Column |Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 31 Aug-5 September 2018

column | Satrangi Batein

Cartoon Watch, August 2018

Monograph on Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor released

A monograph titled 'Mahatma Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor' was released by Sri Abhaya Kumar Padhi, Former DDG, Prasar Bharti on 27 August evening at Indian Institute of Mass Communmication (IIMC) Dhenkanal, Odisha. 

Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee, Professor and Regional Director of IIMC, Dhenkanal compiled and edited the monograph.
 Jitendra Pati has  designed the cover and did the layout of the monograph.
This is the 18th Monograph published by IIMC, Dhenkanal.
The monograph contains excerpt of lectures by Tushar Arun Gandhi, the great grand sdon of Mahatma Gandhi and author Subir Ghosh; article by wellknown historian Ramchandra Guha and essays by Prof. DVR Murthy, Prof. Arul Aram and others.

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 

 University-Community Linkage

On 24 to 26 August 2018 Odisha Vikash Conclave was held in Bhubaneswar which discussed several aspects of development and attempted to devise a roadmap for development of Odisha in particular and the country in general. The conclave saw wide participation by civil society players and academia. Political leaders and bureaucrats also participated enthusiastically.  There were altogether 19 tracks, or call it subject domains of discussion including one on University- Community Linkage, which I attended as a participant.

The points I made were:
1. University-Community Linkage could be a win-win situation for both. Universities could be interface in technology transfer to the community, which is the need of the hour in India.
2. Research conducted in universities and Institutes can harvest traditional knowledge and integrate with modern technology and/or marketing for the benefit of the community. The community can benefit from technology integration and marketing skill upgradation. Consider for example promotion and marketing of black rice, which is considered more nutritious and commands higher price at the market. Research organisations can do more research on making better yielding seeds. University departments teaching marketing can upscale the marketing skill of the farmers.
3. Community could be made an active stakeholder of the University. It might help in the infrastructure development of the university- if handled properly. A robust alumni association is an asset of any institution. Look at IIMs and IITs. An institutional framework can harvest the emotional connect with the alma matter and gain financially and otherwise.
4. It could integrate the students more with the real issues of the community. At least they can appreciate the issues. On the other hand for the community- it could be a 'feel-good' scenario.
5. University-community linkage could be institutionally integrated in the syllabus, so that students are involved. It could also be academically/professionally incentivized to draw more participation.

However, it requires some dedicated teachers and community-minded students to harvest the real benefit. Without that, the linkage will only produce results on paper and not on real field.

Sketches from Gopalpur on Sea

Gopalpur in Odisha is a small seaside town, about 16 km from Berhampur with a glorious maritime trade history. During the days of Kalingas it was known as the port of Paloura from which traders sailed as far as Java, Bali and Sumatra and piled up wealth dealing in silk and pearl. Later it was a transit point to export sugar and cheap labourers for the tea gardens of Assam in north eastern India. As road and rail transport became more convenient and safe the maritime movement decreased pushing the town into desolation. , The crumbling walls and the pillars of an ancient jetty together with some crumbling bungalows are witness to its swinging maritime past.

It was a small, sparsely populated town with a deserted- almost lonely beach. This, ironically was the prime attraction of Gopalpur: a beach without a crowd, where you can walk for miles without meeting anyone except the local friendly fishermen.

This was Gopalpur- - when I last visited it- some ten years ago.  There were few hotels. The town slept early. As I went there last week, I found it to be crowded and dirtier. The beach side had titled area with steel handrail- but dozens of street dogs roaming free and litter piled everywhere. It seemed Gopalpur, a pretty and rustic girl had suddenly turned old and wore garish makeup- which has cracks.

Rows of plastic chairs have been put on the narrow beach of Gopalpur by the vendors selling 'masala mudi' and other food items. There is hardly any space for walking freely. I remembered the days when we used to walk freely on the beach. No longer. Commerce has ruined that freedom.

Gopalpur has had several houses standing on the beach so close to the sea that waves reach them. Some of the houses are in precarious condition. It may fall down any time, any day. Seemed like the old houses waiting stoically for the inevitable.

I like to collect shells at the sea beach. At times you get small conchs too. I found one, it seemed. As I picked it, it felt lighter and the texture was also different. On closer inspection it was found to be a plastic conch. Probably used on the 'bahungi' of a kanwadia, who carry water to the Shiva Temples in the month of Shravan. Now who can even think of finding a fake conch on a sea beach!

Gopalpur has changed. Plastic conch on its beach- is an apt metaphor for the change.

Tailpiece 1: What went wrong?

When we were young, beautiful actresses like Sridevi were marrying old guys like Boney Kapoor. 

Now when we are growing old, beautiful actresses like Priyanka Chopra are marrying young men like Nick Jonas. 

