The Beat, February 2015 by The Beat

February 2015 | The Beat

Should Sanskrit be made a compulsory subject in schools? " “Sanskrit should be made compulsory and should be taught in school as it the mother of all languages. It is also a medium of to getting to know our culture better."

“In the age of globalization, I feel the need to include international languages is higher. There are regional languages already, adding Sanskrit is a step backward.”

- Lovely Wadhwa,Delhi

-Nazia Dalvi, Mumbai

I “I strongly feel that we can’t get to know our real culture without knowing Sanskrit. It not only an interesting sub ject but also a very scoring subject.”

“It should be the child’s choice to study what he likes. I don’t think Sanskrit should be made compulsory.” -Priya Bhargava, Gurgaon

- Nalini Yogi, Delhi

“Children should be given a choice to decide what language they wish to learn. Enforcing it on children who don’t want to learn it is not right.” -Zeenat Ismail Bhatia, Mumbai

“Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages and all our Vedas and granths have shlokas. To understand the actual meaning of life, our culture and rituals, we should learn Sanskrit.”

“Sanskrit is the language that most parents know in India and should should be made compulsory till the elementary level. Languages like French and Spanish are difficult to inculcate in a child without tuition.”- Rachna Chugh, Delhi

“Our holy books are written in Sanskrit. The language is important to study our culture, so it should be made compulsory.”

- Anupamma Rao, Delhi

February 2015 | The Beat

- Deepa Anand, Dehradun

CONTENTS 06

Digging the roots of beat culture in Goa

Saffronization Rewritten in saffron ink?

VHP: More Hindus convert to Christianity than the other way around in Karnataka

Communalism or secularism: Where is India headed?

Bangalore Tales

Gypsies find a safe haven in Bangalore Female cabbies no longer a rare sight

National

‘It’s high time we drew a line between disability and charity’

February 2015 | The Beat

Travelogues

We will go home, across the mountains Hold your breath! The beauty of the South beckons you

Art Interview Magical semi-realism

Commentary

Serena Williams: The epitome of greatness

We Review

Book review: Finding love

Cover photo: Sameer Deshpande Cover design-Shubhang Saurav

The beat is a publication by Magazine students of Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media. All rights reserved by IIJNM. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or any means,without the prior permission in writing of the publisher,nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than in which it is published.

February 2015 | The Beat

The Beat Editor Darshan D Rane

Content Editors Raya Ghosh Samreen Tungekar Sharangee Dutta Sameer Deshpande

Designers Aadhira Anandh Nikunj Ohri Asmita Kundu

Content Adviser Mark Austin

Letter from the Editor It was during the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, the epoch of philosophers, intellectuals and cultural forces, when a wise man remarked, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” History has been a witness to many factional leaders who made masses believe in their absurdity and wreaked havoc upon ethnic minorities, in the name of political order. The Cultural Revolution in China, under leader Mao Zedong, saw the destruction of over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries, thus causing hostility to the Buddhist minority. A similar revolution in Iran, under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini, saw the emergence of Islamic theocracy, thus suppressing non-Muslims. Mounting attacks by Islamic radical groups on Western universities resulted in these universities to close down. The education system in Iran was “Islamized.” In context of the present Indian scenario, an enthusiast of politics and a liberal thinker would fear the sectarian policies of the central regime. Are we made to believe in absurdities? Is our rationale being taken away from us? Are we blindly treading on the saffron path without questioning our morale? Are we on the brink of a Cultural Revolution? The slew of controversies surrounding Hindutva and India heading in the direction of becoming a saffron nation has been a heated topic of debate for political pundits and a matter of concern for the plethora of minorities. Apart from saffronization, which is the theme of this edition of The Beat, our reporters have traveled extensively to churn out stories of human interest, features and travelogues. With issues ranging from drawing a line between disability and charity to exploring the street fashion and gypsies finding a safe haven in Bangalore, we have attempted to create a fine blend between news and entertainment. We’ve had sleepless nights and our share of troubles in bringing out the first edition of The Beat. But it has been an alluring monthlong journey all the same.

Email your feedback to magazinestudents@iijnm.org

We hope to engage you on an exciting reading journey into the depths of the following pages and satiate your curiosity. Bon Voyage! Darshan D Rane

February 2015 | The Beat

Digging the roots of By Darshan D Rane

Unraveling the narrow foot trailed path leading down to the singing shores, where a celebration awaits on the other side, it’s the Pink Man’s night again—another of those nights with nature and colourful beings of light. The Pink Man is playing a live DJ set today, Jan. 9, at club Monkey Valley in Chapora. The sands of Anjuna and the northern stretch of Goan beaches ranging from Vagator, Ashvem , Morjim, Chapora and Arambol have been witness to the steady evolution of the hippie way of life. The modern day psytrance festivals on open beaches, are a carryover and remnant from the magical 1960s, the hippie era. Parties go on for two to three days continuously at a stretch. Psychedelic artists recite sublime prayers on their musical consoles, inducing a vibe of knowingness to the dancing people. Amid whirls of laughter and enthusiasm, thick clouds of smoke are blown out of smoking pipes or chillums. Ravers on psychedelic substances swing and jump to the moment. For some, when the serotonin angels take over the mind—it’s a different world altogether. The pinch of psychedelic is felt. Colors turn brighter. The intensity of music is profoundly smelled. Sands thump, and a fairytale is unleashed. “Dance is active meditation—when we dance we go beyond thought, beyond mind and beyond our own individuality to become one in the divine union with the cosmic spirit. This is the essence of the trance dance experience,” says Goa Gil, a musician and hippie who traveled to Goa during the musical breakout that occurred after the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Psytrance artists and bands have taken upon themselves the task

of keeping the magic of ’60s alive. Bands like Kundalini Airport, Raja Ram and Prem Joshua, along with the psytrance DJs—Tristan, Astral Projection, Ajja and Goa Gil, among many others who carry the baton of psychedelic music and transport it to the world. Every trance party is a celebration, according to Cally Afonso, a regular at trance parties who once identified himself as a hippie. A get-together of people that thump to a common genre of music. A devout connection that binds people on the same frequency of understanding.

The great American Depression of 1929 caused a severe meltdown of the American economy. Unemployment was on a steep rise. Men walked out on their households. Desperate conditions forced women into prostitution, to pay their dues. Crime rates increased. Suicide rates increased. Malnourishment was on the rise. There was chaos i n

“We are using trance music and the trance dance experience to set off a chain reaction in consciousness. This is what we call redefining the ancient tribal ritual in the 21st century,” says Goa Gil, who is also one of the founding forces of the musical genre called Goa trance. “Through the trance dance experience, some people become more sensitive to themselves, their surroundings, the crossroads of humanity and the needs of the planet. With that awareness comes understanding and compassion.” Goa trance as a musical genre was born in mid-1990s and was promoted by music labels in Germany, Russia, Britain and Australia. Rave parties steadily took upon the world, spreading the spirit of the hippie capital: Goa.

Beatnik roots The beatniks were a clan that emerged in the 1940s. A generation that would identify itself ages later and evolve into the hippie movement, as we know today. Jack Kerouac’s “Beat Generation.” The ones “On the Road.”

February 2015 | The Beat

t h e American order. But out of this chaos, art emerged. The spring of the ’40s brought with it a new injection into the American society: that of free love, free spirit, celebration, color and light. Scores of American youth, in their 20s and early 30s had started leaving their homes. Some, out on soul searching journeys, some running away from the society, others to see the country side and life without boundaries.

f beat culture in Goa The beat generation has been an instrumental force in giving the world a taste of some fine works of art, poetry and literature apart from inflecting an aura of free spirit and living life as uncertainly as it came. So, “to beatify” yourself came to mean injecting a crazy element in your life. Something out of the ordinary—something off the hook that is not a part of everyday rat race.

day beatnik vibe. A hint of classic tunes of nostalgia, takes Jovis back to his days when he first, entered the trance scene. The aura of being around with people on a common frequency and connecting diaphanous to the rhythmic surroundings. It all kicked off for Jovis Burk when he did a performance art at the Burning Man festival in 1996 in Massachussets, where Jovis put on purple body paint, “ran around and interacted with people and had such an amazing time.” He then carried the art to Europe, this time painted in pink, performed at the Great Boom festival in Portugal, the Ozora festival in Hungary, Sonica in Italy and Neverland in Israel, among many other hippie music festivals.

Tuning out of the defined social norms of human values and conditioning of the world and basking in the glory of uncertainty which is an essence of our surreal human existence.

The Pink Man and his chronicles “Remember, I’m just a mirror and I need people to reflect off me” says the Pink Man. Trailing the top trance festivals, the musician, DJ and showman Jovis Burk, better known as the “Pink Man” has been an instrumental force in spreading the modern

Upon traveling to Goa, he chanced upon a group of people like him who were swayed by the idea of counterculture, mind-altering explorations and the beauty of music. It was then that the music band, Goatika was born. Members included Kliment Dichev of Bulgaria, Elvis Lobo of Goa, Pavel from Russia and Jovis from the US of A. Tunes with didgeridoo and mouth harp, are Jovis’s injection into Goatika.

like a freak. People love him. He’s one person that blows energy into the party.” And today, Jan. 9, people eagerly await the presence of the pink goblin at Monkey Valley, wanting a piece of him. Raptures from the spirit of these psytrance festivals will echo on until March. So, if you want to take a ride into the valleys flanked with gypsies trading colorful clothing, leather jackets and musical instruments, if you want a surge of psychedelic music, if you want to break free from the everyday rat race and for once forget the complex intensity of this labyrinth called life, now is the time. The roads are waiting.

Courtesy of Jovis Burk

“He looks like a character from lord of the rings, like a goblin, but he’s never given anyone a bad trip,” says Anku Manderna, a regular at trance parties and one who identifies herself as a modern day beatnik. “Swinging his flowery magic wand and smiling

February 2015 | The Beat

Cover story By Raya Ghosh World history depicts the paradoxical incongruity that was witnessed by India in 1947. The nation’s phenomenal achievement of independence was tinged with agony. Indeed, this triumph had paved its way towards a cataclysmic social and geographical laceration due to the partition of the new state into India and Pakistan. Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s crusade for a separate Muslim state and Jawaharlal Nehru’s desire for a unified India ultimately resulted in the partition becoming a pragmatic choice for an exhausted and impoverished British government. Needless to say, this resulted in a secular India with a Hindu majority. In the immediate aftermath of independence, obtrusive political developments were observed in the subcontinent. The Indian National Congress (INC) became the nation’s dominant political party. Considering the secular principle of the Preamble, INC attempted to bridge communitarian segregations. In order to maintain communal harmony, Congress also had to endure the wrath of several critics who were of the opinion that the party was favoring minorities, especially Muslims. Being a largely mistrusted community in India, Muslims have always been subjected to various forms of criticism. As a result of this, they have often been targeted by fundamentalist Hindu outfits. 8

Rewritten in One of the most significant developments in the subcontinent post independence has been the rise of Hindutva or Hindu nationalism as religious and political force in contemporary India.

A nationalist ideology Hindutva is a nationalist ideology which was introduced by a group of political organizations called the Sangh Parivar (united family). It consisted of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Pari-

Sanskrit scripts shad, Shiv Sena, VHP of America and the Hindu Students Councils. Intellectuals perceive Hindutva as a threat to the endurance of India due to their increasing prerogatives and religious fanaticism. This kind of extremism was clearly evident in its most pernicious form when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992 by Hindu fanatics. Radical bigots claimed that the mosque was allegedly built on a region which marked the birth of Lord Rama. Chartered in 1925, the RSS is a social organization which promotes Indian culture, thereby retaliating British colonialism and annihilating Muslim dissociation in India. February 2015 | The Beat

Since its very inception, such organizations have intended to create a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu country). Such claims have often resulted in communal riots leading to immense destruction. RSS propagates hatred against religious minorities which has ultimately led to an unfathomable demarcation between the Hindus and Muslims. The supreme leader of RSS, M.S. Golwalkar, states that the RSS believes in revitalizing the Indian value system based on universalism and peace and prosperity to all. Apart from this, the political organization also stresses on social and economic reforms. Saffronization thus, epitomizes the policies of rightwing Hindu nationalist groups. Not only do they eulogize ancient Hindu history, but they also disparage Islam and Christianity.

The big divide Predominantly, saffronization creates a social stratum between the Hindu majority and other minorities that ultimately generates hatred among the dominant community for the minorities. The ancient Indian education system concerted on procuring knowledge, observing social and religious duties and personality enhancement. Political thinkers of independent India were against Westernization of the education system. They were of the opinion that it only concentrated on materialistic aspects so as to achieve

n saffron ink?

Sanskrit paintings depict Lord Ganesha writing the Mahabharata social advancement. Hence, our leaders wanted to associate the culture and heritage of our country with the Indian education system. Hindu nationalist forces have considered their modus operandi as de-Westernizing the Indian education system with a strictly nationalist curriculum in schools and universities. Also, they were not in favor of the European version of Indian history being taught in educational institutions. The BJP led coalition government came to power at the center during the concluding years of the 20th century. Thereafter, several measures were taken by the coalition to refine the management system of academic institutions by effacing the leftists by constitutional and democratic tactics.

Union Minister MM Joshi introducing astrology and Indian paurohitya or karmkand (profession of a priest) system in the university curriculum. Apart from this, Joshi also tried to promote Sanskrit language instruction. It must be noted that this was the first time initiatives were taken to introduce subjects related to the heritage of India. Although this stance did not have any political aspects, it did take a political turn due to the profound leftist ethos. The opposition under the leadership of Communist Party of India (Marxist) reacted against zealous policies of the BJP government, thereby referring to it as the political desecration of history. In alliance with anti-BJP forces, the leftists alleged saffronization of education by the BJP.

The government intrinsically tried to bring about radical changes in the Euro version of Indian history with a nationalist version in some of the textbooks published by NCERT. One of the nationalist programs of the BJP involved

Saffronization of education by the right wing thus has a long history. After the Narendra Modi government acquired power at the center, substantial measures have been taken to saffronize the present education system. The February 2015 | The Beat

RSS resolutely stuck to its foundational ideology of establishing a Hindu Raashtra (state) by reproducing history with saffron ink. The intrinsic Hindu fundamentalist group has a vast nexus of educational institutes such as Vidya Bharti catering to the lower-middle class, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which provides hostels for adivasi (tribal) children and the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, where students are taught Sanskrit. Such motions clearly indicate RSS’s gradual but predetermined attempt of saffronizing the education system of the nation. As a result of this, youngsters are also chiseled according to the core ideology of Hindutva.

