Monthly Archives: December 2014

Queen of thumri and much more

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Kolkata :

She is Appaji to even those in this music loving city who don’t know how she got the name. To Ravi Shankar, she was a little sister, “chhoto bon”. Kishori Amonkor calls her Didi but thinks of her “like mother”. Kabir Chowk at Banaras adorned her with the sobriquet of thumri samragyi while the government showered on her the Padma Bhushan. To the world at large, she’s Dr Girija Devi.

However, more important than the many epithets is the fact that ‘Girija — a Lifetime in Music’ — distills her as both, a vocalist and a guru. For, it’s a tribute by her disciples Debapriya, Samanwaya and Sankalp to the Purab Ang maestro as she turns 86. The film, produced by daughter Sudha Datta and Madhuchandra, was launched at ICCR on Saturday in the presence of Governor KN Tripathi, Pt Vijay Kichlu, Krishna Neotia and Sanjay Budhia while H P Budhia presented her a purse of Rs 1 lakh.

To give one example: Girija Devi asks a disciple to stretch out her arm in the drizzle. “This is rim-jhim puhar, a few notes on your skin. If you sing two-three taans, it will become a shower or downpour. The words of the bandish don’t warrant that,” she imprints the experience on her student’s mind. On another occasion, she sings of a separated lover. “She’s like fish out of water, tarap tarap ke jee rahi. You must imagine the fish gasping for her life breath. Only when you see, feel, experience can you express emotions through your notes.” Clearly the memories of catching fish on the sandy banks of the now polluted Ganga inspires her to date.

Girija Devi, born to a Bhumihar Zamindar in Banaras of 1929, claims kinship with the traditions of Siddheswari Devi, Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar, Birju Maharaj, Rajan Saajan Mishra. Making her public debut at AIR Allahabad in 1949, she is an agraj (elder) showing the way to flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia. As an upper class woman who promised her mother and grandmother she’d never perform mujra (private concerts), she became a faculty member of ITC Sangeet Research Academy – and made Kolkata her second home. Music, as Girija Devi has taught Anjana Nath, Manasi Majumdar, Sunanda Sharma, Malini Awasthi, Dalia Rahut — among so many others — “is more than a weaving together of notes. It is breathing lived life into the words.” Sometimes she does this with sparkling taans, unique embellishments, exquisite artistry.

Sometimes she displays her grasp of tappa and dadra, at other times bhajan and khayal gayaki. But, and always, people flock to listen to her thumri. If Omkarnath Thakur was synonymous with bhajan, Siddheswari was the empress of thumri, she believes. But not once will she disappoint even those who’re alien to the regional characteristics of Kajri, Chaiti, Hori…

Once they sit through her recital, they go home with a profound sense of happiness. As they do after watching Girija – despite its 140-minute duration. Isn’t that ‘ananda’ – aesthetic as much as spiritual – the lakshya of every high art?

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Ratnottama Sengupta, TNN / December 21st, 2014

Azad’s papers to be kept at archives

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

Allahabad :

Finally after 84-years, the original documents related to the martyrdom of freedom fighter Chandrasekhar Azad would be brought before the world.

The regional archives office here has sought possession of the Village Crime Notebook (VCN) which carries the details of the case lodged against Azad under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) so as to scientifically preserve it.

Researchers and general public would be allowed access to the records after they reach the archives. At present the records are stacked at Colonelganj police station along with other files.

The Village Crime Notebook was maintained by the British between 1910 and 1947. It mentions the case registered against martyr Chandra Shekhar Azad with Colonelganj police station under section 307 of IPC on February 27, 1931.

The sheet has all details including serial number as given in the first information book, date of occurrence, offence, value of properties stolen, recovered, name of the accused, suspected with parentage, caste and residence and result of the case.The case was registered by British against martyr Azad and one of his companions regarding Alfred Park firing incident, in which sub-inspector Rai Sahib Chaudhary Rishal Singh was the investigation officer.

The case was written in Urdu against Chandra Shekhar Azad and one another under section 307 of IPC, with crime number 20/1931. The British had not made any remark on the result of the case but noted down the result of every date on the sheets.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / December 18th, 2014

Online booking for huts started in Katarniya Ghats

Uncategorized

Giving an impetus to eco tourism Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has asked officials to start online booking of huts in Katarniya ghats and Kakraha with immediate effect so that wildlife lovers can visit these places.

