Love and Happiness

 Bikash Choudhury 

Love, this four letter word runs riots inside adolescent and young minds both boys and girls alike. And, we have seen how an old man ( Amitav Bacchan) also fell in love with a young girl (Jiya Khan) in a movie which made a big headline in all the pink newspapers and filmy magazines of that time. Now, we know how tragically this young starlet committed suicide for another boyish actor Suraj Pancholi for discord in their love affairs. Now,. we must think again what is that innocent and innocuous emotion that makes someone take his or her own life; and, readers would know it well from news reports that for love people have taken the life of their partners mercilessly. Is there any contrast or contradiction you find in this extreme human behavior? The emotion that brings you closer to another homo sapiens of opposite sex, so much so that he or she becomes centre of your life much above than parents who conceived you and reared you for years and even siblings who share your DNA. But, when things go wrong as you know our lives are symmetrical to a roller coaster ride--- some time up in the air and in others, down in the dumps of our BMC garbage dump yard; you do not hesitate to take his or her life with your own hands even. Where was that "Pyaar '' that bit both of you at the same time so much so that you both preferred to live in Hallucination. Can we therefore conclude that those stories of Heer & Ranjha, Soni & Mahiwal and our Radha & Krishna are all bakwaj. I guess Love as we know it has many forms. Some time just a physical attraction between two individuals of opposite sex may be a short term infatuation or could turn into a deep and abiding amorous relationship for a life time and beyond. Here, the defining factor being the Chemistry between the two individuals and also permutation and combinations of complex factors like socio- economic background of not just the Lover's couple but also their respective family and their background, their education and on top of it their value system. 

Love, the four letter word has a myriad of colors. Some of my readers say " Love is indefinable in any language; it can only be felt deep inside your heart and still, much deeper recesses of one's mind that is located somewhere in the thalamus". Usually, the heart symbolises Love; but it is the mind which activates emotion and feelings. However, your heart performs at optimum level when your mind is filled with Love.

Today, I wish to share with you about the fourth dimension of Love. Have you ever been kissed by a Labrador on the Lips? Sadha Guru Jagi Vasudev of Isha Foundation opines that " if your heart is filled with Love for animate and inanimate beings around you is the simplest way to remain always happy and joyful". How does it work? If you are capable of giving Love unconditionally and without judgement to all Living and even so called non living objects around you then even most Negative Thinkers can't snatch away your joy and happiness for the Life and Living ever. So don't be scared of Loving anybody irrespective of their shortcomings which we all have in ample measures; because, we are humans with a beating 

Heart. Perfection in humans is a myth as stupid contention that “everything is fare in Love and War". Humanity, Ethics, Rule of Laws and social etiquettes plays a pivotal role in how we Love and get loved; without that we become an inanimate object, only. What do you feel, my dear readers? 

 

GOKHAPADA--DASAMAUJI DIARY

 Bikash Choudhury 

Every day we receive hundreds of notification if not in thousands in the morning in the social media about various facets of life in the form of write-ups, photographs and even short video presentation a few of them we normally open to take stock and majority of them we delete to save the memory of the device and very few of them we download to reflect at leisure largely decided by our taste and interest—I agree there is no rocket science involved here; but, just to narrate a much bigger story of the formative years of this writer. Cut to the chase I received a few minutes of video clipping of a celebrated technocrat turned artist about his exploits from a sketching workshop at Dhenkanal. I saw a clipping about an artist in knee deep water sketching the beautiful landscape of a country side; that clipping triggered hours of moving pictures deep inside about pristine and beautiful rural landscape of childhood in the paternal village of Gokhapada of Karanja Gram Panchayat in Mahakalapada Block in Kendrapara District. Our Gokhapada Village is part of 10 contiguous habitats encircled by the Luna River named Dasamauji. Writer has spent many summer vacations in the area during his childhood along with a brood of siblings from a close knit joint family that remains intact even today. The beauty of this river island and simple and unassuming lifestyle of the inhabitants wished to be screened for a larger audience to experience rural landscape—rural lives—rural people. One misty morning four of us set out for Gokhapada Village otherwise known as Gokha Khati in the archeological records about 105 kilometers drive from the capital city of Bhubaneswar. Our drive and driving was uneventful but my monotonous driving habits got our companions little agitated and that brought Captain a former Indian Air Force man (Siddhartha De-wild life and gentle life photographer) behind the wheels and he amused all of us with his driving acrobatics keeping the safety of his co-passengers firmly under his control taking a few pit stops to refill the lungs with nicotine a few times and  others were sudden stoppage at the sight of an interesting subjects to capture in his AK-47 like camera lenses swiftly drawn from the cabinet inside the car and positioned with precision as if it were Kargil war in the offing; shorts taken and promptly behind the wheels to zip past mineral loaded monstrous trucks heading towards Paradeep Port. We reached the junction that connects the Dasamauji group of villages on the Chandikhole-Paradeep Express Highway after a two and half hour drive. We met a villager of our area with ‘chandan tika’ on his forehead sipping tea in a stall protruding towards the village road and enquired about the road direction for our destination-Gokhapada village and prompt reply was whose house we are visiting? Since, no one lives in our village home after the demise of father’s elder brother (Badabapa) I said Late Gangadhar Choudhury; he immediately gave me a hug and said I would be his elder brother in the extended choudhury clan with lineage spanning one and half centuries. He gave me the exact location map with proper direction heaps better than the Google Maps that was live by my travel companions. Captain was still behind the wheels and looking at our banters with a poker face while deeply engrossed in a thought, apparently questioning my credibility as the “curator” of the program who does not know the way to his own village. Having read his mind I took my seat in the front and slammed the door while giving information about roads to the venue as politely as I could. We reached the house in front of the village cum family temple that was looking speak and span with a fresh coat of parrot green color. Collected the keys of the house from the temple priest, arranged our stuff in the house that would be our laboratory for next three days and promptly changed and washed ourselves of the travel fatigue if any and went inside the temple to pray for the success of our program “Rural Photo Art Trail” that would deal with rural landscape, rural lives and rural people with an objective to explore and showcase opportunity for “Rural Tourism” in and around Gokhapada and Dasamauji. The secondary objective was communities connected with Art and Artist. Our puja was over within minutes having an atheist in our team; the priest announced that food was ready for lunch. With some quick calculations we decided to finish the food business and start our tour to hunt down suitable subjects for artists and our gentle life photographer. The priest who hails from the nearby village of Karanja laid down our lunch on freshly plucked and cleaned banana leaf with Arna Prasad, Dalma, two vegetable curry, pampad and Khiri as dessert. Our travel fatigued body and hungry stomach was just asking for such a treat in a mind blowing ambience of temple Natyamandap. Food was simply awesome; now, slowly my team incrementally believed that I could manage their affairs for the next three days without much controversy. Soon after our team marched the village street with their equipment and caps on their heads; you should see the curiosity of the villagers craning their necks from village shops and women stalking us with their half covered faces in the saree pallu to focus on our looks with precision. We did not open our vocal chord waiting for a expressed intention to know by a direct question; by that time we have put up our banner in the western end of the village in front of the tube well and our assistant curator cum artist Prabal Mallick had positioned his portable easel for sketching while firmly ensconced in his little traveling folding chair with his cap firmly on the top in a semi cloudy afternoon. It was about 4.30 pm in the clock and one lazy village belle was giving her final touches to her afternoon wash routine near the tube well. At a little distance I was appreciating the beauty of the place and the village girl in off shoulder attire with long hair and water droplets glistening on her fair skin. Our artist in residence

