Friday 26 October 2018

Column | Window Seat

Hill Stations

Hill Stations have their own charm, which attracts people from the plains like me to visit them. The mighty mountains with their peaks spiking the sky, the green forests jotting over the valleys, the streams and the cool climate- fascinate us.
Recently I had been to Dharmshala and Manali in Himachal Pradesh with family. After spending about a week in both the places and travelling nearly 1000 km in the hilly roads, I realized an old maxim: the journey is more beautiful and exciting than the destination.

Mcleodganj

We flew to Dharmshala from Delhi. The small ATR aircraft was full. Most of the passengers were foreigners going to Mcleod Ganj, about 10 km from Dharamshala, which is also known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" because of its large population of Tibetans. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj. Dalai Lama lives there and he happens to be the biggest draw.
We went there on a Sunday and it seemed half of Punjab was already there and the other half was arriving. It was crowded beyond my imagination. The parking place was overflowing with vehicles of all shapes and sizes. I could not comprehend by which magic; our driver negotiated the teeming thousands of pedestrians and vehicles. We went through bazars selling Tibetan knickknacks to have a darshan of a Devi and a water fall, where there were more human beings and hardly any flowing water. We went to the ‘Tibetan Temple’ (that is what the sign board written in Hindi proclaimed), which happened to be the head quarter of the Tibetan Government in exile. A bored looking police man went through the motion of frisking. We went in and found ourselves at a large hall with a large idol of Buddha and people merrily taking selfie with the idol.

Morning walk moments at Dharamsala

I always believe that if you want to know a place or want to soak in its flavor- walk. Walk on its roads and by lanes, explore its park and bus-stand, bazars and hanging out places.
So off we went on our morning walk on the roads of Kotwali Bazar of Dharmshala, which happened to be the main business hub. Snow-capped mountain peaks were visible from the market. The morning air has a nip of cold. The weather was fabulous for moving around if you were willing and capable of walking on the stiff inclined roads, which are narrow and has lots of vehicle plying.
I guess, some areas in Dharamsala and Mcdeolganj should be made 'pedestrian only' and some roads should have fenced and raised footpath only for pedestrians like they have done in Gangtok, Sikkim and in some parts of Manali.

Dharamshala Stadium

Dharamshala is also known for its picture-postcard Cricket Stadium overlooking snow-capped mountains Dauladhar range. It is as picturesque as the Adelaide, Oval and Newlands. Located at an altitude of 1317 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest stadiums of the world. Another feature is its openness and small-sized stands, which allow for winds to sweep across, giving fast bowlers assistance in the air. The venue is the first in India to use winter rye grass scattered around the outfield, which prevents the grass from dying when temperatures fall below 10 degrees.
The stadium is well maintained and it charges Rs 20/- per visitor to visit the stands and have a look at the stadium.
However, I did not like the chairs and clumsy and cramped sitting arrangements.

Tailpiece

Seen at the back of a bus in on our way to Manali:
Dhire chaloge to paribar milega,
tej chaloge to haridwar milega. 

***
Mrinal Chatterjee, journalist turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. He also writes fiction and columns in English and Odia.

mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
28.10.18
This column is published every Sunday on Sikkim Express and www.orissadiary.com

Tuesday 16 October 2018

Media Jobs

Needed Freelance Writers

Freelance writers to write for three new monthly publications (starting from January 2019), on international issues, Indian politics and society, art and culture, food and fashion, youth issues and education, employable skills and HRD, NRIs & PIOs, etc, are needed, mainly from the major cities of India. 
Anyone interested to write with deadlines and per article payment, can write with CV and a few published work to dona@krc.foundation, dona.bhaumik@gmail.com and biswadeep.gupta@gmail.com. 
Freelance photographers may also write with a couple of good clicks.
(Posted as received)
16.10.18

