Culturama August 2017 by Rohini Manian

August 2017 Volume 8, Issue 6

This August we celebrate the 71st indian Independence Day with great pride

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Dear Readers,

I am grateful and inspired as I greet you this month – grateful for the celebration of this, the 71st Indian independence day, on August 15; and inspired, as I write this during a visit to Denmark, the country listed at an all time low on the Corruption Index and an all time high on the Happiness Quotient Index. I asked several Danes why and how these milestones had been achieved. Collectively, they said: “We have no hierarchy,” “We have infinite trust in one another,” and “We totally believe in our reliable government.” I have always noticed the superegalitarian functioning of clients from Danfoss, Grundfos, Ramboll and other Danish companies in India – they are as flat as a piece of paper. I saw that egalitarianism in action in their home country, too. Parliament was in session. The Prime Minster and his Cabinet were present at the historic Parliament building. Yet, the guide on our walking tour took us right up to the steps at the front of the

building. No guards were to be seen, there were no barricades and no blaring sirens either. As we continued walking and reached the driveway, we were astonished to see a stagecoach rolling in, with people dressed in 18th century costumes. The camera crew accompanying the coach gave the game away – it was a film shooting! Again, I saw absolutely no security personnel around. Chatting with a production assistant, I learnt that shooting for a popular TV serial, History of Denmark – Season 2, was in progress. “The protagonist is coming in to declare that they should start a democracy,” she explained. “That’s a great scene for me to watch; I come from the world's largest democracy,” I responded excitedly. “Do women have equal voting rights?” I asked. “We were the first country to allow it, 103 years ago,” she said, full of pride. I sang praises of the Indian government, our Prime Minster, our empowered women, Shakti, our age-old acknowledgement of woman power, and our amazing film industry’s soft power too as I continued on the walking tour. I’m always proud to share with the world the great things we have going for us in India as we leapfrog ahead. And, all the time I remember that we also have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep... Hope you enjoy the special Indian features in Culturama this month from speeches of Prime Ministers to the picture story on diversity. Jai Hind! Ranjini Manian, Editor-in-Chief globalindian@globaladjustments.com

Editor-in-Chief Ranjini Manian Senior Editor Lakshmi Krupa Creative Head Prem Kumar Graphic Designer Ankita Santhosh VP Finance V Ramkumar Advertising Chennai Madhu Mathi Bengaluru Meera Roy Delhi/NCR Ruchika Srivastava Mumbai/Pune Ashish Chaulkar To subscribe to this magazine, e-mail info@globaladjustments.com or access it online at www.globaladjustments.com Chennai (Headquarters) 5, 3rd Main Road, R A Puram, Chennai – 600028 Telefax +91-44-24617902 E-mail culturama@globaladjustments.com Bengaluru No.: A2, SPL Habitat, No.138, Gangadhar Chetty Road, Ulsoor, Bengaluru – 560043. Tel +91-80-41267152, E-mail culturamablr@globaladjustments.com Delhi-NCR Level 4, Augusta Point, Golf Course Road, Sector 53, Gurgaon 122002, Haryana Mobile +91 124 435 4224 E-mail del@globaladjustments.com Mumbai #1102, 11th floor, Peninsula Business Park, Tower B, SB Road, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013 Tel +91-22-66879366 E-mail mum@globaladjustments.com Published and owned by Ranjini Manian at #5, 3rd Main Road, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai – 600028, and printed by K Srinivasan of Srikals Graphics Pvt Ltd at #5, Balaji Nagar, 1st Street, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai – 600032 Disclaimer Views and opinions expressed by writers do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s or the magazine’s.

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Founder Ranjini Manian received over 400 messages on handing over the baton to our new ceo rohini manian. we print just a few here and hold the rest close to our hearts To decide by oneself when to retire – or retyre – is a great privilege. We had the pleasure of meeting Rohini, and we are convinced that from her personality and from the guidance you offered her, she will not only be a perfect successor within the rails you laid but will drive Global Adjustments to new shores. Stefan & Claudia Wechbach, Former German Consul, South India Heartfelt congratulations to you on your decades of success – not only in business but in raising and encouraging the next generation of strong, capable women (and all global citizens!), working to achieve richer and more meaningful cultural understanding and appreciation. Kristin White, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, Worldwide ERC What wonderful news. I know Rohini will do a super job (just like her dear mom). In welcoming so many to India, you, Anita Krishnaswamy, Anupama Arvind and your wonderful team have not just been telling about India but, instead, pointing to its deeper and more inspiring sides. We know that while Rohini is bringing her own spirit and vision, she also values the wisdom and experience of the others. Dr. Charles Savage, Germany My best wishes to your dear daughter Rohini Manian, who will necessarily maintain and even excel the high standards established by you with your highly motivated, well trained and dedicated team. Padmashri Awardee D. R. Kaarthikeyan , Former CBI Head

I always admired you as a trend setter. Letting go is not easy – especially when you have given birth, nurtured and taken GA to great heights. Though a daunting task, under your ‘retyred’ guidance I'm sure Rohini will fill your shoes admirably. I wish her all the very best. Padmashri Awardee Meena Chitharanjan So delighted to know that our dear Rohini is now ready to fly with her own wings. She has all the capabilities and the blessings of her elders. Padmashri Awardee Aruna Sairam Hearty congratulations to Rohini. Culturama is fantastic. Abhay Mehta | Mehta Jewellery I am delighted to know that your daughter Rohini is following in your footsteps as she will take over as CEO of Global Adjustments from you. This gives us lot of confidence, that the spirit of your company with all the valuable and helpful support will continue and further develop in an excellent way. Manfred Zink, Munich That is wonderful and I am sure you are as proud as a mother can be... So happy for you and I wish Rohini all the very best with this fine legacy... R. Madhavan, Actor This is a great gesture on your part. Our support and cooperation will be always with your organisation and the new CEO. God bless you and family. Padmabhushan Awardee VP Dhananjayan I open July Culturama and am stuck on Page 3. I am so happy you (Rohini Manian) have taken over my friend’s (Ranjini Manian) space. Steve Borgia, Chairman/ Managing Director, INDeco Hotels

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Contents Regulars

44 Feature Some of the finest speeeches by India’s Prime Ministers on the country they served

India’s Culture 8

India in Symbols

Colours have different meanings for different cultures

Short Message Service

Short, engaging snippets of Indian culture

Look Who's In Town

Expats share their views about life in India

India Impressions

Hindus believe that the number of breaths allotted to them in a lifetime is predetermined

Journeys Into India

Myth & Mythology

Baha is an Arabic-Persian word. It is neither a name nor a noun; it is an adjective meaning ‘glory’ of God

Picture Story

Our photo story this month celebrates the diversity of India

Holistic Living

Life cannot help giving fulfilment to those who turn their backs upon themselves to give to others

Relocations and Property 70

Space and the City

Property listings in Chennai

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SMS by Suzanne McNeill

Bell Metal

Short cultural snippets for an easily digestible India

Bell metal, called kansa in India, is an alloy of copper, zinc and tin that has been known since ancient times as a shuddh or ‘pure’ metal. It was considered unadulterated, therefore sacred, and due to the sonorous quality of sound when struck was used to cast percussion instruments and bells for ritual use in temples. This pure quality also meant that bell metal was used to craft utensils for cooking and eating. Recommended by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, bell metal cookware was believed to transfer medicinal properties from the metal container to the food or liquid it held that prevented and relieved gastric and allergic ailments. Thali plates and bowls and vessels of all sizes are still made today as they are considered hygienic and easy to maintain. The objects are shaped by hammering ingots of the molten metal into beautiful forms. The inside is polished to a warm yellow-golden glow, whilst the outside is often left sooty black. The Kansari community of Orissa are experts at this craft.

