Megh Malhar: The Passion-Quenching Raaga in Body of Music

July 20, 2015

Author – Sahana Rajan

“My Beloved has come home with the rains
And the fire of longing is doused
Now is the time for singing, the time of union
At the first thunderclap
Even the peacocks open their tails with pleasure and dance..”
~ The Long Drought is Over , Mirabai

Swinging between the spectrums of consortium with Radha on one side and the maddening trance of Mira on the other, the pendulum of rain has stricken the grounds of Ras Leela compositions for generations. Raaga megh malhar happened to music, like the first steps of an infant on her feet- anticipated but its occurrence unknowable, awaiting the ‘It!’ moment. Legend has it that Mian Tansen, the godfather of Indian classical music who presumably summoned fire through the raaga deepak conceived of raaga megh malhar and handed it down to his daughter. Having previously sparked the rumor that he was capable of bringing light to an oil lamp through his music, Tansen was called upon Akbar’s court by the latter’s subjects to demonstrate this power. On the pedestal, Tansen gave birth to raaga deepak. Knowing well that the spell of heat would leave him weak and probably beget death, he conferred upon his daughter the raaga megh malhar. Fatehpur Sikri witnessed raaga deepak, the genius of Tansen followed by the cloud-invoking raaga megh malhar. The word goes that this musical evening began the lifelong comradeship between Tansen and Akbar.

Symbolized as the quenching brew for passions, megh malhar is claimed to have the power to bring rain over a land, especially after deepak had invoked heat of summer. Deepak brought up the flames and megh malhar brought down the rains. Smoke arose from their union as cold water meets the warm skin, turning the body heat into vapours. Figuratively, it is the fervent chanting of expectation for a ‘yes’ following the adrenaline-filled movement of passion in a relationship. At another level, it represents the cyclical nature of being itself- the coming and going of seasons reflecting the constantly moving face of life. Yet another interpretation says that it marks the end of suffering- the bliss of sensitivity to all forms of life (salvation, moksha, satchitananda). The wetness of rain becomes skin to all that exists. It unites us in the folds of water, the life-giving potion (a reference also to the amniotic fluid surrounding fetus in the womb).
V.N.Bhatkande, an expert on music reveals that although megh malhar isn’t a tough raaga to master, it has only been tamed by a few Ustads. In his text ‘Moods of Malhar’ , S.D. Sharma trails with classical music artistes over the spirit of raaga megh malhar. Shovana Narayan, an outstanding Kathak dancer shares that megh malhar is the most frequently used raga in Kathak, in virtue of its ability to convey an array of emotions. She also plans to innovate its inclusion in other forms of arts like dance dramas. The maestro from oldest of Gwalior classical Hindustani music gharana, Pt L.K. Pandit holds megh malhar to be the sound of desire and bliss. His daughter, Meeta Pandit is also a devoted vocalist with proficiency in khayal and tappa gayaki. She remarks that megh malhar has been the blood of satiation for body of music, as is exuded through compositions like ‘baadal garje bijuri chamke’ and ‘bol re papihra’. Megh malhar is often considered a variation of raaga malhar and used interchangeably with it. Anchoring on the roots of its meaning, Pandit Yashpaul (a globally acclaimed classical music composer) says that ‘mal-har’ stands for the movement of washing away evil or sins from ground of virtue and good and can be transposed under light of different cultures to reach out to the audience.
Sung by geniuses of Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi and recently Rashid Khan , megh malhar was embedded in the movie ‘Tansen’ of 1942 as ‘Barsorey’ and sung by Khurshid. This was followed by the rhythm-dripping voices of Asha Bhosle, Shamhad Begum, Mohd. Rafi and Manna Dey singing ‘Dukha bhare din bite re bhaiya’ in ‘Mother India’ of 1957. Two other interesting compositions of megh malhar include ‘ghanana ghanana garjo’ in Baiju Bawra by Amir Khan and ‘Kahan se aaya badra’ in Chasme Baddur by Haimanti Sukla and Yesudas.