Sunday 14 October 2018

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Abuse as a fine art

As the 2019 elections is drawing nearer (the coming polls in five states is considered as the semi-finals), all political parties have shifted gear and are on election mode now. Huge rallies are being organized in different states. Leaders of all parties are talking to people.  One interesting aspect of all the ‘bhasan’ is that there is hardly any talk about sorting out major problems facing the country or dealing with issues concerning people-  just an endless stream of abuse and lies. The leaders should talk about the problems that people are facing and the programmes they have to find answers to it. They should talk about issues. Instead what we are witnessing is flinging abuses and trading insults.
While many are mighty displeased about this, on the brighter side this could be one way to judge the creativity of the political parties. We can pick the leader on the basis of how creatively they trade insults and canards. 
There have been umpteen numbers of examples of this practice.
In a place called Katwa a sub-divisional town in West Bengal, where I come from, there is a festival woven around this. It is held during Kartick puja. Called Kartick ladai it sees bards singing self-composed songs with choicest abuses for the high and mighty of the town. In Beneras lanthai kavi samelan  is held around Holi. This is a virtual competition for poets who who can use abuse as creatively and innovatively. The poet who can abuse most innovatively is declared winner.
Then, there is a custom among certain tribes of Athabascan Indians in Alaska. The Athabascan people traditionally lived in Interior Alaska, an expansive region that begins south of the Brooks Mountain Range and continues down to the Kenai Peninsula. There are eleven linguistic groups of Athabascans in Alaska. Athabascan people have traditionally lived along five major river ways: the Yukon, the Tanana, the Susitna, the Kuskokwim, and the Copper river drainages. Athabascans migrated seasonally, traveling in small groups to fish, hunt and trap.

They led gentle lives and have several interesting customs including one to settle disputes when two young men compete for the affections of a maiden.

A gathering of the clan takes place where the two young men are required to take part in a contest of trading insults. The insults ascend in a spiral of creativity and imagination as the assembled clan roars with laughter. Finally the clan decides who was better.
Is it time in India to adopat and adapt to a custom like this?

College Elections

Gradually student elections in colleges and universities across the country are becoming clones of general elections. Money flows. Muscle power is flaunted and used. Voters are enticed with food and gifts- in some places with booze too. The campaign style borders on tamasha. Band parties and professional entertainers are hired. Candidates move around in expensive vehicles or for a change on horseback and promise moon to the voters. Violence erupts at slightest provocation. Mainstream political parties merrily fund and encourage all these activities.
The situation forces people to think: is the future of democracy safe in India? We can blame the political parties for this. We can blame the prevailing social norms for this. But why should students, who should be in the forefront of reform indulge in all this? Why can't they stand against the prevailing system? I know, there are answers, excuses, even justifications. But at the end of the day- it is the question of the future of this country? Will it remain as a healthy functioning democracy or a sham one?

Why you should have plants around you?

These days I see more and more institutions are gifting potted plants instead of flower bouquet to their guests. This is a welcome move.
Research shows that interacting with nature in any way has a profound effect on our psyche increasing our sense of well-being and making us happier on a subconscious level.
Research has found that introducing plants into an office environment can up the creativity quotient by a whopping 15 percent! It also reduces stress level.
So, gift potted plant instead of bouquet. And if you happen to get one, please take care of the plant and nurture it. It will do you a world of good.

Tailpiece 1: Savita Reloaded


Wife sent a message to her husband: Don’t forget to buy vegetables on your way back from office, and Savita says hi to you. 
Husband: Who is Savita?
Wife: Nothing, I was just making  sure that you read my message or not
Twist in the tale.....
Husband: But I'm with savita , which savita are you talking about ? 
Wife: Where are you....?
Husband: Near vegetable market
Wife: Wait I will come there .....
After 10 minutes she texts her husband, "where are you"?
Husband:- I am at office, now buy whatever vegetables you need...

