"Slumdog Millionaire"

"Slumdog Millionaire" scooped up eight Oscars on Sunday, the most of any movie this year, including best motion picture, best cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, original score for composer A.R. Rahman and best song, "Jai Ho" for Rahman and lyricist Gulzar.Among the "Slumdog" honors, Briton Danny Boyle was named best director for the often dark but ultimately hopeful, a Dickensian-style tale set in an Indian city. Similar to the way Charles Dickens used Victorian London, Danny Boyle wanted to portray the dark side of Indian city , where a slum dweller poor boy Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai who competes on a TV game show : "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show¹s questions. Each chapter of Jamal¹s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show¹s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.
The film has raised a controversy over the country whether the western world is only interested in tales of poverty or at the most snake charmers and Kings and Queens .Some has raised the question that when India has 5600 newspapers... magazines in over twenty-one different Ianguages., with a combined readership of over 120 million ,when the country has reached the moon and back and when the third largest pool in the word of doctors, engineers and scientists are from India ,and also our country has the third largest army in the world ; how it is justified to glamourise those people who just to earn money, make movies which portray India as slum and poor Indians as Slum Dogs!! (See : http://furobike.blogspot.com/2009/02/indians-aint-slum-dogs.html )
But I differ from that blogger .My first point is ,with all the success we have achieved , is n’t it true that we couldn’t check widespread use of child labour and still the millions of abandoned street children who live on its railway platforms, or amputees and mangled polio victims who beg for small change at road junctions ? Why don’t we solemnly try to eradicate this social disease?
My second point is , it is a total misconception in our mind that only India or South Asian countries have the slums .Readers can access the description and conditions of slum in France, United Kingdom and USA from the following links :
http://www.nysun.com/comments/358

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05SY8xx4zl5vR/610x.jpg
There is again a misconception about the slums , which I think media is responsible to create such fallacies. I have seen refrigerators,televison sets,modern domestic accessories ,two wheelers and even if four wheelers are also the common assets of the houses of Dharavi slums of Mumbai and Makarapura of Vadodara . The average city based Indian slum dwellers family can earn approximately 15,000 INR , which I think is sufficient for a standard living in India . What they lack are the education, cleanliness, pure water facility and good roads .We have to accept the challenges It is more required to make them educate rather than to provide any financial help .The government officials are more responsible in creating such slum areas .If city maintenance department of the municipal corporations have a strong will, we can make them proper habitation before they start to create any new slum area.

In last few years, the Indian films like “Lagan” and “Tare Zameen Pe” were also listed in the failure group for Oscar. so, it is also an unavoidable question that what made Oscar to see more in Danny Boyle rather than these movie makers?

How I would celebrate Valentine Day?

Valentine’s Day is coming. Every year on Valentine's Day, the fundamentalists raise their voice against this day, saying this celebration would spoil Indian Culture. The Muslim fundamentalists are always against this tradition and Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have banned it. Last year Al Qaeda issued a warning to singer Asalah Nasri of Egypt not to sing on account of Valentine day's celebration. Now the Hindu fundamentalists are also raising voice against it. For last few years, the country witnessed a large campaign by Hindu fundamentalist political parties calling the celebration of Valentine’s Day be forbidden.
The right-wing political parties like BJP, Shiv Sena, Bajrang, and Ramsena have issued Taliwani Fatwa against this day. In Bihar, though both BJP and JD (U) are enjoying power jointly, but they have a rift on this day. The JD(U) youth and students' wing supported the celebrations and criticised those opposed to it. Unlike the JD(U), the BJP youth wing and ABVP are against the celebration of Valentine's Day.
But, it is ironic that now some people from the West are also raising their voice against Valentine’s Day. I have come across a blog where blogger David Penner wrote that he hated Valentine Day because, "This is just another shining example of corporate America perverting a day dedicated to a martyr into a day dedicated to the almighty dollar.” He again wrote, "It's your family for Pete's sake, you don't have a choice to love them or not. It's programmed in your genetic makeup. You have to love them.” And he further writes, “My next reason is that it reminds people who are single that they don't have anyone. Way to go Hallmark! Sometimes I wonder just how many suicides you and every other card company are responsible for on one day of the year."
Another blogger from New York, a married lady, having the screen name ‘aquamarine’ wrote in her blog that "We already know that Susan, JLB, and sometimes Belle, don't like Valentine's Day. I will say that I have nothing against the holiday, but don't feel that a lot of time, effort, and money need to go into ‘celebrating’ Valentine's Day."
Whatever their ideas are, they are. But I think this day should be celebrated as "Free Hugs Day" in India to show our love for the common man; for the common cause; and for the solidarity in the war against terrorism as the day is not meant for only couples or ‘lover one’ , but a day to admire and approve our love for mankind .

