tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635622544264659302024-02-19T18:52:02.261+05:30Sedated BlissThe pic is only to illustrate the theme of the blog and doesn't endorse cannabis in any manner. Smoking isn't cool.Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-3803037182219057622016-09-01T02:18:00.000+05:302016-09-01T02:18:34.058+05:30Waiting...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Tum Aaye Ho...Na Shab-e-Intzaar Guzri Hai<br /> Talaash Mein Hai Seher...Baar Baar Guzri Hai'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Shab - Late evening/Night<br /> Seher - Dawn/Early Morning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Neither have you come, nor has this night of waiting come to an end,<br /> In your search, the dawn has passed by again and again...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Faiz Ahmad Faiz<br /> Urdu Poet From Pakistan<br /> 1911-1984</span></div>
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-21858315245765713192015-07-05T20:44:00.000+05:302015-07-05T20:52:43.880+05:30Reading After A Long Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
July 2015<br />
<br />
<br />
I am reading a book after a very long time indeed. Recommend this to readers. Available on Amazon India (click <a href="http://www.amazon.in/100-Poems-Faiz-Ahmed/dp/817017399X" target="_blank">here</a>). Kindle edition <a href="http://www.amazon.in/100-POEMS-Faiz-Ahmed-ebook/dp/B004NNVWAW" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AXRt56ATPUL-VCrfb5Ggs3vqJO8D4bpMWIcKNuA3tu_cXHLMYq2c6SB1xveDdhI62XE8GX2deMOJxQZoiJfVFEC1vKGov3BNQk_MUA6Ecki9omexJieV1Grnerr3SxMRK3JgV0qZglk/s1600/Faiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AXRt56ATPUL-VCrfb5Ggs3vqJO8D4bpMWIcKNuA3tu_cXHLMYq2c6SB1xveDdhI62XE8GX2deMOJxQZoiJfVFEC1vKGov3BNQk_MUA6Ecki9omexJieV1Grnerr3SxMRK3JgV0qZglk/s320/Faiz.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Urdu is somewhat of a higher standard vocabulary so a bit of Googling might be required to grasp the meaning of the words used in the poetry but that done the true depth of the verses comes out to light.<br />
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In saying that, the translation could have been better. The translator (Sarvat Rahman) has tried to create a poem out of the translated verses by rhyming the translation itself which somehow doesn't seem to match in fidelity to the spirit of the original verses to the fullest extent. Although no translation does that anyways, but conveying the meaning in free verse would have been better according to me instead of forced rhyming. But nevertheless i find it worth a read for the original verses.<br />
<br />
A sample poem along with the books translation follows. At the end though, i have provided the meaning of the words used in the poem and my own interpretation/translation in free verse.<br />
<br />
<b>'Apne Inaam-e-Husn Ke Balde</b><br />
<b>Ham Tahi Daston Se Kya Lena</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Aaj Furqat-Zaadon Pe Lutf Karo</b><br />
<b>Phir Kabhi Sabr Aazma Lena...'</b><br />
<br />
Faiz Ahmad Faiz<br />
Urdu Poet From Pakistan<br />
1911-1984<br />
<br />
<br />
Translation as in book:<br />
<br />
In return for the honors your beauty bestows<br />
From us, the empty-handed, what can you ask ?<br />
Be kind today for we bore, of parting the woes,<br />
Of testing our patience for tomorrow leave the task.<br />
<br />
My take on this:<br />
<br />
Tahi-Daston = empty-handed, as pointed out by the translator<br />
Furqat-Zaadon = Those afflicted by long separation<br />
<br />
In the verses, it's as if a lover comes after a long time to his beloved and asks her to spare some love for him while telling her all the same that he is empty handed and does not have anything to give in return as a reward for her mesmerizing beauty. He requests her to feel the union with a lover afflicted by long separation and lovingly suggests that she may test his patience some other day.<br />
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For my other posts on Poetry/Urdu/Faiz, click the appropriate label in the 'Category Cloud' in the right hand section of this blog or at the end of this post.<br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-21566156152671551552015-05-09T00:17:00.000+05:302015-07-04T16:49:30.671+05:30A couplet from my writings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
Phir Ufaq Se Mud Ke Dekha Hai 'Saaqi'<br />
Tumne Muskura Kar Ek Zakhmi Dil Ko...<br />
<br />
<br />
Ufaq = Horizon<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-78879129389170325482014-09-25T23:40:00.001+05:302017-07-16T21:24:20.673+05:30Dasht-e-Tanhaai (In the desert of solitude)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>September 2014</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Iss Qadar Pyaar Se Aye Jaan-e-Jahaa'n Rakkhaa Hai</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dil Ke Rukhsaar Pe Iss Waqt Teri Yaad Ne Haath</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yun Gumaa'n Hotaa Hai, Agarche Hai Abhi Subha-e-Firaaq</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dhal Gayaa Hijr Ka Din, Aa Bhi Gayee Vasl Ki Raat.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With Such Tenderness, O Love Of My Life</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the Cheek Of My Heart Has Your Memory Placed Its Hand Now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That It Appears As If, Even Though This Is The Day Of Goodbyes </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sun Of Separation Has Set And The Night Of Union Has Arrived</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faiz Ahmad Faiz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Urdu Poet From Pakistan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1911-1984</span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-4847675044088854912013-07-09T04:12:00.001+05:302015-07-04T16:50:36.349+05:30Sublime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kuj Unj Vi Rahvaan Okhiyaan Sann</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kuj Gal Vich Gham Da Tauk Vi Si</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kuj Sheher De Log Vi Zaalim Sann</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kuj Saanu Maran Da Shauk Vi Si</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Punjabbi poem by Munir Niazi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pakistani Poet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1928-2006.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NB<b> *</b> I chose not to translate this. It is left to the reader to figure out the depth of the verses.</span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-3810616141719855272013-02-25T22:35:00.000+05:302015-07-05T20:56:30.822+05:30A sufi poem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 2013</span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6W2lSBf7Wu8lkqujCSASWJ4UKi8IhyQv-KtQ00S08crczDQsxppbO9wnDlWjl0NBmpgDi__SFWyUJkXzTSaFLRgrjchMpLF5VR56YCBe5c23N6RjPAtf0GK5DQkS6mIruMkKrFBdzLA/s1600/Fareed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6W2lSBf7Wu8lkqujCSASWJ4UKi8IhyQv-KtQ00S08crczDQsxppbO9wnDlWjl0NBmpgDi__SFWyUJkXzTSaFLRgrjchMpLF5VR56YCBe5c23N6RjPAtf0GK5DQkS6mIruMkKrFBdzLA/s320/Fareed.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ishq te aatish nu hi barabar</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>O vat ishq da tavut khera.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aatish saare takht kanera</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ate ishq saare dil jera.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aatish nu paani bujhaave</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Te dusso ishq da daaru kehda ?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aakhe ghulaam farida, aakhe peer farida</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Othe kuch nain bachda, o jithe ishq ne la leya dera.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love and fire are similar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But love has greater hurt.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fire burns wood and grass,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But love burns the heart and liver.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water douses fire </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what's the remedy of love ?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The humble (ghulaam), wanderer (peer) Fareed says</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There remains nothing else, where love finally decides to stay.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sufi love poem in Punjabbi (Multani/Arabic dialect) by</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baba Fareed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twelfth century sufi preacher and poet from</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Multan, erstwhile Punjab (now in Pakistan).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>***</b>The image depicts Baba Fareed with disciples (murideen).</span></div>
