Enabling the Differently Abled – Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust

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December 29, 2014

Author – Samarth Goel

A few weeks back, my college semester ended and vacations began. Most of my classmates took internship at various private companies and organisations. However, I thought why I shouldn’t i work with an NGO this time. So i enlisted myself as an intern at the Amar Jyoti School for Inclusive Education located at Karkardooma in Delhi. Managed by Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, the institute consists of a hospital, a school and an artificial limb manufacturing unit for the differently-abled people. Among these, the school is the most interesting part of the whole set-up.

Till now, I had only seen segregated schools for the differently-abled and regular children. Seldom would we see a differently-abled child studying in a regular school, since this concept is relatively new to our country. Fortunately, times are changing and new institutions like Amar Jyoti are springing up in different parts of the country to empower differently-abled people.

The Trust is completely focused on the differently-abled and the problems they might face in their day-to-day lives. The institution has ramps all over the campus. Handrails, steady slopes and guide tiles are placed and maintained so that no differently-abled person faces a problem in navigating the area. An interesting fact to be shared here: Amar Jyoti brought a new concept to India named ‘Abilympics’, a vocational skills competition organized for the differently-abled.

We usually call differently-abled people as “physically disabled”, but how is a person supposed to be disabled if they haven’t experienced something? Let us take an example of blind people. They can’t see, but we can. On the other hand, they have sharp hearing skills, and a heightened sense of touch and smell – senses which we have too but are not that sharp. So how exactly can we call them disabled? We are also equally disabled then, aren’t we?

Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust was established in 1981 and since the last 30 years, the trust started serving the differently-abled people. The Amar Jyoti School for Inclusive Education is a huge milestone in integrating the differently-abled people in our society. While interning there, I noticed that students with all kinds of disabilities were studying together in a co-educational atmosphere. The teaching quality there seemed way better than government run institutions for the differently-abled or even government schools for regular kids.

I noticed that this kind of co-education sensitizes these children; I mean the ’normal’ ones! They do not hesitate in helping out a fellow in need. Some really young children were having a hard time rolling up the ramps. Two perfectly abled students went all the way to the top floor to drop them safely.

The founder and the current team of trustees are also praiseworthy. After doing a lot of hardwork in the initial year, they could now rest on their laurels. However, they never relax and do whatever they can for these children. For example, I have seldom seen the founder Dr. Uma Tuli in her cabin. She is always busy on rounds to check that everything is going well in the two buildings: the public service building and the school building. I also saw her spending a lot of time with the school students, irrespective of whether they have a disability or not.

In my opinion, each one of us should work with a NGO at least once in our lifetime. It’s a totally different experience from what we face while interning at offices and companies. The best part is, when you go and spend some time with someone, they feel good and most importantly, we also feel at peace. I know because I felt peaceful. After two months of a busy schedule, I could not believe what a heartwarming and soothing experience it was for me to work in a new field.

When you work in an NGO, you realize that we are not the only ones in the world facing problems. I saw a child playing table tennis with only one foot. He had no arms. He had a leg missing. Yet he decided to forget those problems and gave one awesome performance. The level of inspiration is indescribable. If given the chance I would go and work with them again and again. In today’s busy world, visiting a school for inclusive education seems like a small cost to pay for mental peace.

Factfile, Images –
www.amarjyotirehab.org

It’s Never Too Late to Start Learning Music

By

Poulomi Dave

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December 24, 2014

2

Author – Poulomi Dave

“I felt that this is the only thing which helps me to have hope…a sort of religion; actually, Music is God!” stated Alice Herz-Sommer. Alice is the world’s oldest survivor of the holocaust said that music kept her alive and gave her hope during the brutal treatment by the Nazis. Alice was a pianist and her excellence at it was what kept her alive all these years. So when I read about her and how her love for music helped her stay so positive, I was not surprised but rather inspired. I decided I needed to learn a musical instrument too and I started to learn piano.

I was quite optimistic about picking up the lessons fast in spite of not having any prior knowledge in music. But it turned out that it was not easy as it looked like, I was and I am still struggling with it, but I know that I won’t give up. So, in a way, it taught me to be more patient at trying out new things, to accept my failures and take lessons from them. Learning music even helped me deal with a lot of subconscious stress.

“Music has all the answers,” is a saying we hear quite often, and yes it does. While playing the instrument, a million thoughts would run through my head, most of them would be solutions to my current problems. Music also helps you heighten your emotions; it subconsciously helps you connect to your soul.

Research suggests that learning a musical instrument as a child is easier than learning it as an adult, since our brains are almost fully developed as adults, whereas a kid’s brain develops while learning music. A lot of famous musicians have started at an early age. However, that should not dissuade us from learning an instrument, just as C. S. Lewis has rightly stated, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.

Learning an instrument as an adult may be difficult at first, but it helps us find time for ourselves in this fast moving world, where we are too busy coping with our ever growing responsibilities. Music teaches us to slow down and somehow helps us introspect on life much better. Further, as adults, we already have a good understanding of music from a lifetime of listening. Sometimes, kids are either compelled by their parents or by peer pressure to learn a musical instrument, whereas as an adult you are the master of your own destiny.

Particularly, music helps adults deal with stress, which is something that they need more than when they were a kid. However, to learn a musical instrument, we need to be dedicated and manage our time in such a way that we can find time for practicing an instrument while fulfilling other responsibilities at work and home. In a way, it helps us enhance our time and organizational skills.

Learning music has various other benefits including health benefits whereby it helps us deal with anxiety, depression and insomnia. It even helps in improving self-confidence, increases the capacity of our memory, enhances our mind-body coordination, improve our mathematical ability and our performance on cognitive tasks. Research indicates that music therapy has proved invaluable in treating many physical and mental disorders as well.