Saala samajh nahi aa raha galti kahan ho gayi‼

Tailpiece 2: False Prediction

Met office employee arrested. He was falsely predicting rain and asking wife to prepare pakodas for him.

***

Mrinal Chatterjee a journalist-turned media academiciabn lives in Dhenkanal, a central Odisha town. He is presently editing a book/monograph on Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor to be published around October 2018. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

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

Column | Pathe Prantare

Samaya Taranga. 26.8.18

Media Jobs

The Hindu's looking for a features sub-editor/ writer to join its Magazine & Literary Desk.
The position is based out of Chennai. It's a combine of a desk and reporting job, so the ideal candidate should be adept at reporting, feature writing and ideating, and comfortable with editing, making pages, commissioning and coordination. We'd prefer to have someone with 1-2 years experience, at the minimum.

Please send your CV, with samples of published writing (if any) to sunday.magazine@thehindu.co.in, with 'Sub-editor opening: Magazine desk' in the subject line.

(Posted as received. 25.8.18)

***

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें

मंकी  कैप 

मृणाल चटर्जी
अनुवाद- इतिश्री सिंह राठौर

भारत में मंकी  कैप बहुत ही लोकप्रिय है । यह एक प्रकार की टोपी है जिससे सिर से लेकर गर्दन तक ढका जा सकता है । ठंड में वृ्द्ध व्यक्ति इसे पहनते हैं । इस प्रकार की टोपी को मंकी कैप क्यों कहते हैं यह कहना मुश्किल है । या तो पहले बंदर इस तरह की टोपी पहनते थे या फिर इसे पहनने के बाद आदमी बंदर जैसा लगता है । मेरे एक दोस्त ने कहा कि इसे मंकी कैप न कह कर गोरिल्ला कैप कहना चाहिए । क्योंकि इस तरह की टोपी पहनने के बाद इंसान बंदर जैसा न दिखकर गोरिल्ला जैसा नजर आता है । खास कर मोटे लोग इसे पहनने के बाद किंगकांग की तरह लगते हैं । 

सवाल - इस तरह का खराब दिखने वाला टोपी इंसान क्यों पहनता है ?

इस प्रकार की टोपी पहनने वाले लोग बताते हैं, यह टोपी पहन कर फायदा हुआ है...यह कान और गले को ढक कर रखता है इसीलिए कान में ठंडी हवाओं का प्रवेश नहीं होता । गर्दन भी सुरक्षित रहता है । जिन्हें ज्यादा सर्दी लगती है उनके लिए यह बहुत फायदेमंद है । 

 ठंड शुरू होते ही मेरे पूजनीय ससुर इसे पहनते हैं । ठंड के दिनों में हमेशा ठंड लगती है । इसीलिए वह हमेशा टोपी पहने रहते हैं । उनकी टोपी का रंग भूरा है । इस विषय में मैंने अपनी पत्नी से कई बार बातचीत की है : तुम्हारे पिताजी क्यों दिनरात मंकी कैप पहनकर घूमते रहते हैं ? वह क्या अच्छा दिखता है ? उसे पहनकर तुम्हारे पिता टोपी का नाम सार्थक कर रहे हैं । मेरी पत्नी ने मुझे बारबार कहा है कि जो पूजनीय हैं उनका मजाक नहीं उड़ाना चाहिए । यह सब करना तुम्हें शोभा नहीं देता । अखबार में कुछ साल काम करने के बाद तुम्हारी आदत खराब हो गई है । सभी पूजनीय व्यक्तियों का मजाक उड़ाना मीडियावालों का पेशा है । तुम ओबामा का मजाक उड़ाते हो । मनमोहन सिंह की खिल्ली उड़ाते हो । ममता दिदी भी परिहास का शिकार बनती है । मायावती देवी की भी मूर्तियों को लेकर उपहास करते हो । यह सब अच्छी बात नहीं । 

मैंने कहा देखो मैं उपहास नहीं कर रहा । लेकिन क्या मंकी कैप हमेशा पहने रहने वाली वस्तु है ? यह टोपी पहनने के बाद बाल, कान, गर्दन सब ढक जाता है । इंसान अजीब  दिखता है । 

-इंसान अजीब दिखता है ! मतलब मेरे पिताजी अजीब हैं ? तुमने मेरे पिताजी के बारे में इतनी बड़ी बात कही । मेरे पिताजी मंकी कैप पहन कर मंकी जैसे लग रहे हैं इसका मतलब है मैं बंदर की बेटी बंदरिया हूं ?

