This article appeared in BTWmag in V A R I E T Y - c h a n d e r m a h a d e
350/1 howzat!
Sachin Tendulkar is here. So is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Padma Shri Kalimullah Khan has grafted and grown 350 varieties of mangoes on a single tree
Kalimullah Khan in his Mango orchard
Come summer and the mystic muse of Malihabad beckons the mango lover to soak in the distinct aromatic zing of the Dussehri aam. About 29kms from Lucknow on the Lucknow-Hardoi road resonates the mantra Go (man)go! This is not a prompt to egg on a marathon runner but a teaser to embark on a sojourn to experience the mango musings of Josh Malihabadi, the 18th century poet par excellence. And without further ado let us embark on a journey that would aptly sum up Avadh’s Dussehri spirit and how it transcends the persona of the aam aadmi.
A charming, almost endearing sight greets you as you drive along the Hardoi highway from Lucknow to Malihabad; innumerable orchards and nurseries lining both sides of the road, farmers lying on string cots in the shade, guarding their mango trees against the unwelcome attention of squirrels, parrots and naughty children.
Known as the home of poet Josh Malihabadi, Malihabad is a town in Lucknow district and it was in Malihabad’s palaces that Shyam Benegal shot his 1978 film, Junoon. Presently, Padma Shri Kalimullah Khan, who took to mango cultivation in 1957, shortly after failing his seventh standard, is the town’s most famous resident. His achievments include grafting and growing some 350 varieties of mango – from the bitter-gourd-shaped Karela to the heart-shaped Asroor Muqarar – on a single 100-year-old tree. “Mangoes are my passion,” he readily acknowledges. “They are more important to me than my children.” Despite his advancing years, Kalimullah glides swiftly, weaving his way amid the dense mango orchard and presto.
Avadh is not only about kite-flying, homing pigeons and courtroom trivia nor about the decadence captured in Shatranj ke Khilari, a la Satyajit Ray’s magnum opus. Instead, here you will get a taste of the perfect blend of Dussehri aam, the Kababi panache and Dhai Bhalle’s of Hazratganj. It’s also a city where Salam Alaikum merges so beautifully with Namaste.
The famous Malihabadi Dussehri mango bagged the prestigious Geographical Index (GI) status, bringing it international recognition and protection of its distinct identity.
Raising a toast to the king of fruits, local orchard owner, Naseeb Ahmed Khan says, “The GI status comes as a boon because it will allow us to market our produce at higher prices. However, with this, it will also mean that we must maintain uniform standards of quality across all orchards in the area.”
The thousands of mango orchards in Malihabad, Mal, Rahimabad and Kakori in Lucknow district and other parts of the state including Saharanpur and some other districts of western Uttar Pradesh have trees blooming at the onset of summer. The Dussehri is grown in other parts of the state but the Malihabadi mangoes are ‘special’ for its taste.
Most people know Kalimullah for his impassioned speeches about Dussehri mangoes. But there is a lesser-known side to him. Kalimullah loves cricket and is fascinated with Bollywood.
To celebrate the ‘goodness and sheer brilliance’ of cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar, the Udyan Pandit (he has been conferred the award generally reserved for those who excel in apple orchard farming) has named one variety of the fruit in his orchard after Tendulkar. Called ‘Sachin’, the mango is a unique cross between the Chausa and Amin Gudad Shah (a variety Kalimullah developed himself).
If Sachin has found space in his repertoire, Bollywood’s diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the next to put her name to a mango. And this one is a cross between ‘Kacche Meethe’ and Dussehri. Where Sachin gets a mango to his credit, only a mango will not do for Aishwarya. Kalimullah explains, “I have also named a variety of guava after her. Both the fruits have a distinctly red hue that make it unmatched in beauty.”
Among his most precious creations is a tree in the Mughal Garden at the Rashtrapati Bhawan flowering 54 varieties. The craft developed by him has become a mystery for researchers and agriculturists among the country and abroad who have been left baffled by his work.
The sexagenarian who also finds mention in the Limca Book of Records has the support of his sons in keeping the tradition alive. He has also cultivated a new variety of an all season flowering guava, which on ripening grows as red as an apple.
On the global radar, the diminutive town of Malihabad is tickling the taste buds of people with a sweet tooth. For once at least, commoners can take pride in being addressed as mango people!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Taught For Today
Hi Guys! Here goes my first Column that appeared in The Hindustan Times, Lucknow edition on September 06, 2010. Your invaluable comments please!
By Chander Mahadev
As the provisions of the Right To Education Bill wend its way insidiously into the collective conscious of the nation I cannot but confess that while teachers administer knowledge writers make you experience it. From the profound to the profane, the lofty to the lowly, such bi-polar questions engage my tired mind even as I feel the moist kiss of the September air pregnant with deceit. And as I whiz past on my cocooned virtual world and maneouvre
my being on the information highway -- that charts my mundane life -- I feel orphaned; left to live life in virtual reality. I sight ugly billboards hanging overhead tom-tomming the virtues of technology and I wilt. . The hoardings beseech me to learn English online, on my mobile to be specific and it hurts Without getting hyper about crass consumerism becoming the order of the day, I often wonder about the present , and experience the trauma and tragedy of living in an era of missing models. You may well say these are the laments of a teacher fossilized in a retro generation And as I dissect such wayward thoughts realization soon dawns upon me that the written word is fast losing its sanctity.
Or else, how would you justify the spawning of coaching shops that go by laughably ludicrous names like Oaf Public School and Dabble college—believe me they exist in downtown Lucknow. Oh, yes, this makes me recall a hilarious incident in the not-too-distant past. One fine evening one of my favourite ex-students landed up at my house seeking my urgent attention. He confessed that he was at his wit’s end in thinking up an appropriate and invitingly ‘saintly’ name for a school he intended to set up in his home town . I wondered as to what was so difficult in going about such a piffling issue. He went on to explain that the ‘St’ factor holds immense importance in the Hindi hinterland. And names like St Fidelis and St Agnes lend gravitas if not unimpeachable credibility. In jest I retorted I was presently engrossed in reading the biographical sketch of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov so why does he not name his school St. Isaac Asimov School. The last I heard on the issue was that St. Asimov School was up and running and had a student base of 230.