Jennifer Bugos, an assistant professor of music education at the University of South Florida, US, studied the impact of individual piano instruction on adults aged between 60 and 85 years. After six months, those who had received piano lessons showed more robust gains in memory, verbal fluency, ability to process information, and other cognitive functions, as compared to those who had not received lessons.

“People often shy away from learning to play a musical instrument at a later age, but it’s definitely possible to learn and play well into late adulthood,” Bugos says. Hence, learning a musical instrument as an adult is no big deal, also if you turn out to be too good at it, then maybe it can serve as an alternative career for you. Music is necessary and as Beethoven said, “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy”.

Image sources –
Michele Ursino on Flickr
Music Therapy Trust
Thumb pick

Margazhi – The Season of Melodies

By

Sreesvarna B

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December 22, 2014

10

Author – Sreesvarna B

A steaming cup of coffee, the Open Page of ‘The Hindu’, the ragas Kapi and Malaya Marutham sung on the radios and televisions early in the morning is all that is needed to pull music fans out of their warm cozy blankets in the cold month of December in South India. The recitals of Slokas, Harikatha, dance, and music bring together the world for music maestros, budding artists, gurus, students and aficionados to Chennai, the Carnatic classical music capital of India, making the month so lovable and treasured.

Margazhi (Margashira in Sanskrit) is the most auspicious month in the Tamil calendar, which begins mid-December. Hindu mythology states that Lord Krishna described himself to be the month of Margazhi in Bhagavad Gita. It is this month when Andal (one among the 12 Alvar saints) wrote Tiruppavai, containing 30 verses (one verse for each day) in which she describes herself as a Gopika and her devotion to Krishna. This is an auspicious month when you find Kolams (Rangoli) in every household much before the sunrise, along with the chanting of Tirupavvai and Tiruvanbavvai (the holy verses).

Way back in the 1920s, the Madras Music Academy started conducting small Kutcheris (concerts) in the Tamil month of Panguni (March/April), which was later shifted to the Margazhi month (December/January), since the pleasant weather conditions attracted local crowds as well as tourists. This small set of Kutcheris grew to become a massive music carnival and the shift only made the month more special for the people of Tamil Nadu and the rest of South India. Today, the Margazhi music season brings together prominent performers in small Kutcheris throughout the month to encourage music appreciation among people for this traditional art form of our country.

Gone are the days when people used to run to the nearest temples or shops with radios to listen to legends sing. Today, people throng the Sabhas (music organisations) to get a free concert ticket. We can find little girls in the traditional attire Pavadai with two plaits and little boys in Veshti running behind their parents, and eagerly waiting for their turn to sing in the tiny time slot their gurus would have grabbed to showcase disciples’ talent. You will also find senior students trying to listen carefully and find out as many ragas as they can while an artist is singing or playing.

This music season does not end there, but is just a start to the upcoming Tyagaraja Aradhana and the Carnatic music competitions for vocalists and instrumentalists. Many budding artists come up with such heart throbbing raga alapanas that make even the professional singers exclaim shabhash! These competitions have now travelled as far as Sydney and London to provide the same exposure for the music students there.

Today, when we see all kinds of western music influences like pop, jazz, hip-hop, rock in India, a question arises… Will the traditional art forms like Hindustani and Carnatic classical music become contemporary?

It does take enormous time and practice to learn Carnatic music. Years of learning, listening and practice later, a teacher can present his/her student to the world. Today, when we see teenagers performing outstandingly on stage, it is a sight of pride. This gives us the confidence that whatever be the new trend of music, these art-forms would never die but only makes themselves more adaptable.

Fusion music, Jugalbandis and symphony are now peeping into concert halls. It is also a common sight to see many science loving students take up research on Carnatic music – the Talam formation (time beat), Katapayadi Sutram (that systemizes 72 Melakartha ragas), Shurthi, and every possible aspect of this form. Theme-based concerts, lectures, paper presentations on research done on the various aspects of Carnatic music are all the new trends, which are expected to be part of this festival this year.

Even as I begin to learn music, I see myself being a better listener. I am mesmerised when an artist performs on stage! I see myself trying to understand and enjoy the raga bhava, the minute sangathis – though I may not get it now; I continue listening, hoping to get it someday. I see myself discussing music with friends whom I met during these concert sessions.

So here is Margazhi, a carnival of Carnatic music coming again in a bigger form – with the help of media and music institutes. Here is the time to enjoy the snack break with old friend with coffee and vada and furiously debate on which song is more apt to be titled ‘song of the day’! Here is a time to look at the performers with awe and celebrate the growth of this classical form and see it become contemporary!

Image sources –
Sriram Jagannathan on Flickr

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_Music_Season
http://www.indian-heritage.org/musicseason/sabhas.htm
http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/december-season-buzz-2014/dance-buzz-2014

Architectural Set Design in Indian Cinema

By

Caleidoscope

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December 19, 2014

1

Author – Sneha Sridhar

Continued from – The Reel Storeys – Architecture in Indian Movies

Indian movies are known for their lavishly sprawling sets, extravagant set designs, mind boggling special effects, elongated narration and song sequences. These musicals depict a wide range of emotions right from slapstick comedy to uncontrolled fury, ensuring a wholesome entertainment for the entire Indian household. A typical Bollywood movie is shot in three types of locations in general: breathtaking landscapes for outdoor scenes, elaborate indoor sets and heritage monuments. Particularly, period films are shot in heritage monuments that provide an authentic background for establishing the historic aspect of the story. Here are some of the well known movies that were worth mentioning for their architectural set design in Indian cinema.

