MEDIA MANTRA by MRINAL CHATTERJEE: March 2019

Friday, 29 March 2019

Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 31.3.19

Urdu

I attended World Urdu Conference held in Delhi from 18 to 20 March. Delegates from over 18 countries and academicians including Vice Chancellors of two Urdu Universities and research scholars from across the country attended the conference. Over 20 research papers were presented on the status and prospects of Urdu language.

Contrary to popular and increasingly and deliberately created perception, Urdu is not the language of Muslims. It was a lashkari (soldier) language (the word ‘Urdu’ comes from the Turkish word ‘ordu’ meaning ‘camp’ or ‘army’), nourished during the period of Mughal emperor Shahjahahn. It had words from Persian and local languages. The purpose was to make communication easy among soldiers who were from different places: Arab, Turk and locals. Based on the Khariboli dialect of Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh in the Indian subcontinent, Urdu developed under local Persian, Arabic, and Turkic influence over the course of almost 900 years. It began to take shape in what is now Uttar Pradesh, India during the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1527), and continued to develop under the Mughal Empire (1526–1858).

The Persian newspapers of West Bengal were fore-runners of the Urdu press. After the decline of Persian as an official language, Urdu gained prominence.

The first newspaper of Urdu language was Jam-i-Jahan-Numa, founded by Harihar Dutta in 1822 in Kolkata (then Calcutta). He was the son of Tara Chand Dutta, eminent Bengali journalist and one of the founders of Bengali weekly Sambad Koumudi. Editor of this three page weekly paper was Sadasukhlal. After English and Bengali, it was the third language newspaper in India. It continued to be published till 1888.

Urdu is spoken by large number of people, especially Muslims in about 10 states of India. After English and Hindi, Urdu happens to be the most pan-Indian language. The problem with Urdu is- increasingly it is being associated with a particular religion. The protection and promotion of Urdu is also being viewed from religious prism. When this happens, gradually a wall grows around the language and it creates a distance. The language gradually loses its appeal for the people of other religions. This is unfortunate as Urdu has such vast literature to savour.

Kolkata and its Street Food

Kolkata is known for its street food.

I had recently been there and stayed at a guesthouse at Belgachia, North Kolkata, the older part of the city. I instructed the guest house caretaker to get me brown bread and boiled egg. Instead he brought kachuri and potato curry from roadside eatery. Both were not good for me as I am over weight and diabetic.

But boy, it was delicious. I devoured it and told to myself - ek adh bar, kuch paap vi kar lena chahiye. Afsos sametke duniya nehi chodni hai.

The non-existent footpaths of Kolkata

I like to walk. I believe, you can see more of a city by walking. But it is difficult to walk in Kolkata as there is, practically, no footpath in Kolkata. In many places it has turned into bazar. Or somebody has made a shanty on it and living with family. You can see full colony of such shanties right on the pavement. There are tiny temples. One can find pictures and clay idols of various Gods and Goddesses near the trees lining the pavement. There are shops selling flowers to offer at these tiny temples on the same pavement.

People, for whom the footpath has been originally build walk on roads dodging the moving vehicles like in the latest edition of ‘khatron ke khiladi’.

The Rat Story

A rat swallowed a diamond and the owner of the diamond contracted a man to kill the rat.

When the rat hunter arrived to kill the rat there were more than a thousand rats bunched up and one sitting by itself away from the pack. He killed the one by itself and that was the exact one that had swallowed the diamond.

The amazed owner of the diamond asked: How did you know it was that rat?

He responded: "Very easy.... When idiots get rich they don't mix with others!!!"

(Courtesy: Social Media)

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The author, a journalist turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. An anthology of his weekly column Window Seat, published in 2018 has been published as a book. Write to him to get a free e-copy.

mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 24.3.19

Holi

By the time you read this, the festival of colour would be over. Holi is a big festival in North and Eastern India. It heralds the end of winter and the arrival of spring. However, with change in climate, in many parts of the country including Dhenkanal, where I live- spring is short lived and summer arrives early. By latter part of March- it gets hot. And therefore- the fun of moving around and ‘playing holi’ is gradually diminishing. I also find people have become conscious of the perils of using chemical colour. They are mostly using gulal and many are using herbal or organic gulal, which is good.

I find many youngsters these days prefer to ‘play holi’ from indoors with their computers. They prefer to play virtual holi.

And with elections round the corner, the netas are changing their colours so fast- that real holi is ‘out-coloured’.

