Patriotism in India – Are We Being Selective?

August 29, 2016

There is a serious debate underway about Patriotism in India and its definition. Anyone who does not agree with the views of the majority is being branded as a traitor; anyone who points out flaws in the nation and its decisions is being attacked in an inhumane manner. People often forget the fact the nation is composed of diverse set of individuals, individuals who are victims of human nature and are susceptible to mistakes. There is a widespread propaganda of militant patriotic principles that stand against the very core of the principles of democracy.

The right to dissent is being challenged by people who claim themselves to be the white knights of patriotism. We are forgetting that when M K Gandhi, Bhagat Singh or any other revolutionary stood up against the state, they were also committing treason. How can we call a fight for freedom and democratic rights of a class of people as treason? The Supreme Court of India has clearly specified that fighting against the state in a peaceful manner cannot be termed as ‘sedition’ and that there is nothing unconstitutional about it. It only becomes a crime when violence or an intention to cause violence is behind it.

Patriotism in India Flag — Image – Flickr/Meena Kadri

This brings us to the elephant in the room – ‘Patriotism’. Most of us get a shot of patriotism during a India-Pakistan cricket match, or when our soldiers are martyred or whenever the subject of Kashmir comes up. But should we limit our definition of patriotism to these topics? Shouldn’t other topics that concern the development of the nation also be upheld?

People in India are still struggling with poverty, discrimination, injustice and other social evils that make everyday life unbearable. I am ashamed of the fact that ‘casteism’ and religious intolerance are still deeply embedded in our society. Social status is being determined not on the basis of human development but on the basis of caste or religion. Individuals born into certain sections of the society are born with a shield that protects them from their deeds and are given respect however weak their moral state is. These issues remain a major hurdle in the path of our nation’s development. Isn’t it our duty as patriots to struggle for the eradication of these social evils?

Patriotism-in-India-Wagha-Border — Image – Flickr/Koshy Koshy

Instead what are we focusing on? A few students raising slogans inside their college campus that are anti-national in nature? Knock! Knock! Does anyone remember the murder of our Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by LTTE terrorists? Some organizations in Tamil Nadu are advocating for the release of these culprits. Banners are put up supporting the LTTE; even the birthday of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is being celebrated by organizations. Similarly, there are organizations celebrating of the birthday of Nathuram Godse, the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi. While national leaders ask certain intellectuals to leave the country, no one is branding these actions as anti-national!

So why is the mere issue of some sloganeering by some miscreants being highlighted? Is India’s democracy so weak that it will fall apart due to sloganeering by a few people? The recent Jat and Patel caste agitations caused widespread violence and death. There was no call to brand this violence as anti-national or anti-constitutional when it clearly was.

We Indians should be proud of the freedom of speech and critical thinking that we enjoy and such childish acts of anti-national sloganeering shouldn’t be used as a tool to oppress this freedom of speech. Any idea should be open to criticism, any form of peaceful protest should be allowed and any mistake committed by the state or its leaders should be rectified if that is the will of the people. We should not forget the fact that the nation is not a person or a symbol to be objectified, since the nation is the collective conscience of its entire people and everyone’s voices should be given prime importance. Other ideas should be confined to the personal sphere and should not interfere with the principles of the Indian constitution.

Patriotism is a virtue and it should not be denigrated by using it to serve personal ends. I am reminded of the famous quote by Charles De Gaulle “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first”. Many of us do not know the difference that define patriotism and nationalism, and think both are the same. Here is a list of points that highlight the differences between Patriotism and Nationalism:

Patriotism	Nationalism
Affection towards the nation	Rooted in rivalry and resentment
Equally best among other nations	Superior to all other nations
Equal respect for foreigners	Only our citizens are considered equal
Listens to complaints	Cannot tolerate any criticism
Values responsibilities equally	Values only citizen rights
Reconciles with past shortcomings and historical problems	Buries the past and highlights only historical achievements
Softly highlights Indian culture and earn respect	Aggressively promotes Indian culture and economic superiority

Source: DifferenceBetween

Knowing the Top 5 Richest Lotto Millionaires

Caleidoscope

August 26, 2016

There are many inspiring stories of self-made millionaires who have gained immense wealth thanks to sheer hard work. Yes, those stories are inspiring. But nothing beats the inspiration you get when you instantly get a million bucks without doing anything other than picking a few numbers and wishing that it’d bring you a fortune. Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about now as we’ll be showing you these very lucky people who made great fortunes thanks to lottery’s luck.

John and Lisa Robinson

John and Lisa Robinson are one of the three winners of the biggest lotto jackpot in history. They were extremely fortunate to share the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot with Mae and Marvin Acosta and Maureen Smith after the lotto machines popped up their numbers on Jan. 13, 2016.

They sure were overwhelmed when they knew they were instant millionaires. And so they decided to get the $528.8 million prize share in a lump-sum payment. Though they only got $327.8 million of the supposedly $500 million-plus prize, they’re still pretty cool with it.

Taxes don’t matter to them anymore, even if it’s worth over $200 million. In an interview with NBC, the Robinsons said the reason why they opted for the lump-sum payment was that they weren’t guaranteed for tomorrow.

