Monthly Archives: July 2014

Seminar on Pandit Mishra

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Allahabad :

A seminar on renowned litterateur Pandit Shitla Prasad Mishra was organised on Thursday. Various speakers elaborated on diverse aspects of Mishra’s personality. He died June 23 last at the age of 90 years.

Vibhu Ram Mishra shed light on the initial life and education of Mishra. Describing Mishra as an expert on the labour issues, he said that his book ‘Labour problems in Ancient and Medieval India’ and ‘Indian Labour Movement’ effectively summarizes the labour problems in the country. Prof Ramesh Chandra Verma evaluated the personality of Pandit Mishra as a litterateur and commented on his book ‘Akshyavat’ and ‘Sukhi Jeevan’ and other books. Ram Prakash Gupta remembered Mishra as an educationist and lauded his role in establishment of Bamaula School and as manager of Dr Kailash Nath Katju Inter College. Chief guest and former higher education consultant Chandra Vijay Chaturvedi spoke about the various facets of Pandit Mishra and described him as a source of inspiration.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / June 27th, 2014

Shah Jahan’s summer palace found near Taj

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel
The Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1653, is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture.
The Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1653, is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture.

Agra :

In an interesting discovery following excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India recently, remains of a summer palace, presumably a baradari, a pavilion designed to allow free flow of air – have been reportedly found at the centuries-old Mughal-era garden Mehtab Bagh located opposite the Taj Mahal.

The garden was reputedly Shah Jahan’s favourite spot which he used to visit to get a view of the Taj at night, hence it’s name (Mehtab means moonlight in Urdu).

“The remains of the baradari-like structure have been found just opposite the Taj Mahal which strengthens our belief that the Mughal emperor must have built this place to enjoy the view of the Taj sitting near the bank of river.

The place seems to have sunk beneath the surface either due to floods or because of the presence of hollow space under the structure,” said a senior ASI official.

The excavated remains of the walls at the garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal in Agra. (PTI photo)
The excavated remains of the walls at the garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal in Agra. (PTI photo)

Incidentally, Mehtab Bagh has been associated with the myth of the black Taj which is believed to have been spun by guides to fascinate foreign tourists. According to the story, Shah Jahan wanted to build another Taj in black marble across the Yamuna and connect the two by a bridge. Mehtab Bagh is pointed out by some as the possible site where the black Taj would have come up.

“There has never been any historical evidence to prove the existence of a black Taj,” said the official.

During excavation work carried out between 1997 and 1999 at Mehtab Bagh, the ASI had found remains of a huge octagonal tank furnished with 25 fountains, a small central tank and a baradari in the east of the garden. “The present work is going in the south direction of the garden in the straight alignment of the Taj Mahal which makes the discovery an interesting one,” added the official.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Adithya Dev, TNN / July 02nd, 2014

Dada Saheb Phalke awardee Sharib Rudualvi, Anis Ansari at a mango party remembering Ghalib in Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

DEDICATED TO GHALIB:

As the mango season begins, the city folk are happily enjoying mango parties. But this do was a little different from the usual. Organised at a girls’ college, the event brought together Urdu poets, intellectuals and mango lovers.

Anis Ansari
Anis Ansari

The evening was dedicated to the famous Urdu poet Ghalib and the various speakers expressed their views on Ghalib’s fondness for mangoes, how he liked to eat the fruit with missi roti and how the tradition of eating mangoes with missi roti dates back to the times of the Nawabs. The poets read couplets of Ghalib, receiving due daad from guests.

FINE DINE: Dada Saheb Phalke awardee Sharib Rudualvi, Anis Ansari and Anwar Jalalpuri spoke about the varieties and history of mangoes and the stories of fruit linked with the life of Ghalib.

“Around a decade back such events used to be a regular scene in the city’s social calendar letting people indulge in talks and debates and later feast on mangoes with missi roti, but now they are rare,” shared Khwaja Yunus, one of the organisers. After the poetry session, guests gorged on mangoes along with missi roti served with 12 different mouth-wa tering chutnies.

Some foreigners too were spotted at the event. Gabriella, a student from USA studying Urdu language in Lucknow, shared, “I am in love with Lucknow! I am making my mind to shift entirely to India.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / Renu Singh, TNN / June 30th, 2014