Lootera

Lootera was a great period film. The costumes, songs, and locations transported the viewer back in time. The Jain temples of Deulghata of Purulia district in West Bengal form the backdrop of an excavation scene featured in the film. Deulghata in Bengali means “the land of temples”. Succumbing to deterioration, these Jain heritage sites are masterpieces in brickwork. . Owing to natural calamities and human neglect, only two out of the three temples are still standing. These temples have been extensively repaired, with only a few original portions left. The temples were constructed using curved brickwork with stucco application. Several motifs and sculptures adorn the facades of the temples.
The film provides a glimpse into the world of the Zamindars in Bengal. The Royal Palace of Khanyan also known as Itachuna Rajbari, also made a cameo in the film. Now a heritage resort, the Rajbari is divided into five mahallas – a village courthouse, a ballet dancing hall, kitchen house, a guest house and an Andar Mahal for ladies. A peek into the old world of Bengal, the oil lamps, jharbatis, and antique furniture take the visitor back to the 1950s.

Asoka

The scene is set with Kareena Kapoor practicing her sword wielding skills in front of a majestic temple dating back to the 10th century. Known as the “Gem of Odisha architecture”, the Mukteshwar Temple in Bhubaneshwar temple conforms to the classic architectural style of temples in Orissa. The Garba Griha (sanctum sanctorum) is a small windowless room with the idol of the deity. A stepped pyramidal roof over the Jagamohana (assembly hall) and the curvilinear spire of the Vimana (tower) are other features characteristic of Odisha architecture.
The film was shot on various other locations: the romance between Asoka and the princess at Panchmarhi, the palace intrigues of Pataliputra at Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, battle scenes outside Jaipur, the Kalinga scenes at Igatpuri and Bhubaneswar. The song “Raat Ka Nasha” was picturised at Bhedaghat and Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Narmada River. The film is also known for using minimal special effects.

Magadheera

‘Magadheera’ is considered the biggest blockbuster Telugu movie of all time. The film was noted for its extravagant sets and dazzling special effects. The beats of “Panchadara bomma” have us tapping our feet and bobbing our heads. The actors playfully frolic among the ruins of what was once a massive rampart of the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad. Golconda Fort is the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau. Located on a 400 ft high hill, this fort has a reputation for being impregnable. With three lines of fortification, it took Aurangzeb nine months to capture the resilient fortress. Inside the fort lies the well-planned township of Golconda.
The shooting for the chariot race sequence took place in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The salty, dry, open land with white sands in Dholavira was ideal for the vast battle scenery. While the chariot race sequence was shot in Dholavira, the quicksand sequence in which the chariot sinks was shot at a set in Ramoji Film City. After filming key parts of the film in Rajasthan, suburbs of Hyderabad and at Badami in Karnataka, filming continued in Ramoji Film City in a specially erected set.

2 States

It is safe to assume that the wedding scene in the movie “2 States” caught everyone’s attention, who wonders about inter-caste or inter-state marriage. A traditional wedding against the backdrop of an ancient temple on a sprawling beach – what’s not to love? This temple is none other than the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram. One of the oldest structural stone temples in India, the Shore Temple was constructed using blocks of granite. The main temple structure consists of a 60 ft high pyramidal structure sitting on a 50 ft high platform and is built such that the rising sun’s rays fall upon the Shiva Lingam inside the shrine.
Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s song, Locha-E-Ulfat has been shot at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, which is the first time a Bollywood film has been shot in this premier institute. The reason being that the Chetan Bhagat book on which the movie is based on, is also set in the institute. The film was also shot in other prominent locations of Ahmedabad such as Gol Limda Bhajiya House near Astodia Darwaza, Ahmedabad Railway Station, Police Commissioner’s office, etc.

Mehbooba

The song “Mere Naina Saawan” plays in the background as Hema Malini wanders in between gilded pillars and the hallowed halls of the Mysore Palace. The opulence and grandeur of this palace threaten to overwhelm the song’s haunting melody. Designed by Lord Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace was constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style. Displaying varied influences from Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic architecture, it is a three-storey building of gray granite with pink marble domes, surrounded by lavish gardens. The central arch, above which a sculpture of Gajalakshmi rests, stands out from the series of expansive arches on the facade of the palace. With stained glass ceilings, chandeliers and semi-precious stones adorning the mosaic floor, no expense was spared for the opulent Ambavilasa. A rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory leads into this hall where the king would meet with private audience. The palace is not without an air of intrigue. The secret tunnels from the palace cellar lead to many places, one of them Srirangapatnam. The palace also plays host to the Mysore Dusshera festival, known for performances by artists and the parade with caparisoned elephants and floats.

Image Sources
moifightclub.wordpress.com
thebrokenscooter.com
clubdefanaticos.foroactivo.com
thebrokenscooter.com
galleryhip.com
bhmpics.com

Factfile –
http://asi.nic.in
www.filmapia.com
http://dooleyonline.typepad.com
http://www.todaraisingh.com
http://www.dailykashmirimages.com
in.geoview.info
http://www.chitrolekha.com
http://www.indiamike.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

The Reel Storeys – Architecture in Indian Movies

By

Caleidoscope

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December 17, 2014

1

Author – Sneha Sridhar

Movies tell us stories. They capture our imagination and transport us to different times and places in history. Sometimes these places are real and the settings take the storyline to a whole new level. The architecture forms the envelope for the story. A lot of Indian buildings and monuments have had noteworthy appearances on celluloid.

Indian culture being so diverse, architecture isn’t an exception to the rule. North India is home to several forts and religious monuments, which showcase ancient Indian, Mughal and European architectural heritage. As we progress east, heritage houses exude a strong British influence. As one travels further into the south, the Dravidian temples become larger and the palaces lavish in ornamentation. No wonder Indian movies have only been too willing to set their stories in beautiful locations that are a feast to the eyes. Let’s take a look at some Bollywood films that projected some of the finest examples of Indian architecture in all their glory.

