 |
Next in my fortnightly column on books BAHIKATHA read about the Odia translation of 'Mon Chalo Nija NIketane' by Swami Suddhananda Swami, originally written in Bengali.
It'll be published on 5 April 2023 |
Wednesday 29 March 2023
Saturday 25 March 2023
Window Seat | Weekly column in English | 26.3.23
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 26.3.
23
Why?
Often the journalists are asked “Why
are you writing about issues which are often not taken up by the administrators
and politicians. Why ..when there is nobody to listen?
I have been a journalist of one and
half decade and been teaching journalism for over two decades now. I need to
answer.
And the answer is, if there is a spot
light on issues like say increasing crime, like say providing more space to
women in festivals like Holi or even issues like poor public transport or air pollution,
concerned administrators and politicians feel impelled to do something about
it. Because the administrators believe it might adversely impact their career,
if they do not do anything about it. And the politicians believe it might
influence votes. But if the issue is never been acknowledged it never gets
better. That is why we need to continue to write on issues which need attention,
even if apparently nobody notices it.
150 years of trams in India
February 2023 marked
150 years of trams on the streets of Kolkata, the first Indian city to have
trams. The first trams, drawn by horses, took to Calcutta
streets on February 24, 1873.
150
years later, Kolkata remains the only city in India where trams are still
plying. The system is operated by the Calcutta
Tramways Company (CTC), which was established in 1880. The CTC is also one of
the few tram operators in the world that still uses manually operated trams.
However,
once upon a time, in the heyday of trams, they were a popular mode of urban
transport that could be found across India, in big metropolises such as Delhi, Mumbai
(then Bombay), and Chennai (then Madras), as well as smaller towns such as Nashik
(it was the third city in India after
Kolkata and Mumbai to get trams in 1889), Patna, Kanpur and
Bhavnagar.
The Mumbai tram system, which was started in
1907, operated for nearly 40 years before it was closed down in 1947. The
Chennai tram system, which began operations in 1895, was closed in 1953. The
Kanpur tram system, which was started in 1907, operated for over 40 years
before it was closed in 1958.
This is unfortunate, as the tram is an
eco-friendly and economic mode of urban transport. It is still being used in
many developed countries. In German trams are still a common mode of
transportation in many German cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, and
Munich. The tramway system in France is one of the largest in the world, with
trams operating in cities such as Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nice. Trams are
still a popular form of transportation in many Russian cities, including
Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kazan. Belgium presently has five tram systems in
operation. Trams are in use in several
cities of UK, USA, Australia, Turkey and several other countries as well.
Water
India has 18 percent
of the world's population, but only 4 percent of its water resources, making it
among the most water-stressed countries in the world. Pundits predict that we
may face high to extreme water stress in near future. As summer approaches,
water scarcity is looming large at many cities and towns in India.
In the 75 years since
Independence, annual per capita availability of water has declined by 75% –
from 6,042 cubic meters in 1947 to 1,486
cubic meters in 2021.
In this situation it seems almost
suicidal the way we waste our water and pollute our water bodies. Hundreds of
rivulets and nalas have just
disappeared or have been turned into narrow drains.
We drain our industrial effluents
and sewage into rivers. This, when water
holds great significance in Indian culture and is considered sacred and pure.
It is believed to be a source of life and a symbol of purity and cleansing.
Here are some examples of how water is valued in Indian culture. Rivers such as
the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati are considered holy, and millions of people
take part in religious rituals and bathe in their waters to cleanse themselves
of sins and attain spiritual purification. Water is used as an offering to the
gods during prayer and worship.
At times I strongly feel we surely do not
deserve the natural resources that we have been bestowed with.
Tailpiece: Perfect timing
It was autumn, and the Red
Indians asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was a Red Indian chief
in a modern society, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe
side, he replied to his Tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and
that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
But also being a practical
leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called
the National Weather Service and asked 'Is the coming winter going to be
cold?'
'It looks like this winter is going
to be quite cold indeed,' the weather man responded.
So the Chief went back to his
people and told them to collect even more wood. A week later, he called the
National Weather Service again. 'Is it going to be a very cold winter?'
'Yes,' the man at National
Weather Service again replied, 'It's definitely going to be a very cold
winter.'
