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| Pratibimba 27.11- 3.12. |
Wednesday 30 November 2022
Sunday 27 November 2022
Saturday 26 November 2022
Wednesday 23 November 2022
Window Seat | Weekly column in English | 20.11.22
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 20.11.22
Cat
lovers! Please take note.
I am not a pet lover, particularly
cats. Many people think otherwise, because I have written a novel with cat as
the protagonist. I have read a lot about cat and watch them at many of my
friends’ houses. They are the most unfaithful of all pets. Unlike the dog, they
don’t have any loyalty. They use their cuteness quotient to gain entry into your
house, and one’s they are in, they behave as if they own it.
I know, I can go on ranting and raving
against the cats for ages, and it will make no impact on the cat lovers like my
friend Tapas, who had five cats, named Sorshe, Posto, Phoron, Mouri and Methi
(these are the ingredients that make ‘panch
phodon’ or ‘pancha phutana’ without
which no Bengali or Odia dish can be cooked). They all succumbed to feline
panleukopenia (FP) virus commonly known as feline distemper within a week, one
after another.
FP is highly contagious and deadly.
Pre-winter is the time when this virus breaks out and kills millions of cats
and kittens. However, it might affect your feline friends anytime in the year.
Many of the cat lovers do not know there
are excellent vaccines available to protect them from this nuisance. Just two
small shots between two to four months of their age can give them a robust
immune system to protect them from FPV.
However, time is the essence. Tapas was
late in reacting. Deworming is the first step as per vet's suggestion before
vaccination with a cooling period of 5 days in between. His cats had their
deworming pills last week and were waiting for the vaccine, but he was late in
starting the process which had resulted in losing all of them.
Ten days hence, Tapas is still
grieving. This is what he requests all pet lovers, especially cat-parents to
do. Have a close look at your feline mates' health and bring them quickly to
the vets if you observe anything unusual and of course if they have not been vaccinated
yet, do it in consultation with the doctor as fast as you can.
Population
The world population,
the newspaper headline screamed, just crossed 8 billion. And if everything goes
as has been going for the past decades- by 2023, India will surpass China as
the most populous country of the world.
Population experts estimated
that the population of the world reached one billion for the first time in
1804. It took 123 years to add another billion. In 1927 the world had 2 billion
population. The next billion was was added in just 33 years. In 1960 the world
had three billion population. By 1999, the world billion reached six billion;
it reached 8 billion in 2022. It is expected that the world population will
grow to 10 billion by 2050s, unless steps are taken to contain it.
It is often said that in
India, anything you say is true, and its opposite is also true. In case of
population in India the TFR (total fertility rate) is coming down steadily. In
fact in many states it has breached the replacement level. Therefore, the
population in coming years will come down. However, the absolute number will
continue to be big because of the past momentum and scale for quite some time.
Pundits often talk
about demographic dividend. India with its median age of 29 is one of the
youngest countries of the world and in a position to harvest rich dividend. But
the catch is - a large section of our work-force are not skilled enough and
women participation in job market is far too less. Number does not
automatically give you advantage, skilled persons do.
Ruskin
Bond
Ruskin Bond is one of most read and
loved contemporary fiction writers of India. He has a unique tongue-in-cheek
good natured humour, often at the cost of himself.
Here is a sample with a caveat. I
got it in a social media forward. So, no guarantee on its veracity. However,
the way it has been written, only Bond could have written it. Read on.
In my effort to keep up with the times I travel
occasionally by plane, and the other day I thought I’d do some shopping at one
of our major airports. To my dismay, the proffered credit card could not be
used, as the systems “connectivity” was down. I’m not sure what “connectivity”
means (except in the human sense) but apparently it implies some sort of
electronic failure. And I hope it isn’t a foretaste of things to come. If there
is neither cash nor “connectivity”, what do we do for a bar of chocolate or just
a magazine with which to pass the time? You just sit patiently in the airport
twiddling your thumbs and gazing at your fellow travellers.
Or being gazed at.
I was sitting there meditating, or rather contemplating,
when an attractive young woman came up to me and said, “Excuse me, but are you
Bejan Daruwala?”