Jodhaa Akbar

The backdrop of romantic scenes in the movie, the Agra Fort is steeped in historical and architectural layers. Apart from the traditional structures like the Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience), the Diwan-i- Khas (hall of private audience), and the various mahals, the Fort boasts of unusual features as well. The Fort has structures adorned with inlay work in white marble and has also incorporated influences from Hindu architecture, such as the depiction of living beings in decorative art. Decorative mirror work seen in the Sheesh Mahal, a characteristic shared with the Amber Fort, is also seen in the film.

Paheli

Rani Mukherjee gazes into the distance while a bird hovers above along the steps of a baori (stepwell). Rani ki Baori in Rajasthan was featured in the movie. Named after a queen who bravely sacrificed herself to uphold her husband’s honour, the stepwell is unique in the fact that it is asymmetrical and in that its characteristic design of the steps imitated waves of water. Widely prevalent in Western India where temperatures can go up to 45 degrees, stepwells solved the problem of seasonal fluctuations in water availability. Apart from storing potable water, the stepwells also provided respite from the hot and arid weather conditions for travellers. Built with blocks of stone without using mortar, the stepwell is divided in to two parts – one allowing water to be drawn out vertically and the other allowing access to the water through the stairways. The stepwells were designed such that the water could be accessed through a series of steps, providing the flexibility of accessing the water at whichever level it was. During the rainy seasons, the stepwell would fill to its capacity and function like a cistern.

Fanaa

The upbeat “Desh Rangeela” plays and Kajol is twirling around in front of a structure that is more than well known- the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Everybody recognizes this iconic building in New Delhi. The Rashtrapathi Bhavan was designed by Edwin Lutyens for the existing Viceroy at the time. Although Lutyens preferred European designs over Indian architectural designs, a few traditional elements have been used . Features like the chattris on the roof, the design of the column capitals, and several water features have been borrowed from Hindu architecture. The central dome, inspired by the dome of the Pantheon in Rome, was one of the many European influences in the building’s design. In addition to the Mughal gardens, other Indian elements included Indo-Saracenic motifs and red sandstone jaalis.
The Amar Jawan Jyothi at the India Gate and the Qutb complex were also showcased in this movie.

Haider

During the scenic shots of Dal Lake and Haider’s village, the regional architecture of Kashmir may be noticed in the background. Primarily made of timber, houses in Kashmir also have distinct, pointed roofs to shed the snow. Wooden columns, courtyards and jaalis constructed over openings were features quite common in the local architecture. Many villagers use unburnt bricks set in wooden frames or earthen walls set on stone plinths to form the structure of a house.
The song “Bismil” was shot at the Martand Sun temple in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. The complex consists of the primary shrine located in the middle of a colonnaded courtyard. There are 84 smaller shrines surrounding the main shrine. The temple is now in ruins but the primary shrine is thought to have had a pyramidal top which is characteristic of Kashmiri temples.

3 Idiots

Indian architecture has evolved with globalization. Traditional elements have been used in modern buildings resulting in contemporary designs. One such example is IIM, Bangalore. This institution is largely featured in the film “3 Idiots”. Designed by B.V. Doshi, the campus comprises of a network of corridors, courts, and external spaces inspired by the courtyards of Fatehpur Sikhri and the gardens of Bangalore. Through pergolas, skylights, and the blurring between the exterior and interior, the campus provides an interesting spatial experience.

Another architectural highlight in the movie is the Druk White Lotus school in Ladakh. Built upon a Buddhist mandala plan, the school is an example of sustainable architecture. Open spaces and courtyards have also popularized outdoor learning.

Continue reading – Architectural Set Design in Indian Cinema

Image Source
iwatchiread.com
dearcinema.com
shaanig.com

Factfile –
http://asi.nic.in
http://dooleyonline.typepad.com/bollywood/2013/09/stepwell-hadi-rani-ki-baori-in-toda-rai-singh-rajasthan-paheli.html
http://www.todaraisingh.com/hadi-rani-ki-baori
http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/news-the-architectural-delicacy-of-rural-kashmir-42163.aspx
http://www.chitrolekha.com/V2/n1/13_Temples_Purulia_Deulghata_Pakbira_Banda.pdf
http://www.indiamike.com/india/bus-and-train-photologues-f167/historical-gems-of-hooghly-t210826/

Mesmerizing Display of Talent – Indian Art Festival

By

Caleidoscope

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December 15, 2014

0

Author – Sneha Pujani

I had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Indian Art Festival, which celebrated its fourth year of inception. The festival was established in 2011 as a podium for showcasing fine art and bringing together artists from all around the world. The gentle mingling of artists and art enthusiasts in the diverse galleries was a tribute to the mesmerizing display of talent. Every gallery had something new to offer. As no two fingerprints are same, no two works of art are similar. The paintings and the sculptures that were exhibited were the embodiment of the artists who were not novices in any way. They had bared their soul on canvas and placed it on display for art connoisseurs at the Indian Art Festival.

Mukund Kelkar – Joy of Life

The Indian Art Festival saw over 300 individual artists from 50 cities across the world come together to display their talent. When the talent pool is so varied, discussions had added flavours. The paintings and the philosophy behind them had different roots, but they did combine to create a multifaceted art show.

During the four days of the festival exposition, artists, art critics, gallerists, architects, historians, museum professionals, cultural organizers, art connoisseurs, media publishers thronged the elegant setting of Nehru Centre, located in central Mumbai. The venue, Nehru Centre in itself is a grand place with a rich history. The festival was spread across the centre with the ground floor covered by exhibitions of 33 different art galleries, while the second floor had stalls for solo and group artists. There were 86 booths each hosting a dynamic talent of its own.