The Chief again went back to his
people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the
National Weather Service again.
'Are you absolutely sure that the
winter is going to be very cold?' 'Absolutely,' The man replied. 'It's going to
be one of the coldest winters ever.'
'How can you be so sure?' the
Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, 'The Red
Indians are collecting wood like crazy.'
Incidentally this is how Stock
markets sometimes work.
(Courtesy: Social Media)
++
Sikkim Express, 26.3.23
Tuesday 21 March 2023
BAHI KATHA | Fortnightly column on books | 22.3.23
ଏକ ଉପଭୋଗ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତା ସଙ୍କଳନ
ବହି: ବାଜିଗଲେ ଦୋଷ ନାହିଁ (ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତା ସଂକଳନ)
କବି: ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ସତ୍ୟାନାଶ
ପ୍ରକାଶକ: ଦକ୍ଷ ବୁକସ୍, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର । ମୂଲ୍ୟ: ୧୨୦ ଟଙ୍କା
ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗକାର ଭାବରେ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ସତ୍ୟାନାଶ ସାରା ଓଡିଶାରେ ବେଶ୍ ପରିଚିତ ଓ ଜନପ୍ରିୟ । ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରତ୍ରପତ୍ରିକାରେ ସେ ଲେଖନ୍ତି । ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ ପତ୍ର ପତ୍ରିକା ସଂପାଦନା କରନ୍ତି । ତା ସହିତ ଟେଲିଭିଜନ ପରଦାରେ ଏବଂ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ମଞ୍ଚରେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତା ପରିବେଷଣ କରିବାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ବେଶ୍ ଦକ୍ଷ । ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତା ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ ଆୟୋଜନରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ବେଶ୍ ସକ୍ରିୟ ଅଛନ୍ତି ।
ସାମ୍ପ୍ରତିକ ଘଟଣା ଓ ଚରିତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ ଅଧିକ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୁଏ । ତାର ସରଳ କାରଣଟି ହେଲା- ଘଟଣାର ପ୍ରେକ୍ଷାପଟଟି ପାଠକ/ଦର୍ଶକ ଜାଣିଥାନ୍ତି । ତେଣୁ ରସ ଉପଭୋଗ କରିବାରେ ସୁବିଧା ହୁଏ ।
‘ବାଜିଗଲେ ଦୋଷ ନାହିଁ’ ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ଖବରକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ରଚିତ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତାର ସଙ୍କଳନ । ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସମୟରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚିତ ଖବରକୁ ନେଇ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବିତା ରଚନା କରାଯାଇଛି । ଏ କବିତା ଗୁଡିକରୁ ଅଧିକାଂଶ ସେ ଟେଲିଭିଜନ ପରଦାରେ ପରିବେଷଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ବସ୍ତୁତଃ ସଙ୍କଳନର ଶୀର୍ଷକ ‘ବାଜିଗଲେ ଦୋଷ ନାହିଁ’ ଥିଲା କନକ ଟିଭିରେ ପ୍ରସାରିତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ଶୀର୍ଷକ । ବହିର ମୁଖବନ୍ଧରେ କବି ଏ ବିଷୟରେ ଲେଖିଛନ୍ତି । ବନ୍ଧୁ ଶିଶିରଭଟ୍ଟ ମିଶ୍ର ସେ ସମୟରେ କନକ ଟିଭିରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ପ୍ରଯୋଜକ ଥିଲେ । ୨୦୧୪ ନିର୍ବାଚନର କିଛି