NAVODIT 2016 at ASI Auditorium Port Blair Andaman Nicobar Islands

Art has always fascinated me, particularly the dance. Now a day it is clubbed with performing arts. Do performing arts include dance, playing musical instruments, singing, plays-theatre etc? What about painting, writing, decorating home?

When I started appreciating arts at young age, I came to know few artists who were famous at national level; it was only due to the Doordarshan. That was the only channel and it was synonymous of TELEVISION. I saw Smt Swapna Sundari, Chitra Viswesaran, Alarmel valli, followed by Malvika Sarrukai, Prerna Shrimali, Veroniqa Azan, Shobha Naidu, Vanisri Rao, Charu Mathur, Malbika Sarkar etc they were called Young artist. Few were famous even more than few elder artists.

However young artists were always encouraged to show their talents at various stages, Yuva kalakar, Yuva Mahotsav, Sharadotsav etc. 

Suddenly I saw a tweet of Ministry of art and culture stating that there will be a function at Port Blair named as NOVODIT. The department of Art and Culture Andaman Nicobar Administration is organizing in association with East Zone Cultural Centre on 25 November 2016.

Hon'ble Lt Governor  A & N Islands inaugurating the function 

I am a so called art enthusiast and I am very well known among few people and ill famous as a dancer.

Despite of well known in circle, I was not invited to the function. I mean I did not receive any invitation card. I don’t know whether there was any invitation card printed or not? But previous experience tells that I usually do not get invitation card. In some functions I had to plead with few officials shamelessly for an invitation card. Most of programs usually held free for public. But being in Government we often feel that if I get an official invitation then my social status seems to be enhanced.

But till 6 pm I could hold back myself, as the clock proceeded further I lost all resistance. After dropping my son for tuition class I just ran towards the venue, it was late though. As with thumping heart I entered the auditorium found that Hon’ble Lt Governor of A & N Islands was addressing the gathering. Thus I felt some relief, and thought I am not that much late.

I was waiting for magic to happen. 

Dharmendra Kumar from Bihar

There was an  announcement that program will start with a song of folk singer from Bihar. Mr Dharmendra Kumar came to stage. He is a young artist from Bihar. He started singing folk Songs of Bihar. Then he sang a Purvi, poorvi? accompanied by musicians. These musicians hailed from Port Blair itself.

Sound was good with broad spectrum of octave, but somewhere it sounded that he lacked, what we call as   “Swar ki pakad” the mastery on swaras. But if he practices with a good guru, teacher then he can improve his art.

Another star of attraction was this girl named Miss Priyanka Talukdar. Her father Shri Talukdar has been teaching music in Port Blair for the last many years. I had met him back in 1998 when i was in Education Department. He worked as par time teacher then. But his efforts to teach students has bored fruits now after 20 years. The girl which we saw 18 years back is now performing on stage it was a good feeling. 


She (Priyanka) sang a Tarana also. She rendered it in a simple way. But there is lot of scope for improvement. She has to get specialised training from some Guru at Mainland to hon her skills. her. Her स्वर  swar rendering is good. 




Next was an item as they called it, the folk song of Bengal, but it was a Baul geeti, Baul songs by Dhanonjay Dhibar. He had a good power voice. But somehow he has to get into the true feeling or character of a Baul while singing.
He tried but as he himself said he was not able to dance as the space was not enough in front of the stage.
As we know the Baul songs are soul touching experience. To feel to touch that feeling we can not resist dancing on those Baul musical beats coming out of the ektara- one string instrument.


But in present times singers use electronic guitars and other electrical instruments.

Dhananjoy also used an electronic instrument.













Next was the Bharatnatyam item. As they announced the word “item” it sounded as a tailored item. It was Bharatnatyam by Sumita Roy.
Many senior artists often complain that few modern parents come and ask to teach “items’ to their wards. That sounds awkward to senior gurus. Now a days it is fashion to present an item on stage, instead of Dance.

Coming to the present function this item was a “thillana’ as was announced. Thillana is same as Tarana in Hindustani. We perform Tarana in Kathak similarly thillana is performed in Bharatnatyam. But the present item was little bit confusing, as it was little slow in temper. Usually what I have seen in Thillana it happens to be most energetic item in whole dance program, or it should be portrayed such. But those crisp beats, gaps all were missing. I mean as far as the image which I had of thillana, this item was not upto mark to that image. But the “adavus” poses mudras were quite fine. Thus she seemed to be a serious student. Movements of eyes, head, hands were all quite good. 