. I can’t but help recall that way back in the seventies and eighties there was a venerable English professor who was canonized by the Indian Government for his pioneering role in sharing his knowledge of classical English. And as a just reward he was anointed governor of Rajasthan, Well, if things have come to such a sorry pass, it would not be long before I find that some English primer may innovatively dish out A for Amitabh, B for Bachchan and C for, well Kat(rina). And if you have any reservations on that score please spare a thought for Dr Radhakrishnan the scholar in whose memory we celebrate this august day. For then I would know all is not lost and that teachers are still worthy of emulation if not veneration. Jai Dronacharya!!!
(The author is a senior journalist and is presently Assistant Professor, Amity School of Communication, Lucknow, and can be contacted at chandermahadev@yahoo.co.in) .
Suggested Column Name: Pedestrian Promises By Wayfarer Chander Mahadev
A
By Chander Mahadev
As the provisions of the Right To Education Bill wend its way insidiously into the collective conscious of the nation I cannot but confess that while teachers administer knowledge writers make you experience it. From the profound to the profane, the lofty to the lowly, such bi-polar questions engage my tired mind even as I feel the moist kiss of the September air pregnant with deceit. And as I whiz past on my cocooned virtual world and maneouvre
my being on the information highway -- that charts my mundane life -- I feel orphaned; left to live life in virtual reality. I sight ugly billboards hanging overhead tom-tomming the virtues of technology and I wilt. . The hoardings beseech me to learn English online, on my mobile to be specific and it hurts Without getting hyper about crass consumerism becoming the order of the day, I often wonder about the present , and experience the trauma and tragedy of living in an era of missing models. You may well say these are the laments of a teacher fossilized in a retro generation And as I dissect such wayward thoughts realization soon dawns upon me that the written word is fast losing its sanctity.
Or else, how would you justify the spawning of coaching shops that go by laughably ludicrous names like Oaf Public School and Dabble college—believe me they exist in downtown Lucknow. Oh, yes, this makes me recall a hilarious incident in the not-too-distant past. One fine evening one of my favourite ex-students landed up at my house seeking my urgent attention. He confessed that he was at his wit’s end in thinking up an appropriate and invitingly ‘saintly’ name for a school he intended to set up in his home town . I wondered as to what was so difficult in going about such a piffling issue. He went on to explain that the ‘St’ factor holds immense importance in the Hindi hinterland. And names like St Fidelis and St Agnes lend gravitas if not unimpeachable credibility. In jest I retorted I was presently engrossed in reading the biographical sketch of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov so why does he not name his school St. Isaac Asimov School. The last I heard on the issue was that St. Asimov School was up and running and had a student base of 230.
. I can’t but help recall that way back in the seventies and eighties there was a venerable English professor who was canonized by the Indian Government for his pioneering role in sharing his knowledge of classical English. And as a just reward he was anointed governor of Rajasthan, Well, if things have come to such a sorry pass, it would not be long before I find that some English primer may innovatively dish out A for Amitabh, B for Bachchan and C for, well Kat(rina). And if you have any reservations on that score please spare a thought for Dr Radhakrishnan the scholar in whose memory we celebrate this august day. For then I would know all is not lost and that teachers are still worthy of emulation if not veneration. Jai Dronacharya!!!
(The author is a senior journalist and is presently Assistant Professor, Amity School of Communication, Lucknow, and can be contacted at chandermahadev@yahoo.co.in) .
Suggested Column Name: Pedestrian Promises By Wayfarer Chander Mahadev
A
Amity Mantra: Dhak, Dhak Go!!
My latest Amity Meter
Amity Lucknow Campus is all revved up and raring to go on the Dhak, Dhak Go
mode! Yes, I am referring to the most talked about motorcycle ad of the year. And
what you may ask is my reason for drawing this unlikely parallel.
Simple! For the ad's compelling catchline of "Fill it, shut it, forget it," best describes
Amity's education policy. More importantly, with the launch of the Amity International
School on the Mango Orchard Campus earlier this year the wheel has come the full 360
Degree circle.
Yes, you can now admit your
child in Prep school and then just
leave it to us. For we then mould
and shape young minds right
through their academic life --
from KG to the PhD, doctorate,
right?
Soon I hear the click of heels
that beat down the foyer to the
basement lecture rooms. I hear
the babble of voices amid giggles
of delight. To me these sounds
usher in the dawning of a new
morning. And further as one
hears the sound of music that
flow in through their mobile
phones go on to remind me that
yet another odd semester of a
summer has arrived on the Amity
Campuses. Yes the old order
changes and it is fresher-times
and admission time.
Here I am tempted to recall
the story of the Selfish Giant
penned by the unforgettable
Oscar Wilde. I am quite sure
some of you may have heard of
this story in your primary school
avatar. Well, it talks about a Giant
in whose garden played the best
of children, birds and animals.
Irritated by the giggles, chirping
and whistling he banished them
from his lovely garden. The next
day he was shocked to find that
winter had set in right earnest
and all he could see was icicles
and snow. Having realized his
self-centered attitude he set
about cajoling his young audience
back to his garden, and hey
presto, spring and blossoms
returned to his garden.
Much in the same manner
Amity has been donning the mantle
of the soothsayer, the harbinger
of hope and knowledge. The
admission rounds beginning
June, has seen a slew of parents
and hopeful young aspirants giving
their everything to enter
Amity's precincts. They were privileged
to share Assistant
Professor Anviti's motivating
anecdotes and with each admission
round they became that
much more profound and wise.
And to lend gravitas to the sombre
proceedings was none other
than the D-G himself-with his
unique interaction style.
Amity Lucknow Campus is all revved up and raring to go on the Dhak, Dhak Go
mode! Yes, I am referring to the most talked about motorcycle ad of the year. And
what you may ask is my reason for drawing this unlikely parallel.
Simple! For the ad's compelling catchline of "Fill it, shut it, forget it," best describes
Amity's education policy. More importantly, with the launch of the Amity International
School on the Mango Orchard Campus earlier this year the wheel has come the full 360
Degree circle.
Yes, you can now admit your
child in Prep school and then just
leave it to us. For we then mould
and shape young minds right
through their academic life --
from KG to the PhD, doctorate,
right?