Shoes not to wear

On average, a person walks 245-292km in a year. It is therefore crucial that you wear a pair of shoes which won't damage your feet, since our feet are responsible for carrying all of our weight around, and are already subject to enormous pressure on a daily basis. However, we often don't realize this, wearing all kinds of footwear that make it hard for our feet to do their job. Some popular kind of foot wear may actually doing great harm to your body. I got the following information from an email forward and got it vetted from a doctor friend of mine.

Pointed shoes may be too tight

If you have wide feet, you may want to reconsider wearing pointed shoes. These types of shoes are too tight and will put a lot of pressure on your toes, causing nerve pain and blisters. If you keep insisting on these shoes, they may cause lasting nerve damage. So before buying such a pair of shoes, check to see whether your feet feel comfortable while wearing them first. Maybe get a pair that is bigger than you need and stuff the end so you don't have to squeeze your toes.

Flip flops cause misalignment in your ankles

While flip flops (popularly known as Hawai Chappal) are great for summer, as such, they're not all that comfortable. Flip flops rub between your toes causing skin damage and wearing them can lead to misalignment in your ankles and knees because your feet are not supported properly. The soles of your feet rarely get good support from flip-flops and the different walking technique used with flip flops will often make your back pain worse.

High heels can cause nerve damage

Most women do love to wear high heels, and while they look great and make you feel attractive, they can cause a lot of damage to your feet. Wearing high heels leads to sprains, ingrown toenails, nerve damage, and lower back pain. To get rid of these problems, it is advised that you make sure your everyday heels are no higher than 3 inches.

Flat shoes put pressure on the ligaments

While it may be surprising, flat shoes can damage your legs. This happens because they don't have any arch support, thus putting pressure on the plantar fascia - the ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes. Consequently, you will experience pain in your knees and back.

Running shoes that are too light and soft and may cause trauma

Running shoes should only be worn when running.. If you wear them every day, because they seem comfortable and light, they may actually damage your feet on impact because they are too flexible and soft. In other words, if you bump your foot while running you may injure yourself quite severely. Athletic shoes with a harder sole are much safer when accidentally slipping or bumping into something with your foot.

Platform shoes ruin the mechanism of walking

Platform shoes are flexible and have rigid footbeds. Our feet need more forgiving shoes. The shoes we opt for should repeat and reinforce the movement of the feet and these actually do the opposite, going completely against the mechanism of walking. It is, therefore, better to not wear platforms on a regular basis but only on rare occasions such as special events.

Tailpiece: Tension ka Solution

Wife :- tum bahot badal Gaye ho.. aajkal mujh se theek se baat hi nahi karte ....

Husband :- nahi kaam me busy tha...

Wife:- 2-3 din se tum kaam ka bahana bana rahe ho...tum mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho...

Husband :- nahi thodi tension hai....

Wife :- tum hamesha apni tension mujhse chupate ho.....mujhe batao hum dono mil kar koi solution nikalenge.. tum mujhe kuch to batao problem kya hai....

Husband:- to lo suno . TDS file karna hai. Income tax file karna hai. NPA ki report deni hai. CGTMSE claim lodge krna hai. Printer kaam nahi kar raha hai. Biometric login kal se nahi ho rahi hai. ATM mein cash atak jata hai hai. Recovery aa nahi rahi hai. Bank main grahak ki bheed hai. Upper se connectivity ka panga pada hua hai . Customer complaint ho rahi hai... March closing me account pe dhyan du…ya recovery pe?

AB DE MUJHY ISKA SOLUTION....

Wife: Tum naa aaj 2 peg maar hi lo...

Happy March Closing.

(Courtesy: Social Media)

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mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

The Great Indian Editors | Behram Malabari

Vidura, Jan-March 2019

Review | Shakti

Published in World Watch, Feb 2019 issue

Monday, 25 March 2019

My Interview in The Odisha Mirror

The Odisha Mirror, March 2019

Odia Daily Odisha Bhaskar needs Sub-Editors

Odisha Bhaskar, a Bhubaneswar based Odia daily requires Sub-Editors (4 posts)
- Remuneration ₹15,000 to ₹18,000 per month( as per their capabilities)
- The candidates must know odia typing and translation English-Odia-English and Hindi to Odia
- The candidates have to remain in the organisation for at least 2 years and the remunerations will be revised as per norms of the company in every year.
Interested Candidates may send their resumes to kdas@odishabhaskar.com
For further details contact:
Kaustuva Das
COO & Bureau Chief
The Odisha Bhaskar
Mobile: 9861091334