Now I’ve been mistaken for various people in my life, but
Bejan Daruwala was a new one.
Naturally I was flattered.
“Regretfully, no,” I answered. “But I can tell your
fortune if you like. Just show me your hand and I’ll trace your life line, your
head line, and your heart line.”
“No, no,” she said hastily. “It’s all right. I just
thought you looked like him.”
“I won’t charge anything,” I added, as an afterthought;
she was probably short of cash. But she had hurried away. I don’t think she
trusted palmists.
An hour passed, and someone else approached me. A large
lady with a small boy.
“It’s so nice to see you here,” she says. “My little boy
studies one of your books in class. Will you give him your autograph?”
“Certainly ma’am.” I beam at the bright little boy. “And
what’s the name of the book you are studying?”
“Tom Sawyer,” he says.
Dutifully, I sign Mark Twain on a slip of paper. Mother
and son go away quite happy.
One of these days someone is going to mistake me for
Ruskin Bond.
Tailpiece: Money Laundering
According to RBI’s
new guidelines:
People who forget
money in their pants & shirts and send them to their laundry will be
immediately arrested on charges of Money Laundering...!!
(Couresy: Social Media)
++
The
columnist a journalist turned media academician lives at Dhenkanal, a central
Odisha town. He also writes fiction and translates poetry.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
Wednesday 16 November 2022
Bahi Katha | Hindi translation of STUTI CHINTAMANI
ବହିକଥା । ଡ. ମୃଣାଳ ଚାଟାର୍ଜୀ
ଚମତ୍କାର ଅନୁବାଦ, ଉପଯୋଗୀ ପୁସ୍ତକ
ବହି: ସ୍ତୁତି ଚିନ୍ତାମଣି
ମୂଳ ଓଡିଆ: ଭୀମ ଭୋଇ
ଅନୁବାଦ: ଜୟନ୍ତ କର ଶର୍ମା
ପ୍ରକାଶକ: ପ୍ରଜ୍ଞା ଭାରତୀ, ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ | ମୂଲ୍ୟ: ୫୮୫ ଟଙ୍କା, ପୃଷ୍ଠା ୨୪୧
ମଧ୍ୟ-ଉନବିଂଶ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀରେ ଓଡିଶାରୁ ମହିମା ଧର୍ମର ବିକାଶ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ତତ୍କାଳୀନ ହିନ୍ଦୁ ଧର୍ମର ଋଢ଼ିବାଦି ବିଚାର ଆଉ ବ୍ୟୟବହୁଳ, ପୁରୋହିତ-କେନ୍ଦ୍ରିକ ରୀତି ନୀତି ବାହାରେ ମହିମା-ଧର୍ମ ଏକ ସରଳ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ ଅବଧାରଣା ଉପରେ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବେସିତ । ଗୋଟେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ଏହା ସେ ସମୟରେ ସାରା ଭାରତରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବା ସଂସ୍କାର ଧର୍ମୀ ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନର ଏକ ରୂପ । ଏ ପରିପ୍ରେକ୍ଷୀରେ ଏହି କାଳଖଣ୍ଡରେ ରାଜା ରାମମୋହନଙ୍କ ନେତୃତ୍ୱରେ ଉଦ୍ଭୂତ (୧୮୨୮) ବ୍ରାହ୍ମସମାଜ, ଆତ୍ମାରାମ ପାଣ୍ଡୁରଙ୍ଗଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ (୧୮୬୭) ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା ସମାଜ, ଦୟାନନ୍ଦ ସରସ୍ୱତୀଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ଥାପିତ (୧୮୭୫) ଆର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସମାଜ କଥା ମନେ କରାଯାଇପାରେ ।
