weekly column in English | Window Seat | 30.5.21

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 30.5.21

Hindi Journalism

30 May is Hindi Journalism Day. On this day in 1826 Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla started the first Hindi newspaper of India, a weekly titled Udant Martand, which means the rising sun from Kolkata. Udant Martand employed a mix of Khari Bolo and Braj Bhasa and was published in devnagari script. The first issue printed 500 copies, the newspaper was published every Tuesday.

Udant Martandm the first Hindi newspaper

Shukla hailed from Kanpur and settled in Kolkata. He was a lawyer by profession. On February 16, 1826, Shukla and his friend Munnu Thakur received a license to publish a newspaper in Hindi. 

There were not may Hindi readers in Kolkata and nearby places. The Hindi readership was more in North India. It was difficult for Udant Martand to reach north Indian towns because of the transportation cost involved. Shukla tried for postal concession and also for government funding for his newspaper but did not get it.

Soon due to higher postal rates as well as distant readership, the newspaper ran into financial difficulties and eventually closed on 4 December 1827.

Effectively it survived for less than one and a half years. But it showed the path. Hindi journalism has travelled a long way from that time. It has played a very important role in freedom struggle. Presently it occupies a major space in the media ecosphere of India. Half of the top ten largest circulated daily newspapers are in Hindi. The viewership of Hindi channels far outnumbers any other language in India. It has a significant presence in the digital media space.

However, it still has to catch up with the quality of content and influence on the society and policy makers that English or Malayalam or Marathi or Bengali journalism offer. It needs to invest more in quality human resource and news gathering.

Sundarlal Bahuguna, the green leader

Noted environmentalist and Padma Vibhushan Sunderlal Bahuguna succumbed to Covid on 21 May 2021. He was 94.

Caricature by  Jayaraj Vellur, Kerala

Born in the village Maroda, located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand Sunderlal Bahuguna was a life-long environmentalist and was credited for founding the Chipko movement - the grassroots movement that swept through the Garhwal region in the 1970s with villagers hugging trees to stop them from being axed. Later in 1990s, he spearheaded the Anti-Tehri Dam movement and even went to jail for it in 1995.

He always voiced his protest for the Himalayan Niti and the sustenance of the Himalayas. As Arwind Bijalwan writes: During a lecture in our college, he used a Garhwali slogan: “Dhar ainch pani, dhal par dala, bijli banawa khala-khala (Water needs to be recharged on hill tops, trees should be on the slopes, electricity should be generated from every small water source). 

Sunderlal Bahuguna was against large constructions in the ecologically fragile Himalayan areas. Though he created awareness about the importance of protecting the environment among the masses, his words fell into deaf ears of the policy makers.

Years later, we are facing the consequences now with frequent devastating floods in all the Himalayan states.

His words find resonance with the theme of this year’s environment day (5 May): Ecosystem Restoration. It denotes assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded by activities like pollution and deforestation. Ecosystem Restoration can also be promoted by conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. Let’s do whatever we can to conserve our eco-system.

Caricature by Jayaraj Vellur, Kerala

Yass Effect

The severe cyclonic storm Yaas, which made landfall in Odisha’s Balasore district on the morning of May 26, 2021, is the latest of the 96 tropical cyclones to hit the state in 130 years. As many as 541 tropical cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal during the period, according to a study made by Pratap Kumar Mohanty, professor, marine science, Berhampur University.

According to the study, There are two peaks of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal — the primary peak (October-December) and secondary peak (April-June). There has been a significant reduction in the number of tropical cyclones in a year over the north Indian Ocean basin between 1951 and 2018. But the frequency of very severe cyclonic storms during the post-monsoon season has increased significantly in the last two decades.

Victoria Memorial in Kolkata

Despite a decreasing trend, the region still remains prone to extremely severe cyclones. On an average, three to four out of five cyclones developing in the north Indian Ocean region make a landfall, causing loss of life and property. Low-lying coastal belts of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are more prone to the impact of these systems. All these states, therefore, need to take appropriate steps to engage with the severe cyclones.

Tailpiece: Tale of two donkeys

Two old men one day declared that they have the solution of the problems of the country. Journalists gathered around them and asked, “What is the solution?

One old man said, “Put all the people of this country in jail…plus two donkeys.”

The journalists asked, “Why two donkeys?”

The two old men laughed loudly. One old man said to the other, “See what I told you… nobody is interested about the people of this country. Everybody is concerned about the donkeys.”