Er.Prabal Mallick deliberately gave this subject a miss to avoid moral police if any. Women using public places in villages for their washing and cleaning is an old habit with proximate security and comfort of villagers not seen or feasible in little bigger townships or cities. Therefore, Cities and Towns must learn and imbibe this aspect of Rural Culture to offer security for women to do their own thing in their respective individual ways. The climate was cool and cloudy. The sunlight was scantly filtered down on the rural habitat making it adorable just like the horizon. I have taken the Gentle life photographer with the acronym Captain deep inside village on its earthen dam that protects Gokhapada-Dasamauji from the ravages of flood and to the banks of River Luna to appreciate the vast open spaces with farm lands, flora and fauna. Captain captured rare birds in his lenses and I spotted a few jackals attempting to capture their prey on the farm land. The cool breeze set sail from the river font and the scent of rural landscape with its own silence making our experience intoxicating (our experience could be a sought out page of Instagram to allure the City bred to return to their respective villages for that elusive inner peace). Slowly the sunlight was getting dimmer while the sun was about to set behind the Temple at the end of vast open spaces and farm lands—this simple and daily aspect of Rural treasures could attract city folks into the casual embrace of rural landscape; whose visions have been tunneled by high rise monsters in concrete and sensory glands overpowered by burnt fuels of automobile. The four of us sat down on the concrete sofa on either side of the long veranda and enjoyed nature in its full bloom when the darkness yet to take off. Now, we hear the sounds of now mechanized temple bells of evening Aarati; while our hands spontaneously spread upwards in gratitude to that almighty for completion of a very productive and creative day. Surprisingly, villagers not seen in the temple campus except a few children crisscrossing the temple courtyard in ecstasy. Here again sadly petty village politics come against the earlier village social customs of visiting the temple both in morning and evening as eloquently featured in the R.K. Narayan’s novel “The Guide”. Now, the villagers congregate at the village shop generally gossiping about farm issues, problems of cow grazing in the farmlands, prices of corn in the Mandi, prices of fertilizers and cricket scores and in between crackling noises emanating from typical rural jokes. Soda was not available so we quench our thirst out of a few soft drinks and refilled some unessential stuff and returned to our village abode—Gangadhar Palace at a stone throw distance to continue our conversation about our objective of the trail and our actual work and any missing links. Prabal Mallick being former IITian kept his words with methods and process, Captain—Sidhartha De being former Indian Air Force man remain tight lipped, Kedar Nayak the baby among our group being a professor of Art College shared his one liners followed by studious silence and at the end me being the former marketing and advertising person done all the talking in response to Prabal Mallick’s structured questions; though, after a hard day off in the rural topography seems banal sometime to me; which stands corrected now after watching the short film prepared meticulously by Prabal Mallick. After a delicious dinner prepared by the temple priest we retired to bed as if drop dead under the intoxication of a rural setting.                               

We got up to a morning of inclement weather and the weather forecast of heavy rains did not dampen our spirits. By 6.30 a.m our artist duo went out in search of a perfect subject in the given weather conditions and our captain photographer on his errand for suitable visuals returned after a few shots due to poor lighting conditions. Fortunately, after a few hours’ sky became clear and the captain returned to farmlands on a bird trail and captured some rare birds. I was surprised to find Gokhapada village being such a good habitat for birds. We observed a very large sighting of Barn Swallow, Wire Tailed Swallow, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Hoopoe, Sparrow, Sunbird, Asian Koel, Golden Oriole, Red Whiskered Bulbul and Red Wattled Lapwing. Birding photographers can have a field day in capturing the acrobatics of various species of birds in their natural habitat. While returning along with Captain we sighted the artist duo firmly ensconced in a barn giving final touches to their water color art work and simultaneously managing an impromptu art exhibition with all kinds of villagers surrounding them with their inquisitive demeanor. We had a rich conversation with them about art and their lives. We have also managed to show them the rich and bounty full life they are living amidst nature through our visual art. Villagers felt honored because we found their subjects important enough to capture in our art. While truth was we four of us were enjoying our time in village and our encounters with the villagers with the medium of photo art--absorbing new perspectives, appreciating emotions of villagers for us and our work and also filing million frames of seer excitement, joy and happiness in our internal memory card that we could play in our me time to cherish those happiness again and again. In the process we could establish a communication network and build trust with the villagers of Gokhapada which would stay immensely valuable for all of us. Earlier in the day we had a date with the school children of Gokhapada U.P School; Captain taught the children about the basics of photography as mobile cameras are now ubiquitous with village children. Children were shown a slide presentation on different genres of photography and some knowledge about the art and science of photography. To our surprise these school pupils displayed rare chutzpah in absorbing things and their illuminating faces made our journey in the photo art trail immensely rewarding and satisfying. Amidst the pandemonium of school children Prabal Mallick took over the reins with a simple question—will you learn art? There was a pin drop silence and Prabal in his unassuming style gave a brief lesson on how to draw sketches with the help of lines and filling the drawings with crayon colors. Children later encouraged drawing and coloring with their own imagination; the outcome was fantastic to say the least. The crowning glory was the excitement of village children to learn new things and the interest of their teachers to expose them to the outside world.