Pukka Pukka, also spelt pucca in India, originates from the Sanskrit word pakka, meaning ‘ripe’, ‘mature’ and ‘cooked’. For Orthodox Hindus, the term pakka was applied to their dietary regulations: pakka foods were considered the purest. The meaning of pakka was also figurative. It implied something that was good, thorough and complete. Fired clay used to build dwellings was pakka, that is, it was cooked and pure, and a house built of brick or stone was pakka, as opposed to one made of mud and thatch. Pakka represented something that was durable and permanent. It was first recorded in English in 1775 during a trial, where it was understood to mean ‘solid’. It has since entered the English language as a colloquial adjective meaning ‘absolutely genuine’; for example, ‘He’s a pukka English gentleman’. It is also slang for ‘excellent’, both as an adjective: ‘I’ve had pukka food there’, and as an exclamation: ‘I’ve made a reservation for us at the Taj Hotel’, ‘Pucca!’ – no more needs to be said to show appreciation!

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Gopal Gandhi As a descendent of two of India’s most famous political families, it is no surprise that Gopalkrishna Gandhi has dedicated his life to public service. Born in 1945 in Delhi, Gopal Gandhi carries the name of his famous grandfather, Mahatama Gandhi, and on his mother’s side he is the grandson of another politician-statesman of immense stature, C Rajagopalachari, India’s last Governor-General and a leader

Dharwad Pedha

of the Indian National Congress. Gopal spent many years of his career as an Officer in the Indian Administrative Service. Graduating with a Masters in English Literature, Gopal Gandhi started his IAS career in Tamil Nadu, then worked as Secretary to the Vice-President and President of India. A discreet and highly competent official, he then stepped up to ministerial and diplomatic positions in the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Norway and Iceland. On retirement from the Civil Service, Gopal was appointed as Governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009 during a tumultuous period when the state was politically polarised, and is credited with bringing warring camps to the negotiation table. A safe pair of hands, he was also charged with the role of Governor of Bihar for a few months. His illustrious career also includes stints as chairman for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and for the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, the premier institution for the development of classical art forms. This love of the arts continues into his work as a translator – he translated Vikram Seth’s novel A Suitable Boy into Hindi – and as a multi-lingual scholar, editor and writer. Gopal Gandhi is currently a columnist with the Hindustan Times, and is standing as Opposition party nominee for the post of Vice-President; the election will take place on August 5, 2017.

This sweet delicacy is unique to the state of Karnataka. It is named after the city of Dharwad where it was created by the Thakur family of confectioners – their recipe is still a trade secret, handed down through the generations. As far as locals are concerned, the Thakur pedha shop in Line Bazaar is still the only place to go to buy the authentic version; and between 100 and 150 kg of pedha are made and sold daily from the family shop! Pedha is prepared from thickened milk called khoya. Khoya is used as the base for a wide variety of Indian sweets and is made by simmering full-fat milk for several hours until the water content evaporates, leaving the concentrated solids. For pedha, buffalo milk khoya is cooked with a small amount of sugar, stirring constantly, for up to one-and-a-half hours until it browns, adding a small amount of fresh milk if required. A larger amount of sugar is added to the mass and mixed to dissolve it. This is then cooled and cut, before being rolled in powdered sugar to lend it a slight crunch. For more insights on Indian sweets turn to our India Insights column on Page 26.

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India Impressions by Devanshi Mody

Don’t Waste Your Breath

Hindus believe that the number of breaths allotted to them in a lifetime is predetermined Have you considered the far-reaching effects of this Vedic injunction? In English, ‘don't waste your breath’ is but a manner of speaking, expressing frustration. In Vedic jargon, it could be a matter of life and death. Those who believe in destiny believe that one’s time of death is fixed. However, Hindus will tap their forefinger on their forehead above the bridge of their nose and tell you that it is not quite the time of death that is fixed at birth but the number of breaths allocated to that life and that one can alter the time of death by regulated breathing. Radical contention! Yet another of those complex and mystifying sophisticated ideas present in ancient Sanskrit as well as Tamil texts, unique to Indian thought.

I stumbled upon this idea when my father passed away and those who came to pay their respects said that the number of breaths in an individual’s lifetime were “written here” (always solemnly uttered indicating the middle of the forehead) and fixed, thereby stressing the certainty of its occurrence. Having since spoken to priests and astrologers, each with their own inclinations, I quickly realised this notion is not quite so simple. Some astrologers insist they can accurately predict one’s time of death. However, a priest tells me, illness, for instance, can quicken the depletion of the number of breaths allocated a person, thereby expediting death. This is an assertion more difficult to verify; for if astrologers of my experience could predict death, nobody has hitherto told me how many breaths someone is born with…

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I remember reading somewhere that when we were born, we were given a certain number of years, which can also be expressed as a certain number of breaths. The quicker we spend our breaths, the sooner we die. But the saints spend very little of their breath and live longer. The writer says you are given a predetermined number of years at birth and that restrained breathing can alter the preordained. Time, of course, both the Vedas and Einstein tells us is “relative” so perhaps we have the same number of years but by whose standards are we gauging? A day in the life of Brahman, according to Hinduism, for instance, is 4.32 billion solar years… It is said that beside illness, intensified breathing (in anger, excitement and desire) shortens life while calmness and slow breathing lengthen life. Therefore, every time you want to hurl a nasty word or unleash a tirade it might be prudent to hold your breath and not waste your words and your life. It is moreover said that the rishis and munis (saints) went a step further and developed breath control and elongated their lives to attain liberation in one lifetime. Some hold, and with what conviction, that there are still rishis who have lived over 1,000 years lurking around in some form of existence. Nevertheless, breath control or pranayama, which they conceived thousands of years ago, is today very fashionable because yoga pandits prescribe it, but few people understand the underlying philosophy and effects of breath control.

It is said that a man breaths on an average 15 times/ minute, 900 times/hour and 21,600/day. A Chola king made this point with 21,600 golden tiles that adorn the roof of the Chidambaram Temple. He used 72,000 nails to fix the golden tiles. Tirumular, the great Siddha, in his Tirumantiram elaborates on the significance of these figures. As per the Vedic calculations of a rate of 15 breaths/ minute, man should live to be 100. However, life is more fast-paced in this modern age and Westerners calculate 18 breaths/minute, diminishing average lifespan to 83-1/3 years. Indeed, Paramahamsa Yogananda (An Autobiography of a Yogi) opts for the Western calculation when he writes, “The restless monkey breathes at the rate of 32 times/minute, in contrast to man’s average, 18 times. The elephant, tortoise, snake and other animals noted for their longevity have a respiratory rate which is less than man’s. The tortoise, for instance, who may attain the age of 300 years, breathes only 4 times/ minute.” Ah, the tranquil tortoise, the longest-living land vertebrate and one of Vishnu’s incarnations, the Bhagavad Gita and the Tamil book of ethics Tirukkural invoke as an epitome of self-control. “When, like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs on all sides, he (a sage) withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, then his wisdom becomes steady.” (Bhagavad Gita II-58) “If a man learns to control his five senses in one birth as

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the tortoise, that power will stand by him in his seven future births.” (Kural 126) Neither of these verses explicitly mentions the tortoise’s legendary longevity that some hold stretches to even 350 years, but it is suggested the couplets allude to the secret of the tortoise’s long life: its breathing rate. The idea is generalised to further convey that breathing rate is linked to a serene and furthermore ascetic life. The Tamil saint Tirumular is emphatic that a person can live 1,000 years and therefore longer than a tortoise by yogic practices (Tirumantira 2264 & 2304). Manu Smrithi and the Vaishnavite Tamil Book Divya Prabandham also refer to the tortoise in this context. Tirumular is said to have lived for 3,000 years. Dispute this to believers in provincial Tamil Nadu and they might just take your breath away – literally, too. Yes, people even today insist that yogis “stopped” breathing, slowed their metabolic activity and lived millennia. They even argue that ant hills grew around saints during their meditation, implying time’s passage and that

Valmiki who authored The Ramayana derived his name from this fact (‘Valmiki’ means ‘ant hill’). Ancient literature describing devas and demons doing penance for thousands of years are considered blameless. Now, Nature has a parallel of bears, rabbits, and so on, that hibernate during winter, thus temporarily becoming “yogis”. But yogis of yore apparently reduced their breathing not by pranayama but by reciting the Pranava mantra – AUM. Now, if you are living a terribly exciting life, then the Vedas will tell you that you live a dog’s life. The ever excitable dog breathes 40–50 times/minute and dies at 25. However, whilst mental stress, physical strain and tension kill, it is not certain that bungee-jumpers or those addicted to thrillers, horror films or gyms, which clearly accelerate breathing, die prematurely. For those who “believe”, one can live to be 1,500 by breathing only once every minute. So hold your breath. The skeptic will scoff, don’t hold your breath!