ଦିନ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ସେ ଏ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ଯୋଜନା କରିଥିଲେ । ପରବର୍ତ୍ତି ସମୟରେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗକାର ଡ଼. କୁଳାଙ୍ଗାରଙ୍କର ସଂଯୋଜନାରେ ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର ନ୍ୟୁଜର ‘ହାସ୍ୟବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କବି ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ’ରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏଥିରେ ସଂକଳିତ କବିତାରୁ ଅନେକ ଗୁଡିଏ ପରିବେଷିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା ।
ଟେଲିଭିଜନରେ ବା ମଞ୍ଚରେ ଯେଉଁ କବିତା ପରିବେଷିତ ହୁଏ ତାର ରସାସ୍ୱଦାନରେ କବିତାର ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ ମାନ ସହିତ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କଳାର ମଧ୍ୟ ଏକ ବଡ ଭୂମିକା ଥାଏ । ତେଣୁ ନିରୁତା ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ ମୂଲ୍ୟ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ କବିତାକୁ ଉପଭୋଗ କରିବାର ଉପାୟ ହେଉଛି କବିତାଟିକୁ ମୁଦ୍ରିତ ଆକାରରେ ପଢ଼ିବା । ସେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ଏ ସଙ୍କଳନର ଏକ ଭିନ୍ନ ମାନ୍ୟତା ରହିଛି ।
ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗରେ ହାସ୍ୟ ସହିତ ଥଟ୍ଟାର ଗୋଟେ ବଡ ଭୂମିକା ଥାଏ । ଥଟ୍ଟା ନଥିଲେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ ହେବ ନାହିଁ । ଥଟ୍ଟା ପୁଣି ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଧରଣର ହୋଇପାରେ । କାହାର ଚାରିତ୍ରିକ ତୃଟିକୁ ନେଇ ହେଇପାରେ, ସମାଜର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ତୃଟିକୁ ନେଇ ହେଇପାରେ, ମାନବିକ ଦୋଷତୃଟିକୁ ନେଇ ହେଇପାରେ, ଘଟଣାକୁ ନେଇ ହେଇପାରେ । ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଭାବରେ ଏ ଥଟ୍ଟାକୁ କବିତା ଆକାରରେ ପରିବେଷଣ କରାଯାଇପାରେ ।
ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ସତ୍ୟାନାଶଙ୍କର ଗୋଟେ ବଡ ଗୁଣ ହେଉଛି ସେ ପଦ ପକେଇକି କବିତା ଲେଖିବାରେ ଯେତେ ଧୂରନ୍ଧର, ଓଡିଆ ଛାନ୍ଦ ଓ ଗୀତି କବିତାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେତିକି ପ୍ରବୀଣ । ଚମତ୍କାର ଲାଳିକା (ପ୍ୟାରୋଡି) ଲେଖନ୍ତି ସେ ।
ଏ ସଂକଳନରେ ୪୬ଟି କବିତା ରହିଛି । ସେଥିରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଧରଣର ଏବଂ ଶୈଳୀର କବିତା ଅଛି । କେତେଗୁଡିଏ ଉଦାହରଣ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ୍ ହେବ । ପ୍ରଥମ କବିତାଟିର ଶୀର୍ଷକ ହେଉଛି ‘ବ୍ରହ୍ମ’ । ୨୦୧୫ରେ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କର ନବକଳେବର ହୋଇଥିଲା । ସେତେବେଳେ ଦିନବେଳେ ବିଗ୍ରହଙ୍କର ଘଟ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଦଇତାପତିଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ଦର୍ଶନ ବିଭ୍ରାଟ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଖବର ବଡ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚାରେ ଆସିଥିଲା । ସେ ଖବରକୁ ଆଧାରକରି କବିତାଟି ଲେଖା ଯାଇଛି ।
ପ୍ରଥମ କେତୋଟି ଧାଡି ହେଲା:
ଅଣସର ଘରେ ଥାଇ ବଳଭଦ୍ର ପଚାରିଲେ ଆରେ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ,
କହିଲୁ କହିଲୁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମମାନେ କେମନ୍ତ ପଦାର୍ଥ?
କିପରି ଦିଶନ୍ତି?
କଠିନ, ତରଳ ଅବା ଗ୍ୟାସୀୟ ଅଟନ୍ତି?