                        The day next was our final day at the photo art trail. Early in the morning we drove towards Ashram Balikuda near the Paradip Express Highway in search of a perfect Rural Tourism Site in the Dasamauji area. On our way we stopped at Badakul village on the banks of the river Luna and discovered a site near the river spur with vast flat landmass suitable for pitching tents for tourist and river at this point is wide and deep suitable for a Jetty to facilitate “River Cruise” in and around Dasamauji River Island as scenic as Majuli River Island on Brahmaputra River in Assam. We spoke to villagers about the job opportunity that would emanate from Rural Tourism managed by the village community, a very successful model that works elsewhere in the State. Villagers understood the importance of job creation and nodded towards their co-operation. Ashram Balikuda was our final site for sketching and photography. We reached there after a pit stop for breakfast at the village sweet shop on the way. We also liberally joined the banter with villagers and tried to understand local problems. Flooding was the common problem and the distance of Tehesil office was another issue that agitated the minds of the villagers. We had a brief Darshan at the Ashram Temple and moved to a nearby river bank for our photo art trail. We took an interview of a young woman worshipping at the trunk of a vast Peepal Tree with stones of all shapes and sizes. The dark colored but immensely beautiful woman with head covered on her saree said “childless ladies worship at the tree for an offspring”. This belief, right or wrong, has given hope and peace of mind to many such unfortunate ladies who live at the receiving end of village custom even today. Our last engagement was at Gokhapada U.P School to distribute some gifts to school children for their effort and interest in learning photo art and display all our art works and photos captured in three days. Village elders and visiting journalists were appreciative of our efforts to connect to the mass of villagers in the medium of Visual Art and create awareness about their own habitat. Four of us chilled through the night at the grand success of our mission of Rural Photo Art Trail organized at very short notice deliberately to surrender to the forces of “Serendipity”. We were happy to have worked hard to play harder to enrich our treasure trove of life experience. Will this “Inspire” other like minded people? Not sure.

 

DRISHTIRAAGA 2020

Visual melody (Drishtiraaga) was the theme of Mushroom’s Annual Photo Festival of the current year. This writer is a regular visitor of Mushroom’s Photo-Art show year after year; it has been bigger, better and grand affair with each passing year. This is their 7^th edition and lucky too in terms of diverse genres of photographs and also photographers that has taken art lovers of the city by surprise. No body has ever displayed the landscape of Scotland and Kashipur-Koraput in Odisha together, Hawamahal and Tajmahal in the same wall, Romance of Flamingos and Birds in search of food & conflict of interest shown beautifully in one block and there were very many creative photographs showcased in tribute to the mind games of players of lenses; you will have moments where fingers would automatically go and rest on your lips in complete silence. Seventy Frames are in display on very diverse subjects like: Nature, Wildlife, Street, Candid Portraits, Travel and Landscape. This show specially you must visit with your loved ones, observe and enjoy the photos exclusively printed in glossy medium with very large size of 30x20 inches and impeccably framed with contrasting inners, just right to display in your living area. Hurry up tomorrow is the last day of Drishtiraaga 2020. I wish if I could have written about this earlier than today. Nevertheless, do visit Lalit Kala Academy Regional Centre at Kharabela Nagar between 11 a.m to 7.30 p.m. Otherwise; you may miss a very good opportunity to make yourself happy and joyful without shelling out a dime on a movie ticket. Once you are there then look for the following photographs—I bet you will get a thrill of your life. “In the mist” by Rashmiranjan Sahoo, “Light and Shadow” by Kuntal Paul, “Aastha” by Sanjeet Patnaik, “Magic of Soul-Manali” by Swati Mohapatra, “In the Temple of his spirit each human is alone” by Satyabrata Mohapatra, “Whispering Medows” by Dr. Falguni Ray, “Tranquility” by Jitendra Pati, “Sea Side” by  Sauren Moonoo Das, “Sky is the Limit” by Dharma Sangram Amanta, “Class of Titans” by Sunila Padhee, “The Last Eye Contact” by Satyabrata Nanda, “Ways of the Wild” by Sunila Padhee, “Air Flamingo” by Haraprasana Nayak and “Romance of Flamingo” by  Rajeev Rout.

        

  Those who are new to Mushroom and its work; Simply it is a Photographers’ Circle incubated to promote photography as an art form and at the same time it also works as a platform for exchange of ideas, knowledge & techniques on Photography and it also train aspiring and budding amateur photographers through workshops. It is a pleasure to know that such a special interest group is live and kicking in the SMART CITY of Bhubaneswar which must now have a Museum to showcase rare photo-arts round the year and that could become a place of tourist attraction apart from being a cultural hot spot for the visiting dignitaries to our State. With progress of Mushroom our city would also earn a good name for its progressive and cultural opulence.

  Drishtiraaga 2020 got up to a festive start on 27^th February 2020 in the presence of Sri Jugal Debata, eminent Cinematographer and would close on 4^th March 2020. In between,  Fujifilm displayed their products followed by an interactive session spearheaded by Sri Anindo Basu, product evangelist Fujifilm India and a short film festival that screened short films for two hours to the applause of visitors and art lovers.  

SOUGHT AFTER COACH AT NILADRI VIHAR

At a tender age she took up teaching and coaching school students while in college as a hobby; little did she know that teaching school students and coaching them in life skills would become her calling in life. Now, after 25 years in the domain she has tinge of regret for not being able to act that she planned to do. In a free wheeling chat with this lady teacher on a Sunday morning; it opens your eyes to glaring pit falls of the current environment in the school education sector. As both parents, students and even school teachers are madly after the “score” without any reference or scant relevance to the “learning outcome” which is dangerous and holds time bomb marked to blow over the society at any moment. Snigdha Sarangi who run her “Trail Blazer Academy” in one of the by lanes of Niladri Vihar; however, determined to administer a different pedagogy quietly; that emphasizes upon resolving problems in multiple approach with DIY (Do it yourself) techniques and formula derivation methods. If you ask Snigdha about three pillars of her teaching style; prompt reply would be “Listening, Questioning and Interaction”. After talking to a few parents of the students of her academy you will vote for the soft and caring approach of this petite teacher who showers love and affection on her students who loves to drive down from other far flung parts of the BHUBANESWAR SMART CITY to be with this personal coach even on holidays that speaks volumes about the teaching prowess of this beautiful teacher. She claims of not using any tough tricks with her naughty students; but, she systematically takes chapter test after completing her course in PCMB for CBSE and ICSE students and maps the learning outcomes and corrective mechanism wherever needed. Snigdha derives immense pleasure in transforming below average students into winners in our conventional wisdom. Students remain in their comfort zone while attending their classes at the academy that runs in the apartment home of this extremely busy teacher who has teaching experience in many of our famous private schools in the city and beyond.             