Posted on 25.3.19

Training Programme on Anchoring

KLF@IIMC, Dhenkanal

ALL ARE WELCOME

Monday, 4 March 2019

LitFest at IIMC, Dhenkanal, Odisha

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Eight Steps for a More Satisfying Life

We live in a peculiar time. Comfort levels have increased but happiness is hard to find and harder to sustain. Market forces are hell bent to brain wash us to believe that happiness lies in buying stuff. The next pair of jeans, or next level of motor car or mobile- will make us happy, they entice. We buy and as soon as we begin thinking so we are now happy- the market says, no no, you are happy yet, unless you buy these. The game continues.

Want to lift your level of happiness without the help of the Market? Here are some practical suggestions from University of California psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, based on research findings by her and others. Satisfaction (at least a temporary boost) guaranteed.

1. Count your blessings.

One way to do this is with a "gratitude journal" in which you write down three to five things for which you are currently thankful – from the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the magnificent (a child's first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible.

2. Practice acts of kindness.

These should be both random (let that harried mom go ahead of you in the checkout line) and systematic (bring Sunday supper to an elderly neighbor). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects – it makes you feel generous and capable, gives ou a greater sense of connection with others and wins you smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness – all happiness boosters.

3. Savor life's joys.

Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking "mental photographs" of pleasurable moments to review in less happy times.

4. Thank a mentor.

If there's someone whom you owe a debt of gratitude for guiding you at one of life's crossroads, don't wait to express your appreciation-=in detail and, if possible, in person.

5. Learn to forgive

Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter of forgiveness to a person who has hurt or wronged you. Inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving allows you to move on.

6. Invest time and energy in friends and family.

Where you live, how much money you make, your job title and even your health have surprisingly small effects on your satisfaction with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal relationships.

7. Take care of your body.

Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can help make your daily life more satisfying.

8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships.

There is no avoiding hard times. Religious faith has been shown to help people cope, but so do the secular beliefs enshrined in axioms like "This too shall pass" and "That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger." The trick is that you have to believe them.

Problem of our country

BN Neelima, who teaches mass communication and paints and clicks photographs whenever she finds time, writes in her social media post: My dhobi is an expert on all things. He tells me how Abhinandan case should have been dealt by the government, how we should deal with Pakistan, what should be our retaliation strategy, how Modi should run the govt, why Imran Khan became popular now, how people should vote in elections....he is an expert on all things. The only thing he can't do is iron clothes properly!

Our country now is full of such dhobis, who are very good at dispensing advices but very bad when it comes to doing what they are supposed to do. That precisely is the problem of our country.

Rajdhani Express turns 50

On 3 March 2019, the country’s first Rajdhani Express, which revolutionized train travel in India by way of speed and luxury turned 50. It was on 3 March 1969 that the first Rajdhani Express train embarked on its first journey from Howrah to Delhi. It was the country’s first fully air-conditioned high speed train. It covered the 1450 km stretch in 17 hours and 20 minutes. On its first run it had nine coaches, two power cars, five AC chair cars one AC dining car and one AC first class coach.

In the last 50 years much water has flowed in the Ganges and the Yamuna. More number of Rajdhani Express trains was introduced to connect state capitals with national capitals. Subsequently Satabdi Express trains were introduced to connect important cities of the country.

With the air travels becoming cheap and convenient, and air connectivity improving, people prefer air travel over slow and time consuming train travel. .

However, Rajdhani still retains its mystique.

Try Baby Neem Fry

Have you ever tasted baby neem leaves fry with brinjal- a delicacy that true blue Bengalis relish. If you have not- this is the time to do that. For you get baby neem leaves only as the spring season comes, which is now.

Get baby neem leaves, which have just sprouted and looks copper coloured or at best with just a streak of green. Fry it with brinjal and eat with rice. Bitter it is. But you’ll love it.

About a fortnight or so- the leaves will turn green and you will not be able to eat it as it will be very bitter. In that case eat the buds. Again fry with brinjal and eat with rice.

Tailpiece Gurugyan

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.

(Courtesy: social Media)

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The author, a journalist turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. An anthology of his weekly column Window Seat has been published as a book. Write to him to get a free e-copy.

mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com