Thursday, March 31, 2011
Let the Music Play
Posted by scorpio at 12:50 PM 0 comments
Labels: BIHAR, Calcutta;, MEDIA, MEMORIES, NORTH EAST, Radio, Worldspace
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Queering Gandhi
Whatever his sexual orientation may have been, Gandhi couldn't be called 'Gay' by any stretch of imagination. Married men having an occsaional fling with another man is a well documented cultural aspect of any sexually segregated society, no matter how many 'prim and proper' people want to keep this fact well hidden under the carpet. Ask those of us who have been in the HIV/AIDS circuit for the past two decades.
So what if Gandhi wrote 'love letters' to a man, so did Shakespere ... and a great many other famous people I am told. How does it matter?
Of course, it will be interesting to see how all this new 'informantion' we have about Gandhi will impact the 'Gandhians' . Will they actually begin to lift their heads from the sand and take a look around?
American author Joseph Lelyveld yesterday dismissed claims his new book on Mahatma Gandhi alleged that India's independence leader was a racist bisexual who left his wife for a bodybuilder.
Indian newspapers (naturally) were 'outraged' by reviews in the United States and Britain of biography that focused on Gandhi's relationship with German-Jewish architect and amateur bodybuilder Hermann Kallenbach.
A quote: Joseph Lelyveld has written a generally admiring book about Mohandas Gandhi, the man credited with leading India to independence from Britain in 1947. Yet "Great Soul" also obligingly gives readers more than enough information to discern that he was a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent and a fanatical faddist—one who was often downright cruel to those around him. Gandhi was therefore the archetypal 20th-century progressive intellectual, professing his love for mankind as a concept while actually despising people as individuals. [here's the link to the full article]
The British Daily Mail ran the headline 'Gandhi 'left his wife to live with a male lover' new book claims", while the Daily Telegraph review said he had 'held racist views against South African blacks'.
Revisionist works on Mahatma Gandhi—the man, not the icon—have become pretty commonplace in recent years and many Indian readers won’t be particularly astonished to read that Gandhi, when it came to race rights, was far more concerned about Indians than he was about Africans.
I quote from Andrew Roberts piece in the Wall Steet Journal: For all his lifelong campaign for Swaraj ("self-rule"), India could have achieved it many years earlier if Gandhi had not continually abandoned his civil-disobedience campaigns just as they were beginning to be successful. With 300 million Indians ruled over by 0.1% of that number of Britons, the subcontinent could have ended the Raj with barely a shrug if it had been politically united. Yet Gandhi's uncanny ability to irritate and frustrate the leader of India's 90 million Muslims, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (whom he called "a maniac"), wrecked any hope of early independence. He equally alienated B.R. Ambedkar, who spoke for the country's 55 million Untouchables (the lowest caste of Hindus, whose very touch was thought to defile the four higher classes). Ambedkar pronounced Gandhi "devious and untrustworthy.
One hopes that the hullabaloo over the sexuality angle, however, doesn’t get the book banned here. We’d rather like the chance to read it ourselves.
Posted by scorpio at 6:24 AM 2 comments
Labels: INCREDIBLE INDIA, Literature, MEDIA, QUEER CASEBOOK
Monday, March 28, 2011
Bihar Pride?
What happened to non-violent, positive protests, or is all this Gandhian stuff just manufactured history? |
Posted by scorpio at 6:59 AM 3 comments
Labels: BIHAR, crime, Democracy, Gandhi, INCREDIBLE INDIA, MEDIA, Patna
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Kilkari Kidfest
Posted by scorpio at 2:23 PM 3 comments
Labels: Literature, MEDIA, Patna, STAGE
Queer rights are not 'new' rights
The statement enjoyed the support of the largest group of countries to-date, on the topic of sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights. It builds on a similar statement delivered by Norway at the Human Rights Council in 2006 (on behalf of 54 States), and a joint statement delivered by Argentina at the General Assembly in 2008 (on behalf of 66 States). It is clear that every time these issues are addressed there is measurable increase in state support.
An intervention delivered by Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, still reaffirmed the critical point that “laws that criminalize sexual orientation should be expunged”. South Africa, a signatory to the State joint statement, emphasized in a separate intervention, that sexual orientation is not a new issue for that country, and called for an inter-governmental process to ensure open dialogue on the issue.
Earlier in this 16th session of the Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, had stated to the Council:
“We are not trying to create new or special rights. We are simply trying to address the challenges that prevent millions of people from enjoying the same human rights as their fellow human beings just because they happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”
The Joint Statement supports what UN human rights bodies have repeatedly expressed: that no one should face rights violations because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Since the UN Human Rights Committee’s landmark decision in 1994, affirming that sexual orientation is a protected ground against discrimination, United Nations experts have repeatedly acted against abuses that target LGBT people, including killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life.