Contact WhatsApp: 9090450310

Do we really need a son to bequeath our legacy?

                                                      A story of three sisters

One early morning when me and my wife were preparing to leave for our routine morning walk in the Joggers Park near Chandrashekharpur Police Station; then all of a sudden we almost had an head on collision with a monstrous JCB--Road making machine of L&T ECC in the Lane-1 of Adarsha Vihar, that is near Big Bazar Patia; unannounced. As they would dig up the road to lay the new concrete road of JICA program of Government of Odisha; we had the choice of 10 seconds to decide either to remove the car from Portico or not use the car for next 30 days. In a state of shock and disbelief we approached a close friend of my wife for help to park the car in their unoccupied parking space in nearby Subhadra apartment. She also agreed to show us the place and introduce us to their apartment security staff. In this connection both of us visited the flat of Swati’s parents’ who are no more. I found their flat has been kept as a living organism just the way their parents left it--untouched by time and maintained as if some body is living their. The seating area was as speak and span as the curtains in blue and brown shade (now available in Amazon). Her parents photograph adorns the wall without any dust and now one garland added to the photo in mark of respect. The living deity Durga in all her cosmetics and jewellery looked majestic in the Puja room generously lit up just like a conventional Bengali family. Wall hangings and  paintings were gleaming from the corner to corner walls, wind chimes creating its own music while southern window was open to let in fresh air, Divan covered with an ethnic bed spread looked like freshly polished recently, kitchen with all equipments neatly covered and master bed room and guest room arranged impeccably as if some one was living their regularly not a crease on the bed covers and pillows neatly placed on its proper place exuding an aura of a fully living home. They also keep the refrigerator live to prevent any malfunctioning. At the end Swati surprised us by stepping out on some excuse to arrange some snacks and sweets for us and served us with indulgence as their parents would have done for a visiting daughter and son-in-law sealing those moments with love and affection for both of us which is exceptional in our times of living.

Three sisters Swati, Sweta and Sharmista have taken on themselves to keep their parents memory live and legacy uninterrupted despite their absence. Instead of sharing the booty, these sisters share the cost and labor of preserving their parent’s legacy as it is dear to them. It will not be inappropriate to ask how many so called sons (male child) manage to keep the legacy of their parents in such a beautiful manner. Eventually, truth prevails; and, this writer and his brothers can’t claim to have preserved their father’s rich legacy in a befitting manner as Swati and her sisters have done. Then, why so much craze and paranoia for a male child in our society even today? 

Bikash Choudhury

Author’s Bio: Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com 

        

Gulab Gang—The New Political Party

Bikash Choudhury

Even today  in some parts of our country educated and professional women are murdered by their own parents for their choice of life partner; we have seen what happened to the lady doctor on the street of Hyderabad; and, the perpetrators of ‘Nirbhaya’ still living and countless ‘Nirbhayas’ happen each day and even in each hour. In contrast we see college going girls, university students and young professionals smoking cigarettes and spewing toxic fumes on our faces and they even visit pubs with their male classmates or colleagues to get ‘sozzled’ a little on the rocks. If boys have the gall to snuff out human lives at the call of testrones—can’t the girls have the liberty to get drunk a little at the call of free spirits? No, that is not the issue. May be a deeper social revolution is quietly taking shape to explode on the faces of “we the men folks” of our country sooner than later.  

Earlier lower casts and dalits could not dare to cross a higher cast people raising their heads on a village street. One fine day Behenji Mayabati’s mentor emerged from the shadows of trade union activities and cycled around the country to organize the dalits, scheduled casts and down trodden to convert them into a vote bank to capture political power in order to make a difference in the lives of its stake holders with brutal power play and some policy intervention which is irreversible now.

Can our top leaders among women from all walks of life get together to follow in the foot steps of late Kansi Ram? There are provocations before and there will be ample number of cruel and brutal incidents continue to happen with Indian women; but, their collective and studied response has been silence while swallowing their pride of being wooed as goddess Laxmi, Saraswati and Durga by men. It is about time they make up their minds about their status and what to do with the deeply ingrained “patriarchy” in our society. At the least the top leaders of the women wing of each political party in the country need to think if they were better off in the mainstream political parties or will it be better to have a single all women political party that garner nearly 50% votes and no Governments in the States or at the Center is possible or feasible without their blessings. A thought on these lines could send all political parties into a shivering. The “hullabaloos” about CAA, NPR and NRC would be a think of the past and quietly buried. And, a new Economic and Governance model would emerge from the ashes of mainstream politics--- and girl power would return to rule the street on their looks, their attire, their body language and of course with their free spirits--- humming silently; we actually need 1/2 you can’t console us with just 1/3.

[Author’s Bio: Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com] 

KAMRAJ PLAN TWO- ODISHA

                                                   

Kamraj plan was orchestrated in 1960 to cut some very popular politicians in high positions in the State and Union Governments of those times and parcel them into Congress Party organizations to stave off any challenge to the then Prime Minister and his heir apparent. However, a lot of times have passed since then and currently a new Kamraj plan is needed in the context of Odisha. Naveen Patnaik has gone from strength to strength in past twenty years so much so that he has thrown some of his arch rivals or his contemporary into the dustbin of political history of Odisha. And, they are unlikely to pose any electoral challenges to Naveen or BJD. But, these Naveen challengers have Name, Fame, Political Skill and Organizational Abilities which can be better utilized for the betterment of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people.