Next came a surprising dance program. I am sure not many in audiences must have heard the name of Gaudiya Nritya.  
Years back I saw the Satria dance, on Doordarshan, which took shape in Shatras or Chatras,  the ashrams in rural Assam. 
But Gaudiya Nritya even i have not heard before, may be say 2000? But due to efforts of few dancers from Bengal Gaudiya is now developing into a full fledged dance.
Often it so happens that we know or have many rituals and keep on doing since ages but do not know the significance of these rituals. I am connecting to the origination of such dances. So at various religious occasions in rural India people perform dance and sing songs, but keeping all this as just ritual things. And we know that in India many dances are associated with the Temple rituals. Even Kathak was performed by the Kathakars- loose meaning is story teller, temples. The subject of these stories were mythological aspects. As it is believed the dance as we know Kathak Kathakali Kuchipudi are all evolved from Temple dances. Thus very recently this dance the Gaudiya also have been researched and being presented as classical dance of Bengal.  Present dance was performed by the Satabdee Banerjee. 

           

At the end Director, East Zone Cultural Centre, Shir Om Prakash Bharati proposed vote of thanx and certificate as token of appreciation were presented to participants by Chief Secretary of Andaman Nicobar Administration Shri Anindo Majumdar ji 

Modi travelling alone in train. Passengers shocked!!!!! Full Video

DeMonetisation the mystery/ or good for people & GDP etc

#DeMonetisation is a new hastag on Tweeter now days. I had never in my life heard of such word existed in English which I knew/learnt since school days. But for few days in row it seems that whole democracy is at stake. Media is reporting many instances taking place in Delhi and other places. Few leaders are also opposing the move of govt.

I asked the shop owner why you are not accepting 500/1000 rupee notes, she said the bank people have informed that don’t accept these notes. Prodding further she said we have deposit in the bank then they will ask several queries, and you see we also don’t give receipts also so that becomes difficult. Later in the week I asked why don’t you use Paytm? To this said what? Paytm or ATM? What are you saying? One worker was smart he said we don’t use the Paytm.

Same thing I asked the neighbouring shop from where I buy sometimes vegetables, He replied that we don’t use it? We cant? I was bit surprised. Few days back I paid rs 394 using my debit card in the bakery shop from where I buy bread and milk.

On TV just saw how small shop owners are using Paytm? In Patna a stall in front of a girls college used to sell chaat, golguppa. The college girls suggested the stall owner boy as why you don’t use Paytm? He with the help of girls downloaded this Paytm app and now he is using this app and he is happy in this crisis of lack of rupee notes in small denomination.

A fast food stall owner in Uttarakhand started using this Paytm app and now feels happy. Similarly a pandit ji got his fee in a marriage through Paytm. Now it seems lot of people are moving towards cashless transactions. Even it is being called as cashless economy.

As we all know people give all payments of marriages in cash. Most often we buy several things off the counter but do not take proper receipts. However Govt employees particularly take precautions while taking receipts when they buy medicines, text books, traveling tickets. We can guess why?

When we pay cashless then all such money remains unaccounted. Small business units, shops, street vendors, stalls where we eat fast food, golguppa(pani puri), Bhelpuri, Paan, icecream etc.

When we buy vegetables, bangles, or have haircut, or have scooter got repaired, all such transaction remain unaccounted. Then how come all such transactions become part of economy? Have you given a thought? Most often such economic activity is termed as UnOrganised. In India this unorganised sector is very large. No data is available on the transaction done within this unorganised sector. The quantum of this unorganised sector is estimated through the Economic Census by the Govt of India. This Economic Census is conducted all over the country but once in every five years or so. The Sixth Economic Census has just completed during 2014-15 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation, New Delhi.

Other source is the survey conducted by the NSSO- National Sample Survey Organistation. But the truth is that it is also a sample survey thus cannot tell the correct figure of all such transactions in this sector.

Unorganised means that it is not registered anywhere. Despite of having so many acts rules and registering authorities such unorganised business units thrive in our vast economy.

Economic Census gives a picture of types of economic activities being carried out in any area. It also gives account of the workers engaged in such activities, with the categories like owner, hired workers, or self owned/ economic units with premises or without premises. The exact word is within household or outside household. Since economic activity is carried under these two category. If householder goes out of his house and does economic activity somewhere else then it is called outside household activity. If the members of household do some activity within house then it is called within household activity. Nowhere the actual annual transaction is recorded in this survey. Thus the quantum of the economy is just estimated or an assumption.

Demonetisation has brought this idea to fore i.e. need to have all transactions including that of Unorganised sector to be accounted and Thus to be done online/cashless. All such transactions automatically are brought to account. After this there will be another step so that all such activities will be required to be registered. If any transaction is beyond normal limits or some unusual frequency then such transactions/accounts will come under scanner.