Now Hindu Talibanis !

In Television screen , the scenes were displayed that how the girls were chased and thrashed by activists of the Sri Ram Sena as they tried to flee from the pub on the busy Balmatta Road in the heart of Mangalore on 25 January . There were also allegations that some of the girls were molested. The girls were accused of acting against the tradition of Hindu religion and the founder of Sri Ram Sena, P Muthalik , remains unapologetic about the incident saying it is just a small thing, its not abnormal as reported by times of India in its 26 January issue .This incident was happened in the state where BLP lead government is responsible for law and order and very promptly Rajnath Singh , the BJP Supremo denied any link of BJP with Sri Ram Sena . But that Sena has a website at http://www.shriramsena.com/ and readers can judge how our shrewd politicians are truthful to the people.
The first allegation from these so called tradition rescue Sena was that girls were wearing Western dresses, they were attending pubs , taking liquor . There are many men in the pub also wearing Western clothes, taking alcohol and Sena had no objection for them .Only their objection was aimed for ‘women’s such activities’ which they think is against Hindu tradition . But who authorized them to safe guard Hinduism ?From the ancient period , Sanatan Dharma is an open platform to invite all ideas , cultures and traditions .Hinduism is a symbol for accumulating any form of life , any belief and any lifestyles .It is the fundamentalists , who make the people mess for their vested ideas and for their political gain .
What these BJP supported fundamentalist wings are indulging is similar to the Talibanis once started in Afghanistan and now in FATA of Pakistan . I don’t find any difference between BJP of India and Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan and Bangladesh . They all are sponsored unit for the fundamentalists. It may prove a set back for our Nation and people .We all should stand against these anti social Talibanis .

“SATYAM”-EVA PARAJAYATE

(ONCE IT WAS A DREAM HOUSE FOR A YOUNG ASPIRANT)
B Ramalinga Raju has tendered his resignation as chairman of Satyam Computer Services startling confessions of fraudulence in company's books of accounts. Satyam's balance sheet as on Sep 30, 2008, carries non-existent cash and bank balances of Rs 5,040 crore. It also carries an accrued interest of Rs 376 crore which is totally non existent, and understated liability of Rs 1,230 crore on account of funds arranged by him. It also has over stated debtor’s position.

( RAM LINGA RAJU : THE OSAMA BIN LADEN FOR ECONOMIC WORLD )

“Way back in 2004, American media had reported that it was not only dreaded terrorist Osama whom the Americans were afraid of, but Ramalinga Raju was a feared man too as millions of jobs were being outsourced to Indian companies like Satyam.” (News Sources)

"Having been a job-creator for corporate India for years, Raju has now turned into a money-grabber through financial bungling and corporate governance malpractices," (brokerage firm SMC Global's Vice President Rajesh Jain told PTI. )

(YESTERDAY IT WAS A SYMBOL OF HOPE : TODAY IT IS FOR DESTRUCTION )

