Guest Article: 10 Interesting Facts About Egypt

Egyptian Museum Cairo pic source:

Adam Spawton-Ricer

Egypt has been drawing in tourists since the ancient Greeks first struck up a relationship with them in the 5^th century BC, but today the most popular region with foreign tourists are the Red Sea resorts. All inclusive Egypt holidays in the red sea resorts have a wide appeal because of the variety of activities on offer – as well as the chance to see some of the lesser-known historic sites of ancient Egypt.

Before you head to Egypt for your summer holidays, get to know the country a little better with these 10 facts you probably didn’t know (or had long forgotten)!

1. Did you know that the official name of Egypt is actually the ‘Arab Republic of Egypt’ and is known to the locals as ‘Masr’ or ‘Misr’.
2. Cairo, the capital city of the country, is the largest city in the whole of Africa and the Middle East.
3. Many of the most useful household objects were originally invented by ancient Egyptians. Scissors, deodorants, toothbrushes, keys, combs and locks are just a selection of these things we couldn’t live without today!
4. 5,000 years ago the architect Imhotep lived and worked in Egypt; it is believed he is the earliest scientist to be known by name anywhere in the world today.
5. We have the Egyptians to thank for our 365 day calendar and 24 hour day!
6. Most of the Egyptian population is located near the Nile River as this is the only ground across the country where food can be grown.
7. Sadly, global warming could threaten many coastal cities of Egypt with flooding if the sea levels rise in future years.
8. Egypt is about the size of France and Germany combined and most of the land is barren desert terrain.
9. Around a whopping 78 million people live in Egypt!
10. In Egypt the literacy rate for locals is only 68% for men and 47% for women. 

    

    Spices such as Cumin, Fenugreek and Corriander were used as medicine in Ancient Egypt. Pic source:
    

    Adam Spawton-Ricer

On your holidays to Egypt you’ll find it hard to get away from the fascinating ancient history of the country, so here are 5 quirky facts about Ancient Egypt too!

1. In the time of Pepi II of Egypt, the pharaoh used to have a number of naked slaves covered in honey nearby so that any flies would be deterred from landing on him.
2. Egyptians used early folk medicines in an attempt to cure ailments; infections were treated with soil or mouldy bread.
3. Ancient Egyptian children did not wear any clothes till they were teenagers due to the extreme heat.
4. Egyptian Pharaohs never let their hair be seen, wearing either a headdress or a crown to cover themselves up.
5. In Ancient Egypt both women and men wore make-up (mostly eye make up). It was originally thought to be a form of protection against the sun but later became a way to adorn themselves!
   
   
   About the Author-
   
   
   Adam Spawton-Ricer is a writer and blogger whose main focus is on Egypt's Red Sea resorts, he intends to return to Egypt in the new year to dive in Dahab. Adam also writes about Amsterdam and review hotels there. 

   
   

   Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article  and the pictures provided are those of the author, and not of the Dispassionate Observer.
    

Off the Cuff: A road trip to Bardhaman

A trip to Bardhaman by road was always a dream in my student days in the University. In those days I commuted from Howrah Station in Kolkata to Bardhaman by train (mostly local trains which made inordinate delay in reaching the destination and at times express trains which were a shade better.) In mind, though, I always longed for a long drive from Kolkata to Bardhaman traversing the beautifully laid highway. After I completed my study the link with the "Rice Bowl of West Bengal" faded away as I concentrated hard on my job in Kolkata. Two years passed and Bardhaman became a story of the past. However, destiny chose to play a different game. I resigned from my job and came back to Bardhaman after two and a half years as a Junior Research Fellow in the University. Bardhaman has changed quite a bit by then. SBSTC buses have started operating by road from Dharmatala in Kolkata to Tinkonia Bus stand in Bardhaman. The day I got this news I made up my mind to avail a bus back to Kolkata from Bardhaman. To my wonder air-conditioned buses were also available at an affordable cost. I got the ticket of an AC Volvo bus and ran up the stairs in excitement. The journey that day was one to remember amidst a chilling air condition which made me to shiver at times! 

                                     

                                     Me and Ananda Sir at the Highway

This, however, failed to quench the thirst for a long drive. There were days when one fine morning I would wake up in bed and decide that I should get hold of a car. Fortunately, my loony impulses found strong resistance from my head. Paulo Coelho might have taught us that listening to our hearts is a virtue and following our dreams the ultimate goal but in reality one can land up in big trouble by just following the heart! I always had regard for one of his statements-When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. True were his words! My dream became a reality after a long wait and when it came, it came good!

