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| Nirbhaya 29.11.21 |
Monday, 29 November 2021
Thursday, 25 November 2021
Monday, 22 November 2021
Window Seat | Weekly Column in English | 21.11.21
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee |21.11.21
Winter
India is truly a land of contradictions. While there is a
prediction that some North Indian states may suffer the harshest winter in
years, we at Central Odisha are actually eagerly looking forward to a cool
winter. Even the quilts tucked inside trunks and boxes are waiting to be taken
out- dried under the soft sun and used. Everybody at this part of the country
is ruing the fact that the world is warming up. My mother says, in her times
winter used to arrive much earlier around Durga Puja. Now we are celebrating
Kartick Purnima- and there is no trace of the bone numbing cold, which should
have been here.
Winter in our part of the country has its own charm. The mellow
sun in the morning feels like a shawl that you would like to warp around you.
The evenings almost invite you to snuggle under the quilt- but not before one
partakes bellyful of pakoda- the spiced fritters. Incidentally pakoda
originated in Indian sub-continent.
Winter and Tea
India
drinks her tea (or chai) in myriad ways. From the Noon Chai in J&K to
Nilgiri Tea down south, from smoked tea in NE to Nathwada chai in Gujarat- we
have various kinds and concoctions of tea. In Bengal and Assam- putting milk in
tea is sacrilege. In Hindi heartland it is the main ingredient.
Whatever
be the kind, type and ingredient- winter is the best time of savour tea. A hot
cup of tea in winter- is the best thing that can happen. Remember the scene
from railway platform scene in Dil se!
A rainy winter night, Monisha Koirala with her wet brush painted innocence and
a Sharukh Khan trying to offer her a glass (not cup) of tea!
Thankfully
our engagement with tea has changed drastically over time. When I was a kid- (I
was born in 1961) tea was kind of adult drink. Kids only get to drink it
occasionally- like when somebody has fever or has an examination and has to
study late into night or if it too cold. Now it is ok to allow even toddler to
have tea.
How
times have changed- for the better, for lovers of tea!
Mannu Bhandari
Mannu
Bhandari, one of the pioneers of the Hindi Nayi
Kahaani Movement, which started in 1950s passed away on 15 November. In her
novels and short stories, Bhandari portrayed women under a new light, as
independent and intellectual individuals. She highlighted the struggles and
difficulties women constantly encountered. Female characters in her
stories are portrayed as strong, independent individuals, breaking old habits
and emerging and creating an image of 'a new woman'.
Bhandari's first novel, Ek Inch Muskaan,
was published in 1961. It was co-authored with her husband, the writer and
editor Rajendra Yadav.
Besides short stories and novels, she wrote
several plays and screen plays and also fiction for children. Many of her
novels and short stories have been made into successful plays and feature
films. Rajnigandha and Swami
directed by Basu Chatterjee, were based on her story Yahi Sach Hai and
novel titled Swami. Her second novel Aap
Ka Bunty was made into a film titled Samay ki Dhara by Sisir Mishra. Bhandari subsequently sued the
filmmakers, Kala Vikas Pictures Pvt Ltd, on the grounds that the adaptation
distorted her novel and violated Section 57 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957.
The judgment in this case, was
a landmark decision in Indian copyright law that clarified the scope
of an author's moral rights under Indian copyright law. The Court held in favour
of Bhandari, but she and the producers ultimately settled out of court.
I recently translated one of her short stories
titled Mukti (liberation) that
portrays the life of a housewife who relentlessly serves her husband.
Happy Winter!
Now
comes the time, when we have to take that important decision of life every
morning: should I take a bath or not.
(Courtesy:
Social Media)
+++
Journalist turned
media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes
fiction and plays.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
Sunday, 14 November 2021
Saturday, 13 November 2021
Window Seat | 'Slice of LIfe' weekly column | 14.11.21
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 14.11.21
Dostoyevsky@ 200
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky, one
of the finest novelists who ever lived turned 200 last Thursday.