Image Sources – Dawatus-salafiyyah, wikimedia.org

Factfile –
https://books.google.co.
http://iccr.gov.in/
http://www.tribuneindia.com
http://www.allmusic.com/
http://www.tanarang.com
http://swaratala.blogspot.in

12 Things from the 80s and 90s that are almost extinct now

Biswadeep Ghosh Hazra

July 16, 2015

The kids of 80s and 90s have witnessed a lot of change over the years. It’s like they have taken a leap from one generation to another leaving so many things behind. These abandoned things gradually lost their value and existence, unable to bear the competition from newer technologies.

From the old Windows operating systems to Parle Kismi Bar chocolates, here is a list of 12 things from the 80s and 90s that are barely available these days.

1. Microsoft Windows 95

Remember this primordial operating system from windows? It gained a lot of popularity during those days, and anybody owning one of these was considered to be amongst the privileged lot.

2. Handheld water games

These handheld games were played by looping small plastic rings onto tiny rods only with the push of a button. Even though it may seem easy, it is actually difficult, as well as addictive. Pity such games are nowhere to be found now.

Source

3. Mauser gun toy

A plastic gun with round plastic bullets, this faux gun was one of our favorite pastimes. We felt like heroes wielding these plastic guns and running around. It was truly an inseparable gaming companion for many kids during that time.

Source

4. White Rabbit (toffee)

Delicious and super tasty, these toffees were the ultimate delicacy for many 80s and 90s kids. The trademarked white wrapper with the picture of a white rabbit in a blue outline was enough to make us drool and salivate.

Source

5. Brick Game (Hand-held video game)

This video game was the perfect companion for killing time as it contained an umpteen number of games (as much as 9999 in 1!).

Source

6. Tazos

These round plastic toys were given as free gifts with cornflakes, chips, toothpaste and a variety of other products. By intertwining two tazos, it could be flown at great speeds like a Frisbee. Children loved collecting them, especially when they had their favorite character or Pokémon etched on them.

Source

7. Video game parlours

Most of us cannot deny that we did not spend a considerable time of our childhood in these parlours playing games like Contra and WWE Raw. We would repeatedly nag our parents for letting us play in one of the parlours close to our home. It was pretty cool, wasn’t it?

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8. Video Cassettes

There was a time when shops rented video cassettes and every Sunday, we would get really excited about the prospect of watching a blockbuster movie in our VCR recorders. My first movie in a Video Cassette was The Mask by Jim Carrey. Now-a-days, they are fossilized. Well, almost!

Source

9. Rotary Telephones

These telephones were the only way to call our friends and relatives back then. Having one was also considered a big deal. More than a telephone, they seemed to us like toys with their strange yet attracting numeric keypad. Dialers had to rotate a digit with their fingers and the entire process was very time consuming.

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10. Parle Kismi

With a red and white coloured wrapper and a unique cardamom flavor, Parle Kismi was ‘the’ chocolate in terms of taste and money. This was many kids’ favorite chocolate until dairy milk and 5-Star flooded the market with a plethora of flavors and options to choose from.

Source

11. Pop-Pop boats

Available mostly in exhibitions and fairs, this boat made us want one whenever our eyes fell on them. They operated on candle or vegetable oil and made a distinct sound that attracted us when we were kids.

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12. Roller ball mouse

Unlike today’s optical mouse, the only computer mouse available back then was operated on a roller ball. Kids used to open up these mouses and play with the ball rather than using it to operate the mouse. Ah! Life those days was pure bliss.

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Caleidoscope – Nostalgic Article of the Month Contest

Harika Bantupalli

July 16, 2015

Rain clouds in the sky, I don’t know why

They make me blue, when I’m thinking of you

Maybe they want to cry, as I walk on by

Hiding my tears, in a world of good byes

Dheemtha dheemtha dhera na dhera

Dheemtha dhera na………na ne na

Remember the old Colonial Cousins song on Indian Rain? Do these rain clouds bring out the nostalgic memories in you too?

The monsoon rain does bring back the memories of blissful childhood, of an unfettered life with care-a-damn attitude. Getting drenched in the rain, running along the edges of the slushy paddy fields, eating hot pakoras sold on the roadside, making paper boats out of the school notes and many more…

We at Caleidoscope are eager to bring back the joy that we often get from such silly little things! And we would like you to join us in this endeavour…

Wondering how?