ଜାଣିଥିଲେ କହ ବେଗେ, ମନରୁ ମୋ ଦୂର ହେଉ ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତି ।
ଏହାପରେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମକୁ ନେଇ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଏବଂ ବଳଭଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ନାନା ପ୍ରକାର କଥୋପକଥନ ରହିଛି । ଶେଷ ଧାଡି କେତୋଟି ହେଉଛି –
ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ କହିଲେ ହେ ଭାଇ, ବିଲକୁଲ ଚିନ୍ତା କରନାହିଁ
ଲୋକେ କହୁଛନ୍ତି ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ଏବେ ଫଟୋ ହୋଇ ବୁଲୁଛନ୍ତି
ଫେସବୁକ୍ ହ୍ୱାଟସ ଆପରେ
ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ଖୋଜିବା ପାଇଁକି ଭିଜିଲାନସ ଇନକ୍ୱାରୀ କରୁଛନ୍ତି
ପ୍ରଶାସକ ମହାପାତ୍ର ସାରେ ।
ସେମିତି ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ଗଣନାକୁ ନେଇ ଗୋଟେ କବିତା ଅଛି । ଓଡିଶାରେ ବାଘ ସଂଖ୍ୟା କମିଥିବାରୁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାବରଣ ବିଭାଗ ଉଦ୍ବେଗ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥିଲେ । ସେ ଖବରକୁ ଆଧାରକରି ଲେଖା ହୋଇଛି ଏହି କବିତାଟି । ପ୍ରଥମ କେତୋଟି ଧାଡିି ହେଲା:
ସକାଳୁ ସକାଳୁ ଫରେଷ୍ଟର ପାଖେ ପହଞ୍ôଚ ଫରେଷ୍ଟ ଗାର୍ଡ
କହିଲା ସାରେ ପେପରରେ କ’ଣ ବାହାରିଛି ଆଜି ପଢ଼
ଖବର ଯାଇଛି ଜମି
ଭାରତରେ ବାଘ ବଢ଼ିଛନ୍ତି ସିନା, ଓଡିଶାରେ ଗଲେ କମି ।
ତା’ପରେ ବାଘ ଗଣନାରେ କ’ଣ କ’ଣ ହେଇଛି ସେ ବିଷୟରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ରହିଛି କବିତାଟିରେ । ସେ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ ବଡ କଠୋର ଭାବରେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।
ସେମିତି ଗୋଟେ କବିତା ‘ବେଟି ବଚାଓ ବନାମ ସ୍ୱଛ ଭାରତ’ । ଏ କବିିତାରେ କନ୍ୟା ଭୃଣ ହତ୍ୟା ଉପରେ ବଡ କଠୋର ଭାବରେ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କରାଯାଇଛି । ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ ସହିତ ଏଥିରେ ଟିକିଏ ବେଦନା ମଧ୍ୟ ରହିଛି । ଶେଷ କେତୋଟି ଧାଡି ଶୁଣନ୍ତୁ କବିତାର ।
ଗୁଣ୍ଡୁଚି ସ୍ୱାଇଁକୁ କହିଲେ ବାବୁ ପେଟକୁ ଦେଖିଲେ ହେଉଛି ଜାଣି
ତମ ୱାଇଫର ଗର୍ଭରେ ଅଛନ୍ତି ପୁତ୍ର ମଣି ।
ନାହିଁତ ଝିଅ ।
କେଉଁ ବେଟିକୁ ବଞ୍ଚେଇବ ଆଉ ଉତ୍ତର ଦିଅ ।
ତେଣୁ ପତ୍ନୀଙ୍କ ଗର୍ଭକୁ ସଫାକରିଦେଇ
ସ୍ୱଛ ଭାରତ ଅଭିଯାନରେ ସାମିଲ୍ ହୁଅ ।
ଏମିତି ଅନେକ କବିତା ଅଛି ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ସମସାମୟିକ ରାଜନୈତିକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିତ୍ୱଙ୍କୁ ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କରାଯାଇଛି ।
