Hindi translation of Shakti launched |
| Hindi translation of Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee's novel Shakti, originally written in Odia was released on 11 March 2020 at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, Odisha by Sahitya Academy Award winner litterateur Prof. Jitendra Narayan Dash (Dash Benhur) and Deepsikha Bharttacharyya, Senior Journalist, Indian Express, Delhi. It has been published by Blue Rose Publishers, Delhi. Hindi translation has been done by Itishree Singh Rathaur This has already been in English. Assamese and Bengali translation of the novel will be published by early 2021. |
Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Hindi Translation of Shakti launched
Saturday, 7 March 2020
Friday, 6 March 2020
Column | Window Seat
Window
Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 8.3.20
History repeats itself…
There
is saying that history often repeats itself.
As
the Corona virus is wreaking havoc in many countries of the world travel
restrictions are being made for people of different countries. The world
economy is already in the downward spiral as China suffers the brunt of the
pandemic and it spreads to rich European countries. It effectively has cut down
world trade and people’s movement from one country to the other. These two have
been the major constructs of globalization.
Something
like this had happened 800 years ago. The Mongol tribes of Central Asia were
forged into an effective union by the genius of Temujin, who was proclaimed as
Genghis Khan (universal ruler) in 1206. Under his leadership until his death in
1227 – and followed by his descendants in the same tradition – the entire
Eurasian landmass from China in the east to Iraq, Iran and Russian in the west,
extending to Hungary and the Adriatic Sea by 1240, was conquered to establish
the Pax Mongolica.
As
Deepak Nayyar writes in his well-researched essay titled ‘The Future of Globalisation: Learning from
History’ (EPW Nov. 9, 2019), “ Globalisation has always required an infrastructure of law, order and security,
provided by political hegemony. The Mongols were the hegemons in this era who
unified the Eurasian landmass under their political control and encourage trade
flows between all regions across this vast geographical space. In fact, it was
only the Mongol Empire that welded the segments and loops of the Silk Roads
into a single route. Once established, every region- Central Asia, south Asia,
South East Asia, East Asia, the Islamic world and Europe – participated in this
international trade.
The geographical unification drove
economic interaction in a horizontally linked world system even if it was not
hegemonic But there was a flip side. Bacteria, germs and viruses, that were
local to particular regions, also moved across long distances, carried by
people or animals. Plague germs were carried by Mongol troops, with their
horses, from Central Asia to the Black Sea in 1347. There were transmitted by
ships to ports around the Mediterranean, and then across Europe. And it caused
devastation of the worst kind. It is estimated that the plague – Black Death –
killed more than 25 million out of a total population of 80 million in just
three years from 1348 to 1351. Its
impact on the Islamic world was perhaps worse.
The
global spread of disease was a corollary of the economic integration brought
about by the Mongol Empire. It led to the formation of a common market not only
for goods but also for microbes and germs. Something like this is happening now
as Corona virus is spreading to different countries across the world. As I
write this, 31 people have been affected in India and Bhutan reports its first
case.
The
mid-14th century witnessed the disintegration of Pax Mongolica, when
the internal conflict among Mongol states coincided with the loss of Persia and
China. In the absence of imperial rule, trade routes were no longer safe,
secure and open. The Silk Route, too, was closed down by the Ottoman Empire in
the early 15th century. The diseases also was a reason for the
disintegration.
As
Corona virus continues to spread despite efforts of all the countries- the
history seems to be repeating itself.
Holi
Holi, the festival of colour
is celebrated throughout North, West and East India on the full-moon day of Phalguna. Participants throw coloured
water and powders on one another and smear colour on the face
and body of the other.
Holi is particularly
enjoyed by worshippers of the god Krishna. Its general frivolity is considered
to be in imitation of Krishna’s play with the gopis.
Ravindranath Tagore
was fascinated by the paly of colours of this festival and introduced Vasanta
Utsav (Festival of Spring) in Shantiniketan. Songs dedicated to the celebration
of life and dances mark this ‘utsav’. Over a period of time it has become a
part of Bengali culture.
Odisha has a unique ritual during this
time- called Dola Yatra or
Dola Melana. Idols of Krishna from different villages congregate at one place
and worshipped together. This festival signifies
the journey of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna for ultimate union in the
tradition of Bhakti cult.
 |
| Tableau on Dola Yatra at Republic Day Parade 2017 |
Over and above the religious
rituals, Holi is fun. Holi is letting oneself
loose. Holi is hanging around with friends.
Tailpiece: Message on Holi
Nabaghana's message on
World Water Day:
Save water, drink beer.
Save water, drink beer.
Nabaghana's message on
Holi last year:
Save environment, play holi on whatsapp.
Save environment, play holi on whatsapp.
Nabaghana's message on
Holi this year:
Don’t play Holi, Save
yourself from being affected by Corona virus.
Tailpiece: Made in China
Never thought that death also could
be ‘Made in China’.
