Window Seat. Weekly Column in English. 17.3.24

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 17.3.24

Popcorn Brain

‘Popcorn Brain’ refers to a multitude of kernel-like thoughts jostling about in one’s brain, rather than one or more substantial concepts. Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011, it refers to a person’s attention jumping from thought to thought like the kernels popping in popcorn. A 2003 study by the University of California Irvine found the average attention span was two minutes and 30 seconds. Recent studies have shed light on Gen Z's shorter attention span, revealing significant implications for every industry. Research conducted by Microsoft in 2015 found that the average attention span of Gen Z individuals was only about eight seconds, four seconds less than that of millennials.

We are inundated with a deluge of information, comprising both meaningful data and trivial details. This flood of content overwhelms our brains, diminishing their ability to discern what truly holds significance. With our mental landscape crowded by a constant barrage of information, there's little room left for the cultivation of clear, cogent thoughts or opinions.

This is so pervasive, that I strongly suspect we are heading towards a popcorn brain pandemic.

Graphic Novel

I was writing an essay on Graphic Novel on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the publication of ‘A River of Stories’ considered to be the first Indian graphic novel. There is a difference between Comic Book and Graphic Novel. Comic Books are serialized stories, mostly short in length and the stories they contain can continue over months and sometimes years. Graphic Novels on the other hand tend to be much longer, and also usually have their story lines wrapped up in one or two books. Graphic Novels are usually more complex and layered.

Incidentally the first graphic novelist of the world Will Wisner was born on this month- March, 107 years ago. His graphic novel ‘A Contract with God’ was published in 1978, though it was not promoted as a graphic novel.

I first heard about graphic novel about six years ago from a fifteen year old boy, who was writing one himself. He named it Monster Park. That teenager Himanshu Parija, son of Neelima BN, Professor of Mass Communication at Tirupati based Padmavati Women University is 21 now, pursuing graduation in veterinary science, because he wants to treat sick wild animals.  If ever I write a book on Graphic Novels in India, which I am planning to do- I’ll dedicate that book to him. 

The Wise Owl

Our house is located almost inside a forest. It borders a reserve forest on the back side. There are a number of mango and jamun trees and bamboo groves across the boundary wall on the front side.

The other night I found an owl sitting on a bamboo grove in front of our house. We often meet. And whenever we do, he hoots- and in its language, gives me some gyan.  

That night he said something, which I found printed on a banyan some days ago: may the forest be with you. 

When I retire (in two years) and shift from this place, adjacent to a reserve forest to Bhubaneswar, the only thing that I’ll definitely carry with me is this forest. It’ll remain with and within me for as long as I live. 

AI Teacher

A school in Kerala has introduced India's First Artificial Intelligence Teacher, Iris. The saree clad Caucasian, early thirty looking female teacher, an Artificial Intelligence driven robot is claimed to be able to answer complex questions of the students.

I can understand the reasons behind introducing AI teacher at a state where there probably are more teachers than students. There are two sets of reasons: one- pushing the boundary of knowledge and technology; two- no salary, no pension, no lafda, no tension.

I am thinking of a future scenario. In not a very distant future, in our schools the robo-teachers will teach robo- students, while the human beings search for another planet to live as the planet earth is increasingly becoming unlivable. 

The present world is full of ironies. Consider this: Recently AI powered robo teacher has been launched. So in near future, robo teachers will teach robo students, while the human beings search for another planet to live. 

Human beings are now called Homo Sapiens; ‘Sapiens’ mean wise men. The future human beings, as my friend J P Jagdev says, “will be called Hobo Sapiens: intelligent and homeless.
 

Height of Marketing

Holi, being a festival of colours, it used to be the occasion to wear dresses- sarees, salwar kameez, kurta- which were old and soon to be discarded. 

Not so anymore.

Specially designed sarees and Kurtas to wear on Holi are being sold online and on brick and mortar shops. These sarees and Kurtas have holi motifs printed on them.

Either we have grown sticking rich or have become stupid.

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Pathe Prantare. Weekly Column in Odia. 17.3.24

Pathe Prantare. Samay. 17.3.24

 

RamyaRachana in Odia

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window seat, 10.3.24

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 10.3.24

Why is Maha-Shivaratri so Holy?