-अरे इतनी छोटी सी बात को राई का पहाड़ क्यों बना रही हो ? मैंने कुछ सोच कर नहीं कहा था ।

-सोच कर नहीं कहा । क्या मैं तुम्हें नहीं पहचानती ! मजाक करते करते बहुत बड़ी बात कह देते हो तुम । ठीक है मैं बंदरिया हूं । जाओ कौन सी अप्सरा के पास जाना चाहते हो जाओ । आज से मेरे साथ तुम्हारी बातचीत बंद । 

यह पत्नियां किसी भी बात को किस तरफ मोड़ लेंगी  यह कहना मुश्किल है और मेरी पत्नी को इसमें महारत हासिल है । हालत एेसी हुई कि...छोड़िए घर की बात है ।

इस घटना के पंद्रह सालों बाद ।

ठंड के कारण मेरे गले और गर्दन में दर्द हो रहा था । नाक भी बहने लगा । डाक्टर के पास गया । उन्होंने मेरी नस, आंख, जीभ और मुंह देख कर कईं टेस्ट किए । उसके बाद कहा-आप एक काम कीजिए...

-क्या ?

-मंकी कैप पहनिए । रात को भी मंकी कैप पहन कर सोइये  । 

-मंकी कैप ?

-हां । मंकी कैप । देखिए दस तरह की दवाइयां लेने से अच्छा है मंकी कैप पहने रहना । आजकल मैं  दिनरात मंकी कैप पहनता हूं और मेरा 18साल का बेटा मेरा मजाक उड़ाता है । कहता है- पिताजी बूढ़े हो गए । हमेशा मंकी कैप पहने रहते हैं । अजीब दिखता हैं वह । 

24.8.18

(मृणाल चटर्जी ओडिशा के जानेमाने लेखक और प्रसिद्ध व्यंग्यकार हैं । मृणाल ने अपने स्तम्भ 'जगते थिबा जेते दिन' ( संसार में रहने तक) से ओड़िया व्यंग्य लेखन क्षेत्र को एक मोड़ दिया । इनका एक नाटक संकलन प्रकाशित होने वाला है । ) 

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 25-31 August 2018

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 

Violence in College Campus

Pre-poll violence in colleges has become common in several states including Odisha and Bengal. The other day over 50 students were injured as two groups clashed in BJB College in Bhubaneswar- considered to be one of top colleges of Odisha.

As the general election draws closer, violence in college elections will only increase. It is time demand must be made from all right thinking quarters to implement Lyngdoh Commission recommendations in letter and spirit. For those who have forgotten, The Lyngdoh (Former Chief Election commissioner J.M.Lyngdoh) committee was set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 2006 as per the direction of the Supreme Court to reform students' union elections and to get rid of money and muscle power in student politics. The committee suggested sweeping reforms to keep off the influence of political parties, money and muscle power from campus during student union elections -- and the apex court adopted all the proposals.

Lyngdoh Committee had recommended the minimum and maximum age of 17 to 22 years, respectively, for undergraduate students and a minimum age of 24 years for postgraduate students to be eligible to vote.

The panel further said that the relaxation in the age limit would be given appropriately in professional colleges, where the courses often range between four and five years, and for research students in universities, it had been specified at 28 years. Only those students, who had attained minimum permissible percentage of attendance as prescribed in a college or university, or 75 per cent where it had not been prescribed, would be eligible to vote.

The report recommended that the contesting candidates “shall have one opportunity to contest for the post of office-bearers and two opportunities for the post of an executive member”.

To keep anti-social elements away from the campus politics, the report said that any student with a criminal record, which included trial in a case or a conviction, a misdemeanor, or being subjected to any disciplinary action by university authorities, would not be eligible to contest.

To check the use of big money in student politics, the maximum limit for spending by a student in election had been fixed at Rs 5,000. “Each candidate shall, within two weeks of the declaration of the results, submit complete and audited accounts to the college or university authority as the case may be, which shall be published by them within two days of the submission,” the report said, adding that election of a candidate would be automatically nullified for not filing the expenses statement.

The political parties were completely barred from financing the elections of candidates of their affiliated student organisations as the students were only permitted to raise small funds from contribution among themselves.

“There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Places of worship, within or outside the campus, shall not be used for the election propaganda,” the report said, while prohibiting use of printed posters, pamphlets or any other election material as only handmade posters would be permitted.

Needless to say that the recommendations were never implemented for vested interest. The condition of higher education especially in government Colleges and universities is as such in a precarious condition. Campus violence is further deteriorating it. 
Parents, who can afford shift their wards to private colleges, where no elections are held. Most of the private colleges and universities, like private hospitals are basically business entities, more interested to earn profit than to educate students or heal patients. Poor students have no place there. So they suffer more.
When higher education is in a shambles, the country will perpetually remain mired in poverty and sham-literacy.
The political parties and the concerned students must realise this. You fiddle with higher education- the nation suffers. So does the future of the poor students.