Sanskrit issue ‘politicized’ However, former ambassador B.R. Muthu Kumar, a retired career diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service and a professor of international relations at Christ University in Bangalore, is of the opinion that

the entire concept of introducing Sanskrit in the curriculum is being politicized. “Studying Sanskrit is not saffronization of education,” he told The Beat. “As much as studying Karl Marx’s ‘Das Capital’ in schools is not going red or promotion of communism or socialism; it is an understanding of the world reality as seen and analyzed by Marx. So saffronization should also be viewed from its fairest point as a manifestation of nationalism and a desire to study our ancient cultural history. Importantly, Sanskrit is the root of Indo-European group of languages. More than half of the world speaks in languages that belong to the Indo-European group. Take the example of German language¬¬––it is Indo-European and the grammar has deep roots in Sanskrit. What I see is the politicization of Sanskrit education, not saffronization. Significantly, set aside the colors and the accompanying politics education is what India needs, education will take the country forward, education will create teachers and the teaching profession will create all other professions. This is the path and vision for all.”

fundamentalist group. The Human Resource Development Ministry has given the approval for creation of the Bharatiya Shiksha Niti Ayog (BSNA), which has been established by the RSS-affiliated Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, which is authorized to provide corrective measures in order to “Indianize” the education system. The organization will be administered by Dinanath Batra, the controversial figure who had advised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to remove sex education from the state curriculum. Narendra Modi was quite inspired by Batra’s books, thereby connecting medical science with mythology. According to Modi, the Mahabharath does not explicitly state that Karna was born from his mother’s womb, from which he concluded the existence of genetic science in that era. In one of his speeches, Modi also mentioned that “some plastic surgeon in that era must have placed an elephant head on the body of a human being whom we now worship as Lord Ganesha,” thereby commencing the practice of plastic surgery.

Batra has also written Tejomay Bharat which was made compulsory in the schools of Gujarat. The Furthermore, it must be noted that book condemns America for takrewriting history according to the ing credit for stem cell research specific notion of Hindutva has and bolsters Dr. Balkrishna Gannot been much difficult for this pat Matapurka, who was inspired by the Mahabharath legend of Gandhari and the birth of hundred Kauravas. Rather the book explains a complicated theory of how 100 Kauravas were born out of 100 tanks of ghee mixed with a mass of flesh from Gandhari’s womb. The Pramod Mutalik Gujarat 10 February 2015 | The Beat

HRD Minister Smriti Irani government, in this way, observed a whole new direction in using myths as antecedents of knowledge and facts for scientific discovery. Hailing from the educational wing of RSS, Batra is also known for his resolute opinions about anti-Western education. Also he is responsible for proscribing American author Wendy Doniger’s book “The Hindus: An Alternative History.” Scholars from Aligarh Muslim University and other institutions strongly opposed the appointment of Y. Sudershan Rao as the chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research. The BJP has remained in the political scenario since a long time. On several occasions, they have tried to customize the syllabus of Indian history. However, with the BJP winning an absolute majority in Gujarat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it appears that there will be no opposition for the new subscribed books. Karnataka State syllabus books also features precedents of saffronization. It includes elaborate descriptions of certain temples, which underlines the concept of a patriarchal society by stressing gender stereotypes, thereby providing diminished relevance to minorities and tribal communities. Such books also portray the destitute and draw a strict comparison between the illiterate women and successful men in villages. Research scholar Francis D’Souza is of the opinion that NCERT should have a regulatory mechanism to ensure that textbooks should be in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework. Francis is also

the author of “Right-wing Ideology in the Textbooks of Karnataka: A Critical Appraisal.” Furthermore, a memorandum has been submitted to Karnataka Gov. H.R. Bhardwaj to withdraw the draft of textbooks of junior classes. It demands the usage of the syllabi that was followed till 2011, until suitable deletions are made. K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering has asked for a review of the syllabus of various classes ahead of its implementation.

Indian Science Congress

ical ideology of Hindutva. Bhartiya Itihas Sanklan Yojana was formed in 1973 to rewrite Indian History of the past 5,000 years in order to prove that the Aryans are primitive people and not intruders. Samskar Bharti, which was established in 1982, has 900 branches; it aims to prevent Western influence on Indian culture. Founded in 1948, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s sole intention was to mobilize students for national reconstruction. The organization targeted 15 out of 30 central universities; activists of which played a considerable part in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in1992.

History textbooks of junior classes depict diplomacy as they do not mention the role of Hindu communal organizations in the formation of the Muslim League. Moreover, these books also fail to explain the ideology which motivated Nathuram Godse to assassinate Gandhi. The Indian government’s close association with RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha is also concealed. “Education is about freedom of choice over sectarian interest. Then why is saffronization of education only about Sanskrit and not about ancient Tamil or Pali; why is it only about the Vedas but not about the gospels?” said Swayam, an independent educator.

Captain Anand J Bodas, in a contentious session at the Indian Science Congress, claimed that aeroplanes The fundamenexisted 7,000 talist Hindu nayears ago. Not tionalist groups only did they have constantly travel from contrived in their one country endeavor to safto another, fronize educabut also to tion and create a other planets. profound Hindu The retired psyche that solely principal of a postulates in acpilot training cepting the Hinfacility also dutva ideology claimed that and scorning the an innuendo minorities in every Sanskrit paintings depict mythological history of ancient avifortuitous way. ation in the Critics have often Rigveda, thereby concluding that “Vedas and Upanishads should referred to this process of safhistory hardly noted the contribu- be included in the school syllabus fronization as communalization as it has a scientific approach,” tion of the Wright Brothers. or politicization of education. Not Pramod Mutalik, president of the Human Resource Development Rashtriya Adhyayak Sri Ram Sena, only have these contemplations Minister Smriti Irani has attempt- told The Beat. “I wholeheartedly resulted in severe consequences in ed to incorporate the Vedas, an- welcome the central government the past, but it has also propagated cient Hindu texts and Upanishads to bring about these changes in the cardinal ideals thereby increasing in the school curriculum. Former school curriculum. When the Brit- the count of radical extremists in HRD Minister M.M. Joshi also ish ruled India, they established the society. With the BJP acquiring tried to revamp educational bod- convent institutions that advocat- power at the center, the situation ies such as the Indian Institute of ed Christianity. Independent India may not even compass a marginal Advanced Studies and the NCERT should thus, inculcate the Hindu improvement. The only regret lies to include members having a pro culture through the educational in the fact that the present generation is adapting to an educational BJP/RSS stand. system in the country and the culture which inculcates unparalVidya Bharati trains children to government should immediately leled antagonism in them rather identify themselves as protectors put this into effect. This will help than constituting a euphonious of a Hindu nation. It supervises in the development of individuals. fraternity in the country. over 18,000 schools across India Those who consider this stance to with approximately 1.8 million stu- be a form of communalism should Courtesy of Wikipedia dents and 80,000 teachers. Bharti- tell me how they could visualize ya Adhyapak Parishad, which is the concept of Hindutva as coman offshoot of Vidya Bharati, has munal when it only preaches unity trained teachers regarding the rad- of the Hindu community.” February 2015 | The Beat

Saffronization

VHP: More Hindus convert to Christianity than the other way around in Karnataka

The Ghar Wapsi program is hugely controversial, with the opposition claiming that the BJP government is trying to saffronize the country By Nikunj Ohri When Dharam Jagaran Manch, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), last year set itself the goal of turning India into a Hindu Rashtra (country with Hindu majority) by 2021, the question arose if this culturally diverse and secular nation needs to be majorly Hindu. Asking Hindu women to produce four kids in order to maintain religious majority removes the concept of secularism as well as personal choice. The program, titled Ghar Wapsi, conducted by Dharam Jagaran Manch, aimed at mass conversions on Christmas’ eve. The organization says that people 12

were misled and forced to adopt Christianity by the missionaries. Such mass conversions are aimed at reconverting them to Hindus again. A letter issued by the head of Dharam Jagaran Samiti, Agra region, for seeking donations for the mass conversion or Ghar Wapsi program read that 40,000 people in 20 districts have been converted or bought back to Hinduism so far, including about 2,000 Muslims. Nildawar, a party worker of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), said: “Conversion from different castes to Hinduism is a continual process and this happens round the year. People participate willFebruary 2015 | The Beat

ingly and return to their original religion [Hinduism]. This time it got limelight and was publicized by the media.” “Shivaji’s General Netaji Palkar was captured by the Mughals and was forced to embrace Islam. He was made to change his name to Quli Mohammed Khan and serve as a Mughal soldier. When he succeeded in escaping from Mughals and came back to Shivaji, he was reconverted to a Hindu. So the practice of reconverting the people who were forced to practice Islam and Christianity started back then. We are just practicing what our ancestors have taught us and guiding people who were misled,” he said.

K. Shenoi, state secretary, VHP Karnataka, said that the organization doesn’t believe in mass conversions but it does help people converting at their request. “We converted four Christians in December and two Muslims in January,” he said. Dharam Jagaran Manch is seeking donations from various organizations and has specified an amount, for example, Rs.200,000 is spent when a Karyakarta or a party worker tries to convert a Christian and Rs.500,000 is spent on converting or reconverting a Muslim. However, Shenoi stated that it takes a sum of Rs.500 to organize a Havan or sacred ritual to convert people into Hinduism, which can also be done at once to convert a group of people. “Maybe the sum of two and five lakhs they demanded were the organization’s expenses on conducting mass conversions,” Shenoi said. Hemant Jambhekar, vice president, VHP Vidarbha, said: “We will soon be organizing this mass conversion program in Vidarbha region. The dates haven’t been finalized though.” The initiative of mass conversion on Dec. 25, 2014 started in Uttar Pradesh, which reported 247 incidents of communal violence. The Muzaffarnagar riot in 2013 was one of the worst in terms of killing and displacing people of UP. Such programs act as ignition for violence. Mass protests against such conversions were staged by Muslims in the state. “Ghar Wapsi is not only an initiative started by a wing of RSS—such programs are conducted by many Hindu organizations which do not come under the umbrella of RSS. The scenario in Karnataka is the other way around. People here convert from Hindus to

Christians more often,” said Sharan, a party worker from VHP, Karnataka. Hindu Mahasabha, another Hindu oufit that is not linked with the RSS will reconvert 60 Christian families in Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka in the last week of January.

‘We converted 4 Christians in December and 2 Muslims in January.’—K. Shenoi Nine opposition parties protested against the Ghar Wapsi controversy in Rajya Sabha by asking the prime minister, who was also a member of the right-wing organization, to make an official statement on Muslim and Christian conversions. The opposition parties did not let the assembly function for four days. However, the PM did not make any official statement on the issue, but the government is ready to bring an anti-conversion law. To add to that, the initiator, Rajeshwar Singh has been removed by the RSS for reconversion activities. He said that he ac-

cepts the decision taken by RSS to suspend him from Ghar Wapsi program operation with due respect. However, he declined to comment any further about the ongoing process of conversions, stating that he is no longer a part of it. Now, when the BJP government is ready to introduce an anti-conversion law, RSS has its answers ready. Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief said that they will bring those people back who did not willingly choose Islam or Christianity. Samajwadi Party leader, Shivpal Singh Yadav took advantage of the controversial plot that BJP was in and commented that BJP leaders should marry their daughters to the reconverts. Another incident that raised eyebrows was when BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj called Nathuram Godse a “patriot” and soon after a few days requested Hindu women to produce at least four kids so that we have Hindu majority in future. Though, the BJP has sent him a notice to reply in 10 days, what if those four children every Hindu woman produces to protect the religion, choose to convert into Christianity or Islam in future?

Conversion ‘havan’ or ritual program being conducted in Agra Courtesy of india.com

February 2015 | The Beat

Religion

Courtesy: Moinak Pal

Communalism or secularism

By Aadhira Anandh.M “Why are there different codes for madrasas and schools? Madrasas should also teach the same things rather than teach terrorism,” said Sakshi Maharaj MP, adding fuel to the fire of the long line of controversial statements that the Bharatiya Janata Party government is making in the name of religion. The questions that arise today are simple, yet difficult to answer. Is India moving towards right? Is the present government on the pretext of secularism making our country a communal country? Or is that these issues have always been there in India? We can choose the latter. Conversions have always been a part of India, but now it has gained popularity because of the name the government carries—pro-Muslim or Pro- Christian. The new government always said that it takes into account all the religions, that it gives rights to every religion in all aspects. But the scene behind not giving Muslims the reservation in Maharashtra was nothing but another revelation that their actions don’t depict their words. Also, when we take the BJP ministers into con14

sideration, there is only one Muslim minister from a total of 151 ministers. All these actions just mean that they say something but don’t practice the same. When they make statements, everybody expects something good, but as it turns into reality, we see a completely different scene. BJP minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, in a hate speech, said, “People of Delhi have to decide if they want a government of Ramzaadon [followers of Ram] or a government of those who are illegitimate.” She also later made the comment that: “In this country, whether it is Christians or Muslims, all are sons of Ram. Those who don’t accept it don’t believe in the country.” Even after all these comments, there have been no proper actions from the government. Either there is pressure to apologise from the opposition party, or their excuse is how they did not intend to hurt sentiments. The thought to make the Baghavad Gita the national scripture or adding it to the school curriculum shows how much the present government wants to monopolize the February 2015 | The Beat

economy. It is time to give thought to what former MP Subhashini Ali said, “Their love is only limited to pocketing the community votes.” She also said that BJP supports conversion to increase their vote banks. All the actions of BJP, after they came to power, depict how much they are tilting the nation towards communalism. India has been a secular country and we always took pride in saying that. But now we cannot. The plan of making Dec. 25 “Good Governance” again raised a lot of questions from the people around. It has been a public holiday and people all around the world celebrate the day as the birthday of Jesus Christ. The decision seems to have been made simply to annoy the Christian community. Religions speak, India speaks These actions and controversies have made people from other religions feel very unsafe. The Beat talked with Muslim and Christian people about their views on the present government. Following are their views.

m: Where is India headed? “Government is trying very hard to show that all religions are equal, but they hardly prove it. Making a language mandatory which we really don’t need to survive is the extreme of what they can do. And making Good Governance day is nothing but farce according to me.” —Mohammed

Gufran Ul Haq

“I feel today’s government is suppressing other religions. If they say Gita should be the national scripture, why can’t another set of people say that Quran or Bible should be the national script? Christmas has always been a public holiday, why do they want to make that very day as Good Governance day? We cannot expand a religion on the name of majority and leave out another because they are minority.”

—Jacob James

“We thought he will do many things for our religion. But he is not doing anything. We don’t feel safe anymore in the state. Anything can happen with us and our thoughts will not be taken into consideration in the name of minority. We voted for a good government, but time and again, we have been cheated.”

—Mohammed Hashim

“India is moving away from secularism. Now we are more like Pakistan, a country that is trying its best to be a Muslim country. We are in India and we have always been proud about being a secular country. If the present situation of the country continues, then in another 10 years we will move towards communalism.”

—Mathew Cherian

“I feel that India is moving more towards communalism. Although every religion has the right to preach, no religion can force anyone to do the same. The ‘Ghar Wapasi’ and burning of religious places are not condemned by the government, but we can say that they have backing of the government.”

—Syed Asghar Raza

“I don’t understand what the government is trying to do. Making people work when it is a public holiday is not right on their part. Christmas is holy for us and we want to stay with our family on the holiday. But the present situation is such that we are not being ignored, but are being targeted.”