Eminent speakers took to stage and discussed on topics like ‘Why Exhibit’, ‘The Exhibition as a Variable Medium’, ‘The Exhibition by Other Means’, ‘Exhibition and Its Backdrops’, ‘New Publics for the Arts’ etc. The speakers reflected on various issues like how an artist plays the roles of curators and poets, how this affects the artwork and why it happens that the artists have to take up these responsibilities. The thought process of an artist, the way they think and process the ideas before they put it on paper and how the process brings out a change in their paintings were also discussed.

The art show had many painting techniques on display. The most popular one was the classic ‘oil on canvas’ painting. Mix-media, pallet knife, oil and acrylic were also the favoured choices. Charcoal and ink paintings were comparatively few. Another the interesting art form on show was installation, which gave a 3D effect to the painting by using natural elements like leaves or wood to bring about the actual feel of the place. Modern art is a difficult artform to comprehend for a novice like me, since it needs a trained eye to grasp the beauty of this contemporary art form. Going by the consensus, we can say it is very well received.

Moving from techniques to themes, I found that the spiritual aspect of Indian culture was beautifully depicted on canvas. Radha-Krishna remained one of the most captivating subjects for artists. The mischief in Krishna’s eye and the redness of Radha’s cheeks were beautifully and artistically captured in vivid colours. It is noteworthy that even after all these years; artists haven’t had their fill with the enchanting Kanha and still paint his expressions on canvas. Similarly, paintings of Hindu deities Ganesh, Hanuman and scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata were quite prevalent.

Prithvi Soni – Shringar Radha

Spirituality and freedom was another major theme that was displayed generously. Right from Feng shui to Aum, the concept of peace and stillness was put on paper; some artists used a riot of colours, while some went for subtle impressions. The art conveyed every bit of the artist’s feelings, be it storm or calm. Certain pieces captivated you, drew you in and hit bulls-eye. The artists look at the brushwork or the use of light, a novice looks for the feel. A perfect piece would have both; it will speak to you in a different language on a different level. The festival had a treasure trove of such talent and evidently these four days were pure happiness for art lovers.

Prakash Bhende – Achievement

Animals were another preferred theme at the show. Horses were particularly loved for they are considered to be the ambassadors of freedom, of protection and of strength. The beauty of a herd of horses running in rhythm was a challenge taken up by many artists in the festival.

Wildlife photography was another art on display where the tiger’s eyes shone as he lapped water from the stream. The ferocity of the animal and the gleam of its fur can be seem clearly in Anand Anikode‘s work.

Rajrani Sisodia – Lakoon and his two sons

Vibrantly coloured peacocks were captured on thread work by Rajrani Sisodia. The colour shades were brought about by the intricate use of thread and needle work. The minute details and the captured effect were breathtaking!

Pramila Giria – Behind the Mask

The concept of Feminism beautifully portrayed on canvas. The piercing eyes of the portrayed subjects will bore into your soul as you look at them look at you. Further, the vibrant colours add to the enigma of feminine power.

Bhavesh Patel – Proposal

Water was another concept marvellously used in the expression of feelings the rise and fall of the tide, the play of light on every droplet and the addition of human emotions make water a sophisticated and rich subject for artists. Bhavesh Patel’s work was particularly noteworthy.

Siddhidatri Sharma – Conference

Indian Art Festival doesn’t allow any amateur or novice artists to feature their work. The art work has to be of professional standards. When the show has works of eminent artists such as M F Hussain, S H Raza on display, even seasoned artists hesitate to share the stage. However, this proved to be a myth when the Sharma siblings all of 15 (Siddhidatri) and 10 (Siddhesh) years of age were accepted as participants two years back.

Since then, the Mumbai-based siblings have consistently stumped the art world by displaying unbound talent with no formal training. They have exhibited their work which is on par with professionals. When we look at their artwork, we cannot possibly guess it to be a child’s brushwork.

Rohan Shamdhenu Sonawne – Peace

We shouldn’t be mistaken in thinking that the Indian Art Festival was all about paintings. Sculpture works also took their appropriate praises. Some of the bronze and metal works were beautiful. They brought to life the joys of childhood and imaginations of artists. The sheer detailing in some these pieces can captivate you for a long time.

Thus, the Indian Art Festival proved to an ideal platform for every artist and art enthusiast to be part of the rich talent pool we have in our midst. A big reason to move away from the daily TV sitcoms and chat rooms! The festival and art in itself is a wonderful way to engage and challenge your imagination by the storm of talent that artists unleash in such a platform!

Kisan Expo Shows Agriculture is Big Business

By

Levine Lawrence

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December 11, 2014

6

Village folk leaving their barren farms to seek better livelihood is old story. The reverse migration among urbanites who go back to their roots to take farming is the new trend! Agriculture seems to become a fashionable business for educated youth as well as well experienced professionals working in other industries. For services industry professional like me, a visit to the sprawling venue of Kisan Expo in Pune was quite an eye opener!

There were around 300-400 stalls occupied by a diverse range of companies displaying farm tools, machineries, pesticides, fertilizers, dairy animals, fish breeds, etc. Kisan Expo organizers claimed that 11,000 farmers from Gujarat, 8,000 farmers from Karnataka, 3500 farmers from MP had participated, along with thousands from Maharashtra. Although I cannot vouch for that, I could see a large crowd of farmers at all venues. It was surprising to see farmers filling up entry forms and willingly paying Rs.100 entry fee!