Help

As I write this column, Kerala is facing one of the worst floods that it has ever experienced. Along with tales of misery and devastation, tales of valour and service are also pouring in. People from Punjab have reached there and have opened langar to feed the hungry. Children are sending money to relef funds. My photographer friend Ashok Panda has sent me photographs of Odisha NDRF teams helping in rescue and rehabilitation of flood affected people in Kerala. 
It is a good initiative of the Odisha State Government to extend help at the time of their need. 
We still remember help extended to Odisha by Andhra Pradesh Govt. under Chandra Babu Naidu during 1999 super cyclone.
It is by these acts of help and cooperation that the federal structure of the country gets strengthened.

Postal Letterbox

The other day I found a lonely letterbox tucked somewhere behind the wares of street vendors. In an age of instant messages and cheap voice calls  it is hardly used now. In probably another 10 years postal letterbox will be history. I have many memories related post boxes. I guess most people of my age have. I have written some stories too on letter box.

I am happy that we could get one for our Media Museum at Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Dhenkanal.

The Indian Postal Service, with 155,333 post offices, is the most widely distributed post office system in the world. The large numbers are a result of a long tradition of many disparate postal systems which were unified in the Indian Union post-Independence. Owing to this far-flung reach and its presence in remote areas, the Indian postal service is also involved in other services such as small savings banking and financial services. India has the highest post office in the world in Hikkim, Himachal Pradesh at a height of 15,500 feet. The world's first official airmail flight took place in India, on 18 February 1911. It was a journey that spanned 18 kilometres and lasted 27 minutes. Henri Pequet, a French pilot, ferried around 15 kilos of mail (approximately 6,000 letters and cards) across the Ganga, from Allahabad to Naini. Included in the historic airmail was a letter to King George V of the United Kingdom

The Indian Postal Services were established in the current format largely under the East India Company. It was first established under the name "Company Dawk". In 1688, the first post office of the Company Post was established at Bombay/Madras. The system was reorganized and the service opened to the general public by Warren Hastings, the first governor general of Bengal with supervisory powers over Bombay and Madras, in 1774. A Postmaster General was appointed and metal tickets or tokens were issued to pay for the postal charges. The presidencies of Bombay and Madras followed suit.

In 1835 a Committee was set up for unification of customs and postal system of all the presidencies. The result was the first Indian Post Office Act of 1837. It not only provided for uniform rates and routes but for the uniform designs and other specifications of the postmarks for each category of post office. A Commission was setup in 1850 and submitted its report in 1851 that resulted in the post office act of 1854. Under the provisions of this act, the monopoly of carrying mail in the entire area of British possessions in India were granted to Indian Post office and office of the Director General of Post Offices of India was established.

Adhesive postage stamps were first issued for use within the province of Sind, now in Pakistan in 1852 and were introduced on all India basis two years later- on 1 October 1854. These were the first adhesive postage stamps in Asia.

At the time of independence, India had 23,344 post offices.

In 1997-98, Indian Postal Service gave itself a new, contemporary and meaningful identity: India Post. But times are changing. India Post is reinventing itself.

Rakhi

Rakhi or raksha bandhan is a unique festival celebrating the love between brother and sister. It is celebrated in several states in India and Nepal. In this festival, sisters usually tie a silk string around the wrist of brothers. The premise is: brothers will protect (raksha) the sisters.

Several legends and stories- from mythology to historical have been doing rounds for centuries around this theme. There are other festivals celebrating the love of brother and sister like Bhai Duj or Bhatri-Dwitiya in other regions. Odisha has a deity to be worshipped for the prosperity of brother- known as Khudurukuni. But rakhi is probably the most colourful of all such festivals.

Tail piece 1: Conversation with Anay.

Here is a piece of conversation of Anay, all of 7 years old and her mother Sanghamitra, who was my student.

A: I raise hand to answer most questions in class but my turn to answer comes only when I don’t know it.

S: Ok, but why do you not know those answers?

A: You mean I have to know all answers? If I know all answers then why do I need to go to school?

(Courtesy: Sanghamitra Mazumdar)

***

Mrinal Chatterjee is a journalist turned media academician. He lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. Presently he is editing a book on Gandhi as a journalist and editor, which will be published by 2 October this year.

mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

This column is punished every week in Sikkim Times and www.orissadiary.com

Column | Pathe Prantare

Samaya Taranga 19.8.18

A Tribute to Atalji

May the songs linger 

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 Dec. 1924-16 Dec. 2018)

Atalji  breathed his last on 16 August afternoon in Delhi, when the sky was overcast with dark clouds in Dhenkanal, a small central Odisha town, where I live. The Television channels and news-sites on web were constantly playing programmes on Vajpayee. Since noon- everybody knew it was just matter of time before the announcement was made. He was 93 and was critically ill for last so many days. A pal of gloom enveloped the small town in which I live. The market wore a deserted look. People were glued to television sets wearing sad countenance. Discussions at the town squares, offices and tea shops revolved round the man, whom everybody loved and respected.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of the most popular and respected Prime Ministers of India. He served as the Prime Minister of India thrice, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, for a period of eleven months from 1998 to 1999, and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004. One can feel the respect and love he commanded from people from the fact that he had retreated from active public life over the last decade following the deterioration of his health and had remained restricted to his residence, but people remembered his works and words. During his second term as prime minister, Vajpayee ordered nuclear tests in May 1998 in a strategic masterstroke to blunt Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions. He followed this up with peace overtures to Pakistan, riding on the first direct bus from India to Pakistan in February 1999. His was a liberal voice in the increasingly polarised political environment. His poetry and oratory was balm for ears and hearts. He was the people’s Prime Minister in true spirit. 