Born on 11 November
in 1821 in Moscow, Russia Dostoyevsky's most well-known novels include Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Possessed (also and more accurately known as The Demons and The Devils), and The Brothers Karamazov.
His psychological
penetration into the darkest recesses of the human heart, together with his
unsurpassed moments of illumination, had an immense influence on 20th-century
fiction.
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| Caricature by Jayaraj Vellur, Kerala |
In his
time he was also known for his activity as a journalist. He plunged into
journalism when he returned from imprisonment around 1860. Earlier he wrote
some essays (four, precisely) for Petersburg News around 1847. In March 1861 he published a
magazine in Russian titled Vremya, which means Time. It was suppressed after
three years. Then he started another magazine Epoch, which failed.
Vremya (Time) was
published under the editorship of his brother Mikhail Dostoevsky as Fyodor
was unable to be the official editor due to his status as a former convict. It
was a literary and political magazine. Dostoevsky's novel The House of the Dead was first published in Vremya.
The monthly installments of The House of the Dead brought
considerable popularity and financial success to the magazine. Several of
Fyodor Dostoevsky's other works were published in Vremya.
Three of
Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories, The
Tell-Take Heart, The Black Cat, and The Devil in the
Belfry were first published in Russian language in this
magazine. It also carried essays critiquing several political ideologies.
The
magazine was banned by the government in May 1863 because of an article
by Nikolay Strakhov concerning Russian/Polish problems.
After
the closure of Vremya (Time) magazine, the Dostoevsky brothers tried to
continue publishing. By January 1864, Mikhail Dostoevsky received permission to
publish a new journal under a different name. Officially, Fyodor Dostoevsky
could not appear either as an editor or as a publisher, so Mikhail Dostoevsky
became the publisher and editor. The new magazine, also a monthly literary and political one
was titled Epoch. It was published in 1864 and continued
till 1865. Circulation was about 1300.
The
first two issues for January and February 1864 were published simultaneously -
in March. They published the first chapters of the novel Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Contrary
to the expectations of Dostoevsky, Epoch
did not receive a warm reception- even by the subscribers of Vremya. There were other personal and
financial problems as well. The last issue of the Epoch was released in
February 1865. "Notes from the Underground" occupied the first four
issues of the journal. Dostoevsky ‘s story Crocodile was published in its February 1865 issue, which also
was the last issue of the Epoch.
Helen
Muchnic in her review of ‘Dostoevsky's Occasional Writings’, which contains representative selection of his journalistic
work besides other works published in The New York Review Dec.12 1963
issue was critical about the journalistic writings of Dostoevsky. She wrote,
“His journalistic pieces are shallow and discursive by comparison with his
novels: they are emphatic rather than eloquent, strident rather than
passionate. Yet they are concerned with the same questions that occupy him in
his fiction. And it is this that lends them their special fascination.”
Dostoevsky
died on February 9, 1881 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Press Freedom
16
November is observed as National Press Day in India. The first Press Council
established to function like a moral watch dog to ensure that not only did the press
maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it
was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors- started
functioning on this day in 1966. Though there are
several Press or Media Councils world over, the Press Council of India is a
unique entity in as-much-as this is the only body to exercise an authority even
over the instruments of the state in its duty to safeguard the independence of
the press.
Unfortunately,
India is placed at the lower half in the list of countries in press freedom
index. The 2021 World Press
Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a French NGO, has
placed India at 142nd rank out of
180 countries. Last year India was placed at the same place. In 2016, India’s rank was 133 which
steadily came down to 142 in 2020.
The RSF report says India is one of the world’s most dangerous
countries for journalists trying to do their job properly. They are exposed to
every kind of attack, including police violence against reporters, ambushes by
political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt
local officials.
Doubts
have been raised about the authenticity of the report. Methodology of ranking
has been questioned.
However,
the fact remains that we need to take a hard look at the freedom of the press-
for without freedom press will not be able to remain what is supposed to be:
watchdog of the society.