Soon I hear the click of heels
that beat down the foyer to the
basement lecture rooms. I hear
the babble of voices amid giggles
of delight. To me these sounds
usher in the dawning of a new
morning. And further as one
hears the sound of music that
flow in through their mobile
phones go on to remind me that
yet another odd semester of a
summer has arrived on the Amity
Campuses. Yes the old order
changes and it is fresher-times
and admission time.
Here I am tempted to recall
the story of the Selfish Giant
penned by the unforgettable
Oscar Wilde. I am quite sure
some of you may have heard of
this story in your primary school
avatar. Well, it talks about a Giant
in whose garden played the best
of children, birds and animals.
Irritated by the giggles, chirping
and whistling he banished them
from his lovely garden. The next
day he was shocked to find that
winter had set in right earnest
and all he could see was icicles
and snow. Having realized his
self-centered attitude he set
about cajoling his young audience
back to his garden, and hey
presto, spring and blossoms
returned to his garden.
Much in the same manner
Amity has been donning the mantle
of the soothsayer, the harbinger
of hope and knowledge. The
admission rounds beginning
June, has seen a slew of parents
and hopeful young aspirants giving
their everything to enter
Amity's precincts. They were privileged
to share Assistant
Professor Anviti's motivating
anecdotes and with each admission
round they became that
much more profound and wise.
And to lend gravitas to the sombre
proceedings was none other
than the D-G himself-with his
unique interaction style.
My Ruminations on the "Medialistic" world
Here go my journalistic briefs that appeared in the September 12, 2010 issue of 360 Degrees which is the name of the Amity Newsletter.
Radio Heads: GRIN(S) and hear it
For those of you who thought your career as a Radio Jockey was not the most happening job think again!! If the latest development in the Radio world is any indicators, job openings are sure to follow. The recent launch Gurgaon Ki Awaaz as a community concept may well change the parameters of Radio broadcast. The community Radio portal has also installed the Grameen Radio Inter Networking System (GRINS) that may usher in a revolution of sorts. Their website states that theirs is a free share software and is a one-stop recording and RJing studio and it is up for free. A plug-n-play server to run a community radio station. It enables radio station operators to schedule broadcasts, preview programs, make and receive phone calls, record live transmissions, and maintain an extensive semantically searchable library, all through a single user-interface. It has been designed specifically for community radio stations in remote and rural areas, to keep costs low, provide extremely robust functioning, and enable rich features for greater community interaction
Back to the Written Word
Daily newspapers & Editors have been trying to grab more eyeballs to kindle interest among Gen Next!
And in order to attract more mass communication graduates to opt for print journalism they conducted a self-reflection exercise.. Last fortnight a leading English daily’s editors put on their thinking cap and held a brainstorming session in Delhi to chart a road map to bring more visibility to their newspaper . They decided to re-invent themselves and bring back to focus the role of hard news in their front pages. A moot point was that due emphasis should be given to the fact that newspapers are a vehicle for social change. They came to the conclusion that their state capital editions should carry exclusive stories to awaken the public. And for that to happen they would shortly appoint more budding journalists in their editorial
team.
Come join the mobile content hub!
The Queen of K serial soap operas,- Ekta Kapoor revealed this weekend that Balaji Telefilms is going to enter the field of broadcast content Giving a sneak preview to her new project she hinted that her company is entering the field of Internet Journalism. Flushed with the success of her online programme Bol Niti Bol, shared that with the advent of 3G technology the mobile platform is the way to go. Soon there will be a special content hub for mobile entertainment and content creation. So boys and girls get ready to fine-tune your technical and creative skills for there are plenty of jobs around the corner.
Radio Heads: GRIN(S) and hear it
For those of you who thought your career as a Radio Jockey was not the most happening job think again!! If the latest development in the Radio world is any indicators, job openings are sure to follow. The recent launch Gurgaon Ki Awaaz as a community concept may well change the parameters of Radio broadcast. The community Radio portal has also installed the Grameen Radio Inter Networking System (GRINS) that may usher in a revolution of sorts. Their website states that theirs is a free share software and is a one-stop recording and RJing studio and it is up for free. A plug-n-play server to run a community radio station. It enables radio station operators to schedule broadcasts, preview programs, make and receive phone calls, record live transmissions, and maintain an extensive semantically searchable library, all through a single user-interface. It has been designed specifically for community radio stations in remote and rural areas, to keep costs low, provide extremely robust functioning, and enable rich features for greater community interaction
Back to the Written Word
Daily newspapers & Editors have been trying to grab more eyeballs to kindle interest among Gen Next!
And in order to attract more mass communication graduates to opt for print journalism they conducted a self-reflection exercise.. Last fortnight a leading English daily’s editors put on their thinking cap and held a brainstorming session in Delhi to chart a road map to bring more visibility to their newspaper . They decided to re-invent themselves and bring back to focus the role of hard news in their front pages. A moot point was that due emphasis should be given to the fact that newspapers are a vehicle for social change. They came to the conclusion that their state capital editions should carry exclusive stories to awaken the public. And for that to happen they would shortly appoint more budding journalists in their editorial
team.
Come join the mobile content hub!
The Queen of K serial soap operas,- Ekta Kapoor revealed this weekend that Balaji Telefilms is going to enter the field of broadcast content Giving a sneak preview to her new project she hinted that her company is entering the field of Internet Journalism. Flushed with the success of her online programme Bol Niti Bol, shared that with the advent of 3G technology the mobile platform is the way to go. Soon there will be a special content hub for mobile entertainment and content creation. So boys and girls get ready to fine-tune your technical and creative skills for there are plenty of jobs around the corner.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Welcome To The Amity Twin Town
Now, this is what I wrote for the inaugural issue of The Amity, Lucknow newsletter
Chander Mahadev
From Amethi to Amity, Lucknow has come a long way! This is because, not long in the recent past, Uttar Pradesh had only Amethi to boast of; considered the political pocket borough of the first family of Indian politics . Today, the capital city has a modern ring to it, be it in terms of politics, modernity, and class education. And we are proud to share that Amity Lucknow campus, has played a huge role in shaping the urban landscape of this city. It is in this historic backdrop that the Odd semester of July 2009 was ushered in. And odd it was, in more ways than one. The dawn of the Odd semester saw many fresh pairs of legs making their way into the two hallowed precincts. Admission time witnessed a riot of colors and fresh faces. The new semester was made more special because of the recent launch of the sprawling Mango Orchard Campus (fondly called MOC). With two campuses in place, the excitement has doubled -- making Amity the most happening place in town.