—Preethy Varghese

February 2015 | The Beat

Bangalore tales

Gypsies find a safe

By Darshan D Rane “We have been to Delhi, Rajasthan, Pune, Nashik, Bombay, Madras, Kerala, Hubli. We have gone round and round, all places,” says Sunil Gihar, a thick tobacco patch dripping between his lips and nicotine-stained teeth. “I have three children, four children and I don’t create trouble. We are happy here, sir. We are happy here, sir.” If you are traveling along Mysore Road from Kumbalgudu village towards central Bangalore, and if you are a person who loves soft toys— teddy bears, stuffed animals, cartoon characters, soft dolls and puppets—you would definitely stop by the gypsy ghetto in the environs of Rajarajeshwari Medical Hospital in Kengeri.

“If there is a good customer, I give him good rate. The ones who quarrel and bicker, I give them this medium-sized tiger at 600 rupees. The ones who come in a Maruti car, I give them this medium-sized tiger at 800 or 900 or 1000 rupees.”

Arun’s elder brother Prashant succumbed to the freezing winters in Delhi, in 2009, as did hundreds of others during that winter. The death toll during 2014-15 in regions of Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana reportedly has been over 150, and the numbers are increasing. But these are just reported figures—hundreds of deaths go unreported every year. The victims die on the streets, lonely and desolate.

Thick polythene sheets form the roofs to triangular shaped “houses” of these families. When asked about the winters, Arun Bhawan, a youth of 16 laughs: “We have taken Delhi winters, saab. Bangalore is nothing.”

“When in Delhi,” Arun recollected, “we were thrown out of our huts for not paying our hafta [a cut from income]. We stayed on the road for two months. Our condition was too bad. The Delhi police are not nice people. They think we are crimi-

Sunil and his family migrated here, two years ago. Alongside 20-25 families, the travelers make their living out of selling colorful soft toys. “Made in India” like Sunil says. Some families have been here for “as long as 10 years,” he added, excitedly.

Sunil Gihar and his family stuff cotton into soft toys 16

February 2015 | The Beat

haven in Bangalore nals, but they take hafta from us. The government system there is not good.” Arun and his family then moved on to a couple of more places, staying for an interval of four to five months before coming to Bangalore a year ago. “Bangalore police are good. We stay here for free. No giving rent or hafta. We want to stay in Bangalore, but what to do? We might have to leave in a year or two, depending on the conditions over here. As of now, everything is good,” Arun said. Small kids aged between 4 to 15 years can be seen sitting outside their toy shops waiting to make a sale. “There are 25 to 30 kids among us, all of them work and some go to school,” Arun said. The “school” for these children of gypsies, is a makeshift blue polythene tent with one plastic blackboard hung on a wooden bamboo stick, which is the main pillar of the tent. “It is a genlal knalege [general knowledge] school,” Sunil said. That one, that zhopadpatti [hut]. There is a madam there, she is a Hindustani woman. The school runs from 10 o’clock, when the madam arrives, and shuts at 12 o’clock, when she leaves. Sometimes it goes on till 3 o’clock. When the madam doesn’t come, it is a holiday.” Pointing to his children, Sunil said: “But I don’t send my children to school. This is Shiva, my eldest child. He is 10. This is Shivani; she is 7, and Radhika is 4. Shiva was born in Delhi, Shivani in Rajasthan and Radhika in Madras. “I don’t send my children to school because there are big kids who take them away to play cards. My kids are safe at home. When they are bored of staying at home, they go to shop.” Sunil’s family, like the 20-25 odd

Bhola, a gypsy kid, having his share of afternoon meal families in the encampment, does not know of any educational schemes by the central government for the welfare of their children or for the welfare of themselves. They are oblivious to schemes like Aam Admi Bima Yojana, Indira Awaas Yojana or the Integrated Child Development Services program, among other schemes for their betterment. They do not know that they can avail themselves free life insurance or free housing. They do not know of the health schemes enabling them to take care of their malnourished children and wives. They know of ration cards and election cards, but those items are luxuries for the elite among the poor. February 2015 | The Beat

They are not registered, they have no records anywhere, they keep moving like ghosts in pathetic condition. And the interesting thing is that they prefer being this way, being unrecognized, being not cared for. Being invisible. Stuck to their clan, whose members are their constant companions on the road. Selling flowers at one place to make a living, selling toys at another, clothes elsewhere. They move on, in an unfriendly country, fading faces on Earth, walking along, running along, some happy, some sad, to find a means of survival and existence in the vast lands of India. 17

Bangalore tales

Pre-schooling in Bangalore: Who is responsible?

By Samreen Tungekar Pre-schools, or playschools as they are called, are now found in every nook and cranny in Bangalore. However, parents want to trust the “best” ones to send their children to. But what are the factors that determine that the playschool one is choosing is the “right” one? Will you define it by the brand name? Think again.

child and get lost. I can’t take care of all these things. Don’t teach me how to run a school. Go and complain wherever you want. I know what to do. You are new to Bangalore. I am born and brought up here. I will show you what I can do.’ He continued with his unprofessional and foul language and

he misbehaved with her, abused her, and pushed her towards the main entrance. When I tried to intervene he physically assaulted me resulting in a wound in my neck.” He lodged a complaint with Hulimavu Police Station, but nothing has been done about it so far. He was expecting action on part of the school management, which has not happened.

“I told them that Anindya Banereither I see some jee and his wife action being takShilpi Kar Baen on the mannerjee, parents agement’s part, of 3-year-old or I will withAnusha, were draw my child’s roughed up by admission. They the franchise were polite, but owner of Kidzee they were not Pride House proactive. The playschool. franchise owner Their crime was was not even pointing out made to apolothe unhygienic gize to us. They atmosphere of haven’t done the school that anything concaused Anusha structive about multiple mosquito bites. Call- Anindya Banerjee and his wife Shilpi Kar Banerjee, parents of three- it, so I withdrew my daughter’s ing the parents year-old Anusha were mistreated by Kidzee franchise owner. admission and to “discuss” got full refund the matter, the franchise owner Kishore told started threatening us with his of fees for it too,” Anindya said. them that if they had a problem connections and powers. When He thought he could trust Kidzee, with the school’s hygiene, they my wife tried to say something, since it is a renowned name when could remove their child from the school. This matter was covered by Bangalore Mirror and TV9 on Dec. 2, but it has been more than a month and there has been no action on the part of the school management or the police. Anindya had taken to a Facebook page called “The Vigilant Citizen” and reported this matter there. He wrote:

“He told us, ‘You bloody people Get lost. You are new to Bangalore. I will show you what I can do.’ He misbehaved with my wife and pushed her towards the main entrance.” —Anindya Banerjee, Parent

“The owner told us, ‘You bloody people. Just get lost. Take your 18

February 2015 | The Beat

it comes to playschools. Clearly, that backfired. He also said that a lot of parents didn’t say anything about it because it was a matter of some months for the playschool year to get over, so why create a ruckus?

No legal requirement Setting up a playschool is more like a direct investment for a business plan, as there are agencies that will help “develop” a pre-school. They also specify how that is different from “franchise development,” as stated by Gautam Bhupender, who owns Insight Management Solutions, an agency to offer consultancy to set up playschools. They help develop a curriculum, infrastructure and teacher training among other things. Gautam clearly stated that there are no legal formalities required to actually set up a playschool. “We will offer all the help needed, there is no legal permission involved,” he said. The main question remains. If there are no legal permissions needed, who is responsible for these playschools? ‘These are playschools to exploit the elite’ Palakshaiah, director of Department of Public Instruction (DDPI) and retired consultant of a Right to Education (RTE) cell was clear about the fact that Section 11 of the RTE provides free playschool education to children above the age of 3, but playschools that have children up to three are not recognized by the government. “If a school wants to have a preschool, they have to file an application with the Block Education Office (BEO). There is a fee of registration for the same. If it is not registered, it is unauthorized,” he

playschool is located and if it is a domestic premise.

“We will offer all the help needed, there is no legal permission involved.” —Gautam Bhupender

There are two pre-registration stages that need to be completed before the registration process starts. A website about startups in the UK specifies that the staff have to have at least two

said. “These schools like Kidzee are just there to exploit the elite. There are cases where children have been drugged to put to sleep. Many children suffer because of these things,” he said in reference to private playschools. He also said that since schooling below lower kindergarten is not recognized, there is no regulatory body for stand-alone playschools.

A global perspective In England, nursing and residential care homes must be registered with the Care Quality Commission of England, which checks if any kind of care services in one’s home is meeting the national standards. In Wales, nursing and residential care homes must be registered with the Welsh Government’s Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), the regulatory body for inspecting social and care services in Wales. Under the Children Act of 1989 of the United Kingdom, anyone providing day care for children under the age of 8 that exceeds two hours must be registered with the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Registration requirements will depend on where the

S.R.S Nadhan levels of qualification for a daycare setting. A background check of the staff by the police is also an important criterion. Once the playschool is registered with Ofsted, the regulatory body checks the playschools every three years to make sure it meets the national standards. Playschools also have to comply by the legal outlines under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Food Safety Act.

Introspection required About the safety guidelines issued by the DPI, S.R.S Nadhan, senior assistant director and private secretary of Commissioner for Public Instruction, said: “As of now, there is no regulatory body at all to supervise independent playschools. The education act has to be reworked to be able to implement rules about these playschools.”

There are cases where children have been drugged to put to sleep. Many children suffer because of these things.” —Palakshaiah, retired consultant, RTE Cell February 2015 | The Beat

Bangalore tales

Female cabbies no

By Sharangee Dutta

India has certainly advanced. From the time when women were victims of the crude sati system to the time when they could choose their own life partners, from the time they were barred from receiving education to the time when they are at par with men. The rising demand for female taxi drivers of India is a new addition to these achievements. Gone are the days when men used to be on the driver’s seat. Gone are the days when men used to be the sole bread earners of the family. With women empowerment being promoted across India, female taxi services are a big boost to the procedure. It is yet to reach the summit in terms of popularity among the drivers, but it sure helps in reflecting an advanced message that women could no longer be put down as the weak gender. Surya Mukundaraj, an advocate Surya Mukundaraj believes a woman should be mentally strong to be and one of the three founders of a taxi driver Bangalore-based Angel City Cabs, had thought of doing something The other two founders of the fession.” unique while starting this ser- service are Vinay Chaitanya, a businessman and Manjunath He said that a woman who comes vice. Adde, a journalist, social activist forward to become a lady chauffeur handles a car for the first “I wanted to help women from and a writer. time in her life. Due to her lack of the lower segment of the society and hence, I started Angel City Talking to The Beat, Mukundaraj knowledge of driving, she has the informed that last year in August tendency of losing confidence. Cabs,” he said. when Angel City Cabs started opHe thought that lighting candles erations, eight lady chauffeurs “Even after we teach them, they and holding protests wouldn’t were present. They were eager to have an inclination to drive only do any good to curb the violence dive into a new world entirely dif- in their locality. They lack the against women. ferent from what they have been mental strength and most significantly, professionalism,” Mukunliving in. “There was a need for something daraj explained. effective,” he said. However, the determination was He believes in order to become soon crushed. Showing encouragement, he put a female taxi driver; one should forth the examples of women in Today, out of eight female driv- have a “tough attitude” and the every field these days, starting ers, seven have quit the profes- ability to withstand any sort of from navy and army to police sion citing the lack of support hurdle. forces and lawyers. from their families to be the rea“All those seven females who left son. “Bangalore has female bus conlacked a strong will,” he said. ductors, why not taxi drivers Mukundaraj however thinks there then? I knew this was the only is another reason behind it. He Angel City Cabs has recently tied area where South India was lag- added, “They don’t even have the up with Ola Cabs, one of the most ging behind,” he said. mentality to survive in this pro- popular cab services in the city. 20

February 2015 | The Beat

longer a rare sight

her job even after tying the knot, she shows immense courage in her answer. “Of course I will,” she said. What if her husband doesn’t approve of her profession? “I will convince him until he agrees but not quit my job,” she said. But one question remains. Is allowing only women commuters to take the services of a woman taxi driver justifying gender equality? “We can’t risk our reputation for preaching gender equality. If something happens to our drivers, nobody but we have to take responsibility,” Mukundaraj said.

Bharti, 38, is resolute to continue driving in the future as well The former started a campaign on Jan. 14 to recruit women drivers. “Our criteria are education up to class eight and experience in driving. We don’t want newcomers anymore,” he said. Standing out from the rest is one driver, Bharti, who has been sticking with Angel City Cabs from the beginning. Now, an independent and resolute woman, she owns her cab and earns a fortune every month. “She is extremely professional and confident. I saw the spark in her from the first day and cooperated with her since then,” Mukundaraj said, smiling. He also informed that her optimism and passion impressed him so much that he got her a loan from Canara Bank so that she could purchase a car. Now, with her own vehicle, she takes home Rs.45,000 a month excluding the required expenditures. Taking time out from her busy

schedule, Bharti spared some time talking to The Beat. Her vocal tone reflected immense conviction. She informed that her four-monthold experience with Angel City Cabs was worth learning and motivating. “It was a nice time and I thank them a lot,” she said. Terming becoming a taxi driver to be her “dream,” she said that more and more women should choose this profession lest any gender gap prevails. “Everyone is accustomed to seeing a male taxi driver but not female. It’s time we bridge that gap,” she added. Fresh from a massive privilege of chauffeuring Biocon’s Managing Director, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Bharti recalled the encounter to be “fantastic.” She said that Shaw was supportive and urged her to live her dreams. Bharti, who is in her 30s, sup supports her family, which consists of her brother, mother and sister. She plans to get married in the future. On asking if she will resume February 2015 | The Beat

Bharti, however, showed courage by saying that she doesn’t mind chauffeuring male passengers. “Women passengers bring men with them while boarding the car anyway. I don’t mind ferrying them as well,” she said. Angel City Cabs is no exception, as female taxi services across India such as Priyadarshini Taxi Services, Mumbai, She Cabs, Hyderabad, and Sakha Cabs, Delhi are meant solely for female commuters. Mukundaraj believes that even though the fare is much more than regular cab rates, women feels safer with a lady chauffeur than a male. “And our goal is to make the commuters comfortable,” he said. With the Uber rape case still fresh in our minds, it doesn’t sound illogical for women to pay more and opt for a safe and comfortable ride. Either way, the rising popularity of female taxi services is both women empowerment and a step towards advancement.