ମହିମା ଗୋସେଇଁଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ଥାପିତ ମହିମା ଧର୍ମର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଧାରଣା ଗୁଡ଼ିକ ହେଲା: କ. ଈଶ୍ୱର ନିରାକାର ଏବଂ ସର୍ବବ୍ୟାପୀ । ଖ. ଜାତି ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ସମାଜ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ବାଧା । ଈଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ସୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ସମସ୍ତେ ସମାନ । ଗ. ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ ଶାନ୍ତି ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଅନ୍ଧବିଶ୍ୱାସ । ଘ. ଅହିଂସା ସର୍ବୋପରି । ଏ ଧର୍ମରେ ଦୀକ୍ଷିତ ଶିଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସାଂସରିକ ବାଧା ବନ୍ଧନରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ ରହିବା ପାଇଁ ନାନା ପ୍ରକାର ନିୟମର ନିଗଡ଼ ରହିଛି । ମୋଟାମୋଟି ଭାବେ କହିଲେ ଏ ଧର୍ମ ଏକ ସରଳ ଏବଂ ଅନୁଶାସିତ ଜୀବନ ଜୀଇଁବାର ମାର୍ଗ ଦେଖାଏ ।
ଏ ଧର୍ମ କ୍ରମଶଃ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଏବଂ ଆଖପାଖ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟତଃ ସମାଜର ଦଳିତ ଓ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଜାତିର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ଅଧିକ ବିସ୍ତାରିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳରେ ଏହା ରାଜ ପୃଷ୍ଠପୋଷକତା ପାଇଲା ପରେ ସମାଜର ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ବର୍ଗର ଉର୍ଚ୍ଚ ଜାତ୍ିର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହା ବିସ୍ତାରିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା ।
ମହିମା ଧର୍ମର ପ୍ରସାର, ପ୍ରଚାର ଏବଂ ଏହାକୁ ଏକ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ ମାନ୍ୟତା ଦେବା ପାଇଁ ସନ୍ଥ କବି ଭୀମ ଭୋଇଙ୍କର କବିତାର ଏକ ବଡ ଅବଦାନ ରହିଛି ।
୧୮୪୫ରେ ଏକ ଦରିଦ୍ର ଆଦିବାସୀ ପରିବାରରେ ଭୀମଭୋଇଙ୍କର ଜନ୍ମ ବୋଲି ଆକଳନ କରାଯାଏ । ତାଙ୍କର ଶୈଶବ ଏବଂ କୈଶୋର ଜୀବନ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଖୁବ୍ ବେଶୀ ପ୍ରାମାଣିକ ତଥ୍ୟ ମିଳେ ନାହିଁ । କୌଣସି ବାଟରେ ସେ ମହିମା ଗୋସେଇଁଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଯୋଡି ହୁଅନ୍ତି ଏବଂ କ୍ରମଶଃ ମହିମା ଧର୍ମର ପ୍ରସାରରେ ଲାଗନ୍ତି । ଭୀମ ଭୋଇ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ କାଳରେ ଅନେକ ଗୀତ କବିତା ଜଣାଣ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ସେ ରଚନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କ କୃତିଗୁଡିକ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ‘ସ୍ତୁତି ଚିନ୍ତାମଣି’ ଏକ ଭିନ୍ନ ମହତ୍ୱ ରଖେ । ଏଥିରେ ମହିମା ଦର୍ଶନର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ବିଭବ ଗୁଡିକ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ କବିତା ଗୀତ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ କୁହାଯାଇଛି । ଶୂନ୍ୟ, ପିଣ୍ଡ ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଣ୍ଡ, ଗୁରୁ, କରୁଣା, ଭକ୍ତି, ସମର୍ପଣ ଆଦି ଅବଧାରଣା ଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଏଥିରେ ବିସ୍ତାରିତ ଭାବରେ ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ କରାଯାଇଛି ।