Bearing a striking resemblance to Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), or better still a Roman amphitheatre, MOC, Malhaur has rightfully become the flavor of the season. And a quick reconnaissance of the two campuses reveals as much. The larger and busier institutions like the business school (ABS) as also the Amity School of Engineering and Technology (ASET) have already shifted base to MOC. The Viraj Khand Campus, (VKC or the old campus) may have lost some of its sheen but the odd semester bought in not just the new batches, but also an air of fresh festivity. The VKC seminar hall and the auditorium played host to cultural soirees, orientation programs, Freshers’ parties and what have you.
We could witness much mirth and merriment as different institutes vied with each other to make the Freshers’ party the best in Amity’s twin town. Yes, the woefully inadequate government infrastructure, the pot-holed roads, the near-absence of streetlights, and poor phone network connectivity call for more than a fair share of patience. And the three-km drive to the new campus calls for loads of mental and physical calisthenics.
What we know for sure is that the commissioning of the Malhaur campus tells us that the route to change (read MOC) has a few hiccups to contend with. If the ubiquitous railway crossing en route to VKC was a minor deterrent, the ‘phatak’ on way to MOC has become an obstacle race. A colleague who vends his way daily to the new campus reveals that there are as many as 72 trains that passed through daily, not that anyone has counted. However, the gangman on duty refused to confirm or deny this figure.
If the new campus ushers in change, the older sibling is only five to six years old. And the economic landscape of the once quiet Malhaur village today seems like a town in a hurry; in the throes of a second ‘academic’ industrial revolution. Real estate agents, well stacked shops, well laid out dhabas, chai shops and eateries, and cigarette kiosks have sprung up and land prices we are told have hit the ceiling. And the people of the city are not complaining!
The launch of the Quick Newsletter is a venture to bridge the physical distance and ensure there is no info gap. We are sure that in the coming days this journal will gain in popularity and become the ideal vehicle for change, change that nurtures talent the Amity way. Cheers!!!
The ASCO Buzz
Odd semester or not, ASCO has been abuzz with activity; with students busy putting up posters to perk up the campus atmosphere, almost as if it were announcing its rebirth. Call it the second coming or what you will, the old legacy seems to have faded out and in its place, the students and faculty are busy ringing in the winds of change. Much like the chimes of freedom, the windy turbulence at the rain-drenched foyer threatens to lift you off your feet. Muskuraiye, aap ASCO mein hain! Welcoming the new batch of students, the weather gods too seem pleased with all that is happening around. The recent fresher’s party where everybody let their hair down gave a fair taste of things to come.
There is a host of activities being planned; new clubs have sprung up, there is music in the air and students can be seen rehearsing for plays, voice overfs,folk dances and other such activities.
For starters, the onset of the new semester has brought in its wake the launch of a theatre club called Dramatica, and a literary club grandly named Thought Café. Those keen on photography have formed an outfit called Drishti, while those keen on broadcast media have launched a clubhouse called Amicast. The ASCO Bulletin boards facing the D-G’s office are also being given an artistic makeover and the weekly photo bulletin boards alongside and in front of the Director’s cabin make for a weekly visual feast. The bonhomie and camaraderie among both students and faculty is more than evident and moves are afoot for the launch of a much-needed Newsroom.
And first oft the block is the Quick Newsletter that you hold in your hand. ASCO’s thrust of being the interface between the media industry and the academic world has found favor with the new director even as the winds of change sweep the corridors of ASCO. And with a little help from friends from the media world ASCO is bound to make waves, sooner than later.
Chander Mahadev
From Amethi to Amity, Lucknow has come a long way! This is because, not long in the recent past, Uttar Pradesh had only Amethi to boast of; considered the political pocket borough of the first family of Indian politics . Today, the capital city has a modern ring to it, be it in terms of politics, modernity, and class education. And we are proud to share that Amity Lucknow campus, has played a huge role in shaping the urban landscape of this city. It is in this historic backdrop that the Odd semester of July 2009 was ushered in. And odd it was, in more ways than one. The dawn of the Odd semester saw many fresh pairs of legs making their way into the two hallowed precincts. Admission time witnessed a riot of colors and fresh faces. The new semester was made more special because of the recent launch of the sprawling Mango Orchard Campus (fondly called MOC). With two campuses in place, the excitement has doubled -- making Amity the most happening place in town.
Bearing a striking resemblance to Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), or better still a Roman amphitheatre, MOC, Malhaur has rightfully become the flavor of the season. And a quick reconnaissance of the two campuses reveals as much. The larger and busier institutions like the business school (ABS) as also the Amity School of Engineering and Technology (ASET) have already shifted base to MOC. The Viraj Khand Campus, (VKC or the old campus) may have lost some of its sheen but the odd semester bought in not just the new batches, but also an air of fresh festivity. The VKC seminar hall and the auditorium played host to cultural soirees, orientation programs, Freshers’ parties and what have you.
We could witness much mirth and merriment as different institutes vied with each other to make the Freshers’ party the best in Amity’s twin town. Yes, the woefully inadequate government infrastructure, the pot-holed roads, the near-absence of streetlights, and poor phone network connectivity call for more than a fair share of patience. And the three-km drive to the new campus calls for loads of mental and physical calisthenics.
What we know for sure is that the commissioning of the Malhaur campus tells us that the route to change (read MOC) has a few hiccups to contend with. If the ubiquitous railway crossing en route to VKC was a minor deterrent, the ‘phatak’ on way to MOC has become an obstacle race. A colleague who vends his way daily to the new campus reveals that there are as many as 72 trains that passed through daily, not that anyone has counted. However, the gangman on duty refused to confirm or deny this figure.