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India in Symbols by Susan Philip

Colours of paradise Colours have different meanings for different cultures

Photo: Sylvia RICANEK, Germany

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Photo: Carlo Sem, Italy

In a nutshell India is a land of vibrant colour. The sheer variety of the palette is eye-popping for the first-time visitor to the country. But there is more to it than meets the eye, literally. Colours in India are deeply symbolic. They usually have a religious significance, and particular hues are chosen not merely because they suit a person but because they tie in with a specific occasion. Meaning and Deeper Meaning Let us take a look at three basic colours and their significance to begin with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; red, yellow and black. At one level, all three are colours of spices almost synonymous with India â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the fiery chilli, the healing turmeric and the pungent pepper. Red is a very complex colour in the Indian context. It is at once the colour of power and sensuality, and of purity and fertility. On the one hand, it is associated with the Goddess Durga, depicted as a fearsome force that destroys evil, her outthrust tongue stained red by the blood of the demons (symbolically, negative emotions such as fear, anger and jealousy) she has destroyed. On the other, red is the auspicious Photo: Tobias Schmidt, Germany

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Photo: Nicole ALICE, USA

colour worn by Hindu brides; and, later, kumkum, the red powder that is applied along the parting of a Hindu womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair signifies her married status. In India, yellow stands for knowledge and joy, and also for holiness. Indra, one of the Gods of the Hindu pantheon, is said to have woven the rays of the sun to make a garment for himself. Krishna and Ganesha, two of the most beloved deities, are usually depicted dressed in yellow. Turmeric is associated with prosperity and fertility, and by extension the colour is important in Hindu rites. Black, again, is a complex colour in India. It is the colour commonly associated with Shani, or Saturn, the inimical planet believed to bring difficulties and suffering for the period when it is in ascendance in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birth chart. At the same time, it is the colour used to ward off evil. It is the colour of the kohl that enhances the beauty of the doe-eyes typical of Indians. It is the colour of the dot that is placed on the cheek or chin of babies, and of the thread tied to wrists and waists to keep away negative energy. Turmeric yellow and kumkum red are auspicious colours, used on invitation cards for Hindu weddings and other ceremonies. Black, on the other hand, is never worn at weddings. It is also a colour commonly avoided in logos and other symbols as it is believed to bring ill-luck. Photo: Thomas VALERO, France

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The stuff of legend Lord Ayyappa is the presiding deity of the Sabarimala temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The temple attracts one of the largest pilgrimages in the country. Every year, millions of people make the trek to the hilltop shrine. The pilgrims wear black. The colour symbolises the control Lord Ayyappa wields over Shani. The story goes that Lord Ayyappa made a deal with the malevolent planet – if his devotees observe a vow for 41 days of letting their hair and nails grow long, going barefoot, eschewing intoxicants and intercourse, eating only a lacto-vegetarian diet and wearing only black clothes, and undertake the arduous journey up the thickly forested hills to worship him at his temple, Shani would free them from his seven-year negative hold over them. Scientific substance Colour has been used as a tool for many centuries in many cultures. Modern scientific research bears out some of the premises on which such practices were based. For instance, red has been shown to be a stimulant (that is why most restaurant decor is predominantly red). Probably the wisdom of the ancients zeroed in on that colour to symbolise energy and passion because both these states produce a rush of blood in the body, leaving it

flushed. Similarly, yellow, with its association with sunlight, is seen as a positive, healthy shade. On the other hand, black, as a colour or, rather, an absence of colour, is known to promote a somber mood. Saying it in verse Oh Mother, let the line parting thine hair, Which looks like a channel … and … imprisons your vermillion, Which is like a rising sun,… Protect us and give us peace.” From Adi Shankaracharya’s Soundarya Lahiri, translated by P R Ramachander The Aikya factor Colours have different meanings for different cultures. Red is a divine colour in Buddhism, and is widely used in religious contexts in China and Japan. It is also used as a ‘Good Luck’ colour in many Eastern systems of belief. On the other hand, politically, the colour connotes communism. In a secular sense, it stands for danger. Universally, the red traffic light says ‘Stop’. Yellow in South Africa is associated with gold, and so stands for wealth and success. For the Japanese too it signifies wealth and courage, while in Thailand it is a specially lucky colour. But in France it is not a happy hue. It stands for jealousy. And, centuries ago, the doors of the homes of traitors and criminals in France were painted yellow. On a religious level, it signifies stability in Buddhism. Black is a negative colour in most cultures, standing for evil, negative energy and bad luck. In the West, it connotes mourning, while, socially, it is used for formal occasions. In China, however, it is associated with Yin, the feminine side of everything. End quote Udaye savitaa raktah raktash chaastamaye tathaa sampattau cha vipattau cha mahataamekar Upataa The Sun is red as he rises, he is red even as he sets. Similarly, great minds will be composed in happiness as well as in sadness._ – Sanskrit sloka Photo: Darlene Armijo

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India Insights by Advika Srinivasan

Sweet nothings Sweets hold a place of immense importance in Indiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. So much so that when there is good news, we reach for something sweet, mithai, first. If there is no sweet around, at least a small bite of sugar is proffered. That is how auspicious and connected to our culture sweets are. Made with colourful native ingredients such as gram flour, coconut, saffron, jaggery and even thick condensed milk, these sweets have unique flavours. From syrupy rasgullas of Bengal to the caramelised goodness of jaggery in the South Indian Mysore pak, there is something for everyone. Some sweets are even coated in edible silver leaf called vark for visual appeal. All these sweets come in different sizes, shapes and textures, but they all share one thing in common: they are sure to make your mouth water!

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Mysore Pak Mysore pak had its origins in Mysore, Karnataka. Legend has it that in Mysore Palace, the kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cook named Kakasura Madappa invented this dish many moons ago. When asked what it was called, Madappa could not think of a name, so he called it Mysuru pak (pak means sweet). Made from ghee, sugar, gram flour and cardamom, Mysore pak has a hard, fudge-like texture. It is commonly found at weddings and festivals in South India. Mysore pak has a variant called Mysurpa. While the former has a harder texture, Mysurpa is soft and creamy. Invented by N. K. Mahadeva Iyer, the considerable difference in texture is the result of a secret technique of stirring the mixture. This secret is guarded by Sri Krishna Sweets, the only manufacturer of Mysurpa because Iyer was the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder. A tonne of Mysurpa is made at Sri Krishna Sweets a day in Thiruvallur, a little outside Chennai! Mysore pak is found at most major sweet stores, while Mysurpa is available at all the Sri Krishna Sweets branches. Try both to see which you prefer!