Department of Mass Communication and Department of Sociology in my University are housed under one roof and this opened up the opportunity for me. Ananda Mohan Kar, one of the young professors of the department of sociology turned out to be a neighbour back home. A suave and knowledgable man, Kar, is a delightful company for a scholar who is yet to learn the nuances of his trade. The best part about him is his love for travel and zeal to learn new things. One day he came up with the idea of a road trip to Bardhaman by car. He was driven by two interests- primarily to ferry some books and journals to Bardhaman from home and secondly to enjoy a trip. I agreed to the proposal readily and the date was fixed in no time. He got hold of a white ambassador which came honking early in the morning. The books were placed in the dickey and we sat cosily in the car. To our delight, the driver was a prolific speaker with a number of interesting stories to share!

                                     Ananda Sir with the "Special Driver"

Soon the car was speeding past beautiful fields and trees in the national highway. In this time of winter the morning was pleasant and I had put on my jacket. Ananda Sir looked animated and at times was humming one of his favourite tunes. Sunlight was smiling on the trees along the road. I loved the sight of paddy fields, cattle and busy farmers. Refreshing and soothing for the eyes used to vehicles and gigantic buildings in Kolkata. As the car approached Singur, Sir started looking for a road side Dhaba. In my mind I tried to recollect the location of a Dhaba which I saw in one of the bus rides back to Kolkata. Not far away from Singur, we landed up at the spot. The Dhaba named 'Destination Veg Food' had impressive exteriors and as we strolled past the corridor into the restaurant, the interiors spoke of class. Alu Paratha and a preparation of peas were in offing and the order was placed in a jiffy. Three of us devoured the delicious food. Good food and some interesting stories from our driver acted as a fuel for the rest of the journey as we got back to the car. Ananda Sir rubbed his eyes, adjusted his specks and then with a jovial smile quipped, "Next stop will be at Shaktigar. We should have a taste of their famous Langcha sweet."

                                               Destination Veg-Food

                                          Ananda Sir waiting for the food to arrive

We stopped the car near the famous "Adi Langcha Bhavan" (Adi meaning the original one to distinguish it from others having the same name). Three of us sat at one of the corners, caught hold of one waiter and asked the rates. The Langcha sweet was available at Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 25 according to size. We ordered the one which cost Rs 10 and waited eagerly to have a bite. Pictures of some notable personalities on the wall caught my attention. Celebrated names like June Maliya, Bratya Basu, Somnath Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukhopadhay, Chinmoy Roy and Rabiranjan Chattopadhay have all posed for photographs after having their share of this special sweet. I felt good to be in august company. Finally each of us was served one big Langcha sweet in paper plates. On contrary to general perception it did not seem to me an irresistible stuff. It was good but not one to die for. 

                                            The Adi Langcha Bhavan

                                               One big Langcha Sweet

                               pictures of some notable visitors at the eatery

The end of the Langcha episode signalled that we were at the final lap of the trip. Soon we were approaching the Bardhaman town. The car hurried past the hustle and bustle of a busy town life and we knew this journey was all but over. I could see the sombre face of Ananda Sir as he looked through the window. The ambassador took the last turn to enter the gates of the University of Burdwan. Getting down from the car for the final time was not pleasurable. I felt like leaving back a wonderful part of me back in the seats. Ananda Sir gave a sigh and made arrangements for unloading the books and documents which also were a part of the journey. Deep down our hearts we both knew that this was an experience that we both wanted and maybe we both wanted it to linger on for a little more..

Centre for Tagore Studies in Scotland

Tagore's deep connection with Scotland is well known. He had a special liking for Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. He took inspiration from some of Burns' songs. Tagore's connection with Scotland is now the central point of discussion between the two countries and has helped in strengthening the cultural ties. With the passage of time there is a growing interest among the literature students of Scotland to know more about Tagore, his works and his philosophy of life. To facilitate research on Tagore, Scottish government has set up Centre for Tagore Studies in the Napier University of Edinburgh. The centre envisages to address all research queries on Tagore and build up full fledged capacity to start department of under graduate and postgraduate studies.

                                                 

                                          picture source: Kevin Dayhoff (picasa) 

                                                          know more about the picture

Tagore without the West Bengal connection is so incomplete! Scottish Government acknowledged the  fact and has decided to extend the Centre to Kolkata's Scottish Church College. The Department of English, Bengali and Philosophy will be in direct contact with the Centre at Edinburgh in a bid to execute mutually fulfilling research projects on Tagore. The centre is presently in the process of collecting large number of Tagore's writing and research that have been performed by Tagore scholars across the globe. The centre is also mulling collaboration with Visva Bharati University and Rabindra Bharati University to augment its collection with the latest volumes.