We are running a month long contest on ‘Nostalgiphilia’, featuring articles that bring out the nostalgic memories. So, if you can write a few lines and add a few photos to capture your memories, we have a prize for it –

Article of the month on Nostalgia will get

First prize – Rs.2,000

Consolation prize – Rs.1,000

The criteria for selection are –

A thought provoking topic and complete coverage of the information
Originality of the content
Neat language that requires minimal editing
Smooth thought flow and narration of the key points
Popularity of the article through hits and social media likes
Suitable CC or own image provided

Send in your entries to editor@caleidoscope.in

The contest begins today and ends on 15^th of August 2015. We will announce the prize winners after August 20^th and publish all the submitted stories thereafter.

– Caleidoscope Team – This contest is closed!

Ancient Cities of India Buried in the Sands of Time

Caleidoscope

July 15, 2015

Read Part 1 – Ancient Indian Cities Forgotten in Time

Beneath all the development and modernization that we see today, India is still a country with long history that dates back to ancient times. Right from the Indus Valley Civilization, our country has seen a lot of ancient cities that were eventually abandoned or razed to the ground due to wars, natural disasters, invasions, etc.

The following is a list of few such ancient cities of India that were forgotten in time and that make great offbeat travel destinations to explore the ancient times of India.

Sirkap

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Sirkap is an ancient city in Taxila, Punjab (present-day Pakistan) that was founded by the Bactrian king Demetrius, when he invaded the region in 180 BC. The city was rebuilt numerous times during raids and incursions and flourished as a town from the 2nd century BC under several rulers, such as the Greeks, the Scythians, the Parthians and the Kushanas. It eventually sank into oblivion when it was abandoned for a new city at Sirsukh. It was only in 1912 that the details about Sirkap came to light when archaeologist Sir John Marshall began excavating the region. These excavations have yielded a number of Greek artifacts, coins, gold and silver jewellery. What remains of the city now are ruins and temples built according to the Greek Hippodamian plan, Buddhist stupas and shrines.

Kalibangan

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Considered to be the “very first city of the indian culture and heritage”, Kalibangan is a pre-historic city that traces its origin back to the Indus valley civilization and is located on the banks of the river Ghaggar, in modern day Rajasthan. Excavations were carried out in 1960, but Kalibangan’s identity and location were unearthed during the 18th century by Italian Indologist Luigi Pio Tessitori. The town has yielded evidence that it was indeed a bustling Harappan city, but the most important discovery is the existence of a ploughed agricultural field, perhaps the earliest of its kind in the world. The town is also known for its fire altars which may have been used for ceremonials rituals. The city was destroyed during an earthquake that took place in 2600 BC; archaeologists have also suggested that it may have been abandoned when the river Ghaggar dried up.

Lothal

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Lothal was once a prominent trade centre as well as one of the most important cities during the Indus valley civilization. Located in modern day Gujarat, it was first discovered in 195. The excavations at this region have again borne evidence of the fact that the Harappans were the most cultured and educated people of their day. Its most dominating feature is the unique dockyard which must have been a wonder in its heyday. A number of rare antiquities such as jewellery, beads, pottery and seals have been found at this site. The city was eventually abandoned because of constant floods and storms.

Puhar

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Puhar or Poompuhar near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu was the seat of the Chola kings. It served as a port capital to the kings and flourished under their regime. This ancient city also finds a mention in a number of Tamil texts and poetic works, Brahmi inscriptions as well as Greco-Roman manuscripts. Excavations began in 1910 revealing that Puhar was a well-planned city; the remains of buildings, beautiful temples, copper coins, brick figures and a wharf have also been unearthed. Unfortunately because of its proximity to the sea, it sank and submerged in the waters around 300 BC and only a few villages remain as a testament to this once glorious town.

