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Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Just Like That: Why a Delhi couple's artistic passion shines through the mundane
In the municipal hustle of metropolises, one often runs into people who stand out for the simple fact that they are above the conventional seductions that motivate most other people. The majority are overwhelmed by the daily vicissitudes of living, or pursuing the same goals of money, power, consumerism or winning the rat race of success. But there are some who live in their own world, of trying to do something different, of pursuing an unusual creativity, of being above normal considerations of cost and benefit, of being, in short, possessed by the passion of a different yardstick of satisfaction. One couple that I have come to know recently in Delhi, who typifies this difference are Sanjay and Shampa Sircar Das. They are both products of the College of Art in the city. Sanjay's passion is photography. Shampa's obsession is painting. For several years now, Sanjay has left the relative comfort of his Chittaranjan Park home, to go into deliberate anonymity, scouring the countryside of West Bengal. His aim was to photograph and chronicle the amazing terracotta structures of the state. Terracotta is the craft of baking clay to make things of use, play or embellished structures. To make intricate carvings using this technique is a remarkable and sophisticated aesthetic. The terracotta temples of Bishnupur in the Bankura District, protected by the ASI, attract throngs of tourists, Vaishnava devotees and photographers. However, the temples Sanjay discovered were far beyond the realms of Bishnupur. They were spread across the recesses of all of Bengal, ranging from Bardhaman to Murshidabad, Krishnanagar to Purulia, and many more sites. The terracotta temples are found only in Bengal. They were built by the regional kings and zamindars starting from the 15th century, some for their personal use within their homes, and others outside for the public. It was, as Sanjay says, 'like discovering architectural gold'. His journey is replete with delightful anecdotes, of how in the remotest parts of the state, travelling in boats and animal carts, he lived with the villagers, who were invariably large hearted in the meagre hospitality they could afford. With the occasional fish curry for dinner, and 'murri' (flattened rice) and tea for breakfast, Sanjay laboured on, photographing beautiful murals and structures, so overgrown with vegetation that he was perennially warned of snakes and dacoits. Finally, he has visually chronicled this forgotten, languishing treasure trove. His Exhibition of photographs, curated by Ina Puri, will open at the Cymroza Art Gallery in Mumbai on 28th May. It is then scheduled to travel to Pune, and will hopefully come to Delhi, and above all, Kolkata. Sanjay and Shampa's son, Shashwat, who is 26, has his parent's sense of fakiri or abandon. He has for the last many years cycled across most of India and Nepal with his camera. His obvious talent in photography has won him now a scholarship in Salzburg to pursue his craft further. The interesting thing is that both Sanjay and Shampa were not the least worried about their son's unconventional waywardness. In fact, in their conversations with me, they seemed quite happy that he is happy doing what he wants, much like their own attitude to life. While I am a great admirer of Shampa's work, I have a special affinity with what Sanjay has done. India is so rich in the range of its creative expressions, and so much of it is lying neglected, or even worse, under serious threat of being destroyed and lost forever to posterity. It was this concern that led me many years ago to write my book on the Havelis of Old Delhi, where with Sondeep Shankar, the well-known photographer, we could chronicle what remained of these magnificent structures before they were heedlessly pulled down to build ugly commercial buildings. The beautiful terracotta structures of West Bengal—which I think should be in UNESCO's World Heritage list—are under the same threat. I would seriously urge both the central and the West Bengal governments to see Sanjay's work, and try and save these priceless terracotta heritage from further decline or oblivion.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Case in Madras High Court against song in actor Santhanam's movie DD Next Level
The Madras High Court on Thursday (May 15, 2025) wanted to know whether the producers of actor Santhanam's upcoming movie Devil's Double Next Levelwould be willing to delete or mute an objectionable portion of the lyrics and tune in the film's song titled 'Kissa 47'. A summer vacation Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan directed advocate Vijayan Subramanian to obtain instructions from the producers by Thursday, as the movie was slated to be released in theatres on Friday (May 16, 2025). To get today's top stories from the State in your inbox, subscribe to our Tamil Nadu Today newsletter The time was granted during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, which sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to revoke the censor certificate until the producers delete the song 'Kissa 47', which reportedly had objectionable references to the phrase 'Govinda, Govinda.' Later in the day, Mr. Subramanian returned to state that the producers had decided to mute the objectionable tune and delete certain lyrics. After recording his submissions, the judge adjourned the hearing to Friday for senior counsel Sricharan Rangarajan, representing the PIL petitioner, to verify the statement. What did the PIL plea say? In his affidavit, the petitioner, M.G.D. Balaji, 49, an advocate from Old Washermanpet in Chennai, stated that he is a devout Hindu and a follower of the Vaishnava tradition. He said he recently came across a YouTube video of a press meet for actor Santhanam's upcoming movie, popularly known as DD Next Level, which is scheduled to be released in theatres on Friday. Subsequently, he heard one of the songs of the movie and found that the lyrics had been borrowed from a popular devotional hymn titled 'Srinivasa Govinda, Srivenkatesa Govinda', sung in praise of Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity of the Tirumala Tirupati Temple. He complained that the tune of the hymn had been used in a 'very strange and inappropriate context' in the song. Stating it had hurt his religious feelings, the petitioner said, the word 'Govinda' too had been used in a demeaning manner in the song. He also expressed surprise over the CBFC having issued a U/A certificate for the movie without insisting on deleting the song with such objectionable references.