Mavis Wanczyk

Mavis Wanczyk, a 53-year-old woman from Chicopee, Massachusetts, has won Powerball’s staggering $758.7 million last Aug. 23, 2017. This makes her the largest lottery jackpot single winner in the U.S.

Since then, she has been the stuff of headlines after she mistakenly revealed her identity, even though she had the choice not to. Then again, that’s not a big deal as she said she needs a team of professionals that help her secure her finances as much as possible.

That includes a financial advisor, an attorney, and even a group of real estate analysts to help her make the best investment decisions. And despite all these, she still chose the lump-sum payment of $480.5 million, even though she lost hundreds of millions if ever she would opt for the installment option.

Merle and Patricia Butler

Mega Millions’ $656 million jackpot prize was won by three tickets, including Merle and Patricia Butler way back in Mar. 30, 2012. The retired couple, no matter how rich they have been, still remained humble in an interview as they said that they’re just an everyday couple who worked hard all their lives.

They concluded that they just happened to hit it big. Nonetheless, what they were saying were standing on firm ground. The couple also said that they’re going to use part of the winnings for charity.

The other winning ticket was won by three friends from Maryland, while the third winner remains anonymous until now. The ticket was purchased in Kansas, which has a law which protects lottery winners’ identity.

Ira Curry and Steve Tran

Then there was Mega Millions’ $648 million jackpot won by two winners in Dec. 17, 2013. Ira Curry, a woman from Georgia, shared that stunning amount of money with Steve Tran, a delivery driver from San Jose, California.

Curry said that her numbers were a combination of birthdays from her family. Interestingly, Tran on the other hand immediately called up his boss and said he wouldn’t report to the job anymore as he just won the jackpot.

Gloria Mackenzie

Gloria Mackenzie, a lucky old woman from Florida, won $590.5 million from the Powerball. What’s interesting about her story was that her winning combination was just a quick pick.

To make things more exhilarating, the 84-year-old woman was courteously offered to go ahead of the line by another hopeful lottery player. Indeed, her old age helped her because he wouldn’t have given her his place in the line if she’d have been younger.

These people might seem to be very lucky. Yes, they are. But getting this enormous wealth also requires utmost responsibility and care. They need to be more cautious about where they spend their money or where they’ll go and what they’ll do.

There have been numerous cases when lotto winners lost it all. This shows that there’s no assurance even if you’ve already got tons of cash in your account. If you happen to be one of these people sooner or later, just remember to keep it cool and be wise by all means.

You can start out trying your luck by visiting top10bestonlinelotto.com. Who knows, maybe this will be your key to becoming one of these very lucky guys?

Best Indian Short Films: Big Ideas in Small Time Frames – Part I

Caleidoscope

August 26, 2016

Author – Anusha Prabhu

Short films today portray stories of the very people that we tend to overlook. As we race to make ends meet, these capsule stories act as a reality check. Short films prove that big ideas need not be wrapped in pretentious layers of hour-long visuals to reach the masses. In small time frames, they establish concepts, ideas and statements. And they make it big. Really big.

I combed the Internet to find the best short films that went viral and surprisingly I came across a small talent heap. Hope you enjoy the selection as much as I did.

3 Shades

A 6 minute film directed by Vivek Joshi, 3 Shades show the current state of our homeland and asks a hard question – Even if we develop our nation and eradicate the evils in society, is it possible to completely eradicate poverty? In the film, a child sells Indian Flags on Republic Day, allowing him to earn a decent amount which will buy him 2 meals for the next two days. Another ‘beggar’ steals it from him and runs away. The boy has to answer to the flag maker as he gets a part of the earnings. The older man doesn’t believe him and shuts him out until he gets the money. Finding a lot of scrap flags in the garbage, the boy resells them to the public. The story raises a lot of questions about freedom and poverty and makes us think.

Afterglow

This National Award winning Parsi film, lasting 20 minutes, focuses on family values. Kaushal Oza has carefully directed the subtleties of family life in a way that wouldn’t make you cry, but will leave your heart heavy, after watching the film. This film captures how a couple takes death very lightly and yet the sadness in their eyes is very evident.

Ahalya

Here’s a small shout-out to this 15 minute Sujoy Ghosh film in Hindi, released in 2015. Starring Radhika Apte and Soumitra Chatterjee, this film created a lot of media stir for its conceptualisation of the Ramayana in a very different way. This 14-minute short film will make you ponder deeply about its meaning. If you get the meaning immediately, that’s great. If not, watch again till it makes sense, because the feeling you get when you understand something complex is just ‘wow’!

Aval

Directed by Vijay Varadharaj, this is a poetic short film which promotes feminism. It is a 3 minute film in Tamil that was released in 2015. The movie is disturbing yet beautiful with its strong verses. It tells the story of a girl who is raped and who cannot communicate her pain. An invisible tape is plastered on her mouth so that she doesn’t open up. A series of powerful statements follow which will make anyone weak in the knees. This film cannot be described but has to be felt. Only then will the message be conveyed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOfxCAqu3s

Avaladhigaaram

Directed by Arun Narain, this 19 minute 33 seconds Tamil short film created a recent stir in the short film club. It depicts how two sisters have to face being eve-teased in their locality. A confrontation with the rogues by the older sister leads to a fight in which she is wounded. The next scene shows the young girl going to school without any trouble from them. The camera then shifts to the older girl, carrying a fruit bag and entering the hospital where the rogue who wounded her lies on a bed, with broken bones. The story ends with the girl looking at a wall filled with boxing trophies and medals. No one would’ve guessed this brilliant climax. It is one of those films, screened at many short film festivals and got raving reviews for both plot originality and the technical skills.