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

The columnist is a journalist turned media academician. He also writes and translates fiction and poetry.

mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com

This column is published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com 

 

weekly column in Odia | Pathe Prantare | 30.5.21

Samay 30.5.21

 

The Guardian at 200 years | Article in Odia

Nitidina, 29.5.21

 

Article on Narada Muni in Odia

Nirbhay 24.5.21

 

Two poems (by Kedarnath Agarwal and Uday Prakash) translated from Hindi

Seithu Arambha, 23.5.21

 

Weekly Column in English | Window Seat 23.5.21

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 23.5.21

The Guardian @ 200

The Guardian, one of the most respected newspapers of the world turned 200 on May 2021. It was first published as The Manchester Guardian on May 5, 1821. Incidentally it was on this day that Napoleon died.

First issue of The Manchester Guardian.

Manchester based cotton merchant John Edward Taylor published the newspaper with backing from the Little Circle, a group of non-conformist businessmen as a response to the murder of ordinary people by soldiers in the 1819 Peterloo massacre. It set a tone that the Guardian followed for the next 200 years; it has always taken an anti-establishment stand and has always identified itself with centre-left politics. Over the last 200 years- it has established itself as a key institution in the definition and development of liberalism.

Its survival for two centuries is an enigma firstly as few newspapers have survived that long and well; and secondly unlike some newspapers, the Guardian has never had a wealthy and prosperous owner. Its unique ownership structure had probably been a factor behind its continued existence. It was owned by a trust since 1936 and profitability had never been the major objective of its existence. The trust was converted into a limited company in 2008, with a constitution written so as to maintain for The Guardian the same protections as were built into the structure of the Trust by its creators. Profits are reinvested in journalism rather than distributed to owners or shareholders. It also has adopted a subscription-based revenue model that has substantially decreased its dependence on advertisement. This has helped the paper to uphold its independence.

It was the vision of C.P.Scott (1846-1932) that built the good journalism-focused management architecture of the paper. C.P. Scott was the editor of the paper for 57 years from 1872, and became its owner when he bought the paper from the estate of Taylor's son in 1907.

The present editor-in-chief of the Guardian Katharine Viner is the first women to have assumed this position in the history of the paper. She became the editor of the Guardian in 2015.

CP Scott wrote in an article to mark the centenary of the paper, “One of the virtues, perhaps almost the chief virtue, of a newspaper is its independence. Whatever its position or character, at least it should have a soul of its own.”

The Guardian does have a soul. A noble soul.

May it live long and healthy.

Museum

It is often said, history is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Museums are important as they preserve history by preserving artifacts and documents to show us the way things were in the past and the way it evolved. Museums connect the present with the past. Connect with the past and linking it with future- has been one of triggers of the growth of the human civilization.

The Ashmolean Museum, founded in 1677 from the personal collection of Elias Ashmole, is considered by some to be the first modern public museum. It was set up in the University of Oxford to be open to the public.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society.

This year it has been on 18 May. The theme of the day this year is: “The Future of Museums: Recover and Re-imagine. Looking at the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic the call is for recovering and re-imagining. The crisis triggered several crucial innovations, notably an increased focus on digitisation and the creation of new forms of cultural experience and dissemination.

Several museums across the world are trying to provide life-like experience in the digital space through cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Should you want to know more about museums across the world and what they have on offer log on to:

https://icom.museum/en/news/international-museum-day-2021/

Hope 

Once a king announced death sentence for two convicts. 

One of them knew that the king is very fond of his horse. He went up to the king and told him that if you spare my life, I’ll teach the horse how to fly in the next one year. 

On hearing this, the king became very happy that he would be the only owner of a horse that could fly and spared the life of the convict.

The other convict looked at his friend with surprise and said, “you know that a horse cannot fly, so why did you think of such a stupid idea, you are just delaying your death by one year.” 

The other convict replied, “I have given myself five chances to obtain freedom.

First, The King may die in one year,

Second, the world may come to an end in the next one year,

Third, the horse may die in the next one year,

Fourth, I may die in the next one year due to any reason, and may be, there will be a miracle and I will be able to teach the horse to fly.”

Morale of the story:

You should never lose hope even in the worst of circumstances.

Despite the pall of gloom related to Covid all around, the recovery rate is increasing, the positivity rate is coming down, medical infrastructure is increasing, multiple vaccines have arrived and the rate of vaccination is increasing. 

Despite the odds, life is going on. This too shall pass, 

Fear will hold you prisoner; Hope will set you free,

Choose Hope.

Tailpiece: Vaccine Situation

Vaccine situation in India is like looking for a bride for marriage.

First you are not ready…then you don't like any.. then you don't get any..!! Those who got are unhappy thinking may be the other one would have been better.

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

Journalist turned media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives at the central Odisha town Dhenkanal. mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com

This column is published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com

Review | Mahatma Gandhi: Sambadika O Sampadaka

Sambad 23.5.21

 

Weekly Column in Odia | Pathe Prantare 23.5.21

Samay 23.5.21

 

Corona Kala (The Times of Corona) 14 | Lock-down Shut-down

Gateway Odisha, 23 May, 2021

 

Article on Raj Kumar Sukla in Odia

Nirbhaya, 17.5.21

 

Weekly column in English | Window Seat | 16.5.21

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 16.5.21

Stop black marketing of Oxygen cylinders

Experts have said that the major reasons of the shortage of oxygen was not dearth of production or production facilities but failure in demand-mapping, supply chain management and taking the oxygen cylinders to the last mile- to the patients.

