Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the freedom fighters of the first freedom movement of India, Rae said she had always been remembered for her contributions in India’s freedom struggle.
Kathmandu :
India today said Begum Hazrat Mahal, who had rebelled against British colonial rule in the country in 1857-58, will always be remembered for her contribution in India’s freedom struggle and described her as a “source of inspiration”. Recalling Begum’s contributions towards the freedom movement of India, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae laid a wreath on her tomb to commemorate her 137th death anniversary here.
“We must remember her with great honour as she has been a source of inspiration for us all,” Rae said. Begum of Awadh and the first wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who was one of the heroes of freedom struggle of 1857, died on April 7, 1879 during her refuge in Nepal. Noting that Mahal was one of the freedom fighters of the first freedom movement of India, Rae said she had always been remembered for her contributions in India’s freedom struggle.
He also offered to provide necessary assistance to protect and preserve one and a half century old Hazrat Mahal tomb located in the heart of Kathmandu. “Hazrat Mahal has been a symbol of age old tie between Nepal and India,” Rae said. Begum fiercely fought the British East India Company during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58, with the help of her commander Raja Jailal Singh.
When her forces regained power of Lucknow for a brief stint, her son Brijis Qadra was declared ruler of Awadh. When the forces under the command of the British re-captured Lucknow and most of Awadh, she was forced to retreat. She then took refuge in Kathmandu along with 10-year-old Qadr and some other loyal supporters. Begum’s rebellion was ignited by the demolition of temples and mosques by the East India Company to make way for roads.
source: http://www.india.com / India.com / Home> News> World / by Wires English / April 07th, 2016
(ANI): Heena Zaheer, a woman Qazi, on Sunday criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ statement and said people in such higher positions need to study the Constitution of India.
“It is not at all good. The people holding such higher positions in the government need to study the Constitution of India. They should understand that ‘do’s and don’ts’ are set according to the Constitution,” Zaheer told ANI.
“If it was written in the Constitution that we should chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan, we would do that. But that is not the case. Our Constitution is very secular and there is no such policy,” she added.
Joining the ongoing debate on nationalism, which is being linked to chanting of certain slogans in recent times, Fadnavis said that every Indian will have to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, adding that those who can’t say this shouldn’t live in the country.
The Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) yesterday came out to back the fatwa issued by leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband against chanting of “Bharat Mata ki jai”. The JIH said that the attempts being made to use the slogan as a symbol of patriotism are wrong.
Darul Uloom Deoband on Friday issued a fatwa against chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, saying that the slogan goes against the tenets of Islam.
“Bharat Mata, according to some Hindu sects, is a goddess and they worship her. For Muslims participating in worshiping a goddess would be un-Islamic, the fatwa said.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had stirred a hornet’s nest by rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion that the young generation be taught patriotic slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ stating that he won’t chant the slogan “even if a knife is put to his throat”. (ANI)
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / ANI / April 03rd, 2016
The flow of scholarly work between the Mughals and Europe involved translation, re-translation, re-interpretation and development.
Christoph Clavius was born in Bamberg in either 1538 or 1537 (an amusing discrepancy for a scientist whose fame derives from his work on calendar reform) and was initiated into the Jesuit order by Saint Ignatius Loyola in Rome in 1555, and passed away in 1612, an eminent scholar.
Many of Clavius’ works were influenced by Latin translations of Arabic scientific works, including those of Ibn Rushd (in particular his commentary on Aristotle), the astronomers Abū Ma‘shar, al-Biṭrūjī and al-Farghānī, as well as the mathematician Thābit b. Qurra, among many other scientists writing in Arabic and Persian whose works Clavius cites.
Book 4 of Christoph Clavius, Gnomonices Libri Octo, published in Rome in 1581 (533.k.2, pp. 442-43).
Clavius is an excellent example of the many Jesuit scientists of his age who continued to teach Ptolemaic astronomy (i.e. a geocentric vision of the solar system, indeed the universe, in which the planets and stars orbited the earth in concentric circles), despite the rise of – and often despite their own familiarity with and endorsement of – Copernican astronomy.
Christoph Clavius’ Gnomonices Libri Octo, on the art of gnomonics (timekeeping through the use of a sundial), was published in 1581
Mu‘tamid Khān’s Arabic translation of the identical passage (IO Islamic 1308, ff. 289v-290).