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-689988895843890612013-02-14T02:57:00.000+05:302015-07-04T16:48:51.935+05:30A Valentine Love Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>February 2013</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dolly Parton.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American singer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the story of an American soldier and a Ukrainian girl who incidentally was on the German side during World War Two. While what's amazing is the help the soldier received from other people along the way to get his love - as if The Almighty had a plan for him, what's really touching is the lengths to which the soldier went</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">himself</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, at one point risking his life at the hands of the Russians for her, eventually going for what he wanted....and getting it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FDkff0kJCG0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As they say....love will find a way. Bill put up with the rain and got his rainbow in Vera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentines Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-23092354703331984642013-01-02T22:43:00.000+05:302015-07-04T16:57:08.601+05:30Sublime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jan 2013</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU5H4UDW4UqTd7sCD8siwTQQyln1eEZNxiIt6COywc_33mNnKUYCR7pUooWRhYRjVN-5f2KWBVka4bJwPELgCxp7pPm7e35lt0uPLcBsFr5QuCCLX1KoEl5SKRCn1jWHsWqifPtXJruY/s1600/a+rumi+dancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU5H4UDW4UqTd7sCD8siwTQQyln1eEZNxiIt6COywc_33mNnKUYCR7pUooWRhYRjVN-5f2KWBVka4bJwPELgCxp7pPm7e35lt0uPLcBsFr5QuCCLX1KoEl5SKRCn1jWHsWqifPtXJruY/s1600/a+rumi+dancer.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<b>Main dil di duniya ich tede bajhoon,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Je koi wasawaan taan kaafir aakheen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Main tedi chaukhat nu saari zindagi,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Je sir uthaawaan taan kaafir aakheen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Je meri pooja ich farq aawe,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Eijaaz' khanjar da laud kaee naeen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Khuda gawaah e tu akh cha badle,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Main mar na jaawan taan kaafir aakheen</b>".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my heart's universe if aside from you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I give place to another, call me an infidel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From your door-sill my whole life long,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If i raise my bowed head, call me an infidel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If i ever grow lacking in my worship (love) for you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dagger would not be needed (to kill me).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As God is my witness, just withdraw your love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if i don't die instantly, call me an infidel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Punjabi poem (urdu/arabic dialect) by</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eijaaz Afzal - Pakistani poet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>NB</u></b> - The image depicts the twirling dance ('Sema' in turkish) performed during recitals of poems (with accompanying music) of Jalaluddin Rumi - thirteenth century persian poet.</span><br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-69992539394964035602012-12-29T19:46:00.000+05:302012-12-29T19:46:15.327+05:30RIP Amanat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dec 2012.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A woman is the only thing I am afraid of that I know will never hurt me - Abraham Lincoln.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To 'Amanat' (a symbolic name given by Indians to the gangrape victim) who breathed her last today.</span><br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-19010165137203848262012-11-22T04:11:00.001+05:302015-07-04T16:59:11.808+05:30The best international movies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 2012</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my third post on movies (i'll provide links to the others at the end) where i write about international cinema, five of my favorites to be specific. A disclaimer though. These are my favorites only among the ones i have seen so there might be other movies that might be better than these. Having said that though, i can say with reasonable confidence, these are a few good ones u'll get to see. The criteria on which i mention them is academic excellence and not just feel good factor. Also besides every movie, I've mentioned the production country and the language. Lastly, these are in random order:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keurosing ('The Crossing' - 2008 - South Korea - Korean):</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiCEltwS-HkvgSoENKuIXLcuj0JNA6fVPnIWAauPz5GNiXADp6QaE4wBnHI7Mykmf3993XerbQ8ySl-D2VDG2Vc-d9EM5zULRCOvXFW435ApPnmjsUmkPLhIc6lj6nUx9dgUjYBzvZEQ/s1600/Keurosing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiCEltwS-HkvgSoENKuIXLcuj0JNA6fVPnIWAauPz5GNiXADp6QaE4wBnHI7Mykmf3993XerbQ8ySl-D2VDG2Vc-d9EM5zULRCOvXFW435ApPnmjsUmkPLhIc6lj6nUx9dgUjYBzvZEQ/s1600/Keurosing.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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I start with a Korean movie because most of the foreign ones that i have seen happen to be Korean. According to me they are one of the most prolific movie makers and good ones at that. Before you watch this movie, it's imperative that the context of the movie needs to be fathomed. And for that i would recommend the following documentary. Watch this first before watching the movie:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z4OmcKddq8s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z4OmcKddq8s</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This movie explores the human rights situation in North Korea which is the most secluded nation on earth ruled by the Kim dynasty. It does it through the life of a simple peasant family in the impoverished country at the height of the famine (see above documentary). The movie as a whole and the end in particular is very emotional. This movie was screened in the White House to apprise the big guys about the human rights situation in North Korea and apparently secretary Hillary Clinton had a tear in her eye at the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL807A4EF05E0F2E03&v=qyYilOhGw40&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL807A4EF05E0F2E03&v=qyYilOhGw40&feature=player_embedded</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly if this moves you enough to donate to the North Korean cause you may do so at the following link:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://libertyinnorthkorea.org/" target="_blank">http://libertyinnorthkorea.org/</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mongol (2007 - Kazakhstan - Mongolian):</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOla_DOmGew3csDZp8qupCHuBrfsRwhAAl4u6S9zF4yC0oWjGKSmUcBtzuKsEJkcjYsDInsVvWF_kVtaP6_3Xp-MpDvs5NtkzLlXck1weGyUImUYx83PyvQId9cV4Y1LnsQqrQ94_oIDY/s1600/Mongol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOla_DOmGew3csDZp8qupCHuBrfsRwhAAl4u6S9zF4yC0oWjGKSmUcBtzuKsEJkcjYsDInsVvWF_kVtaP6_3Xp-MpDvs5NtkzLlXck1weGyUImUYx83PyvQId9cV4Y1LnsQqrQ94_oIDY/s320/Mongol.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This movie traces the rise of Gengis Khan. The reason this movie makes it to my list, besides its heroic and larger than life portrayal of its protagonist is the background score and the scenery in the movie. First the background music - it's such an integral part of the movie, as if it's one of the characters. There is this deep gruttal undertone in serious situations (that typical sound that one gets to hear in Buddhist monasteries when a million monks murmur their prayers simultaneously) to the melancholic flute like sound depicting the pristine empty fields of Mongolia i presume. The scenery is just amazing. And while there is a debate about his greatness (disclaimer for his fans: i have no opinion on this - they say one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter), this movie does idolize him a bit and that's ok because otherwise the movie simply wouldn't have generated the highs that it does. After all why would someone want to watch a normal ruler going about his normal business of the day drinking wine and womanizing <strike>(maybe i would)!</strike> The point is - that is what generates the euphoria. All in all this is a very well made epic like biography of someone who <i>actually</i> rose from a slave to become someone who ruled the largest empire on earth. Perhaps that's enough for it being worth a watch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hr_PNoCZXg4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hr_PNoCZXg4</a></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samsara (2001 - Germany - Ladhakhi):</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgmAdThzAt9ErEz3abh4ZmAXgT6jk8F5EMvAmXAI0MUL4aNKbyauu80AwMONrTcJeGFuUvBnnwsGFGQ41ncPL7F1lWkPEFL5pHRCUd3tvLv4e4naSucUvUT0cWSknSURFZoXC5jEDiMs/s1600/Samsara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgmAdThzAt9ErEz3abh4ZmAXgT6jk8F5EMvAmXAI0MUL4aNKbyauu80AwMONrTcJeGFuUvBnnwsGFGQ41ncPL7F1lWkPEFL5pHRCUd3tvLv4e4naSucUvUT0cWSknSURFZoXC5jEDiMs/s320/Samsara.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div>
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'What is more important: To satisfy a thousand desires or to conquer one'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This movie aims to present this eternal question through a Buddhist monk (Tashi). They say the Buddha chose one over the other at the age of twenty nine. Tashi has reached the same crossroads and must choose between his 'Dharma' and the love of his life. What makes this movie great is the non judgmental and neutral stance it takes in its depiction of the emotional dilemma of a man who is torn between his devotion to the Buddha and his residual materialism and carnal desires (he commits something shameful which prompts him to reconsider the course of his life). The movie doesn't profess either choice over the other and even the ending is left to the viewers discretion and to me that's absolute honesty on the part of the director. The music is very similar to 'Mongol' (mentioned earlier) and the scenery (shot in Ladakh) needless to say, is amazing as well. Overall, a very thought provoking movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NB * Has sexually explicit visuals so viewer discretion is advised if watching with kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tFKvnzjPqUE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tFKvnzjPqUE</a></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Il Postino ('The Postman' - 1994 - Italy - Italian):</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxv9HulvS5Jr1xnDRd-11_djSh0j8m44DkQfFPkoU2iodkfImSGclFe-oLX1a-fXZzV3322mjM1w6NOAcHs2wM8zqnL6y6Acctp8F5qdhTfARlR1myxoBgH-qa8iDf0_JATcw6LmxpC8/s1600/Il+Postino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxv9HulvS5Jr1xnDRd-11_djSh0j8m44DkQfFPkoU2iodkfImSGclFe-oLX1a-fXZzV3322mjM1w6NOAcHs2wM8zqnL6y6Acctp8F5qdhTfARlR1myxoBgH-qa8iDf0_JATcw6LmxpC8/s1600/Il+Postino.