The crisis was aggravated at some places like Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad which had high demand by hoarding and black-marketing of oxygen cylinders by unscrupulous persons. The police and administration was probably too stretched to look into this or simply did not care.

But it created panic like situation which had a ripple effect across the country. As a result in oxygen surplus states like Odisha too there were reports of shortage as people started hoarding and holding on to the oxygen cylinders. There was zero- scarcity of medical oxygen gas but the cylinders were scarce. As people started hoarding and holding on to the cylinders- others could not get oxygen. Hospitals were not prepared for the unprecedented spike in demand for oxygen that the second wave of Corona caused.

The government must take steps to stop black marketing of oxygen cylinders and ensure adequate oxygen supply to the hospitals. Now that more number of cryogenic tankers has been pressed into transporting liquid oxygen,  steps have been taken to fast track delivery of oxygen and turn-around time of the tankers and oxygen concentrators have been imported- the supply side will improve. Stop black marketing that thrives on manufactured artificial scarcity and things will normalize. 

Raghunath Mahapatra

Eminent sculptor of traditional idols and architect of Kalinga style temples Raghunath Mahapatra, who had been bestowed with Padmashree and Padma Bhushan succumbed to Covid on Sunday, 9 May. 

Anne Frank had written: Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones, because regret is stronger than gratitude. So true in case of Raghunath Mahapatra, the master sculptor, who wanted to build the second Konark. We did not allow him to do that. He faced criticism for his ‘audacity’ to build a replica of the 13 century monument. 

It could have showed to the world what the artists of Odisha could do. Besides bringing world attention to the artistry of the present day sculptors  it could have showcased the image of the State. Alas, we were so short sighted that we failed to see the possibilities.

Rest in peace, Raghunath Babu. You had the ability to put life in a piece of stone, but did not have the ability to sow reason into the minds of some bigots.

In Photo: The Konark Horse - state emblem of Odisha, replica sculpted by Padma Vibhusana Raghunath Mohapatra and installed at Master Canteen square of Bhubaneswar in 1980.

The Feast on Eid

Eid is considered to be a festival of joy and piety. But every year from my childhood what I look forward to is the grand meal that follows. This year, of course the Corona pandemic would deprive me from partaking the grand meal, especially the delicious mutton preparations and sweet dishes.

Jawahar Sarkar, former culture secretary, a widely travelled man has recently written about the special dishes Muslims across the world prepare on this occasion.

Different countries have their specialties and Russian Muslims carry on the national fondness for all things in dumpling form — by gorging on Manti, a meat-filled momo during Eid. In China, You Xiang (flour, water and yeast patties fried in oil) are either given as a gift or eaten as part of the Eid feast.

But Corona can hardly prevent Eid from its sweet sugary feast. It is time for chocolate, nuts, cookies like Kahkaa, bakery goodies, sweets of every conceivable type. The lachcha and sweet seyyunia and dozens of delicious condiments made of milk, nuts, dates and vermicelli.

Afghanistan does it with sweet cakes and jalebis, while Indonesians celebrate with a sticky rice preparation cooked in bamboo called Lemang. In Turkey, classic sweets such as Baklava are given to friends, family and neighbours as a present during Eid, or Seker Bayrami as it’s commonly known in the country.

In Arab countries, sweet dates are an integral part of the month and people bake Kleichas, which are rose-flavoured biscuits that contain a filling of nuts and dates. Both Iraq and Saudi Arabia consider them to be their national cookie. In Yemen, Bint al sahn honey cake, and is topped with nigella seeds is the specialty.

One reason for sweets is to restore energy that fasting may have sapped, because at the end of the day, all time-tested festivals have their own critical reasons.

Migratory Birds

8 May, Saturday was World Migratory Bird Day. Every year  World Migratory Bird Day has a theme. This year’s theme is: “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!”

Migratory Birds are world travelers. For generations they have connected people, countries and ecosystems. But they bear the brunt of climate change, biodiversity loss & pollution. Let us secure the future of the birds on our planet.

In photo: Caspian Tern photographed at Pulicat. Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake measuring 759 square kilometres located at Andhra Pradesh-Tamilnadu border.

Photo by BN Neelima. 

Tailpiece: How times have changed!

Isn’t it strange! In normal times we would be worried if someone was in the ICU and was on oxygen support; now we are relieved if someone has found a bed in the ICU and has got oxygen support.

***

This column is published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com.