If the new campus ushers in change, the older sibling is only five to six years old. And the economic landscape of the once quiet Malhaur village today seems like a town in a hurry; in the throes of a second ‘academic’ industrial revolution. Real estate agents, well stacked shops, well laid out dhabas, chai shops and eateries, and cigarette kiosks have sprung up and land prices we are told have hit the ceiling. And the people of the city are not complaining!
The launch of the Quick Newsletter is a venture to bridge the physical distance and ensure there is no info gap. We are sure that in the coming days this journal will gain in popularity and become the ideal vehicle for change, change that nurtures talent the Amity way. Cheers!!!
The ASCO Buzz
Odd semester or not, ASCO has been abuzz with activity; with students busy putting up posters to perk up the campus atmosphere, almost as if it were announcing its rebirth. Call it the second coming or what you will, the old legacy seems to have faded out and in its place, the students and faculty are busy ringing in the winds of change. Much like the chimes of freedom, the windy turbulence at the rain-drenched foyer threatens to lift you off your feet. Muskuraiye, aap ASCO mein hain! Welcoming the new batch of students, the weather gods too seem pleased with all that is happening around. The recent fresher’s party where everybody let their hair down gave a fair taste of things to come.
There is a host of activities being planned; new clubs have sprung up, there is music in the air and students can be seen rehearsing for plays, voice overfs,folk dances and other such activities.
For starters, the onset of the new semester has brought in its wake the launch of a theatre club called Dramatica, and a literary club grandly named Thought Café. Those keen on photography have formed an outfit called Drishti, while those keen on broadcast media have launched a clubhouse called Amicast. The ASCO Bulletin boards facing the D-G’s office are also being given an artistic makeover and the weekly photo bulletin boards alongside and in front of the Director’s cabin make for a weekly visual feast. The bonhomie and camaraderie among both students and faculty is more than evident and moves are afoot for the launch of a much-needed Newsroom.
And first oft the block is the Quick Newsletter that you hold in your hand. ASCO’s thrust of being the interface between the media industry and the academic world has found favor with the new director even as the winds of change sweep the corridors of ASCO. And with a little help from friends from the media world ASCO is bound to make waves, sooner than later.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Avadhi Scent Of Romance
Much like the erotic tome titled ‘The Perfumed Garden of Sheikh Nefzaoui ,’ the heady ‘itra’ aromas are strikingly different, and their impact, ‘mind-fusing.’ Some call it the scent of romance and creativity, and renowned poet Mirza Ghalib used to apply this mystical fragrance whenever he shook hands with special guests.
The aura and aroma should be reason enough for you to experience the heady effect of Lucknowi andaz and ‘itra’! Perk up your nose buds and get ready to experience the fragrance of Lucknawi petals captured in exotic decanters. Part of the Mughlai perfume hub comprising Lucknow & Kannauj, the itra aroma subtly permeates across the Muslim canvas of India.
It is said that nearly 300 years ago when the Mughal Empress Noor Jehan was having a bath in her shaahi hamaam, little did she realize that she was discovering the most expensive and exotic itra. – Rooh-e-Gulab. Legend has it that when she went to have a bath; she noticed an oily layer over the water kept overnight with crushed rose petals, which when distilled became the famous rose perfume. The Maharajas of the erstwhile states of Gwalior, Patiala, Darbhanga, Mysore and even Maharaja Ranjit Singh are counted amongst the most famous users of itra. The early documented use of itra is in Abul Fazal's account of Akbar's court in Aain-e-Akbari. Abul Fazal mentions Akbar using itra along with incense sticks burnt daily in gold and silver censers.
Lucknow can be enumerated as one of the few cities in North India where the love of exotic fragrances and the art of itra-making have reached exalted heights . The credit for patronizing and popularizing the perfumery in Lucknow goes to the Nawabs of Avadh, particularly to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
Historians believe that fragrance has always been an important part of the cultural life of Avadh. Till the 1960s this art was confined to a few family-run perfumeries as the renowned Asghar Ali –Mohammad Ali perfumers. But by late 70's most of these distilleries folded up due to infighting or simply because they could not move with the changing times
As Lucknow’s famous satirist Nayer Masud puts it; “A princess's toilet was incomplete without incense and itra. It was customary practice of the royals and nobles to offer itra to their guests at the time of their departure.”
On the other end of the canvas, Eram Qazi, a Lucknow aficionado wistfully observes: “The aroma of itra is so enticing that young girls are forbidden to wear it since it would invite the ‘jinns’ or spirits.”
Lovingly and painstakingly made, itra is a natural perfume where there is no room for evaporation and alcohol. And go by your smell, to let your itra buds soak in the fragrances of roses, jasmine and sandal.
An Arabic word, itra means fragrance or scent. It had for long been considered one of the basic needs of the Nawabs and the Mughals. In Ain-e-Akbari, Abul Fazal, has made note of the fact that Akbar used itra daily and burnt incense sticks in gold and silver sensers.
Exotic as it may sound, Itra is prepared by the degh and bhapka system. It's a kind of hydro distillation system which we learn in our chemistry labs but always get the penetrating smells of chemical which is unbearable. In the deghs the flowers are boiled under the heat of cow dung and the steam of this is conserved in the bhapkaas.Its an air tight apparatus. The degh are made up of copper. Half of the beauty of the itra depend on its container known as the itra daans and are preserved in air tight bottles.
Perfumery owner, Mohammed Yaseen, says the itra market is very limited as it’s an expensive item with prices ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 10 lakh per kg.
Says veteran journalist and Avadh aficionado Raj Saran Verma: “Even in these times and age it is not rare in Lucknow that in a typical Muslim wedding, the whole ambience is so heavily laden with the fragrance of itra that it takes your breath away. Rajkumar Amir Naqi Khan, scion of the Mehmoodabad family, loves to use his favorite itar Majmua on his Sherwaani on special occasions. Poonam Seth, a socialite and an entrepreneur swears by Itre-gil, which smells of the first shower of rain on a parched land. A lot of Urdu poetry is still woven around these wafting fragrances and many a beloved's letters are perhaps still doused in them. As they say in Lucknow "Ishque aur mushq kabhi chhupta nahi hai…. true love and the smell of musk cannot be hidden long. Who knows how far the story of Luknowi Itra will go?”