Arabic version
This work also exists in a fascinating Arabic translation emanating from the Mughal empire that was purchased by Richard Johnson (1753-1807), a well-known collector of manuscripts and miniature paintings who worked for the East India Company.
Johnson made an annotation on the flyleaf of the manuscript that the translator of Clavius’ work was sent to Portugal by Aurangzeb – presumably to study or in some diplomatic capacity.
The full note reads, “Upon Dialling. Work of Clavius in Latin translated into Arabic by Maatemed Khan who went to Portugal in the time of Aurungzebe. This is the original foul copy of the translation in the hand of the translator (i.e., the ‘foul copy’ being the first draft, in contrast to the ‘fair copy’).”
Richard Johnson’s explanatory note (IO Islamic 1308).
A further note, in Arabic, added by the translator’s son, reads: “Draft of the Book of Measures [Kitāb al-Maqāyīs] which was composed by Clavius the Frank [Kalāwīūs al-Firinjī] in the Latin language, and my father, God have mercy on him, translated it into the [clear – mubīn?] Arabic language, possessor of virtuous talents including the perfection of acquired knowledge,
Rustam called Mu‘tamad Khān, the son of Qubād, gatherer of proofs of knowledge, perceiving the secrets of the spoken and the tacit, given the name Diyānat Khān al-Ḥārithī al-Badakhshī, may God be fair with both of them and elevate them.
Signed: I, who am a feeble slave begging for the mercy of the One and the intercession of the Prophet, Mīrzā Muḥammad, may God cause him to attain eternal happiness”.
Note by Muʻtamad Khān’s son (IO Islamic 1308, f.1v).
Complex process
This translation offers some fascinating possibilities.
The first is the demonstration of how knowledge circulated in the early modern world.
Clavius’ work, which responded to and was inspired by Arabic mathematicians and scientists in Latin translation, here a generation after its publication is translated back into Arabic to be read, presumably by elites at the court of Aurangzeb, where the work’s translator and his son were courtiers.
This translation demonstrates the complexity of knowledge flows – that they were synchronic as well as diachronic, and also involved a process not just of translation, but of re-translation, re-interpretation and development as they travelled.
Furthermore, the inscriptions taken in tandem, one in English made by an East India official, the other in Arabic by a Mughal courtier, open the possibility that already in Aurangzeb’s reign, Mughal elites travelled to Europe perhaps to study.
In the case of Mu‘tamid Khan, the translator of this text, he mastered the technical idiom of geometry and mathematics in Latin, and then translated it into an equally complex scholarly language, Arabic. Not an uncommon intellectual feat at the Mughal court, this process of scientific translation remains to be studied in depth.
It is also possible that the presence of the Jesuits at Goa had an influence on the production of this translation, but firm evidence remains to be found.
Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party or PDP took oath this morning as the first woman Chief Minister of the country’s only Muslim majority state, Jammu and Kashmir, at the head of a coalition government that includes the BJP.
The 56-year-old succeeds her father Mufti Mohammad Saeed who died in January this year. 23 ministers are taking oath along with Ms Mufti , including members of the BJP, whose Nirmal Singh will be Deputy chief minister.
In an indication of the struggles that lie ahead for Ms Mufti, senior PDP leader and lawmaker Tariq Karra boycotted the oath ceremony.
“I had a meeting Mehboobaji till late last night. I wanted three ministers who have played a dubious role and are responsible for the failure of Mufti Mohammad Saeed to be dropped,” Mr Karra told NDTV.
Mr Karra wanted Ms Mufti to exclude key PDP leaders Altaf Bukhari, Naeem Akhtar and Haseeb Drabu from her council of ministers. He alleges that they plotted to form government in alliance with the BJP without Ms Mufti as she refused to take oath for three months after her father’s death.
Ms Mufti dropped Mr Bukhari, but not the others. She has instead replaced two lawmakers who were junior ministers in Mufti Saeed’s team.
Mr Karra is no lightweight. In 2014, he defeated former union minister Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference in the general elections.
Ms Mufti has been criticised for delaying government formation as she wanted the BJP-led Centre to agree to several demands. But the BJP stood its ground saying it would agree to no pre-conditions for an alliance .
Last week, after a long stalemate, Ms Mufti’s meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared the way for a PDP-BJP government to take oath. But her struggle to manage a difficult coalition remains.
Former J&K chief minister and Ms Mufti’s main rival Omar Abdullah has prophesied that Mehbooba will face “more alliance contradictions”in the partnership with the BJP, an ideological opposite.
