Window Seat. Weekly column in English. 16.4.23

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 16. 4. 23

Bhubaneswar@75

Bhubaneswar and Chandigarh were the first two cities, which were designed immediately after independence as an message of a strong independent India with vision.

Before Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha (Orissa, then) was Cuttack. The foundation stone of the new capital of the State of Orissa was laid in Bhubaneswar on 13 April in 1948 by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

A panoramic view of Bhubaneswar city

Ancient temple city Bhubaneswar got one of first few planned capital cities designed by trained architect after independence. Bhubaneswar was designed by Otto Königsberger (1908 –1999), a German architect. The work was commissioned along with Chandigarh which was designed by Le Corbusier (1887-1965).

Bhubaneswar grew slowly. It became a NAC in 1952, a Municipality in 1979 and a Corporation in 1992. It grew at an ever increasing pace.

Declared a Smart City, Bhubaneswar now boasts of facilities of a modern city and a decent civic life.

Joydeb Kenduli

Recently I had been to Joydeb-Kenduli in West Bengal for a training programme of the senior officers of Information and Culture departments. Located at the bank of Ajay river, this place is known as an important centre of Baul tradition and also as the birthplace of the Sanskrit poet Joydeb. There is an ancient temple, known as Radhamadhab Temple, where, people believed Joydeb used to worship. Every year, a large fair is organized here  in memory of Joydeb, which begins on Makar Sankranti. People believe that Joydeb had taken a bath at the Kadaambokhandi ghat of the Ajay river.

Radhamadhab Temple

Joydeb or Jayadeva was a 12^th century Sanskrit poet. He is mostly remembered for his epic poem Gita Gobinda. The date and place of Jayadeva's birth are still uncertain The Gita Gobinda suggests that he was born in the "Kindubilva" village. Scholars of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar have variously identified this place with a present-day village in their own region, including Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Odisha, Joydeb Kenduli in Birbhum district of West Bengal, and the village of Kenduli near Jhanjharpur     in Mithila, Bihar.

However, what is beyond any debate is Gita Gobinda’s contribution to Jagannath culture and Odissi music.  Jayadeva is widely considered as one of the earliest musicians of Odissi music, which has a close connect with the rituals in Jagannath Temple. Every night during the Badasinghara or the last ritual of the deity, the Gita Gobinda of Jayadeva, set to traditional Odissi ragas and talas is sung. This tradition has continued unbroken since the time of Jayadeva. After the time of the poet, the singing of the Gitagovinda according to the authentic Odissi ragas and talas was instated as a mandatory ritual at the temple.

With time Odissi song and dance came out of the temple and was performed on social and cultural occasions. It gradually became an integral part of Odia culture.

Songs from Gita Gobinda in standalone mode as well as with Odissi dance is widely sung in Odisha. But not so in Bengal. Even in Joydeb-Kenduli. Joydeb-Kenduli is more into baul songs and culture now. Songs of Gita Gobinda is hardly ever sung or discussed here.  

Iftar

I recently attended an Iftar Party hosted by Kolkata Press Club. It was organised by one Hindi and one Urdu newspaper- 'Sanmarg' and 'Akhbar-e-Mousiki'. People of all faiths joined the grand party.

Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of the Muslims in Ramadan or Ramzan, as it is pronounced in Bengal and Odisha. This is their second meal of the day; the daily fast during Ramadan begins immediately after the pre-dawn meal of suhur and continues during the daylight hours, ending with sunset with the evening meal of iftar.

Iftar Party hosted by Kolkata Press Club

Iftar, I am told, has much greater significance than just being a meal. It is said to bring blessings, especially for those that make arrangements for Iftar for others. This is widely regarded as an act of kindness that Allah favours immensely.

I learnt from a devout practising Muslim that it is not necessary to wear particular dress including the topee during Iftar. It is basically a community breaking the day long fast together.

On a different note, the food, especially the halim and biryani was fabulous.

 Company matters!!

Sit for 10 minutes before a housewife - you will feel life is too difficult.

Sit for 10 minutes before a drunkard - you will feel life is very easy.

Sit for 10 minutes before sadhus & sanyasis - you will feel like gifting away everything in charity.

Sit for 10 minutes before a leader - you will feel all your studies are useless.

Sit for 10 minutes before a life insurance agent - you will feel that it is better to die.

Sit for 10 minutes before traders - you will feel your earnings are too meager.

Sit for 10 minutes before scientists - you will feel the enormity of your own ignorance.

Sit for 10 minutes before good teachers - you will feel like wanting to become a student again.

Sit for 10 minutes before a farmer - you will feel you are not working hard enough.

Sit for 10 minutes before a soldier - you will feel your own services and sacrifices are insignificant.

Sit for 10 minutes before a good friend - you will feel your life is heaven!

Company matters!!

(Courtesy: Social Media)

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This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and www.prameyamews.com