Laddu Laddu is a round sweet made of semolina or gram/ chickpea or coconut flour which is made into a dough along with sugar and almonds or pistachios. The dough is rolled into balls and then cooked in ghee. Laddus have been distributed from the temple in Tirupati, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site, since 1715! There are many types of laddus. Some include raisins, fenugreek or grains that improve health. According to Ayurveda, in 4 B.C., a surgeon named Sushruta the Elder gave his patients medicine stuffed into laddus so it would be more pleasant to eat. Boondi laddus are made of boondi or sweetened beadlike drops of chickpea flour, which are fried and rolled into laddus. These laddus are eaten during Raksha Bandhan and Diwali. While they originated in North India, they are now eaten everywhere. Motichoor laddus, as shown in the photo, are made of finer boondi. Besan laddus are made of chickpea/ gram flour roasted in ghee and then coated in sugar. These have a long shelf life and are generally made during religious festivals. Malai laddus are made of khoa, a form of milk solid, and are commonly called pedha. Laddus are available at any major sweetshop.

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Rasgulla Unlike many other sweets, rasgulla is light on the stomach. Made of chhena, a form of cottage cheese, and semolina dough, the balls are cooked in sugar syrup until the latter diffuses through the cheese. Rasgulla literally means â&#x20AC;&#x153;juice ballâ&#x20AC;?. The states of West Bengal and Odisha have been fighting for GI (geographical indication) protection of the sweet; however, research shows that it originated in Odisha and that the West Bengali sweet is only a variation. According to legend, in Odisha, Goddess Lakshmi was offered rasgulla by her husband to soothe her anger. In West Bengal, N. C. Das of Kokata made a variant with different ratios of ingredients to ensure longer shelf life in the 19th century. This variant was commercialised and is readily available today.

Gulab jamun Gulab jamun has deep roots in Indian history. It was brought to India in medieval times by Turkic invaders, and was derived from a Persian dish. In Persian, gol means flower and ab means water. In Hindi, jamun means fruit. It is made of khoa which is deep-fried and then garnished with dry nuts. This sweet comes with chashni, a sugar syrup flavoured with rose water. Chashni is the Persian word for taste as it enhances the flavour of the dish. Gulab jamun is eaten during festivals such as Eid and Diwali and is served at wedding feasts. It is found in any major sweet store.

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Jalebi Jalebi is an Indian sweet made of maida, plain or all-purpose flour, which is deep-fried, and then soaked in syrup with saffron. The saffron adds colour and flavour. The sugar coating gives the sweet a crunch, but inside it is chewy. It can be served either hot or cold, and is typically eaten with rabdi, a sweet condensed milk dish. Both Hollywood and Bollywood pop culture reference this dish. It has been featured in many Bollywood numbers such as “Afghan Jalebi” from Phantom, and has been referenced in the 2016 film Lion as well.

Soan papdi Soan papdi is a cube-shaped, flaky and crisp sweet made of sugar, gram/chickpea flour, ghee, milk and cardamom that actually melts in your mouth. It originated among the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Soan papdi is harder to find in sweetshops, but is readily available pre-packaged by brands such as Haldiram’s.

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Look Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s In Town Chennai by Jane Kataria

g n i g n a h C lives in i a n n e h C

Meet Maria Gislen, who moved to India in 1993 and has been serving underprivileged children ever since

one of finding meaning and purpose in life, lending a helping hand to those in need, no matter what background they come from, making a small difference in somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life story; it is about humility and humanity.

By choice or chance, the journey of life takes people to places that they would have never imagined. Little did I know that 2016 would see me shifting from Moscow to Chennai. And, as I found out here were many people making their new home in Chennai, just like me. Every story I have come across is a unique story worth dwelling upon and may be even written. I like to meet people and bring to light, from a journalistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, their life stories. These stories contain different perspectives and experiences, which make us realise the diversity, the challenges, the goals, faith and the beauty of the world. The story I would like to write about this month is

Maria Gislen moved to Chennai way back in 1993 and has been living here ever since, for 25 years now. Several questions crossed my mind while driving down to her school located in the outskirts of Chennai. An hour or so later, I reached the Little Lambs School. A short, bespectacled lady introduced herself as Maria. Her warmth and easy-going style made me comfortable almost immediately. There were many children in the corridor of the multi-storeyed building. It was a school dedicated to underprivileged children and they caught me by surprise by greeting me in better-than-expected English. It was the first of many more surprises to come.

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Way before starting to work in a charitable institution in Chennai, Maria had seen her parents taking the social welfare of the nation very seriously. She saw them helping people in the rehabilitation centres of Alcoholics Anonymous in Sweden. Growing up, as a teenager, when you would expect someone to spend the time partying, Maria already had the desire to make a difference, to help those in need; to heal the world by caring for poor children. And luckily for her, when she grew up and married, her husband shared the exact same views. He grew up in a family of priests and saw his parents engaged in serving humanity. It was his idea to shift to India and start an IT company and support his wife with the initiative of bringing education to underprivileged children. In conversation with Culturama, Maria talks about her journey in India… Jane Kataria: Maria, several people have the desire to help those in need. How did the idea of a school germinate? Maria Gilsen: Jane, close to my house in Chennai, in the nineties, lived three kids who were neglected. One of them also suffered from domestic violence. My efforts to do something meaningful for these children went nowhere. A day came when I could not watch their suffering anymore. When I adopted these three children, there arose a need for their schooling and that is when the Little Lambs School was born. I was teaching my two kids, my three adopted kids, and a few other kids together. JK: How many children do you have? MG: I have three sons and all of them studied in this very school that I run. In a few years, many other needy children

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joined the school. Feeding children from morning to evening, taking care of occasional illnesses, managing mentally challenged kids, and teaching was no longer possible in the small establishment that I had. Besides, more children were always knocking at our doors. I prayed for strength. I could no longer manage on my own. Not sure about knocking on other people’s doors for support, I prayed more. Good souls started bringing food and supplies. Volunteers started appearing to help with the teaching, too. At that time, my husband’s company was also in its infancy and, several times, we would spend sleepless nights thinking where the money for the next day’s meals would come from. JK: I see all your pupils smiling and happy, and I am sure that their smiles are a reflection of your happy attitude. What gives you inspiration and motivation on this arduous journey of life? MG: Most of the students in the school are from very poor families which cannot support them. Many kids have nobody at all. We run four orphanages for children. We take care of their living till they complete schooling. Even later, we assist them in further studies and a career. More than a thousand have finished their schooling at the Little Lambs School. Many of my students are doing well in life. In their success, my staff and I find the strength and reassurance in our chosen path. JK: I would imagine that it takes some financial support to run a school of this size and the orphanages. How do you manage that? MG: I am not the marketing type. My husband’s IT business has grown and one of his customers donated funds for a part of the building. Several leading Scandinavian companies also support us. Volunteers in Sweden and other countries raise funds for us. They also come to help out with teaching. Some Chennai-based companies offer help as a part of their CSR activities. JK: : Do your children miss Sweden or do they feel Indian now? MG: My sons are grown up now. My younger son feels more Indian. He has been with me in this school every single

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day from the age of 4 months (smiles). I just took him along with me to work. My elder one got married a few months ago in Sweden. And my three adopted kids, who are grown up and working, travelled to Sweden for his wedding. Considering the background they come from, I am really proud to see that they can now afford travelling abroad! They gained knowledge and education and are financially stable now. That is what makes me realise that the work I do has actual meaning in people’s lives.

things, I am satisfied seeing so many kids have good meals at my establishment.

JK: Really happy to hear about your sons. Belated congratulations on your son’s wedding. Was it an Indian style wedding?

JK: And why did you choose Chennai, why India? I believe there would be many places where children need help and education.

MG: Thanks (laughs). No, it was a European style wedding. But my younger son wore a kurta and a turban – traditional Indian wedding attire – and the boys who came from India performed a dance to a Bollywood tune! So, yes, there was a little Indian touch!

MG: We found ourselves more comfortable in India because we spoke English. Chennai was very welcoming and I find that Chennaiites are the friendliest people I have come across. We stayed in China and we thought of starting a school there, but language was a real problem. I see a lot of scope for work here in Chennai. I come across different lives and fates, different cases; and people here are much more flexible in regard to legal issues compared to similar issues in Sweden, for example. We have a sister school in Sweden and our children communicate with each other through e-mail. We run exchange programmes where our teachers can receive training in Sweden and update their qualification levels. It is very important to us to provide good education to our pupils. For both my husband and me, the dreams we had as young people have come alive in India. I found the meaning of my life here in India and I have found true love, because children’s love is the most unconditional and genuine.