Many political and economic commentators have written millions of pages about the necessity of a strong leader in the union government during UPA two consecutive tenures. In order to give a firm and decisive direction to the country and to resolve its socio-economic issues that stand as it is for very long time. But, after watching, observing and analyzing the performance of incumbent Prime Minister since 2014—those commentators are now hiding in the hibernation and begging for covers including this writer. The so called magic of a decisive and strong leader has all but evaporated keeping in view the current socio-economic conditions of the country. In the hind sight, we can’t blame the Governments for our current financial outcomes of our economy and its people. Sensitive Governments can only do that much to work as the catalyst; nothing more and nothing less. In the annals of human history and even of our undivided country the economic prowess was the natural outcome of “intensity of human activity” and our Nation was genuinely written as the ‘bird of gold’ (Sone Ki Chidia). This Nation under the sweat of its labor, output of its agriculture and agro forestry could corner over 27% of Global Trade just three centuries before and currently it holds the Hindu Rate of Growth very dearly. Next logical question would be what do we do?

My take is that henceforth let us concentrate our economic might where our mouth is—in other words we need to decentralize our economic policy making to the Districts along with devolution of resources as decided by a Finance Commission with a term of reference “faster overall economic growth” of the country. Further, it would be necessary to adopt the “Gandhian Economic Model” of Gramya Swarajya to add further muscular strength to economic activity from bottom-up (Village-District-State) eventually marking a double digit National Progression for a considerable period of time in a sustainable manner. But, this is neither enough nor sufficient conditions for elusive economic growth. The buyers of an air conditioner in India knows too well that a split AC is just show off but Window AC is best and more effective as its engine of cooling is direct unlike the split AC. Unless our people are aware about their own economic growth potential and steps needed to kick start the comatose economic activity; then, no amount of external governmental package could be able to do an inch.

Therefore, we now need a Kamraj Plan Two for Odisha. That will draft senior politicians like Tathagata Sathpathy, Bijoya Mohapatra, Srikanta Jena, Baijayanta Panda, Dilip Ray and Damodar Rout into Socio-Economic work for the State through an organization to be incubated as suitable for the purpose. The organization would have mandate to deal with the urgent and important socio-economic issues of our State that no amount of Government intervention could be able to deliver. The urgent and important issues are Water Conservation, Revival of Rivers, and Restoration of Green Covers; Need to return to our Traditional Agriculture, Revival of Micro Village Industry, Need of ODF Villages, Women Security and their empowerment, Education and Health Awareness. The politicians drafted for Kamraj Plan Two are very senior and competent players of politics with monumental administrative skills with an ambition to be the ‘Numero Uno’ of the State; not for the chair alone, but to contribute to the progress of the State in their own debonair ways. There is a need and there is an opportunity to make a difference to the socio-economic conditions of our State in a substantive manner. And, that would be their fitting tribute to Biju Babu; who in his inimitable style envisioned recapturing the glory of Kalinga in his life time.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

  [Author’s Bio: Bikash Choudhury, Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com] 

  

Creative Global Hub

BHUBANESWAR ART BAZAR

Bhubaneswar City become No-1 in the SMART CITY sweep stakes in the country. A great deal of brainstorming has gone inside Government and equally or more outside. You will be surprised even at an ordinary tea stall at Patia in C.S.Pur,  a few auto drivers and Ola Cab drivers and a few morning walkers were discussing seriously about SMART CITY; what should be done and how it should look like. If they had a specific opinion on such an intricate issue; then, it would be better if we, project Bhubaneswar SMART CITY as a “Creative Global Hub”. Apart from increasing job prospects for our Artist and Artisans; this would promote cultural tourism in Odisha through Word of Mouth Publicity.

What we should do? 

1-     Bhubaneswar Art Bazar: Artist and Artisan Community of Bhubaneswar City/Odisha could persuade State Government to facilitate an arrangement where “Bhubanswar Art Bazar” could operate once in a month initially for 2-3 days in a week end/ 7 days a month in peak tourist season. Bhubaneswar Art Bazar could be designed like “Puskar Festival” of Jaipur in Rajasthan. BAB could offer Artist Institutions and Individuals to participate free of cost to show case & sale their art work and provision for live art work on theme selected by art lovers and Art Buyers, Provision for Portrait making, Pictures of God and Goddesses, Statutes  and even installations. State Govt. and Artist Collectives should rope in private corporate and public sector organizations to source their annual purchase of gift items from the Bhubaneswar Art Bazar. If it receives appropriate public patronage; then, Artist and Art Galleries from the country and abroad would be keen to participate at a cost; while, attracting tourist and facilitating cultural tourism in which our State has distinct advantage. Ideally, this should be done at a place that naturally attracts public foot fall like IG PARK/BIJU PATNAIK PARK.

2-     Statues: on the eve of 22^nd AAC at Kalinga stadium Odisha Govt. taken initiative to inundate the city with “wall Art” which makes this city beautiful; to continue this creative Initiative forward for a larger cause; artist collectives & all organizations working in the creative arena should persuade the State Govt. and Private Corporate in the city to fund the plan to “Install Modern Statues” at important & near busy traffic junctions of Tourist Triangle—Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar. Let us do this in such a manner that it beats our legacy in public art and Kalinga Style of Temple Architecture. We can also provide Important Social Message through modern architectural pieces. Once again we should do this in such an austentious & a very loud manner that the World Community would sit down and take notice and even talk about this.

This activity eventually would make Bhubaneswar/Odisha an attractive Tourist destination; while, making other cities in the country and abroad competing to follow in the foot steps of our SMART CITY BHUBANESAWR and our Artist & Artisans would receive work from across the world making the city truly a Global Art Hub. #Can We? # Should We?

3-     Patho Ustavs: This novel concept enunciated in the SMART CITY BHUBANESWAR and executed impeccably; that has won the adulation of general public and fun loving children of our city. Can we extend this concept to other localities/street corners of Tourist Triangle----Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar in collaboration with respective cultural association with some amount of both Government and Corporate patronage only in the Peak Tourist Season (October-January)?Our Ambition should be to design and execute this in a better manner than Puskar Festival of Jaipurin Rajasthan.

·       This will become a great Tourist Attraction as the Words Spread and International Media Highlight this Unique Concept of our Cultural Tourism.   