The aura and aroma should be reason enough for you to experience the heady effect of Lucknowi andaz and ‘itra’! Perk up your nose buds and get ready to experience the fragrance of Lucknawi petals captured in exotic decanters. Part of the Mughlai perfume hub comprising Lucknow & Kannauj, the itra aroma subtly permeates across the Muslim canvas of India.
It is said that nearly 300 years ago when the Mughal Empress Noor Jehan was having a bath in her shaahi hamaam, little did she realize that she was discovering the most expensive and exotic itra. – Rooh-e-Gulab. Legend has it that when she went to have a bath; she noticed an oily layer over the water kept overnight with crushed rose petals, which when distilled became the famous rose perfume. The Maharajas of the erstwhile states of Gwalior, Patiala, Darbhanga, Mysore and even Maharaja Ranjit Singh are counted amongst the most famous users of itra. The early documented use of itra is in Abul Fazal's account of Akbar's court in Aain-e-Akbari. Abul Fazal mentions Akbar using itra along with incense sticks burnt daily in gold and silver censers.
Lucknow can be enumerated as one of the few cities in North India where the love of exotic fragrances and the art of itra-making have reached exalted heights . The credit for patronizing and popularizing the perfumery in Lucknow goes to the Nawabs of Avadh, particularly to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
Historians believe that fragrance has always been an important part of the cultural life of Avadh. Till the 1960s this art was confined to a few family-run perfumeries as the renowned Asghar Ali –Mohammad Ali perfumers. But by late 70's most of these distilleries folded up due to infighting or simply because they could not move with the changing times
As Lucknow’s famous satirist Nayer Masud puts it; “A princess's toilet was incomplete without incense and itra. It was customary practice of the royals and nobles to offer itra to their guests at the time of their departure.”
On the other end of the canvas, Eram Qazi, a Lucknow aficionado wistfully observes: “The aroma of itra is so enticing that young girls are forbidden to wear it since it would invite the ‘jinns’ or spirits.”
Lovingly and painstakingly made, itra is a natural perfume where there is no room for evaporation and alcohol. And go by your smell, to let your itra buds soak in the fragrances of roses, jasmine and sandal.
An Arabic word, itra means fragrance or scent. It had for long been considered one of the basic needs of the Nawabs and the Mughals. In Ain-e-Akbari, Abul Fazal, has made note of the fact that Akbar used itra daily and burnt incense sticks in gold and silver sensers.
Exotic as it may sound, Itra is prepared by the degh and bhapka system. It's a kind of hydro distillation system which we learn in our chemistry labs but always get the penetrating smells of chemical which is unbearable. In the deghs the flowers are boiled under the heat of cow dung and the steam of this is conserved in the bhapkaas.Its an air tight apparatus. The degh are made up of copper. Half of the beauty of the itra depend on its container known as the itra daans and are preserved in air tight bottles.
Perfumery owner, Mohammed Yaseen, says the itra market is very limited as it’s an expensive item with prices ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 10 lakh per kg.
Says veteran journalist and Avadh aficionado Raj Saran Verma: “Even in these times and age it is not rare in Lucknow that in a typical Muslim wedding, the whole ambience is so heavily laden with the fragrance of itra that it takes your breath away. Rajkumar Amir Naqi Khan, scion of the Mehmoodabad family, loves to use his favorite itar Majmua on his Sherwaani on special occasions. Poonam Seth, a socialite and an entrepreneur swears by Itre-gil, which smells of the first shower of rain on a parched land. A lot of Urdu poetry is still woven around these wafting fragrances and many a beloved's letters are perhaps still doused in them. As they say in Lucknow "Ishque aur mushq kabhi chhupta nahi hai…. true love and the smell of musk cannot be hidden long. Who knows how far the story of Luknowi Itra will go?”
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Get Set to Experience the Magic of Sex!
Get Set to Experience The Magic Of Sex
My caution note:
When it came up my journalistic alley, I thought it was my editor-friend Ajay Kumar's, (Group Editor State Times) ploy to sell a magazine called Supremacy with sex on its mind. But what it turned out to be in the end, confounded me. I was circumspect abut how I would be able to treat the net-based raw input he sent me. Read on & tell me if it makes sense, or is it lewd and needs to be deleted post-haste
"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul."
Oscar Wilde
Scenario I.
The legendary Mirabai was so deeply conjoined in spiritual union with Lord Krishna through her bhakti and bhajans that she forgot about the existence of her worldly responsibilities and about the existence of her consort. It is believed that her incensed husband suspected her of moral turpitude. However misleadingly, he thought his wife had immorally given her body and soul to the God of her understanding without his consent.
Scenario II:
In his rocking theological thriller Da Vinci Code, when bestselling author Dan Brown talks about pagan rites and rituals that shrouded the existence of Jesus Christ’s female half Mary Magdalene, he exposed the soft underbelly of Judeo-Christian faith and opened up the possibilities of Christ being a married man. This evoked strong reactions among conservationists who felt that the author was evoking the Goddess of Sex to ensure the success of his novel.
The word ‘Sex’ continues to trigger the most formidable response among human beings. It is at once mysterious, mystical and foreboding. Sex conjures up different image in different people. In its most sublime form, it is but a manifestation of Godhead, and in its most base form, it stirs the beast within us. This article makes an attempt to unravel this mystic knot and shows you how to experience the true magic of sex.
Sex magic is neither new nor outrageous; although usually kept secret many esoteric systems use sexuality for spiritual and magical aims. The ancient traditions and its various manifestations in visible form are witchcraft, shamanism, alchemy, Buddhist and Hindu Tantra and ancient Egyptian religion.
A more known form of sex magic is the ceremonial sexual union of man and woman on the land to ensure a good crop. Their act of fertility ostensibly encourages the land to bring forth a rich harvest. This ancient practice is still resorted to, by many tribes in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh as also in some other rural out backs of the country.
Western sex magic, on the other hand, has its roots in Hebrew kabala and it spread further through several occult doctrines like the Knights Templar, The order of The Rosicrucian and the Freemasons.
In present-day terms sex magic is a beautiful way of giving it back its due as sacred sexuality. It is a firm invitation to leave the trail of the sneaky, hidden-in-the-dark and 'sinful' sex most of us have grown up with. It is a call to stop fighting this most powerful human force and to make use of its immense possibilities.