Dr. Basabi Fraser, a Bengali settled in Scotland and a reputed Tagore scholar has been appointed as the coordinator of the centre in Scotland. She will work in tandem with the centre in Scottish Church College in Kolkata. In Scotland she is assisted by Prof. Linda Dryden in this endeavor.  Fraser specializes in Post colonial Literature and Theory and is one of the most accomplished persons for this job. To have a positive start to this venture there is an exhibition of rare pictures, manuscripts and letters of Tagore slated to be held in January next year. 

Initiatives like this will help in cultural exchange between the two countries and will also help in widening the knowledge base on different facets of Tagore. Possibilities are abound for the future.

The World of 1080p: HD TV

High Definition television or HDTV refers to video that has resolution (1080p) higher than that of traditional television system. HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame which is roughly five times that of the standard one. During the time of its launch, HDTV broadcasting used analog techniques but nowadays HDTV is digitally broadcast using video compression.

                                      

                                                    picture source: NEWMAN K (picasa) 

                                                      know more about the picture

HD television was first developed by Nippon Hs in 1969. HDTV, as we witness it today, had its birth in Japan in 1980’s and in Europe in 1990’s. By 2002, US had only 3 to 4 HD channels and the HD programming was also limited. American Football (NFL) was one of the first sports to air some games in HD. Today a number of HD channels are available in the US. In India, High Definition Television along with picture resolution comparable to a 35mm movie screen, surround sound audio, wider screen image with up to 6times the picture sharpness of standard television, was available in the market by the end of 2008. In addition to a much enhanced viewing experience which is augmented by a crystal clear display, HDTV also provides CD quality sound.

One thing that needs to be taken note of is that all HD television is digital but not all digital TV is HDTV. Today we see a number of commercial, advertisements in televisions, newspapers and magazines about HDTV in India. Many people who buy or are planning to buy are not aware of the fact that by just going for HD DTH connection, they will not be able to see all channels in HD. Only those channels that are telecasted in HD can be viewed in high quality. So, before going for HD DTH connection people must check the number of channels which are offering HD output. Recently a number of channels like Movies Now, Discovery World, National Geographic, Star Movies, Star World, Star Cricket, ESPN, Colors, UTV Stars, History are offering HD output for the viewers.

High Definition Television is popular because of its flat panel matrix displays (FPDs) in the home which have gradually replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) based television sets. FPDs are larger in size than CRT and are about 42 inches to 65 inches diagonal. HDTV broadcast has up to 1080 lines resulting in 6times the picture clarity in respect to standard television output. As already discussed earlier, when it comes to audio, 5.1 surround sound is much superior to the one available in standard television.

The High Definition television apart from being technically so demanding has some drawbacks. They are more expensive than regular standard televisions. Most cable and satellite companies charge additional monthly fees for providing HD programming. HDTV can suffer from ‘burn in’ resulting from static images and they have relatively short life expectancy of 20,000 to 30,000 hours. HD televisions consume a lot of power in comparison to other technologies. Watching HDTV from close distance can cause headache. So experts have recommended sitting at a distance from an HDTV which i equal to two to three times its diagonal length. Another disadvantage of High Definition television is that most of the operators stop short of following full HDTV specifications. Thus the HD picture quality ends up being not as good as promised. Operators use lower resolution or slower bit rates to accommodate more channels with the limited bandwidth; as a result the video quality suffers.

Though there are a number of disadvantages, HDTV is the future and no one can deny the fact that it is much superior to standard television. A revolution in the television viewing experience is waiting to happen. Pictures to die for!! 

About the Author- 

Sayanti Ghosh is student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

November Issue

The issue of Dispassionate Observer for this month has been delayed by some unavoidable circumstances. However, as it has been the case last month, the blog refuses to die down amidst all the overbearing work engagements which is making it difficult to maintain a healthy issue period from the first to the end of a month. This problem hopefully will not persist from December as things will be more streamlined. 

Till now the blog has tried to focus on national and international news, thought pieces and observations on media and society. There has been no dearth of ideas with a range of topics already in discussion. One of the important goals of Dispassionate Observer has been to provide a platform to budding journalism and mass communication students in colleges and universities. Their contributions have always been given priority. The healthy mix of views from the experts and the students of the trade has made Dispassionate Observer stronger. Now the blog wishes to explore a more challenging zone. It envisages to include research oriented papers and commentaries on television, globalisation and media, new media and its prospects and the problems that are plaguing media in the present century. This is being done with the intent to facilitate and empower media studies. 

As we move into the November issue of Dispassionate Observer there is a sense of loss. We were yet to cope up with the death of Ghazal legend, Jagjit Singh when the news of another sad demise flew in. Bhupen Hazarika, Bard of Brahmaputra, one of the brightest musical talents of the country died of a multi organ failure on 5th of this month at the age of 85. This is a huge loss for the nation as this multifaceted genius used folk music of Assam as an instrument of social change. We pay our tributes to this great soul with the words of another living music legend, Lata Mangeshkar: "There will never be another Bhupen Hazarika".