***
Journalist turned media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in
Dhenkanal. He writes fiction. Hindi translation of his novel Shakti, originally
written in Odia has recently been published.
He can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com
Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Sunday, 1 March 2020
Column | Window Seat 1.3.20
Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee |
1.3.20
Bhojpuri Music
Come
holi and the lovers of Bhojpuri music can listen to gems like- Ghusal ba Lehenga me Virus Corona.
Meaning: Corona Virus has entered inside the Lehenga. This song is sung by
‘Diamond Star’ Guddu Rangila. Or a slightly simpler: Corona Virus Kaisal ba? How is the Corona Virus? Singer: Jallu
Raja.
Bhojpuri
music industry is amazing. It can churn out songs on any issue for any
occasion. However, the big release time for Bhojpuri music industry is holi,
like it is Rajo for Odia film industry or pujo for Bengali music industry.
Research threw up some interesting facts about
Bhojpuri music industry whose story in our times, is inextricably linked with the
story of Bhojpuri cinema. In 2003, the Bhojpuri film industry was enthused with
the release of Sasura Bada Paisawala. Made on a budget of Rs.
35 lakh, the film made more than Rs. 4.5 crore at the box-office. Since
then, the Bhojpuri film industry has evolved from being a cottage industry to
a behemoth that makes more than 100 films a year, enlisting big Bollywood
stars.
Avijit Ghosh, the author of Cinema
Bhojpuri, examines the coming-into-its-own of the industry in a Times
of India article titled Mofussil’s Revenge. “The Bhojpuri
film industry’s revival isn’t only about a regional genre finding its market,”
he writes. “The [hinterland] audience seems to be telling mainstream Bollywood:
We want our own smells and sights in the movies. As in post-Mandal politics,
regions and communities are asserting themselves through cinema that suits
their aesthetics.” As Bollywood turned its gaze westwards as well as towards a
more urban multiplex audience, Bhojpuri cinema took over some of the ground it
ceded. It fulfilled the desire of a section of Indian rural and rurban populace
for entertainment rooted in the hinterland. Bhojpuri music—both film
and non-film music—is the product of a similar demand and an expression
that most from its home state can easily identify with. Something similar is
happening with Sambalpuri Music in Odisha.
The market for Bhojpuri music and
cinema isn’t just people living in Bihar, but also hunderds of thousands of
migrant Bihari workers across the country or even abroad. These songs remind
them of what home sounds like in a foreign land. Cheap smart phone, affordable
data tariff and social media platforms
like youtube have made these songs easily accessible.
Bhojpuri songs are often accused
of being vulgar. A Google search of the titles of Bhojpuri music CD can provide
you a glimpse of the fare. But some sociologists have a different take on this.
“Playful irreverence, often bordering on vulgarity, has been an ingredient of
folk songs that have been part of the Indian hinterland’s longest held
traditions. For example, Gaari (derived from the Hindi
word gaali, which translates into ‘swear’) songs are integral to
Bihari weddings. One of the many rituals in such a wedding is a Dwar
Puja— performed to welcome the groom as he arrives with his baraat (the
groom’s family) at the bride’s door. The bride is led to the mandap by
her friends and cousins and they sing cheeky, coarse songs, flouting ideas of
conventional familial propriety, to taunt the groom and his family. Gaari songs
are examples of how perceived vulgarity can function instead as an agent of
creativity, possibly, and even social cohesiveness or simply great fun.
Others, however, refuse to buy
this argument and say: it is a blatant attempt to sell the music to earn cheap
popularity and money.
Time to introduce Namaste over handshake
As a form of greetings the Indian style
‘namaste’, is better than a hug or handshake or high five, when it comes to the
question of transfer of viruses from one humanbody to the other. A study shows
in a handshake over 124 million bacterial colony (CFU) could be transferred
from one person to the other. In a high five, 55 million CFU could be
transferred. In a first bump- which is touch fist to fist- about 7 million CFU
could be transferred. In a ‘namaste’ no CFU is transferred as there is no human
touch involved. At a time when corona virus is wreaking havoc worldwide- it is
wise to adopt Asian form of greetings- like Indian Namaste or Japanese deep
bow.
Tailpiece: Strength and Weakness
Seen on the back of a T-Shirt:
My Wife is my strength.
All other women are my weakness.
Dangerous virus
A highly
dangerous virus called "Weekly Overload Recreational Killer" (WORK)
is currently going around. If you come in contact with this WORK virus, you
should immediately go to the nearest "Biological Anxiety Relief"
(BAR) center to take antidotes known as "Work Isolating Neutralizer
Extract" (WINE) or "Radioactive Unwork Medicine"(RUM) or
"Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter"(BEER) or
"Vaccine Official Depression Killing Antigen"(VODKA).
(Courtesy:
Social Media)
***
This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and posted in http://www.prameyanews.com
This week you can find it here: http://www.prameyanews.com/window-seat-ghusal-ba-lehenga-me-virus-corona/
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