Since sexuality is a gift from God, the Goddess, by natural extension, has to be divine. Within an open and respectful sexual relationship we can experience ourselves in all aspects: the animal part, the human part and the divine flame within. Thus, the beast-man-God is connected, as strongly as the beast-woman-Goddess. During sexual arousal, an enormous amount of energy can be channeled upwards from the genitals along the spine to the top of the head. On its way up, this energy fills and cleans blockages in the ‘chakras,’ caused by emotional and psychological wounds. This explains why several spiritual paths view sexual yoga as a shortcut to enlightenment.
When the magic of sex enters the head, it turns into an all-consuming spiritual experience, suggests this painting by Gustav Klimt
Why use sex for magical aims?
The force of creation itself invokes a very powerful magic. Secondly it is the most pleasurable magic one can do. The strong sexual force is the 'raw oil of our body' (the Kama Salila) as Lama Yeshe stated.
Several practitioners of sex magic reported that this form of magic turned out to be much stronger then the ceremonial magic they had practiced before. Sex magic does not require any previous knowledge or understanding of ceremonial magic. Anyone who is dedicated to controlling and directing his or her sexual energies for magical work, and who has a reasonable physical condition, is deemed fit to perform sex magic.
However, if you don't feel strongly attracted to sex magic, simply don't do it! And never let someone force you into sex magic against your will. Practicing sex magic does in no way imply that you have to give up sex for pleasure. It is entirely up to you to decide how much sex you wish to use for magical rituals and how much in having a good time with yourself or your partner.
Theory behind sex magic
In magic, we manipulate a certain amount of energy into a desired direction; for that we specify a goal, raise energy level and point it into the wished direction (release the energy) to achieve a manifestation in our physical reality.
The goal in sex magic can be the achievement or attraction of anything wished in the physical world, like a new house, a better relationship or a healing. It can also be the charging of magical tools or talismans. And the goal can be spiritual development.
This controlled form of love-making for higher goals is often mentioned as the ultimate manifestation of necromancer Alistair Crowley’s famous statement "Love is Law, Love under Will." By love, mystic Crowley meant the union of the opposites, masculine and feminine, active and receptive, and not so much as romantic love.
The ultimate goal in a sex act is Orgasm. And orgasm by inference is considered to be the moment when 'the gates of heaven open up'; for a while the barriers between the restricted physical world and the limitless heavens dissolve. During the precious orgasmic moments we swing away our magical desire into the universe with enormous power and a 'magical child' is born. This magical child is the astral effect of our magical action that will result in manifestation. The sexual fluids of man and woman are charged with powerful qualities because of their unalloyed magic and they can be used for varying purposes.
Sexual spirituality depicted on the Khajuraho Temple, India
What types of sex can be used for sex magic?
In fact, any sexual activity can be used to work sex magic. It can be practiced alone, it can be practiced with a partner of the same sex or of the opposite sex, and in advanced state, and it is also possible to work with more people. But, a group sex magic ritual is never an excuse for a sexual orgy!
It is a strong ritual in which several people dedicate their sexual forces towards a mutual goal. Magic is synergistic, which means that the power conjured up is geometric (1, 2, 4,8,16, etc., so a ritual with four people gives the energy of eight separate people!)
You would do well to remember that in no way is this an invitation to ever do a group ritual in your life unwanted, nor does it mean that joining a group ritual implies that you should also have sex with more than one partner in your personal love life. You can include all forms of sex in your ritual; it can be genital, oral or anal sex; it can be bondage, bizarre sex or whatever; as long as all partners included enjoy it and agree that it’s okay and acceptable.
Does sex magic feel different from regular sex?
In sex magic we concentrate on the ritual, while in regular sex we concentrate on the fantastic physical sensations and intimate togetherness. Sex magic rituals feel very pleasurable but they do feel different. They are simply that much more intense. A much greater amount of sexual energy is built up, mainly because when you reach the brink of orgasm you back off to later on resume arousing. This leads to a stronger felt orgasm.
And while repeating the chosen affirmation during intercourse, you send up energy from the genitals to the head, so you constantly send bits of genital excitement 'away' upwards along your spine to be stored till the moment of orgasm. By concentrating on your goal you extend the moment of orgasm and reach a trance-like state.
At times it has been noticed that halfway through the ritual, one can feel the magical energy working. A large amount of hot energy could be felt along the spine and the ‘chakras’ in the head, and in the crown ‘chakra’ you experience the feeling of a wide opened chalice or lotus flower.
The flow of this energy can cause huge tremors or shivers or even lead to emotional unloads like crying, mostly after the orgasm (be prepared for this and let it happen to you or your partner as it clears blockages).
Sex magic orgasms will be intense. And after a ritual with a partner one feels reverent and grateful, realizing that something truly meaningful has been shared. Once the depths and values of sex magic are experienced, it becomes truly difficult to stick to 'normal' sex. Dabble in it or delve deep in it, the choice is yours.
My caution note:
When it came up my journalistic alley, I thought it was my editor-friend Ajay Kumar's, (Group Editor State Times) ploy to sell a magazine called Supremacy with sex on its mind. But what it turned out to be in the end, confounded me. I was circumspect abut how I would be able to treat the net-based raw input he sent me. Read on & tell me if it makes sense, or is it lewd and needs to be deleted post-haste
"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul."
Oscar Wilde
Scenario I.
The legendary Mirabai was so deeply conjoined in spiritual union with Lord Krishna through her bhakti and bhajans that she forgot about the existence of her worldly responsibilities and about the existence of her consort. It is believed that her incensed husband suspected her of moral turpitude. However misleadingly, he thought his wife had immorally given her body and soul to the God of her understanding without his consent.
Scenario II:
In his rocking theological thriller Da Vinci Code, when bestselling author Dan Brown talks about pagan rites and rituals that shrouded the existence of Jesus Christ’s female half Mary Magdalene, he exposed the soft underbelly of Judeo-Christian faith and opened up the possibilities of Christ being a married man. This evoked strong reactions among conservationists who felt that the author was evoking the Goddess of Sex to ensure the success of his novel.