Recently the limit of deposit is Rs 2.5 lakhs in an account. This will be considered as normal. It is highlighted in TV news that agency will presume this as savings of ladies of households.

Why shop owners or small business operators are not using any bank account or online mode of accepting payments? It is all just matter of thinking perception. How they perceive the whole issue of earning money. We don’t get proper receipts on our purchases in shops. In some shops I have found that shop owner tell if you ask for a receipt then you have to pay this amount and if you don’t want it then you pay this amount. I mean we are asked to pay two different amounts. In one shop I got a reply from the shop that if you don’t take whole packing then you can pay less. He opened that pack and gave me all things and kept that packing with him. I am still amazed as to why he did this?

I remember the time when I used to go Azadpur sabji mandi from Delhi University to buy vegetables in bulk for our hostel there I used to pay in cash. In such wholesale markets people do all transactions in cash only. There I don’t think transactions are less than 1000 rupees. But then why they don’t transact online?  Is it a matter of habit or something else?

On Tv we heard that now onwards those who are registered with the declared notified markets can withdraw Rs 50K. Similarly there are various entities requiring registration. There are various registering authorities as defined under various acts/rules. Farmers can purchase seeds from the govt shops. There too seed shops are ought to be registered with concerning authorities.

If Farmers require fertilizers then also they should buy from registered shops. When we all try to move towards cashless transactions then there will be a direct need of proper registration of enterprises. That will be required, if taxation agencies will be vigil enough to scan such transactions beyond normal limits.

Now most of people are aware of PAN that is a unique number allotted to an individual. After 8^th November 2016 now everybody knows that to purchase gold of more than 2 lakhs PAN is required to be quoted. I doubt if the limit is 50K or 2 lakhs. But those transactions on purchase of gold beyond 2 lakhs in any jewellery shop will be monitored. All the jewellery shops are required to keep records of such transactions. If they have done in cashless form then it will be easy to monitor.

By this Demonetisation there will be a revolution kind of thing in every sector. Today saw one news on TV about workers in Tea plantation. The owners are giving Rs 2k to a batch of 4 people. They were told to distribute among themselves. How troubling is this news. Another surprising thing I came to know that the minimum wage of workers in tea plantation is about Rs 126 in Assam. Is it true? In MGNREGA I thought the minimum wage is Rs 190. But in some places the minimum wage is more than Rs 200. In those places people do not go for work under MGNREGA as the wage is less than minimum wage. I think minimum wages vary from place to place, state to state. Similarly the BPL limits also vary accordingly in each state. In recent SECC- Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 lots of parameters were collected but while going through the literature on this, I found that states were already deciding earlier the limits of BPL on the basis of parameters collected through earlier surveys.

News from Arunachal Pradesh informs that people are coping with this cash crunch crisis by adopting barter system. That was prevalent centuries ago.

People who are involved in estimation of GDP know better how and what data is important. How that data comes and from where? Most of the data is taken from surveys and estimated also (as far as I know). Since many times data is not available. How we can know the quantum of revenue earned by the Private transports. Do all private transporters provide correct data on their revenues?

In manufacturing sector how we can collect data? Do we have online data of all transaction done by the manufacturing units? Do we have online data of all tourists guide? Or do we have online data of revenue earned from all tourism related activities? This comes under trade sector? How many transactions are done online in all restaurants? Hotels?

Traders in many places keep godown/warehouses and pay rents. But most of cases we don’t have correct data on the workers hired by traders? How much they pay to these workers? Neither labour department know nor does any survey collect such data correctly. As most often surveys records data based on response only. But if registration is done mandatory and payments are done online then the correct data may emerge? Shops and commercial establishment act and other labour laws under which insurance/compensations to then workers are done, can provide data, provided all transaction are done ONLINE.

Middle men who procure agricultural produce from farmers are hit the most in present crisis. They pay to farmers in cash(may be?) but I know that these middle men do not pay proper cost? And on the other hand they sell these produce in wholesale markets or retailers also at huge prices, which included their profits? On TV the operators at wholesale market were saying this crisis has hit/affected them badly. But they do not think that earlier they were earning huge profits from selling at high prices. Common people were the effected the most as we have to shell out more money to buy vegetables for our household needs. Many times we think whether the farmers are getting their due cost/price?

I was buying vegetables at the Kalyanpur market near IIT Kanpur. Suddenly, a news came about riots in Kanpur city. In the shop we were buying the onions, on inquiring about prices he told Rs 20/Kg. same person was selling onions at the rate of Rs 7/Kg. it was impact of a news back then in 1991.

