them warm and protected for them to stay green and healthy for long. A Poinsettia, when placed in a corner of your home, will easily thrive in the average day temperatures but would prefer cooler nights. That is why; they should be placed away from the cooler draughts or windows. Since they are considered a bit toxic, they should be kept away from children, as the bright colours are often too tempting for young children to resist.

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus is a popular variety of Christmas flowers and plants suitable for gifting purposes. Not only do these frilly blooms go well with the essence and spirit of Christmas but are also easy to maintain. While the flower delivery service providers can provide you with a ready bloom, growing one by yourself is also a fun and enjoyable option.

The process should start about six weeks before Christmas. You need to place the cactus in a dark place like a closet or so for 13 hours a day under cool temperatures, about 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Amidst complete darkness, the buds form on the tip of the stalks. Once this happens, you can take the plant to a well-lit location and let the plant bloom within a few days. Present these to a loved one and brighten their days with a precious reminder of your love and good wishes.

You can easily find these afore-mentioned plants online that are ready for ordering. You can purchase any one online and opt for Christmas Flowers to India, delivery to make sure that your plants or flowers reaches your loved ones right at their doorstep. So, go ahead and amaze your friends and family with beautiful flowers of happiness.

But there are a few things you need to take care when same day delivery ordering, make sure that the product you liked should be available for same day delivery to the place where you want to order it. This is because in some cases the product you want might not be there in the area you want it to be delivered. One more note while purchasing things online check for coupons, deals or offers. This helps you in getting the product for a cheaper price. If you want to order immediately, relax there is a website which got you covered and at PickupFlowers make the Christmas special day easier and hassle-free with same-day-delivery service.

Sahir Ludhianvi – The ‘People’s Poet’

Sahana Rajan

October 26, 2015

Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein yeh khayal aata hain
Woh pal do pal ka shayar ki kahani yaad aata hain

Whenever we think of lyrical songs and poems, we tend to remember Sahir Ludhianvi’s memorable lyrics. It is obvious that a nation obsessed with Bollywood Cinema can only think of the ‘People’s Poet’, rather than anyone else. Sahir was the voice of common people; he experienced to the fullest extent that which every person undergoes in the face of tragedies. What distinguished him from other singers attempting to do the same was that he expressed the suffering without explaining it away.

Khushiyon ki manzil dhoondiii to gham kii gard milii
Chaahat ke naghme chaahe to aahen sard milii
Dil ki bojh ko duunaa kar gayaa, jo ghamkhwaar milaa
~Jaane Woh Kaise Log The

Sahir Ludhianvi was born in Ludhiana as Abdul Hayee into an already mashed-up bowl of truth-ridden life on 8 March 1921. Right from his birth, he was treated not with shallow smiles but to a trailer of the harsh world that awaited his arrival. The estranged relationship of his parents became the basis of the harsh reality that Ludhianvi was to bring about in his songs, poems and ghazals later in life.

Turbulent childhood

At a young age of 13, his mother, Sardar Begum took the brave decision to walk out of her marriage and their home, giving up all financial claims. She took this decision after his father married for the second time. Having lost the custody of Sahir, his father threatened to take him away his mother, but she approached some friends who took care of them amidst heavy turbulences throughout his childhood.

We are often insulated against such harsh reality of life by the cushions of money and derivative luxuries, but for Sahir this truth became a brother who was to help him create a world of rhythmic art. After he shifted to Lahore, he completed his first Urdu compilation, “Talkhiyaan” (Bitterness), which was published in 1945. With the publication of this work, he became the editor of four Urdu magazines, which flourished greatly after his appointment. He joined the ‘Progressive Writers’ Association’, which became the platform for courageously voicing his communist ideology, leading to an arrest warrant by the Government of Pakistan. Later in 1949 Sahir landed in Delhi and later in Bombay.

Solitudinal Evolution

The renowned poet Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi threaded a profound affair in erstwhile Bombay, marked by Amrita’s unabashed expression of love towards him. Her love encompassed Sahir as the roots of two trees intertwine with each other. Although he came in touch with many women throughout his life, he decided not to be with any of them in a matrimonial alliance. His bachelorhood resonates the ideal of solitudinal evolution echoing through Gabriel Garcia Marquez when he says “Human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but … life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.”