ଶ୍ରୀ ବୀର କିଶୋର ଦାସ ‘ସ୍ତୁତି ଚିନ୍ତାମଣି’ର ଗୀତ-କବିତାଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ସଂପାଦନା କରିଥିଲେ । ଉତ୍କଳ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ଏହାକୁ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥିଲେ । ଜୟନ୍ତ କର ଶର୍ମା ତାକୁ ମୂଳ ଓଡ଼ିଆରୁ ହିନ୍ଦୀକୁ ଅନୁବାଦ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ଡ. କର ଶର୍ମା(ଜନ୍ମ ୧୯୬୨) ବିଶ୍ୱଭାରତୀ (ଶାନ୍ତି ନିକେତନ)ରୁ ହିନ୍ଦୀ ଭାଷା ସାହିତ୍ୟରେ ସ୍ନାତ୍ତୋକତର ଉପାଧି ଲାଭ କରନ୍ତି । ତୁଳନାତ୍ମକ ସାହିତ୍ୟରେ ସେ ପିଏଚଡି କରନ୍ତି ତାପରେ ଅଧ୍ୟାପକ ଭାବରେ ତାଙ୍କର କର୍ମ ଜୀବନ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରନ୍ତି । ପଶ୍ଚିମବଙ୍ଗ ଏବଂ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ମହାବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ସେ ଅଧ୍ୟାପନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟ ମୁକ୍ତ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ସେ ପ୍ରଥମ ରେଜିଷ୍ଟ୍ରାର ଥିଲେ । ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ମହିଳା ମହାବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ହିନ୍ଦୀ ବିଭାଗର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଭାବେ ସେ ନିକଟରେ ଅବସର ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ଏହା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ସେ ସନ୍ଥକବି ବଳରାମ ଦାଶଙ୍କର ‘ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ ପୁରାଣ’କୁ ହିନ୍ଦୀରେ ଅନୁବାଦ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଆଲୋଚନା କରାଯାଉଥିବା ପୁସ୍ତକଟିର ସବୁଠାରୁ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ ବିଷୟ ହେଲା ଭୀମଭୋଇଙ୍କର ନିଛକ ଓଡିଆ କବିତା ଗୁଡ଼ିକର ଅତି ସୁନ୍ଦର, ସାବଲୀଳ ଓ ସୁଖପାଠ୍ୟ ହିନ୍ଦୀ ଅନୁବାଦ । ସ୍ତୁତି ଚିନ୍ତାମଣିରେ ଯେଉଁ କବିତା ଗୁଡିକ ଅଛି ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକଟିରେ କୋଡିଏଟି ପଦ ଅଛି । ପଦ ପଡୁଥିବା କବିତାକୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଭାଷାରୁ ଅନ୍ୟ ଭାଷାକୁ ଅନୁବାଦ କରିବା ବେଶ କଷ୍ଟ କାମ । ତାର କାରଣ ହେଉଛି କବିତାର ଅର୍ଥ ଓ ଭାବ ସହିତ ତାହାର ସାଙ୍ଗୀତିକତାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅକ୍ଷୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରଖିବାକୁ ପଡ଼େ । ଏ କାମଟି ଆଦୌ ସହଜ ନୁହଁ । ମୂଳ ଭାଷା ଏବଂ ଅନୁବାଦ କରାଯାଉଥିବା ଭାଷା- ଉଭୟ ଉପରେ ଅନୁରୂପ ଦକ୍ଷତା ସହିତ, କବିତାର ଭାବକୁ ଭଲ ଭାବେ ନ ବୁଝିଲେ ଏହା କରି ହେବ ନାହିଁ । କିନ୍ତୁ ଡ଼. ଜୟନ୍ତ କର ଶର୍ମା ଏହାକୁ ବଡ ସୁ୍ନ୍ଦର ଭାବରେ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ଏ ଅନୁବାଦଟି ନିଛକ ଓଡିଆ ଜଣାଣ, ଭଜନ ଏବଂ ଓଡିଶାରୁ ଉଦ୍ଭବ ଏକ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ ଚେତନାକୁ ହିନ୍ଦୀଭାଷି ବୃହତ୍ତର ସମାଜ ପାଖରେ ପହଞ୍ଚେଇବାରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଉପଯୋଗୀ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହେବ ଏଥିରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ ।
https://www.odishasahitya.com/bahikatha-52/
16-30 Nov. 2022
Sunday 13 November 2022
Window Seat | Weekly Column in English | 13.11.22
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee |
13.11.22
BBC@100
BBC
will complete its 100 years of broadcasting tomorrow. It was on 14 November
1922 that it began its first broadcasting at 6 pm. It was formed on 18 October
1922 by a group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi. It
grew to be one of the most trusted news broadcaster across the world though
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose used to call it 'Bluff and Blaster Corporation'.