The word ‘Sex’ continues to trigger the most formidable response among human beings. It is at once mysterious, mystical and foreboding. Sex conjures up different image in different people. In its most sublime form, it is but a manifestation of Godhead, and in its most base form, it stirs the beast within us. This article makes an attempt to unravel this mystic knot and shows you how to experience the true magic of sex.
Sex magic is neither new nor outrageous; although usually kept secret many esoteric systems use sexuality for spiritual and magical aims. The ancient traditions and its various manifestations in visible form are witchcraft, shamanism, alchemy, Buddhist and Hindu Tantra and ancient Egyptian religion.
A more known form of sex magic is the ceremonial sexual union of man and woman on the land to ensure a good crop. Their act of fertility ostensibly encourages the land to bring forth a rich harvest. This ancient practice is still resorted to, by many tribes in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh as also in some other rural out backs of the country.
Western sex magic, on the other hand, has its roots in Hebrew kabala and it spread further through several occult doctrines like the Knights Templar, The order of The Rosicrucian and the Freemasons.
In present-day terms sex magic is a beautiful way of giving it back its due as sacred sexuality. It is a firm invitation to leave the trail of the sneaky, hidden-in-the-dark and 'sinful' sex most of us have grown up with. It is a call to stop fighting this most powerful human force and to make use of its immense possibilities.
Since sexuality is a gift from God, the Goddess, by natural extension, has to be divine. Within an open and respectful sexual relationship we can experience ourselves in all aspects: the animal part, the human part and the divine flame within. Thus, the beast-man-God is connected, as strongly as the beast-woman-Goddess. During sexual arousal, an enormous amount of energy can be channeled upwards from the genitals along the spine to the top of the head. On its way up, this energy fills and cleans blockages in the ‘chakras,’ caused by emotional and psychological wounds. This explains why several spiritual paths view sexual yoga as a shortcut to enlightenment.
When the magic of sex enters the head, it turns into an all-consuming spiritual experience, suggests this painting by Gustav Klimt
Why use sex for magical aims?
The force of creation itself invokes a very powerful magic. Secondly it is the most pleasurable magic one can do. The strong sexual force is the 'raw oil of our body' (the Kama Salila) as Lama Yeshe stated.
Several practitioners of sex magic reported that this form of magic turned out to be much stronger then the ceremonial magic they had practiced before. Sex magic does not require any previous knowledge or understanding of ceremonial magic. Anyone who is dedicated to controlling and directing his or her sexual energies for magical work, and who has a reasonable physical condition, is deemed fit to perform sex magic.
However, if you don't feel strongly attracted to sex magic, simply don't do it! And never let someone force you into sex magic against your will. Practicing sex magic does in no way imply that you have to give up sex for pleasure. It is entirely up to you to decide how much sex you wish to use for magical rituals and how much in having a good time with yourself or your partner.
Theory behind sex magic
In magic, we manipulate a certain amount of energy into a desired direction; for that we specify a goal, raise energy level and point it into the wished direction (release the energy) to achieve a manifestation in our physical reality.
The goal in sex magic can be the achievement or attraction of anything wished in the physical world, like a new house, a better relationship or a healing. It can also be the charging of magical tools or talismans. And the goal can be spiritual development.
This controlled form of love-making for higher goals is often mentioned as the ultimate manifestation of necromancer Alistair Crowley’s famous statement "Love is Law, Love under Will." By love, mystic Crowley meant the union of the opposites, masculine and feminine, active and receptive, and not so much as romantic love.
The ultimate goal in a sex act is Orgasm. And orgasm by inference is considered to be the moment when 'the gates of heaven open up'; for a while the barriers between the restricted physical world and the limitless heavens dissolve. During the precious orgasmic moments we swing away our magical desire into the universe with enormous power and a 'magical child' is born. This magical child is the astral effect of our magical action that will result in manifestation. The sexual fluids of man and woman are charged with powerful qualities because of their unalloyed magic and they can be used for varying purposes.
Sexual spirituality depicted on the Khajuraho Temple, India
What types of sex can be used for sex magic?
In fact, any sexual activity can be used to work sex magic. It can be practiced alone, it can be practiced with a partner of the same sex or of the opposite sex, and in advanced state, and it is also possible to work with more people. But, a group sex magic ritual is never an excuse for a sexual orgy!
It is a strong ritual in which several people dedicate their sexual forces towards a mutual goal. Magic is synergistic, which means that the power conjured up is geometric (1, 2, 4,8,16, etc., so a ritual with four people gives the energy of eight separate people!)
You would do well to remember that in no way is this an invitation to ever do a group ritual in your life unwanted, nor does it mean that joining a group ritual implies that you should also have sex with more than one partner in your personal love life. You can include all forms of sex in your ritual; it can be genital, oral or anal sex; it can be bondage, bizarre sex or whatever; as long as all partners included enjoy it and agree that it’s okay and acceptable.
Does sex magic feel different from regular sex?
In sex magic we concentrate on the ritual, while in regular sex we concentrate on the fantastic physical sensations and intimate togetherness. Sex magic rituals feel very pleasurable but they do feel different. They are simply that much more intense. A much greater amount of sexual energy is built up, mainly because when you reach the brink of orgasm you back off to later on resume arousing. This leads to a stronger felt orgasm.
And while repeating the chosen affirmation during intercourse, you send up energy from the genitals to the head, so you constantly send bits of genital excitement 'away' upwards along your spine to be stored till the moment of orgasm. By concentrating on your goal you extend the moment of orgasm and reach a trance-like state.
At times it has been noticed that halfway through the ritual, one can feel the magical energy working. A large amount of hot energy could be felt along the spine and the ‘chakras’ in the head, and in the crown ‘chakra’ you experience the feeling of a wide opened chalice or lotus flower.
The flow of this energy can cause huge tremors or shivers or even lead to emotional unloads like crying, mostly after the orgasm (be prepared for this and let it happen to you or your partner as it clears blockages).
Sex magic orgasms will be intense. And after a ritual with a partner one feels reverent and grateful, realizing that something truly meaningful has been shared. Once the depths and values of sex magic are experienced, it becomes truly difficult to stick to 'normal' sex. Dabble in it or delve deep in it, the choice is yours.
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