Column | Window Seat, 21 June 2015

Visakhapatnam

I had recently been to Visakhapatnam. Nicknamed Vizag, it is the largest city in present Andhra Pradesh.  The city is often known as The Jewel of the East Coast, The City of Destiny and the Goa of the East Coast for its unique location, natural beauty, economic prowess and cosmopolitan culture.

Visakhapatnam's history stretches back to the 6th century. Historically, it was considered part of the Kalinga region, and later ruled by the Vengi kingdom, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties. Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries CE with control over the city fluctuating between the Chola Dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. Conquered by the Mughals in the 16th century, European powers eventually set up trading interests in the city, and by the end of the 18th century it had come under French rule. Control passed to the British in 1804 and it remained under British colonial rule until India's independence in 1947. After independence, Visakhapatnam developed into one of the country's chief ports and became the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

It used to be a clean and beautiful city till cyclone Hudhud hit it. What Phailin had done to South Odisha in October 2013, Hudhud did to Visakhapatnam in Oct 2014. The city has not yet recovered from the destruction the cyclone had caused. The greenery at the sprawling campus of Andhra University located close to the beach is completely destroyed. Many of the buildings are yet to be repaired. The beautiful beach road has lost its marble clad embankments. There are ugly craters at places of drainage. The roads still wear a ravaged look, parks forlorn.

But as my friend Prof Bobby Vardhan of Andhra University said, “We Telugu people are resilient and hardworking. They will recover. Come next year, you will see a refurbished Vizag.

Hope to find it so.

Health Benefit of Yoga

Dr. A. Pallavi Assistant Prof. Dept. of Physical Education and Prof. M. Shyam Babu, Director of Physical Education Andhra University, Visakhapatnam have written an interesting paper: Effect of Yogic Practice on Physiological and Hematological Variables among Engineering College Lady Students. (Andhra University Jouirnal of Humanities and management, Vol 1, No 1, Jan-June, 2013)

The paper definitely concludes (after 12 weeks of on field experiments) that Yoga has health benefits. Yogasana practice has much influence on selected biochemichal parametres.

Yoga Day: Why on June 21?

June 21 has been celebrated as International Yoga Day on a grand scale, thanks to all out effort by the Union Government. Photographs of Yoga Day being celebrated all over the world have flooded social media. Coverage in mainstream media reached almost saturation point. 

However, I find some people asking why is it celebrated on June 21? Why not on some other day?

Here is the answer: June 21 is the day of Summer Solstice. It is the day which has highest day time in the year: 13.5 hours, whereas during winter solstice, the duration is of 10.2 hours. Summer Solstice marks the transition of Sun from Uttarayana to Dakshinayana.

It is believed that it was on this day Lord Shiva first taught yoga to his disciples. That is why several yoga gurus advocated celebrating June 21 as Yoga Day.

Yoga Day celebration at Kalinga Stadium, Bubaneswar. Photo: Ashok Panda

Tail Piece: Yoga story

On the morning of Yoga Day husband got up early and was getting ready to celebrate Yoga day by practicing yoga. Meanwhile wife woke up.

Husband asked, Darling, will you like to join me?

Wife: For what?

Husband: To practice Yoga.

Wife: You mean to say, I have become fat?

Husband: No, no. If you do not want to join, it is ok.

Wife: You mean to say, I have become lazy?

Husband: Why are you angry?

Wife: You mean to say, I always quarrel with you?

Husband: Are, when did I say that?

Wife: You mean to say I tell lies?

Husband: Ok, ok. I am not going for yoga.

Wife:  I understand everything. You did not want to go in the first place.

Husband kept quiet and went back to sleep.

(Courtesy: Sanjeev Bhanawat on social media)

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21.6.2015

The author, a journalist turned media academician lives and works at Dhenkanal, Odisha. 

Contact: mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com