Agriculture has always been a serious business for the rural farming community, but now ‘agricultural services’ has become the buzzword. Both small entrepreneurs and large companies offered a wide spectrum of services such as soil fertility management, groundwater survey, weather forecasting, poly greenhouse construction, organic farming certification, pest management, biotech-based tissue culture, market linkage services, etc.

As a person who is inclined to see innovative businesses, I was thrilled to see some interesting ideas being implemented in the Indian agricultural sector, which is considered the most retarded in terms of innovation! Here are some of the innovative ideas displayed in Kisan Expo:

Coimbatore-based Eco Green Unit displayed some wonderful banana fibre handicraft products extracted from waste banana plants. They had two varieties – the silky smooth thread harvested from fresh banana plants that can be woven into garments and the rough coarse fibre from dried plants, which are used for making carpets, baskets, ropes, etc.

Fine Trap India is an innovative device for biological control of borer pests. It is a simple tool that is non-toxic and cheap as well.

Nuciterra Magigro Bags are high density, co-extruded plastic bags filled with Cocopeat, compost and other nutrients that are designed for use in greenhouse hydroponic vegetable and flower crop production.

Hydroponics seems to be the next big thing in agriculture; it is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without any soil. The Institute of Simplified Hydroponics has established India’s first vegetable hydroponics garden in a rural school near Bangalore.

Hifield AG offered micro-nutrients of amino acid and humic acid made from sea-weeds, which are used as the base for producing bio-fertilizers.

Numerous stalls for organic products and bio-fertilizers were such a relief, since chemical fertilizers were conspicuously rare!

Global Green Agri Nova’s Perfekt Pesticide is a phytotonic made from herbal extracts which repels sucking pests and makes the plant disease resistant.

Plastic fencing net for plants was another curious product. This simple metal reinforced net helps ward off grazing animals.

Plastic & polymer material were everywhere – pipes, sapling pouches, mulching covers, tissue culture trays, greenhouses, etc.

Low cost manual milking machine that can extract 1.5-2 litres of milk every minute. Raghava Gowda P, a dairy farmer from Karnataka has created this innovative machine.

Tissue culture has become the norm for seedlings in agriculture since high-yield varieties can be easily propagated and there is higher rate of plant survival. Sophisticated biotech labs are churning out saplings of sugarcane, banana, vegetables, etc. for the benefit of farmers.

Drip irrigation is increasingly becoming the norm in horticulture due to innovative water storage techniques and water piping solutions.

Solar power panels for lighting and wind power water pumps are making big inroads into the rural areas.

Further, numerous market research firms, consultancy firms, govt agencies, were discussing about creating aknowledge park for agri-business in order to promote farm mechanization

Even Café Coffee Day found it good enough to host a stall and found flourishing business as well!

I hope all this frenzied business activity would radically change the ground reality for our farmers and bring better prospects from them.
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Factfile –
http://www.ecoideaz.com/?s=biological+control+
https://caleidoscope.in/eco-ideaz/eco-friendly-ideas-from-india-part-2

The Power of One Voice that Held High the Flag of Freedom

By

Caleidoscope

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December 10, 2014

0

Jodi tor đak shune keu na ashe tôbe êkla chôlo re!

Many of us who have lived in a society, who have worked together as teams at workplace, mingled with friends during weekends, cannot imagine doing things alone. Be it watching movies or going on a trip, we always seek companions to accompany us in whatever we do. In such a situation is it possible for us to stand alone for a cause… swim against the tide… fight a lonely battle against the system…

We live in a society where many times collective action by a large group of people doesn’t make much of an impact. However, we are amazed by the sudden and devastating impact caused by the action of one individual. Sometimes we wonder if such a thing can really happen and what motivates that individual to wage a lonely battle against the system. Today, as we observe the Human Rights Day, we pay tribute to the power of one voice that held high the flag of freedom.

Mohamed Bouazizi

Mohamed Bouazizi was an ordinary street vendor eking out a living in Sidi Bouzid, a rural town in Tunisia. Being the eldest of a family of six children, Bouazizi took the responsibility of earning for the family. He could not complete highschool and was forced to work as a teenager in various jobs. Bouazizi was said to be a well-known person in his town who would often provide free fruit and vegetables to poor families. Local police officers regularly ill-treated Bouazizi by confiscating his wheelbarrow, since he did not have a street vendor’s permit. Corruption was rampant in Tunisia and Bouazizi did not have the funds to bribe officials.

On 17 December 2010, things went seriously wrong when he was publicly humiliated by a municipal official. Angered by this, Bouazizi ran to the governor’s office to complain, but the governor refused to see him. To protest against this injustice, Bouazizi doused gasoline and set himself on fire. He later died of his burn wounds, but he had set a nation on fire. Outraged by Bouazizi’s self-immolation, protests erupted in Sidi Bouzid that soon spread to the capital, Tunis. People’s anger became so intense that President Ben Ali fled Tunisia, ending his 23-year misrule. A chain reaction of events that followed in 2011, brought down the governments in neighbouring Libya, Egypt and protests spread across the Middle East. Today, we know these events as the “Arab Spring” revolution!

Jyoti Singh Pandey

Jyoti was a 23-year-old student who studied physiotherapy in a medical college in Delhi. Her father sold his agricultural land to educate her and worked double shifts to pay for her schooling. On the night of 16 December 2012, she and her boyfriend were returning home after watching a movie. They boarded a private charter bus that was being driven by joyriders. Jyoti’s friend became suspicious when the bus deviated from its normal route and its doors were shut. When he objected, the group of six men assaulted him and knocked him unconscious. They raped Jyoti and seriously injured her when she protested. Later, both she and her friend were thrown out of the bus.