On January 6 , Mr. B Ramalinga Raju, who founded Satyam, India’s fourth largest IT firm , more than two decades ago and just three months ago, received a Golden Peacock award from a group of Indian directors for excellence in corporate governance, has tendered his resignation as chairman of Satyam Computer Services startling confessions of fraudulence in company's books of accounts showing balance sheet as on Sep 30, 2008, carries non-existent cash and bank balances of Rs 5,040 crore and also carries an accrued interest of Rs 376 crore which is totally non existent, and understated liability of Rs 1,230 crore on account of funds arranged by him. It also has over stated debtor’s position.
Prior to this resignation, the consequent happenings with Satyam are as follows:
On Dec. 16 –Raju announced his plan to buy two building firms part-owned by his sons for $1.6 billion.and later after 55 percent plunged in the company's share price in hectic U.S. trading , he turned down the deal just in mere 12 ours .On Dec. 23 - Satyam barred from business with the World Bank for eight years for providing Bank staff with "improper benefits". Its shares fall another 14 percent to their lowest in more than 4-½ years. Mangalam Srinivasan, an independent director, resigned from Satyam on Dec. 26 .followed by three more of directors on Dec. 29 .after resignation of Mr.Raju on Dec.06, the Satyam scrip crashed, losing 77.69 percent of its value to close at Rs.39.95 over its close of Rs.179.10 on previous day . The Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was down 7.31 percent or 755.62 points to 9,580.31 points, after opening higher than previous day’s close of 10,335.93 points. The broader Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed at 2,920.4 points, 6.18 percent lower than its previous close.
This case for India is similar to what happened to Enron in the U.S. Raju’s irresponsible fraudulence may threaten future foreign investment flows into Asia's third-largest economy and casts a cloud over growth in its once-booming outsourcing sector along with 53,000 Satyam employees may feared to lose their jobs.

Click here to read Raju's letter to the Board

WHO ARE BEHIND THESE TERRORISTS ?

(A month ago, Mumbai bore the brunt of one of the most nefarious attacks ever. )

After Mumbai attack (26/11), the Booker prize winner , writer turned activist Arundhati Roy wrote an article heading “The monster in the mirror” in the Guardian and after that she has posted the same article in several websites with different headings .
In her article Arundhati writes :

If the men (the ‘boy-terrorists' –in Arundhati’s word) were indeed members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, why didn't it matter to them that a large number of their victims were Muslim, or that their action was likely to result in a severe backlash against the Muslim community in India whose rights they claim to be fighting for?


(What does this paragraph mean? LeT is a responsible orgnisation who cares for Muslims and works for their image in the world? : My comment)




We are against Hindu fundamentalism, but that doesn't mean that we place ourselves with Muslim fundamentalists .For us fundamentalism is worse ideology either it is of Hindu or Muslim or Catholic what ever its religion may be.

DHANU YATRA

A small town Bargarh and its nearby areas of Orissa ( India) are transformed into a big open theatre , in the winter every year. Bargarh becomes Mathura, the kingdom of Kamsa, while Ambapalli village in the outskirts of the town is Gopapura where Lord Krishna grew up as a child. The Jira river between Bargarh and Ambapalli becomes river Yamuna. A play named as Dhanu Yatra is being played for 11 days. A dharamsala in the town serves as King Kamsa’s palace and another public place becomes a makeshift prison where Devaki and Vasudeva, the parents of Lord Krishna, were imprisoned by Kamsa and where Krishna was born. During the unique drama , Bargarh town becomes an open air theatre During this 11days long drama, King Kamsa virtually ‘rules’ the town, and calls the shots. He summons the district officials including the collector and the SP, and gives them a dressing-down in his ‘durbar’ if he notices anything amiss. He catches offenders on the streets and slaps a fine on them. He enters government offices and pulls up indisciplined officials. Of course, everybody obey him. There are even instances of King Kamsa summoning the State’s Chief Minister and many V.I.Ps also to his ‘durbar’.
The drama begins with the marriage of Lord Krishna’s parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, and ends with Kamsabadha, the killing of Kamsa by his nephew Lord Krishna. As the different sequences of the play (yatra )— celebrated in this town for 58 years — are performed at different places, one has to move around to take in everything. Throughout the Dhanu yatra, King Kamsa is the centre of attraction as he is the supreme authority in the town.
Dressed like a king, the fat, moustachioed Kamsa moves around the town on a decorated elephant along with his “soldiers”. While touring the town one fine morning this year, during the fest, King Kamsa found a man parking his vehicle on the wrong side of the road in Bisipada. Perhaps it is one of the biggest open air theatres in the world