In one of his poems he says, 

kaal ke kapal par likhta-mitatha hun

geeth naya gaatha hun, geeth naya gaata hun

(I am writing and erasing new songs on the forehead of time and singing new songs)

May the songs linger and continue to energize the nation.

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें

जिनके घर में कुत्ता है...

मृणाल चटर्जी
अनुवाद- इतिश्री सिंह राठौर

जिसके घर में कुत्ता होगा कभी भी उसका घर नहीं जाने का फैसला किया  है मैंने । मैं जानता हूं मेरे बहुत सारे दोस्तों और परिजनों को कुत्ते बहुत  पसंद हैं । उनके घर में एक से ज्यादा कुत्ते हैं । मैं यह बात जानता हूं कि अगर मैं उनके घर न जाऊं तो उनका मन खराब होगा अथवा वह दु:खी होंगे । मैं भी अपने दोस्तों से बहुत प्यार करता हूं, उनके घर जाना चाहता हूं । लेकिन प्रॉमिस  इज-प्रॉमिस  ।
     दिल पर पत्थर रख कर मैंने यह प्रामिस किया है । हाल ही में अपने छोटे भाई के बेटे के उपनयन संस्कार में उनके घर गया था । वहां  मुझे चार दिन रहना पड़ा । उसका एक बड़ा अल्सतियन कुत्ता है । भूरे रंग का यह कुत्ता ऊंचाई में बिलकुल बछड़ा जैसा है । लेकिन यह बछड़े जैसा शांत नहीं बल्कि भेड़िया जैसा क्रोधी और आक्रामक है । जेट विमान जैसा दहाड़ लगाता है । उस कुत्ते के लिए मेरा जीवन असहनीय हो गया था । कैसे क्या हुआ वह आपको बतला रहा हूं । उसके बाद ही आपको यह अहसास होगा कि जिस घर में कुत्ते हों उस घर में अतिथि बनकर जाना कितना कष्टदायक है ।
   मैं गर्मी में गया था । मेरे छोटे भाई के बेडरूम में एसी लगा हुआ है । गर्मी में सभी एसी में रहना चाहते हैं । लेकिन कोई रहे चाहे न रहे कुत्ता वातानुकूलित घर में जरूर रहेगा । उसके शरीर में रूयें होने कारण उसे बहुत गर्मी लगती है । जो कुत्ते के साथ एडजस्ट  कर रह पाएगा वही एसी कमरे में सोए । मैं बरमदे पर सोया । मैं सोया रहूंगा और भेडि़या जैसा दिखने वाला कुत्ता गर मेरे ऊपर चढ़ जाए तो, मैं तो हार्ट अटैक  से मर जाऊंगा । उससे  अच्छा है कि मैं गर्मी में बरमदे पर ही सोऊं ।
   कुत्ते में मांस और भात खाया । क्योंकि वह इसके अलावा और कुछ भी नहीं खाएगा । मुझे दाल-चावल खाकर ही संतुष्ट रहना पड़ा । उपनयन संस्कार के दौरान मांसाहार ठीक नहीं । उसके बाद पामेला एंडरसन, मेनका गांधी से लेकर बाबा रामदेव तक सभी कह रहे हैं कि इंसानों को मांसाहार नहीं करना चाहिए । जितना कम मसाला शरीर में जाएगा स्वास्थ्य उतना ही अच्छा रहेगा ।
   मेरा छोटा भाई सुबह होते ही कुत्ते को शौच के लिए ले जाता है । वह  बुद्धिहीन पशु है । उसे अगर बाहर कोई शौच के लिए नहीं ले गया तो वह घर में ही कार्यक्रम कर देगा ! कुत्ता लेफ्ट-राइट करते करते बाहर निकला । खुली हवा में अपना काम किया । मैं टायलेट के सामने  कतार में खड़ा रहा । घर में अगर  कोई कार्यक्रम हो तो बहुत लोग आते हैं । सुबह का कार्यक्रम जरूरी होता है । इसीलिए यह कतार । कुत्ता बहुत आनंद में है । पेट का सारा माल निकाल कर लौट चुका है और मैं उसी तरह अंगोछा पहनकर हाथ में साबुन लिए खड़ा है । कुत्ता मुझे देखकर भौंकने लगा ।
    जिस घर में कुत्ता होता है, उस घर में ज्यादा चर्चाएं भी कुत्ते को लेकर होती है । कुत्ता उस घरका स्टार है । वह किस तरह से हैंडशेक  करता है, किस तरह से बिस्कुट खाता है, घरवालों को कैसे पहचानता है और बाहरवालों को कैसे काटने को दोड़ता है इत्यादि सुन-सुन कर आप बोर हो जाएंगे । कभी कोई चोर घर मे घुसा हो और कुत्ते ने उसे पहचान कर भौंक दिया हो सालों तक उसकी चर्चा होती रहेगी । जिस घर में कुत्ता हो उस घर में और किसीके बारे में बात ही नहीं होती । केवल कुत्ता । वह घर का हीरो है । घर की ताज है । घर का लाड़ला है वह । टीवी देखते समय चाहे वह भौंके या आपके शरीर को चाटे आपको सब सहना होगा । उसे सलहाना होगा । वरना वह अभिमान कर सकता है । इतना सब करने के बावजूद भी वह आपका वफादार बना रहे उसकी कोई गारंटी नहीं । उसे कभी आप दूरमार नहीं सकते । अगर आपने कभी एेसा किया तो या तो कुत्ता या फिर आपके दोस्त अथवा दोनों ही आपसे नाराज हो सकते हैं । 