Bangalore tales

A matter

‘Style is a way to say who you are w By Asmita Kundu The definition of fashion varies from one individual to another. Modern fashionistas consisting of youngsters and college-goers always look for something new, something that will help them to stand out in the crowd. The tendency triggers them to stay in accordance with the latest trends. While some are obsessed with branded fashion, others are all about street fashion. While some value quality over quantity, others love the essence of street shopping. Nandini Bose, an MBA student and an ardent buyer of street apparels prefers street shopping citing the chance of getting a large number of varieties. “But in case of branded apparels, I cannot find proper clothes that suit my budget,” Nandini said. Street shopping paints a lovely picture in our eyes. The colorful robes and accessories, hanging in the street side shops along with the noisy sounds of bargain takes

the customer to a completely different level. “Fashion changes rapidly these days. We youngsters like to buy new and different stuff every day at reasonable prices which makes street shopping our priority,” said another loyal street shopper in Malleshwaram, one of the oldest and traditional destinations for street shoppers in Bangalore. For all teenagers and college goers who are shopaholics, street fashion is bliss. But it is not the same for everyone. Being a metropolitan city, Bangalore houses many shopping malls comprising a large number of luxury brand stores. Also, the city has a larger exposure to the international world. Here fashion trends store a swarm of collection from popular brands as well as quirky or funky pieces from the street shops which enables a customer to experience a jaw dropping moment. Bangalore is the ultimate destina-

tion of many top notch fashion labels. The city has a large number of branded stores and lots of shopping malls, like Forum, Mantri Mall and UB City (India’s first luxury mall) among others. Bangaloreans rejuvenate themselves with high street fashion as well as luxury brands. Jawad Mirza, an employee of Accenture, conveyed his fondness about branded clothes and accessories. “Branded clothes have much better quality than street apparel. Although street stuff might appear like branded ones, quality varies a lot,” Jawad said. Some times he also finds nice and trendy stuffs in a street shop, but his ultimate preferences are Adidas, Hush puppies, Nike, UCB, Zara and Reebok. Low production cost, flat discount and so many attractive offers cannot grab the customers who usually want products at a budget price. According to a survey it was found that Indians are very much aware of all international fashion brands. So why is the growth of branded fashion market decreasing? “Lack of government support, less recognition of local designers, eshopping, expensive branded apparels does not allow daily shoppers to take a glimpse of branded fashion,”said an employee of Adidas.

Commercial Street, best known for street shopping in Bangalore 22

February 2015 | The Beat

Despite lacking government support, rising affluence has increased brand awareness among Indian consumers. India is among the most brand conscious countries in the world. With 35 percent of Indian survey respondents reporting to buy designer brands, a survey titled Global Fashion Industry – Growth in Emerging Markets found.

r of style

without having to speak.’ —Rachel Zoe

Street shops on Commercial Street

Brigade Road, Bangalore, the destination for all shopaholics sive.

“Most of the shoppers of any age like street fashion for the variety it has to offer. And affordable price is also another significant matter,” said Diksha Shrivastava, a trainee fashion designer and student of Indian Institute of Crafts & Design. She also commented: “People from some certain classes buy maximum branded clothes and accessories. Otherwise, normal middle class

Some street lovers feel that branded stuff in India will continue to be expensive because of excise duty on retail prices. This might be the reason for a set of society preferring street shopping in Bangalore. So why are there always flocks of people roaming in these malls?

people or students like us usually wear branded clothes in any ceremony or festival.”

Diksha Shrivastava,

Dressed in blue denims and a funky T-shirt, Rachna, a college student was spotted at Commercial Street, another exclusive destination for street shoppers in Bangalore.

Designer

“I like to shop from streets because I can get four dresses at the price of a single branded dress,” Rachna said. A middle-aged woman was gorging on sweetcorn with her teenage daughter on Commercial Street. It was quite evident that she was on a marvelous shopping spree since she could barely hold her shop-

Trainee Fashion

“Most of the shoppers of any age, like street fashion for the variety it has to offer. And affordable price is also another significant matter.” ping bags. She stated that she preferred brands over street fashion irrespective of the fact that the former proved to be quite expenFebruary 2015 | The Beat

“We normally do window shopping in a branded store,” said a college student in Forum mall in Koramangala. A girl, spotted shopping on M.G. Road exclaimed: “Who doesn’t like wearing branded clothes? I am no different.” Dressed in Reebok footwear, she carried a Forever Yours leather sling bag across her shoulder. “But yes, it’s not that I am not good to go if I don’t have a tag of Armani or Lacoste on my dress. Street fashion is amazing too. You should know what to wear and how to carry yourself. In the end, that’s what matters,” she said.

National

‘It’s high time we drew a line b

By Aadhira Anandh M. Rajesh is constantly being monitored by his mother. Right from brushing his teeth to putting him back to bed, his mother has to take care of him. His mother told The Beat: “I don’t know what he will do after my death. There’s nobody to take care of him.” Rajesh is a 27-year-old autistic adult. His life has revolved around long processes of different special schools and therapies. His mother, Thanapayi, recalls: “He didn’t talk for a long time and neither did he play like other children do. We were very concerned about what was happening. Thereafter, we took him to the doctor, who informed us that he was autistic.” After that, with the pressure arising from the society, they enrolled him in a special school, following which his life was a constant switch between staying at home and going to school.

His mother said: “I always hoped that he would be able to on his own two feet. That’s the reason I enrolled him in a special school so that he gets more individual attention. But that didn’t happen. His mother claims that he does everything he is taught when he is with his school friends, but doesn’t do the same when he is home. Considering the root of the issue, Mrs. Shantha, administrative manager and a teacher at Asha Integrated School, said: “The parents are not ready to follow the regime we give them on holidays. They tend to take it lightly and think that the child should be let free for the holidays.” She continued, “If the proper care is not taken, then no progress can be expected. In our school we teach them the ways of life. We teach them painting, horticulture et cetera, so that they can live on their own tomorrow. These need proper care all the time.” Autism is a disorder that has been the subject of many studies that have attempted to come up with ways to make autistic children independent. When a child is autistic, he or she faces communication issues as a result of which he or she is unable to build relationships. Though accurate data on the number of autistic people is not available, doctors who spoke to The Beat said they are seeing a lot of autistic cases in the city.

Joshua D’Mello, in his typewriting class Courtesy of Noah’D’Mello

Dr. Radhika Poovaiah, director of Samvaad Institute February 2015 | The Beat

of Speech and Hearing, said, “There are lot of special schools, but they do not offer proper therapies neither do they offer the right treatment. They run the organization as a charity hub, where parents can drop their children, but expecting results is of no use.” She added that “it’s high time we draw a line between charity and disability. India does not need charity anymore for children with autism; instead, the nation needs professionals who can help the autistic children.”

Around the world According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of 66 children are autistic in the United States. The Autism Society of America has explored a lot of methods to help autistic people come out of their shells, though there is no proper research stating that a specific method would be helpful except the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program. The ABA program is a tool that has been used widely all around the world. This method analyses the behavior of the children, after which it decides the type of therapies required to be used. The program concentrates in stopping an autistic child’s repetitive behavior. Tests are done to determine whether the patient has mild or severe autism. Another method is the Son-Rise Program, which is another treatment that has been followed for autistic children. It is the opposite of the ABA program. It concentrates on training the parents of autistic children. The basis of the method is that children do something they feel is important to them, so parents show interest in what the children are doing and connect to them. This opens the door for a more powerful bond. But Dr. Poovaiah said: “There are no proper studies showing that the Son-Rise Program is effective. But

between disability and charity’ we can say ABA has been approved by Autistic Society of America, and we have also seen many improvements in this method.”

Present scenario Joshua D’Mello, a 20-year-old autistic man, was sent to a normal school with other children. His brother strongly feels that he is able to cope today to a certain extent since he was given a chance to study with normal children. His brother, Noah, said, “I cannot tell you that he has recovered completely and lives his life the way others do, but I can say this much that it helped a lot. He is much better than the other autistic children. We also had therapists coming home after the school and giving him sessions.” He continued: “Now he tries his maximum to live like me. When I say I want to work, he also wants to do the same. He hopes for a bright future.” But again these cases are very subjective. The degree of the disorder in the person decides the way he can be treated and what works on him. There are children who can live and recover by going to the normal school, but it’s not possible in all cases. And above that not all the normal schools are open about admitting children with these disorders. Or then the situation is like that, they are given a separate wing with a shadow teacher who takes care of them. In one way or another, they are segregated. Dr. Poovaiah describes autism as a “great challenge” that India is facing today. She says autism is not a disorder that comes with a predetermined set of symptoms, and normal schools with shadow teachers are a luxury which everyone cannot afford. “Every child is different and difficulties they face are different,” she

Rajesh, a 27-year-old autistic adult said. “We have to sit and analyze and work with the child. We have to take the child through different therapies and wait for the results. “I am happy with the fact that today there are lot of special schools and hope that in another 50 years we see a lot more professionals who would be working towards the results.” Poovaiah pointed out that few mediFebruary 2015 | The Beat

cal professionals and carers want to work with disabled people because they feel they will not be paid well. To improve the situation of autistic children in India, “we need more trained professionals and proper awareness to the fact that disability is something that has to be properly treated rather than making it a charity,” Poovaiah said.

National

The Jadavpur episode retold

By Raya Ghosh

Call it a protest. A movement. A phase. Call it a revolution. A radical alteration! Students of Jadavpur University ensured that their demand for a metamorphosis, a change that was aligned towards chastening the system coincided with unparalleled victory. Aug. 28, 2014, was one of the most remarkable days in the history of Jadavpur University. It was a night of festivity. Of jubilance and good humor. The Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU) had organized their cultural fest that witnessed the exuberance of many students across Kolkata. However, that night also endured the wrath of a gruesome incident that marked the beginning of a phenomenal episode. While the crowd let loose to the musical tunes, bloodcurdling wails echoed in the somber corners of the campus. Inside the boys hostel, a girl was allegedly molested by a group of 10 boys while her male friend was beaten black and blue all over. What followed next was a string of events which spread like wildfire all over the city, or rather, the country. The General Body meeting that was held thereafter arrived at a conclusion that demanded the authorities initiate the procedure for an unbiased investigation of the matter, thereby ensuring justice to the victim. Students also decided that they would peacefully campaign against gender inequality and violence on the campus through plays, recitations and posters. September observed the prosperity of this amicable campaign. Echoes of the protest were heard in every corner of the campus. Walls were personified with allusive and psychedelic graffitis. Songs reverberated in the meandering corridors. 26

Students react strongly Laboni Chatterjee, a student of Jadavpur University, was an active part of this movement. She recalled how students stayed back in the campus at night during that time, “braving the natural elements and ignoring their thirst and hunger.” “We expected the respected vice chancellor, Abhijit Chakraborti, to lend his ear to our demands and initiate a fair investigation on this issue,” Laboni said. But nothing happened. Furthermore, the victim also alleged that two members of the Executive Council that was formed after the incident had visited her place. Not only did they inform the former about their visit, but also charged her with offensive questions regarding her attire. Students also demanded the inclusion of a retired judge, an activist and a psychologist in the Executive Council, as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. However, the campaigns along with the demands were ignored by the authorities. This led to the birth of “Hokkolorob” (raise your voice), the movement which soon transformed into a revolution. Protestors refused to cave in. Night crawled into the campus like a fugitive. The vice chancellor asked the students to disperse failing which he would have to summon his “forces.” Soon after, lights were switched off in the campus. What followed was a mass brutalization of the protestors that night. Clothes were ripped apart. Women were groped. Boots and batons rained down upon unsuspecting students. Around 40 students, including a girl was arrested and kept in custody all night. Around three dozen students were admitted to a hospital with grievFebruary 2015 | The Beat

ous injuries. The night air was thick with trauma and disbelief. A series of protests followed which involved eminent theater personalities, artists, academicians and people from various fields. “Numerous school, college and university students joined the protest in order to support JU protesters,” said Charulata Ghosh, a student of JU. However, on Sept. 20, one of the biggest, peaceful and apolitical rallies in the history of students’ movements was held in West Bengal. Withstanding torrential showers, thousands of students and supporters marched till Raj Bhavan to raise their voices against gender inequality and police brutality on campus.

Demands followed The governor of West Bengal promised to look into this entire affair, thereby ensuring justice. But according to a referendum conducted in the Arts Faculty, 96 percent of the students voted for the resignation of the VC. Several degree recipients also boycotted the annual convocation. Since no stance was taken regarding the resignation of the VC, an indefinite hunger strike commenced in front of the VC’s office. On Jan. 12, Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, announced the VC’s resignation. Slogans, songs and cheers broke the tense silence of the night. Soon after, the victory march took place in which thousands of students and supporters joined the rally. This revolutionary movement observed a national color as students from across India expressed their solidarity along with the JU students. Sujatro Ghosh, a student of Delhi University whose school life ended on the Jadavpur University campus, actively participated in the move-

Protests held in front of Town Hall in Bangalore. Courtesy of Moinak Pal

ment since the first day by attending protests both in Kolkata and Delhi. For him, “the emotional involvement in the movement was always there.” “On the day of the historical grand rally with 1 lakh 10 thousand participants in Kolkata, students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Delhi University (DU) joined hands with protesting teachers & students of Jadavpur University which made it a National Student Movement. Delhi contributed with a mass of 5,000 teachers and students at Jantar Mantar, the heart of the national capital. The protest in Delhi went on till the last day of the protest in JU, maintaining an apolitical approach throughout,” Sujatro said. Bangalore also witnessed such protests that were held in front of the town hall. “The Bangalore protests were a huge success. Through it, Mamata Banerjee could understand that this matter was not a chotto ghotona (small matter) at all. Universities across the country were in our support and so was Bangalore. This unified cry for justice made them realize how obnoxious it was to constantly deny the crime,” said Shinjinee, brand manager at The Himalaya Drug Company in Bangalore. Although, JU protestors tried their level best in maintaining an apolitical approach towards the movement, the revolution did achieve a political color. Students alleged that the mass brutalization that took place on

that fateful night was conducted by civilians apart from the police force. “Trinamool Congress goons accompanied the police on that day. Moreover, there were around 10 commandos who usually fight against terrorists, but unfortunately they were forced to fight against the protestors. The VC was of the opinion that we were carrying firearms. But in reality, all we had were saxophones, guitars and cameras,” said Supratik Sur Roy, a student of JU. Also on Sept. 22, Trinamool Congress Party organized a rally in Kolkata against the protestors. Reportedly, several students were asked to join the rally in order to exhibit the influence of the ruling party.