“The way online booking of huts in Motipur has started similarly online booking for katarniya ghat should start,” Yadav said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

Kakraha and Motipur are part of Katarniya ghat wild resort. He also gave a direction to Principal Secretary Forest asking him to implement policies that can make a balance between Tourism and wildlife. “The visitors should also be shown a picture highlighting ecology and wild life,” he said.

source: http://www.dailypioneer.com / The Pioneer / Home> State Editions> Lucknow / by Biswajeet – PNS / Wednesday – December 17th, 2014

Statues of Akbar’s ‘navratnas’ to come up in Fatehpur Sikri fort

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

Agra:

The nine gems of Akbar’s court will soon adorn Fatehpur Sikri Fort, with Agra Development Authority (ADA) and Uttar Pradesh tourism planning to install their statues in the premises of the monument.

Despite his illiteracy, Mughal ruler Akbar appreciated the presence of artists and intellectuals. His passion for knowledge and interest in learning from great minds meant that men of great intellect received patronage from the emperor. Such men went on to constitute the nine courtiers, also known as ‘navratnas’, of Akbar’s kingdom. The navratnas are Abul Fazl, Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, Birbal, Mulla Do-Piyaza Faizi, Raja Man Singh, Raja Todar Mal, Fakir Aziao-Din and Tansen.

According to ASI, Mughal institutions such as the ‘Ibadat-Khanah’, ‘Din-i-Ilahi’, ‘Tarikh-i-Ilahi’ , Jharokha-Darshan, the doctrine of Sulh-i-Kul and policy of liberal patronage to indigenous arts and literatures, were founded here.

Under the plan, the statues of the nine courtiers would be built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh and will be set up in the interpretation centre coming up in the Fort complex. Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar for 13 years, from 1572 to 1585. The complex of monuments was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986.

Dinesh Kumar, regional tourist officer, said, “We plan to install the statues the way Akbar used to hold court meetings with them. Tourists will also be provided information about them in detail. Although the place for their installation has not been finalized yet, we are trying to get it done in the interpretation centre. A meeting with the divisional commissioner will soon be held to get his permission.”

The interpretation centre will provide a glimpse of history and culture of the Mughal era as well as facilitate tourists’ visit to the Fort. Its construction work is likely to be completed by next month, Kumar added.

Perhaps the most famous of the ‘navratnas’ is Birbal, a Brahmin advisor in the court of Akbar. He is mostly remembered in folk tales that focus on his wit.

In 1586, he led an army to crush an unrest in the north-west Indian subcontinent, which failed tragically when he was killed along with many soldiers in an ambush by the rebel tribe.

Towards the end of Akbar’s reign, local folk tales emerged involving his interactions with Akbar, portraying him as extremely clever and witty. Birbal’s defeat was one of biggest military setbacks during Akbar’s reign and his death is said to have caused the Mughal emperor much grief.

In the folk tales, Birbal is mostly shown as being younger than Akbar, religious and surrounded by envious Muslim courtiers. These tales involve him outsmarting them and sometimes even Akbar, using only his intelligence and cunning, often by giving witty and humorous responses and impressing Akbar.

Mulla Do-Piyaza is a character from a series of folk tales featuring the Mughal emperor Akbar and his witty courtier Birbal. Mulla Do-Piyaza, also portrayed as witty, is Birbal’s rival. Even though these folk tales originated at the end of Akbar’s reign (1556-1605), Mulla Do-Piyaza began to appear later, popularized by writers in the late 19th century. Most scholars consider him to be completely fictional.

The next most heard of navratna was perhaps Tansen, a prominent Hindustani classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of compositions. He was also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the plucked rabab (of Central Asian origin). Akbar gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.

Abul Fazal was the vizier of the Mughal emperor and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar’s reign in three volumes, (the third volume is known as the Ain-i-Akbari). He was the brother of Faizi, the poet laureate of Akbar.

Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, another ‘navratna’ was a poet known for his Hindi couplets and his books on astrology. The village of Khankhana, which is named after him, is located in the Nawanshahr district of Punjab.

A poet and scholar of late medieval India, Shaikh Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak was popularly known by his pen-name, Faizi. In 1588, he became the Malik-ush-Shu’ara (poet laureate) of Akbar’s Court. He was the elder brother of Akbar’s historian Abul Fazl. Akbar recognized the genius in him and appointed him tutor for his sons and gave place to him among his decorative ‘navaratnas’.

Man Singh, the Rajput Raja of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur in Rajputana, was a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, while Todar Mal rose to become the finance minister in Akbar’s darbar. He was born in Laharpur, Uttar Pradesh in a Hindu family.

Faqir Aziao-Din was a mystic and a chief advisor in emperor Akbar’s court. Akbar regarded his advice on religious matters in high esteem.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Aditya Dev, TNN / December 14th, 2014

Muzzafar Ali and Dimple Yadav attend Oudh Fashion Summit in Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders, Uncategorized

Pehnawa – The Oudh Fashion Summit-2014, was organized by CII-Yi, Lucknow Chapter, in the city recently.