ଛାନ୍ଦ ପୁରୁଣା ଶୈଳୀର ଓଡିଶୀ ଗୀତର ଅନୁକରଣରେ ବେଶ୍ କିଛି କବିତା ଅଛି । ସେମିତି ଗୋଟେ କବିତା ହେଉଛି – ମୋଦୀ ପ୍ରେମ ବଡ ଥଣ୍ଡା । ଏ କବିତାଟି ଶ୍ୟାମ ପ୍ରେମ ବଡ ଥଣ୍ଡାରେ ମନ, ଏଇ ବୃତ୍ତରେ । ଏ କବିତାର ପ୍ରେକ୍ଷାପଟଟି ହେଲା ଯେ ସବୁଥର ବହୁ ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ବିଜେଡି ଏମ.ପି. ଜିତିଲା ପରେ ବି ସେମାନେ ନା ୟୁପିଏ ସରକାରରେ ନା ଏନଡିଏ ସରକାରରେ ସାମିଲ୍ ହେଇଥିଲେ । ବିଜେଡି ଏମ.ପି. ବୈଜୟନ୍ତ ପଣ୍ଡା ଏନଡିଏର ନିକଟବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ହେବା ମିଡିଆରେ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚା ହେବାପରେ ସେହି ଖବର ଆଧାରରେ ଏହି କବିତାଟି ଲେଖା ହୋଇଥିଲା । ପ୍ରଥମ କେତୋଟି ଧାଡି ହେଲା –
ମୋଦୀ ପ୍ରେମ ବଡ ଥଣ୍ଡା ହେ ନବୀନ
ମୋଦୀ ପ୍ରେମ ବଡ ଥଣ୍ଡା
ଚାଟିବାକୁ ଭାରି ଇଛା ଡାକିଲାଣି
କହେ ଢ଼ୋ ଟିଭି ପଣ୍ଡା ହେ ନବୀନ,
ମୋଦୀପ୍ରେମ ବଡ ଥଣ୍ଡା ।
ଏମିତି ଅନେକ ଗୁଡିଏ କବିତା ତତ୍କାଳୀନ ରାଜନୈତିକ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିକୁ ନେଇ ଲେଖା ଯାଇଛି । ସାଂପ୍ରତିକ ସାମାଜିକ ବିଷୟକୁ ନେଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଶ୍ କିଛି କବିତା ଲେଖା ଯାଇଛି । ସେମିତି ଗୋଟେ କବିତା ହେଉଛି ଚେନ୍ ଲୁଟେରା । ପ୍ରେକ୍ଷାପଟ ହେଲା: ସେ ସମୟରେ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରର ଲିଙ୍ଗରାଜ ମନ୍ଦିର ଭିତରୁ ସୁନାଚେନ୍ ଲୁଟ୍ ଖବର ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପ୍ରସାରିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା ।
ପୁଅ କହିଲା ଜାଣିଛ ଡାଡି ହମାରା ବାଜାଜ ହମାରା ଗୌରବ
ପଲସର ହେଇଛି ଗାଡି
ସୁନ୍ଦର କଳାରଙ୍ଗ ବୋଳି ବଜାରେ ଦେଇଛି ଛାଡି
୨୦୦ ସିସି ଗାଡି
ଷ୍ଟାର୍ଟ ମାରୁ ମାରୁ ଶହେ ସ୍ପିଡ୍ରେ ଆଗକୁ ଯାଉଛି ମାଡି
ମୁଁ କହିଲି ହଁରେ ପୁଅ ସେହି ବାଇକ୍ରେ ଚଢ଼ି
ଆମରି ବେକରୁ ଆମ ଚୋରପିଲା ଚେନ୍ ନିଅନ୍ତି ଭିଡି ।
ଶେଷ କେତୋଟି ଧାଡି
କହିଲ କହିଲ ଲିଙ୍ଗରାଜ କଣ ଷଣ୍ଢ ଉପରେ ଚଢ଼ିକି
ମହିଳା ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁନା ଚେନକୁ ନେଇ ଯାଉଛନ୍ତି ଭିଡିକି ।
ଏମିତି ବେଶ୍ କିଛି କବିତା ଉପଭୋଗ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଏ ସଙ୍କଳନଟିକୁ ପଢ଼ିପାରନ୍ତି ।
++
Sunday 19 March 2023
Saturday 18 March 2023
Window Seat. Weekly column in English. 19.3.23
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 19. 3.
23
Resolving Man-Elephant Conflict
In recent years man-elephant
conflict has become a major issue in India, where human populations and
elephant habitats often overlap- like In Dhenkanal, Odisha where I live. As
many as 784 elephants have died in the State of Odisha in the last ten years-
many of them due to accidents, poisoning by the poachers and electrocution.