Critics hit out However, the movement was also criticized by several people. “Those who associate JU with alcohol and consider it as a weed-smoking hub were mainly against Hokkolorob. According to them, JU students were making a mountain out of a molehill because any girl who gets drunk or relieves herself in inappropriate places deserves to get molested,” Laboni added. Some critics were of the opinion that JU students possessed immense audacity since they refused to accept their certificates and medals on the governor’s face on the day of the convocation. February 2015 | The Beat

Avinandan Banerjee, a student of Calcutta University, believed that the recent student agitation in Jadavpur University opened an area of some serious debate. According to him, if Gandhi had been alive today, possibly he would have to rethink the methods of Satyagraha (nonviolence), especially towards its implementation through a mob that is basically confused; lacking a sense of purpose perhaps. “The agitation that started off with a demand for a fresh enquiry about the sexual harassment of a student in the campus, turned worse when the VC ordered for a lathi charge on his own students to bring the situation under control. Needless to say, it was an act of sheer stupidity and a lack of moral as well as ethical decision making on the part of someone who is among the top officials of a prestigious institution,” Avinandan said. Critics have repeatedly stated that they have never opposed to the protests but the means of protesting. Also, the ultimate cause from where the entire episode originated, remained unresolved in the end. “The VC’s decision of lathi charge created a lot of opportunities on part of the students to show more maturity. Though their protest was justified, the means undertaken were not. Keeping in mind the heritage of the institution, I think the students should have resorted to much more moderate ways of protesting. In the end, it 27

said in an email. “But shouldn’t the consequences of such action go beyond the resignation of a vice chancellor? Shouldn’t the activists also concentrate on developing an intra-university legal setup with defined penalties on such incidents and issues and try to connect it with the larger national judicial system? Any student from any educational institution in the country should have ready access to a systematized procedure (beyond simply appealing for a vice chancellor’s consideration) as part of the institutional-legal code, which he/she can resort to in case of threats to individual dignity and safety without having to undergo further harassment.

Too many similar movements have lapsed into obscurity or have been reduced to mere footnotes that serve only as past examples. The activists need to realize the larger scope of their agitation before their energies dissipate. Permanent systematized legal modus operandi for student safety within charters of university regulations: where is the Kolorob (voice) for that?”

months of massive struggle. But what must be noted is that ulterior motive behind this revolutionary struggle is yet to be resolved. Students are still expecting an unbiased investigation of the alleged molestation case.

Fight for our rights’

Indeed, the struggle for justice demonstrated by students displayed their true spirit and unity, wherein people from all over the country expressed solidarity with Jadavpur University.

Protesters nonetheless, are happy about the fact that the critics could not demolish their spirit in any possible way. Ultimately, the VC had to resign. Ultimately victory was achieved after five

Conclusively, they proved it that an ideology is what that they believed in and a unified conjecture, consequently revolutionized into an unprecedented triumph.

‘I opposed their way of agitation’ The Beat interviewed Manojit Mandal, a professor of English at Jadavpur University regarding the Jadavpur protests. Following are excerpts from the interview. The Beat: What triggered the Jadavpur protests? Manojit Mandal: The agitation at Jadavpur University had two parts to it wherein the first part was triggered by an alleged incident of molestation of a girl student in the campus by some students in the night of Aug. 28, and demand for justice for the victim by her friends. They wanted an enquiry team to be constituted according to their demands, which were certainly ideal and fantastic but impermissible as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prohibition, Prevention and Redressal) Act 2013 passed by the Parliament of India. Hence, the administration led by the then vice chancellor refused to meet their demands. The dharnas (fasting) and sit-in demonstrations continued unabated till Sept. 16, with those demands. Authorities somewhat failed to convince them that their demands were not legally tenable. Second part of the agitation started after the alleged police excess on the night of Sept. 28

16, when agitating students resorted to a different mode of gheraoing (surrounding) the authorities including the then vice chancellor. The original demand for justice for gender violence turned to be compounded with the principle demand for the resignation of the vice chancellor. Has it in any way affected the educational structure of the college? If yes, then to what extent? Agitations have certainly affected the academic/administrative atmosphere in the university. Classes were not held regularly for more than a month. There was no decisive administrative action as well. And now after the resignation of the vice chancellor the administration is in a total flux. It is extremely difficult to push through any major assertive administrative action in the next six to seven months. Do you think this sort of agitation helps the students in any way? It is a tricky issue. Politically it does benefit the students February 2015 | The Beat

to the extent of using it during the high-voltage student election. But in the long run it creates havoc in the normal functioning of the university to the extent of changing the legitimately selected head of the institution. Are you in support of such agitations? Well personally I did support the original cause of the movement, i.e., justice for the victim of molestation. But I did oppose their way of agitation as they did not try to understand the legal position or the law laid down by the Parliament of this country. What was the general view of the professors about the protests? The teachers were equally divided as far as their opinions were concerned. Some demanded the resignation of the vice chancellor. Some supported the vice chancellor. But more than 50 percent of the teachers remained noncommittal.

The dreamcatcher of journalism—Japan By Nirooha Rachala and Nikunj Ohri Japan has always been an example of a neverending saga of design and perfection; be it their roads, transport, culture, infrastructure or media. When an opportunity arose for us to go to Japan, we jumped at it without a second thought, for it was our dream destination after all.

Japan and broadcast journalism I often wondered how a country like this runs a broadcast channel. As a broadcast journalist-to-be, being inquisitive is a curse. Needless to say, the NHK Broadcasting Center, a broadcasting conglomerate, situated in Shibuya, Tokyo, was an ethereal experience. It houses studios, offices and a studio park that is popular among children. A network of 54 domestic, 30 overseas stations, two satellite, two terrestrial channels and three radio stations

Exhibits of the microphones used by NHK

incorporate virtual compositing technology that synchronizes computer graphics and camera image as displayed. Even their camera positions can be changed by a remote control. These studios are self-sufficient. This center deploys helicopters around the broadcasting centers across Japan to strengthen the whole system of “breaking news,” something that the Indian channels do not have. This was a major technique used during the tsunami that struck Japan.

Television Oita System Visting the Television Oita System (TOS) broadcasting channel made me take an immense liking to their way of presenting the news. I was shown a live telecast of a news bulletin. One interesting thing I witnessed in the 10-minute bulletin was that they have a brief of the news that accompanies the headline. Once the brief of the story is done, the news

Telecast of a news bulletin at Television Oita system

feeds the news every day. This center has exhibits of equipment that was used in the first years of its inception. This equipment underwent changes and evolved with every passing year. This equipment include monopods that were used initially and then transformed into tripods over the years. The sound-effect equipments were the ones that stood out. These had elements of everyday use like coffee beans, seeds, sand that could be used to give sound effects that sounded realistic to the ear. Their concept of virtual presence amazed me. Virtual presence in this context means satellite transmission of an area without the reporter actually being present there and yet being able to report a calamity. Japan’s obsession with perfection reflects in their work. Their studios are equipped with high-end technology. Everything can be accessed with the touch of a button on a remote control. They are in the process of developing new services that

reader does not come back to that news again, like news readers in Indian broadcasting channels do. It makes the process of presenting the news really simple and smooth. One major feature of this channel is that they broadcast separately for mobile phones. The news bulletin has humorous elements like a pun in a particular story or a few comedy shots. Robotic cameras are placed in almost every part of the city to broadcast calamities or accidents. These channels are in the process of employing 8K technology, which makes for better resolution than anywhere in the world. It is said that these images are 16 times clearer than regular resolution, which means that anyone with anything to hide under makeup better watch out. Although Japan may seem light years ahead of India in terms of technological utilization, there is a sense of journalistic integrity and pride that is synonymous throughout both countries.

February 2015 | The Beat

I’d rather not be Charlie

By Shadma Shaikh

expression and speech there!

Yes, I belong to the same profession as that of people who were massacred in Paris, I condemn the attack on them as strongly as the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy or News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch did, and I practice the same faith that the murderers in the killing claim to follow.

In no way do I mean to justify the action of killing as retaliation or reaction to be being offended. The murderers who committed the merciless killings might claim that they did it for Islam or to protect Islam. They say they follow the word of Allah. Yes, there are verses in the Koran that talk of war and warfare that were prevalent in war like situation. What these people forget or chose to ignore is that along with the Koran as a guidebook to live your life by, Allah also gave you brains to use them. He also asked you to question and introspect. He blessed you with a sense of judgment to understand the difference between right and wrong. And killing people willy-nilly in the name of religion is wrong, by all means.

But I’d like to redeem my right to freedom of expression for a moment here, if I am still allowed to have it, given the fact that I am a Muslim and as the current popular notion goes, all we do is oppress freedom in every form and kill in the name of religion. That being said, I refuse to take lessons of what Muslims in the world should do from someone like Murdoch or the 36,000 people who favorited his “Jihadist cancer” tweet that implies “Muslims must be held responsible for the attack.” There has been much commentary and opinions over what happened in Paris last week. An article in The New Yorker talks about why killing of 12 people associated with Charlie Hebdo is more disturbing than killing of hundreds of children in Peshawar. The New Yorker article and many other columnists have pointed out that the attack in Paris was an attack on freedom of speech and expression, which is why it was more shocking than mass killing of innocent children. Does freedom of speech and expression hold no boundaries and restrictions? Does it not acknowledge that being offensive might be abusing the right to freedom? Finding something offensive might as well be subjective. What is offensive to you might not be offensive to Charlie Hebdo. Yet, the Australian fashion magazine owned by Murdoch’s News Corp. was asked to apologize for its intern advertisement displaying a model in lingerie because it was seen as demeaning and sexist by feminist journalist Suzanne Carbone. Or was it just “offensive” to some set of people who are allowed to be offended? Whatever happened to Murdoch’s fashion magazine team’s freedom of 30

I do not stand with these people who claim to protect their religion by cherry-picking verses from the Koran, taking them out of context and ignoring the message at the beginning of every chapter of the same Koran that points out that God is merciful and generous. It is miserable that a religion followed by 1.8 billion people in the world is in question about its principles because of a handful of jihadists who are committing murders under the pretext of Islam solely to incite a civil war by making the world hate Muslims. It’s ironic as pointed out in a debate that was held at Oxford University about Islam being a religion of peace that what the Islamic radicals and Islamophobes actually have in common is the belief that Islam demands that you kill in the name of God. As a practicing Muslim I do not go about carrying bombs in my jacket blowing people up. I read the Koran in the language I understand and question it when in doubt. I go out with friends who accept my teetotalism, sometimes even make fun of it, while I laugh holding back their hair when they puke after they have had too much to drink. I, my parents, my sisters, my 7-year-old nephew, my 80-year-old grandmother are all deFebruary 2015 | The Beat

vout Muslims and just as human as our 43-year-old maid, who is a practicing, vegetarian Hindu and lives with us under a common roof. To me, and to the millions of people who practice Islam in the world, it is a religion for spiritual fulfillment and a way of life. And being just as much disgusted with the killings in Paris as any non-Muslim is, we as Muslims are also frustrated with the hypocrisy surrounding the incident that says, either you are Charlie or you are a freedom-resisting, conservative, radical Muslim. Freedom of expression was also threatened when a woman wearing veil was asked to leave the Paris Opera House just as much as it was violated when Chinese Muslims were banned from fasting in the month of Ramadan. Why in the name of heaven would you want to snub a spiritual person by curbing his right to practice his spirituality? And we talk of freedom of speech that was murdered at Charlie Hebdo. Have we forgotten Maurice Sinet, who was sacked from Charlie Hebdo after he wrote a column that “incited racial hatred” against Jews and he said he would “cut his own balls off” rather than apologizing for what he wrote? Well, I have a firmer moral compass than Charlie. As much as I condemn the attack that happened in Paris, grieve over the death of children in Peshawar and feel sorry for abortions attacks on clinics in the United States, New Zealand and Australia, I feel equally sad about the hypocrisy built up around the incident. I am bothered with the reaction of people who expect me to apologize for the religion I follow and take insults toward it with a pinch of salt, because I’d be termed as a petty-minded or even worse, a violence-supporting Muslim if I cannot laugh at the satire of Charlie. Sorry, but I have nothing to apologize for, and I’d rather not be Charlie.

Travelogue: Himachal

We will go home, across the mountains

The valley, named after the Parvati river, flows centrally

By Gaurav Sarkar In the summer of 2012, a very close friend of mine had j u s t returned from a 30-day vacation in, what most Mumbaikars unanimously call, “the mountains.” Situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, the Parvati Valley has always been a blissful haven for tons of Israeli backpackers and, in the recent past, also for Indians who want a break from the ever-accelerating pace of metropolitan cities. Which is why I was slightly envious of the fact that my friend had “seen beauty in its entirety” along with the added incentive of temperatures below 10 C; in stark contrast to the 38 C oven Mumbai had become in the past month. Exactly a year later, I found myself on a flight to Delhi. Buses commenced from the capital every two hours to Bhuntar, the central hub of transport in the valley. Upon asking, the bus driver (in his robust north Indian accent) told me that we were scheduled to reach at six in the morning. As the bus slowed down from

its usual twisting and turning, my sleep broke. Groggy-eyed, I brushed aside the small curtain that prevented the early morning sun rays from entering and gaped at the view that lay outside. It looked like a scene straight out of “The Sound of Music.” Green vegetation covered every inch of the mighty mountains that stretched as far as the eye could see. In the horizon, one could see the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas blurred by the silhouette of eagles hovering lazily in the sky. I alighted at the Bhuntar bus stop, amid bustling backpackers and loud bus conductors and soon boarded a bus for Kasol, a village located at a height of 1,640 meters above sea level, 42 kilometers away from Bhuntar.

Villages and its residents The Parvati Valley circuit can be done in many ways. Most of the valley that lay beyond Kasol has to be covered on foot as the roads are inaccessible, and in some cases, nonexistent. Irrespective of that, I wanted to see it all. February 2015 | The Beat

The village of Kasol is very different than the rest of the valley. It is not located at a very high altitude like the other villages of Rasol and Kheerganga. This, along with the presence of comfortable hotels (unlike the four wooden walls that are called rooms at higher altitudes), has enabled the village to represent the commercial side of the mountains. Kasol is divided into two halves by the Kasol Bridge. The northern half beyond this wobbly and precarious wood-and-rope bridge is called new Kasol, and its southern half represents the older part of the village. A well-built cement bridge, stacked on either side with small shops that sells handicrafts and traditional clothing as well as restaurants, serves a wide variety of food ranging from simple Israeli dishes such as humus and pita bread to rich and creamy Italian pastas, connects both halves from the eastern side of Kasol as well, allowing hikers and commuters to get around this circular shaped village. But what stood 31

out, as well as became my staple diet for the period while I was in Kasol, was Shambu’s momo stall. Nothing hits the spot like this man’s freshly made hot momos and spicy Szechwan sauce, which when consumed in the cool breeze that perpetually blows through the entire village, is satiating to another level. I checked into my room at Riverview, a hotel located on the village banks of the Parvati River, the owner of which was Kashi—a 5-foot-3-inch tall man from the nearby village of Choch who had a reputation for being one of the richest and youngest hotel owners in the small village. We spoke at length about the places I wanted to visit and what was the best way to go about it. In the evening I took a stroll around the village and decided to eat dinner at The Falafel King, where I met Yogi, the owner of this joint. Yogi, 47, was born in Kasol, and had

been running this joint for more than 20 years. He spoke in the same undertone as Kashi, and when not busy in the kitchen, could be seen playing with his daughter in the sitting area behind his establishment. A young Russian lady sporting a hunter’s hat with a feather stuck in it was going from table to table, taking down orders. Yogi later told me that she had been working here for the last three weeks so that she could earn some money to backpack further. “She wants to work and I can always use a helping hand,” Yogi said. “Whether she is Russian, Italian, or Indian, how does it matter to me?” The next day, after leaving my main suitcase in a luggage room in Riverview, I commenced on a trek towards Rasol, a village located almost ten thousand feet above sea level, deep in the Himalayan foothills. The hike, which involves more than a fair few steep climbs,

is doable even for rookie climbers. The interim village of Chalal, where backpackers usually stop to grab a quick chai, is a quiet village located amidst dense coniferous vegetation. The path from here on gets steeper and meanders around the face of the mountain till one reaches the other side. Rasol is famous for its charas or cannabis extract, which is considered one of the finest strains in the country. The village, which is slapped across the face of the mountain and has a population of not more than seventy five families, attracts a lot of backpackers due to its secluded location. A handful of cafes lease rooms for Rs.150-Rs.200 per night. Dola’s café, the one where I spent three nights at, is located on the western side of the mountain. Seated at a plastic table outside the cafe, one can see the entire valley from an altitude that could sometimes make people dizzy.