Bikash Choudhury Mobile: 9853426657 Email: streben.market@gmail.com

Twitter: @ideasofhope Adress:plot no:3309 Adarsha Vihar Lane-2 Patia Bhubaneswar-751024

CHANGING SOCIAL TRENDS

Bikash Choudhury

One humid Sunday morning my better half announced barely getting out of bed; today is the house cleaning Sunday and I have asked Laxmi our maid to thoroughly clean every nook and corner of our 2bhk rented home. I new already what is coming next; “park yourself outside and manage your breakfast outside of home”. No wonder, near Master Canteen Square, our Desi Jantarmantar of Delhi where protesters pitch their tents; you will find a tent for “Men’s Protection Commission” to protect men from abuse and domestic violence from their wives. As instructed after completing the morning chores; parked myself at a completely unoccupied corner of Idli Bhawan—a near by South Indian Restaurant in Patia; while fondly remembering my days in Chennai Besant Nagar Beach on Sunday Morning followed by steaming hot Sambar Idli at Maharaja Restaurant at Adyar. While rummaging through memories one call came and due to poor signal I had to troupe out to attend the call; by the time I returned to my seat, I found them occupied by two young IT working couple. I politely told them that since they have occupied my place; I have to occupy the vacant seat in front of them. They nodded in agreement; soon after my order of Onion Dosa was served and I fed my hungry stomach slowly taking the taste of very soft Idli with hot Sambar and Coconut Chutteny. After some time the couple was served with Dosa and Idli and without caring for a stranger sitting in a hitting distance; they started feeding each other alternatively. I felt little uncomfortable initially; gained composure later and as usual I ordered a Mini Coffee to seal my breakfast with the freshly brewed South Indian Coffee which I enjoyed in the company of this young couple; while, reasoning inside that the “Public Display of Affection” by young people of SMART PHONE ERA is too common to be even mentioned; if you have read “Half a Girl Friend” by Chetan Bhagat or any of his novels; then, you would have received a degree in romance in the annual convocation. I was actually romancing about the changing social trends happening in front of our eyes without being noticed or aware of. Because, I have seen my grand parents not addressing each other by their names in private; forget about even standing in one frame in public. However, they have sired 6 off springs in my father and his three brothers and two sisters. While, I have observed my father calling my mother by her maiden name “Lochan” and he was progressive enough to go to Rotary Club on weekends in Angul town accompanied by my mother in Copper Sulphate Ladies Coat with golden stripes and they used to interact like friends in private. After my marriage I gave my wife a new home name- “Suman” and privately call her “dear” which she reciprocates. Dress codes have changed drastically in three generation; my grand father used to wear only Dhoti & Kurta and Grand Mother adorned Saree with Pallus covering the head in contrast my father changed into trousers and shirts, in winter he puts on a Blazer; while my mother used Sarees only, however, the color scheme and textures of sarees were more flamboyant and Pallus stayed on the head, in front of elders only. Now a days my Bhavi window shops in Palazios with only one inch deep make up driving a big hole in my brother’s wallet, my wife slips into western attires making neighbor’s envy and owner’s pride palpable and my younger brother’s wife who is tall and beautiful as good as Hollywood Divas; some times, post her images in FB/what’s App in austentious western garments to say it loudly—hey, I have arrived in America making our desi women folk in town go red in little jealousy. Now, our nephew’s and nieces order designer dresses and dance for hours in Baratis without any eye bros being raised; while, family gives tacit consent for love marriages within and outside castes; which was strictly no-no a few years earlier. This can’t just be the story of my extended family alone; that’s pretty much the trend in our contemporary society of our class-middle one. So, public display of affection is a non-issue and a vital part of our changing social trend. What you say readers?     

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Women's Day would be worthwhile if we decide to give equal property rights to our Sisters, Daughter in our homes first; this Initiative would Stop/Control Dowry Related Violence. Further, it is a Economic Necessity to Bring 48% of our Population(Women) into Mainstream of Indian Economy to make Rapid Strides in Socio-Economic transformation that we so assiduously Pursue in Recent Times. 33% Reservation for Women in Parliament/State Assembly could be starting Point. If that does not Bring Necessary Change in the Status of Women in our Society then ALL WOMAN POLITICAL PARTY could be a Good Alternative.

New Year Greetings & Suggestions to Chief Minister of Odisha

31^st December 2016

Shri Naveen Patnaik,

Chief Minister of Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Esteemed Naveen Ji,

On the last day of year 2016 I wish to greet you for the New Year 2017 and also share some wish list which our popular Government under your leadership would consider to implement.

1-     I wish our Capital City Bhubaneswar become the Cleanest City in the country in 2017.

·       This will be easier to achieve if we assign the task to a group of Sr. IAS officer in the rank of Commissioner & Secretary; who would draw Government resources and Public Participation in this gigantic task.     

2-     I wish the Tourist Triangle of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri become the most attractive Tourist destination for Foreign & Domestic Tourist.

·       We can decorate the sky line of tourist triangle with Hoarding Size Public Art/Sculpture that reflects the affluent tradition of our own culture with the help of International, National and our own State Artist of repute.

·       We can invite top creative persons for residency during the peak tourist season.

·       We can develop a Disney like amusement park near Nandankanan Zoological Park.

3-     We can develop our Chilika Lake like Macau in China dedicated to tourist.

• We can develop a new Metro City encircling the Chilika Lake to become the driver of economic progress of Odisha. 

Thanking you.

Yours Faithfully,

Bikash Choudhury

Mob:9853426657

HAS INDIAN MEDIA LET DOWN THE NATION?