Khel Khel Mein
A Pakistani Film titled Khel Khel Mein starring Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas Khan and featuring veteran actor Marina Khan as well as Sheheryar Munawar, Javed Sheikh and Manzar Sehbai is scheduled to release on 19 November 2021, less than a month before the 50th anniversary of liberation of Bangladesh. Produced and directed by Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza the film is about the division of Pakistan and creation of an independent country. The teaser of the film has been released by end October.
As per the directors of the film, it is mainly meant to convey a
message of peace and harmony between the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh to
"move forward" together. However, considering the track record of
Pakistan, one needs to be careful. Of late there have been attempts by Pakistan
to be friendly to Bangladesh through regular diplomatic activities. Around the
same time Islamist militancy is raising its head in the officially secular
country. And then comes this film which attempts a re-look at the incidents
preceding the two week war and the birth of Bangladesh, with the directors
seeking another line of narrative.
Khel, can mean innocuous
game for fun and relaxation. It can also mean a sinister plan for intrigue.
Tailpiece:
Who is poor?
A wealthy woman goes to a saree
store and tells the boy at the counter "Bhaiya show some cheap sarees. It
is my son's marriage and I have to give to my maid."
After sometime, the maid comes to
the saree shop and tells the boy at the counter "Bhaiya show some expensive sarees. I want to gift my Mistress on
her son's marriage"
(Courtesy: An anonymous
Email forward)
++
Journalist turned media
academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes
fiction and plays.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
++
This column is published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com
May read it here: https://www.prameyanews.com/window-seat-dostoyevsky-200/?fbclid=IwAR330sUMjovV33nBDS9meBZMeUvzeTYE0TUoM-OSszo8ASkS0JP5mZn-NrA
Friday, 12 November 2021
Sunday, 7 November 2021
BAHI KATHA | Weekly column in Odia on books | Kathmandu Dilemma by Ranjit Rae.
In my weekly column on books next week (10-17 Nov) I’ll be writing on KATHMANDU DILEMMA by Ranjit Rae.
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Read it here: https://odishasahitya.com/bahikatha-18/?fbclid=IwAR01r6PVa35vP0trILAyFzKafL10T4cPkikDOwd0KBXgb6FOI3YJlu647tU |
WINDOW SEAT | Weekly 'slice of life' column in English | 7.11.21
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 7.11.21
Journalism
and Critical Thinking
Journalism
basically is an act of identifying and collating information into news and then
putting it in a presentable form and disseminate it. Besides providing information,
which is the prime job of journalism its other objectives are to help the
readers/viewers understand events and issues, help them form an opinion and
make a choice, and ultimately take a decision. To do all these, the journalists
must know facts with right context and must have a clear idea about the
different and often differing perspectives. Here comes the role of Critical
Thinking.
Critical
Thinking is more than fact checking from multiple sources. As Jonathan Heber,
Author of ‘Critical Thinking’ said, “Facts are the lifeblood of journalism. They’re terrific, they’re
important, I’m a big fan of fact checking sites, but facts are not enough.’
Consider ‘Zohnerism’. It refers to "the use
of a true fact to lead a scientifically and mathematically ignorant public to a
false conclusion". I have written about it in this column earlier.
This occurs more often than you think, especially when politicians, conspiracy
theorists, spin doctors and charlatans use proven facts to persuade people into
believing false claims. The fact that people can be misled so easily is highly
unsettling.
Therefore Critical
thinking is an essential skill for journalists. For some it means being
sceptical — the time-honoured school of “If your mother says she loves
you, check it out.” That’s a start at
critical thinking. It involves logic as well as creativity.
The first time critical thinking was documented is
believed to be in the teachings of Socrates, recorded by Plato. Over centuries,
hundreds of thinkers across the world have contributed to the development of
the concept of critical thinking. Each major discipline has made some
contribution to critical thought.
Some insightful modern-day critical thinking
definitions include: “Reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on
deciding what to believe or do” and “Deciding what’s true and what you should
do.”