Vijayanagara

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Vijayanagara or modern day Hampi was once considered to be the second largest city in the world. It prospered under the famous Vijayanagara dynasty and was the most powerful Hindu city in ancient India. Home to magnificent temples such as the Virupaksha temple and the Vittala temple, as well as the historic Lotus Palace and the exquisite elephant stables, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The now ruined “City of Victory”, Vijayanagara dazzled foreign travellers such as Domingos Paes, who was astonished by its beauty and wealth. However, in the 15th century the city fell into the hands of Muslim invaders who razed and destroyed it, bringing this once glorious city to its untimely end.

Author – Grace Cherian

Fact File –
www.indianetzone.com
www.velankanni.in
www.roughguides.com
www.gujarattourism.com
www.orientalarchitecture.com

Photo Feature – Moichara Cattle Race Festival West Bengal

Caleidoscope

July 14, 2015

Author – Dipjoy Roy

Each year, the village of Herobhanga (near Canning railway station) in West Bengal organizes Moichara cattle race festival, marking the arrival of monsoon season. It is usually celebrated during mid-June or early July, right when the local farmers begin to cultivate their lands.

These photos were captured at the traditional bull racing event held at Canning this year.

Welcome to the Event

Ready Get Set…

Go…

Ja Bail Use Maar…

Bhag Bull Ka Bhag!

Aaj Me Aage Zamaana Hai Peeche!

Lal Jande Ki Kasam Hai Bhag!

Kai Poonchh Hai!

Jai Ho!

Photos – Dipjoy Roy

The Art of Gifting

Caleidoscope

July 13, 2015

Author – Karthika Balu

Everything in this world has a beginning and an end. Nobody and nothing can escape the hands of change; and it is a good thing. It makes way for the fresh and the novel. However, we cannot help but miss the charm of the old, dying and bygone. This is when the feeling of nostalgia envelops us and for some time, we relish ruminating the sweetness of the past.

Last week, it dawned upon me that one of our age-old social customs might be breathing its last. Just like e-mails have replaced letters, smart phones are over shadowing face-to-face conversations, video games are replacing outdoor ones and virtual relationships are out-numbering the tangible ones.

I am not talking about technology here, but the measure of true human involvement. For instance, e-mails do not let us see the distinct handwriting of our loved one, they don’t let us see those accidental coffee stains or ink marks and they don’t hold those slightly transformed blotches which revealed that our loved one had shed a tear or two while writing for us. From the other end, we don’t spend time to select the right paper or pen, or sit comfortably and take that deep breath before penning those first words remembering to be careful about writing neatly and beautifully. We don’t get to draw those patterns on the sides or decorate the pages with glitters and rose petals. I know how special these felt because of the pretty letters that I used to receive from one of my school besties! Those hand-written letters from friends constantly reminded me of their notebooks, the doodles and chits that we passed, and other such precious times together in school.

One of my favourite times has always been the advent of special days of special people in my life- be it their birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or festivals. The arrival of that month itself fills me with a tinge of excitement. Thoughts of how I can make that day special play on repeat mode in my head. The most important parts being, organising celebrations if any and “gifting”. I still remember organising various events during my hostel days in Mysore. We planned and executed everything from treasure hunts to lighting candles all over the corridor to decorating rooms and outdoors to what not!

To now read: Coming to gifts, buying that perfect one always takes so much of time and thought. When it comes to out of town family and friends, specifically those in India, I know I can always send cakes to Bangalore to surprise them on their big day. Right from rewinding our memories to those rare instances when that person would have expressed a wish, to tracking the needs of that person and knowing those tiny things/people/places that are dear to him/her, everything keeps your loved one in your thoughts constantly. That perfect outfit, that perfect watch, those apt toys, that thoughtful book- getting your hands on any of these takes time, patience and loads of love. Once the gift is decided upon, its time for the efforts. Efforts to go hunting for it, wrap it well, choose an accompanying card, look for the right words to pen down a wish for that special one, and to finally hide it in a proper place until that perfect moment of surprise, phew!

Then there are those even more special ones that we create with our very own hands. Remember how we used to draw and paint as kids and gift them to our loved ones? Thank God kids still do that! These handmade gifts could be anything- a poem, a card, a jar of one liners, a painting, a self stitched clothing or a hand knitted sweater. For me, these are extra special, for each word in that poem, every line in that jar, every stroke of brush, and every wave of those needles have thoughts about me in them!