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps once in a hundred years, comes a movie that sweeps you of your feet. Well this movie makes the cut. Watching this made me think again that why does every movie have to be an epic to be great and what happened to the art of simple storytelling ! Set around the early fifties, this tells the story of Mario Ruopollo, a simple postman in an Italian island whose heart beats for Beatrice Russo, the village damsel. But Mario is too simple and shy to express his love. Enter Pablo Neruda, who helps Mario with his poetry to woo Beatrice. But the movie doesn't end there. In time Pablo and Ruopollo go their own ways. Years later, Pablo learns that he had perhaps unknowingly elevated the simple postman to a much higher plane of consciousness than he thought. What makes this movie great is the amazing acting of the lead actor in his portrayal of a simpleton lad (mark my words, you'll realize this in the very first scene when he has dinner with his father). It's one of the best displays of acting i've ever seen. Lastly, the movie has a very emotional ending. As i said, movies like this will come once in a hundred years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XXCC7SdJW1o" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XXCC7SdJW1o</a></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oldboy (2003 - South Korea - Korean): </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpL9CcA2ja8JUc_OSIkxC6IOJC4gMHrbokhITJ-P95oZ5K3VgIsFpCEz4rzCj40DcFiLzTQD8J-IF6rd-uR6fFW2M0q3i80XTIaqxgqJCq3CyG-C1EWGfx3ENW2azc09MRskfAmxXlcQ/s1600/Oldboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpL9CcA2ja8JUc_OSIkxC6IOJC4gMHrbokhITJ-P95oZ5K3VgIsFpCEz4rzCj40DcFiLzTQD8J-IF6rd-uR6fFW2M0q3i80XTIaqxgqJCq3CyG-C1EWGfx3ENW2azc09MRskfAmxXlcQ/s1600/Oldboy.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started with a Korean movie so i guess i'll end with one. There are some movies that are always associated with a theme/genre. For example Titanic (love), Rocky (sports), the Godfather (mafia) and so on. Similarly years ago i had seen 'Kill Bill' (Quentin Tarantino starring Uma Thurman) and thought i had seen the ultimate revenge movie. Until i saw 'Oldboy'. A man imprisoned for fifteen years without being told his crime has five days to find out the reason for his imprisonment. The reason this movie appealed to me was because of three main reasons. One - a rock solid unshakable plot. Two - the sublime acting of both the lead actors. And three - the fact that it also has the feel of a full fledged commercial movie which makes one believe that not all great movies have to be the arty types. This movie keeps the viewer riveted to his/her seat in anticipation of the next scene. Such is the suspense ! And the ending makes one feel for both the characters irrespective of their crimes/sins. The portrayal of a particular kind of relationship (won't mention it here since that would give away the movie) might be a bit disturbing to some viewers but that apart, the movie deserves every bit of the viewers respect. An outlier. One in its class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NB * Has sexually explicit visuals so viewer discretion is advised if watching with kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YLn1y9v6yno" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YLn1y9v6yno</a></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, a few notes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - For those in Bhubaneswar, you may get these movies at Rupak bhai's shop (turn left after RD college while coming from Rupali Square). If he doesn't have a movie readily available, he'll arrange it for you at an extra price. For those outside India, just go to Netflix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - I have the above movies. Let me know if you want them and i'll do my best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - As mentioned at the beginning of this post, for my previous posts on movies, click on the links below:</span><br />
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<a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2010/02/a-few-good-valentine-movies.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Few Good Valentine Movies</span></a><br />
<a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2007/11/best-unknown-movies.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Best Unknown Movies (Bollywood)</span></a><br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-78659401246969653952012-11-09T02:08:00.000+05:302014-04-18T23:40:27.884+05:30Who says the sky can't be pierced !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 2012</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paulo Coelho.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'The Alchemist'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I generally don't post things here that aren't directly related to me in some way but today, probably just this one time, I'll make an exception with the video that follows (watch first before reading further) :</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WIGXboHpge0?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it doesn't end here. If you are wondering what happened to the lady after this episode..... she went on to win Masterchef America 2012. And in case you didn't know / realize it, she was the only blind contestant in the show competing against able-bodied ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As i reflect on this after watching, i am reminded of this beautiful quote (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">translation mine)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Kaun kehta hai ke aasmaan mein ched nahin ho sakta.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zara tabeeyat se ek patthar toh uchaalo yaaron'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Who says the sky can't be pierced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just lift a pebble with spirit my friend'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mirza Ghalib</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Urdu Poet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1787-1869</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NB* For another inspirational story read one of my earlier posts (click <a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2011/01/inspirational-story-of-shreesh-maharaj.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-49088680709937522862012-11-01T03:53:00.001+05:302017-01-06T02:27:38.624+05:30A moron got lucky one day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>November 2012</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all have our days. Just like every dog does. The following rendition of a guy who got lucky on the flight to Delhi one day is very close to me because of the following two reasons:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 - I used to religiously watch a program on NDTV called 'Left Right and Center' (catering mainly to the intellectual strata of society) only to catch a glimpse of Nidhi Razdan who hosted the show with absolutely zero knowledge (or interest for that matter) in the actual content of the program. I stopped watching it the day I came to know she got married to this guy (Part 1 9:24-36 'Chaahe jitne bade ho gaye hon, jitna kama lein...........hum mardon ke andar ka schoolboy kahaan kabhi bada hota hai') !!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 - Four years ago on a flight to Delhi, incidentally I had the world's most beautiful girl sitting beside me for the two most memorable hours of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While the story in the rendition is imaginary and quite plain academically, what makes this amazing and beautiful is the gravity of the voice and the sheer romanticism in the description of small everyday happenings and things with hyperbolic comparisons (Part 1 8:35-54 - 'Panna palatne ke liye haath uthaaya toh dekhta hoon naakhoonon pe laal rang hai jo zara sa halka pad gya hai, jaise uss khoobsoorat ladki ka guroor jataa raha ho jise har roz duniya ke liye sajna nahin padta - aakhir uska saamna karne ke liye duniya jo sajti hai').</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NB* The return leg of my journey has been described in one of my previous posts (click </span><a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2008/12/journey-to-remember-scenes-from-airport.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was the moron who got lucky that day...</span></div>
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-22124737152973681232012-10-06T17:38:00.000+05:302015-07-04T17:00:58.853+05:30Upagupta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oct 2012<br />
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This is an addendum to one of my earlier posts (click <a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2008/07/once-i-was-poet.html" target="_blank">here</a>). This has the rendition of the original poem in Bengali. The mood and feel has been quite beautifully preserved in the rendition.<br />
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Those knowing the language (the literary intricacies) will be able to appreciate it to the fullest.But i reckon a worth a hearing anyways.<br />
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Lastly something i forgot to mention in the earlier related post - the name of the whore was Bashavadatta.<br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-46308883363787035572012-10-02T04:36:00.001+05:302015-07-04T17:01:27.657+05:30Down Under<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oct 2012<br />