A Tribute to the King of Ghazal Jagjit Singh

Tum Itna Jo Muskurareho, Kya Gam He Jisko Chupa Rahe Ho.......

True word..... True sense....

Like this line ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh put a vail on the pain in his heart and entertained the world. His unforgettable voice spoke of our own torment which had a deep impact on our souls.

                                             

                            picture source:  e Khabar photos (picasa)

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Ghazal king Jagjit Sing is one of the most renowned ghazal singers of the contemporary times. In present era where the Gen Y is heavily inclined towards rock and jazz, it is heartening to see the overwhelming influence of Jagjit Sing’s ghazals among them.

Jagjit Sing was born in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan on 8^th February 1941. His father Sardar Amar Sing Dhiman was a Government employee and mother Bachchan Kaud had a spiritual family environment. He had four sisters and two brothers. His family members called him “Jeet”. He went to Khalna High School in Sri Ganganagar and after matriculation; he went to DAV College Jalandhar to complete his graduation. He also acquired postgraduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University, Haryana. Although his father wanted him to join the Indian Administrative Service, he was later reported to be happy with his son’s achievements in the world of music. He learnt music under Pandit Sheganlal Sharma for two years and later trained under Ustad Jamal Khan of the Senia Gharana. Here he learnt Kheyal, Thumri, and Dhrupad. 

To try his luck in the field of music Jagjit Sing moved to Bombay in the year 1965. In initial years, he sang at wedding parties and in jingles for advertisements. That time the world of ghazal was dominated by Talat Mahamood, Begam Akhtar, Noor Jahan etc. However, his meaningful and melodious songs soon made an impact.

“Tum ko dekha to yeh khayal aya...”

In 1967, he met another beautiful singer named Chitra and fell in love. After two-year long relationship, they got married in December 1969. They released their first album –“The Unforgettable” in 1976. The husband wife duo produced some magnificent albums such as Ecstasies, A Sound Affair, Passions etc.

In Early 90’s they released an album named Beyond Time. Around this time, they lost their only son Vivek in an accident at the age of 21. It was a shock for this couple. After the release of the album, Someone Somewhere, Chitra quit singing.

Nevertheless, Jagjit Sing continued to sing. He infused new spirit to songs with some more western instrument. He brought ghazal ( always thought to be for the elite class) to the doorsteps of the ordinary man. He was awarded India’s third highest civilian honour the Padma Bhusan in 2003 for his contributing to music and culture. He released only one album with Lata Mangeskar named “Sajda” which was a huge hit and sold innumerable copies.

The king of ghazal Jagjit Sing died on 10^th October 2011. The 70 years old was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He was suffering from brain haemorrhage. However, after 10th October his fans will not hear “yeh doulat bhi le lo, yeh shohorat bhi le lo....” but his work will live on and on. 

About the Author- 

Priya Panda is student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Talent Hunts

In recent times someone who watches television can hardly miss the claims made by the anchors, media men and some celebrities regarding popular music and dance shows in television channels that are known as 'talent hunts'. The claims are tall and provocative enough to invite close scrutiny.

Firstly, it is said that such big budget performing art contests are really meant to find out special talents. Programmes in big scale are required to attract talented artists hidden in different parts of the country to participate and to screen those talents so that ultimately the best is selected in the end. It is specially pointed out that these televisions programmes work as platforms and they give an excellent opportunity for aspiring artists, even those who live in the background regions and in remote corners of the country. Without such efforts, those talented boys and girls would never have been able to come to limelight and many promising talents might have faded into oblivion for lack of publicity, the organisers say.

Their claim does not stop here. We are informed that such shows make great contribution in the field of art and culture by bringing in focus the right persons who will keep the tradition of Indian performing art alive. Their services are required in Bollywood as well as in other areas of entertainment industry.

We are further educated about the significant role played by such media shows in the field of national integration. These popular programmes bring contestants from different parts of the country, they are watched by the entire nation and the nationwide audience cast their votes by sending SMS in every stage of the competition. The shows produce winners at the national level and they are suddenly projected as role models for the entire nation. Thus the programmes try to inspire future contestants, wherever in India they may live. Watching winners in the making generate lots of enthusiasm among the young Indians.

It is a fact that tournaments like these have enough resources to draw public attention. Differences in appearance, voice, style and skills make such shows attractive compared to many TV serials. However, close examination of their social impact is necessary because of the tremendous influence of such events on the general public at large.