The BBC has had many
milestones in its history. In 1932, King George V was the first British monarch
to broadcast on radio, and his voice was heard for the first time by millions
simultaneously. The broadcast inaugurated the start of the BBC Empire Service,
the forerunner to the BBC World Service. It launched the world's first
regularly scheduled TV service in 1936.
In 1953, the BBC's
coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation was the first time that most people
at the time had watched an event on television.
In
June 1960 BBC Television Centre opened. Designed by Graham Dawbarn, it was the
first purpose built television production centre in the world to be conceived.
In
January 1970 The BBC and The Open University joined forces to create a
long-standing partnership which transformed access to university education.
By
1990s BBC was moving towards digital technology. The next two decades saw
several technological innovations.
No other broadcaster in the world has had such
a diverse, exciting and long history. Though BBC is struggling financially
which has forced it to stop many services, it still has the zest and
credibility quotient, and that would see it through another century and
another. Hopefully.
Remembering Vepa Rao Sir
As I
write this, it has been 10 days that his body has been consigned to flames,
ashes put into different rivers and 'celebration' organised as per his last
wishes. Vepa Rao, the man with untidy look with out-sized kurta and unkempt
beard and a heart of gold passed away at Hyderabad, his place of birth on 1
November, 2022.
 |
| Prof. Vepa Rao |
He
was known as a teacher par excellence. His life was devoted to the pursuit of
knowledge, teaching and looking after his innumerous number of students. Being
a bachelor probably helped. His modest flat in Shimla was always open for his
students and friends.
It
was a tour through Himachal Pradesh in late 1980s that he decided to make hills
his second home. He was then the Editor of Sunday Magazine of Hindustan Times.
He left the job and joined the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, as a
resident fellow in 1987. He worked on ‘Communication and Development’ and his
research took the form of a book — “A Curve in the Hills”.
He
founded the Journalism department at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in 1990.
He also headed the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Odisha
for a brief stint in 1996-97 and then returned to HPU.
After
retirement he was associated with The Statesman for quite some time and taught
at the Statesman Media School. He also used to write for the Statesman from
Shimla.
The
Himachal Pradesh government awarded him for development journalism in 1997. He
was conferred with an honorary D. Lit by the HPU for his contribution to the
field of journalism after his retirement in 2006.
He
made the Himalayas his home. He used to visit IIMC, Dhenkanal sparingly on his
way to Hyderabad in the winters. But he always returned to the lap of the
Himalayas. Not this time.
May
you rest in peace Sir.
A new biography of Babsaheb
Many biographies of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar have
been written over time. ‘Dr. Ambedkar Life
and Mission’ by Dhananjay Keer,
published in 1954 is considered to be the first full-length biography of
Ambedkar. In this book Keer gives a detailed account of the life history of the
chief architect of the Indian Constitution, starting from his early childhood.
Some of the chapters in this book are on his childhood and youth,
self-development, spat with Gandhiji, verdict on Hinduism, making of the
Constitution and taking to Buddhism.
In
October 2022, Sashi Tharur has published a biography titled ‘Ambedkar: A Life’,
in which he traces the arc of Ambedkar’s life from his birth into a family of Mahars
in the Bombay Presidency on 14 April 1891 to his death in Delhi on 6 December
1956. He describes the many humiliations and hurdles Ambedkar had to overcome
in a society that stigmatized the community he was born into, and the
single-minded determination with which he overcame every obstacle he
encountered, the various battles Ambedkar fought to make untouchability
illegal, his disputes with the other political and intellectual giants of his
era, including Gandhi and Nehru, and his determination to invest India with a
visionary Constitution that enshrined within it the inalienable rights of the
individual and modern conceptions of social justice. ‘In so doing,’ writes
Tharoor, ‘he transformed the lives of millions yet unborn, heaving an ancient
civilization into the modern era through the force of his intellect and the
power of his pen.’