Chalk

This two-minute silent short film, directed by Navin and team and released on 14^th November 2013, is powerful yet outstanding in its simplicity. It depicts the story of an orphan who covets a mother’s love. The story starts with a little boy finding chalk pieces in a classroom and heading out to an open space in his orphanage. A curious watchman follows him and to his astonishment, finds the kid drawing a picture of a mother on the floor. The kid sleeps on the drawn-mother’s shoulder, emphasizing the fact that he longs for a mother and her care. The short film was made initially to promote adoption. But it also conveys a strong message about the blessing that is our mother.

Dharmam

Directed by Madonne Ashwin, this 7 minute long Tamil film is a simple story with a strong message. Released in June 2012, the film starts with a school kid being taught dialogues for his fancy dress competition in which he plays the character of a beggar. The child sees a beggar on the streets and strikes up a conversation with him. The poor man asks him why he is dressed like that, to which the boy replies that it’s for a competition. After listening to what the boy will be saying at school, the old man recites a verse which is the best part in the movie. It goes like this:

“Kaal nadaya poreinae, (By foot I do wander)
Kanjan kitta kekurein, (The man I beg from is a miser himself)
Olachutrukae vayasilla, (I’m too old to work)
Usura maraka manasilla, (I’m too scared to die)
Enna mattum marandhutiyae, (You forgot me, all alone)
Pichakara Kadavulae (Oh Lord! You yourself are a beggar like me)”

This verse affects the child, who later recites it at his show, earning him respect. This film will definitely make us question our own actions.

Watch out for Part 2 to enjoy more great short films!

Top Indian Travel Bloggers Who Inspire the Wanderlust in Us

Pranjali Rautela

August 24, 2016

Author –Pranjali Rautela

“Travelling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –Ibn Battuta

India is synonymous with diversity, culture, heritage, and the exotic. It has produced travellers who inspire the wanderlust in all of us. They sow the belief that life is not meant to be lived in one place, that the world is a book, and every chapter is waiting to be read. They give travelogues such a creative spin that an urge to break away from the monotony of life is developed. You suddenly want to break free and liberate yourself from the nine to five run-of-the-mill job that is slowly taking you to your grave.

For all those who are tired of the mundane city life, here is a list of top Indian travel bloggers who can provide you with soul soup to feel alive AGAIN!

Shivya Nath

Shivya was fortunate enough to realize her passion at the age of 23. Shivya is an independent woman who quit her corporate job in 2011 to turn into a full time traveller. She funds her trips with the money she earns from her blogs. She writes about less travelled destinations and through her blog posts she shares her journey and gives tips on how to experience the local life.

In 2013 Shivya was awarded the ‘Best Travel Blogger’ at the Indian Blogger Awards. She has been an inspiration for a lot of women who love to take a solo trip.
www.the-shooting-star.com

Sankara Subramanian

“I am one of those who feel at home when I am on the road. Travel is my life. It is my career. It is my passion. And it is my inspiration.”

Having travelled to all seven continents, Sankara is recognized as one of the best travel bloggers. He started travelling in 2009 with the aim of sharing his passion for globetrotting with the world. Since then he has been living his dream!

In his early 30s, Sankara took a motorbike trip covering all of India. His blog is a complete guide as it covers all the A-Z requirements of travelling. He gives tips from backpacking to budgeting to planning and even includes some really handy visa tips. His travel articles have been featured in National Geographic Traveller India Magazine and Deccan Chronicle newspaper.
http://www.beontheroad.com

Siddhartha Joshi

While sitting in Almora, this man was already inspiring his family and friends through his travel stories when he thought of gathering a wider audience. He decided to use his excellent photography skills which make his blog stands out. His photographs have even been featured in Huffington post. Siddharth is one of the most followed travel bloggers and he has been nominated for several awards.

He strongly believes that only travelling can break barriers, be it cultural or religious. He has a wish to travel all around the world without a visa or passport. In his blog ‘Sid-the wanderer’ he has shared his travel stories from around the world. The article ‘Portraits from Pakistan’ is worth a read as it changed my perspective of Pakistan. This man is already breaking barriers, at least the mental ones.
www.sid-thewanderer.com

Laxmi Sharath

A travel blog of an Indian backpacker comprises travel stories from inside and outside India. Laxmi quit her media career to pursue Vagabondism twelve years ago. She has credited her mother with discovering the travelling ‘keeda’ in her. As a kid she was someone who was always restless and wanted to go places. She always had a flair for writing and that pushed her in the direction of blogging.