DHAULI GIRI

The only reason behind spreading up of Buddhism in East and South East Asia via Srilanka is the Kalinga War.The greatest Historical War, where Kalinga was defeated by Ashoka and the river Daya had turned in to red by the Kalingan martyrs .That blood shed war made Ashoka to change his devil mind and he laid down the weapons of violence and accepted a life of Ahimsa in the form of Buddhism .
It is near the city of Bhubaneswar in Orissa,where in later period,Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan beard the whole cost to build a beautiful white pagoda at the top of the hill Dhauli Giri.At the base, one can see the Asokan rock-edicts, under a large rock outcropping with a rock-cut elephant head. The elephant head over the edicts is a sacred Buddhist motif testifying to the emperor's change of heart. The edicts are public injunctions, instructions from the emperor to the local administrators to imbibe and adopt the spirit of justice and compassion towards the people in all matters pertaining to the civil administration.
Viewers can browse the blog: http://runawaysun.blogspot.com/2005/08/spiritual-tourist-3.html to share the experience of a traveler runawaysun, at Dhauli Giri, where he writes: I have no idea how long I stayed there, but on no other time in my life have I been so much at peace with myself… as I was on that day at Dhauli Giri.

RATH YATRA

India observes the greatest Carnival Ratha Yatra or Car Festival of Lord jagannath on 27th of June 2006.Jagannath, commonly spelled as Juggernaut by the Britishers(see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggernaut ) with his brother and sister coming out from the 'Ratna Sinhasan' to the streets of Puri ( a coastal town of Orissa) joins His devotees while visiting His birth place The Gundicha Ghar. After a stay of nine days the return journey starts for the temple, with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra coming out from the 'Ratna Sinhasan' to the streets of Puri joins His devotees while visiting His birth place The Gundicha Ghar. After a stay of nine days the return journey starts for the temple.
There are three chariots used for the carnival.the chariot of Jagannath is named as Nandighosh,with 45 foot height and 16 wheels.
This year about 10,000,00 people witnessed the Car Festival in Puri . Besides the original Rath Yatra of Puri, the carnival also celebrated all over India on that day.

BUDHIA SINGH

On 2 nd May of 2006, Budhia Singh, a four years old wonder marathon runner of Orissa, India, has marked his name eligible for Limca Book Of Record, a local version of the Guinness publication, by succeeding to cross 65 KM in 7 hours and 2 minutes at a stretch, which also a world record. An editor with the Limca Book of Records, said Budhia's record will figure in the 2007 edition.

Budhia,once sold for 15€ by his mother , was subsequently bought back by his Judo Coach , Biranchi Das .Once Mr.Das had punished Budhia for some of his mischievous activities to keep running till he returned. To his astonishment, when he returned after around four hours, Budhia was still running, and showed little signs of exhaustion. Das took him under his tutelage.After learning that the boy possessed the ability to run uncanny distances for a boy his age. Mr.Das wants Budhia to run from Puri to Cuttack and thereby cover a distance of 90 km. This will enable him to break the Guinness record of an eight-year-old boy who has ran for 52 km at a stretch.
The viewers can find more details on Budhia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budhia_Singh
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4241958.stm
http://houstonrunning.blogspot.com/2005/12/indias-marathon-boy-budhia-singh