Maha-Shivaratri, observed on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha (this year it fell on 8 March) is one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar. It is believed that it marks the anniversary of the divine marriage between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, representing the celestial merger of cosmic forces and the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Hindus across the country observe maha-Shivaratri-. However there are differences in the way it is observed.

Many believe that the planetary positions in the northern hemisphere are in such a conjunction that day that it is a potent catalyst which can help a person improve his spiritual and other energies. Many recite Sanskrit mantras like Maha-Mrityunjaya to really enhance their powers, on this very night. 

In many states, it is primarily a ritual where young women observed fast and prayed for a manly husband like Shiva.

It is observed in Bengal quite vigorously and differently. Jawhar Sircar, former Union Culture Secretary and a known cultural anthropologist explained the phenomenon from social and historical perspective.                

“Let us try to understand why and when this festival assumed importance among the masses in Bengal. People of this state who are so averse to the cold and wear mufflers and monkey-caps as soon as it’s a little chilly have always wondered how Shiva can survive the icy Himalayas — with just a single piece of tiger skin around his waist. But one must understand that the most popular imagery of Shiva that succeeded in Bengal was not so much the king of Kailash, but the humble peasant of Shivayana literature. Here he is portrayed as a potbellied peasant, who smokes ganja with his ganas and is chased around by an angry Parvati, with a broom in her hand. 

Kalighat Pot painting

Between the 15th and 17th Centuries, more and more persons joined settled life and agriculture in Bengal — and many other parts of India. They gave up their earlier professions of hunting, gathering, fishing and herding cattle, for economic improvement and social respect. This is when Bengal was coming to terms with Puranic deities. We may recall Kalketu, the hunter, who came out of the forests in the Middle Ages to set up a kingdom, where agriculture was the mainstay not the hunting. The Mangal Kavyas, celebrated the defeat of the great Pauranc deities of North India like the Shiva of Kailash and even Durga, at the hands of the local gods and goddesses like Dharma, Manasa and Chandi. This is when and the Shivayan poems of Bengal celebrated the poor peasant Shiva — not the king of Kailash. It became an instant hit with the newly emerging farmers from the lower orders and this ‘democratisation’ of worship is what distinguishes Bengal from other provinces.”

 

Sahitya Academi@70

Sahitya Academi, India’s National Academy of Letters completes 70 years on 12 March.  It undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages, including English.

The proposal to establish a National Academy of letters in India had been under the consideration of the British Government of the country long before independence. In 1944, the Government of India accepted in principle a proposal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal that a National Cultural trust should be set up to encourage cultural activities in all fields. The trust was to consist of three Academies, including the Academy of letters.

After freedom, the proposal was pursued by the independent Government of India, and it was decided to establish three National Academies one of letters, another of visual arts and the third of dance, drama and music. It was also decided that The Govt. would set up the Academies, but once they were established, it would refrain from exercising any control and leave them to perform their function as autonomous institution.

Jawaharlal Nehru was its first chairperson. The logo of Sahitya Academi was designed by Satyajit Ray.

Every year since its inception in 1954, the Sahitya Akademi Awards are presented to the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognised by the Akademi. The first awards were given in 1955.  

Amrita Pritam was the first woman to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956, for her magnum opus in Punjabi literature, “Sunehade” (Messages). Jayanta Mahapatra (22 October 1928 – 27 August 2023) was the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry in 1981.

Loyola@100

Question: What is common among Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, Politician Dayanidhi Maran and actors Vijay and Suriya?

Answer: All of them are alumni of Loyola College, Chennai, which turned 100 on 10 March 2024.

One hundred years ago Father Betram, a Jesuit priest bought 50 acres of ‘unattractive’ land in Madras (now Chennai) for Rs 60,000 and established a college. It was named Loyola College. It grew to be one of the most prestigious colleges in South India.

Jamnagar Jamboree

The social media these days are hyper active over the pre-wedding celebration of the Ambani family. Discussions are on over the guest list (especially, who has not been invited and why) to the programs to the food served to the dresses the invitees wore. Hundreds of jokes and memes are circulating to the delight of nosey people.

Meanwhile I saw a wisecrack on social media:

If you go by traffic, then Bengaluru should be called Jamnagar!

 

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