JK: I assume that many kids suffer from nutritional deficiencies when they come over to your orphanages and your school. Is that the case? If so, how do you manage? MG: That’s a good question. We have a trained dietician working with us. We maintain developmental records of all our children. In several children, we observe nutrition-related challenges. We try our best to provide good food to the kids. We also feed our children with supplements that we receive as a part of the CSR activities of leading companies. Some of our kids have suffered from severe malnourishment in their early years, which has resulted in long-term disabilities. Of all

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At Global Adjustments by Usha Ramakrishnan

Independence personified

Global Adjustments Foundation is proud to have conducted a first-of-its-kind in the state, one-day free motivational workshop for a whopping 100 policewomen in Chennai

Working women experience challenges at the workplace and also perform a balancing act between work and life. This is even more magnified for women in the police force. Untimely emergency duty calls, extended duty hours during VIP security work and listening to grievances, complaints and crimes every other day are just some of the additional challenges they face. While dignity and authority are synonymous with these women police, at home they also have multiple roles to play â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they have to be loving mothers, understanding wives, affectionate daughters-in-law and responsible homemakers. Wearing the tough police hat outside and the loving home-maker hat at home alternately is not practically easy. A self-empowerment workshop was therefore planned to enable happiness in the lives of these women law enforcers and to help them take pride in their profession, exhibit love at home and experience peace and good health. Through this workshop we imparted intellectual, emotional and physical well-being in a holistic way, getting them to support themselves with tools to augment gender intelligence, as they contribute to nation building. Our workshops are free. Our dedicated team of a dozen trainers are full of life experience. DGP Seema Agarwal and her able lieutenant DCP Radhika were instrumental in giving this refresher programme to Chennaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s women police.

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emotional (mindfulness to overcome stress), social (happily managing family relationships) and intellectual (work etiquette, effective communication and interactive sessions on various life-related topics) empowerment. A newfound energy to manage work and life, positive self-image and desire to be happy, relate without ego with husband, confidence to face challenges, make meditation a regular practice, and spend quality time with children were just some of the many takeaways. The participants were delighted with the programme and quite a few of them requested that we conduct such programmes periodically and extend its benefits to other women police as well. The learning from this workshop helped their all-round development including physical (tips on good health),

The programme received an extremely positive response and we at GA Foundation are thrilled that the Police Department is keen on extending this to more women in the force. We are happy to help these women, who are otherwise independence personified, liberate themselves from emotional tangles.

If you would like to be a trainer at our women's workshops or if you know of groups that need our life excellence programmes, contact us at usha@globaladjustments.com or call 98405 20394

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Festivals of India This august india celebrates the birthdays of lord krishna and lord ganesha

Janmashtami

August 14

Janmashtami or Krishna Jayanthi is the birthday of Lord Krishna. The festival is celebrated across India, in different ways. In Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), the birthplace of Krishna, stories from his life are enacted in public places. These plays are also known as Rasa Lila. In some states, such as Maharashtra, Dahi Handi, a game that imitates the act of Lord Krishna stealing butter, is played. Teams of young men climb on each other’s shoulders to form ‘human towers’ and try to break a pot of butter that is hung from a tall pole. In Tamil Nadu, people use a mixture of rice flour and water to draw little footprints – which are supposed to be that of Krishna (as a child) entering the house. Many devotees maintain a fast and recite the Bhagwad Gita on this day as well.

Ganesh Chaturthi

August 25

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesh – the elephant-headed God who is associated with prosperity and new beginnings. In some states (such as Maharashtra), the festival is celebrated over 11 days; in others, it is a 3-day event. A couple of weeks before the festival begins, small clay idols of Ganesh are sold at street-side stalls. In the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a colourful paper umbrella is bought along with the idol. Most neighbourhoods get custom-made life-size idols and place them on public platforms. For the next 3 or 11 days, prayers are performed before the idol of Lord Ganesh (at home or in public). On the 3rd or 11th day, the idols are taken to the nearest lake, sea or water body and immersed. In particular, people line up along the streets to see the huge idols carried in open trucks and vans to the sea. By immersing the clay idols in water, one is reminded that everything in life is temporary and cyclical.

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craft cafe by

Poompuhar’s Craft café is a first of its kind craft-themed café located at the iconic Anna Salai of Chennai. Enjoy a fine dining experience and treat your taste buds to healthy and authentic South Indian cuisines, going back to our roots. Here, long-forgotten ingredients such as millets and palm sugar are used to reinvent and create new varieties of dishes! What stands out at the Café is the ambiance. With exquisite bronze and wooden sculptures, bamboo furniture and the vintage statues around will immerse you in a divine setting. The Craft café is also a fantastic venue to host corporate meetings, birthday parties, anniversary functions, kitty groups, farewells, get-togethers etc.

Poompuhar, No. 108, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002

Contact: 044 42111338, 044 28511338 Email:craftsrestaurant@gmail.com Website:www.tnhdcltd.com | Shopping site:www.poompuhar.org | Artisan portal:www.tnartisaan.com

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Learn a yoga pose by Namita Jain

The balancing stick pose The balancing stick pose challenges your sense of balance. Stand tall, raise the arms up over the head and lean forward. The body should then be propelled in a forward bend, and simultaneously one leg should be lifted off the floor. The level of the hands and the leg should form a straight line, parallel to the floor. Hold for a few seconds and then repeat with the other leg. Benefits: Stretches your spine, arms and legs and improves your balance.

Learn from the Bhagavad Gita by Team Culturama

Chapter 13 Capturing the essence of the Bhagavad Gita in a single sentence, one chapter at a time; accompanied by an inspirational photograph from our Annual Photo Competition.

Detach and attach Photo: Allison Joy Jacobson, USA

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By Tim Kellow

A GlobAl EducAtion Demystifying International Education Options for Parents If you are newly arriving parents to Chennai – whether relocating within or from outside India–one of the most important tasks is finding the best school for your child. Whether you begin with an internet search or decide to look and ask around, you may quickly become bewildered by the vast array of options. Making sense of these options is by no means an easy feat and, when every school seems to labeled either ‘International’ or ‘World’, how can you tell the difference? As a relatively newly-arrived British expat who has recently surveyed the scene and now leads a new international school, I hope to provide an overview that will help you overcome that bewilderment and refocus on the important issues to consider and signs to look for. What is an international education and why is it needed? Although a debated term, international education can be summarised as an approach to schooling that develops children’s understanding of the world to better prepare them for a globalised society. A generation ago, an international education used to be a means for children of globe-trotting families to gain a semblance of consistency and keep their options open for the future. Now, it is becoming the norm. The number of international schools has grown rapidly over the last decade with the trend set to continue as the education

industry responds to the mounting evidence showing that the majority of entry level applicants fresh out of schools and colleges lack communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills required for the 21st century workplace. What it most important in selecting a school is one that can develop this set of transferable, practical and, therefore, very international skills. What are the key points to consider when choosing a school? Curriculum Schools are most clearly distinguished by the types of curriculum they offer. Of the ever-expanding number of international schools in and around Chennai – currently over 20 – the vast majority offer the IB & IGCSE (see box below). These offer students the greatest recognition and acceptance internationally, and separate them from schools that offer specific countries’ curriculum such as UK, French, US, Canadian, and German. •IGCSE - International General Certificate of Secondary Education The IGCSE is the most popular internationally recognised qualification for 14 to 16-year-olds and is taught in over 2,600 schools worldwide. Introduced in 1985, it is adapted from the English national curriculum, and is intended to have a broad approach to learning by offering 70 subjects and is assessed by written examination. Different versions are offered by two private UK companies – Cambridge

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International Examinations and Edexcel. It aims to prepare students for the IB DP or the British National Curriculum A-Level. •IB - International Baccalaureate The IB Diploma Programme (DP) for 16-18 year olds is widely considered the best pre-university option, supported by a recent UK study showing that DP students were more likely to be awarded a first-class degree. Established in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, the IB uses, a progressive learning approach that encourages children to think for themselves and develop problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking skills in a multidisciplinary approach. The IB also offers a Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Primary Years Programme (PYP) to prepare students for the DP. Teaching style and quality The most important factor in any school is its teachers. It is not the teaching of an international curriculum itself that builds vital 21st century skills, but rather it is how it is interpreted by trained teachers with resources at their disposal. Teachers must be trained and equipped to deliver an international curriculum and ideally possess some international experience or exposure. In schools authorized to offer the IB, teachers must have a minimum level of training in its approach. This is not the case with schools that offer the IGCSE and means that there is likely to be a greater degree of variance in the quality of teaching and the application of the curriculum across schools.