Under this backdrop- ‘The
Elephant Whisperers’, documentary film directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and
produced by Guneet Monga- which won the Oscar this year for the best
documentary came as a soothing
balm.
The film tells the story of a
community who work as elephant trainers and caretakers, known as mahouts. The
women are part of a tradition that dates back centuries, and they share a deep
bond with their elephants.
The film explores the daily
lives of these community and their elephants, highlighting the challenges they
face in a changing world. It also showcases the unique relationship between the
mahouts and their elephants, revealing the deep emotional connection that
exists between them.
The film is a powerful tribute
to the resilience and strength of the human-animal bond, and the enduring
traditions that connect us to the natural world.
I guess, this emotional
connection coupled with some practical steps and some policy level
interventions can contain this conflict.
The tragedy of being Anna Hazare
Anna
Hazare is 86 now. Born on 15 June 1937, in a family with humble means, he had a rough
childhood, modest education but an indomitable spirit. He was drafted into the
Army in 1960, where he initially worked as an army truck driver and was later attested
as a soldier. In at least two occasions he escaped death miraculously and then
decided to “dedicate my new life to serving people”. He was discharged from the Army
in 1975 after completing 12 years of service.
In 2011,
Hazare campaigned for Jan Lokpal Bill, a stronger anti-corruption measure.
This campaign catapulted him into the center stage. It gradually turned into an
anti-corruption movement with thousands joining him. However, as it grew in
volume, there were differences of opinions among the leaders regarding the
focus and objective of the movement. On June 2013 Anna publicly disassociated
himself from the anti-corruption movement.
The anti-corruption movement
which made Anna Hazare a household name in India has long fizzled out. His
close associates have moved on and acquired better positions. Arvind Kejriwal
became the CM of Delhi. Kiran Bedi became the governor of Puducherry. Ramdev Baba is presently the owner of a huge FMCG empire.
Anna Hazare is
largely forgotten. He has disappeared from public mind space. Nobody now wears ‘I
am Anna Hazare’ inscribed Gandhi topi.
Nobody wears banyan with his smiling face printed on it.
Anna now lives in
his village, slightly bitter and skeptic as he says in a recent interview:
“Common people have started looking only for their own interest. The leadership
is also not coming forward.”
Climate Change and Human
Mobility
Recently we had an orientation
programme for young journalists on ‘climate change and human mobility’ at our
Institution, organized by ‘Youth 4 Water’. Climatologists and social scientists
believe that climate change will have significant impacts on human mobility,
both internally within countries and internationally across borders. The
effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events,
droughts, and floods, are likely to exacerbate existing patterns of migration
and displacement, as well as create new ones in many countries including India.
India is already experiencing
the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, (temperatures in India have risen by
0.7 °C (1.3 °F) between 1901 and 2018) more frequent and intense heat-waves, (In May 2022 severe
heat-wave was recorded in Pakistan and India. The temperature reached 51 °C.), changes in rainfall patterns,
and increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as floods,
droughts, and cyclones.
These changes are likely to have
a significant impact on human mobility in India, as people are forced to move
from their homes due to the effects of climate change. For example, farmers may
have to move to different regions to find suitable land for agriculture, while
people living in low-lying coastal areas may be forced to move to higher ground
due to the risk of flooding.
Additionally, climate change is
likely to exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities in India, making
some groups more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others. For
example, low-income communities living in informal settlements may be more
vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events, as they often lack access
to adequate infrastructure and services that can help protect them from these
events.
India is doing reasonably well
in containing climate change. India has ranked 8th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023.
India ranked 10th in CCPI, 2022. CCPI tracks countries’ efforts to combat
climate change.
But the problem with
our country is that we are big, varied and vulnerable. We need to work both at
the micro (at individual and community) as well macro (international
cooperation and policy) levels.
Tail piece: The Chinese way
The Chinese are way
ahead of us because of their flexibility...
A Chinese friend
tells me:
"Last month,
market was good, my dog ate what I ate.
Last week, market
was bad, I ate what my dog ate.
Yesterday, market
crashed, I ate my dog..."
+++
You may read the column here:
https://www.prameyanews.com/post/window-seat-resolving-manelephant-conflict
This column is also published every Sunday in Sikkim Express.