Centre
for Critical Thinking defines it “The intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating
information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience,
reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”
Basically
it is the art of learning to question the ends and objectives, the sources of information and fact,
the method and quality of
information collection, the mode of judgment and reasoning used,
the concepts that make that
reasoning possible, the assumptions that underlie concepts in use,
the implications that follow
from their use, and the point of view or frame of reference within which
reasoning takes place.
Journalism schools must teach their students the art
of critical thinking. That will help media survive the ‘copy-paste’ kind of
journalism that we see increasingly occupying the mediasphere.
Diwali, Deepavali and
Kalipuja
India
is a land of unity in diversity. Its festivals are testimonies to this amazing
concept. Consider Diwali, Deepavali and Kalipuja- which are celebrated more or
less on the same day, with lights and crackers, but there are differences.
While Diwali, celebrated mostly the North Indian States marks the return of Lord Rama
after his exile to Ayodhya, Deepavali mostly celebrated in the South Indian
States celebrates Krishna defeating Narakasura (the demon Naraka) and
Kali Puja, celebrated in Eastern States of West Bengal, Odisha and Assam
worship Mother Kali- the ferocious form of Durga.
Diwali is a festival of five days. The five days
of this festival are Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja,
Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. Though Dhanteras celebrates the birth of Lord
Dhanvantari, regarded as the physician of gods, the pride of place is given to
the goddess Lakshmi. The day of Choti Diwali holds significance because it is
believed that Lord Krishna slew Narakasura on this day. Choti Diwali is the day
when Deepavali begins. The main festival of Diwali is on the third day, which
marks the arrival of Rama to Ayodhya and also the emergence of Laxmi from the
sea. This is also the day when Kali is worshipped in eastern Indian states. The
fourth day of Diwali celebrates the feat of Krishna protecting people from
flood by lifting the mountain Govardhana on his little finger. Krishna is
worshipped on this day. The fifth and final day, Bhai Dooj is celebrated, where
sisters pray for the wellbeing of their brothers. This festival called Bhatri Dwitiya or Bhai Phonta is also
celebrated in Bengal.
See the way the festivals are similar and also
different. That is the beauty of our country.
Kali
Among
the Hindu goddesses, there is none as ferocious-looking as Kali. With the
garland of skulls hanging on her bare torso she holds a blood stained falchion
and wears an angry and vengeful look.
There
are several tales about Kali’s origin, the best known of which comes from the
Devi Mahatmya. It says that when Durga was so enraged by demons that her anger
burst from her forehead in the form of Kali. Once born, the dark goddess went
on the rampage, killing demons and stringing their heads on a chain around her
neck. Her dance of death and destruction was stopped only when Shiva lay on her
path and she stepped on her husband’s chest by accident. She was terribly
embarrassed and finally calmed down. Kali is thus associated with war, death
and cremation.
There
is another legend. Men and gods were
being terrorised by Daruka who could only be killed by a woman, and Parvati was
asked by the gods to deal with the terrible demon. Since she came out of
Shiva's poisoned throat, she became the dark, deadly Kali who eliminated
Daruka.
This
cult of the 'terrifying mother' is fascinating. The powerful cult of mother
goddess, representing power, protection, blood and victory, has been there in
several ancient civilisations like in Greece and Rome.
However,
Bengal has a slightly different version of Kali. Here folk-lore has turned the
ferocious mother goddess into a mild-natured mother, who occasionally takes up
arms and is pleased with his son’s offering of Jaba (hibiscus) flower.
Tailpiece: Traffic Light
What
did one traffic light said to the other?
- Stop looking, I am changing.
(Courtesy: Social Media)
+++
Journalist turned
media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes
fiction and plays.
This column is published every Sunday in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com.
https://www.prameyanews.com/window-seat-journalism-and-critical-thinking/
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
BAHI KATHA | Weekly column on Books | A Food History of Calcutta | 3.11.21
In my column on books, this week (3-9 Nov. 2021) I've written on 'A Food History of Calcutta' by Mohana Kanjilal.
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May read it here: https://odishasahitya.com/bahikatha-17/ |
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