Her blog mostly revolves around India and its rich heritage. She is a villager at heart and loves to write about the places you can’t find on the map. The urge to meet people, understand cultures and discover something new is what keeps her motivated. All of this is reflected in her writing. She is known and followed widely and is often mentioned as one of the top 100 travel bloggers in the world.
www.lakshmisharath.com

Mridula Dwivedi

Mridula started the blog in 2005 and the blog drew the attention of both BBC and Guardian. She has always been passionate about it and writes about her experiences on her blog. She was inspired by her sister and brother who are bloggers themselves.

Professor by profession, she loves to travel and her blog portrays her Indian roots. The article ‘Mandir se Masjid takk’ is worth a read. In December 2010, she was featured in a National Geographic Skoda Yeti video. Her blog was honored as the ‘best travel Indi-blog’ at the India Weblog Awards in 2007.
http://traveltalesfromindia.in

Ankita Sinha

Ankita has visited 17 countries and 24 states and she achieved this in the short span of 3 years. She was an IT professional but her passion for travel made her take the bold decision to quit her job. Her purpose is to spread knowledge while she is on the move. She posts several stories, interviews, travel videos; she can also help you style yourself while you are on the move.

Her posts have been published and appreciated in Fox traveller, Outlook Traveller, The Hindu and many others. The blog has won two awards in the field of travel and sports.
http://www.ankionthemove.com

Anuradha Goyal

Anuradha Goyal, an innovation consultant by profession, is a household name when we talk about travel-blogging. She has been blogging about her trips for over a decade now. Inditales is a collection of travel experiences from the various cities of India.
www.inditales.com

Prasad NP

“Travelling completes me….Made me patient and helped appreciate the diversity we have with people living in different places….I hope to leave the planet in better shape than it is today!”
Travelling helped Prasad get out of the rat race. With time, he also mastered the art of multitasking. He juggles between being a blogger, photographer and an entrepreneur. He is an inspiration for all those who think that travelling is not for those who have regular jobs.

His blog is true to its name and has a lot of “desi stories” that boast about the beauty and diversity of India. His blog is filled with pictures where a single glance gives you goose bumps. He has posts that cater to all kind of travellers. Whether you are travelling solo or with family, you just need to refer his blog.
www.desitraveler.com

Deepti Asthana

Sitting in a corporate cubical, photography happened to her. The camera has taken her to places she never thought would make up to her bucket list. Plan-Travel-Click-Repeat is her funda! Her blog is the one with the finest pictures. The pictures are so full of life that you can almost hear them talk. The passion truly does the work for her!

I would call her a woman with purpose. Her project “WOI” takes you to the heart of the Indian society and tells you stories about the women. She is trying her best to bring in the little change she can through her writings.

Madhu Shetty

Madhu Shetty wants you to spread your wings and fly with her as an independent traveller. A designer turned wanderer, she inspires people who think it’s too late to pursue their dreams. She ignites the long lost passion that you sacrificed for the rat race. The blog space is full of variety with little or no redundancy! You will find tips that will come in handy when you plan your trip. I mean now I know that I can try Airbnb without being apprehensive after she has given it a thumbs-up!

I must say that theurgetowander.com has the best layout which makes you surf with ease. It is also full of travel quotations to motivate you to ditch the couch. www.theurgetowander.com

The list might never end because there are a number of talented bloggers who have tried to cover the entire world in their blog space. It is not possible to collect all the talent in this just one post. These people are so inspiring that you should stop hoarding those extra calories, pack your bags and take the next flight to wherever your heart points!

Drive Down the Coffee Country – Chikmagalur

Levine Lawrence

August 22, 2016

Sometimes a holiday break can do wonders to our monotonous life. This is particularly true if you head leave the hustle bustle of a city and venture into the countryside. The much needed monsoon rains have drenched the parched nation with bountiful water, causing an abundance of greenery everywhere. Yes, many of us may still crib about the monsoon being less than normal this year; but optimists like me are happy that at least it broke the dry spell and brought us some relief!

This long weekend, I headed towards the hills in the Western Ghats. Being a coffee lover, a travel through the coffee country was the best way to rejuvenate my withered city soul. The best way to narrate my travelogue is in the form of a photo feature:

Once the road leaves the highway and begins to winding up the hills, the entire landscape changes and the cold nip in the air gives us an indication of what lies ahead. The road from Tarikere to Chikmagalur was quite good and was covered with lush greenery and tall trees.

The Bababudangiri Hills are famous for their vivid red earth and evergreen forests. Clouds moving across the picturesque valleys presented us with such spectacular views that we had to take several stops to click pictures.

The monsoon rains have filled up water ponds on the way to the hills, presenting a picturesque site for travellers.

Deviramma Betta is the most prominent peak in the Bababudangiri Hills since it is a well-defined hill separated from the rest of the range. The hill gives a different view of the Ghats below, with mist descending from the range and goes into the plains.

We were fortunate to witness some wildlife on the way. Peacocks were sighted on the lush green fields on the way.

Coffee Barn Café is a welcome break for weary travellers climbing the steep mountain road. The cute café is nestled inside a coffee estate and serves some hot coffee branded ‘Halli Berry’!

Once we enter the valley close to Chikmagalur, the hills are completely covered with rows and rows of coffee estates. The coffee beans are green and they will be ready to harvest by winter.