Ah! This whole process sounds exhausting doesn’t it ? Yes, it is exhausting, very exhausting! However, that one priceless moment of watching sheer surprise and happiness in the eyes of your loved one is all it takes to forget all that hard work. That loving smile, the twinkle in their eyes, that little scream of excitement and those immediate hugs and kisses, make all those efforts completely worthwhile!

Gifts these days have begun to take a back seat. Gift cards, vouchers, cash etc. are the “In-things” now. No thoughts, no hard work, no drama- completely hassle-free. Times are changing, and it is a good thing; this change.

No more will parties leave behind heaps of gift boxes. The special one can buy whatever he pleases; no more does he have to adjust with things that failed to please him. Last but not least, the ones who are clueless about the art of gifting can breathe a sigh of relief!

I however, prefer to remain old school. So long as I am confident and know that my gifts are welcomed, I will take that long hard way to pick, create or do something special for them. Once this Art of Gifting dies or in cases opposing the above, I too will join the new school because change is certain and ultimately good too.

Image Source –
pixabay
pixabay

10 Indian TV Bits that Bring Goose Bumps of Nostalgia

Nagaraj

July 9, 2015

Rain always takes us back to our childhood and gives us the goose bumps of nostalgia. Breezy weather and mouthwatering hot pakoras; what a time it was! As young kids we were connected to many little things which gave us immense pleasure. One such pleasure was watching our favorite TV shows on Doordarshan, the only Television Channel back then.

Here is a list of TV shows and snippets that gave us the meaning of true entertainment in our childhood and now, became the reasons of nostalgia.

1. Surabhi

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqeEegDzDDM]

One of the best shows produced by Doordarshan. The anchors Siddarth Kak and the lady with a Million dollar smile, Renuka Shahane presented the show in a down to earth manner. This is the best show which spread gyan along with entertainment. And the heaps of letters that people wrote for the contest, hoping to be a winner at least once.

2. Mile Sur Mera Tumhara

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jf6pwtPqCs]

This song echos in my ears to this day. I believe most of the youth who connects with this era can sing the whole song with ease, though we used to be annoyed sometimes when Doordarshan guys would play it at a few crucial times.

3. Malgudi Days

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEjfHV0YbII]

How can one forget “Ta na na nana nana ne…”? Swamy’s pranks were so much fun to watch; and even though this show was aired late in the night, I bet most of our generation woke up to watch every single episode of Malgudi Days.

4. Ek Chidiya Anek Chidiya

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-tTOJ1RvUY]

This song with animated visuals was just like a pickle, it used to come once in a while but the jingle stayed on the tip of our tongue. Most of our pals used to murmur this on the school campus “Ek gilahari…Anek gilahariyan…”

5. Lakdi ki Kathi, Kathi ka Goda

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LSOw-vhTn4]

This song is a favorite one for many of us due to its peppy music and the wooden horse in the video. I bet most of you danced for this song even without your knowledge.

6. Byomkesh Bakshi

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5ugW2eskMM]

He was the Indian Sherlock holmes, Each episode of this show created a big debate on school campus and each one wished he was a detective just like Byomkesh Bakshi..

7. TaleSpin

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bdgwnoOx9w]

TaleSpin was the best cartoon series that aired on Sunday afternoons, in fact a good Sunday special meal is prepared to go with the show,as even our parents seemed to enjoy it. Characters of this show Baloo, Madam Mahalingam, Kit, Carnage the Villain, and last but not the least, Baloo’s Seaplane still hold special place in our hearts.

8. DuckTales

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xd_mzibJrc]

Another show that aired along with Talespin, DuckTales included adventures stories of the Richie rich, Uncle Scrooge and his three nephews Huey, Dewey, Louie, and the Beagle Boys always after Uncle Scrooge treasure chest. This still remains one of those shows we still watch on youtube.

9. Hum Honge Kamyab

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvLiTZANPk]

I have strong connection to this song, it fills my heart with positive energy even today, and I hope it does the same for some of you as well.