“Azadi Ke Raah Par” was Sahir’s debut in films where he wrote lyrics for four songs, the first of which being “Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi”. While this movie and its songs did not gather much notice, Naujawaan released in 1951 placed Sahir Ludhianvi as the pioneer in lyricism. His lyrics “Thandi Haawaye Lehraake Aaye” were composed into a song by S.D. Burman. He shared this time and blazed great success with Guru Dutt’s birth as a director in Baazi and yet another Ludhianvi-Burman composition.

Burman-Ludhianvi compositions

S.D. Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi went on to compose music for 18 movies, superseded by his work with Ravi (19 movies) and followed closely by N.Dutta (18 movies) and Roshan (8 movies). Some of the well-known films are characteristic of Burman-Ludhianvi team: Devdas, Jeevan Jyoti, Jaal, Society, Armaan and Taxi Driver.

His association with S.D. Burman came to a close with Pyaasa. Sathya Saran, in her book “Ten Years with Guru Dutt- Abrar Alvi’s Journey” recounts that such a break occurred due to Sahir’s view about the importance of lyricist over a music director. At an evening of drinks and fun Sahir sarcastically remarked about music directors being lesser mortals than composers.

Source: Mr. & Mrs. '55 — Source: Mr. & Mrs. ’55

Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa is considered the masterpiece of Sahir Ludhianvi. The plot is often likened to the real life story of the poet who gave to the movie what silence gives to songs just as Mozart said: “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” As his words became the baton that sliced together the story of movies, Sahir overrode the formats set by his contemporaries.

He began to insist on lyrics-writing before its composition into music, while others were glad to squeeze in words to the tune. It is said that he even asked to be paid a rupee more than Lata Mangeshkar, causing contention between them. Such a metamorphosis is often interpreted as arrogance, while others regarded it as a symptom of his growing loneliness. In 1970s, Sahir mostly worked with Yash Chopra on movies like Kabhi Kabhie (1976). Taj Mahal (1963) brought him Filmfare Award for the Best Lyricist.

Self-estrangement

During the last years of his life, Sahir suffered from alcoholism and underwent a radical personality alteration marked by moodiness and despair. Sahir Ludhianvi passed away at the age of 59 (25 October 1980) from heart attack. A bungalow named Parchaiyaan in Andheri, Mumbai became Sahir’s abode from 1970s till his last days. Resting in the verandah of his Andheri house, Sahir could be heard humming the words of his ghazals and songs, pooled in the company of poet Gulzar and Urdu scholar Krishna Chander.

Sahir Ludhianvi epitomised the actions and situations in our life that cause self-estrangement. He had the halo that hung over the minds of such seers of suffering like T.S. Eliot and Mirza Ghalib. At a level, Sahir knew that each of us were patients of suffering and his works revealed it.

Sahir Ludhianvi’s Poetry

Yahaan peer bhii aa chuke hain jawaan bhi
tanuumand bete bhi, abbaa miyaan bhi
ye biwi bhi hai aur behan bhi hai, maan bhi
jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahaan hain?
Chakley

Aap daulat ke taraazuu me.n dilo.n ko tole.n
Ham muhabbat se muhabbat ka silaa dete hai.n

Takht kya chiiz hai aur laal-o-javaahar kya hai?
Ishqvaale to khudaayii bhii luuTaa dete hai.n
Jurm-e-Ulfat

Har ik jism ghaayal, har ik rooh pyaasi
Nigaahon mein uljhan, dilon mein udaasi
Yeh duniya hai ya aalam-e-badhawaasi,
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai?
~Yeh Duniya Mil Bhi Jaaye

Sahir Ludhianvi Songs Playlist

Image Source

http://learningandcreativity.com

Factfile –
http://www.firstpost.com
https://rekhta.org
https://books.google.co.in
https://books.google.co.in

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author’s own.

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