In present crisis also some genuine cases are difficult to be addressed as many frauds are coming to light. People are hoarding the Rs 100 notes, few are big shops, business operators. But in some news on TV many Bank officials are said to be involved black marketing the new notes. I think it would have been better if Army or forces would have been used to exchange the notes in every village, So that each and every citizen would have got money? Just like rationing.

Army can be called as this is national crisis. I think it is better if we all move towards a cashless society. Then only the true GDP can emerge. Present crisis has highlighted that there existed so called parallel economy which was never accounted into the GDP. With this move Demonetisation if all such money or economy(as we can call it) comes into account then only it will give a proper picture of real GDP.

Until and unless we the people do not participate in this exercise by paying proper tax, asking proper receipt of every purchase, by not paying in cash(as far as possible), pay our fees, bills in time using online mode, keeping our bank account utilised, forcing every enterprise to follow proper guidelines  we cannot become a good economy.

Pakeezah - Thade Rahiyo O Baanke Yaar - Lata Mangeshkar

Celbration of Indian Art Sculptor Architect Temple Stone carving: Splendor of India,

Queue- a known word for common man in India?? so ingrained in us

Queue now has become a problem and an issue for opposition. For the last 70 years common man has seen nothing but a Queue? 
my blog https://swayamkatha.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/queue-a-known-word-for-common-man-in-india-so-ingrained-in-us/

When I used to go for Ration shop often there was a long queue, very often we found shop closed, and we never got to know when next it will be open? So that I can come on that day.

From type one to IITK gate I used to go some time to get ration, wheat, sugar etc. But when I used to reach that shop, often it was closed or a long queue.

When I was unemployed, often I had to go to Banks to get a Bank draft. If you reach early, by early I mean early to 8 AM then you can think of getting bank draft earlier by 12 or noon. Sometimes bank employees used to ask us to come at 3pm by that time our bank draft was ready. It was later that reforms were introduced and few persons were authorised to sign the bank draft, then onwards we used to get bank draft early.

While filling the forms for CPMT or JEE exams there used to be large crowd at bank gate. I am talking about 1980s. At gate huge rush almost crushed into the grilled gate of bank, if you are lucky you can entre without any harm to body.

After filling those forms for examinations I used to go the Head Post Office at Barachauraha, Kanpur. At the speed post counter in the Post Office I had to face a big Queue. If they told to bring stamps then I had to stand in the queue for stamps. Later I came to know about Postal orders. There also I had to stand in a queue.

Most important was Hospital. I don’t think anyone can say that he has seen a hospital without any queue?? Now I am telling the scene not very back, but of most recent days 2004 or 2005. Doctor prescribed for blood test fasting. I reached the GB Pant Hospital. I saw a big crowd at 8 AM at the blood collection centre. I reached at 8 AM because I was told that blood will be collected at 8 AM. But I fainted at the sight of a big crowd.

Next day I reached at 7 AM, I was late there. As almost 50 or 60 persons were already there before me. I stood in that queue. After wait of almost 2 hours, that counter opened and a person started writing in register and started giving a test tube type thing. When I reached at counter it was almost 9.30  or 10 AM. Then whole of this crowd reached in that room where people were collecting the blood sample. Of course there was this queue. Cut off time for collection of blood sample is 10.30 AM. If I had to give two samples then I am asked to come after 1 and half hour after taking food. Thus if a person had to give his blood sample without taking a sip of water or tea and able to give his blood sample at 10 AM, think of the time he has to WAIT and all this in a queue. Then, again in a queue to give second sample of blood. After that for taking report next day again one has to stand in a queue.

Now to get my son seen by a Doctor I had to phone in pvt clinic at 6 AM. Then I got the number of 25? When This 25 will come I didn’t know? I went there at 12 in noon but the number was not near. We stood in a queue and waited for our turn that came around 1.30. all these years I had to stand in queue for almost three hours in the GB Pant Hospital. Dr Bharadwaj was the specialist and we wanted to consult him. As he was the only one child specialist in GB Pant Hospital that time in whom we can believe. Wait of 3 or 4 hours standing in queue was nothing for us at that time.