CHILKA , THE LAGOON

Chilka, is the largest inland salt water logoon of Asia, situated in Orissa, India. The area of the lake varies from 1165 sq km in the monsoon season to 906 sq km in the dry season, and is studded with numerous small islands. It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a narrow sandy spit.150 migratory birds from Siberia, Iran , Afghanistan and the Himalaya come for shelter between October to March every year.There are 225 species of fish and the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). The rare limbless lizard Barkudia insularis is endemic to one of the lake's small islands. The Lake is dotted with a host of islands. Kalijai island, Breakfast island, Nalabana (island of reeds), Honeymoon island, Parikud island, Birds island, etc. are some of the interesting spots around the lake.

PATTA CHITRA

The subject matter of Patta paintings is limited to mythological themes. In some parts of Orissa, during marriage ceremonies, Patta chitras of Durga and Shiva are used. The present generation of patta painters paint in the style of the oleography on the walls of big temple.
Raghurajpur, a small village set amidst coconut groves and a meandering river is situated 12 kms from the pilgrimage town of Puri. Home to a community of traditional artisans called chitrakaras, , who produce different varieties of handicrafts items such as Patachitras, Talapatachitra or palm leaf engravings, stone carvings, papier mache toys and masks, wood carvings, wooden toys, cow-dung toys and tusser paintings. This village is known as an artist's village - every house is a studio and every resident an artist.Rarely does one get to see such an assemblage of artworks all in one single place. There are 103 households having 311 artisans in the village. Some of them are winners of National Awards. One experiences the best of Orissa’s traditional art and crafts, and also some of the finest artworks in this palm shaded village of Raghurajpur
Viewers can watch several photos of Raghurajpur from David Haberlah's photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/haberlah/tags/raghurajpur/

JEWS OF INDIA

This picture contains the inner side image of the oldest Indian Synagouge at Cochin
India has, historically, been a refuge and sheltered people of all religions, creeds and beliefs – Zoroastrians, Jews, Sufis, and more recently Bahais - all were granted protection and security when they sought it. They were accepted into the fold of the mainstream society, given land and equal opportunity to excel in their profession of choice – and remain Indians. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism are religions of the land – all were born in India. The central Asian invaders brought Islam. The colonial powers brought Christianity. India remained a large-hearted host to all, enriched its cultural heritage – and became a truly secular nation. People from all communities rose to become eminent citizens of the land.
The earliest Jews came to India two thousand years ago. They were escaping persecution in Galilee. Some came after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70CE. The Sephardic Jews came to India from western European nations such as Holland and Spain. The 16th and 17th century migrations created important settlements of Jews from Persia, Afghanistan, and Khorasan (Central Asia) in northern India and Kashmir. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Jewish settlers came from the Middle East and North Africa. Jews settled in different areas – from Kashmir in the north, to Cochin in the south, Calcutta in the east and Bombay (renamed Mumbai) in the west. By the late 18th century, Bombay became the largest Jewish community in India. Today only a few thousand remain in India - most having migrated to Israel, England, USA, and Australia. They have left behind them a rich legacy of synagogues, public institutions, and nostalgia. Only two synagogues remain open in Calcutta (Kolkata) for its 60 odd Jewish population. The Pardesi synagogue in Cochin was built in1568 and was also partially destroyed by the Portuguese in 1661. Kerala is the oldest among the surviving synagogues in the country. It is a National Heritage.T he largest concentration of Jews in India still remains in Bombay (particularly in Thane, a suburb of Bombay) - but they are only about 4000 in number - a mere fraction of the vitality they once generated in the city.
The five main Jewish communities of India are: Bene Israel, Cochini, Baghdadi , Ashkenazi and Bene Menashe. The first three communities had some social religious connections with each other but most of the social religious connections of each community were within their own community and they regarded the other as ‘outsiders’. The Bene Israel claim to be descended from Jews who escaped persecution in Galilee in the 2nd century BCE. The Bene Israel resemble the non-Jewish Maratha people in appearance and customs, which indicates intermarriage between Jews and Indians. However, the Bene Israel maintained the practices of Jewish dietary laws, circumcision, and observation of Sabbath as a day of rest.
The Jews of Cochin say that they came to Cranganore (south-west coast of India) after the destruction of the Temple in 70ce. They had, in effect, their own principality for many centuries until a chieftainship dispute broke out between two brothers in the 15th century. The dispute led neighbouring princes to dispossess them. In 1524, the Moors, backed by the ruler of Calicut (today called Kozhikode) attacked the Jews of Cranganore on the pretext that they were "tampering" with the pepper trade. Most Jews fled to Cochin and went under the protection of the Hindu Raja there. He granted them a site for their own town which later acquired the name "Jew Town" (by which it is still known).
Near the end of the 18th century, a third group of Indian Jews appears. They are the middle-eastern Jews who came to India through trade. They established a trading network stretching from Aleppo to Baghdad to Basra to Surat/Bombay to Calcutta to Rangoon to Singapore to Hong Kong and eventually as fare as Kobe in Japan. There were strong family bonds amongst the traders in all these places.
Jews always played a great role in the art, literature and politics. Some of the eminent jews are: Nissim Ezeickel (poet) Abu Abraham (cartoonist),the film stars like Helen, David and Sulochana . Dr. Abraham Erulkar (the personal physician/friend of Mahatma Gandhi), Maj. Gen. Samson who was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Dr. Jerusha Jhirad was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Arribadas