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Sky Tower and Opera House, Sydney in Aug 2011 (last year). Clicking on the pic gives a bigger view of the Sydney suburbs and surroundings.</div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0Newcastle NSW, Australia-32.932737 151.76977-33.359203 151.138056 -32.506271000000005 152.40148399999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-24642935957523402822012-04-02T03:42:00.000+05:302015-07-04T17:05:15.015+05:30Meeting Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>April 2012</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there is a field. I'll meet you there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jalaluddin Rumi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: The Essential Rumi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Translation by Coleman Barks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Used as the opening and ending lines of 'Rockstar'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rendition by Ranbir Kapoor.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-41456802556185696262011-01-16T20:37:00.003+05:302014-06-07T00:57:21.556+05:30The inspirational story of Shreesh Maharaj<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b> Jan 2011</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">i am writing after a long time and more so because of an urge to share a beautiful story of someone whom i consider to be one of the biggest success stories in life. This is the story of a person called Shreesh Jadhav, a monk and teacher who resides in Belur as a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramakrishna_Mission">Ramakrishna Mission</a> where he is also known as Swami Sarvottamananda but more often as Shreesh Maharaj. There is pretty much written about him on the internet as i found out so instead of replicating his story , i'll simply provide some links to give a background. Here's how it all began for me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sometime around in 2008, on a Sunday morning, i happened to chance upon an article in the Sunday supplement (the four odd pages on glazed paper called 'Times Life') of The Times of India. The article was written by an ex IITian, Mr Rahul Awasthi who got to meet Shreesh after a long time and was very impressed with what he had achieved. <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-31/holistic-living/28320323_1_job-satisfaction-iit-jee" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the article. In addition to read all the comments on the above article <a href="http://ideafest.blogspot.in/2008/09/shreesh-jadhav-real-inspiration.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. The comments by Mr Amitabh Thakur who i later learnt was the ex SP of Bhubaneswar, my hometown, and Mr Sandeep Kumar are particularly informative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is another interesting article by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandeep_Pandey">Sandeep Pandey</a> who later went on to win the Magsasay award and was also one of the instrumental forces behind the Right to Information (RTI) act. This article mentions that Shreesh had sat on a strike with him at IIT for the cause of the mess workers (also mentioned by Mr Awasthi in his article). To read the article <a href="http://www.siliconeer.com/past_issues/2009/october-2009/oct09-The-IIT-Strike.html">click here</a>. He was also recognized as a distinguished alumni by IIT - <a href="http://www.iitkalumni.org/daa/DAAProfile2.asp?id=85">click here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ever since i read that article by Mr Awasthi in The Times of India, i had an intense desire to meet him. But never having lived in Kolkata for more than a few days each time i went there for holidays, this possibility always seemed to elude me. However this time as i happened to be there throughout the Christmas and New year period, i decided to fulfill this wish. Around new year i called the guys at Belur who connected me to him. He jokingly told me that no formal procedure or appointment was needed to meet a 'sadhu' and hence i could just drop in. So on the 2nd of Jan 2011, a Sunday, I hopped on to a bus at around 4.30 in the afternoon from the Esplanade bus stand in Chowringee in central Kolkata to meet Shreesh Maharaj. By around 6 pm i was at Belur Math. He invited me to his office and asked for tea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The first thing that struck me about Shreesh Maharaj was his warmth and his cheerfulness. In the course of our discussion he told me that Rahul Awasthi was his hostel mate at IIT Kanpur. They lived in adjacent rooms. Rahul had challenged him that he will eventually succumb to materialism and that is why he was shocked and impressed when he had come to meet Shreesh. Shreesh also told me that Rahul published the article without asking him. On asking him what prompted him to become a sadhu, he said it wasn't any particular incident but rather a chain of events. In fact in his college days, he said he used to go to temples with friends and blasted the priests whom he thought wanted to monopolize religion to themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Regarding the mess workers strike (refer to the links above), he had an interesting story to tell. Apparently, the entire IIT establishment was against him for challenging their might. But the professors of the Computer Science department were all in his support. As per him there was a reason for this. Computer Science being a relatively new subject had all young professors who were as hot blooded as him and very much willing to go against the neo-classicism of the professors of the other established departments like electrical, mechanical, civil etc whose professors were all old and thus wanted their stranglehold to remain across the system. To the younger lot , Shreesh was a means of challenging the establishment. But there is something even more interesting as i was told. When Shreesh was on strike, the old professors tried to expel him but they could not because Shreesh had very very smartly applied for leave and had been granted the same b y his CS department for the duration of the strike. Thus the CS professors argued on behalf of Shreesh saying that how can someone be booked for indiscipline for actions while not in session. The support for him was just too much for the big shots and they had to relent although that cost him the president's gold medal at IIT as pointed out by Mr Sandeep Kumar as a professor gave him a 'B' in sociology to take his revenge. However, as pointed out by Mr Awasthi, the strike was a success. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I also asked him how he felt when his Phd research had been plagiarized He paused for some time (i presumed he felt hurt) but was gracious enough to tell that he had moved on and it didn't matter any more. As an afterthought, he said he is sometimes amused that why did he do a Phd in Computer Science when he was perhaps destined to be a Sadhu. I added perhaps so that he could teach the subject to others at Ramakrishna Mission's engineering college. He broke out into laughter. I learnt that he was to go to Coimbatore for some teaching assignment. He attributed all this to what he termed 'Karma Yoga'. As per him all should be engaged in some socially productive work, a monk included. He also tole me that he still is in touch with all his mates who pay him a visit when in Kolkata. As a matter of fact Sandeep Pandey had come to meet him recently. All in all i could sense that he was a very content man who had eventually found the formula for happiness. I took his leave and wished him well in his noble endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">On my return journey, looking outside the bus window i could not help but reflect on the fact that Shreeshs' example is testimony to the inescapable fact that while there might not be anything wrong inherently, in pursuing our goals, whether materialistic or not, at least some of our life needs to be spent for the upliftment of others who might not be that well endowed or fortunate. Perhaps it need not always be with money but maybe some of our time, or maybe partially if not in full measure, no matter how small or insignificant the effort might be. And perhaps the effort need not be anything more than the minimum that one can offer within ones ability. Somewhere during my way back, i am reminded of Rabindranath Tagore's quote - Life is given to us, we earn it by giving a part of it to others. It leads me to conclude that the opposite of love isn't hate. It's apathy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As i wonder whether Shreesh Maharaj be called a success story, given that he has not made much money in his lifetime, i figure that how rich we are is not defined by how much we have but rather by how less we need. Henry David Thoreau had once said - That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I reckon by that measure, Shreesh Maharaj is the biggest success story of the IITs, even more than IITians who went on to make millions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The life of Shreesh Maharaj is a wonderful example of an indomitable spirit, undaunted courage of conviction and above all, loftiness of character. In a world where much of our activity these days is nothing more than a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life, Shreesh Maharaj stands tall with his head held high.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As i get up in the morning, to start all over again the endless cycle of chasing that ever elusive goal of success and riches and money that we all have been so effectively programed to achieve, i am reminded of a punchline which i had seen on TV while watching cartoons as a kid:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> "Tom never gets Jerry - not in his lifetime". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Shreesh Maharaj, makes one realize how true it is...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">NB* i recommend every one to meet this good soul at least once in your lifetime. If anyone wants to know how to get in touch with him, let me know. i'll be glad to help.</span></div>
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-30006199593371078362010-05-08T00:50:00.002+05:302012-10-01T03:45:37.135+05:30Mother's day special<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>May 2010</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In continuation of my tryst with movies for special occasions here's one specially for mother's day.</span></span><br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-79665985721561082162010-02-20T05:29:00.001+05:302015-07-04T17:04:49.345+05:30Listen for the stream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
February 2010<br />
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Listen for the stream<br />
that tells you one thing.<br />
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Die on this bank.<br />
Begin in me<br />
the way of rivers with the sea.<br />
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Jalaluddin Rumi <br />