India Today
05-05-2025
- General
- India Today
How third Sikh Guru Amardas took a stand against Sati, Purdah and Jizya tax
The Sikh histories talk about a historic encounter in the 16th century between the third Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Amar Das Ji, and Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Empire. During those times, the Sikh way, or panth, was still emerging. The teachings and words of Guru Nanak Dev Ji had transferred to his Amar Das Ji added to these lessons by writing almost 900 hymns, which are now part of an important portion of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. His birthday, on the 5th of May, is celebrated by the Sikh Das Ji had, prior to being declared Guru, practised the Vaishnava school of thought of the Hindus. His meeting with Akbar turned out to be an event of purport. The Guru, being faithful to the Sikh ideals of humility and equality, invited the Emperor to sit first in the Langar - the community meal served to all, high and low - before any related by the chronicler William Owen Cole in his book The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, "The Guru also took the opportunity to ask Akbar to abolish the jizya tax during their meeting in 1567, a toll then imposed upon the Hindu subjects of the empire."The Guru concerned himself not with the spirit alone, but with the well-being of society in full spoke firmly against the rite of sati, wherein a widow was made to perish upon her husband's funeral pyre. Likewise, he cast aside the practice of purdah, whereby women were kept hidden from the world, their faces veiled for all. Painting of Mughal emperor Akbar meeting Guru Amar Das in 1567 (Wikimedia Commons) GURUSHIP, AND TEACHINGS THAT GAVE SIKHI PROMINENCEFollowing eleven years of devoted service to Guru Angad and the Sikh congregations, Amar Das was appointed as the third the panth grew, it incorporated numerous from various castes and creeds as well. Guru Amar Das Ji felt the need for Amardas ji also created the dasvandh, the donation of one-tenth of earnings for the general good. The langar system also developed in his care and became a site of equality and real disciple has to lead a life of both spiritual endeavour and ethical responsibility. It was the teachings of the third Sikh guru that continued to inspire the disciples of Sikhi. In his teaching, he asked his disciples to get up early, bathe, and meditate in image of the Guru must remain in the hearts of the faithful, and one should devote oneself at the feets of the Amar Das opined that it was proper for the warrior class to uphold justice and protect the helpless, since that was actual between castes were allowed in Guru Amar Das ji time and permitted widows to be married again, something not tolerated during his time. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Instituting the manji system, the land was divided into several sections, each entrusted to a preacher called a sangatia - men and women alike - tasked with carrying the Guru's word to distant extend spiritual guidance among women, particularly those from Muslim households, the piri system was established, wherein women served as instructors in matters of provided women with a voice and role in issues of spirit and community. He asked his followers to contribute one-tenth of their wages, a share called dasvandh, for the welfare of Goindval, the Guru constructed a profound step-well of 84 OF SATI, PURDAH SYSTEM AND MEETING AKBARGuru Amar Das was an unflinching opponent of such customs as were causing women harm. He freely criticised sati, which was the tradition whereby a widow was burned upon her husband's emphasised that faith and devotion had no place in burning on the funeral pyre but in living in humility, modesty, and remembering God.A woman, he averred, who mourns her loss with dignity and maintains her heart in God's service is the true sati. He was also curious as to how a woman who had failed to honour her husband while she was alive should die when he died. Folios from the Pinjore recension of the Goindwal Poth (Image: Wikimedia Commons) He was also against the purdah system in which women covered their faces and avoided contact with men. When the king of Haripur came with his veiled queens, the Guru inquired of one who declined to unveil herself, "If thou likest not the Guru's face, why comest though hither?" writes Rukhsana in Indian Feminism: Class, Gender & Identity in Medieval AgesadvertisementWhen Emperor Akbar went to receive him, the Guru gave no emperor was required to initially partake in langar, the collective food enjoyed by one and all, on the ground floor. Then he was finally introduced into the Guru's quoted by William Owen Cole in The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, "Akbar sought the blessings of the guru to win at Chittor against Maharna Pratap."Being humbled and stirred by the Guru's message of equality and simplicity, Akbar joined the common man on the ground is quoted by William Owen Cole in The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices "The Guru's utterance prompted Akbar to lift the tax on Hindu pilgrims traveling to Haridwar".Akbar, seeing the generosity, gifted 84 villages to Guru Amar Das, which was instead presented in the name of his successor, Guru Ram his conduct and words, Guru Amar Das demanded justice, sanctity, and piety in public and private life. His precepts were a beacon in the night of blind tradition. advertisement