We can start with the issue of national integration. There is no doubt about the fact that the competitions are arranged at the national level and they are watched all over India by the people having access to cable television. Wide coverage by the National News Media is another important aspect. Nevertheless, the way the voting takes place is a major cause of concern. In the final rounds, contestants (sponsored by the channels) sometimes take a tour of the country and appeal to the viewers, particularly to those who belong to their native states. In such places, the appeals are echoed by the celebrities and the politicians and a mass hysteria is generated to motivate people to do a very simple task for their own boy or girl. The task is nothing but casting votes by sending SMS and this act ultimately benefits only the mobile phone companies. Profit making by some corporate houses is not the problem but the point is that the voting procedure generate regionalism in a nation which always strives to maintain its unity in diversity. We should not forget that hills of West Bengal witnessed popular unrest almost for a week after a radio jockey of a F.M. channel made some objectionable remarks about a winner of a music competition.

The voting procedure definitely raises some serious questions about fair selection. General public having little knowledge on technical matters and who are influenced by strong current of regional sentiments run the risk of making big errors in judgements. A singer should be judged only by the quality of the song. Here singer's appearance, dancing skill, ethnic and regional background may seriously affect the result. Therefore, it is not surprising that sometimes objections over methodology have been raised by the judges themselves. Big mistakes not only give wrong winners of huge prize money but they may erase people's confidence in the system. Loss of reliability on one may be transformed into the same in case of other social system in the atmosphere of frustration. Besides, a fear is generated that to become a winner, luck is the primary condition other than the skill or commitment. This is not a positive message for the Indian society that relies heavily on fate and the social institutions have little reputation for transparency.

Problems associated with talent hunts are many in number. "Exceptional" talents at the national level are found out every year by the hardworking channels. But is there enough space to accommodate so many artists? The answer is no. Entertainment industry has always remained dominated by a very few and only a handful lucky newcomers can enter into the arena. Established artists have a market and it is a risky business to make productions with the new comers. The situation can hardly change in near future.

Past experience shows that the Indian artists face lots of challenges. Getting a platform and making an impression at the initial stage of the career do not necessarily solve problems. Several talented artists suffered heavily in the past and they ended their lives amidst poverty because they neither received work nor any support from the entertainment industry. Indian society is not known to properly nurture talents. It only celebrates the success of a few individuals.

However, the entertainment industry in India requires these competitions and the contestants in the short run. Excitement of such shows increased due to the uncertainty in each round of elimination is used to attract television audience across the country. In addition, new voices are used to promote the music of recently released or yet to be released movies. Although scope to make a place in entertainment industry is unquestionably limited, but big prize money and huge media publicity are sufficient enough to encourage hundreds of youngsters and their 'progressive' minded guardians to try their best to win the race. But at the same time, since the contests are based mainly on hit film songs, therefore it is not unlikely that they may discourage some promising talents to concentrate on traditional versions of music resulting in neglect of classical music or folk songs.

Although there are some positives in these programmes and some of the claims cannot be brushed aside totally, but certain fine tuning is necessary.

Indian society in order to survive with all its diversities, require the value of tolerance to spread and the restless indisciplined culture, having no connection with the tradition, is not functional for it. Inability on the part of some of the guardians and contestants to sportingly and easily accept the results and quarrels among the judges over a decision are not the best things to be displayed over television.

It should be kept in mind that such shows are viewed by all the family members together and restless dance display, artists dancing on the stage wearing scanty dresses or the singing of cabaret songs from hit movies by teen aged contestants are not the right items to be presented.

In the past, complaints used to come up over indecent advertisements and vulgar scenes in cinemas. In recent times, attempts are being made to change the traditional Indian culture by injecting seductive items in between the telecast of the family shows and sporting event. Arguably, these are definitely not the right ways to contribute to the rich Indian art and culture.

Here, the noticeable point is the absence of resistance in any form to these trends in recent years. Earlier, the Indian middle class used to behave as the guardians of morality. Situation changed dramatically after the triumphs of Indian Beauty Queens at the International stage and the emergence of modelling as a viable career option. The opposition to beauty business by the champions of morality suddenly evaporated and fashion schools mushroomed in urban India. The interested parties aiming at changing the traditional Indian culture have clearly realized that the conscience of the middle class could be purchased with allurements like publicity and income opportunity and right now this interested section has almost a free run. 