“There was a certain change in mood up here; certain calmness enveloped this canopy of a thousand colors that was made up by the contrast of flowers and grass.”

February 2015 | The Beat

The air is considerably thinner and might take a little getting used to as well, just like the freezing temperature that accompanies it at night. Trekkers, campers, not to mention the myriad of hippies, all can be seen lounging lazily in armchairs outside their rooms, reading books or listening to music on their headphones. An occasional cloud of thick white smoke can also be seen emanating from the occasional chillums that are being smoked, preceded by shouts of “Bam bhole” which marks the igniting of a chillum. “Charas is a part of our culture,” pointed out Dola. “People from cities view it as a vice, but for us, it is the nasha from which we derive enlightenment.” Three days later, I trekked back downstairs to Kasol, where I was greeted by an enthusiastic Kashi who demanded to know how my first experience of trekking in the valley was like. After discussing a series of events, all of which he seemed to have an expert opinion on, I told him about my plan on leaving for Tosh the next morning. The plan was to spend a night in Tosh, and then head for Kheerganga, a place whose beauty I had heard was second to none.

Abode of Lord Shiva The trek to Kheerganga is one of the longest in the valley. It is safe to say that it is not meant for the faint hearted as there is a high chance of being stranded in the surrounding forests if you don’t manage to reach the village by sunset. I remember the last hour of the hike taking a toll on my knees. Every breath of air was deep and was taken gasping as the village is located 2960 meters above sea level. But the minute one sets their eyes upon this bright green shire, all exertion seems to disappear. As I fixed my eyes on this surreal view, trying to take in all of it, my breathing became slower, calmer. The village that spans horizontally into a blanket of green grass is littered with grazing horses and cows.

“A blanket of green grass is littered with grazing horses and cows.”

Only a few guesthouses are available, with rooms that are 5 feet wide and made of wooden walls, stacked in a row. Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, who is also synonymously associated with bhang—a drink made from cannabis extract, is said to have meditated in Kheerganga for 3,000 years. The hot water spring located here is an important site to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims and is said to have sacred healing properties. There was a certain change in mood up here; a certain calmness enveloped this canopy of a thousand colors that was made up by the contrast of flowers and grass. One night, when I was brave enough to step out and face the biting cold wind that existed outside the hotel common room where a fire was burning bright at the time, the sky seemed so close that I tried touching it, and the stars felt like they could be reached out for. A moment of solace under this starry night sky, where one is staring at the majestic ice capped snow peak in front of them, where the sky seems to murmuring a universal language understandable to man and animal like, where mind and soul becomes one—I had found what I was lookFebruary 2015 | The Beat

ing for.

All’s well that ends well After bidding goodbye to a few Israeli friends I had made during my four-day stay there, I reached Kasol just before sunset. It was a Sunday. My bus from Bhuntar to Delhi was scheduled to leave in three hours. While I sat on the second last bus seat, going through the pictures that I’d clicked on my camera, the picture of a beaming Yogi displaying his crooked teeth showed up. It was his eyes that captured me. They reminded of Kashi’s eyes. Now that I thought about it, Dola’s eyes were similar as well. They all have the same magic—the type which emanates from simplicity and a clean living. The type that is pure and carefree. They look at you in the eyes while talking to you, as if to perhaps get a glimpse of your soul, not realizing that in the process, they end up touching your soul in a manner that is beyond the reasoning of a third person. In a span of 14 days, Parvati had ended up becoming more home than Mumbai ever felt like.

Travelogue: Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer, a ci

The breathtaking view of the city is sure to leave a lingering effect on the minds of the visitors

Courtesy of Mayuri Sodani

By Punita Maheshwari

of vibrant colors, traditional architecture and the historical aura.

A birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye view would describe the city covered with a layer of gold shining to its beauty. Jaisalmer, the Golden City as they call it to justify the architecture made of yellow sandstones and the massive sand dunes.

The best way to reach Jaisalmer is to do it the way royals do, by the Palace on Wheels train. The idea of the vacation in Jaisalmer is to take the best out of the prestige the state is known for. From the dressing sense to the hospitality rendered by the locals, they just make sure that more than anything, you feel well treated.

Historically, the strategically designed town served as an important route for trade with the Middle Eastern countries, now has emerged as the most visited tourist destination in Rajasthan. The best time to visit Jaisalmer is during winters from mid November to February end with a moderate temperature of 24 C which goes down to 7 C during the night. Apart from the golden reflection as ones enters the town located 375 kilometers west of the state capital, Jaipur, the city welcomes the visitor with open arms in form 34

The beauty of the tranquil desert is enhanced manifold at night when the Swiss tents are spread across the sand with colorful lights and musical nights. Speaking about the musical nights, it is the time when Jaisalmer is at its best. The music tells the regional folk tales with graceful dance performances to complete the night. Dance forms an influential part of any celebration in Rajasthan, following the legacy the desert nights of Jaisalmer are decorated February 2015 | The Beat

with prominent dancers and musicians performing during the famous Jaisalmer Desert Festival. One thing, the city attracts number of foreign tourists are the camel safaris. For a remote view of the city, nothing is better than the camel safaris. The comfort of the tourists is given a high priority. The tourists get to choose the sunrise or sunset safaris. The safaris are designed for a peaceful and detailed view of the desert, while the safari continues the camel barrier talks about the history of the place. Jaisalmer Fort sings the legacy of the past and attracts almost everyone who visits the city. Constructed back in 1156, the fort is one of the largest in the country. The fort is famous for the strength it portrays with the established construction. The fort is best visited early morning before the sunrise with cold breeze. The sunrise from

ity to dive into tales of the fusion of Rajputana culture and slight Islamic infrastructure which only ends up adding to the charm of the place. Among the famous ones is the Salim ji ki Haweli. The edges and the upper end of the Haveli imitate dancing peacocks. Another one, Nathumal Ji Ki Haveli, is again famous for its irregular shape which still manages to stand on its grandeur. The haveli is again an amalgam of both Rajput and Muslim architecture.

The forts mesmerize the visitors with their captivating beauty Courtesy of Mayuri Sodani

the top of the fort is breathtaking. Among the main attractions inside the fort are the Raj Mahal and the four huge gateways. Gadidisar Tank, a manmade lake was constructed in 1400 and still sustains its beauty, with migratory birds visiting the lake in winters. The lake is situated outside the city and was the water source for the city of Jaisalmer in the earlier times.

pointment for non vegetarians. The night life of Jaisalmer is not a conventional one, with pubs and bars in almost all the major hotels, wine and alcohol is served in the traditional utensils. Other than this, it is very unlikely that a tourist will get bored following the cultural programs.

Best thing to pack your bags with is the traditional Rajput Poshak which can make any one look beautiful. The Jaisalmer market is also famous for its antique collection with miniature versions of the medieval weaponry. The silver glasses to add up the crockery might also be a good idea. Stone worked show pieces, mirror worked blankets form the best souvenirs for the relatives and friends from Jaisalmer. There is no reason one should not put this World Heritage City in the list of the travel ambitions, for the best experiences do not forget your DSLRs to preserve the beauty at its best.

The Havelis in Jaisalmer tell the

Amidst the Rajputana architecture, there lies Tazia Tower in Jaisalmer, which is in the shape of mausoleum. Jaisalmer being a home of both the religion, fortunately, still witnesses the aesthetic traces of the prominent cultures from both the religions of that time. The rich culture is best complemented with rich food the city serves. Known for the cuisine, Jaisalmer leaves no stone unturned to give a delicious treat to the visitors. From the spicy Kersangari to heavily stuffed Dal Bati, the smell is enough for the mouth buds to dance. With the best boneless chicken served, it is never a disap-

The puppets express the colors of the city at its best Courtesy of Mayuri Sodani

February 2015 | The Beat

Travelogue: Pondicherry

Experiencing The business of leather and the By Samreen Tungekar French architecture, French names, French colony… The only thing that one thinks about when one thinks “Pondicherry.” Yes, the place is the “France of India” and one of the best getaway locations in South India. However, when one tries to find the answer to the best French restaurants with authentic French food, even Quora fails to have an answer.

The art of ‘Indianizing’ While holidaying in Pondicherry for the sole purpose of experiencing everything French, it was surprising, and not in a good way, to experience the way French cuisine has evolved here. Preservation of colonial buildings and names may be a highlight, but there is very little or almost no preservation of the cuisine. Just like other cuisines in India, French food has been royally “Indianized” in most parts of Pondicherry. French food is known for being bland, according to Indian tastebuds. It does not overdo salt, sugar and spices, and is lighter than Indian meals. But is that the kind of French food you will find in Pondicherry? Unfortunately, no. Le Café on Promenade is a cute, small café that serves not just coffee, but sandwiches as well. These are neither baguettes nor is it the famous croque-monsieur, which is a typical grilled French sandwich made of ham and cheese. The view from this café is heavenly, as it is sea-facing and the breeze occasionally sprays some seawater on your face as you enjoy your time. But the cuisine here is not remotely French, with extremely ordinary sandwiches and more than regular coffee being served at a high price, solely for enjoying the view.

A coffee set at Gratitude, Heritage Hotel. 36

Madame Shante, a rooftop restaurant on Roman Rolland St, served some delicious meals. It had great continental options, but hardly any good French dishes. It’s funny that a place like this one had great stroganoff, which is a Russian dish and was as bland as it authentically should be, but had terrible au gratin. Also, Chinese at this place was great. But that’s not what one wants to have here, right? Auroville is an experience one should never miss when visiting Pondicherry. The ashram is beautiful and the shops have some amazing incense sticks and organic food. However, the café at Auroville is probably not the place to go to, even if you are dying in hunger. The concept of mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse) is lost here. Not just that, everything dessert was terrible. And how can any place remotely close to France have terrible coffee? This was the epitome of local influx and difficult to digest. Pondicherry’s nightlife is not really happening, which was surprising, since it is such a tourist attraction. But coming back to food, these nightclubs are not at all worth trying out anything close to culture. Asian House, a lounge, had a clubbing night arranged which included dinner. One would think that they would have some good canapés or so, but they had North Indian dinner in their menu. As if the time limit of clubbing wasn’t bad enough.

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It was quite surprising to see the influence of Indian food so much so that even though a lot of places claimed to have French cuisine, it was not the kind of food one wants to try. As for eating Chinese and Italian after going all the way there, it makes no sense.

Incense sticks and candles at Auroville sale. February 2015 | The Beat

Lemon c

Pondicherry: e not so French French cuisine

ant to work under anyone. I make enough through my business’

d trip on the way to Auroville Ashram is he most entertaining and creative scenery. e shops sell clothes, bags and shoes, just e finds in Goa. But for the most intereston this roadway, one needs to get off the a while. There are some shoemakers who ootwear by taking your size, right there, e pure leather they have. So you can stand nd watch them make your leather chappals on.

g to one such shoemaker, we asked him ear companies come and approach them r labor. He said: “Yes. A lot of companies nd ask us to work for them. They offer ntives and money for our labour. But why I work for any company? I charge Rs.600 of chappals. The entire money is mine. I own material, it is a monopoly. I would not work for some company and share the r art.”

chicken with rice at Madame Shante

Grilled Chicken at Orly’s Cafe

Drip Malabar coffee and marble cheesecake at Auroville February 2015 | The Beat

Travelogue: Andaman and Nicobar

Andaman: An enigm

By Tushar Kaushik

What to see

Beautiful and pristine beaches, clear waters sporting different shades of blue, water sports, wild forests, and aboriginal tribes who have had no contact with the outside world. That’s Andaman in a nutshell.

Port Blair, capital of Andaman, is a small, busy and bustling town that still has many visible influences of the British rule, and the notorious Cellular Jail is the most obvious one among them. The jail served as a prison for political prisoners from different parts of mainland India and the reason for its notoriety was the well-documented inhuman treatment of prisoners. An hourlong light and sound-show in the evenings showcases a detailed history of the prison and its inhabitants since its inception. The prisoners were given impossible targets, and were brutally punished for not finishing their work. The prison, located on a hillock by the seaside, also offers spectacular, panoramic views of the sea on three sides. The island bears an eerie resemblance to Alcatraz, the infamous American former prison, both in terms of its history and setting.

The union territory is one of those destinations that everyone has heard of, but few have ever visited, pertaining to its isolated location. This gives the islands an aura of seclusion, thereby making it a viable candidate for one of Lonely Planet’s destinations. Most importantly, it makes your friends go “Ooooh” when you tell them where you had been to. One of the demographic aspects that most people don’t know regarding Andaman is that about 25 percent of its population is Bengali. This surprising ethnic aspect has its roots in Pakistan’s partition and the subsequent formation of Bangladesh in 1971. Several refugees came to India during the war and were given shelter on these islands. Apart from Bengali, the other languages spoken are Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. And as is the case with most tourist Indian places, those in the tourism business have learnt fluent English so as to cater to the substantial number of foreign tourists who visit these islands. 38

No trip to Andaman is deemed complete without a visit to Havelock Island, off the east coast of Andaman mainland. With its breathtaking beaches, natural scenic beauty and numerous luxurious resorts, Havelock is “the” place to be in Andaman. The Radhanagar beach here was deemed as Asia’s best beach by February 2015 | The Beat

Time magazine in 2004, and it is easy to see why. It has a vast expanse of smooth, golden sand, clear waters having magical hues of blue, and is covered throughout with thick forests. Two islands, North Bay Island and Ross Island, are the ones very close to Port Blair, and are also the ones most frequented by tourists. In the local ferries which transport passengers to these islands, a worker from the ferry provides information about the islands and the activities that can be done on them to a rapt audience, while interspersing his speech with amusing theatrics and fascinating snippets. For instance, he tells the audience about North Bay Island being featured on the Indian Rs.20 note, which immediately triggers a scrambling for Rs.20 notes among the audience. The activities on North Bay Island like scuba diving, sea walking and snorkeling are Andaman’s flagship attractions and hence are often used to market Andaman’s image to tourists. Scuba diving and sea walking are surreal experiences which take the divers close to brilliantly colored fish and intricate corals. For the economical traveler, there are boats fitted with magnifying glasses at their bottoms which offer crystal clear views of the corals.

ma worth discovering While North Bay is all about water related activities, Ross Island, with its spooky ruins of the British era, is a treat for architecture and his +tory enthusiasts. The picturesque island provides many opportunities to take great photographs of either the ruins or the scenery, and the freely roaming deer and peacocks add to its charm.