(मृणाल चटर्जी ओडिशा के जानेमाने लेखक और प्रसिद्ध व्यंग्यकार हैं । मृणाल ने अपने स्तम्भ 'जगते थिबा जेते दिन' ( संसार में रहने तक) से ओड़िया व्यंग्य लेखन क्षेत्र को एक मोड़ दिया । इनका एक नाटक संकलन प्रकाशित होने वाला है । ) 

This column is published every Sunday in www.hindikunj.com and Raipur based monthly magazine CartoonWatch.

Great Newspapers of India | Samyukta Karnataka

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Column | Jagate Thiba Jete Dina

Samaja Saptahika 18-24 August 2018

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें

सिनेमा बनाने का फार्मूला 

मृणाल चटर्जी
अनुवाद- इतिश्री सिंह राठौर

अब हर महीने सैकड़ों फिल्में बनाई जाती हैं । पहले साल में ही कुछ फिल्में रिलीज होती थी । इतनी फिल्मों का बनना अच्छी बात है । 

  कुछ लोग कहते हैं कि ये जो हिंदी भाषा में फिल्में बनाई जाती है दरअसल वो हिंदी फिल्में नहीं होती । अगर भाषा को छोड़ दें तो बाकी सब गैरहिंदी ही लगती है । इनकी कहानी दुसरे फिल्मों से प्रेरित होती है । तेलुगु, मराठी, अंग्रेजी भाषा में बनी फिल्मों की रीमेक होती हैं आजकल की ज्यादातर हिंदी फिल्में । मेरे हिसाब से जो होता है अच्छे के लिए होता है । जो लोग दुसरी भाषाओं में बनी फिल्में नहीं देख पाते वह रीमेक देख लेते हैं । वैसे एक फिल्म बनाने के लिए बहुत दिमाग लगाना पड़ता है । इतना दिमाग खर्च कौन करे ! 

जिन फिल्मों से हिंदी की यह रीमेक फिल्में बनाई जाती है, उन फिल्मों का भी कुछ फार्मूला है । उसमें कुछ फार्मूला यहां परोस रहे हैं । पाठक भी फिल्म देखते वक्त मिलाकर देख सकते हैं ।

1. अगर फिल्म में हीरो की संख्या हीरोइन की संख्या से अधिक है, तब जो एक्सट्रा हीरो होते हैं फिल्म खत्म होते तक उनकी मौत हो जाती है या फिर वह किसी से बिना कुछ कहे कहीं चले जाते हैं । हिंदी तथा तमिल सिनेमा में वह स्विट्ज़रलैंड चले जाते हैं  । क्योंकि लोकल फिल्मों में निर्माता के पास इतने पैसे नहीं होते इसीलिए उसे शिमला या मसूरी भेज देते हैं ।

2. अगर फिल्म में दो हीरो हैं वह कम से कम पांच मिनट एक-दुसरे के साथ फाइटिंग करते नजर आएंगे और अगर वह दो भाई से तो 10मिनट तक फाइटिंग करंगे ।

3. किसी भी कोर्ट के सीन में वकील जरुर कहेगा ऑब्जेक्शन माई लर्ड । अगर फिल्म का हीरो वकील है तो जज साहब बोलेंगे, ऑब्जेक्शन ससटेन्ड और अगर वकील हीरो न हो तो जज साहब बोलेंगे, ऑब्जेक्शन ओवररूल्ड । 

