Window Seat | Mrinal
Chatterjee | 6.12.2020
Guru Nanak
Last
Monday, 30 November was the 551 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of
the Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. One of the most celebrated
Sikh Gurus. Nanakji is revered by all communities and religions for his
teachings, which is humanitarian and egalitarian. Sikhism preaches that people of
different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches
the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious
function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer. It
says, the true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not
require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder,
earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
Nanak's
words are registered in the form of 974 poetic hymns, or shabda, in the holy
text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib.
It is
a collation of many hymns, poems, shabads
and other writings from many different scholars, including the Gurus and Hindu
and Muslim writers.
Before
Guru Gobind Singh died, he declared that there would be no more human Gurus and
that the Guru Granth Sahib would be the Eternal Guru. Thus, the holy scripture
of Sikhism is also considered as the living Guru. Sikhism is probably the only
religion which considers a book as their Guru.
Many
of Guru Nanak’s hymns and prayers were preserved and complied by Guru Angad and
Guru Arjan. This collection became known as the Adi Granth.
The
Adi Granth also included writings from Hindu and Muslim writers who believed in
the oneness of God. Some of these writers were from lower castes. This shows
the inclusiveness of Sikhism.
The Guru Granth Sahib was completed in 1604 and installed in the Golden Temple. This original copy of the Guru Granth Sahib is written in the Gurmukhi script, in various languages, including Lahnda (Western Punjabi), Braj Bhasha, Kauravi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, and Persian, reflecting its many different authors.
Chadkhai
Odisha
has an interesting ritual (I hesitate to call it a festival) of indulging in
non-vegetarian food called Chadkhai (which literally means eating after a gap).
Here is the background. Many people in Odisha do not eat non-vegetarian food
during the month of Kartick, considered holy, especially the last five days,
called Panchuka- the holiest period. Panchuka ends on Kartick Purnima- the fool
moon night of the month of Kartick. The next day is observed as Chadkhai, when
people feast on non-vegetarian food.
People
in rural Odisha believe that if one does not adhere to the custom of Chadkhai,
he/she is born as a Crane (Baga in Odia, Bag in Bengali) in the next life.
Most
of the Odias, living in Odisha or outside indulge in non-veg food on this day-
mutton, chicken, fish, prawn, crab, dried fish (called sukhua in Odia)- anything or everything.
Maradona
Maradona
was an enigma. He was undoubtedly one of the most gifted footballers ever
donned a jersey and boot in this planet. He redefined the game on the field by
weaving magic with his dribble.
However,
he was a flawed genius, a queer combination of the divine and the devil. He led
from the front and almost single handedly won the World Cup for Argentina in
1986. He was venerated by millions. He also courted controversy for keeping
company with dons and drugs. His personal life was in a mess with drug and
alcohol abuse and multiple messy relationships.
Rest
in peace, Maradona. We’ll remember you for elevating the game of football to
the level of an art.
We are the best in Asia- in bribery
We
knew it for a long time. Many of us indulged in it- either in taking or giving
or probably both. Now, it is official.
India has the highest bribery rate in Asia and the most number of people who
use personal connections to access public services, according to a new report
by corruption watchdog Transparency International.
The
Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) – Asia, found that nearly 50 per cent of
those who paid bribes were asked to, while 32 per cent of those who used
personal connections said they would not receive the service otherwise.
The
report is based upon the survey which was conducted between June 17 and July 17
this year in India with a sample size of 2,000.
Bribery
in public services continues to plague India.
Slow and complicated bureaucratic
process, unnecessary red tape and unclear regulatory frameworks force citizens
to seek out alternate solutions to
access basic services through networks of familiarity and petty
corruption. Call this speed-money. Simply explained- it is what you pay to get
things which are legitimately due (say for example a birth of death
certificate) - fast. The other kind of bribe is paid to get things which are
not legitimately due.
The
report said, “Both national and state governments need to streamline
administrative processes for public services, implement preventative measures
to combat bribery and nepotism, and invest in user-friendly online platforms to
deliver essential public services quickly and effectively,”
Celestial Aarti
Here is one shabad from
Sri Guru Granth Sahib and its English translation:
gagan mai thhaal rav
chandh deepak banae
taarika mandal janak motii II
dhoop malaanalo pavan
chavaro karae sagal
banaraae phoolant jyoti II1II
kaisee aarti hoe II
bhav khandnaa terii
aarti II
The sky is thy platter,
the sun and moon thy
lamps,
and the planets and
stars thy jewels.
The incense-laden wind
thy fragrance,
and the
flowering-fields and forests thy radiance.
O! What a wonderful
Aarti this is!
O! Destroyer of fear,
this is thy Ceremony of Light!
Sri Guru Granth Sahib,
Ang 13. Composition by Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of the Sikhs, set to Raga
danashree
Tail piece: Tea
What is chai for an Indian?
Sleepy ? Have tea.
Headache ? Have tea.
Tired ? Have tea.
Mood off ? Have tea.
Feeling cold? Have tea.
Want a Samosa? Must have tea.
Late night study? Have tea.
Party after tuitions? With tea.
Not well ? Have ginger tea.
Zero figure? Have green tea.
Pocket money? Make tea for your
father.
Guests? Make tea.
Waiting for train? Have tea.
Watching TV? Have tea.
Rainy Day: have tea with pakora
Last but not the least - want to
become PM..... make TEA
***
A journalist-turned media
academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He teaches mass
communication, writes fiction, and translates poetry. Odia translation of an
anthology that he has edited with Snehais Sur on Mahatma Gandhi as a Journalist
and Editor is being published in early 2021.
***
This column is published on every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com
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