About the Author-

Ananda Mohan Kar is Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology, The University of Burdwan, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Tryst with October

Dispassionate Observer moves into the month of October. This month started with the festivities of Durga Puja. The four days of the Puja was time for unending fun with well wishers. Every nook and corner of Kolkata was illuminated in colours of joy and the wave of eager visitors in front of pandals was brilliant visual for the cameras to capture. Life without tension, life without fear of the uncertain, life with less hatred, life with less jealousy, life with more compassion and life devoid of hideous evil designs were the hallmarks of these days. One of the striking features of the Puja every year is the general spirit of true humanity which is displayed all around. Human values which have stooped so low these days finds a lot of oxygen during the days of the Puja. As I went pandal hopping through the length and breadth of Kolkata I could see fellow-feeling in ample display. Every quarrel which originated amidst crowd pressure in different pandals was resolved in a jiffy with others taking an active part in soothing the quarrelling groups.  I felt happy to see one of the visitors stopping to give a substantial amount of money to a beggar in a bid to light up his life. Smiling groups of teenage boys and girls sporting colourful dresses lend a special flavour to the occasion. Life here was not in plain black and white. There were different shades and each shade was interesting.

The preoccupation with Durga Puja delayed the issue of Dispassionate Observer for this month. Now it is back on track and raring to go. Apart from the Pujas significant developments have happened in the news and current affairs sector in India and the World.  The 2G Scam problem has become murkier with emerging lack of co-ordination between the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry. More skeletons are yet to be revealed from the closet!  A corned Congress has provided the opportunity to Lal Krishna Advani to embark on a Jan Chetna Yatra. One wonders will this ploy work for a party which is itself knee-deep in corruption. In fact this is not about BJP alone, other opposition parties like the Left have to put their house in order to have a deep impact among the masses. Corruption in India at this moment is travelling freely Left, Right and Centre! When one party is raising voices against corruption of another party they are simply hiding their own misdeeds. In a bizarre incident, Prashant Bhusan, one of the leading faces of the Team Anna movement was beaten up by three youth in his Supreme Court office for his controversial remarks on Kashmir. Democracy in this country is fast loosing ground to lumpens! On the cultural field India lost one of its Gazal icons, Jagjit Singh. An illustrious musical career ended abruptly. The cricket lovers in the country have something to cheer on though as the ICC declared that the DRS (Decision Review System) will no longer be mandatory.

In Global news, condition in countries like Iraq and Libya continues to be tense with fresh cases of bombing being reported from Bagdad. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was taken to a detention center on the order of the Judge for violating court room proceedings. This has got ominous implications for world politics because she is Ukraine's leading opposition politician and a strong opponent of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich. There is a growing world view that the recent revolutions in the Middle East have failed to usher in greater press freedom.

In this month of Dispassionate Observer there will be articles and commentaries which will range across different sectors. Hope you will like this issue also!! Enjoy reading the blog. You are the biggest inspiration for this initiative.

Interview: Anindyabikash Datta, Creative Consultant, Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti

Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti on Mahua Bangla has been a success. The show which arrived on the channel with the punch line" Ostader Mar Raat Natay" captured the hearts of a million in quick time. The reality show based on U.K's International popular show "Who wants to be a millionaire?" is widely known in India as Kaun Banega Crorepati (Hindi). Kaun Banega Crorepati had celebrated anchors like Amitabh Bacchan and Shahrukh Khan. A Bengali version of this internationally famed show was always a challenging proposition. Mohua Bangla channel did understand the pulse of Bengal well and conceived the idea of having the famed Indian captain and Bengal's bright son, Sourav Ganguly as the anchor of the show. This did wonders and Sourav Ganguly played the innings of his life! The Maharaj of Bengal was top-notch riding on his success as the anchor of another popular Bengali reality show, Dadagiri Unlimited on Zee Bangla.

                                                     

                                                                                          Anindyabikash Datta

                                                                                          pic: Subhro Ganguly

While following each episode of this show closely I was thinking of the creative head behind it. The international look and feel of Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti was not an easy job to attain. Well finally I did know the name-Anindya Bikash Datta. Anindya Bikash has been a familiar name in Bengali entertainment industry for some time now. He was associated with mega serials like "Ek Akasher Niche", shows like "Tomar Ghore Star" and telefims in Tara Muzik. Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti was about reaching new heights for this talented young director.

                                                       Anindyabikash Datta

It came to my mind that getting one interview of Anindya Bikash Datta for the readers of Dispassionate Observer will be of help. I called him to fix dates and he decided on giving the interview one Sunday at his residence. I prepared a range of questions as my mind oscillated between getting to know more of this man and the experience of working with a legend called Sourav Ganguly.

                                                                     picture source: Vamsi Krishna Bandi (picasa)

                                                                                know more about the picture

I reached his place on the given date and found him playing with his young son. The man appeared so down to earth, just like the boy next door, always smiling and calm. He made me feel comfortable and then asked about me and the blog. He repeatedly denied that he is a celebrity and rather introduced himself as an ordinary man. After asking him about his lovely son who sat at his father's lap all through the interview I went into business. Here are the excerpts of the interview with Anindya Bikash Datta:

Q. Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti has been a big platform. What are your ideas about the show?

A. Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti was indeed a big platform as a creative consultant. It was the first International format reality show in Bengali television. Working with famed Siddhartha Basu and his organisation Big Synergy was a memorable experience. Siddhartha Basu has been the pioneer of this kind of shows in India and the workshop that he held in Mumbai prior to the making of Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti did make a world of difference in me. Matching up with the international quality of this show was the biggest ask. 2waytraffic, the London-based company behind "Who wants to be a millionaire?" sent two representatives to India to check whether the show has met the quality requirements. Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti passed this hurdle with flying colours. I savoured every moment of my stint with this show.

Q. The show was targeted to a certain section of the society. Can you share your views on this?

A. The show was indeed targeted to a certain section. We wanted to reach out to the educated middle class and lower middle class of Bengal. We had in mind people like an ordinary auto rickshaw driver who is educated and dreams to make it big. It was like empowering them to get the best of life by answering some current affairs questions.

Q. Can you explain a bit about the process of selection and other nuances of Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti?

A. This was one of the cleanest reality shows that I have come across. There were multiple tires of selection and one who passed all the tires got the chance to be on the hot seat with Sourav Ganguly. Every audition was audio recorded as well as video recorded to provide no room for doubts later on.

Q. Now the Big Question-Your experience of working with Sourav Ganguly in the Bengali version of KBC and Shatrughan Sinha in the Bhojpuri version?

A. Both are professionals and have wonderful personality. It was a pleasurable experience working with both. Shatrughan Sinha has been an established name in Bollywood but what took me by surprise was the work of Sourav Ganguly. Sourav was from the field of cricket but he mastered this new trade in no time. May be this is called true class. He was always on time and came around as one with rare sense of wit and humour. His presence of mind was laudable and took just seven days to rehearse before going for the final shoot. As a person he was always down to earth and passionate about cricket. During break periods we discussed about his experiences of captaining India and about his team mates. All the time he told interesting stories. His passion for the game was unparalleled.

Q. Someone whom you specially need to thank for this show?

A. I like to thank Yubaraj Bhattacharya, the CEO of Mahua Bangla for coming up with this wonderful concept. He took all the pain of convincing the channel about the prospects of this show and about the big prize money. Without him Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti would not have been possible.

Q. Life after Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti. What are your future plans?

A. I plan to make one non fictional show with school students for Mahua channel. It will be based on an aptitude test. The test will be performed on school students to know about their inclinations towards a branch of study. The driving force behind this show is to make the students feel less stressed and help them and their parents to choose the right stream of study. In my childhood I have seen parents putting undue pressure on children to study science and become doctors and engineers. Many careers have been ruined by this. Knowing the aptitude at a young age will help future higher education. The test will be based on the formula of Howard Gardner, world-famous psychologist. I am also planning to do a feature film. It's scripting process is on. The film will focus on the young bright talents across Universities who fall prey to drug rackets operating in a big way in the state.

Q. One last question. What are your Puja plans? Any special event on your mind?

A. Nothing special. The four days of Puja I stay put in my home or go out to give adda in my friend circle. Pandal hopping is not my cup of tea as I feel suffocated. However, I like to see from my balcony the ocean of humanity on road. It makes me happy to see ordinary people who can afford little flock in large numbers to be a part of this merriment. Durga Puja for me is not a religious occasion. It is the time of the year when all forget their sorrows and unite across differences. The idol of Maa Durga is all about a positive spirit which touches every life.

Durga Puja in Different Shades

Durga Puja, a major festival in Bengal, now has a national presence. Many are not aware of the fact that worship of Maa Durga, according to the Hindu scriptures, fall in the month of Chaitra which is roughly around March or April. This ceremony is not observed by many and is restricted with in a few in the state of West Bengal. The popular form known as Saradiya Durga Puja is celebrated with lot of pomp and splendor either in the month of September or October. 

                                      

                                           picture source:  Anwesha Guha Thakurta

Initially the Puja was organized by affluent families since they had the money and resources to organize the festival. But later in 19^thand 20^th century middle class people in Bengal also wanted to start the Puja. They created the community or Sarbojanin Pujas. 

Durga Puja in Kolkata is a feast for the eyes and tinkle the aesthetic senses because of the innovative concepts every year. This is the time for people residing abroad or outside their home state or city to return to unite with their families and enjoy the Puja at the fullest. Those who are not lucky enough to return home form associations in their respective places and perform the Puja. Hence, Durga Puja has taken the national form and is even celebrated abroad internationally. 