Translation by Coleman Barks.</div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-68796476107681003812010-02-12T18:19:00.004+05:302015-07-04T17:06:43.512+05:30A few good Valentine movies.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">February 2010</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Valentine’s Day is the usual time of the year when cupid strikes. Emotions (and passions eh!!) are on a high. People start planning weeks before. And from what I’ve noticed growing up, the plans often follow a pattern according to one’s age. The common ones that I’ve figured in the order of aging are:</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For the 9th graders who’ve just started out -</span> An ice cream at the mall.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For the ones in college -</span> A movie and dinner.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For newly weds -</span> A movie and dinner (candlelight).</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For couples with small kids -</span> Add an evening at the park and cut out the candlelight.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For couples with teen aged children -</span> Nothing. This is interesting coz I can relate. My parents grew up in West Bengal on communist propaganda where frugality was virtue. To them Soviets were heroes and this was American strategy to enable their greeting card companies gain a foothold in other markets (Archies wasn’t around then) and spread capitalism around and obviously their thoughts din make any sense to me at all. I remember nothing special happening between them on this day. It was jus like any other day all because of their belief system.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For parents with grown up kids:</span> Watching their kids make it out and then wish that only if such things existed in their time too and if they cud turn the clock back.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For old people -</span> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Sex on steroids!!! (Ok, this was to make u laugh ! Trust me i’m not paid to promote Viagra !!! Now lets get back to work).</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I find the third category most appealing (nothing to do with me personally since I don belong to that category in the first place). But here I’m gonna leave out the dinner part or the candles (both very romantic indeed but some other time on them) and talk about the movies.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">So here are my recommended valentine movies. The basis on which I’ve chosen them is not cinematic excellence (that explains why there isn’t ‘Gone with the wind’ or ‘Casablanca’). In fact the movies that I’ll mention are pretty average academically. But the only reason I’ve put them here is that they have that ‘feel-good’ factor. They leave behind a soft mushy residue which u think about at night when u sleep (and admit it fantasize putting urself in the boy or the girls place !!). To make a long short, they just make ur day! Also I wont be writing bout movies that are famous and in all probability u must have seen already countless number of times in Star Movies and HBO. That explains why u won’t find movies like Pretty Woman (voted as the best Valentine movie of all time), You’ve Got Mail, Noting Hill, Nine Months etc. There are also movies which are famous but which i din like at all like 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. But rather I’ll write about movies that may not have been very famous but are upto the task as far as that ‘feel good factor’. They are soft, mushy and do make a dent. Also I have avoided movies which have a sad ending for it obviously doesn’t make any sense seeing them on Valentine’s Day. That’s why I din mention Titanic (get the point now). Also, let me give the disclaimer that <b>these are the best Valentine movies only among the ones that I have seen and can remember at this point and not necessarily of all time</b>. There might be other great movies that I might have not come across so please don treat this list as exhaustive by any means. Lastly the order I’ve mentioned them is random.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tum Bin (2001):</span> This movie tops my Valentine list. And yes i am aware some of u may not agree and i respect that too... But remember nowhere am i saying that this is the best love movie on earth. Its just that on Valentine's day, it'll be a very good watch. Some of u must have seen this on TV. I have a soft corner for this movie. The movie, although not a blockbuster, maybe because it starred all newcomers, nevertheless did decent business. But believe me u can’t judge a movie by the money it makes (Swades flopped right!). The songs (and almost all of them) were very melodious. In spite of very high emotional drama, this has a happy ending. Shot in Canada, the visual effect is absolutely stunning. Every actor has done justice to their role. According to me, a perfect Valentine movie. While i cun find any formal trailer, i am giving a few decent links below of whatever i cud come across (the second link actually more for the beautiful song by the Pakistani singer Ataullah Khan Esakhelvi, incidentally one of my favorites). Watch it if u haven’t already. Most of u will like it. And that’s a guarantee.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stuart little 1 (1999) and 2 (2004):</span> This is an exception I admit because it’s famous. It really doesn't matter what age you’re in, u’ll like this movie. The reason I mention part 1 is because its shows love within the family (this compels even a cat to take on his mates to protect Stuart). If at all u decide to watch both, see it in sequence to enjoy it the most. The reason I mention this as a Valentine movie is because in the second part Stuart actually gets smitten by the bird (Margelo I guess) and determined to save her from the clutches of the ‘Falcon’ even risking his life. This was the movie that had the very famous song ‘I’m Alive’ by Celine Dion later included in her album ‘A New Day Has Come’. Just watch the video of this song where u have Stuart flying his tiny airplane to fight the Falcon and save Margelo with the entire New York City watching and cheering for him. That was really romantic – and brave. Although Margelo leaves Stuart at the end, the reason I mention it here was because when Stuart's dad asks what was the silver lining he replies ‘She’ll be back in spring’. And that to me was a happy ending.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wimbledon (2004):</span> John McEnroe and Chris Evert play commentators in this movie in a special appearance. The DVD cover mentions it to be a romantic comedy. But don get swayed by that for according to me I couldn't really understand what was so comical about this movie. To me it’s a beautiful romantic drama that really touches your heart. Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) is at the end of his tennis career current ranked a hundred something on the ATP circuit who’s never won a tournament in his life. He decides to play Wimbledon one last time. When the tournament begins he meets the women’s top player Lizzie something (Kirsten Dunst) who is in top form and is like the Maria Sharapova of tennis. Inspite of his failing form Lizzie sees a feeble glint of potential inside him. Paul makes a last ditch effort to win Wimbledon and along with it, the heart of a rising superstar. Watch this. Trust me you wont be disappointed.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Manhattan (2005):</span> Its all about first love. This beautifully narrated movie tells the story about Gabe, a 12 year old who has fallen in love with Rosemary Telesco. They both live in ‘Little Manhattan’ area in New York City and hence the name. Shot on location this movie will create nostalgia and make u recall the various emotions we undergo when we like someone for the very first time.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993):</span> Agreed. u’ve heard of this. According to me one of Shah Rukh Khan’s best movies. I really liked his innocent acting here. I wud recommend this movie to anyone who is alone this year or has had a heartbreak recently, for this movie very sweetly portrays moving on and that there is life even if u don always win in love. And who knows, u may even end up with someone as good, if not better! Suchitra Krishnamurthy looks very fresh, sweet and innocent. Lastly the songs are good too.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Choti Si Baat (1975):</span> I sometimes wonder why does every great movie need to be an epic and what happened to the art of simple storytelling. Amol Palekar was an actor whose movies were so simple and yet so elegant. In this movie, he plays a simple guy who is madly in love with Vidya Sinha but due to his innocence is a moron when it comes to love. To add to it there is Asrani who also fancies Vidya and hence adds to his woes, spoiling his plans every time. Amol needs help. And he gets help from Ashok Kumar who is an ex serviceman and a Mr. know it all from whom the entire world seeks suggestions including Amitabh Bachan who plays himself in a one minute special appearance. In the end the old man’s training pays off and Amol wins the heart of Vidya. This is a very light hearted movie so don’t expect heavy emotional drama. But trust me, it’ll make u’r day.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Maguire (1996):</span> Yes this movie is famous too but the reason I mention this is because of great lines in this movies. The line ‘You Complete Me’ said by Tom Cruise to Renee Zelwegger was voted to be the most romantic line in movies once. Also Renee’s reply ‘You had me at hello’ was equally impressive. And of course Cuba Gooding’s ‘Show me the money’ and ‘I love black people’ added some light moments. One of the scenes I remember is when Tom Cruise is about to leave his job and asks who wants to join him, Renee joins him without any second thoughts and sticks with him. Lastly the kid is the cherry on the cake.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Last Chance Harvey (2008):</span> This will probably appeal to middle-aged people. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thomson play two middle aged people (probably in their fifties) who happen to meet in London. Both are losers in their personal lives. They manage to connect and despite a few hiccups bring happiness into each others lives. Shot in London, the locales add to the movie. There is no concrete storyline as such but it does leave u happy at the end of the movie. A decent watch.