Anthology of this weekly column published in 2020 has been published in book form. Should you want a free e-copy, please write a mail to sephalicommunication@yahoo.in

Hope has power | Article in Odia | 16.5.21

Nitidina, 16.5.21

 

Weekly column in Odia Pathe Prantare 16.5.21

Samaya 16.5.21

 

Corona Kala 13

Gateway Odisha 7 May 2021

 

Why is there a crisis of Oxygen? | Article in Odia

Samaja 10.5.21

 

Forgotten astronaut Michel Collins | Article in Odia

Nirbhay 10.5.21

 

Weekly Column in English | Window Seat | 9.5.21

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 9.5.21

Say ‘no’ to negativity

We are living in a trying time. The second wave of Covid-19 is wrecking people’s lives and country’s economy. Pessimism is on the rise. There is widespread anguish and anxiety. People are losing hope of leading a decent life. Negativity is growing.

It is now that we have to cling to positivity. We have to think positive. If you think positive, your attitude becomes positive. In other words you can will things to happen. Your thoughts are the framework on which your subconscious builds your reality. The emotion that you associate with a thought energizes the thought that gives it power. Thought is neutral until you associate emotion with it. The type of emotion you associate with the thought determine your actions.

Research proves that there are definite benefits of positive thinking including improvement in performance, longer life and faster recovery and less depression and mental illness.

Optimism is associated with good physical health, less depression and mental illness, longer life and greater happiness.

The question is: can we practice Positive Thinking? The answer is, yes, we can. The subconscious communicates by using pictures, feelings and emotions. It needs positive clear verbal statements that tell it what you want. The subconscious has to be convinced that you want change before it will change a behaviour or habit. You have to allow time for a change in behaviour to become second nature.

You have to say ‘no’ to ‘no’. You can consciously dispel negativity. Look around. The world is full of things that, according to nay-sayers, should never have happened. Men have set foot on the moon. We have flown like the birds. Enormous amount of data can be stored in a tiny chip or even in the cloud. Vaccine has been made to wipe out several diseases that threatened to wipe out humanity.

Here is the 3C Formula for Positive Thinking.

COMMITMENT: Make a positive commitment to yourself. Try to fulfill the commitment. Every highly successful person is a manic on a mission.

CONTROL: Keep your mind focused on important things. Mind has a tendency to oscillate between past and present, and cling to negative. You have to keep the mind busy in productive activity.

CHALLENGE: Life is a series of challenges. Learn to face challenges.

Let us win over the gloom and negativity. Let us win over Corona.

Cartoon by Subhani.

Cartoonists’ Day

Besides creating fun and mirth, lampooning and ridiculing, Cartoons- the funny drawing with a narrative often act as a chronicler and critique of social reality. Though one can trace the core constructs of cartoon in cave paintings, this usage dates from 1843 when Punch magazine applied the term to satirical drawings in its pages, particularly sketches by John Leech. Since its inception in mid nineteenth century modern cartoon has illuminated and enlivened social and political discourse for nearly two centuries now.

May 5 is observed as Cartoonists' Day all over the world. It honours all those creative artists, past and present, and the fascinating pieces they have created. Throughout the years, their talents bring humour, entertainment into our lives while provoking thought and debate, too.

Cartoonists' Day is observed on 5 May to mark the beginning of comic strip and in the memory of American comic strip writer and artist, Richard Outcault (January 14, 1863 – September 25, 1928), considered to be the inventor of the modern comic strip. Outcault created the comic strips The Yellow Kid and Buster Brown.

It was on Sunday, May 5, 1895, the readers of the New York World discovered an exciting new addition in their morning paper. On the pages, they found Outcault’s full-color drawings featuring a big-eared, barefoot little boy with a mischievous grin. The first color installment of the cartoon was called Hogan’s Alley. Later it was known as ‘The Yellow Kid’ and was the first successful cartoon icon.

For many years, cartoons were viewed as low-brow in comparison to other forms of art. But the work of cartoonists is important and underappreciated.

The art form has grown in popularity with a younger generation that seeks to utilize both art and culture in their media expression. It has found a new platform and form in the shape of meme. Though there exists some fundamental differences between a cartoon and meme, it has become a new tool to create fun, comment on incidents and critique people and policies and ridicule the high and mighty.

Tailpiece: Crowd

In earlier times, we are afraid of ‘loneliness’

Now the ‘crowd’ is terrifying.

Khouf ‘tanhai’ ka tha pahle

Magar…

En dino dahsat

Bhid se hai

Original Hindi: Jatin Jaiswal

***

Anthology of this weekly column published in 2020 has been published in book form. Should you want a free e-copy, please write a mail to sephalicommunications@yahoo.in

This column is published in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com

Weekly Column in Odia | Pathe Prantare | 9.5.21

samay 9.5.21