Jhulelal: The symbol of unity
In Sindh, there was once a ruler named Mirkshah, a fanatic whose courtiers convinced him that the way to attain paradise after death was to convert Hindus to Islam. Mirkshah issued a royal proclamation: everyone must convert to Islam or face death. The Hindus petitioned Mirkshah for time to decide their course of action, and he agreed. They prayed on the banks of the Indus for forty days, during which they neither shaved nor wore new clothes. They prayed, fasted, and sang religious songs. On the fortieth day, a divine voice was heard: 'I shall come down as a mortal and save you from Mirkshah'. This forty-day period is still celebrated by Sindhis and is called Chaliho.
The child prophesied by the divine voice was soon born, and word of his birth reached Mirkshah as well. He dispatched a minister named Ahirio to see the child firsthand. Ahirio carried with him a rose dipped in poison. Upon seeing the charming child, Ahirio offered the rose, but the child blew it away with a single breath. The flower landed at the child's feet. As Ahirio gazed at him, the child's form miraculously shifted—first into an old man, then a young man and finally a child again. Terrified, Ahirio rushed back and advised Mirkshah to wait and watch. The child was named Uderolal. When he was placed in a jhula(swing), it began to sway on its own and people began calling him Jhulelal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt Museum & Art Gallery: Glorious past, bright future
Chandigarh: Years after it was set up, the Govt Museum and Art Gallery of the city has turned into a major tourist attraction. It has witnessed a steady flow of visitors in the recent past. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Slowly but surely, it has caught the fancy of the residents of the city. Located in the northern part of Chandigarh in Sector 10, the Govt Museum and Art Gallery is one of the oldest buildings in the UT, carrying a rich heritage architectural value. As a public museum, it houses collections of Gandharan sculptures, sculptures from ancient and medieval India, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature paintings, and artefacts received from the Lahore Museum during the Partition of India. While the flow of visitors remained below 40,000 every year in 2020 and 2021, the museum saw more than one lakh visitors every year from 2022-2024. Since the museum remains open on Sundays too, sources said it sees a good footfall on the weekend. Chandigarh administration records show that in 2020 and 2021, the museum saw only 28,000 and 39,047 visitors respectively. The number increased significantly after that, and in the next three years — 2022, 2023, and 2024, it saw 103,000, 115,000, and 100,000 visitors respectively. The museum was established to house artefacts and collections from the Lahore Museum after the Partition. Its building was designed by Le Corbusier and his associates, and it was inaugurated in 1968.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt, Ignou release textbooks in Odia for diploma in early childhood care & education
Bhubaneswar: To enhance early childhood education, state govt, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), on Monday released course books in Odia for the diploma in early childhood care and education (DECE). The initiative aligns with the state's efforts to establish Sishu Vatikas (pre-primary), aiming to equip anganwadi workers and aspiring nursery educators with necessary skills. The course has already attracted over 53,000 applicants, highlighting its demand and relevance. Release of the textbooks follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 9 between the higher education department and Ignou. The agreement facilitates the introduction of various Ignou courses in Odia, including undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, diploma and certificate courses across diverse fields such as travel and tourism management, BBA and MBA. Previously available in English, Hindi and Tamil, the DECE course is now accessible in Odia. The one-year diploma, open to students post-Class XII, focuses on early childhood education, child health and nutrition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist: Pink Salt, The Greatest Enemy of Body Fat (Watch) GoldenEraCoverage Undo It offers a comprehensive learning experience with textbooks, audio cassettes and video tutorials, integrating both theoretical and practical components. Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, who attended the event, emphasised the importance of offering the DECE course in Odia, stating that it will greatly benefit anganwadi workers, trainers and pre-school educators by allowing them to study in their mother tongue. She noted that the move simplifies learning and makes it more accessible, benefiting individuals and organisations involved in child education and nutrition. Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj highlighted the foundational role of early education in the broader educational framework. He asserted that the DECE course would enhance the skills of educators and trainers, enabling them to deliver education through practical and straightforward methods. He also referenced the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, which advocates for strengthening early education and promoting mother tongue instruction to foster creativity and grassroots education. The event also saw virtual participation from anganwadi workers enrolled in the course, underscoring the programme's reach and impact. Keeping the demand in mind, Ignou extended the July admission deadline for different courses, including DECE, till Aug 31. Ignou vice-chancellor Uma Kanjilal and other dignitaries were present. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
‘Caste, hierarchy, untouchability, gender bias...': Bhabha Hostel's ‘welcome' board hailed for setting hard boundary
Diversity forms the core of Indian society, and yet, every day, someone's personal bias chips away at that harmony, reminding us how fragile inclusivity can be without conscious effort. An example of one such conscious effort for inclusivity was recently found in a welcome message at a hostel. In a viral LinkedIn post, a law student, Pratichi Lugaria, shared the hard-hitting welcome message at the entrance of HJ Bhabha Hostel, likely at Rajasthan University. In tune with India's visionary nuclear physicist, Homi Jehangir Bhabha's vision that diversity isn't just about differences but about how cultures mix, overlap, and create new identities, the welcome message in Hindi read: 'Shoes and slippers can enter. But caste, hierarchy, untouchability, gender bias— Lauding the message, Pratichi said that the sign 'doesn't mince words' and, simplified in saying, 'Leave Your Shoes On. Leave Your Prejudices Out.' In her LinkedIn post, the law student highlighted that no long speeches, or 'we value diversity' posters with stock photos were used, but 'Just a hard boundary: If your mindset is toxic, it's not welcome here.' Pratichi said that the board made her think about how people walk into so many offices with polished shoes and dirty thinking. 'And we let them.' 'This sign flips that script,' she said, adding that it tells you point-blank, 'Your prejudice is your problem, not ours.' 'Bring skills, ideas, and humanity. Leave ego, entitlement, and outdated '-isms' at the door.' She said that if more organisations had an HJ Bhabha Hostel-like entry rule, 'half the politics would vanish, and twice the talent would thrive.' Netizens were impressed by the welcome message and saluted 'every changemaker shaping minds with courage and clarity.' 'Salute to whosoever thought of putting this up at the gate!' said a social media user. 'Great perspective of the writer whose intention is this. Salute to every Indian who has the intention of changing the thought process and teaches them a good lesson in this way,' added another. A user lauded, 'Wow! What a line!' 'Yes. We clean our body, clothes and our homes. How about cleaning where we actually reside most - in our minds!' added another. One user said, 'It's time we all imbibe this in our DNA.'