Tailpiece 2; Side effects of being a Teacher
 

A teacher went to a hotel for lunch, he wanted to see the ‘menu’ but forgot what it was called.
 He asked the waiter, "Can I see food syllabus please?
The waiter said, "What?"
The teacher replied, Table of contents
The waiter said, No we don't have such
The teacher, I mean food curriculum
***
Mrinal Chatterjee journalist turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. He joins Snehasis Sur to compile and edit a book: ‘Gandhi: a Journalist and Editor’ which will be released in mid-October in Kolkata.

mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
 Published in Sikkim Express on 14.10.18

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 13-19 Oct. 2018

Column | Pathe Prantare

Samaya Taranga 14.10.18

Wednesday 3 October 2018

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें

चेतावनी

मृणाल चटर्जी

अनुवादइतिश्री सिंह राठौर


शराब की बोतलसिगरेटगुटखाजर्दा डिब्बा आदि नशिली चीजों के आवरण पर चेतावनी लिखी होती है  आपने देखा होगा  पहले लिखा होता था सिगरेट पीना स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक है  अब लिखा होता हैधूर्मपान से कैंसर होने की आशंका है  सभी भयंकर चेतावनी के बाद भी लोग  शराब पीना छोड़ते हैं और  ही धूर्मपान करना  इससे मेरा दृढ़विश्वास है कि लोगों को आत्महत्या करना पसंद है  मनोविज्ञानीइसपर और अच्छे से रोशनी डाल सकेंगे  
    इंसान आत्महत्या करना चाहता लेकिन सरकार उसमें बाधक बन रही है  अब सरकार इन आवरणों पर और कड़ी चेतावनी लिखने की सोच रही है  शराब की बोतल पर क्या-क्या चेतावनी लिखी जा सकती हैइसका एक नमूना पेश करता हूं 
1. शराब पीने से आपके मुंह बदबू आएगी  इस बदबू  के कारण लोग आपसे दूरी बनाकर रहेंगे  आपकी पत्नी गलफ्रेंड भी इसी कारण आपसे दूर रहेगी  
2. शराब पीने पर हिजड़ों की तरह नाचने लगेंगे  अक्सर बारातियों को इसी तरह नाचते हुए देखा होगा आपने 
3. शराब पीने से आप बड़बड़ाएंगे  सुननेवाला गुस्से में आपका अपना सिर फोड़ सकता है  
4. शराब पीने के बाद आप अपनी पत्नी कईं गुप्त बातें कर सकते हैं जिसे आप राज रखना चाहते थे  इससे आपसी तनाव बढ़ने की आशंका है 
5. शराब पीने के बाद आप अपने बास से सारी बातें शेयर कर सकते हैं  जो नहीं भी कहना चाहिए वह भी कह सकते हैं  उसके बाद क्या अंजाम होगायह आप जानते हैं 
6. शराब पीने के बाद आपको लग सकता है कि आपकी पूर्व प्रेमिका अब भी आपसे प्यार करती है और आप उसे रात के तीन बजे फोन कर दें  इसके बाद उसका पति आपके खिलाफ पुलिस में शिकायत दर्ज करसकता है  
8. शराब पीने के बाद आपको लग सकता है आप दुनिया के सबसे सुंदर और बलवान पुरुष हैं  उसके बाद दुसरों के साथ आप लड़ाई कर सकते हैं  नतीजा यह होगा कि सुबह आप गटर में गिरे हुए मिलें 
9. आपको कचरे का ढेर सिहांसन लगे और सुबह आप कचरे के ढेर से मिलें 
10. शराब पीने के बाद आपके अंदर का गायक जिंदा हो जाए और आप आधी रात को चिल्ला-चिल्ला कर गाएं  इतने में गली के कुत्ते जाग जाएं और आपको काटने दौड़ाएं  
11. शराब पीने के बाद आप खुद को मिस्टर इंडिया सोचने लगें और एेसा काम करें जो नहीं करना चाहिए  इसे तंग आकर भीड़ आपको पीटने लगे 
12. शराब पीने के बाद आपको लगे कि लोग आपको पसंद कर रहे हैं लेकिन उसका उल्टा हो 
13. शराब पीने के बाद आप खुद को कराटे मास्टर समझने लगे लेकिन आपके पिछवाड़े पर लात पड़े 
14. शराब पीने के बाद आप लड़कियों से बात करना चाहें लेकिन आपके मुंह से शब्द ही  निकले  कुछ कहें भी तो एेसा कुछ निकल जाए कि जिसके लिए आपको थप्पड़ खाना पड़े  
15. शराब पीने के बाद ब्लैक एंड वाइट  चीजें आपको रंगीन नजर आएं और रंगीन चीजें ब्लैक एंड वाइट 
***