• Student’s work displayed throughout school • Senior Administrators knowing children by name • Students not wanting to leave The choice depends on your assessment of whether the curriculum, the teaching, and the school’s ethos are right for your child’s transition. Whatever we decide, it is important to remember that our children spend less than a third of their time at school so we must never stop developing their resilience and confidence, so that they are prepared for, and thus more likely to thrive in, their future global transitions.

Signs to look out for: • Student-led and collaborative learning • Project-based, real-life problem solving • Internationally-minded teachers • Focus on process instead of result Atmosphere and leadership Choosing the right school has much to do with its ethos and atmosphere and plays a vital role in making a child’s transition a smooth one. A school’s atmosphere is influenced by the principal’s leadership style as well as the consistency of its learning approach. It is more likely that schools that offer Tim Kellow is Head of School at Chettinad Sarvalokaa Education a mixed curriculum may result in confusion among parents - a new World School in Chennai featured in the photos above. and inconsistency among staff about the school’s learning Sarvalokaa Education is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years approach without strong leadership. Programme (PYP) and its expert educators inspire students to Signs to look out for: • Happy and expressive children

tackle real-life issues affecting the planet through project-based and whole-body learning approaches.

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Feature by Team Culturama

Speeches of significance As India celebrates its 71st independence day this August, we trace some of the finest words of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prime Ministers on the country they servedâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Narendra Modi | Prime Minister 2014 – present, On Independence Day, August 15, 2016

rom the ramparts of Red Fort, I greet 125 crore fellow countrymen – within and outside India, on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day. On this 70th festival of freedom, we have a new resolve, a new resolution, a new enthusiasm, a new vitality to take our country to new and greater heights. Our freedom reminds us of the sacrifice of our freedom fighters and their devotion to the cause of freedom through struggle and sacrifice. On this occasion, we remember those young people who went willingly to the gallows. We are breathing today in free India, thanks to Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Pandit Nehru and many other great leaders and people who struggled and worked consistently towards freedom of the country. India is an ancient nation. We have a history and cultural heritage of thousands of years. From Vedas to Vivekananda, from Upanishads to satellites, from Lord Krishna to Mahatma Gandhi, and from Bhima of Mahabharata to Bhim Rao; we have had a long historic journey and heritage. This land has seen many ups and downs, and struggle through several generations. Many of them dedicated themselves to make a better human life. India is not 70 years old, but it is a journey of 70 years post-colonial rule. After Independence, we made efforts to take the country forward under a new system. Sardar Vallabhai Patel unified the country and now it is our duty to make this country the best nation. We have to make continuous efforts to realise our dream to make India “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

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Jawaharlal Nehru India’s Prime Minister from 1947–1964, on the granting of Indian Independence on August 14, 1947 Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now that time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity with some pride. At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries which are filled with her striving and the grandeur of her successes and her failures. Through good and ill fortunes alike she has never lost sight of that quest or forgotten the ideals which gave her strength. We end today a period of ill fortunes and India discovers herself again… A new star rises, the star of freedom in the east, a new hope comes into being, a vision long cherished materializes. May the star never set and that hope never be betrayed by. On this day our first thoughts go to the architect of this freedom, the father of our nation, who, embodying the old spirit of India, held aloft the torch of freedom and lighted up the darkness that surrounded us… We are citizens of a great country, on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations. And to India, our much-loved motherland, the ancient, the eternal and the ever-new, we pay our reverent homage and we bind ourselves afresh to her service. Jai Hind.

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Lal Bahadur Shastri | Prime Minister 1964–1966

here comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the crossroads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear – the building up of a socialist democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all other nations. To that straight road and to these shining ideals we re-dedicate ourselves.

Gulzarilal Nanda | Prime Minister 1966

orruption is a serious hindrance to the development of the socialist pattern… When there is scope for corruption there cannot be equal opportunity… Some attention has to be paid to the well-being of women, landless labourers, and tribals among others – and equality of opportunity to all children. The ideology of underlying a socialist pattern is not an exclusive concern of any one Party. It is the concern of the whole nation.

Morarji Desai | Prime Minister 1977-1979

ou can catch me by the ear when I make a mistake. But do not catch me alone, catch all the colleagues of mine if mistakes are committed. That is the kind of people’s power we want to build.

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Charan Singh | Prime Minister 1979-1980

n the comity of nations, India with its glorious heritage and tradition has a distinctive role to play. It has to spread the message of peace and apply the healing touch at every sore spot… India is a rich country, blessed by nature, and with people of great culture, traditions, skills and capacity for hard and sustained work. It would be my privilege and duty to serve all sections of the people of this country and to do whatever is possible to strengthen the moral and economic strength of the country and to improve the quality of life.

Indira Gandhi | Prime Minister 1966–1977 and

1980–1984

tanding here from the ramparts of Red Fort, my mind inevitably turns to India’s past, a past studded with achievements in the field of science and philosophy and other fields. India was an advanced nation and had provided leadership to the world. How can we forget India’s glorious past? It is for us to see that our record remains unblemished.

Rajiv Gandhi | Prime Minister 1984–1989

reat achievements demand great sacrifices. Sacrifices not only from our generation and generations gone by, but also from generations to come. Civilizations are not built by just one or two generations. Civilizations are built by the ceaseless toil of a succession of generations. With softness and sloth, civilizations succumb. Let us beware of decadence. We must commit ourselves to the demanding task of making India a mighty power in the world, with all the strength and the compassion of her great culture. To this cause, I pledge myself. Jai Hind.

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V.P. Singh | Prime Minister 1989–1990

hat we have to ask is not what we have got out of it, but what we have been able to get for the poor and the oppressed. For one, equity is now on the national agenda. No party can ignore it. They now enumerate how many candidates, chief ministers, Rajya Sabha members they have fielded from the deprived sections. The same is true of the choice of President or Vice-President.

Chandra Shekar | Prime Minister 1991

e do not want anyone to be in fear of the government. We do not want anybody’s freedom to be encroached. But I would like to humbly submit that this freedom does not apply to freedom to exploit, it does not apply to the freedom to perpetuate corruption, bribery or to loot.

P V Narasimha Rao | Prime Minister 1991–1996

emocracy and development is an extremely difficult combination and equally essential in India’s view. India has undertaken its first steps to shaping up of our history of the next generation. After decades of centralized economic policies India embarked on a reform programme designed to modernise our economy, liberalise trade and realise our economic potential!

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H.D. Deve Gowda | Prime Minister 1996–1997

also lived in villages and have seen the sufferings of rural people from close. I am a common man and I understand the problems faced by rural folks.

I.K. Gujral | Prime Minister 1997–1998

e are a huge country, with different linguistic, religious and cultural backgrounds. Despite our difficulties, we have held together, and that too democratically, which is something few others can boast about. In that sense we are a great role model.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Prime Minister 1998–2004

ndia has no dearth of brave young men and women and if they get the opportunity and help then we can compete with other nations.