State elections in December 2014 gave no party a majority in the 70 member J&K assembly. The PDP, with 28 seats and the BJP with 25 had formed government after weeks of hard negotiations last year.
source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> All India / by Surabhi Malik / April 04th, 2016
Cinema buffs of a certain vintage still wax eloquent about Mumbai’s erstwhile Alexandra Cinema’s hammy film title translations. On its marquee, Alfred Hitchcock’s ’39 Steps’ was dubbed ‘Ek Kum Chaalis Lambe’, ‘Double Impact’ became ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ and ‘Bruce Lee – The Legend’ morphed into the quintessentially-Bombaiya ‘Dadaon Ka Dada — Bruce Lee’.
By the early 2000s, however, Alexandra Cinema had graduated from showing Hollywood fare to B and C-grade films interspersed with adult films. It was a time when local residents asked school bus drivers to switch routes so that impressionable school kids weren’t exposed to the “dirty” posters.
Then about three years ago, in a startling about-face, the cinema hall took on a new avatar as a mosque-cum-Islamic institution. Today, the Dolby Digital speakers, which once blared item numbers, call the faithful to prayer and the audience’s catcalls have given way to an imam chanting Quranic verses five times a day.
The transformation began in 2011, when south Mumbai-based builder Rafiq Dudhwala bought the sprawling 15,000sq ft property for several crores and donated it to an Islamic NGO, Deeniyat, which deals in printing, distribution and the sale of Islamic books to Urdu and Arabic schools across the country. The huge structure stands bang opposite the Maharashtra College at Belasis road near Mumbai Central’s Nagpada junction.
At one time, scores of cinema halls dotted this 3km radius. Ardeshir Irani, who began his career as an exhibitor in the early days of Indian cinema, opened Alexandra Cinema in 1921 along with co-owner Abdulally Esoofally, another tent showman-turned-movie magnate.
From the outside, the theatre looks the same but its interiors have been transformed.
Dudhwala declined to comment on the transformation but the change was welcomed by residents of surrounding Muslim-dominated areas like Clare road, Nagpada, Agripada and Mumbai
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> India / by Ahmed Ali, TNN / April 03rd, 2016
Mohammed Tanzil Ahmad, who has been with the NIA ever since the organisation was formed in February 2009, had been investigating many cases especially related to the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.
National Investigation Agency officer Mohammed Tanzil Ahmad. (ANI photo)
National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer Mohammed Tanzil Ahmad, who was shot dead by two unidentified motorbike-borne assailants in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor, has been given martyr status today.
NIA IG Sanjiv Kumar Singh announced that all provisions shall be provided to the deceased officer’s family. The Border Security Force (BSF) has granted Rs 20 lakhs to Ahmad’s family.
Mohammad Tanzil’s last rites were performed late in the evening amid Inquilab Zinadabad slogans, raised by locals. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to the NIA officer.
Six teams comprising of officials of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been formed to probe into the brutal attack.
Mohammad Tanzil’s last rites were performed late in the evening. (photo: ANI)
The NIA IG refused to comment on Tanzil Ahmad’s involvement in cases pertaining to terrorist outfits like the Islamic State, Indian Mujahideen or Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
An assistant commandant with the BSF, Tanzil Ahmad was on deputation with the NIA. A Bijnor native, Ahmad was posted as an inspector-rank officer at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he has been apprised of the incident and that a comprehensive report is being prepared.
“Whatever’s necessary is being done. We are talking (to NIA officials),” Singh said.
45-year-old Ahmad, who has been with the NIA ever since the organisation was formed in February 2009, had been investigating several cases related to the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. His superiors termed him as a thorough professional in intelligence gathering as well as investigation.
Superintendent of Police (Bijnor) Subhash Singh Baghel said, Ahmad came to Bijnor on Friday to attend his niece’s marriage. Ahmad’s family lives in Sahaspur village in Bijnor.
At around 8.00 pm on Saturday evening, Ahmad and his family left their home for the marriage function organised at Bandhan Guest House at Sohara village, which is around nine kilometers from their residence.
“After attending the function, Tanzil and his family were returning home at around 1.00 am. When their vehicle was around 300 meters away from their residence, two youths on a motorcycle waved their hand. When Tanzil stopped his car, they fired several rounds and escaped. Tanzil and his wife were in the front seat, while his two children, 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old were in the back seat,” the SP said.