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Music and Lyrics (2007):</span> Hugh Grant seems to crop up again (after ‘Nine Months’ and ‘Notting Hill’ mentioned above). But if there is anyone who really makes this movie worthwhile, its Drew Barrymore (she actually looks so pretty in this movie, u just kinda miss everything else !). Hugh is a once-famous rock star who had a rock band in the mid 80’s that dismantled in the early nineties. Now he makes a living by composing the odd jingle and singing at fairs. Until he meets Drew who is employed to water his plants ( I wrote pants the first time around – cant stop laughing). While Hugh is good at composing music, he just cant write lyrics anymore which is holding him from making a comeback. However he discovers precisely this talent in Drew when she accidentally fills in an incomplete line while he’s composing. Hugh requests her to help him to which she agrees. However when Hugh pressurizes her to mould her lyrics to suit a Britney Spears like star who he plans to team up with in a forthcoming concert, Drew walks out feeling very hurt. Hugh does something pretty amazing to win her back – and in the process realizes that he is not that bad after all. Again while this may not be a cult movie, on Valentines Day, u wont probably dislike it either. Maybe my liking for Drew Barrymore was too strong to resist missing this out. Incidentally, this was released on Valentine's Day !</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<b>Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007):</b> After 'Top Gun' (1986), Tom Cruise was already a superstar and around 1990, he acted in a movie called 'Days of Thunder' (just for some trivia, this is said to be where he and Nicole Kidman fell for each other). TRRP has been inspired (or maybe simply copied) from this movie (see the trailers). But with a twist! While DoT is more about racing in addition to the emotional drama, TRRP has shades of very powerfully shown family bonding and love and for that reason i don mind mentioning it here as Valentine watch. TRRP is the story of a racing driver RajVeer (RV) who falls into a bad patch in life and his path toward getting back. While this movie may seem to be a sports movie on the periphery, it might as well be about bouncing back when life hits u below the belt (and believe me, people do bounce back in life - remember Sourav Ganguly’s man of the series return in South Africa after a year in the wilderness – that was bouncing back like nothing else). The racing car was just a medium to carry this theme. It cud have been anything else all the same. Being a Yash Raj banner, this movie had all the glam and glitz (shot in New York City). The songs were very nice too. But what really makes this movie so amazing is the support that RV gets all along from his wife (Rani Mukherjee – this is the only movie in her entire career in which I liked her) his two kids who were like two cherry blossoms in the movie, and even his friends and neighbors who chip in with whatever they can. It makes u realize that when the chips are down, our loved ones really cushion our fall. To me, that was the high point of the movie rather than the racing part. Lastly, if this is a perfectly watchable movie with ur entire family and if u r married, ur kids included or for that matter anyone who stuck with u when it was raining.<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2007):</span> Both movies were critically acclaimed but to me the first one was a disappointment. But the reason I recommend it is because the second one somewhat makes up for it. The second is a sequel which is shot in real time nine years after the first. In the first part, two strangers meet on a train in Europe. In the course of a conversation, the guy develops a liking for the girl and requests her to get down in Vienna where he is supposed to disembark where they can explore the city together. The girl agrees and hence begins their story of one day after which both go their own ways. The only reason I recommend the first part is coz it’ll help u appreciate the second part somewhat better. In the second part, they meet again after nine years in Paris and the story explores another day. In the course of the conversation they both realize that they both still have a longing for each other. This is very beautifully reflected in a song that the girl sings to the guy over tea (I found it one of the high points in the movie and very sweet indeed). This time, as the day approaches its end and its time to move on, the guy makes a different decision and some interpretation (in all probability a happy one) is left to the viewer. Ethan Hawke does full justice to his role but Julie Delpy, the actress levitates the movie to a different league altogether with her brilliant performance. A somewhat serious movie which will leave some residue in ur heart.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-13841011252534450262009-10-12T01:46:00.001+05:302015-07-04T17:11:29.802+05:30Sublime.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>October 09</b><br />
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for what shall i wield a dagger, o lord? <br />
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what can i pluck it out of</div>
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or plunge it into</div>
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when you are all the world?<br />
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-A prayer originally in Kannada (a south indian language), addressed to Ramantha (Shiva) by Devara Dasimayya - 10 century south indian poet saint.<br />
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Came across this by sheer accident on the internet. I had one seen this on my trip to Kerala earlier this year in a bookshop on MG Road near Tipu Sultan mosque in Trivandrum. I was told they had a branch in Kesavadasapuram too (if any Keralite ever reads this post, i'll be indebted if u can get in touch). It was a book on south indian poetry translated by an Indian American. God knows why i din buy the book. But its a decision i really regret.</div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-68975501004535724332009-02-14T02:00:00.002+05:302015-07-04T17:15:11.958+05:30Coolest Valentine Quote<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Love is when you tell a girl that you work in Satyam and she still accepts you.<br /><br />Source: The internet.<br /><br />Happy Valentines Day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Addition* Just for some context, this post was written when Satyam was in trouble.</span></span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-9925832137229525402009-01-28T01:08:00.001+05:302015-07-04T17:17:59.793+05:30Analyze this !!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">January 2009<br /><br />Have u ever wondered that in a world of six billion people, all it takes is just one - to change your life forever.</span></span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-87403889242789902322008-12-15T20:17:00.003+05:302015-07-04T17:26:36.646+05:30A journey to remember – scenes from an airport<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">December 2008</span><br />
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An airport is a very interesting place to be in. U get to see all shades of human emotions on full display. And let me tell u that these displays are unadulterated and genuine. Besides I reckon if u are at an international airport like Dubai, I realized culture or for that matter where we come from has a definite bearing on how we react to situations. The Americans swear, the Australians take it easy, the Japanese are surprisingly calm even under tense situations, the Africans (old fat Nigerian ladies in particular in their traditional garb) shout at the top of their voice cursing the airport staff. Had there not been smoke detectors, they wont mind performing voodoo to incapacitate or even kill the airport staff they have a grudge on. On a smaller scale I got to see a mixture of all shades of these emotions at the Delhi airport recently. <br />
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I have to catch an afternoon flight to Bhubaneswar. While I had company on the onward journey, I am alone now. Left to fend for myself in a city I have never been to before. Last night was spent in a hotel close to the airport. I got up early to complete some pending work and hence am somewhat tired and sleepy. I decide to arrive at the airport early to avoid a long queue. Thankfully the q is manageable. I join it. It strikes me that standing is my fate for the next hour or so. The thought itself is sickeningly nauseating. I console myself . Its gonna be ok. The line is movin afterall. My alter ego says a snail moves faster. I surrender myself to providence and decide to trudge along.<br />
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Suddenly a thought strikes my mind. I decide to look around to see how my fellow beings fare in what seems to be a never ending wait for some while there are others too who wished time cud be bought (people who were saying goodbyes that is). Separation is painful indeed. I have been thru these situations and can hence relate. Maybe its good that im alone in my journey. On second thoughts, maybe not. A couple are bidding each other good bye. The small kid changes laps between the parents. A final kiss on the cheek from the dad and its time to go. The couple hold hands for one last time and leave. The kid's too young to figure what's goin on. He probably knows he is safe in his mothers arms.<br />
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As the line moves ahead a very pretty Kingfisher ground staff walks by announcing something indiscernible in a heavily accentuated voice. The old balding man in front of me salivates. I sympathize with him all the same knowing I might be in his shoes a few decades later. Someone shouts at this point saying where is the Indigo ground staff. The whole line bursts into laughter. The line moves on.<br />
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As I approach the security check, people are getting restless. The extensive checking in the wake of the Mumbai incident irritates a few. Some plead the security guys to be fast. Their pleas are met with indifference and apathy. Makes me wonder why does it take a terror attack to wake up these guys. But what is even more annoying is that the scanners in one of the security check booths isn't functional and hence a manual check of hand baggage further delays things. A Mongoloid (Japanese or Korean I guess) appears clueless. I hear a few 'maa behen ki gaalis' which seems to be on the tip of the tongues of Delhites. I don blame them. When emotions are on a high, people slip. I clear the security check on my turn. It's a big relief. My aching legs look for a place to sit. I take a seat. The empty ones beside me get occupied soon. There is some time left for the flight. I decide to continue gazing at people.<br />