Muzzafar Ali and Dimple Yadav
Muzzafar Ali and Dimple Yadav

Muzzafar Ali, who was the guest of honour for the event, earned many wah-wahs for his lines on Lucknow: “Nazakat aur nafasat tujhe virasat mein mili hai, naaz hai humein tujhpe pe ae Lucknow.”

The chief guest on the occasion, MP Dimple Yadav took note of the suggestions made by panelists to improve the work conditions for craftsmen working in the fashion industry, and promised to bring them to her husband and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav’s notice. “Work has already started on courses to train workers in chikankari,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Akash Wadhwa, TNN / December 14th, 2014

An ode to Akhtar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders
Vidya Shah / by Special Arrangement
Vidya Shah / by Special Arrangement

The Hindu Lit for Life 2015 – Poetry with Prakriti festival closes tonight with Delhi-based Hindustani classical musician Vidya Shah’s tribute to the music and poetry of the legendary singer Begum Akhtar in her centenary year. Excerpts from an interview with Vidya:

What drew you to Begum Akhtar and her work?

I learnt in the lineage of Begum Akhtar, taught by Shanti Hiranand, one of her senior-most disciples. So I grew up listening to vignettes about her life. Begum’s most important contribution to music was her singing of the ghazal, which is what drew me to her. Through this project, I’d hoped to highlight aspects of her life that reveal her greatness as a person, and the way in which she gave the ghazal a mainstream space in an otherwise hierarchical musical world. And since I’m presenting this at a poetry festival, I will look at the wonderful way in which she understood poetry, and the poets of her time, many of whom she had special relationships with. Her music was very much a part of that poetry, and it shaped her spirit and her singing.

Tell us about the process of creating this concert and its structure.

This concert is my understanding of Begum Akhtar, my perspective on her as a contemporary musician living in these times. I examine who Begum Akhtar was, her journey from being a bai to a begum, and in these journeys how she empowered herself with music and poetry. The performance is woven with a narrative that highlights interesting aspects of her life with anecdotes, some rare and others better known, which reveal how she could make such a fantastic impact on audiences even today. Choosing pieces from her vast repertoire was quite a difficult process. I was often overcome and overwhelmed with greed because I’d want to sing this song and that one too, because there are so many charming pieces she’s done. But ultimately, what I did choose are those that reasonably showcase the versatility of her singing, the richness in her choice of poetry and the journeys she made within her world of music.

What about Begum still resonates with audiences today?

It is musicians like Begum who paved the way for us. We don’t have the social baggage that they carried but we have the opportunities to present similar work. Begum was an assertive, independent feminist, who, despite the struggles in her life, was able to empower herself and others. For instance, in Hindustani classical music, the ritual of the ganda bandhan initiates one into a formal guru-shishya relationship. In her time, it was an entirely male practice. She was one of the first women to do it for her female students. So there was a lot of élan and strength to her as a person, and she found an amazing balance between her joie de vivre, and life’s struggles and sorrows. And that passion shows through in her music. Which is why she will remain relevant forever.

How has creating this project changed you?

Right at the start, I knew I could never reproduce or replicate Begum’s music. That would be impossible. The biggest advantage of her music, though, was the inherent quality that lets you imbibe it, absorb it, understand it, internalise it and make it your own. The project is now a year old and I’m still growing with it, still learning from it. It has given me a lot of humility and it’s been a humbling experience. It has also given me a lot of strength. I can now sense what must have been her greatness. And I’m excited to bring this now to Chennai, being a Tamilian myself, singing Urdu poetry here and sharing the life of a diva who wasn’t from here, but whose story still resonates here. I’m excited to be making that journey for myself.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Lit for Life / by Esther Elias / December 09th, 2014

Muslim family preserves the ancient art form

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Allahabad :

The family of this 32-year-old Muslim from Dausa in Rajasthan is preserving the country’s ancient folk art form of ‘Bahurupiya’. They dress as Hindu mythological and other traditional characters. His family is engaged in it for five generations.

Meet Mohammad Farid, who and his brothers Naushad, Shamshad, Saleem and Akram are entertaining the crowd at ongoing Rashtriya Shilp Mela since past seven days by dressing up as Lord Krishna, Hanuman, Lord Shiva and 20 other mythological characters. These artistes are the centre of attraction for children and youngsters.

They also dress as women vegetable sellers, tribal man and woman and others. Farid has also been felicitated with ‘Kala Samman’ twice by Central government’s cultural centre, West Zone Cultural Centre in 2008 and 2012. He his brothers only appear in government sponsored fairs across the country.

“The was passed by my forefathers since past five generations. My father passed the art to five of us. I started giving stage performances at the age of 11 years while my first official appearance was at the age of 13,” Farid said.