Manmohan Singh | Prime Minister 2004–2014

ndia is this great experiment of a billion people of such great diverse persuasions working together, seeking their salvation in the framework of a democracy. I believe it will have some lessons for all the multicultural societies.

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Postcards from Pakistan by Zainab H. Sanik

Separated by Borders, A young writer from across the border writes about the similarities in culture between India and Pakistan, on the occasion of the Independence Day of both countries this August

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Connected through Cultures At midnight in a momentous August, through a stroke of the pen two new states were carved out on the world map. The subcontinent was divided. Twin states were born; cut from the same ethnic cloth, separated by borders, connected through the same culture. These were the strongest of nations with the bravest of people; two countries that lay at the heart of South Asia at the ideal location with magnificent bounties of nature. India and Pakistan. Pakistan and India are culturally very rich. The two have shared the same passion and love for food, music, couture, art and architecture for the past seven decades. And, their natural landscapes are unmatched â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with exotic and beautiful places that draw tourists from far and wide.

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Amazingly beautiful landscapes Mighty, steep and rocky mountains; streams tearing them apart, frothy clouds floating in the sky, lush green terrains and gushing rivers are a common sight and a treat for the eyes of travellers in both countries. Both enjoy the bounties of four seasons, a feature that is rare in most other parts of the world.

Architectural heritage and marvels of Pakistan and India Pakistan and India are proud owners of a rich architectural heritage including mosques, Shahi Himmams, forts and even temples that are famous for their erotic sculptures. Some are renowned for their intricate and delicate tile work, kashi-kari, and some for the interior surfaces that are completely embellished with elaborate Mughal-era frescoes. Taj Mahal, Noor Mehal, Lahore Fort, Red Fort, Katas Raj Temple and the Badrinath Temple are among long lists that make these countries alluring to culture vultures.

Truck Art This is a native form of art known around the world but has well-established roots in India and specifically in Pakistan. Trucks are considered, rightly, a quintessential part of Pakistani and Indian transport tradition and as an expression of culture of the countries. Colourful patterns, calligraphic poetry, eye-popping landscapes, images of famous heroes and heroines of Pakistani and Indian film industry and national heroes are painted on these trucks. The creative skills of artists portray the authentic cultural identity of these nations rather than their own individual identity.

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Love affair with Music People of both states love music. Be it Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Kishore Kumar, Noor Jahan or Lata Mangeshkar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan or Arijit Singh, they are all followed with the same passion and devotion by Indian and Pakistani fans. Coke Studio, famous among music lovers in Pakistan and India â&#x20AC;&#x201C; started in Pakistan in 2008, followed by India in 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is a huge success. An exuberant combination of diverse musical instruments and myriad musical influences, Coke Studio has given several hits making it one of the most popular music shows in both countries. Some of the songs from Coke Studio Pakistan are immensely popular in India and vice versa, too.

Festivals galore The culture of a state represents its values, and each nation has its own cultural identity that is revealed through its festivities. India and Pakistan are known for their rambunctious, high-spirited and non-stop festivals. At different times of the year, celebrations including religious, seasonal and cultural festivals take place. Holi, the festival of colors, Durga puja and Diwali, the festival of lights, are a few festivals that hold great importance within India. In Pakistan, diversified festivals such as Eid, Basant and Lok Melas are celebrated joyously. Festivals may be celebrated differently but they have one thing in common. They are celebrated with colours, mehendi (henna tattoos), bangles, new clothes, food, family and friends and much fun.

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A love affair with Chai It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pakistanis and Indians have a roaring love affair with chai. Whether it is hot, humid or rainy, whether it is a cold December morning or a pleasant spring evening, a dose of chai, made with whole milk, is a must.

The world's hottest Khans Killer looks, great artistes and heartthrobs, film stars Fawad Khan (from Pakistan) and Shahrukh Khan (from India) are equally loved in both countries. Assets they are, for both nations.

We love our entertainment Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film industry is a mega industry with profits hitting billions of rupees, even as Pakistani cinema is going through a revival of sorts. Nevertheless, similarities between the two countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film and drama industry abound, as the tales surround love, romance, notorious saas (mother-in-law) bahu (daughter-in-law) characters, domestic issues and some that are far from reality. In both countries, women rule the drama industry, playing the vamp as well as the damsel in distress often.

Cricket Cricket is the most popular sport among Pakistanis and Indians. Even a 5-year-old knows how to hold a bat and strike a ball with perfection. No matter how hot it is outside, young boys love to play cricket in the streets. Followed religiously, cricket matches between Pakistan and India are much like festivities. Cricket lovers in each country celebrate their wins with great pomp and people in both states are emotionally attached to this sport.

Natural Foodies Indians and Pakistanis absolutely love food. Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love the biryani in India and Pakistan? Pakistanis and Indians have even added their own touch to Italian and Chinese food with local spices that add extra flavour and give it the traditional home touch.

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Portrait of India by Team Culturama

This artwork represents Vijaya Ganapathy: The Giver of Success. This red-bodied Ganesha rides on a rodent - his vahanam. His four hands hold noose, mango, tusk and axe. Painting by Sri S. Rajam. Picture courtesy ‘Art Heritage of India: A Collector’s Special’, published by L&T-ECC & ECC Recreation Club.

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india • srilanka • maldives • and beyond

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Join Us Every Saturday Global Adjustments Office, Chennai, facilitates a weekly spiritual fellowship group following Easwaran’s Eight Point Programme of Meditation. E-mail us for more information at globalindian@globaladjustments.com If you are in other cities, visit www.bmcm.org for e-satsangs.

Holistic Living by Eknath Easwaran

hold on to your

high ideals Life cannot help giving fulfilment to those who turn their backs upon themselves to give to others, to contribute to life without any thought for themselves…

Having lived in the world of young people for more than half a century, I have had ample opportunity to observe that there are two driving needs for which there is no provision at all in our modern civilisation. First, our young people have no lofty example, no glorious image of the human being to look up to, nothing higher than the pursuit of personal profit and pleasure. And, second, there is no soaring ladder by which young people can harness their daring and determination to climb from this low image of human beings as merely physical, fragmented, finite creatures to the magnificent image that has been proclaimed in all the great religions of the world. The world’s great mystics have made the centuries echo with their clarion call that life is only given to us for one single lofty purpose: to turn inwards and discover – while on earth, while in this life – that no amount of money, no amount of material possessions, no amount of pleasure and prestige will ever satisfy this desperate need for realising the Lord of Love, who is enthroned in the hearts of all. The tragedy of lost ideals When I was teaching English at a great university in India, I had a close relationship with many of my students. They would ask me questions not only about literature but also about many of the problems of life that young people face everywhere. Most of them really wanted to contribute to life, to leave the world a little better than they found it. Yet many years later, when I would run into them on a train or in a theatre, I was often taken aback – not by the loss of hair which some had undergone, but by the loss of their ideals.