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Kids play around. Some cry. The ground staff keep announcing "This is the last and final call for……". There is this indigo girl roaming about who gets a lot of well deserved attention from the crowd. Instinctively I try to find the old man. There he is – salivating again. Most of the other old men ape him some even in the presence of the old ladies by their side who counter with a look of rebuke. Im reminded of the saying 'Men don't stop trying' and smile to myself. The only thing I fear in life is old age. And that too a lonely one without someone by ur side jus like the old man. Its an age when u cant rock the bed anymore, u'll feel shy to hold hands in public, go on long drives and take turns in driving, mumble sweet nothings in each others ears. But I guess having someone to rebuke u for the faux pax gives u a sense of belonging. It tells u that u r still wanted and there is someone who stills wants ur undivided attention. Now whether the men looked at the pretty girl to satiate their carnal desires or deliberately to make their spouse jealous – I don know. But believe me somehow it made very cute scene all in all.<br />
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My flight's departure is announced. I again get into a queue. Being a programmer by profession I think why cant I join a stack which follows LIFO (last in first out) instead of a q. Whatever. The q is faster this time around. Soon after I board the plane. Its almost empty. I take a window seat at the back. In time the flight takes off. And then it hits me. Im lonely and this time there aren't many people to look at and analyze. I don have my earphones with me. The view outside is just white. Im dead. Instinctively im reminded of my onward journey. At least there was someone to talk to. I look for someone to sit beside. Where's the old man I think !!! Alas, not on this plane. Given the display of his libido earlier on I'm sure he had a lot of tales from his youth to narrate. I accept my fate and let my mind wander freely. Look back at my life and introspect. Dream of the good days and the bad ones. The people I like. The ones I wished weren't there in the first place. I think about the future too. I have plans. Big ones at that. I try to make a roadmap. Sometimes good decisions can be made in the peace and quiet of untroubled moments I say to myself. While I try to seize the opportunity, a hostess interrupts me. I take a can of Orange juice. It tastes like medicine. I leave it. This is getting worse. But I have nothing to do. Except sit back and let my mind wander aimlessly. Somewhere I fall asleep.<br />
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Suddenly im interrupted by the speaker. The plane prepares for descent. I fasten my seatbelts. As I deplane, im overcome with relief. The worst is over. In time im home. That night as I lie in bed my mind instinctively wanders to the happenings of the last 24 hours. A sudden plan, a company by coincidence, the onward journey, roaming on the chilly streets in Delhi at 1 in the night looking for an open internet café (i actually found one in another hotel), the events thereafter, the couple separating at the airport (somewhat touching), the ground staff and the old men gaping at them, my loneliness at the return journey – it was a mixed bag but some did leave an indelible mark on memories. I smile and retire myself to a night of blissful sleep.</div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-64452057919156761072008-09-14T23:51:00.001+05:302015-07-04T17:17:27.439+05:30???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: arial;">September 2008</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">"When I am with you, we stay up all night</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">When you are gone, I can't get to sleep!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Praise God for these two insomnias</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">And the difference between them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Jalaluddin Rumi - Persian Poet (1207-1273).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Source: 'The Essential Rumi'. Translation by Coleman Barks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">PS * For those in Bhubaneswar, you may get it at The Modern Book Depot.</span></div>
Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563562254426465930.post-8830279250276052582008-07-13T01:06:00.002+05:302015-07-04T17:26:59.937+05:30Once i was a poet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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July 2008</div>
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I used to be an avid reader at one point of time gorging upon anything I cud lay my hands on. I like poetry, short stories and novels, exactly in that order. I read novels but only upto ninth grade after which my attention span shortened as happens with any teenager. After all who had the time for 300 plus pages when u had the Biology book in hand with the reproductive system and the anatomy of girls explained, a chapter that I finished at the beginning of the academic year itself – at that age they were far more interesting. Besides u had outings with friends (read new found freedom) and to an extent serious stuff like academics and career (yeah, I was a good student upto tenth grade – its only later that somehow the seriousness died). But yes, short stories and poetry find a place in my heart to this day. My favorite short story is ‘Love across the salt desert’ by K.N. Daruwala. Incidentally it was a part of our English curriculum in senior high. It told the story of how a ‘Najaab’ brought ‘Faatima’ into his village crossing the <st1:place>Rann of Kutch</st1:place> in between. The day Faatima entered Najaab’s village, the rain swept away three years of drought.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Coming to poetry, there are two that are my all time favorites. ‘Upagupta’ by Rabindranath Tagore (the original Bengali one and not the English translation by Tagore himself) and ‘Buddha’s Death’ by Romesh Chander Dutt (a Bengali again).<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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‘Upagupta’ (click <a href="http://cardiacmusic.blogspot.in/2012/10/upagupta.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the original Bengali rendition) is a brilliant depiction of human emotions. In it, one of Buddha’s disciples Upagupta, while preaching in <st1:city><st1:place>Mathura</st1:place></st1:city> meets a very beautiful prostitute who tries to lure her. But Upagupta being the sacred man that he was replied that he will come to the whore some other day when she would need him more. The lady probably mocks Upagupta to let such an opportunity pass by. Decades pass. The prostitute is now old with gravity having taken a toll on her skin. She has nothing to offer now. Her youth has faded away and her entire body is polluted with disease and pestilence due to her past lifestyle for which she has been banished outside the walls of the city. Alone, old and in great suffering, the lady lies on the ground silently awaiting her death. There she meets an old man who takes her head in his lap and caresses her forehead. Astonished, the prostitute asks the man that who was the merciful one that still cared for a human being the whole world had discarded. The man replied, saying he had come to her as promised years ago as she now needed him more than ever. The old man comforts her till the prostitute dies in his lap to the best of what I can recall. Tagore wrote the original poem in Bengali as ‘Abhishar’. Later he translated it into English but it wasn't half as good as the original one. According to me Rabindranath was to poetry what Sarat Chandra was to literature. He is any day much better than Shakespeare (I really dunno why the world is ga-ga a about a man who stole his plays while working as a curtain puller in a theatre company in Avonshire).</div>
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My other favorite poem is ‘Buddha’s death’ by Romesh Chander Dutt. Again it was a part of high school curriculum. It was one of the poems in the book ‘Flights of Fantasy’ that we had to study for the boards (ICSE students will know better). It is a solemn tribute to the greatness of the Buddha. The storyline goes as such – The Buddha preached across lands in his young days along with his friend and disciple Ananda, his message of truth. In praise, all the heavens showered flowers and incense upon him, hailing the greatness of this man. But the Buddha tells his friend Ananda that he cannot be pleased by showers of sandal and heavenly praise, but rather, by the devotion and truth in people he preached. The Buddha didn't seek glory in such things.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Years pass and the Buddha is now old and weak and lying on his back waiting for death to come, with his friend Ananda by his side. The Buddha is now approached by a Brahman (man seeking wisdom in this context) who had come for a far off land to meet the Buddha and seek wisdom from him. Ananda stops him saying that the dying Buddha was not in a state to preach and hence the Brahman should return. Buddha overhears this and tells Ananda to let the man come, saying that the Buddha never returned anyone empty handed. And thus at the cost of inflicting pain on himself, the Buddha taught the truth to the man and passed away. The whole theme of the poem was like - Even in death, the Buddha had passed his test.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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One of my paid jobs as a youngster before I formally took up employment happened soon after I had given my engineering entrance exams. There was a considerable gap between the exam and my first day in college. An earning opportunity presented itself during that time that not only gave me money sitting at home but also brought out something that I am somewhat proud to this day.