The Aborigines All of Andaman’s tourist infested places (yes, infested!) lie on South Andaman, a similarity it shares with Goa. But lots of tourists do travel a little northward for which they have to cross a forest inhabited by the Jarawa tribe, one of Andaman’s many aboriginal groups. The tribe was initially hostile to settlers and tourists, resisting any kind of contact until as late as 1997. The drive through the Jarawa-inhabited forest is conducted under stringent regulations. The drive is allowed on only two three-hour windows every day, and a policeman accompanies the convoy. No vehicle is permitted to either stop, or photograph anything, or have any kind of contact with the Jarawa, who are said to make occasional appearances. The government discourages any contact with them to protect them from common diseases which could be fatal to them. Another tribe from Andaman, the Sentinelese, settled on an island off Andaman, still fiercely resists contact of any kind. They have been dubbed “the lost tribe” or

“most isolated tribe in the world” in several articles written about them. In an incident that shows just how obsessively they safeguard their privacy, they shot dead two fishermen who were fishing near the island, albeit illegally, and then rained arrows at the helicopter which came to retrieve the bodies.

elephant, jellyfishes, an octopus, and also the Hindu God Ganesh in these rock formations. Some shapes indeed bear a striking resemblance to the subjects mentioned, while others are products of the guides’ overzealous imagination.

A n d a m a n Nicobar were struck with a deadly tsunami in 2004 that killed

Andaman has healthy populations of flora and fauna, and lots of them are endemic in nature. The is-

and

thousands. Official records place the number of casualties at 1,310 with 5,600 people missing. However, it was only the modern settlers who suffered while most of the aboriginal tribes escaped unhurt. They managed this because they knew to recede from the coast immediately after a big earthquake through knowledge passed down over generations, a feat which proves that sometimes tradition can accomplish what all the technology in the world can’t.

Flora and fauna

land has a large n e t work of mangrove forests spread throughout the union territory - the second largest in the country after Sunderbans in West Bengal. Mangroves are highly unique and endangered kinds of forests which thrive in a saline coastal environment. Dugong, a large marine mammal, Andaman wild pig, crab-eating macaque, many species of bats, and the Andaman wood pigeon are among the endemic fauna. This natural beauty that Andaman is blessed with enabled the locals to bounce back from the devastation caused by the tsunami in 2004.

The unofficial death toll (including those missing and presumed dead) was estimated at about 7,000.

Andaman is an extremely touristfriendly place, which makes it attract an increasing number of tourists each passing year.

Baratang Island, in the middle part of Andaman has a network of limestone caves. The caves are filled with intricately patterned stalagmites and stalactites. The local guides, while going through the caves, point out shapes of an

However, its isolated location also prevents too many tourists from flocking into it, enabling it to preserve its unspoilt and untouched image.

February 2015 | The Beat

Travelogue: Kerala

Hold your breath! The beaut By Aadhira Anandh.M The tourists visiting “God’s Own Country” can now heave a sigh of relief as the ban on booze has been removed and yes, you can now relax over a drink. The lustrous greenery, serene beauty and the beautiful backwaters make Kerala right for the name it possesses. It is in every wish list of a traveler to visit this place and enjoy the lush greenery it offers.

The Kovalam beach is an internationally renowned beach and is famous among the Europeans since the 1930s.The beautiful rocky bay has given the tourists the utmost leisure of sunbathing.

groves

Kerala has the essence of what every traveler looks for: serendipity. This place has everything to offer, right from the backwaters to the hills, from calmness to turbulence, from serenity to beautiful chaos. This article will take you through a journey of whole of Kerala, starting from Trivandrum in the south to Wayanad in the north.

Of beaches, tans and more Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is the beach capital of Kerala. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west and Tamil Nadu in the east. The city is named after Lord Vishnu, and is built above seven low hills thus making it a beguiling spot. The hill stations, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and other places have made this place a full-fledged tourism platform where a tourist can enjoy the beauty of the place. Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is the vital attraction of the city. The temple has a blend of both Kerala and Dravidian style of architecture. The deity in the temple is reclining on Anantha, the hooded serpent. The place is one among the Divya Desams of the Vishnu, as mentioned in the works of Tamil saints. Divya Desams are the holiest abodes of Vishnu. The idol has 12,008 salagramams (the stone of MahaVishnu), which were bought from Nepal. The temple is a feast to the eyes of the people visiting it. 40

Photo credits - Wikimedia

T h e diverse options on the beach give the tourists the space for everything, right from body massages to different cultural programs. The sun gives a plush, coppery skin tan in just a few minutes. This destination is a beautiful journey, as it offers everything with a pinch of culture and heritage. It is also a platform for Napier museum, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Padmanabhapuram palace, Ponmudi hill station etc. The beach capital is a travel destination that would leave the tourists yearning to visit the place again. Boat race and tapioca special Alappuzha (Aleppey), known as the “Venice of the East,” is famous for its exotic beauty of its backwaters. The large expanse of the coconut February 2015 | The Beat

and the leisure house boats on the backwaters is paradise on earth. The morass of lakes, rivers and lagoons is a momentous destination for people from all parts of the world. The annual boat race is a major tourist attraction. Thousands of tourists gather here to get a glimpse of the famous boat race. This event particularly gives the tourists an insight about the lifestyle of the people who always chose to be different from the other parts of the world. The Alappuzha beach is a classy yet sandy affair. The vast stretch along the shores with the lighthouse and the

ty of the South beckons you pier

vathy Temple, Mannarasala Temple, Paathiramanal (the island in the Vemabanad Lake), Karumadi Kuttan, a black granite figure of Buddha, Krish-

waterfall in Vazhachal is an added gem in the crown for this place.

The beauty of Kerala Munnar, the famous hill station, is located at the conflux of three hillsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundalaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which are 1,600 meters above the sea level. The scenic beauty was once the summer resort for the British in South India. The place is blessed with astonishing beauty when the flower Neelakurinji (Blue flower) blooms. This flower blooms once in 12 years, and the place turns into vast expanse of paradise at that time. Munnar is famous for tea plantation. Munnar Tea Estate is one of the most explored spots there. The large expanse of the greenery in the region gives tourists a gorgeous view of the place.

napuram palace. These give us an allure of the place. is a vital tourist attraction. It is famous as it has always basked in the glory of the maritime history of Kerala. Alappuzha is also a place to try mouthwatering, sumptuous food. The traditional Keralite taste gets its life in this region. The steamed up tapioca along with fish curry and the local toddy gives the tourists a rich essence of the vicinity. The specialty of this food is that it conveys with it the Keralite flavor of spice and sour. Along with that, the other attractions of this place are Mullakal Bhaga-

The cultural capital Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, is better known for the celebrated and glorious Thrissur Pooram festival. Thrissur Pooram is popular throughout the world and tourists come to the town to experience the picturesque event. The Pooram is sure a treat to the eyes, with its 14 elephants and cultures and traditions that have been followed over for decades. It is also home to many cultural centers, including Kalamandalam, Sahithya Academy and Sangeetha Nataka Academy. The Athirapally February 2015 | The Beat

Eravikulam National Park is another important place in the area. It is spread across an area of 97 square kilometers and is home to the endangered species, the Nilgiri Tahr. The park is also home to a lot of rare species of birds and animals. The highest peak in South India is in Munnar. The Anamudi peak is located inside the national park. It is 2,695 meters above the sea level. This peak is home to elephants and a wide variety of flowers. Trekking to this place is yet another extravagant experience everyone would look forward to. Adding to this, places like Mattupetty, Pallivasal, Chinnakanal, Anayirangal and the Tea Museum add subtle and immense pleasure in experiencing the place.

Connecting the gap Palakkad (Palghat), usually called the granary of the state, acts as a bridge between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Palakkad derives its name from Paala (Alstonia Scholaris, or 41

One among the variety of birds we could see in the place Courtesy of Sooraj Rajmohan

Indian devil tree) and kaadu (forest). The beautiful stretch of the Paala trees leave the travelers with the sweet smell of its scented flowers. Palakkad Fort is one magnificent place to visit there. The fort stands in the heart of the town, along the Sahyadri ranges of Western Ghats. The fort was constructed by Hyder Ali, the emperor of Mysore provinces, in 1766. It is a wellmaintained monument that tells us the tale of valor. Malampuzha Dam is nurtured from the River Bharatapuzha (the longest river in the state). The dam and the garden around have a scenic beauty for their visitors. The major attraction here is the rock garden and the statue of Yakshi (an enchantress) sculpted by the famous sculpturer of Kerala, Kanai Kunhiraman. The mountain ranges let the tourists swim in the solitude it has to offer. Palakkad is a blend of both Tamil and Malayali culture, and the region is known for its classical music and art forms. Some of the renowned musicians hail from this place. 42

The place is everything from its beautiful mountain ranges, the crisscross river, the heart-filling blooms of the flowers and various temples with its rich culture and tradition.

Land of Illusion Wayanad, often known as the most beautiful town to visit in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Country, the place gives the tourists the delight of the most extravagant view. The vast expanse of greenery all around the place, combined with its luxurious mountain ranges and forests, make the place heaven on earth. The place was originally known as Mayakshetra, (the Land of Illusion). But as the evolution progressed, the name changed to Vayal Naadu (the Land of Paddy), due to its enormous cultivation all over. Chembara peak, which is 2,100 meters above sea level, is a prominent tourist attraction of Wayanad. Trekking to this place will introduce us to the wide variety of flora and fauna in this region. Trekking here is organized in such a way that it unfolds each stage February 2015 | The Beat

of the place. The view gets wider with each layer, and by the time one reaches the peak, it throws open the whole of Wayanad in the most intoxicating way. Pakshipathalam, which is located deep in the forest of Brahmagiri hills, is at a height of more than 1,700 meters above the sea level. To reach the place, a 7-kilometer trek is required. After the trek, the place leads us predominantly to large rocks and deep caves. These caves are home for a lot of birds, animals and distinctive species of plants. As the place is home to a lot of mountain ranges, there are many waterfalls in the areas. The famous ones are Meenmutty and Chethalayam and attract people from all over. Along with this, Nellimala is another trekking peak which unwinds the travelers to the tranquility of the place. Kerala proudly holds its culture close to home and strives to bring out every aspect of its beauty, to give its visitors the most unforgettable experience they could have.

My story

A heartening act

By Pavitra Parekh It was the last month of college. I would go every day. Spending a little more time there might make me miss it less, might make it easier to move on, might give me a few more memories to take forward or a few more minutes to call it home. I had shown up on a Saturday morning for a single lecture. Nothing in

those three years had been able to pull me out of bed for a single lecture. We had a lazy day planned ahead of us. Coffee, lunch, movie— the luxury of time that you would be familiar with if you were fortunate enough to go to college in Delhi. We drank iced coffee to beat the city’s weather and stuffed ourselves with the best food you can find in the area. We had many such days. Yet they were never enough. What I would give to go back there. To those people, to that building and to that air.

As we moved from one restaurant to another and then to the theater, somewhere along the way I dropped my wallet. It was a not-so-perfect end to my otherwise perfect day. We traced back and went everywhere we had been that day. I was exhausted, but what happened next was something that has stayed in my head. It lifts my spirits every time I think about it.

Late that evening I received a call from a rickshaw wallah who had found my wallet and gone out of his way to make sure I got it back with all my possessions. He didn’t even have a phone of his own and had used a booth to get to me. He promised to leave my things in the office at the metro station and asked me to pick it up soon. I didn’t know how to react or what to say. I knew a thank-you would not suffice. I was overwhelmed. It wasn’t about my wallet anymore, or the fact February 2015 | The Beat

that I would get all my things back. I had never in my 20 years of life witnessed such a kind and beautiful act. I didn’t even know how to tell him that. I said a mix of words trying profusely to thank him and tell him how highly I thought of him at that point. I’m sure it didn’t come across as strong as I would have liked. Part of it may have to do with the fact that I was translating my thoughts into

Hindi and my emotions into words. As I hung up the phone, I found myself in a beautiful space. A man who pulls rickshaws for a living, a man who did not own a phone and a man to whom the Rs.2,000 in my wallet would have been a significant amount had more integrity than I have ever known to exist in society. I wish I could have met him. I wish I had a real face to go with the mental picture I had drawn of him. I wish he knew how special he was and how completely inspiring. 43

Arts and Culture

Magical se rines.

There is no specific definition of semi-realism form of painting but it is a commendable effort to make objects closer to realism. The paintings may have no voice but that doesn’t stop them from giving a strong message. It is must-see for all art lovers who want to explore the unseen aspects of rural India.

By Nikunj Ohri

“I come a rural part of Maharashtra, so I’ve put my feelings in my paintings,” Panchal told The Beat, pointing at one of his paintings with his paint brush. Putting the traditional life in small villages in India is what Panchal has done with his canvas and colors. “I have themed my paintings on temple’s priests who are children,” he added. The paintings have a 44

I am the conscience in the heart of all creatures I am their beginning, their being, their end

na fA so

The artist’s semi-realistic form of painting depicts life in rural India through children. Acrylics and paintings on canvas have children with a religious twist; children of rural India and their tales with temples, gods and goddesses.

One of his paintings has a girl dressed up as Lord Krishna, one of the nine incarnations of Vishnu who in the Bhagwad Gita, most important and influential of all Hindu scriptures, describes god in this way:

ng nti Pai

A girl sitting in a temple is a common sight for any passerby, but the same thing on a canvas took me in an imaginative world altogether. I was lost in numerous thoughts of my own. This is what the phrase “lost in revery” means. Lost Reveries is also the title of an art exhibition by Anand Panchal, a famous painter known for his work revolving around rural India.

spiritual touch with the innocence of children.

Pa nc ha

I am the mind of the senses, I am the radiant sun among lights I am the song in sacred lore, I am the king of deities I am the priest of great seers The painting has a female avatar of Krishna with a strand of peacock’s feather on her head and shades of blue doing the magic. Semi-realism is an art form derived from manga. Manga are Japanese comics that cover genres including historical drama, comedy and science fiction. It is stylized but realistically depicts human figuFebruary 2015 | The Beat

‘The best gift for an artist to see his painting hanging on someone else’s wall’ A graduate from Sir J.J. School of Arts ’97 batch, he has had 10 solo exhibitions in India. Panchal believes that change is the only constant thing, even in the field of art. Painters nowadays experiment by painting on both canvas and paper.

emi-realism A full-time artist who paints for a living, Panchal has had his paintings selected for a lot of exhibitions with renowned artists. M.F. Hussain and Amrita Sher-Gil are his idols, who inspired him to paint.