10. Hawa Hawa Aye Hawa Hushbhu Luta De

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbzMgc0__ao]

Last and the most special one, this is the only pop song that was mostly performed on stage. I bet all the music systems back then had played this song at least once in their life span.

Went back down the memory lane? Well share your nostalgic experiences with us leave a comment to support..

Ancient Indian Cities Forgotten in Time

Caleidoscope

July 8, 2015

Author – Grace Cherian

India is a land of many wonders. It is known for its cultural diversity and heritage, which has a history of more than 2000 years. It has inspired many literary giants and poets, both new and old. India is also home to some of the oldest cities in the world that were once bustling towns, thriving sea ports, majestic capitals of great empires and trade centres of the world. Eventually, these ancient Indian cities fell prey to the ravages of war and time. Here’s an effort to remember some of them.

1. Dwarka

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One of the holy cities of pilgrimage for Hindus all over the world, Dwarka is counted as one among the country’s oldest cities. It is further evidenced by the fact that no one knows for certain when this city came into existence or when it was established. Located in the state of Gujarat, it finds extensive mention in the Mahabharata and the Harivamsa. Mythologically, Krishna is believed to have found and built this city after fleeing from Mathura. Archaeologists have divided opinions about how ancient this city exactly is. Some findings have shown that the city could have existed around the time when Indus Valley Civilization flourished. According to the Mahabharata, the city of Dwarka was swept away by the sea after the death of Krishna, but this was considered to be a grand myth. In 1983, when excavations were conducted under the sea, archaeologists found several temple structures and the remains of a town just a little off the coast of Dwarka, thus adding credence to the legend of this ancient city. Only time will tell us more about the treasures the sea around Dwarka still holds.

2. Nagarjunakonda

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About 150 kilometres southeast of Hyderabad lie the ruins of a city that flourished about 1800 years ago. It was one of the largest and richest cities in South India, and also the educational, cultural and religious centre of Buddhism. Nagarjunakonda or “the hill of Nagarjuna” was named after Acharya Nagarjuna, a renowned Buddhist philosopher who was responsible for setting up many monasteries and schools that attracted students from all over the world. Home to a large number of academic centres, temples and stupas, the city thrived under the reign of many powerful kingdoms especially the Ikshvaku dynasty, which made the illustrious city their capital. It eventually fell into decline after the demise of the last Ikshvaku king. The ruins of this city were discovered in 1926, but it was only in 1953 that this area was excavated yielding the ruins of many stupas, viharas, mandaps, tools from the Stone Age era and a number of priceless Buddhist relics.

3. Mahabalipuram

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One of the most beautiful cities in South India, Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is named after the great Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman-I. Filled with relics, monuments and some of the most beautiful temples in the world, Mahabalipuram was an important sea port of the Pallava dynasty from the 7th to the 10th centuries. Often referred to as the “Land of Seven Pagodas” based on an ancient Hindu legend, Mahabalipuram is a city known for its grandeur, hand carved monolithic structures, shrines and the rathas or cave temples. The descent of the Ganges is the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture depicting tales from the Mahabharata. The legendary stone-built Shore temple, which is a mammoth architectural wonder, is believed to be the only one surviving among the seven pagodas.

4. Muziris

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Muziris or “Muciri” as it is known in Tamil and “Muyirikkottu” in Malayalam was once a thriving sea port and an important trade centre between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean regions. It has been mentioned in a number of ancient scripts and texts by Egyptian and Greek writers like Ptolemy and Pliny the Elder, as well as a few Roman and Tamil Sangam texts. According to the Vienna Papyrus, there was a healthy trading relationship between Alexandria and Muziris, which means that in addition to acting as a sea port for the Romans and the Egyptians, Muziris must also have been a busy and flourishing town. A number of excavations undertaken by the ASI and Kerala Council for Historical Research have suggested that the town of Pattanam near Kochi could be the ancient Muziris, but the exact location of this town that vanished without a trace one morning in 1314 CE still remains unknown.