After staying in one of the Athithi Homestays, we moved towards N R Pura or Narasimharaja Pura, a tiny town down the hills. The thick green blanket of grass growing on the roofs of shops stand testimony to the incessant rains in this region in this season.

We had our breakfast of idli-vada and filter coffee at this old canteen named Hotel Ramprakash. The owner has preserved old calendars and posters and hunting era horns in their original condition. Check out the large bronze water drum and marble top tables – true relics of a bygone era!

Cover Photo by Satheesh Sankaran

Atheists in India – Do They Exist?

Caleidoscope

August 19, 2016

Author – Dhruv Srivastava

Atheists-in-India — Image – Kanaka Menehune

On 20th August 2013, Narendra Dabholkar, a well-know atheist and anti-superstition campaigner, was shot dead by two unknown assailants, while he was out on a morning walk. On 30th August 2015, M. M. Kalburgi, a scholar and rationalist, was shot dead at his home. On 2nd July 2011, the house of U. Kalanathan, secretary of the Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, was attacked in Vallikunnu after he suggested on television that the temple treasures of Padmanabhaswamy Temple should be used for public welfare. These incidents made me think -do atheists have a place in India?

In a society with many religions, you can feel as relieved as you can feel confused. Following a religion blindly, without ever asking – Why do I do what I do? How could a ritual possibly affect my future? Does my offering actually reach a higher power, or does it go as wasted food? Why is it a sin to eat non-vegetarian food on Tuesday and Thursday and not on other days? Why aren’t all my prayers answered? Similar questions appeal to the mind as life goes on, and such curiosities have made me look towards religion from a new and different angle.

Worldwide, people who follow thousands of religions, who have different ideas about God, exist. This includes atheists. Atheism came from the Greek word Aethos, meaning ‘without God’. People, who don’t believe in the existence of some supreme power or specifically, a religious deity, are of the atheistic kind.

India has been entirely different in its approach to atheism. With its citizens being extremely dedicated to appeasing their deities, India supports a vast variety of religions and cultures simultaneously. Religious events are celebrated with much enthusiasm and dedication to the gods, that it is hard to find something similar in other parts of the world. So, it is really hard to believe that atheistic Indians exist.

With film stars releasing movies on religious holidays, and people spending lot of money for religious ‘daan’, charity and religious celebrations, it is hard to see that atheists exist in the Indian society. While some people have doubts about the existence of the Almighty, they still continue to worship and visit temples as advised by society. On the other hand, there are some who openly admit their atheistic stance. There is abundant atheistic literature available where writers adopt a critical stand against the most-practiced Indian religions. Bertrand Russell‘s ‘Why I’m Not a Christian’ inspired Ramendra Nath’s ‘Why I’m Not a Hindu’.

In the past, many notable politicians and social reformers have been atheists. To this date, we have had people in notable professions and positions, joining the list. Prof. Amartya Sen, an Indian economist, philosopher and noble laureate, is an atheist. He also admits to it by associating with one of the atheist schools in Hinduism, the Lokayata.^. The actor John Abraham is a well known atheist, who admits to being a spiritual but agnostic person. The famous director and producer, Anurag Kashyap, clearly shows his atheistic stance with the words, “I am an atheist. Cinema is the only religion I believe in.” Even the first Prime Minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru stated:”What the mysterious is I do not know. I do not call it God because God has come to mean much that I do not believe in” giving proof of his atheist viewpoint. With that, we can clearly agree that atheists very much exist in our society.

Some other notable mentions are Meghnad Saha an Astrophysicist, Motilal Nehru, an activist of the Indian National Movement and father of Jawaharlal Nehru, P. Chidambaram, politician and former Finance Minister, Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born British Booker
Prize-winning novelist knighted by Queen Elizabeth I, Suhasini Maniratnam, an actress, Meera Nanda, writer and historian, film director Ram Gopal Varma and Goparaju Ramachandra Rao, a social reformer, anti-caste activist and atheist, who expounded his philosophy of positive atheism as a way of life and wrote a book on the same. In fact, this list is quite long.

The ‘Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism’, a survey conducted in May 2013, revealed that ‘the number of non-religious people in India has risen.’ While in the same survey in 2005, 87% participants declared themselves religious, the percentage fell to 81 % in 2013, a drop by 6 % in seven years. There are even Indian websites and organisations supporting atheism and its followers.

In 2008, the website Nirmukta was founded. It later became an organisation aiming to promote free thought and secular humanism in India. A random survey of Indian metros states that about 30 percent of the people ‘DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD’. Moreover, 17% have admitted publicly of their adherence to this philosophy. Among those who do believe in God, an indefinable superpower is seen as a better approach than belief in an isolated religious concept.

Aren't we all the same? — Aren’t we all the same? by Christian Guthier

According to the supporting organisations, being an atheist can be a good thing, as you are spared the religious riots, tensions and religion based politics. You are also spared the rituals the religious extremists have to perform in order to please their Gods. In spite of the open, free willed and unbounded nature of atheism, its followers face a tensed relation with fellow devotees who do not take atheism very well, as do people in western countries. Violent incidents like the killing of Narendra Dabholkar and M.M Kalburgi indicate the hatred religious fundamentalists have against atheists in India.