Most of the biographies (some of them are
actually hagiographies), including Tharur’s look at the public persona of
Ambedkar. Not much was known about the human side of Ambedkar.
Recently the English translation of a biography
of Ambedkar originally written by his second wife Savita Ambedkar in Marathi has
been published that offers a peek into the private side of Ambedkar. Born into
a middle-class, Sarasvat Brahmin family, Dr Sharada Kabir met and got to know
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar as a patient riddled with life-threatening diseases, and
eventually married him on 15 April 1948, getting rechristened as Savita
Ambedkar. From the day of their wedding to the death of Dr Ambedkar on 6
December 1956, she aided him in some of his greatest achievements-drafting the
Constitution of India, framing the Hindu Code Bill, writing some of his most
celebrated books, including ‘The Buddha and His
Dhamma’, and leading millions of Dalits into Buddhism. Following his
death, she was hounded into obscurity by some of Dr Ambedkar's followers, who
saw her as a threat to their political ambitions. She re-emerged into public
life in 1970 and got back to working on the mission to which her husband had
devoted his life-the welfare of the Dalit community. Her autobiography, ‘Dr Ambedkaraanchya Sahavaasaat’, was first published
in Marathi in 1990.
This English translation by Nadeem Khan
unearths a much valuable and forgotten account, an intimate portrait of one of
the greatest figures of the twentieth century. Savita Ambedkar brings alive a
different side of her husband: a man who wrote romantic letters, dictated what
she should wear, whipped up delicious mutton curry, played the violin, and even
tried his hand at sculpting and attempted to learn driving and failed. This is
a book that humanizes Ambedkar as no other book has done yet. It shows Babasaheb from a new perspective, a very private
persona of a very public person.
I have
read the book. It is a wonderful read, thanks to the subject, narrative and
also to the excellent translation by Nadeem Khan.
I
might translate this book into Odia and Bengali (with Sambit Pal).
++
This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com
Saturday 12 November 2022
Friday 11 November 2022
Wednesday 9 November 2022
bahi katha | 16.11.22
 |
In 'Bahi Katha', my fortnightly column in Odia, published every alternative Wednesday I'll be writing on the Hindi translation of Bhima Bhoi's magnum opus STUTI CHINTAMANI. It will be published on 16.11.22 |
Tuesday 8 November 2022
Saturday 5 November 2022
Window Seat | Weekly 'slice of life' column | 6.11.22
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 6.11.22
Kalanamak
No, I am not referring to the black-salt, which you
sprinkle on chaat or raita. I am talking about a variety of
rice known as kalanamak. It is in the news as the scientists of Indian
Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) have recently developed two dwarf
varieties of kalanamak Rice.
It is a traditional variety of paddy with black husk
and strong fragrance and there is a story behind this variety of paddy. It is
considered a gift from Lord Budha to the people of Srabasti when he visited the
region after enlightenment so that they would remember him by its fragrance.
This variety of rice, which people think has medicinal qualities is grown in
about a dozen districts of the Tarai region of North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh and
also in Nepal.
This traditional variety of rice had a problem. It has
been prone to what agriculture scientists called lodging, which has been the
reason for its low yield. ‘Lodging’ is the condition in which the top of the
plant become heavy because of grain formation. The steam becomes weak and
the plant falls on the ground.
The scientists of IARI addressed this problem. They
successfully developed two dwarf varieties of kalanamak so that the plants
would not fall.
The traditional kalanamak Rice is protected under the
geographical indication system, popularly known as GI tag. The new varieties would be known as - Pusa
Narendra kalanamak 1638 and Pusa
Narendra kalanamak 1652. The new name is in recognition of its association with
the Archarya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya for
testing the two varieties.
Baripada Indigenous Short Film Festival
Baripada Indigenous Short Film
Festival (BISFF), a festival of short films made in indigenous languages is
organised by Baripada based Santali Art and Film Development Foundation, Odisha
in association with DKB Marndi Productions and Mardi Brothers Production since
2017. In its 2022 edition the festival attracted 33 short films from different
states of India. As part of the 2022 festival a film making workshop was
conducted by trained personnel for young aspirant film makers in indigenous
languages.