Read Part 2 – Ancient Cities of India Buried in the Sands of Time

Factfile –

Main

http://www.shunya.net
http://www.mahabalipuram.co.in/

Photo Essay: It’s Time For A Nap in Kolkata

Sandip Bose

July 7, 2015

Author – Sandip Bose

The summer in Kolkata this year was not very friendly to its people. When I went out on the streets one afternoon, I could see workers and other individuals sleeping at different places. The heat was draining all the energy out of their bodies and they needed to take the much needed ‘Power’ nap. And I was attracted to document these fascinating sights.

The following photographs are an effort to portray the scenes that I came across.

1. Divided We Sleep

2. On A Hammock

3. In The Company Of A Dustbin

4. A Tiring Afternoon

5. Accompanied By Idols

6. Two Different Modes

7. Imitating Each Other

8. Makeshift Bed

Images – SandipBose

Co-ed or Gender Separated Classrooms: Which is Better?

Caleidoscope

July 6, 2015

Author – Varina Rasquinha

Source

A few years ago, the trend of gender separated classrooms especially in convent schools was the real talk . Having studied in a girls’ school for ten long years, I believe I lost track of the fact that there also existed human beings of the opposite sex. And when I moved to a co-ed Pre-university course, I felt disoriented and equally perplexed. Everything seemed to be amiss. The common scenarios observed in a girls’ school are perpetual gossiping, loud giggles and other such girl-oriented talks, whereas, in a co-ed school, it was not so.

In a country like India, where most of the children come from traditional and orthodox families, there is often a mistaken notion that when girls and boys study together, there could be distractions and irrelevant communication between the opposite sexes. This is why, a few years ago, all we could see was gender separated schools reigning the era. But nowadays, several private institutions have been started where co-ed education is provided. They have no restrictions in communication between the boys and girls. I believe that healthy interaction between the two prepares the individuals for a social environment that they would see in work places in the future.

A recent study by Tel Aviv University states that grades are remarkably high at co-ed schools. An economist at the University, Prof. Analia Schlosser states that boys and girls generally do better in schools when they study together rather than separately. This, she observed during a brief investigation of girls and boys in mixed classrooms of the elementary schools. Another such observation by Prof. Schlosser was that there were lesser violent outbursts in mixed gender classrooms, especially among the boys. The study also showed that the students tend to score well in subjects like science and math when attending co-ed classes . Thus, the academic achievements are soared when both the sexes competed together in the classrooms.

Flickr

With the presence of girls in the class, the boys often learn to not misbehave and tend to focus on their work rather than indulging in berserk disruptions. This is another advantage to the teachers as they do not have to feel stressed or exhausted during their teaching period.

Even in India, a lot of schools with a decent female-to-male ratio tend to do better in academics and are often seen to be the toppers of examinations unlike the students in gender-segregated classrooms.

However, Indian parents have a concrete reason why they prefer sending their children to gender-separated schools. Education for girls is normally encouraged separately without any so called ‘negative’ influence of the boys. With the inexplicable growth of female atrocities like rapes and sexual abuse in India, the parents today are skeptical and reluctant to send their daughters to coed schools. Also, in traditional homes, the concept of ‘teenage dating’ is despised like the plague. It seemed better for children coming from such backgrounds to admit their children to gender-separated schools so that they do not fall under any bad influence of the opposite sex. Moreover, there is also a fear that girls wouldn’t stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the boys in science and math, and would only be supported in co-curricular activities like dance and music. This is considered to be a major disadvantage of mixed classrooms. Also, in co-ed classes, the teachers are often found to be biased towards the male students. This results in the girl students not being given equal weightage and priority like the boys and they fall prey to gender inequality right from their childhood.

Though co-ed and gender-separated classrooms have their own drawbacks and benefits, education in mixed gender classrooms is said to provide a platform for the students to indulge in a very natural and social environment that they would be exposed to, once they finish their schooling. It is said to prepare them for life as it transforms them into balanced, confident and sociable individuals. Furthermore, it prevents them from succumbing to orthodox principles concerning the opposite sex. A healthy education system can be brought out in a coed interaction by providing equality in every factor and giving no room for skepticism regarding its credibility.

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