Indians should understand the importance of having diverse beliefs. A free country’s citizens should have the right to believe and practice whatever they fancy, and the people should be accepting and tolerant, unless of course they try to hurt others intentionally.

The first ‘Hug an Atheist Day’ was organised in India on 7 July 2013, by Nirmukta. The event aimed to spread awareness and reduce the stigma associated with being an atheist. On 23 September 2014, the Bombay High Court declared that the government cannot force a person to state a religion on any document or form.

The Atheist Centre is an institute working for social change but the attitude in India is best summed up in Debarati Roy’s words, “While belief in god and/or religion is a matter of personal belief, and everyone is guaranteed that freedom as a fundamental right, religion is such a sensitive issue in India that atheists debunking popular religious notions can be met with a lot of resistance. However, social acceptance and government recognition for atheists seem like a requisite for a secular state.”

In conclusion, Atheist Indians not only exist but also help us see God and religion from a whole new perspective.

Image Sources
FB/ukalanathan.vallikunnu
www.frontline.in
www.dnaindia.com

Best Weekend Getaways Near Chennai to Escape the Hectic Life

Caleidoscope

August 17, 2016

Author – Arvinda Soundararajan

Chennai is a city that is identified by its temples and beaches, year-long scorching heat and busy streets; but the city also has five weekend getaways nearby that one must visit to escape the hectic daily life.

1. Pulicat Lake and Bird Sanctuary

Best-Weekend-Getaways-Near-Chennai-Pulicat-Lake-and-Bird-Sanctuary — Image – Flickr/Sudhamshu Hebbar

About 2 hrs drive from the Chennai, this lake in Nellore attracts a lot of migratory birds between the months of December and January. Bird watching and beach activities are the major tourist activities along the sea-shore.
More info on Pulicat Lake and Bird Sanctuary here

2. Mahabalipuram

Best-Weekend-Getaways-Near-Chennai-Mahabalipuram — Image – Flickr/Srini Sundarrajan

This sea-shore temple in the district of Kanchipuram is a must visit weekend spot.Classified as a world heritage site, it’s famous for the rock cut caves and sculptures. A few minutes’ drive away from the temple is the picturesque sandy beach surrounded by hills.
More info on Mahabalipuram here

3. Pondicherry and Auroville

Best-Weekend-Getaways-Near-Chennai-Pondicherry-and-Auroville — Image – Flickr Chad Woodford

Pondicherry proves to be one of the most popular tourist spots near Chennai. This union territory has a fusion of old age colonial architecture and contemporary French culture. Thirty minutes away is the Auroville Township. A weekend’s stay in this beautiful town provides an escape from city life and instills in us the true meaning of community living.
More info on Auroville here

4. Vellore

Best-Weekend-Getaways-Near-Chennai-Vellore — Image – Flickr/dev2r

A three-hour drive from Chennai, this ‘Fort City’ displays the perfect blend of historical heritage and picturesque scenery. The Srilakshmi Golden Temple and the Vellore Fort, completely made of granite stone, are the major attractions in the city.
More info on Vellore here

5. Chidambaram

Best-Weekend-Getaways-Near-Chennai-Chidambaram — Image – Flickr/n m

Famous for the 11th Century temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja, Chidambaram provides everything that is conventionally expected of a Temple Town in Tamil Nadu. Fifteen kilometers away from here is the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest. A boat ride through the forest provides a surreal experience.

Chennai Cuisine: Every Foodie’s Delight

Caleidoscope

August 12, 2016

The first thing that comes to our mind while talking about Chennai cuisine is the early morning special ‘Filter Coffee’ and the all-time favourite ‘Thayir Sadam’ (curd rice). Other than that, the city has a variety of cuisine to offer food lovers – from the typical Idly-Sambhar to the spicy Chettinad dishes. While the authentic multi-cuisine restaurants are famous for their specific delicacies, carts selling steaming hot Idly-Chutney-Sambhar to office goers, small stalls selling Poli and Mini-Samosa at street corners and the Sundal, Bajji and Chat stalls at the beaches still remain the people’s choice.

chennai-food-dli-medu-vada-sambar-and-chutney — Idli, Medu Vada, sambar and chutney – Wikimedia

Chennai-food-filter-coffee — Filter Coffee – Wikimedia

Chennai-food-Kothu-Parotta — Kothu Parotta – Wikimedia

The city is famous for serving cuisines from across Tamil Nadu such as a variety of Parottas (made of Maida), Puliyodarai (Tamarind rice), Aviyal (vegetables and curd mix for rice), Pongal (steamed rice and moong dal with pepper), Paniyaram (dough ball made of idly batter) and the Chettinad Chicken and Fish Curry. Adding to this list are sweets such as Appam and Mysore Pak and drinks such as Jigarthanda, Rose Milk and Paneer Soda (made of rose water).

Chennai-food-Chicken-Chettinad — Chicken Chettinad – Flickr/Michelle Peters – Jones

Chennai-food-Chettinad-Fish-curry — Chettinad Fish curry – Wikimedia

Famous eateries such as Saravana Bhavan, The Grand Sweets and Snacks, Sri Krishna Sweets, Murugan Idly Shop and Thalapakatti Restaurant definitely maintain their standards to define the city’s multi-cuisine scene as one of the most authentic in the country.