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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There was an old retired professor of Oriya who lived downstairs. After retirement, to keep himself engaged, he had taken up an assignment with the National Book Trust to translate selected pieces of Oriya literature to English. The man was learned and somehow we got to sit in the evenings discussing literature and trading whatever we knew of our domain. In the course of these evening discussions over tea, I learnt a lot about Oriya literature, mostly medieval, but of other periods too. Believe me, I never knew that Oriya literature actually had a beauty of its own. To cite a few examples I learnt about Bhima Bhoi and Bhanja Sahitya (literature written by Upendra Bhanja, an exponent of Oriya literature). Some of the stuff was a discovery in itself. For example a book by the name ‘Baidehi Bilaasa’ has its every word beginning with Ba (a syllable in the Oriya alphabet) including the title as one can see. Or for that matter there was a poetic novel where every line was a palindrome. I remember the opening line which was like – ‘Sari nahi kaala kaahin naarisa’ meaning my time is not up but where is the lady of my heart. This line is a palindrome in Oriya. I also read another piece where the lords namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were praised. If u dropped the first letter of each line the praise goes to Brahma, the second to Vishnu and the third to Shiva. I also had some insight into the ‘Gita Govinda’ by Jaideva on which the entire Odissi dance is based. According to a recent and well proven stream of thought, Radha was not a living character but a mythical being who had been first written about in the ‘Gita Govinda’ which is basically the tale of the courtship of Krishna and Radha as reflected in Odissi dance.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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On the other hand I told the old man about what I knew about English and to some extent Bengali literature and he seemed to relish it and from what I figured, quite impressed. One day, the old man said that he was contemplating of not taking translation assignments anymore as it was taking up quite a bit of his time and besides, he din need the money anyway. I used to be free in those days and thought if I cud try his job. I told the man so. He replied that I cud try translating a small piece as a trial to see where I stood. I did. I remember it was the translation of a brief 12<sup>th</sup> century text written about the prevalent social, political and religious beliefs of that time mostly centered around 'Jagannatha' (the predominant deity in Orissa) and the devadasi system, by a ruler of the <st1:place>Ganga</st1:place> dynasty that ruled this place at that time. I remember handing it over to the old man with eyes full of expectation, more for the upcoming opportunity to make a fast buck than the praise for a good job that I thought I had done. The old man reviewed it for a day and in the end said I exceeded his expectations and I cud start earning. I dived into the job head and shoulders. The next few days kept me very busy. I used to work late nights too. Each day I encountered words written in archaic and poetic Oriya I had no clue about. Wherever I needed help with these words, the old man readily helped. The translations took me around a month after which I knew the end of the job was near as the entrance results were due soon. The old man liked my job and I can say to this day that some of the stuff in NBT is courtesy yours truly.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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I din take up another assignment as I wasn’t sure if I cud complete it. But the turnout of the job was that my stock of words in poetic Oriya had increased to a substantial extent. It was then the thought suddenly occurred to me – Why not translate my favorite poem to Oriya! Incidentally Buddhism was more of an offshoot of Hinduism until Ashoka conquered Kalinga. It was from here that Buddhism spread all across the world and has today become a religion in itself with a following that far exceeds Hinduism.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Although it was exactly the opposite of what I had been doing all these days, I did it. It took me three days. I tell u what, translating a poem is much tougher than writing a poem urself. The biggest challenge was to keep the theme and the mood intact. I showed it to the old man who liked it and said I had done justice to the original one and jokingly said that I was encroaching upon his territory. The tragedy was that soon after I lost the school book which had the original English poem (my guess is that the folks at home sold it to the man who bought old newspapers for recycling). Days went by and I did try to recover the original poem but met with no success. Soon I forgot and moved on.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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A few days earlier while cleaning up some of my old papers in my file, I suddenly came across the translation. It brought back some nostalgia at least. This time I decided to search the original one in earnest. I Googled the stuff and found it. I have reproduced both the original English poem and my Oriya translation below. For those who don’t understand Oriya, the English poem wont disappoint u believe me. And as for those who know, they obviously can enjoy the best of both worlds.</div>
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<b>Buddha’s Death</b></div>
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Thus in many lands they wandered,<br />
Buddha and his faithful friend,<br />
Teaching truth to many nations,<br />
Till his life approached its end.<br />
And they say, along the pathway,<br />
As the saintly Master went,<br />
Fruit trees blossomed out of season<br />
And a lovely fragrance lent!<br />
And that flowers and sandal-powder<br />
Gently fell on him from high,<br />
And came strains of heavenly music<br />
Gently wafted from the sky!<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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But the saintly master whispered<br />
To his beloved and blest,<br />
“ ’Tis not thus , O friend Ananda!<br />
That the Buddha’s honored best.<br />
Not by flowers or sandal-powder,<br />
Not by music’s heavenly strain,<br />
Is the soul’s true worship rendered,<br />
Useless are these things and vain!<br />
But the brother and the sister,<br />
Man devout and woman holy,<br />
Pure in life, in duty faithful,<br />
They perform the worship truly!”<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Night came on and saintly Buddha<br />
Slept in suffering, sick and wan,<br />
When a Brahman seeking wisdom,<br />
Came to see the holy man.<br />
Anxiously Ananda stopped him,<br />
But spoke Buddha though in pain,<br />
“He who comes to seek for wisdom<br />
Shall not come to me in vain!”<br />
And he to the pious stranger<br />
Told the truth in language plain,<br />
Taught the law with dying accents,<br />
Stopped and never spoke again!<br />
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<b> </b>Romesh Chandra Dutt.<br />
1848-1909</div>
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The translated text has a few words in Oriya which the average Oriya reader may not understand. So before reproducing the poem here are the meanings of a few Oriya words used in the poem:<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>Tathaagata</b> – Another name of the Buddha<br />
<b>abirata</b> - at peace with, content<br />
<b>mudrita</b> - sleepy / dying eyes in this context<br />
<b>mahakaarunika</b> - the most generous<br />
<b>bipra</b> - brahman<br />
<b>pranipaata</b> - salutation, surrender<br />
<b>abaruddha</b> - abrupt ending<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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I had named the translation as <b>‘Buddha Debanka Mahaparikhya’</b> meaning ‘The Buddha’s Test’<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Sisya gahane bohu sahachara saha, Goutam Tathaagata<br />
Kete janapada bhrami bhrami abirata<br />
Prachaarile se parama sata, Mahabaani ahinsara,<br />
Upanita hela sese taanka bela, abasara ghenibara.<br />
Sakale dekhile, prabhu Buddhanka gamanakaale,<br />
Mannjarithila phula taruchaya, pathe pathe akaalare.<br />
Barasila dhire chandana renu, patha hela surabhita,<br />
Aakasu aasila bhaasi, sulalita sumadhura sangita.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Eha dekhi prabhu Buddha na hele trupta, bhaasile bachana dhire<br />
Suna Ananda mara priya parijana, ye sabu nuhe sanmaana mara tile.<br />
Phula chandana, madhu sangita taana,<br />
Na haba ethire ma aatmaa upaasana.<br />
Hrudaya jeuthi kalusha mukta,<br />
Subha karma re jaa jukta<br />
Sneha bhakatire sikta jeuthi mana,<br />
Jathaarta puja seithi ma hue jaana.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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Buddha jibane, abasesa dine, aasila grahana bela,<br />
Hoile se khina byatha bichadita, tanu hela durbala.<br />
Hele asakta gamanare, bisraamile tarutale,<br />
Hoile sajyasahi,<br />
Esamayare aasi upagata hele, Brahmana jane tahi.<br />
Kahile sisye aasichi mu duru, gyaana aaharana aase,<br />
Jibi Buddhanka paase.<br />
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Sisya prahara Ananda bhaasile, pherijaao tume ebe,<br />
Prabhu Buddha ta asakta ati, gyaana kipari ba debe.<br />
Mudrita nayane mahakaarunika, hoi gale bichalita,<br />
Nele nispatti debe upadesa, jadiya thile pidita.<br />
Kahile turate sisya priya Ananda ku paase thaari,<br />
Aase je mo paase, gyaana abhilaase, byarthe na jiba pheri.<br />
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Aasile bipra Buddha samipe, karile se pranipaata,<br />
Sumadhura sware, sarala bhasare, sunile dibya sata.<br />
Ehapare krame, maha prabhunkara, swaasa hela abaruddha,<br />
Mahaparikhya re hele uttirna se mahapurusa Buddha.<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
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While the old man is no more today, thanks to the job he gave me, I did something that makes me somewhat proud to this day. Hope u liked the poems.</div>
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Baba Gaanjadhaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257813464885397919noreply@blogger.com7