Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Flute & The Falcon
This is my concept note on a film on India as a Soft Power. I have used the symbology of the flute to represent Indian mysticism and the falcon to symbolise Rumi's brand of Sufism that emanated in Konia in Asia Minor, now Turkey. Read on...
Like a bend in the flow of the Ganga cascading down Lord Shiva’s head, India has long been celebrated as the fountainhead of religious
democracy, where a dialogue with the divine is a daily life-enriching experience. And the universal idea of God being a manifestation of unconditional love—beyond the shackles of rituals and rites—has been best reflected in the precepts of Vedanta soaked in the spirit of Sufism.
The ethnicity of the Sufi Dargah and its universal appeal, cutting across religious lines is evident in the Sufi edifices that dot this proverbial land of milk and honey. God is one, concur both Vedanta and the Sufi Dervish. And, Sufism, in Persia and Turkey, was inspired by the tenets of Vedanta where the celebration of the Guru-shishya system and the concept of a higher self as a revered step towards self-realization are the underlying themes. The soul has been described as a bird caught in a cage and it is the release through music and bhakti that it finds salvation.
The universal appeal of Lord Krishna, as the shepherd of the soul, the ultimate romantic ensconced in the unconditional love of the Gopis even
as they sway to the sweet strains of his flue was a sight the Sufis too could not resist imbibing in their poems and spiritual experiences. Such is
the universal appeal of Indian religious symbols and myths. Much in the same manner for the greatest of Sufi saints Rumi, India was both an inspiration and a fountainhead of diverse forms of religious beliefs and experiences -- where the celebration of God was best manifest by the flute of Lord Krishna,
It is important to note that both the Sufi mendicant and the bhakti ras exponents like Narsi Bhagat and Surdas believed in the power of music to
awaken the soul. According to Persian scholar Prof SMH Abdi, Rumi’s labour of love Mathnavi Khanas begins with the Song of the Reed wherein
he states: ‘Listen to the reed how it tells a tale complaining of separation’. This universal appeal finds favour in the Skand Purana which tells us
that “Brahma as the sound is the highest Brahma. According to Vedic text, “When a man enjoys grace, the flute is played on for him”. Suffice it to
say Rumi’s Mathnavi is a collection of stories which are from and about India. Strongly influenced by India, Hindu and Buddhist tales and fables
form the bedrock of his book of poems. Drawing extensively from Buddhist fables Rumi’s central anecdote was one where he talks of the
elephant and the selected perception of the seven blind men. For this mystic seer, the symbol of the bird being caught in a cage was a recurrent
them. He also talks of Kalila & Dimna, the Arabic and Persian names of The Panchatantra.
Ruminating his experiences in Konia, Rumi imbibed Indian thinking and spiritual beliefs and his tumultuous meeting with his alter-ego and disciple
Shams of Tabriz awakened the poet within the master thus reestablishing the guru-shisya concept. Figuratively speaking, Maulana Rumi was the
nightingale who became a falcon -- a hunter of spiritual truth. –the baz as it finds constant reference and is echoed throughout his works. This
baz embodying the sufi spirit winged its way back to India in myriad forms. Using the flute and the falcon as the central symbols we can pan Rumi,
the seer, who, deeply influenced by India, in turn, inspired mystic movements for over a span of 700 years.
His teachings and influences were factored in, in the cultural fabric of the area where such movements spawned. As a cultural melting pot, Raja
Ram Mohan Roy’s perception of Rumi’s Sufi principles spawned the Brahmo Samaj movement. Roy, deeply influenced by the Vedanta and the
mystic musings of Rumi made a thorough study of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Max Muller considered him the ‘the first man to effect a synthesis between East & West. Roy’s movement reached its climax in Guru Rabindranath Tagore.
Tracing the flight of the Rumi falcon as it were, we next shift focus to Swamiji Maharaj, founder of the Radha Swami sect, who was deeply
influenced by Sufism and Rumi and propounded the concept that if one met the perfect faqir, he has met Almighty God, as there is no difference
between the two, To buttress his belief he quotes Rumi: ‘If you accept someone to be your spiritual guide, You will find him an embodiment of
God and the prophet’ Finally, we close in on Allama Iqbal, the greatest secular symbol of 20th century India,
The poet who prided himself on being the Indian disciple of Rumi, and distilled Sufism in the modern Indian context. According to Dr Abdi, Rumi
was to Iqbal what Virgil was to Dante . This symbiotic relationship between Sufism and Vedanta, this ultimate and universal establishment of the
guru-shisya parampara best reflects India as a soft power, For, India has long influenced and will continue to influence spiritual dialogue and
evolution across the world in a technology-churned and stress-driven world
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Biju Breezes Into Bombay
Saturday, October 8, 2011
350 for 1 HOWZATT
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!
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!
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