To understand a foodie’s delight in Chennai, one must also attend a Tamil wedding and taste the ‘Kalyana-sapadu’ served on a banana leaf.

Chennai-food-Wedding-meals — Wedding Meals – jsbhavanicatering.com

Best Restaurants in Chennai

For Vegetarian Food

Saravana Bhavan
Murugan Idli Shop
Annalakshmi Restaurant

For Non-vegetarian Food

Madras Pavilion
Dakshin
Barbeque Nation

A Quick Getaway to Chokhi Dhani

Aditi Bose

August 10, 2016

Author –Aditi Bose

It was a New Year’s Day morning, when my friends and I left the grime of Delhi to escape into peace and solitude. Chokhi Dhani was our destination.

We stopped only once on the way because without morning tea, the journey would have been impossible. We chose Hotel Highway King! It was a place where only the word ‘highway’ made sense. But thankfully they gave us the caffeine that we needed.

Research had revealed that it would be around 260 km from Delhi. But the lady who speaks her mind once Google Map is switched on had other plans in store for us. She decided to lead us onto a village road that was dusty and bumpy. But when you are with friends, even that turns out be the cause of a lot of laughter. After a car trek through the obstacles, when we finally reached the five star ethnic village resort, it sure brought out a lot of deep gasps from us.

Kotri or the lobby of the resort is where we first entered. While some were busy filling in the check-in details or getting rooms, a few others headed to the washroom. But my eyes were busy taking in the beautiful effect that the bamboo net ceiling, the carved furniture, the artifacts, and the Rajasthani paintings on the mud-plastered walls had created. Truly a luxurious way to glimpse the ethnic richness of the state.

It was nearing lunch by the time we had finally settled into the rooms and had freshened up. The ‘mice in my stomach’ had started to run amuck by then. Even though in my heart of hearts I wanted to experience the sit-down-on-the-ground-to-eat Rajasthani food, I knew that would have to wait till later in the evening when the fair started. So, for now I had to be satisfied with some continental food at the air-conditioned restaurant – Bindola.

Afternoon siesta is what I hate missing. And on a cold winter afternoon, the temptation is higher. Especially when the Kund, or the swimming pool, lay bereft of any water. And the body felt more sleepy than tired so I chose shut-eye over a pampering massage at the spa.

Not wanting to miss out on walking around the property and exploring all the nooks and crevices of it, I set my alarm for an hour-long sleep. After my evening tea, I was ready with my camera and a self-serviced tour of the resort. What I found were many swings, figurines, cackling geese near a small pond, a couple of rickety tree houses that I dared to climb, a camel cart with a camel that had brought in some supplies for the resort, a bar whose ceilings were studded with thousands of mirrors, and a recreation room that had, amongst other things, a nice bean bag to laze in. I didn’t have time for that though. The evening fair was about to start. I could hear faint noises of drumbeats. It was time to hit the village fair that the Chokhi Dhani resort is known for.

I followed the pathway that one of the hotel officials had instructed me to follow and entered an area that was a Mad Hatter’s party! Pity that other than me, only one friend decided to accompany me. The rest wanted to laze around in the room. But it was their miss.

Jostling through the crowd I found myself in front of a magician, clad in traditional Rajasthani outfit, enjoying taking out pigeons from under a basket as the crowd merrily cheered on. I joined in. It was time to let my hair down. Then followed the innumerable stages where ladies in brightly coloured clothes were performing various dances of the state. Some of the names I had learnt during projects that I had made for my daughter’s school. The rest remained unnamed. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was getting up with them and shaking a leg. Shyness got the better of me. This is one reason I will go back there again, someday. The dance still remains to be done.

Seeing a long queue of people heading towards the room where they were serving traditional food, my hunger struck again – more out of impulse than necessity. But soon my friend and I found ourselves following the queue into the ‘magical room’ and gorging on some of the tastiest dishes that I have eaten in a long time.

With a satiated stomach, we continued the partying for half an hour. The others had also come in by then. And soon we found ourselves hopping onto camel rides, bullock cart rides, elephant rides, sliding down enormous slides, shopping for curios and souvenirs at the shops, trying our hand at the potter’s wheel and clapping along with a bunch of kids at the puppet show.

When one is having fun, time just passes by. The same happened with us too. Midnight came sooner than it had come for Cinderella. Yes, we didn’t have to run before our clothes turned into rags but the body wanted some rest. The next morning would be another drive. This time back to the grind of daily life. But that’s a given because without the routine, a holiday would never be as much fun.

Image Courtesy – www.chokhidhanisonipat.com

Exploring the Great Houses of Calcutta

Trisha De Niyogi

August 8, 2016

Author – Trisha De Niyogi

Houses of Calcutta - Kolkata-New-Market-circa-1945 — New Market – Wikimedia

“Palace, byre, hovel –poverty & pride – side by side” – Rudyard Kipling

As I peer through the tiny ovoid window of my aircraft, the aerial view of the city of Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) seemed verdure. Once I landed, even though several new structures seemed to have sprouted in the last few years, the old buildings– some grand and some decrepit – still seemed to be characteristic of the city described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘’packed and pestilential’’.