Hearing the sound of gunshots, locals rushed to the spot and one of them informed the Bijnor police. A police team was rushed to the spot and the officer along with his wife were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors referred them to Moradabad. Tanzil Ahmad was declared dead by doctors upon reaching the Moradabad hospital while his wife was referred to Delhi.
source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / IndiaToday.in / Home> News> India / Arunava Chatterjee / New Delhi – April 03rd, 2016
Justice B Kemal Pasha on Saturday said he did not believe that heads of religious institutions could influence voters.
He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the birthday celebration of veteran journalist K M Roy, and releasing the latter’s book ‘Ananyanayi’ here on Saturday.
“I don’t believe that people would caste vote as directed by religious heads. If a person close to me tells me to vote for a particular candidate, I would think twice. People of the State have the ability to take decisions on their own. They will think before casting their vote,” said Pasha, adding that Malayalis would vote for candidates who are fit, without considering religious and social factors.
“The supreme authority of the nation is not the President, Prime minister or the Chief Justice, but its citizens who caste vote.
People should have the rectitude to express their interest, otherwise life has no meaning,” he said, adding that one should always speaks with sincerity.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / April 03rd, 2016
Ustad Jainul Abedin’s talent is indisputable but is yet toget his due.
The coveted “Sangeet Bharati” title was bestowed on Ustad Jainul Abedin, in a devotionally charged ambience at Sree Satyananda Devayatan on the final day of the 115th birth anniversary of Thakur Satayananda. “Sur-yoga is the easiest way to reach God,” was the philosophy of Thakur who groomed Archana Puri Maa, his spiritual daughter, to lead the way through her divine creativity in the arena of music and literature. She, as the beacon of the Devayatan, converted it as the haven of music where eminent musicians offer their music and receive blessings; Abedin being one of them who also encourages his disciples to begin their melodic journey with divine sanctions.
An ardent admirer of the young Ustad, Maa did the honours and listened to his melodious renderings that once again proved that he remains a devout devotee of his Ustad, the late Latafat Hussain Khan and his unalloyed Agra Gharana tradition replete with the elaborate alap. The latter’s intangible beauty, carefully avoided now by almost all Agra exponents, pulsates with piety in Abedin’s musically rich voice and lingering notes which have no trace of the gruff utterances associated with the gharana. All this makes the slow segment of his alap a real treat!
But Agra is far away from the modern abstract-ism a la Indore gharana. Conversely, it is incorrigibly tangible. Abedin’s warm persona unfurls petal by petal during his typically gharana-based “extrovert” style of handling the jod segment of the alap, the bol-baant (lyrics-based rhythmic divisions), the bol-banav (melodic improvisation of the lyrics), the bold and powerful taans, the varied patterns of rhythm-play, the saath-sangat (simultaneous improvisation) and sawal-jawab (dialogue) with the tabla and make his presentations remarkably charming.
Despite being blessed with all the virtues of a great musician, what keeps him under-rated and out of star-studded concert stages; so much so that at a recent all India congregation of Agra gharana representatives in Bhopal did not see him participating while many pedestrians found entry.
Abedin refuses to be despondent and gracefully accepts all as his “destiny”. His attitude reminds one of a sportsman’s spirit or a farmer’s resilience. Curiously, he is both! Born at Bashirhat, far away from Kolkata, he belongs to a family of well to do landlords; loves fishing and is passionate about cricket. Inspired by his latent talent, several eminent musicians groomed him. Hailed as a child prodigy, he started performing successfully in concerts and competitions since the early age of 9. He stood first at a talent search contest organised by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in 1978.
This was destiny which saw him as one of SRA’s earliest scholars at the tender age of 11. Away from home rigorous taaleem in the true guru-shishya tradition from the legendary Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan, followed by training under Pandits Vijay Kichlu and Sunil Bose after the Ustad’s demise, ensured that he learn the true nuances of the Agra gharana gayaki. Growing up in an enviable musical atmosphere amidst some of the greatest luminaries of music world, Abedin also received invaluable guidance from Pandit K G Ginde and Vidushi Dipali Nag.
But destiny prolonged the usual change of voice of the starry-eyed young teen and there came a plateau in his ascending career which, due to the unprecedented success of SRA’s ‘first flush’, placed him in the second row. Though he featured in almost all the major festivals and various ITC Sammelans in India; toured Canada, USA and Bangladesh; successfully conducted workshops in India and various cities in Bangladesh, worked with the prefect’s department of his Alma Mater, the stigma of the ‘second best’ never left him; even if requests came solely for Jainul Abedin’s recitals, they would get spurned for mysterious reasons! When he started enjoying teaching, some of his brilliant disciples were placed under other ‘seniors’!