“Hussain’s dedication for his work has given art a new definition altogether. Art lovers have new found respect for Indian artists a n d this

On the commercialization of art, he said it is a source of livelihood for many artists like him, and people who recognize and have a soft corner for art are willing to pay some amount for the creation they like. He thinks it is justified to sell paintings and it inspires artists to work more. Though artists like Leonardo Da Vinci used to paint for self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment, “an artist would love to see his painting hanging on the wall of an art lover’s house,” he said. Panchal never gives titles to his paintings; he says that he has given that freedom to his audience to think and imagine according to the school of thought they belong to, just by looking at his work. Speaking about his struggling period, he said that he started painting in 1992 and had to struggle his way to reach where he is today. “People didn’t recognize me or my work then, so neither did they invite me to art galleries nor did they entertain my work,” he added. An artist is never satisfied, he always has new ideas. “I imagine myself in a different world, recalling my childhood

Anand Panchal days when I’m painting. A painting automatically depicts the emotions of an artist,” Panchal said. On adopting the semi-realistic form of painting, he said it’s his imagination, childhood and point of view that he wants to reproduce on canvas. Semi-realistic paintings are the drawings of real objects in the best possible way. As Oscar Wilde said, “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” Panchal thinks it’s the emotion of the artist that distinguishes his work from the rest. Every artist has a unique way with which he uses his paintbrush and the canvas.

helps us in fetching good prices for our paintings,” he added. His toughest work so far has been his painting with charcoal on canvas. A little chunk of charcoal is used to draw black and white images of objects on a paper with rough texture. Charcoal art was prominent and widely adopted by artists in the renaissance, but only a few of those art pieces survived because of the charcoal fading away. For this reason, at the end of the 15th century, drawings were dipped in a solution of gum to prevent charcoal flaking away with time. February 2015 | The Beat

Commentary

Serena Williams: The epitome of greatness

Serena Williams seen here in action at 2013 French Open which she won the second time, defeating Maria Sharapova from Russia Courtesy of Yann Caradec— Flickr

By Sharangee Dutta Rafael Nadal explains in his autobiography “Rafa: My Story” that an athlete’s body starts to break down once he or she reaches the age of 30. Immense training and dedication is required to continue staying in the peak form. While the tennis world is in awe with Roger Federer still playing and striving to improve at 33, there is one sportsperson who is defying any such ageing laws and proving her superiority with every tournament. Confident body language, inevitable fighting spirit and probably the best serve among the active players, both male and female, Serena Williams promises to mesmerize her fans and tennis lovers for many more years to come. In 2011, when she made a comeback 46

after almost a year, she was ranked 169 in the world. Sports critics had already started to write her off the sport with her age playing a big role. However, as it is known, a champion never dies. Shutting the world up by coming back stronger than ever, she acquired an invincible form, drawing appreciation from every nook and corner of the world. Today, with a Grand Slam singles record tied with Czech Republican Martina Navratilova and American Chris Evert, she appears every bit of hungry to add to her crowns. Not only is she the oldest female tennis player to be ranked as the world’s number one, she demonstrates her reign with dominating performance on every surface. Back in 2004, when she was defeated by a young and talented Maria February 2015 | The Beat

Sharapova in the Wimbledon final, her tears at the end of the match reflected the wish of a rematch to arrive in the future. It screamed her determination to improve and find a way against Sharapova. The opportunity didn’t come before 2012 Olympic finals on that very surface. The sports world got to see a wonderful execution of impeccable tennis, leaving Sharapova helpless and speechless. Her countenance described that she was grateful enough to at least win the silver medal. Immense focus has brought her to such a level now that no player seems to be a match for her. Sure, she lost to many rising stars like Sloane Stephens, Gabrina Muguruza andVictoria Azarenka—the only one considered to have the potential to defeat

her, but those were some minor setbacks. Serena’s win records over other top players snatch away their status. She leads 16-2 over Maria Sharapova, 14-3 over Victoria Azarenka and 8-0 over Agnieszka Radwanska. No matter what their rank is, her supremacy makes every player an amateur. Who can forget the epic showdown between Williams and Azarenka at the 2012 U.S. Open final? Fresh from winning the Australian Open and claiming the top rank in February, “Vicka” (known to the world as Victoria Azarenka) exhibited tremendous retrieving skills, but no ability to hold nerves. And there was the mistake committed. The American came back roaring, pouncing on every little chance and turned the match around to win her 15th major title.

stands out. Like “Rafa” (as Rafael Nadal is known to his fans), Serena is termed to be intimidating by sports critics also. The intense focus flashing through her eyes takes the better of the top players too. She is brimming with confidence and looking ever so fit. Talking to journalists at a post-match press conference, she admitted to feeling a “bit off” this year at the Aussie Open. Citing the reason of confidence not working well enough to get her through last year,

she joked about the chance of feeling “off” helping her instead. When Serena Williams is on court, shooting down aces or displaying classic volley-shots, nowhere does she look like she is feeling “a bit off.” With all the qualities present in her to win another major, it is simply a matter of time to see if she can exceed Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert’s record of winning 18 slams. Until then, let’s sit back and enjoy the show.

It is this retrieving nature that has kept her unbeatable even now. She shows no signs of exhaustion and fights for every point no matter what the score line is. Since 2013, she has been achieving and creating records, deriving compliments from everyone. Even former players claim her to be the greatest player ever. Based on both number of majors won and playing style, the claim can be highly acceptable. There is also a sense of serenity in her appearance every time she takes on court and plays. She can be seen pumping herself up and pushing herself to the edge, stretching and grunting to win a rally. But it is her capability to stay calm under pressure that makes her triumphant. Her current form at the 2015 Australian Open certainly triggers the possibility of a nineteenth grand slam win. There wasn’t any skepticism in her winning 18th slam at the U.S. Open last year and touching Navratilova and Evert’s records. And there isn’t any in her winning more and touching Steffi Graf’s record as well. Without undermining other players like 2013 WTA Newcomer Year of the Year, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, runner-up to Serena at 2014 WTA Finals in Singapore, Romanian Simona Halep, Serena’s old rival, Maria Sharapova, and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka who has only managed to grab a few wins against her, she still

Serena Williams after winning Olympic gold in 2012, defeating Maria Sharapova. Courtesy of Charlie TPhotographic - Flickr

February 2015 | The Beat

We Review

Finding love By Sharangee Dutta The Chatsfield Playboy’s Lesson Melanie Milburne Mills & Boon, 186pp, Rs.125

book which is written by Australian writer Melanie Milburne circles around the burning passion between Lucca Chatsfield and Princess Charlotte. When nothing works to put Lucca’s reckless partying habits under control, the newly appointed CEO of the global chain of hotels owned by his father Gene Chatsfield, comes up with a master plan. While Lucca accepts the challenge plotting to continue with what he does, he doesn’t realize how deeply he gets woven into it. He is given a “simple” task of assisting Princess Charlotte in preparing her elder sister, Madeleine’s wedding. The prospect of spending time at Preitalle in the Mediterranean appeared fascinating to him, and all he planned to do was “jump through the hoops and have a whoop of a time doing it,” but little did he know his smart tactics were about to stab back at him.

There is always a question—why would anyone want to fall in the trap of a playboy? Are his charms too overpowering to stick by one’s principles? Too controlling to remember one’s values? Too charismatic to not be vulnerable? The answers are anything but hidden. However, one often fails to comply by the rules.

Even though the theme is no novelty with the playboy finally “falling” for that one particular girl who doesn’t fall for his “game,” it is the beautiful construction of sentences in the author’s writing that captivates the reader. The picturesque feeling it evokes, the linkage it creates between the reader and the characters, and the pool of emotion it drives into screams Melanie Milburne.

Book two of The Chatsfield series released by renowned British publisher Mills & Boon features one such character. The

The slow process in which Lucca and Lottie (as is Princess Charlotte known) unites with their poles-apart characters is engag-

The story gives a fair peek into what it feels to be a celebrity as well while revealing how always they’re not ‘ready’ with their lives being an open book to the world. Lucca carries a reluctant attitude when it comes to everyone talking about his character while Lottie hides from the limelight because she is a commoner at heart. However, there is a “secret” about Lucca that even he hides from the society. “My artwork is private. I want to keep it that way,” he asserts when Lottie encourages him to let the world know about his talent. What could be his reasons? “Because there’s nothing else in my life that is private.” It is said that when in love one shares one’s deepest secrets with their partner. The power of commitment develops an urgency to erase off anything coveted between them. Lucca never felt the urgency because no one cared enough to dig deep into his heart but Lottie. Lottie finds herself wanting the “playboy” she once took oath to stay away from. Lucca knows she is much different from all the women he has been with. And as the realization kicks in deeper and deeper, there is no turning back for them.

Sita’s Sister

Marry Me, Stranger Novoneel Chakraborty,Random House India,268 pp, Rs. 175 Novoneel Chakraborty, revolving around the life of a young and independent Kolkata-based girl, Rivanah Banerjee. The author put together the mystery element of the story which arouses curiosity.

My name is Abu Salem

S. Hussain Zaidi,Penguin Books, 248 pp, Rs. 299 Zaidi’s new My name is Abu Salem takes you along the journey of Salem, from a mechanic to a charming yet dangerous, underworld don. The book also has a brief on the life of Dawood Abraham and how he turned from thug to a don. 48

ing. Finding a lot to unravel between each other when they break their own fears and inhibitions a tornado of sentiments is swirled inside the reader. Lucca’s wit and Lottie’s intelligence creates a great chemistry between the two.

February 2015 | The Beat

Kavita Kane, Rupa Publications 311pp, Rs.295 Sita’s Sister tells the story of Urmila, a neglected character in the epic, Ramayana.Urmila is also Sita’s sister and Lakshman’s wife. However, when Ram, Lakshman and Sita left for the exile, Urmila agreed to be left behind in the doomed palace for 14 years.

The year I Met You

Cecilia Ahern, Harper Collins,328 pp, Rs.210 The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern defines the different connections one has throughout their life, with people, with places, with nature. The book brings out shades of life and teaches one how judgments can be wrong and how life should always be given a second chance.

We Review

Delish biryani @Paradise

Have the perfect Gelawati kebabs at Tunday Kebabi!

By Sharangee Dutta

courtesy of zomato

Good news for all the biriyani lovers. The legendary restaurant of Hyderabad, Paradise has opened a new outlet in Bangalore attracting foodies from every corner.

By Samreen Tungekar Looking for some good biryani and kebabs but need it to be light on your pocket too? Then don’t miss this little joint located amidst some popular joints in Koramangala. Tunday Kebabi is one of the few places in Bangalore that will give you your Moghlai the way you like it-Desi style!

Introduced only a few weeks before, the place has already turned out to be a huge attraction for their mouth-watering biriyani, kebabs and desserts. It offers a variety of cuisines like Indian, Tandoori, and Chinese with appetizing choices for both the vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Served in small and traditional cooking pots, the chicken and mutton biriyani are most popular among the customers. Paradise holds their identity by providing ‘raita’ (made of yogurt) and ‘mirchika-salan’ (a curry of chili peppers) with it. While the raita tastes same as the one provided in Hyderabad the mirchi-ka-salan has a tinge of south-Indian flavor in it.

The place does not have much of an ambience, but the food makes up for that. The kebabs are soft, juicy and spicy in the right way. Mutton Tunday Kebabs and Mutton Seekh Kebabs have the authentic Lucknowi flavor and will not disappoint you at all. Give the Moghlai gravies a try too, and start with Shahi Murg Masala. It is the regular kind of chicken dish, but their spices in the masala based gravy makes it much more enjoyable than other places. The butter chicken here is a must try for all spice lovers as it is spicy, unlike the usual sweet butter chicken and has a lot of boneless pieces too. Coming to their authentic Lucknow biryani, the chicken one is to die for! The pieces of chicken are well cooked with enough spices so that the meat does not taste bland, and the overall dish is moderately spicy. What would be an ideal quick bite on-the-go would be their variety of rolls. They are the best deal when you are on a time crunch or are not too hungry for a full meal. Tunday Kebab may not be a grand restaurant, but it is the best deal you can find if you want to have some good Indian food by ordering in or dropping by, and keep it light on your pocket too. 479, KHB Colony, 5th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore. Cost for two: Rs. 500 approx. Ratings: 3/5

The chicken tikka marinated in yogurt and mixed with spices can well be described as little pieces of heaven. The series of vegetarian starters are equally delicious. Falooda stands out to be the show-stopper when it comes to desserts’ sections. It tastes as scrumptious as it looks. There is a range of soup items also. The beautiful garnishing of the dishes adds to their taste and makes you devour into them once they are placed on the table. With the Bangalore outlet being new, the only drawback is the lack of proper management. Ameet Kumar, manager of the restaurant said: “Paradise provides world famous biriyani. We are very successful in Hyderabad and trying our best to make it in Bangalore. Now let’s see what happens.” Being light on pocket aong with a lovely ambience, Paradise is certainly worth a visit. 484, Signature Square, CMH Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore. Cost for two: Rs. 600 approx. Ratings: 3.5/5

February 2015 | The Beat

Events Galore CINEMA

My French Film Festival 2015

Courtesy of bangalore.afindia.org

My French Film Festival is a platform by Alliance Francaise of Bangalore for young French filmmakers to present their films to the rest of the world. The festival was a success in Jan. 2015 and will now go on between Feb. 2 and Feb. 16. It will be available online on MyFrenchFestival.com as well. Alliance Francaise Auditorium 7 p.m. onwards Feb. 2-16 Free of charge

STAND-UP COMEDY

Courtesy of bangalore.afindia.org

Just Joking Just Joking is a stand-up act by Nishant, also known as ‘Joke Singh’. He is going to entertain the audience with his act on Feb. 6. Nishant has conceptualized and performed acts like “Two and a Half Men” as well. Alliance Francaise Auditorium 7.30 p.m. Feb. 16 Cost: Rs.300

FOOD FESTIVAL Unique Pizza Festival at Cafe Mangii

Courtesy of buzzintown.com

Cafe Mangii is bringing out the different kinds of pizzas from different countries of the world by this food festival. A 25-day festival, Cafe Mangii will serve pizzas from over 10 countries. Cafe Mangii, Malleswharam All day event Jan. 25- Feb. 10

February 2015 | The Beat

The Beat Team Darshan is the positive vibe of the team. No one can be stressed out for too long around him as he spreads magic with his vibe.

Samreen is very energetic, bubbly and enthusiastic. All these qualities can be seen in her work as well.

Sharangee may be tiny, but hell hath no fury like this girl’s scorn. Efficient and determined, she is one earnest girl!

Aadhira is the most sorted member of the team. She is funny, enthusiastic and energetic. She pulls the team together in full power.

Nikunj lightens the mood when the team is under stress, but no one can lighten his mood when he is designing pages. That is how sincere he is.

Raya is hard working and puts her heart and soul into whatever she does. She is usually spotted talking on the phone, as there is always a story to work on!

Sameer’s knowledge of the world around him is unmatchable. He loves discussing politics and religion.. He wants to be a political journalist.

Asmita is a cricket freak and believes in positivity. She doesn’t talk much but when she does, she’s praising Virat Kohli.

February 2015 | The Beat