Baripada, the district HQ of
Mayurbhanj is the largest district of Odisha. It has the largest Santal
population in Odisha, besides other tribal communities like Kolha, Bathudi and Bhumija. Mayurbhanj
was a princely state ruled by Bhanja dynasty (and Baripada was its capital
since 15th century) till it merged into the state of Odisha (Orissa,
then) on 1 January 1949. It has had a long tradition of art and culture thanks
to the generous patronage and encouragement of the royal family. A distinct genre of Chau dance known
as Mayurbhanj Chhau emerged here. Several performing and visual art forms were
patronized and appreciated by both the royalty and the common people. Pandit
Raghunath Murmu, who developed Ol-Chiki (or, Ol-Chemet), the alphabet for
Santali language in 1925 hailed from Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district – about
90 kms from Baripada.
From mid 1980s, when capturing
moving pictures became easier and VCD
and DVD became ubiquitous, it emerged as the hub of Santali and other
indigenous language video movie and music industry in Odisha. Besides Baripada
in Odisha, Asansol (West Bengal) and Tatanagar and Ranchi (Jharkhand) emerged
as the major centres of indigenous language
video movie and music production in
Eastern India.
Films in indigenous languages
found viewers despite its poor production quality and mostly copy-paste content
with some sprinkling of local flavor (songs, dresses, festivals, rituals, etc.)
primarily because of the connect established by the language. People could
watch movies in their own language- if not in regular cinema halls or
multiplexes, but on television sets through a VCD or DVD, later CDs and now on
You Tube or home computer of make shift screenings. These movies and music
videos became popular. Though it did not fetch pot-full of money for the
makers, it covered the cost. More than the money- it gave the movie makers (not
all of them were from indigenous communities, though- and that is one point
which we would discuss at length later) the satisfaction of doing something
worthwhile which agreed with their passion.
These movies made in indigenous languages created a
feeling of oneness among the people of the concerned language spread in
different states of the country.
Over time digital filmmaking technologies boosted the number of
productions as well as enabled filmmakers to engage with different storytelling
styles.
Now, films in different indigenous languages are increasingly
attracting more viewers. An industry is gradually developing. And that is a
good development.
Public Opinion@100
'Public Opinion' is a book by Walter Lippmann
(1889-1974), American political journalist and thinker published in 1922. In
his long career Lippmann wrote extensively on contemporary socio-political
situation and also on broader philosophical and ethical issues.
'Public Opinion' is a critical assessment of
functional democratic government, especially of the irrational and often
self-serving social perceptions that influence individual behavior and prevent
optimal societal cohesion. The detailed descriptions of the cognitive
limitations people face in comprehending their sociopolitical and cultural
environments, leading them to apply an evolving catalogue of general
stereotypes to a complex reality, rendered Public Opinion a seminal text in the
fields of media studies, political science, and social psychology.
My friend and an erudite media academician Dr. Uma
Shankar Pandey has explained it beautifully in a 10 minute video. Watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJl49LUUkXU
You may also like to read the book, available free
online.
Stuti Chintamani
Dr. Jayanta Kar Sharma,
Prof in Hindi (recently superannuated) has recently translated late 19th
century Saint-poet Bhima Bhoi’s magnum opus Stuti
Chintamani (Prayers and Thoughts) from original Odia to Hindi.
 |
| Cover page of the Hindi translation of Stuti Chintamani |
Bhima Bhoi (1850-1895), the
blind bard and saint, who hailed from tribal community was a major voice in
propagating Mahima Dharma, a reformative offshoot of Hinduism, primarily
practised in Odisha and its neighbouring states. The central theme of his
poetic creations was humanism and sacrifice for the upliftment of the humanity.
An oft-quoted line from his verse, mo
jeevana pachhe narke padithau, jagata uddhara heu (let my life rot
in hell if
necessary, but let the world be redeemed) reflect his philosophy.
Read this book (published
by Delhi based Pragnya Bharati) to know more about Bhima Bhoi and savour his
poems.
++
Journalist turned media academician
Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes fiction and plays.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
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