                                             picture source: Anwesha Guha Thakurta

The Puja continues for a brief span of time but the run up to the festivities start early. It is the time for people to shop for clothes, accessories and all types of goods. A new look in the festive season is a must! Pandals are constructed in every nook and corner of the streets of Kolkata and designer lights take centre stage. Kumartuli in North Kolkata becomes busy as they have to prepare the idols of the Goddess according to the specifications of different Puja committees. 

The festive mood builds up as Dhakis from the country side starts gathering in the city.The city takes a different look during these days especially at night. Bengalis spent sleepless nights staring round the city and craze for Bengali traditional food increases. As Bengalis are famous for their addas’ they unite together and sit for adda.

In early years when Durga Puja was held, it had spirit of worship inside it. But as days are passing in modern age the spirit is fading away from society.  Now people have a craze for apparent happiness which is personified in pomp and glamour. However, the inner charm of this Puja is fast fading.

Whenever we contemplate of the idols the image of Maa Durga accompanied with her daughters and sons under a single roof (ekchala) engrosses our mind. However, now it is the age of "theme". 

TV and Radio channels telecast live the Durga Puja celebration of different pandals. Many local language channels devote themselves wholly to the Puja celebrations. Even local language magazines bring out special Puja numbers. 

When in one side the people of the state become busy spending sleepless nights pandal hopping and tasting foods of nearby stalls wearing their new fashionable cloths, some others spend nights hoping for a solid sleep with proper shelter and clothing, dreaming of just full meal once a day. For these people the days of Puja are no different from any other days of hardship. Wish Maa Durga bless them luck and make their situation better. 

About the Author-

Anwesha Guha Thakurta  is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girls College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Durga Puja-Let the Festivities Begin!!

Hmm…The Pujas! Long-awaited and longed for. In spite of the incessant rain the nature has not forgotten to fill the fields with the whiteness of Kaash flowers.The statues of Mother Goddess are being prepared in full glory at the cool shades of the artisans. The Pujas bring unmatched joy to the Bengalis. The economy of Rural Bengal depends on it to a large extent. From the boy plucking Lotuses from the lush ponds to the artisans of every nook n corner to decorators….this event supports an intricate structure of culture, religion and money. And now, audio-visual media has spawned a whole new economic whirlwind. The role of the festivities in the urban consumerism is starkly evident as we switch on our respective TV sets. You may be the Bengali who likes the crowds of the midnight of Ashtami or you may belong to the hatke Harry group who like the silence of the hillside, away from the din n bustle…none can avoid The Pujas.

                                             

                                                                             picture source: J.K. TIWARI (picasa)

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Durga Puja is meant to be celebrated in Spring with the advent of Palash flower. The Sharadiya puja was started, as par the tradition, by Ramchandra, to invoke the blessings of the Goddess before he took on Ravana. However, if we go through Valmiki Ramayana, we see that Lord Ram did not worship the Goddess in any Akalbodhana (untimely prayer). Perhaps Shri Ram meant so much to the average devotee that a legend was started to give authenticity to the Pujas of Autumn. Actually, historically speaking, we find the first mention of Sharadiya Durgapuja in Bengal in the times of Raja Kansanarayan in the middle ages. It was he who started the festival which continues still date. There are basically two types of Pujas…The family-Pujas and the Pujas organized by the common people, mostly clubs.We find interesting snippets of the baro-yaari(of twelve friends) Pujas (The pujas conducted by the common people) in Hutom Pyanchar Naksha by Kaliprasanna Singha and which, astonishingly, remains true to nature till date.

It’s a happy time to celebrate female beauty too. The goddess Durga is the embodiment of the most beautiful woman in the world. And…sigh! The way she prepares for war! The whole procedure can give the prominent beauticians a run for their money. But she is a fair, Nordic beauty. But here there is no scope to cry foul as far as apartheid goes.There is Ma Lakshmi with her fairness of the tip of rice-stalk. ….And –Mother- Kali! Who is more beautiful than this Shyama …The Dark, The Swarthy, The blue….The Goddess of Bengal’s soul?

In Bengal, The Pujas starts with Mahalaya (the end of pitripaksha) and ends with Kalipuja. The most interesting socio-religious point about this month-long celebrations is that be it Durga, Lakshmi or goddess Kali, a female or Mother-goddess is worshipped. The male-gods are there, but mostly as companions to the Goddesses. They play second fiddle to the female goddess. The Mother rules. This phenomenon may explain the basic nature of the Shakti-worshipping Bengali psycho. The average Bengali may or may not respect women in general, but in times of need and prayer, they turn to take shelter in woman-power. So, come The Pujas, its Power to women? What say?

About the Author- 

Anuja Bagchi is presently engaged as University Research Fellow at Department of Mass Communication, University of Burdwan. She has expertise both in the field of mass communication and law and has widely commented on a range of topics.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.