Bikash Choudhury

One top media mogul described his media outfit “as business of advertising”. This was a very audacious and matter of fact statement by the owner of a very prominent media brands for over 100 years in the practice of this Business. See, this is very much true for other media owners as well; however, they do not have courage of conviction to state the obvious. We all see this happening before our own eyes as we see in the day’s news paper the item of news like Rape, Murder, Accidents, All Kinds of Corrupt Practices and Terror Strikes hog the limelight in the front page and lucidly explained in the right hand side inner pages where it must be prominently visible to a naked eye. Same holds good for the now infamous electronic media whose purse strings are mainly driven by the TRP ratings that decides their level of advertising compensations for a 10 second spots; therefore, apart from news and views they show every thing else that our naked mind drools over without pretensions sex, sleaze, debonair award ceremony most of them purchased before over a five star launch or dinner depending upon their respective libido. They do cover some positive news in the fringe periphery very difficult to get noticed and too far from drawing the social attention or changing our injurious habits, spurious beliefs and toxic culture. The romance of journalism is long dead. Who will wake up our fourth estate now? GoI has started one progressive policy for “Monetizing Gold” that wish to transform unproductive yellow metals in the possessions of individuals into very productive assets for the Nation while individual earns a good income (2.75 % interest) on their exposure to the Sovereign Gold Bonds. However, the public response to this scheme is tepid; because, our social conditioning, popular habits and old culture of having the Yellow Metals at home is so powerful that all the benefits of additional income, safety and substantial return on investments has not been able to draw Indian people to subscribe to Indian Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme. Our Media play a very vital role for public education on such issue of National importance; however, neither our mainstream English Language media nor Vernacular media ever tried to highlight the importance of gold monetization scheme that would have gone a long way to finance our Infrastructure Sector (Rail, Road, Port & Airports) and Social Sectors (Education & Health) which requires a trillion dollars of investment to pull our country from historic disadvantages. India has approximately twenty thousand tonnes of yellow metal in the possession of individuals; at least, if we are able to monetize 50% of the stock then we can have World Class Roads, Bullet Trains, Airports at District Headquarters and we could pay decent salary to our primary teachers to attract talent while populating our rural health centers with qualified Medical practitioners to uplift our general health system just like in developed Nations. There is still time for Indian Media to consider this issue in depth and act with alacrity for the welfare of our billion plus people. Otherwise, Indian Media would let down this Nation.

(Authors Bio: Socio-Economic-Political Activist and Freelance Writer on socioeconomic & political issues and Art & Culture. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com) 

    

PURI: ERA AND AURA

BIKASH CHOUDHURY

Puri: Era and Aura got off to a colorful start inside the leafy Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre at Bhubaneswar. This was the solo maiden show of a very bold and accomplished artist Susmita Sahoo, who is an art teacher in Kendriya Vidyalya, Kharagpur after completing her Bachelor in Fine Arts from BK Art College, Bhubanewswar. Not only the title of the show was unconventional, and in a way unique to the artist inside; but, also her choice of the medium—water color to showcase the cultural legacy of the Puri township that revolves around Sri Mandir, Jagannath Sanskriti, tourists and pilgrims, who come calling from all over the world to inundate themselves with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. Susmita justifiably felt that the rich heritage of Puri is facing a threat from the very turbulent changing times that would take its toll on the rich tradition and culture manifested in its various festivals celebrated throughout the year. Keeping these thoughts at the back of her mind; she was inspired to capture some of the cultural places and activities related to Lord Jagannath in the spiritual township of Puri in her paintings with water color on paper. It would be an understatement if it’s said “Susmita has chosen her subjects carefully and impeccably that would remind any ordinary visitor of Jagannath Temple and instantly connect with him and her. One such painting was about “Dolamandapa Sahi after Dark” the narrow by lanes in front of Srimandira; that is lined with small shops and remain chokablock filled with pilgrims in the day and night. Susmita has captured the place at night with unparalleled brush strokes that illuminates the dusty bylanes in the hearts and minds of an art lover and devotee of Lord Jagannath. Susmita says “water color is a very vibrant medium which is direct and creates its effects at lightening speed, and they can’t be reversed or duplicated.” The artist has used most transparent shades and some cool techniques that orchestrate the luminosity of the medium with diverse textures that illuminates her paintings. In this series she has very deep, rich and larger than life water color paintings depicting ancient folklore with myriad of colors; but, judiciously balanced to give a scintillating view of the art work. The painting referred above is the “Naga Painting—14” x 11”. Nagas used to protect Puri from invaders; and, Naga Puja is one of the rare events practiced only at Puri during Durga Puja. There are some other prominent paintings like Raghunandan Library in Emar Mutt, Hypnotic Drummer, Bojhia bhai, Emar Mutt, Mahaprasad on trolley, Rosha Ghara and Conch seller. Susmita conceded that it will take many more years of efforts to fully cover the rich heritage and diversity of Puri, the cultural icon of Odisha; she has plans to have many exhibitions in the future. Apart from her skill on art; Susmita, would go down in the history as the first cultural chronicler of Jagannath Sanskriti and Puri in a very powerful visual medium. This initiative—Era & Aura shall inspire many younger generation of artist to showcase the precious and affluent cultural heritage of Odisha in the future.

(Authors Bio: Socio-Economic-Political Activist and Freelance Writer on Art & Culture. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com) 

HOW TO CREATE NON-DIGITAL JOBS?

Bikash Choudhury

Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor in one of his lecture said “if you down load a movie and enjoy at home; it does not make any economic activity. However, if you go to a theater to watch movies, it does” simple logic is if you go out you have to spend cash on transport, buy a movie ticket on the counter and buy food in the cafeteria; all these make you relax and happy and at the same time it create jobs for many others and therefore add to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So thumb rule remains every rupee that is spent if creates a job or fractions of a job, then it is advantage to economy as it goes on adding a virtuous cycle of prosperity depending on the nature & quantum of expenditure.