But Kolkata is my birth city. It holds my parents’ youth and my grandparents’ lives. The city I see is much different from the Howrah Bridge, Yellow Ambassador Taxis, Victoria Memorial, Grand Hotel or Esplanade. I see a city hidden behind masses of electric and telephone wires.

Great-Houses-of-Calcutta-Grand-Hotel — Image – Flickr/Vintage Lulu

During my childhood visits to Kolkata though, I was blessed to see two absolutely different faces of Kolkata. I remember the 100 year old well-kept white house with blue roof slants, with a mango and a banana tree in the courtyard, where I spent most of my days. But, I also remember, and maybe much more fondly, the greyish black façade of the house which had slightly tilted over the years, especially the pink walls and green windowpanes. I still remember pressing my face against the bars on the window, peeping through them, looking at the market below and at my favourite tadka daal vendor. I feel lucky to have known and lived in houses through which I could learn about the ‘Great Houses of Calcutta’, which seems to be neglected by the historians, governments and even the people residing in them.

Great-Houses-of-Calcutta-Chowringhee-Square — Esplanade, Calcutta – Wikimedia

On the one hand, a replica of the London Clock tower has been built, not as a Durga Puja Pandal but, as a permanent structure in an attempt to make the city of Kolkata as glorious as London. On the other hand, the heritage buildings, which are the chromosomes of Calcutta’s individuality, have been neglected since long and some of them are even being torn apart to make way for newer structures.

Be it the Victoria Memorial or the Grand Hotel, the city’s character lies in its old world charm. Despite the much famed adda sessions or artistic and academic inclinations of the city, the main source of attraction still lies in the architectural marvels of the city, including the great houses which have recently figured in several Bollywood cinemas including Parineeta, Vicky Donor and Piku. These houses have not just been of great interest to our indigenous eyes, but to academicians from across the world as well.

Great-Houses-of-Calcutta-Victorial-Memorial — Victorial Memorial Hall – oldindianphotos.in

Two of them, authors of the recently released book titled- The Great Houses of Calcutta, were Ms. Joanne Taylor & Prof. Jon Lang. Joanne Taylor is an art historian from the University of South Wales while Jon Lang is an emeritus professor at the school of Architecture, University of New South Wales.

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The book is well-researched with informative text and beautiful photographs. It throws light on the very fact that makes Kolkata so special. It points out that some of the patterns were antecedents to the traditional Bengal architecture as the designs range from Greco-Roman style to modernist architecture. Not only that, the houses also borrowed and imported art, designs and ideas from other parts of India and west Asia. I had made note of this in one of my observations as well.

I have seen high ceilings with beams in many an old house in Kolkata, including mine, which worked well for the Bengal climate as they would keep the rooms cool. But, the long tall-pillared balconies would do just the contrary. The direct sunlight on the room’s walls would raise the temperature within. Therefore, I believed and it has been confirmed in the book, the use of horizontal wooden slats or jhilmils between the high columns. Such improvisations made it possible for artistic desires and practical needs to co-exist in these houses, thus becoming the style of houses in Kolkata.

Great-Houses-of-Calcutta — Image – Flickr/Sudipta Mallick

There were perhaps more than five hundred such great houses including gardens and pleasure houses in and around Calcutta. But, today only a handful of them remain. The book also talks about twelve of these existing houses selected as exemplars in aesthetics and planning. Jorasanko Thakurbari of the Tagore family and Mullick Mansion, better known as the Marble Palace, were of great interest to me personally, since my childhood.

These houses of Calcutta give great insights into the physiological, psychological, social and economic conditions, along with the architectural, artistic and even the religious preferences and their interactions in the past. The impressive estate entrances, which usually came in three generic styles – the arched, pillared and triumphal, were always the first things you saw and they were truly majestic. As they say, first impression is the last impression. These houses were a precursor to what were to follow, which proved much grander indeed.

Great-Houses-of-Calcutta-Marble-Palace — Marble Palace – pothik

I still can’t forget the day when my father took me to the Marble Palace. I stood by the entrance pillars and I marvelled at the beautiful pillars till I peeped inside. The idle fountains and weed-ridden pathways give us a hint of what these mansions would have been when life thrived in them. The bold facades, the curving driveways, the well-manicured gardens and lawns and the duo-coloured porches of the Mullick Mansion had intrigued a little child back them and it still does.

The bahir mahal, which was the quasi-public heart of the great houses of Calcutta, was the men’s territory. The andar mahal was reserved for family members and a few servants. The two mahals were traditionally connected by passages or steep stairways that were often darker with tunnel-like appearances.

Rabindranath Tagore recalled:

A murky flickering lantern is hanging in the long Venetian screened corridor leading from the outer to inner apartments. At its end this passage turns into a flight of four or five steps, to which the light does not reach.

While reading these words, my mind raced back to the innumerous times when I had taken a rickshaw past these houses – some hidden and some in the open, wondering whether they still had people living in them or at least the ghosts of the past. The green shuttered windows with those wrought iron grills, the spaced porches and the red-oxidized floors give my birth city an old-world charm. It reflects in the amazing architectural ethos and interior designs of today, but they seem to be getting lost in the mad rush for multi-storey buildings and concrete chaos.

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