Some populations of Olive Ridley( one of the two species of the genus Lepidochelys , and a member of the family Cheloniidae) synchronize their nesting in mass emergences or ariibadas. The most dramatic aspect of the life history of the olive ridley is the habit of forming great nesting aggregations, generally known as "arribadas," Although not every adult olive ridley participates in these arribadas, the vast majority of them do. Individual olive ridleys may nest one, two or three times per season, typically producing 100-110 eggs on each occasion. The inter nesting interval is variable, but for most localities it is approximately 14 days for solitary nesters and 28 days for arribada nesters. The genus is also unique in that ridleys of both species commonly, and probably typically, nest each year, without intervening non-breeding seasons as shown by dermochelyids and other cheloniids. The ridleys nesting in an arribada could not be sustained by the productivity of immediately adjacent marine ecosystems, and the species is indeed migratory Millions of Olive Ridley ; emergent from South America and cross a long distance and nested in the Indian State of Orissa, the most important being Gahirmatha Beach and Bhitar Kanika.

Konark

The Konark temple in India is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard the entrance, crushing elephants. A flight of steps lead to the main entrance.The whole complex stands within a vast quadrangle, surrounded by a fortress-like boundary wall.A narrow entrance in the east leads to the pillared hall of offering (bhoga mandap). Because of the numerous embellishments of dancers and musicians on the pillars, this structure is erroneously called the dance hall (nata mandira). Then comes the hall of worship (porch) (39-metre-high jagmohana ) where devotees gathered for the darshan. In 1903, sand had filled it up and had to be closed, to prevent it from collapsing. Next is the sanctum sanctorum, which is now without its 61-metre-high tower, like the bhoga mandap. The deity is not here either. This super structure of jagmohana and the sanctum sanctorum is erected on a four-metre-high platform.The nata mandir in front of the Jagamohana is also intricately carved. Around the base of the temple, and up the walls and roof, are carvings in the erotic style. There are images of animals, foliage, men, warriors on horses and other interesting patterns. There are three images of the Sun God, positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.

Odissi

Odissi, a classical dance form of India, traditionally developed from the temples of Orissa. Before 17th century, this was performed by the Devdasis in the temple. After 17th Century, it was confined to the male dancer known as Gotipua. After the independence(1947), it was again developed and now it is one of the most prestigious popular classical dance form of India.