Passersby took them to hospital and police took action to arrest the culprits. However, this incident broke the patience of youth in Delhi, which is considered the rape capital. New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India’s major cities, but only one out of 706 rape cases filed in 2012 ended in conviction. Thousands of people came out to protest at the India Gate for many days, leading to frequent clashes with the police. Similar protests occurred all over India. These protests were seen as expressions of middle-class angst against a failing law & order machinery in the nation and a loss of social fabric. Today, we know it as the ‘Nirbhaya’ 2012 Delhi rape protests.

Satyendra Dubey

Satyendra Dubey was a civil engineer from Bihar, who completed his B.Tech and M.Tech from IIT Kanpur and IIT Varanasi respectively. He joined the Indian Engineering Service and in 2002, he was deputed to the National Highway Authority of India, where he was the Project Manager of Koderma region in Jharkhand. Dubey was responsible for managing a part of the Aurangabad-Barachatti section of National Highway 2, which is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor Project, the Prime Minister’s initiative.

During this period, Satyendra Dubey found numerous financial irregularities. He uncovered corruption among construction contractors and the involvement of the local mafia, but no action was taken by the higher authorities against his complaints. He forced a contractor to rebuild six kilometres of sub-standard road, which was a huge loss to the contract mafia. As a result he was transferred to Gaya. Later, Dubey wrote a letter to the Prime Minister informing him about the irregularities. On 27 November 2003, on his 30th birthday, he was killed while returning home from a wedding in Varanasi. His brutal murder resulted in public outcry and questions were raised in the Parliament on how a whistleblower’s identity was revealed. Two years later, another IIT, IIM alumni Shanmughan Manjunath was killed on duty. These two sensational cases forced the Indian Parliament to pass the Whistle Blowers Protection Act in 2011.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a 17-year old girl from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Despite being born in a Pashtun Muslim family, Malala was well educated by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, who is a poet and an educational activist himself. Her main struggle was to ensure the right to education for all children in her region. As part of her rights campaign, she became an anonymous blogger for the BBC, for whom she reported about the situation in Swat valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the Taliban, who had outlawed female education in the region. New York Times filmed a documentary on her struggle to continue her education.

After the documentary, Malala became famous and her identity as the blogger was revealed. She openly advocated girl child education, which was not tolerated by the Taliban. On 9 October 2012, she was shot by Taliban militants on her way back home after her school exams. Despite a serious head injury, she survived the assassination attempt due to timely medical attention. Today, Malala has become an inspiration to many oppressed girls and she is one of the youngest activists speaking at various international forums like the Harvard University and the UN. The worldwide adulation for this courageous girl has culminated in Malala becoming the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize and the youngest Nobel Laureate!

Kailash Satyarthi

Surprisingly, India and Pakistan are lucky to have co-recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize on the same year! Kailash Satyarthi has been a dedicated advocate of child rights for decades now. Born in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, Satyarthi gave up his career as a teacher in 1980 and founded the non-profit organisation, Bachpan Bachao Andolan to campaign against child labour. That year, he became the Secretary General for the Bonded Labour Liberation Front. His early attempts to raid factories that employed child labourers met with hostile reaction from the factory owners and at times the police, but the significance of his work was slowly recognised.

Satyarathi brought focus on child labour as a major human rights issue. Over the last three decades, Satyarthi’s organisation has helped to rescue 80,000 child bonded labourers almost all parts of the country. He created the Global March Against Child Labour, a movement that is active in many countries. He is also credited with establishing ‘Rugmark’ carpets in 1994, which are hand-woven carpets carrying a certification against the use of child labour. Currently, he is working towards bringing child labour and slavery into the post-2015 development agenda for the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.

Anna Hazare

Born as Kisan Baburao Hazare in Bhingar, near Ahmednagar, he adopted the name ‘Anna’, which means elder person in Marathi. He was drafted in the Indian Army where he worked as an army truck driver and later as a soldier. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, Hazare was posted at the border in the Khem Karan sector and was the sole survivor during an enemy attack. Hazare moved back to his ancestral village in Ralegan Siddhi and used the pension from his military services to turn it into a model village. He set up a grain bank so that no one would go hungry, improved the irrigation system, set up schools and removed social barriers like untouchability in the village.

In 1992, the Indian government honoured Anna Hazare with Padma Bhushan for his contributions rural upliftment. Being a follower of Gandhian principles of Satyagraha, Hazare sat on a hunger strike to exert pressure on the Indian government to enact a stringent anti-corruption law, The Lokpal Bill, 2011 as viewed in the Jan Lokpal Bill, for the institution of a moderator with the power to deal with corruption in public places. This one of the incidents in recent times which brought the whole country together to fight for a common cause, in this case wiping out corruption from India.

Image Courtesy –
Mohamed Bouazizi : Image source – Chris Belsten photostream
2012 Delhi rape protests : Image source – commons.wikimedia.org
Kailash Satyarthi : Image source – Global Panorama via Flickr
Malala Yousafzai : Image source – Southbank Centre Via Flickr
Anna Hazare : Image source – Ramesh Lalwani Via Flickr

Factfile –

Ekla Chalo Re
Mohamed Bouazizi
Rashomon Effect
Whistle Blowers Protection Act
Whistleblowing Law
Malala Yousafzai
Kailash Satyarthi
Anna_Hazare

Voices of Transition – Raising Ecological Questions

By

Eshaa Patnaik

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December 8, 2014

11

Natural disasters, otherwise known as ‘acts of God’, have known to cause irreparable damage to human life. In the last few decades, India and the world have faced major environmental problems such as global warming, rising food prices, growing water scarcity, falling groundwater tables, water pollution, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, etc. Our concern about such issues has provided ample material for many filmmakers. In the last 20 years, a few commercially successful fiction and non-fiction movies on the environmental issues have been made by Hollywood directors.