Friday 17 March 2023
Saturday 11 March 2023
Window Seat | Weekly Column in English |12.3.23
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee
|12.3.23
City
of Museums
The history of Cuttack in Odisha goes back to more
than 1000 years. One of the oldest city in the country, Cuttack is situated at
the apex of the delta formed by the rivers Mahanadi and Kathjodi.
It was established in nine hundred eighty nine A.D. by
Raja Nrupa Keshari of Keshari Dynasty. Since then it flourished as the capital
city- of different rulers for more than nine century. Hindu Kings ruled it. So
did the Mughals, the Marathas and the British.
After Odisha became a separate state in 1936 after a
long struggle (it was the first state to be formed on linguistic basis in
India), Cuttack remained as the capital of modern Odisha till 1947.
Subsequently, the capital was shifted to the temple city of Bhubaneswar in
1948.
Cuttack is one among the few cities in the country
which has as many public museums, besides private collections. Nine prominent
public museums are: Odisha Maritime Museum, Odisha High Court Museum (recently
refurbished and renamed as Justice Museum), Odisha Printing Museum, Madhusudan
Museum, Netaji Birth Place Museum, Swaraj Ashram, Anand Bhawan Museum and Skill
Museum. A Police Museum was also established here. Each museum is unique in its
own way. Unfortunately, not many know about these museums and therefore, foot
fall to these museums are low. There has not been any noticeable effort to
promote these museums to gain traction. There has been official apathy in some
cases. The Police Museum has almost been defunct because of this.
Recently Raja Parija, a trained historian and an
administrative officer has written a book titled “Cuttack: the City of
Museums”. It describes the journey of museum movement in the country since 1814
and in Odisha since 1904. Raja Parija has been writing books on Cuttack and this
is his third book on Cuttack, after ‘The Silver Splendour of Millennium City’
and ‘Netaji was born here’.
Museums help to
preserve and promote our cultural heritage by collecting and preserving the
artefacts and other articles. It is said people without the knowledge of their
past history and culture is like a tree without roots. Parents, teachers and
members of civil society organisations and the government must come together to
promote the museums and also the museum culture.
Walk for Blood
Soma Basu, my student and one time colleague at the Dhenkanal campus of IIMC, presently working abroad as a journalist told me about Kiran Verma who has been campaigning for blood donation across India and would be passing through Dhenkanal in a few days.
 |
| Kiran Verma |
Kiran started his 21,000 km walk to raise awareness about blood donation on 28 December 2021. He has covered (on foot) more than 11500 kms so far travelling through remote districts of Kerala, Puducherry, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha (Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput).
He quit his corporate job
to take on the mission, created an application 'Simply Blood' (which can be
used to trace blood donors nearby) which was a blessing to thousands during the
pandemic.
The
service of Simply Blood is available through the website, a mobile app, and
WhatsApp.
According to him, 15 million units
of blood are required in India every year, while only 10 million units are
available.
He blames the shortage on our social attitude where we failed to grow blood donation as a culture.
Digital Payment
Recently I had been to Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, known
for the 9th century Arulmighu Shri Thiyagaraja temple. Legend has it
that the Thiyagaraja (Somaskanda) image here was created and worshipped by Lord
Vishnu himself. At over 30 acres, the temple complex is one of largest in South
India. The temple has four gogurams (gateway towers). History has it that it
was built during Chola dynasty. Later expansions were made by Vijaynagar rulers
of Sangama dynasty, the Salukya and Tuluva Dynasty.
I found an interesting way of offering
donations here. One can pay by scanning the QR code. I guess all temples and
religious institutions should adopt this method: safe, transparent and quick.
Tailpiece: Women’s Day
An
emotional message on the occasion of Women’s Day:
Mein
ek Beti hu,
Mein
ek Behen hu,
Mein
ek Biwi hu,
Mein
ek Ma bhi hu......
Par
khabardar jo kisi ne Aunty bola toh.
(I
am a daughter, I am a sister, I am a wife, I am also a mother, but nobody
dares to call me an aunty.
(Courtesy:
Social Media)
++
May read online here:
https://www.prameyanews.com/post/window-seat-city-of-museums
This column is also published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express.
I
Sunday 5 March 2023
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