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It is appalling to see what the passage of time can do to the idealism of youth. Many of these students who had really betrayed themselves and their noble aspirations were reluctant even to look at me. It used to break my heart to see how they had lost their ideals under the influence of family obligations, peer pressure, social expectations or the desire for money or material things. I think this is the greatest tragedy that can happen to a human being, when a man or woman loses sight of the vision that all young people have by virtue of their innocence and gets caught in the feverish obsession with personal satisfaction that is the driving force behind our modern civilisation. In my opinion, millions of people are unhappy, insecure, frustrated, even desperate, because they are making demands on life that are impossible for life to fulfil. Life cannot give happiness to a selfish person; it is impossible. Life cannot give security to a self-willed person; it is impossible. I am prepared to go to the extent of saying that life cannot even give optimum health to those who live for themselves, forgetting their natural idealism in the pursuit of selfcentred goals. Conversely, life cannot help giving fulfilment to those who turn their backs upon themselves to give to others, to contribute to life without any thought for themselves. This is what makes the whole human personality light up from within. “This is not what you want!” Ideals need to be nourished; otherwise they gradually recede from view as attention is claimed by personal desires. Finally, our ideals are pushed into the unconscious, out of our waking awareness. But that does not make them disappear. They cry out all the more for our attention, and if they are ignored, they can cause all kinds of problems. Like the red light on the dashboard of a car, these are signs that something is wrong, and until it is attended to, the warning is going to get more and more insistent. Researchers have been observing this for years. One study of executive stress back in 1985 involved psychiatric interviews of three hundred successful, sophisticated men and women with high-level careers – journalists, doctors, scientists, business people, bankers, lawyers, government officials, the kind of

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professionals we might find on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley or at any prominent campus or corporation. These were people with money, prestige and power, everything they had been seeking in their careers. Yet they reported emotional problems ranging from profound dissatisfaction, boredom, burnout, anxiety and anger to psychosomatic disorders and drug addictions. They felt “hollow inside”. One man described himself as facing “spiritual death, a withering of the soul”. To me, this is the proof that money and power are not our need, that the human being cannot be satisfied with physical extravagance. These successful careerists had everything, yet wanted something more. On the surface they were thinking about themselves, about what would foster their career and get them what they wanted from life. But below the conscious level, the mind was screaming something very different: “This is not what you want! You want to give, you need to serve, and you are not getting the opportunity.” For such people to be reporting free-floating anxiety was a strange comment. They felt as if the ground was slipping beneath them, the earth was opening, nothing was firm, nothing seemed solid, they had nothing to hold on to. To

the mystics of all religions, the diagnosis is simple: “You are trying to hold on to things that cannot support you. You are pursuing things that cannot bring you fulfilment. The only way to support yourself is by holding on to yourself and slowly releasing your grip on the things outside you that you think can prop you up.” The researchers also found “tremendous rage.” This follows naturally from self-betrayal. Anger is the unavoidable outcome of desires that cannot be satisfied. Some of these troubled professionals were consciously aware that they had betrayed themselves by turning their backs on their ideals. This is not a negative account for me. It is a very positive account, for it means that we have reached a critical landmark in our evolution when spiritual growth becomes essential. When life has reached a meaningful frontier on the physical level and legitimate material needs are satisfied, we have to turn towards a higher image of the human being to evolve. If this does not take place, a society slowly turns upon itself.

Reprinted with permission from ‘Turning Ideals Into Action: The Spiritual Challenge’ by Eknath Easwaran from The Blue Mountain Journal. Copyright The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, P.O. Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971, www.easwaran.org. (Extract from https:// www.bmcm.org/inspiration/journals/)

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Myth and Mythology by Devdutt Pattanaik

A lotus for a temple

Baha is an Arabic-Persian word. It is neither a name nor a noun; it is an adjective meaning ‘glory’ of God

It has in the past few years become an iconic symbol of Delhi, the lotus-shaped Bahai house of worship. Built in 1986, an architectural marvel that attracts millions of tourists, this building has three rings of nine petals each: the innermost ring is of closed petals, the second ring of opening petals and the third ring of opened petals. Within is a place where 2,500 people can sit and pray in any way they like, silently, without disturbing others. There is no congregational leader or speech from the pulpit and no ceremonies. Just silence, and an inner journey. Baha is an Arabic-Persian word. It is neither a name nor a noun; it is an adjective meaning ‘glory’ of God. Thus, the Bahai faith is the glorious faith or the faith of glory. In Arabic script, 28 alphabets are linked to numericals. These are called the Abjad numerals. The number obtained by adding the alphabet/numbers that make up a holy name or a verse is seen as significant and holy. For example, the number 786 refers to the phrase used at the start of any activity, Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, which means in the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Beneficent. Likewise, the numericals that constitute the word Baha make up the number 9. Hence, the nine-pointed star is the symbol of the Bahai faith. Hence, the three rings of the nine petals that make the lotus temple. The nine also refers to the nine major faiths of the world: Bahaism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Shintoism and Sikhism. The three rings probably refer to the three pillars of the faith: one God (the creator); one universal religion (that all religions come from the same source) and one humanity (all are equal, and deserve respect, even though there are diverse races and cultures). The faith believes that humans have a rational soul and so have the

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and is buried in the land that would later, after the Second World War, become Israel. Although apolitical, the faith has a history of being persecuted by authorities in Iran because of its association, over history, with the British, the Russians, the Freemason Lodge and the Jewish state; and the Internet is full of conspiracy theories. But for the average visitor to the House of Worship, the apolitical nature of the faith, the desire to unite rather than divide, is very evident.

ability to establish communion with God through prayer that facilitates inner journey and through service that facilitates outer journey. The three rings also perhaps refer to the three worlds: that of God above, that of his manifestations in between and that of humans at the bottom. Bahai believes in messengers of God, who tell humans how to live their life best. Each successive messenger edits the message to suit the historical and geographical context. The messengers include Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and also Krishna and Buddha. The recent messengers were Bab (founder of Babism in Iran) followed by Bahaullah (founder of the Bahai faith). The Bahai believe that that Bab was the forerunner of Bahaullah, just as John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. Bahaullah was clearly familiar with Zoroastrianism and Buddhism and Hinduism. He saw Krishna as a messenger and the Bhagavad Gita as containing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message. He saw himself as Kalki, the final avatar as per many Hindu Puranas. This inclusive nature of the Bahai faith, recognising all faith leaders as messengers of God, has made it very popular in the global secular circles. The founder of the faith lived in 19th century Persia but was later exiled by the Ottoman kings. He died in exile

That the faith is rooted in Abrahamic mythology is obvious. Hence, the belief in one God who gives messages via messengers. Hence, the importance given to a gathering place for worship, and to the absence of imagery. Hence, the confusion of avatar with paigambar. Hence, the discomfort with homosexuality, although not outright hostility that we find in some Christian churches and in most Islamic schools. Hence, the belief in tithe/zakat, the contribution of a portion of non-essential income to the faith to be used in public works including building of the House of Worship. To contribute, you have to be a member of the faith. Initially, the faith was led by an individual, as is common in the many communities of Shia Islam. However, Bahai now functions more democratically through elected representatives and appointed individuals. The Bahai religion has spread to 200 countries and there are eight Houses of Worship currently, besides in India, in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa and Chile. Plans are afoot to build them in other locations. While in Abrahamic religions, a House of Worship is where the faithful gather to pray, or to listen to the holy texts, in Hinduism, a temple is a house of God, where one goes to see (darshan) God and make offerings and petitions to him. We often overlook these distinctions; hence, what the Bahais call a place of worship becomes a Lotus â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for Indians.

Published on 25 December, 2016, in Mumbai Mirror. Reprinted with permission from devdutt.com

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Picture Story by Team Culturama

Incredible INDIA Photo: Sophie Vasquez, Spain

What is India? A country of over a billion people, each with her/his own ideas, faith, language, dreams and hopes. A country of myriad traditions, rules, revolts, tragedies, victories, fear and valour. A country of the rich, the poor and the not-so-rich and the not-so-poor. A country that is bound by its heritage even as it makes great strides in fields as advanced as space technology. What is India if not for its people, all equal and each bound to the otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destiny? Happy Independence Day, India. Unity is our strength. Diversity is our greatest strength.

Sisters in prayer at Nirmal Hriday (Mother Teresa's home for the poor) in Kolkata. Photo: Sophie Fontant, France

The basilica shines against a beautiful skyline. Photo: Melissa Enderle, USA

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At the holy Shravanbelgola, praying for unity. Photo: Bipin Khimasia

Inner peace comes calling in a calm mosque. Photo: Aurelie Marsan, France

Deep in prayer at the Gurudwara in Amritsar. Photo: Galina Zagumennova

Devotees throng the streets during the famous Mylapore temple car festival. Photo: Melissa Freitas, Brazil

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