Destiny it is; especially because Abedin still remains a village-boy at heart and refuses to fight the system by maligning names of his ‘elders’or ‘friends’. Instead, he is blissfully devoted to his music, independently giving taaleem to innumerable students, giving concerts regularly and conducting successful workshops both in India and Bangladesh. He is also an examiner for Hindustani classical music of various universities. His social organisation “South Kolkata Music and Art Foundation” whose primary activities are to help aged musicians, is presently working on building an old-age home for distressed artistes. The divine blessings in the form of “Sangeet Bharati” will see him through ultimately, he knows!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Friday Review / by Meena Banerjee / March 11th, 2016
The Nizam of Hyderabad’s Rs 310 crore lying locked up in a UK bank due to a dispute between India, Pakistan and his family for the last 68 years is likely to be opened soon. According to government sources, the final arguments in the case continued for five days in the High Court Chancery in London and judgment has been reserved.
“The case came up for hearing in Justice Henderson’s court on March 2, 3, 4, 7 and final argument was on March 17. We are hopeful that a judgment in the case will be pronounced soon,” a source said.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hrderabad
The dispute has its genesis in a 1948 transfer of GBP 1 million from Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan’s account in Westminster Bank (now NatWest Bank) to the account of then Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ibrahim Rahimtoohla. The fund was allegedly transferred by the nizam’s finance minister without Khan’s knowledge. After the State of Hyderabad was annexed to India, the nizam brought a civil action against his finance minister and Rahimtoohla for illegal transaction.
House of Lords after Pakistan claimed sovereign immunity. In subsequent years, attempts to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels failed due to conflicting claims of beneficial entitlement to the funds by three parties: Pakistan, India and the nizam’s heirs. The bank also made it clear that it will not release the money unless the British court passes an order directing it to do so. The government ofIndia had also participated in discussions with Pakistan since 1958 at various levels. According to sources, it figured in almost all foreign secretary-level meetings between India and Pakistan.
“The last such meeting was held on July 5, 2012, but no out of court settlement was reached. Pakistan was not too keen to even respond to our positive approach,” the source said.
On April 3, 2013, the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK proposed to initiate a civil action against the bank for releasing the money, which is now worth Rs 310 crore, saying it indisputably has the legal title over the nizam’s money. On November 23, 2013, it again approached the court serving a notice of discontinuance of the proceedings, which the court had observed as abuse of legal process.
“In serving the notice of discontinuance, Pakistan was abusing the process of the court. The abuse lay in seeking to achieve a tactical advantage, which would place Pakistan in a better position than that to which it had already voluntarily submitted by bringing its action against the bank,” the court’s observation on January 16, 2015, stated.
Claims have also been put forward over the years by or on behalf of members of the Nizam’s extended family.
Though the bank refused to release the money without an order from the English court, it continued to send bank statements to the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, solicitors for the High Commissioner for India in London and nizam’s heirs.
The money trail
■ The nizam’s Rs 310 crore is locked up in NatWest Bank
■ In 1948, the nizam’s finance minister transferred GBP 1 million to the account of then Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK without permission
■ The Nizam brought a civil action against his finance minister
■ The money is claimed by Pakistan, India and the nizam’s heirs
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> The Sunday Standard / by Yatish Yadav / March 27th, 2016
Abou Ben Adhem is a poem by Leigh Hunt. Some may say it is old hat. But, for ever its philosophy is relevant; in truth in today’s world of war, strife and self-obsession among people.
Abou Ben Adhem wakes up from his deep, peaceful sleep and sees an angel writing in a book. What are you writing?, asks Abou Ben Adhem.
The angel says, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?, asks Abou
“Nay, no so,” says the Angel
Then Abou, humbly says, “I pray thee, then, write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
The Angel writes so and vanishes.
The next night, the angel appears again and shows the names whom God had blessed. And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest. This, even though Abou Ben Adhem, instead of saying “he loved the Lord” he had said he “loved his fellow men.” It simply means in this world it is more important to love fellow men rather than merely loving God. We all know what is happening in West Asia as a result of loving God too much and fellow men less.