Naushad said the most difficult part of a ‘bahurupiya’ being that there is no time limit on the stage or arena for performance.

Naushad, Shamshad, Saleem and Akram too started at an early age. It takes around two hours for the make up of mythological characters like Lord Shiva and Hanuman.

They rued that Rs 1,000 per day to the troupe leader and Rs 800 to the members is not sufficient.

“The makeup costs Rs 500. We have to purchase other items from Rajasthan as here the required items are not available,” 29-year-old Naushad, who performs the characters of Lord Hanuman, said. He also dresses a tribal man.

“I want my son to adopt the art but at the same time I want him to study and earn more than me by bagging a job. The renumeration that we get from the art is very low,” Farid said.

Due to the art, he got an opportunity to travel across the country from a nondescript village in Rajasthan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / December 09th, 2014

First transplant surgery on beating heart at LLR Hospital

Records, All, Science & Technology

Kanpur :

A team of doctors in cardiology department of Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital performed the heart valve transplant surgery on a pumping heart, that is without freezing the heart of the patient.

The experts have claimed it to be the first operation of its kind in Uttar Pradesh. The team of doctors comprised of Dr. Neeraj Kumar, Dr. Manish Das and Dr. Swati Pathak.

Explaining how the technique is new and different from the traditional method, Dr. Rakesh Verma, lead surgeon, said that generally the valve is transplanted on a frozen heart. “In normal bypass, the heart is connected to a heart-lung machine or bypass pump. The functioning of the heart is stopped while the machine is connected. This machine does the work of heart, provides oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. But, we did the operation on a pumping heart. It is challenging as you have to make surgical cut and perform the surgery while the heart is fluctuating,” he said. Valve transplant becomes important in people who have a swollen heart ( heart that is bigger in shape). The expert suggested that large heart ailment, if not treated properly, can lead to death of a person.

Talking about disadvantages of the traditional bypass surgery, Verma said that when the functioning of the heart is stopped, the heart muscles undergo some metabolic changes. This reduces the life of the heart and is detrimental to health of the patient. The three patients who were operated in a row by the team of doctors are: Ramdevi from Ghatampur, Nankhi from Bithoor and Muhammad Ateequllah from Fatehpur. They are doing well after going through the operation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / by Kritika Agrawal, TNN / December 10th, 2014

An ‘awesome’ winning bond

Sports

Lucknow:

Old wisdom suggests dogs are man’s best friend, but ask Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui (35), one of the youngest national-level polo players in the country and he will give you a different answer.

After spending more than eight years with his favorite 12-year-old half-bred bay colored horse ‘Awesome’, he believes horses are one of the most loyal, interactive and steadfast companions one can ever have.

An accomplished polo player, Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui is just back from England after playing a Polo tournament. He is in the city competing for the Awadh Polo Sunshine Cup at Surya Parisar ground. Representing Torpedos (the Army Service Corps team from Bangalore) Faiz has been one of the top scorers in all the league matches but for every achievement on the ground, the players gives credit to Awesome.

Despite knowing that Awesome, being an Army horse, can never be permanently owned by him, Faiz has developed a very special bond with him. He makes sure even after the training session he spends quality time with Awesome, understanding his needs, mood swings and treating him with his favourite food, jaggery.

Recalling his first encounter with Awesome, Faiz, said Awesome was one of the naughtiest polo ponies he had ever come across and to tame him was one of the most tedious tasks for him. But for Faiz, the initial one and a half years of the training period during which he got to know Awesome is one of the most cherished periods of his life.

“Awesome is equally dear to my family. He is especially attached to my six-year-old daughter who loves to ride on him. Each time Awesome makes her sit on him he takes immense care truly acting as a responsible elder brother,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Uzma Talha, TNN / December 13th, 2014

7 startups visit IIT-BHU campus

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Varanasi :

Startup companies dominated the 6th day of placement season at the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) on Saturday.

According to in charge, Training and Placement Cell, IIT-BHU Anil Kumar Agarwal, seven startup companies, including Clavileno Capital, Sygmoid Analytics, Lexinnova, Spytech and Pentium, visited the campus for placement. Mainly software companies visited the campus in first four days but the fifth day was dominated by core engineering companies for hiring technocrats in the field of civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.

In first five days, 400 students of IIT-BHU were offered jobs with the highest compensation of Rs 2.02 crore to a student by Oracle US.

On the 5th day, Reliance, Vodafone, Orbees Medical, Freescale Semiconductor and Career UTS visited the campus on Friday, while 10 companies including Fire Eye, Oyo rooms, and Tata Motors had turned up on the fourth day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, after a strong 650 hirings in just five days, the placement drive at IIT-Kanpur slowed down on the weekend with some 25 students receiving job offer letters on Saturday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / December 07th, 2014