4. हीरो की बहन की शादी हमेशा ही हीरो के सबसे अच्छे दोस्त से होती है । नहीं तो सिनेमा शुरू होने के आधे घंटे बाद फिल्म का विल्लन उसके साथ बदतमीजी करेगा ।

5. हीरो अगर विल्लन के पीछे भाग रहा हो तो वह विल्लेन को जैसे भी पकडेगा चाहे हीरो बैलगाड़ी में जा रहा हो और विल्लन कार में । 

6. हीरो अगर विल्लन को गोली मारे तो उसका निशाना कभी नहीं चूकता और अगर विल्लन हीरो को गोली मारे तो उसका निशाना हमेशा ही चूकता है । अगर गोली खाने के बाद हीरो को मरना भी है तब भी वह हीरोइन से लंबीचौड़ी बातचीत के बाद ही मरता है ।

7. फाइटिंग सीन के समय पाख में मट्के का होना जरूरी है ताकि हीरो उसपर गीरे और वह टूटे ।

8. कुंभ के मेले में बिछड़े भाई अक्सर बचपन के गीत गाते-गाते मिलेंगे ।

9. कमर्शियल फिल्मों में आपको तीन तरह के इंसपेक्टर देखने को मिलेंगे ।

   -बिलकुल साधु । ईमानदार । आमतौर पर हीरो या हीरो का पिता या उसका भाई इस तरह पुलिस होता है जिसकी हत्या विल्लेन के हाथों होती है । बाद में हीरो इसका बदला लेता है । 

 - ईमानदार पुलिस । पूरे फिल्म में यह हीरो के पीछे पड़े होते हैं । यह इंसपेक्टर अक्सर यह कहता नजर आता है कि तुम कानून के हाथों से नहीं बच सकते । हीरो के अक्सर इसकी बहन या बेटी से प्यार हो जाता है । 

- बेईमान पुलिस इंसपेक्टर । इस तरह से पुलिस अधिकारी गुंडों के साथ मिले होते हैं । अंत में हीरो के हाथों इनकी हत्या होती है ।

10.हीरो-हीरोइन डांस करते समय उनके साथ पचास के अधिक डांसर कूद पड़ते हैं । 

11. किसी कारण अगर हीरो का दिल टूटा हो तो वह शराब जरूर पिएगा और हीरोइन का दिल टूटने पर वह तकिये के नीचे मुंह दबा कर रोती नजर आएगी ।

(मृणाल चटर्जी ओडिशा के जानेमाने लेखक और प्रसिद्ध व्यंग्यकार हैं । मृणाल ने अपने स्तम्भ 'जगते थिबा जेते दिन' ( संसार में रहने तक) से ओड़िया व्यंग्य लेखन क्षेत्र को एक मोड़ दिया । इनका एक नाटक संकलन प्रकाशित होने वाला है । ) 

This column is published every Sunday in www.hindikunj.com

Also read it here: 

http://www.hindikunj.com/2018/08/make-film.html

12.8.18

Column | Pathe Prantare

Samaya Taranga 12.8.18

Ace Photojournalists 5 | S.Paul

Ace Photojournalists 5 | 
On the occasion of World Photography Day (19 Aug.) I am writing short bio profile of great photojournalists. Fifth in the series, read about one of the finest photojournalists of India: S. Paul, who inspired a generation of young photojournalists including his younger brother Raghu Rai.

S.Paul

S. Paul (1930-2017) was one of the finest photojournalists that India has produced. He was the first Indian to be profiled by The British Journal of Photography in 1967. In 1971, he became the first Indian to win the Nikon International Photo Contest. In 2004, B&W Magazine US nicknamed him “the Henry Cartier- Bresson of India’. Three years in the making (2004–07) and selected by 47 top judges, The World’s Greatest Black & White Photography book has carried five of his pictures.

Originally from Pakistan, he came to India after the separation of the country and settled at Shimla with his elder brother. Photography was his passion. He started working as an engineering draftsman, but his passion ultimately became his profession when his photographs were published in International magazines and he was offered a job at Indian Express. He worked for 26 years as the Chief of Photography department of Indian Express

Paul’s younger brother, Raghu Rai, also landed up in Delhi, and, mentored by Paul, became a photographer who made his own mark starting out in The Statesman. 

Paul was a prolific photographer. He took some of the most haunting photographs of his times.

Delhi-based photographer and activist Ram Rahman wrote about him, “He would photograph flowers, trees, birds, the clouds, landscapes, portraits, the street. But his forte was to catch the little detail and human foible in people. His pictures of people had an affection and warmth which led me to call him a humanist photographer in my lectures. As with many photographers, he was maybe not the best editor and judge of his own photographs the newest always being the best.”