Last evening, I was witness to a number of Abou Ben Adhems on the vast stage of Kalamandira. The occasion was the first award presentation to those who have “Loved their fellow men,” to use the words of Abou Ben Adhem, by the partners of city’s Ganesh Beedi Works under the auspices of their Charitable Trusts in the name of their parents M. Govinda Rao and D. Ramabai. It is known as Ramaagovinda Puraskar-2016.
Yesterday, I was caught in a web struggling to decide to which of the three programmes I was invited I must go — one wedding, a dinner at Palace in connection with MRC election and the function at Kalamandira. I decided on Kalamandira and happier for that. A memorable awards function indeed, made more memorable by the cultural event ‘Miracle on Wheels’ a performance by the specially-abled youngsters on wheelchairs par excellence.
There was yoga on wheels, Dashavathara on wheels, Bhagavad Gita on wheels and more. Performing with clock-work precision, timing of movement well synchronised as they criss-crossed the stage while the audience wowed wonder-struck. The accompanying music and song, mostly verses from Hindu Mythology, held the audience spellbound.
Dr. Syed Salauddin Pasha
The innovator-choreographer of this extraordinary show by the specially-abled performers was Dr. Syed Salauddin Pasha, a Kannadiga from Anekal near Bengaluru, now settled in Delhi. I learn he is a follower of Sufism. No wonder he came on the stage wearing a dhoti and a white manila bush coat, crimson nama glowing vertically on his broad forehead. He looked younger for his fifty years. But for his name you wouldn’t know he is a Muslim.
It was revealed by himself that as a student he was given a Quran by his parents and sent to school but he would go to his Brahmin friend’s house and return as Pasha Iyer ! From what he spoke from the stage it was clear that he has mastered both Islamic studies, Hindu Mythology and religion. He was so eloquent in chanting the sacred verses the audience applauded him with clapping ever so often.
Star of Mysore had published about his achievements on Saturday, 19th March, 2016. If Karnataka Government has not recognised him with a Rajyotsava Award or some other award, he indeed deserves one because he is a Kannadiga who speaks impeccable Kannada with ease and eloquence and wants to shift to Bengaluru for good for love of his roots.
Be that as it may, I must conclude this column by appreciating two anecdotes one of the awardees, Sanskrit scholar Lakshmisha Tolpadi, narrated to underscore two values of idealism in our lives:
There was a guest who had come to the house at lunch time but there was no rice ready to cook. There was paddy, though. The housewife, being alone in the house and believing in the ideal ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ (Guest is Divinity incarnate) requested the guest to wait till she cooked food.
She then starts pounding the paddy. Realising that the clinking sound of her bangles in her hands would betray her pounding of the paddy which would make the guest know that she was taking extra trouble, she quietly removes all the bangles, makes rice out of paddy, cooks food and serves the guest.
Moral: Let not others know the trouble you take or trauma you undergo while helping others. Never say ‘I suffered so much to help you.’ Such help is no help; just craving for appreciation or sympathy. It makes the beneficiary disgusted with himself for being the cause for another’s inconvenience and makes one guilty of troubling others.
Another anecdote relates to one Pakru, an old, poor nonagenarian, known for his knowledge of Tulu Language, a dialect in Dakshina Kannada. Once one Venkataraju, a research scholar collecting Tulu words and vocabulary, went to see Pakru in order to write an article in the newspaper. Venkataraju took a photograph of Pakru using flash. Pakru innocently asked Venkataraju, “What are you doing? What is that flash of light?’’
When told that he was taking his photograph for publishing in newspaper, Pakru innocently said, ‘‘Why photograph when I am here in your presence.”
This kind of innocence of the noble and a simple person, the modern man of education can’t understand, said Lakshmisha Tolpadi.
This incident reminded me of what my friend M.P. Prabhakaran in New York had written in his latest book, sent to me last week, titled ‘‘My Thirty-Day European Odyssey’’ about a similar situation.
Prabhakaran lands in Stockholm airport. He sees a larger-than-life picture on the wall of a statue of Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm. It had an imaginative, tourist-friendly caption: ‘Welcome to my hometown.’ Prabhakaran was not sure if he could take a photograph of it for security reasons and asks a fellow traveller, a local person, if he could take a photograph.
He asked: “How long are you going to be in Stockholm?”
“Three days,” said Prabhakaran.
“Then go to the City Hall one day. The statue of Birger Jarl you are seeing in this picture is there in front of the city hall. Instead of taking a photograph of a photograph of the statue, why not take a photograph of the statue itself?”
e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra… / by K. Ganapathy / March 30th, 2016