I wanted to consult an ortho surgeon at GB Pant Hospital as my wife is suffering of back pain for many years now. I had to reach at Hospital at 7 AM or earlier. As when I reached at 7 AM I found few persons already occupying some places in a queue. They told they had come at 5.30 AM. I waited there in a queue. At around 8 or 8.15 a person in white uniform came and started writing in a register and giving a token number. Then If I am lucky or I had reached early then I can get token number of starting numbers or one digit. Very often I get 15 or 20 token number. AT 9 AM doctor reached. He had to struggle through the crowd to make way into his room. I reached at hospital at around 10.30 AM considering that token number of 15 or 20 will be now ready in queue to go inside the cabin of doctor. To my surprise huge crowd was still there and I could not enter even if waiting for an hour. I did not try to enter room of doctor by PROCLAIMING that I am a director or having a high post. I thought God will see that I am crossing line and number of these patients. This quality of mine is a huge negative aspect of my personality in eyes of my wife? As I am unable to impress anyone in Hospital so that he can help me in entering doctor’s cabin.

Thus along wait of few hours I am able to enter the room of doctor. If He says go for X-Ray, Ultrasound etc then again I have to face a long queue.

Once doc told to get Ultrasound done. I went to that room there nurse scolded me and later asked me to come after one month as dates are not available. I was taken aback. How come they can ask patient to come after one month, how the patient can survive pain. Next day I talked to someone, he in turn must have told something to that nurse. I was asked to come next morning early. I reached there on third day. Then I got Ultrasound done.

When you enter GB Pant Hospital, you have to stand in a queue to get your registration done. From there you have to go to the opd number there if they have token system then you have to get your name registered and get a token. Or you simply stand in queue in front of that doctor’s cabin. After doctor written prescription of medicine you have to move to the pharmacy area. There you have to stand in a long queue to get your name registered called “Data entry”. After that you have to stand again in a long queue to get those medicines. If the crepe bandage is prescribed you have to go to the room number one. There a nurse on duty will give you the crepe bandage. Ideally we are so accustomed to the queue culture.

If I have to travel by train during the summer vacations, I get a high fever on just imagining of standing a queue. I go to the Railway reservation counter at Charbagh railway station when I am in Lucknow, or to the Rawatpur or central Kanpur station in Kanpur. If you reach early by 7 Am you can get a place in many queues. As there are many counters in that railways station. At Lucknow we have reservation on two sides of the Railway station. I had been to the New Delhi Railway Reservation counter. I also got the chance to stand in a queue at Sarojini Nagar rail reservation counter. Similarly I had to stand at Some place I don’t remember? I think Rithala near Rohini when I went to my relative’s house in Delhi. All these places I have seen large crowds. I had the chance to spend long hours standing in queue to get railway reservation. Now very recently they have opened a Rail Reservation counter at IIT Kanpur Gate, which was not when I was in Kanpur. I get heart attack while thinking about my experience at Railway Reservation counters at Madras Railway Station and Calcutta. Multi-storey building was there but huge crowd was also there.

In college also at Kanpur University lot of students had to stand in a queue either to get admission forms, then to submit filled in forms, or to get Admit cards etc. I stood in queue to submit form for Re-Evaluation at Kanpur University.

Later I went to Employment registration building. It was on the road leading from Gol Chauraha towards gumti number 5 or hospital. On the right side there is a building after crossing the railway track which comes from Rawatpur Railway Station and goes to central railways station? Or Anwargunj? I saw a huge crowd and a queue to get forms or to submit forms. Someone told me that you can register you name in the University employment bureau. I went to Employment Bureau at Kanpur University. There was little less crowd of unemployed. I was surprised that clerk there asked straightforward some tip for registering. He also said that make arrangement for tea snack etc. by signalling with thumb and figure the usual gesture for asking money. I told him some false storey, about one Mr Mishra working in Employment Bureau. I told he is my relative and he had asked me to come so that we can go to attend a marriage in Lucknow. I had read a card on Mr Mishra’s table. Similar card was also in my home. I thought since cards r same then he might have been somehow related to my family. I cooked up a story and told that person same. I don’t remember now what was his name? Mr srivastav or some? It is during 1990s. As soon as he came to know about this he immediately called me and registered my name and specifically told me that we offer this service without any cost or fees? Early some time back he gone out of his room to have tea, and signalled me to go or wait till they had their tea. But I continued to talk with him till he reached the tea stall.  That’s how I got my name registered in the Kanpur University Employment Bureau, Without standing in a queue.

Still very recently I have seen the crowd never reduced in Banks. Either to deposit or to withdrawal or just to print the balance sheet in the pass book Or to get the FD done always I have to stand in a queue. I had account in SBI Port Blair. There was time when we were asked to submit details for KYC. Huge crowd I have seen, but what to do? I had to stand in a queue to submit my papers for KYC.

So the word queue has been ingrained in our psychic space. What’s harm if I stand in queue now? To get money exchanged??

Noor Jehan - Live Concert In Lahore In 1971

oddissi_dance_as_i_see_it