Media Jobs

Required Social Media content writers for a permanent position in Odisha.
Interested people can contact: khusboo@digituall.com
(Posted on 10.8.18)

Deccan Chronicle and The Asian Age New Media is looking for sub editors for the nation and world team for their Mumbai office. A good grasp over the language and an eye for current affairs are a must for candidates. Understanding of online content, key words, metas will be an added bonus.
This is a junior to mid-level requirement. People with a year of experience in digital media will be given preference.
Mumbai candidates preferred. 
Interested people please send in your CVS to umangsharma09@gmail.com.
This is a desk job, people with reporting aspirations need not apply.
Thank you!
(Posted as received)
14.8.18

3rd K.M. Shrivastava Memorial Lecture at IIMC, Dhenkanal

ALL ARE WELCOME

IIMC Foundation Day Lecture

ALL ARE WELCOME

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 12.8.18

Rainy season

Rainy season is the time when you can find various kinds of insects. As I live very close to the hill and forest- we encounter countless number of insects- some cute, some beautiful some look ugly. I keep looking at them crawling, flying, sitting on the wall near the light source and think about God's creation. If God has created them- they must be serving some purpose.

As I was closely looking at a spider- patiently sitting at a corner of the wall, probably waiting for its prey or probably thinking about mysteries of life- my wife came and asked me, “What are you looking at”? I silently gestured at the spider. She looked at it, went in a flash came back with a chappal and spat! The spider died instantly. 
I am seriously thinking of writing my next novel on the spider as an apology to the killed one.

Rainy season-2

Thanks to our brilliant planning and excellent civic sense and unadulterated avarice, many of our cities get submerged with a good shower of rain. Bhubaneswar, top smart city of the country is no exception. Bhubaneswar is also known as temple city, as it has several old temples, some dating back to 800-1000 ad. Many of those temples also get submerged regularly.

Look at the photograph of Baitaleswar Temple, Baitala Deula in Odia. It is a 8^th century shrine in typical Khakra style. The presiding deity is Goddess Chamunda. It is locally known as Tini-mundia deula because of the three spires at the top. In any other country this would have been protected like a rare treasure.

Probably the smart city has other smart plans. Probably The tourism Department would announce a new venture: boat ride pradakhina (Moving around) of the temples of Bhubaneswar to attract tourists.
Photo: Ashok Panda

200 years of Language Journalism

The first newspaper in India Hickey’s Bengal Gazette was published in 1780 in Calcutta. Thirty-eight years later the first language newspaper was published from the same city. It was in Bengali, named Digdarshan. Two more newspapers in Bengali were published in quick succession in the same year. Gradually newspapers began to be published in other languages. Initially language newspapers were poor country cousins of English language newspapers in terms of content and print quality and financial health. Gradually it gained strength and momentum as people took to reading news and views in their own language.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak realized the power of language newspaper and the importance of talking in the language of the masses. So did Gandhiji. In fact he actively encouraged publication of newspapers in regional languages from different parts of the country. Language newspapers played an important role in freedom movement of the country.

The restructuring of states on linguistic basis pumped up the circulation of language newspapers. Liberalization, free market economy, growing literacy and developing economic condition at the hinterland further improved the economic condition of language journalism.  In the political level, growing clout of regional parties and their dependence on language media to forge connect with people of the concerned state was another important factor for the growth of language newspapers.

By 2018 language newspapers are far ahead of English newspapers in terms of circulation and probably impact and influence on the readers of the concerned language. Thanks to the development of technology, they have occupied a significant portion of digital ecosphere.

So far so good. But there are areas of concern. About that, next week.

NGO, Media and Politics

Brajesh Thakur, the man who ran the shelter home in Muzaffarpur, Bihar where 34 minor girls were drugged, tortured and raped- also owns three newspapers. His son Rahul is the editor of a vernacular daily, daughter edits an English daily. He also owns an Urdu newspaper. His father Radhamohan was the Chairman of the All India Small and Medium News Papers Society. Brajesh has had political ambition and hobnobbed with the high and mighty of Bihar politics.
NGO, Media and Politics- is a heady mixture. Brajesh was thick into this. So are many others in the country. Owning a media house and running a NGO have become shields for many unscrupulous characters like Brajesh.

Tailpiece 1: Mosquito

Aahana: Mumma, a mosquito bit me.
Me: Oh, please be careful. Monsoon brings a lot of diseases.
Aahana: But I am feeling bad for the mosquito. Its mother would scold it saying, ‘You again ate outside food!’

(Courtesy: Indrani Ganguly)

Tailpiece 2: Imran Khan

Imran and his wife don’t know where to live.

In PM’s residence prime ministers don’t last long.

In Imran’s residence wives don’t last long.

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Mrinal Chatterjee, a journalist –turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. Presently he is compiling and editing a monograph/book on 'Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor', which will be published by October 2018.

mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

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