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After KCET row, NEET candidates asked to remove ‘janivara' in Karnataka
Days after students appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) were controversially asked to remove janivara (sacred thread), a similar row has erupted in connection with Sunday's National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). A few candidates taking NEET in the afternoon session were allegedly asked to remove their janivara before entering the exam hall at St Mary's School in Kalaburagi. Soon after the matter came to light, members from various communities, including Brahmin subsects Smarta and Vaishnava, as well as Lingayat and Dalit groups, protested demanding the suspension of the official responsible, stating that janivara, a symbol of spiritual commitment, posed no threat to exam integrity. Sudhir Patil told reporters that his son Sripad Patil returned from the exam centre visibly upset, saying officials had insisted he remove the sacred thread before being allowed into the hall. Acting on his father's advice, Sripad removed the janivara and proceeded to take the exam. Sripad, a resident of Bet Balkunda village in Bidar district's Basavakalyan taluk, had travelled to Kalaburagi for the exam. Speaking to reporters, Sripad expressed frustration, revealing that he had been so anxious after the incident that he mistakenly wrote the wrong registration number on his answer sheet. He also called for a re-examination. Officials clarified that two outsourced staff members, Ganesh and Sharanagouda from the Revanasidda agency, had been tasked with frisking candidates and instructed not to permit any metal objects or threads. They said the staff members did not explicitly ask Sripad to remove his janivara, suggesting the boy may have misunderstood. The Sanatana Yuva Shakti Trust, Akhila Bharat Madhwa Maha Parishat, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad backed the protest. Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil visited the protesters and urged the deputy commissioner and police commissioner over the phone to investigate and hold the officials accountable. The district administration has ordered an inquiry, including a review of CCTV footage. As approximately 1.4 lakh students took NEET UG 2025 at 381 centres in Karnataka, logistical challenges also led to controversies, with several candidates noting that approximately 8-10 of the three-hour exam were lost to administrative tasks like thumb impressions, signatures, and Aadhaar verification. A candidate who appeared for the exam at DRDO Complex in Bengaluru 's CV Raman Nagar said, 'The 180-minute duration for 180 questions was already tight with a lengthy paper, but we lost 15-20 minutes to administrative tasks. Signatures and thumb impressions took 2-3 minutes, followed by Aadhaar verification and videorecording of the centre ate up seven-eight minutes—equivalent to seven-eight questions. This led to distraction and interrupted my examination. All this, supposed to be done by 2 pm, started only during the examination.' Another candidate, who took the exam at Kendriya Vidyalaya at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, said, 'All the miscellaneous formalities like signatures, writing father's and mother's name among others started after the examination, leading to a time crunch. I almost got an answer wrong because of this distraction.' The two candidates wished to be anonymous. The government to had to issue guidelines for officials to respect cultural practices after a similar controversy erupted in Bidar and Shivamogga during the KCET on April 16. Later the Railway Recruitment Board sought to ban sacred threads and mangalsutras from exam halls but withdrew the decision after it drew flak.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP dharmika cell blames endowments dept for Simhachalam tragedy
1 2 3 Visakhapatnam: BJP dharmika cell convener Phanindra on Saturday criticised the endowments dept over the recent wall collapse tragedy at Simhachalam temple, calling it a "direct consequence of gross negligence". He said the incident was not an accident but a clear case of institutional failure and blamed the endowments dept entirely for the loss of lives. "The manner in which the dept is functioning has disturbed devotees and the public alike. The tragedy amounts to nothing less than murder caused by administrative apathy," he alleged. Drawing comparisons, he questioned why no one has been arrested in the case, even though actor Allu Arjun was once indirectly blamed in another incident that led to a fatality. "The Simhachalam tragedy occurred soon after the Tirupati stampede, raising serious concerns about temple safety under the current administration. I demand a complete overhaul of the endowments dept. The three-member committee set up to probe the incident was just a time-pass move and lacked seriousness. As per Vaishnava tradition, no purification rituals (Samprokshana) has been performed in the temple after the incident, nor was the sanctity of the temple restored properly," he claimed.