One such attempt is “Voices of Transition”, an independent documentary film by French filmmaker Nils Aguilar, which really goes a long way in us questioning our own individual contributions towards our ecology and eventually to our society. The film starts with a voiceover by renowned environmentalist Vandana Shiva speaking about world food prices and how the global economy is controlling local poor economies. The documentary sums up various issues faced by many countries all over and the issues that are discussed in the documentary.

The WTO, IMF and the World Bank have been partners in managing the global economy and their policies are endorsed by economically dominant countries. Their neoliberal policies have been known to cripple the weaker economies. On the other hand, we have MNCs that use various means to control the world economies and resources. This grim situation forms the backdrop for the many transitions that the movie puts forth.

One line in the movie that really made me reflect is “if you are always running after something, you never see the end”. Over the last few decades, we have been concentrating our efforts on maximizing our food produce and have lost track of the processes or ways to achieve the end. Voices of Transition makes us reflect on our means and their long-term consequences. The documentary depicts who researchers who are fearful of a future where our dependency on crude oil, which leads to fluctuation in price and shortages of supply and to non-renewable seeds under monopolistic MNCs will lead us to the gradual destruction of soil and the eventual food loss.

The documentary film takes us through the experience of many farmers, agro-engineers and soil microbiology experts who speak about the failure of the Green Revolution over the years and how chemical fertilizers have killed the organic matter of the soil and eventually making it inert. Multinational firms control more than 50% of the commercial seed market and their business model is based on “patenting living beings and licensing non-renewable seeds”. Industrial agriculture is responsible for 40% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

The film shows us the various ways in which transitions as argued in the film are possible and provides us details of such examples of France, the UK and lastly Cuba. Many solutions like agro-forestry, forest garden system, policy changes etc are advocated in many parts of the film.

In France, we see the issues of soil depletion, high yielding seeds and industrial agriculture due to the related effects of green revolution and MNCs. Monoculture and chemicals promoted by the MNCs in turn cause more environmental problems. Many French farmers have turned to organic farming to solve their issues. Organic farming also seems to offer solutions to farm produce pricing, since farmers do not get enough help from their government. Change in farm policies is a solution suggested in the film.

In England, we see the examples of agro-forestry and forest garden systems as solutions. An independent activist, Rob Hopkins speak on a where the disaster is able to spread out and eventually taken care of. I especially liked the part where he speaks of the transition culture that he co-founded – Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network. The success of such organizations offer enough hope for our collective future. This alternative viewpoint was an eye opener of sorts. Looking inwards and making ourselves stronger within. Becoming more practical and communicating with our environment can only enrich our lives!

Cuba’s example of achieving food autonomy and how it has achieved both the UN criteria for high levels of human development and the WWF criteria for a balanced ecological footprint are truly amazing. Cuba fought the “peak oil” crises and became an organic society in a self-sufficient and community-oriented manner.

At the deepest level, this documentary makes us question the accepted approach of our times where we fail to see the benefits of the traditional methods and are blindly guided by what the IMF and World Bank propose. A sense of community needs to be built over time, which will see us through – this is the transition that is needed. A major statement made by the movie that makes us question what we have been accepting for decades is, “The rules of WTO are incompatible with the principles of food sovereignty”.

You can buy this documentary here:
http://voicesoftransition.org/shop
https://facebook.com/voicesoftransition
wiki/Voices_of_Transition
Factfile –
Image Source –
“Theatrical poster Voices of Transition”
http://www.transitiontowntotnes.org

Holidaying with family or friends?

By

Keerthana Muralidhar

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December 5, 2014

0

Busy at office, busy at home, busy with academics and no time for family? A holiday is a great way to reconnect and take a break from the monotony.

With everyone busy with work and struggling with different time schedules, there is often an absence of family activities such as dining together or a weekend outing. As a result of the stress and tensions at the workplace or in college, relationships are affected and the bond between family members is often strained.

It is at times like these a family holiday becomes important, sometimes even acting as an indicator of how important one regards one’s family ties. It is a gesture that acknowledges that one’s parents, siblings and children are important and are worth the effort involved in making the journey.

Earlier, parents decided on a place and the family travelled there, no questions asked. With changing times, the entire meaning of a family holiday has been transformed, with children and parents going on separate holidays due to different tastes. As more youngsters travel independently or with friends, the trend of family trips seems to be on the decline.

Avantika, a college student, says, “I would go holidaying with cousins of my age to places where there is a lot of adventure and partying rather than going with my parents on a holiday spot, which is boring.” At the other end of the spectrum is Thanmayi, an engineering student, who prefers going on holiday with family, since they are very jovial and perfect companions.

Malini Muralidhar, a housewife, is all for family trips. She says, “Going on a holiday with my family at least once a year gives me a break from the household chores and tensions and gives me time to relax with my husband and two daughters.” However, some parents complain that even if the children are physically present, their attention is elsewhere.

Meena Anil, a central government employee, says that she has observed that even on a holiday with the family, her children do not show interest in spending some quality time with them. Instead they get busy with games on their mobile phones.

Family vacations are intended to bring people closer, but they might also bring out the underlying tensions. Compromises will have to be made, boredom will have to be endured and minor fights will have to be resolved. However, the benefits outweigh the negatives and a family vacation is often a great way to get to know each other, away from the worries of everyday life.

Busy schedules do not allow for much communication, but a family holiday provides the time to talk to each other about the different developments in each other’s life. Adult children who are working may not be able to take some time out for their aged parents, to sit and talk and ensure their support. Even their aging parents would not want to disturb their children’s schedule.

So, a family holiday acts as a platform for both children and parents to share their problems and find solutions. Even a simple getaway, even if not very expensive or extravagant, can work wonders for a person as well as the family.