                                            Simple cooking skills for interested unemployed youth/school drop outs could add a million jobs in our economy. The story is about the challenges of Double income families living in the six metro cities of our country; both of whom drive at least one and half hour for work and find it very difficult to cook at home; mostly live on bought out foods delivered at home which is very expensive and not very healthy. They can afford a good, properly trained cook at home for one break fast, lunch/dinner a day at Rs 5000 a month. If we assume the population of six metro cities of India: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkatta, Hyderabad and Bangaluru at 6 crore and number of families at 1.5 crore and further assume that only 30% families would need & have ability to pay Rs. 5000 a month then approximately we are looking at  5 million families. If one well trained cook could serve 5 families in a 8 hours roaster then we are looking at 1 million jobs that could earn a person about Rs. 10,000-Rs. 15,000 a month enough for a good living for the starters; as they get more experience then they could probably branch out in the food business as entrepreneur or add specialized skills in cooking to become a Chef in Hospitality Industry or could migrate to middle east/western countries and earn a fortune to repatriate to their families back home. Further, we will need a retinue of professional Skill Development Institute for cooking; if one institute can produce 1000 well trained cooks a year then we may require one thousand such Skill Training Institute in the country. And, we shall need at least 10 business organization as Service Providers—Home Cooking, in each metro city that makes it 60 for all six metro cities. This exercise not only reveals the potential of Job Creation in the economy by finding a simple solution to mundane problem of Home Cooked Food for Double Income Families in metro cities; it also indicate the capacity of further growth of economy as series of multiplier effects could happen at different nodes at different life cycles in the Industry. The externalities that comes to mind immediately is the comfort of working house wives with the service of a cook at home; further, they get little more free time for recreation & rejuvenation that aids creativity at work resulting in innovation & enterprise. In the mirror image one million cooks on the job would enhance their personal consumption fueling demand for goods & services worth Rs.10, 000 crore per annum while Rs. 2000 crore could be added to our savings. Again, there are scopes for earning foreign currency for the country with growing numbers of old age people in developed countries, who may need the services of home cook food or a cook at home. All of these could lead to a huge economic activity that benefits a large section of our people at the bottom of the pyramid.        

                        

If you have bought a fifty gram pack of Haladiram salted pea nuts @ Rs. 10 recently from your neighborhood corner shop; then, you would have actually paid

Rs. 200 for one kilogram of just salted pea nuts hygienically packed with a brand name—no rocket science involved. Do you know how much a farmer is paid for the same 1 Kilogram of raw pea nuts? That varies between Rs.50-80 a Kilogram. The spread remain between Rs.120-Rs.150 for kilogram which is a huge amount for the kind of value addition in terms of food processing. This problem can be turned in its head to create substantial amount of jobs in rural areas in food processing. Rural areas are short in basic technology for food processing, awareness & need of hygiene for food items, packaging and marketing muscle. All of these can be provided for by an entrepreneur from bigger cities at a price to make processed food like salted pea nuts and other items at the “pit head” in rural areas at a fraction of cost in collaboration with “Farmer Collectives”; if they share the spread equally then they both pick up Rs.60-Rs.75 a kilogram which would be huge jump in farmers income with additional opportunity of creating non-farm jobs in the rural areas and at the same time it would be a hugely profitable venture for the business men in bigger cities. It may so happen in future Global Retailers would source processed food from Indian Rural Areas directly making a huge economic activity with creation of new trades of employment. If we could revamp the “SUPW—socially useful productive work” curriculum in the schools of rural areas and train school children on food processing then we could simultaneously create rural job ready work force in food processing. This case study if successfully executed could eliminate about 40% of food waste between “farms to plate” adding its own contribution to our economic growth.    

                               India has earned a name for its Art, Craft and Architecture for thousands of years and all across the globe. However, our Financial Institutional Investors like Life Insurance Corporation and Mutual Funds have deserted our creative people. If our FII start investing 1% of their corpus in Indian Art then we could soon persuade or attract ordinary house holds to keep at least one Indian Art Piece in their living room; that, over a period of time will at least add half million jobs in our economy; how? India has a vibrant eco-system for Art & Architecture which remains dormant due to investor’s apathy. If domestic FII give an initial leg up to our Creative Industry then that could create a robust demand for Art, Art Gallery, Art Museum, Auction House, Art Publication, Rating Agency and professionals needed to run such institutions at the back of enhanced public interest in consequence of demonstration effect. It could soon transform India into a Global Hub for Art driving creativity in the country. Be that as it may; it is apparent, we can also create huge amount of jobs in non-digital medium by solving very mundane problems and also playing into our core strength. Shall we?

Authors Bio: Socio-Economic-Political Activist and Freelance Writer on Socio-economic and Political Issues. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com

ODISHA COULD LEAD INDIA?

Bikash Choudhury

Arun Maira, former member of planning commission and CEO of Boston Consulting Group said “this land has power to change the world” referring to Odisha in his CYSD Memorial Lecture at Bhubaneswar a few years back; however, he did not elaborate. The famous Kalinga war in 261 B.C that changed Emperor Ashoka from Chandashoka to Dharmashoka would have been at the back of his mind. History and Geography of our land bear ample testimony of economic and political power of this ancient civilization that is known as Odisha at present. The moot point remains; can we turn the wheel once again in such a manner that Odisha would become the role model for India both in economics and politics? This is the thought that transcends one’s mind when Lord of the World (Lord Jagannath) troupes out of his abode to meet his subjects in his specially made chariot. India goes through many problems simultaneously which defy a sustainable solution for over 70 years since our independence; abject poverty, unemployment, farmer suicide, flawed education system and non-existing healthcare infrastructure; however, the biggest of them all is the “lack of political unity” at the top and this was the main reason for which our country suffered from colonization for five hundred years and the same holds good even now that hinders a resolution to all intractable problems cited earlier. Architect of modern Odisha, Biju Babu was a man of, and for, consensus who took on the role of consensus builder in Janata and later National Front Government at the centre that gave Odisha a much bigger profile than numeral 21( number of seats in the lower house of parliament). Odisha could once again take on the role of “Political Unifier” amidst stark and staunch Ideological & Political divide in the larger socio-economic interest of our Nation & Nationality. Ideally, GST tax proposals could have been implemented for the benefit of all, much earlier. In fact there is an opening for the role of a National Consensus Builder and Odisha could take on this role to its own advantage. Odisha has already been a role model in management of Natural Disaster, with extraordinary handling of Phailine. We could once again become the role model if we fool proof our coast line with Mangroves and off shore wind mills; making us power surplus for next two decade and attracting Global Industry while earning brownie points on carbon credits. This journey could continue uninterrupted if we adapt to a new entrepreneurial “culture” in our governance, revive our ancient competence in International Trade and creativity in Art, Craft & Architecture. We have already earned laurels for our capacity of imagination in urban management in the SMART City sweep stakes; however, we can actually surprise & shock the country by making all our city and towns free from mosquitoes and providing potable tap water making water purifier redundant. Our buildings and road could sport of rain water harvesting facility combining with roof top solar energy & vegetable farms that would make people of Odisha healthy, wealthy and wise. Shall we?

Authors Bio: Socio-Economic-Political Activist and Freelance Writer on Socioeconomic and Political Issues. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com

Click here to Reply or Forward