Posted by scorpio at 1:19 PM 1 comments
Labels: AIDS;, QUEER CASEBOOK, queer subculture
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Holi Kids
Colour me cute: kids at a playschool celebrate holi |
Beautiful pose, such a careful portriat that the sparkle is missing |
Now here's a slice of life, straight from the streets |
Posted by scorpio at 11:07 AM 1 comments
Labels: BIHAR, culture vultures, INCREDIBLE INDIA, MEDIA
Saturday, March 19, 2011
HOLI MEN
Cannabis is legal for cultural purposes, and hey, I'm not complaining. |
Holy Smoke! It's time to take a toke |
What the BIT Patna Boys did last summer: used mud-packs |
Psychadellic celebration, mind blowing! |
Shankara: the pot smoker in the sky and Shankar, slightly pot-bellied |
Bhang barse: too much of a good time |
Let your hair down this festival of colours, but be good please [and if you can't be good, be very, very careful!] |
Posted by scorpio at 11:09 PM 1 comments
Labels: BIHAR, BOYS, Holi, INCREDIBLE INDIA
Snail Mail
The Patliputra Post Office -[pincode 800013] and its delivery system is inefficient, and unethical to boot.
Speed Post : delivery to any part of the country within 24 or 36 hours, isn't that what they say.
A packet was booked at Ethiraj Salai Post Office and given an elaborate tracking code ET068067884IN.
The time 16:22 :18 on 11th March 20011
7 days later here's what we found on tracking the packet
article bagged and sent to Chennai Office at 16:52:32
bagged opened at Chennai Office 19:15 :59 and sent to Patna via Mumbai at 20:03:04
On 13th March, the article was despatched from Mumbai to Patna through IT3571, scheduled departure 13th March at 11:40:00 hours.
On 17th March... no further details.
On 18th March, Destination post office says, we have no idea... it's not our problem!
Speed Post Centre Bihar circle: Mr O P Singh's mobile number 9430935498 appears constantly switched off, and the office number 2230082 ... well, it's never picked up it seems.
JAI HO! India continues to shine...
Posted by scorpio at 2:03 PM 1 comments
Labels: BIHAR, Democracy, INCREDIBLE INDIA, MEDIA, SHOUT BOX
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Want to make films?
produce independent feature films under the “Alternative Films”
project that is funded by the European Union in cooperation with Jordan
Enterprise Development Project.
Applicants are to have written a story
or a novel that can be produced for cinema or a script that needs
development.
Interested applicants are to send their project or suggestion to the
mailing address below.
The deadline for application is on the 15th of April 2011.
Mailing address:
Pioneers Production Company (PPC)
P.O. Box 940480 Amman 11194 Jordan
For more information please send an email to: ppc@go.com.jo
Want to Study film-making?
Call for applications and admission: Netherlands Film and Television Academy
The Netherlands Film and Television Academy (NFTA) is one of the
leading international schools for professional training in film and
quality television. The NFTA offers a 4-year, fulltime BA in eight
fields of specialization in film and as of 2009, the Academy also
offers a master's programme in Film, fully taught in English.
In co-operation with the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the NFTA also
offers a two years Master in Composing for Film.
Rules for application:
· Applicants should complete an application form, accompanied
by several enclosures, including examples of previous work. Candidates
will be assessed in terms of the quality of their work, their motivation, research and development plan and professionalism.
· The programme takes two years (120 EC); although students may spend three years in completing their studies.
· Eight copies of the application form and all enclosures have been submitted to the Netherlands Film and Television Academy mailing address found below.
· Applications for the entrance examination for the Master’s Degree Programme in Film can be accepted solely in Dutch or English and must be sent to: info@masterflm.nl stating ‘application Master Film’ + your name in the subject line.
· The application should comprise: the completed and printed form, CV, reasons for applying for a place in the Master’s Degree Programme in Film.
· Other documents to be sent along with the application are the following:
· A research and development plan, which the applicant wishes to pursue during the Master’s
Programme.
· Portfolio: Enclose a relevant selection of your work, including reviews if available.
· A letter of recommendation + CV and the name and address of your referee
· Two original passport photographs and two copies of your passport
· Two copies of your most advanced certificate of education.
Mailing address:
Netherlands Film and Television Academy (NFTA)
Master’s Degree Programme in Film (NFTA)
Markenplein 1
1011 MV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
The deadline for application is on Friday 15 April 2011.
For more information please visit the following website: www.masterflm.nl
Or send an email to: info@masterflm.nl
Posted by scorpio at 8:35 PM 1 comments
Labels: MEDIA
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Short waves begin to fade
As government spending patterns change, the rural poor in India are going to be left even more information poor. Already short wave radios are hard to find in the market. radio companies seem to have simply stopped manufacturing them.
Now with the impending curtailing of the Hindi services of the BBc, lakhs of listeners in the Hindi heartland will be deprived of their daily dose of creadible, reality based, BBC programming.
While Radio may survive in another form... but how will radio serve its primary purpose - empowering and enlightening the unwashed masses...?
Read on for more:
BBC HINDI ki Kahani
Posted by scorpio at 11:50 AM 1 comments
Labels: BIHAR, MEDIA, Radio, Worldspace
BBC Hindi: Someone still loves you!
Thankfully, The BBC Hindi radio service has won a temporary reprieve after a lakhs of people wrote in to offer support and to appeal to the BBC to keep the service on air. The campaign was supported by writers such as Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth and broadcaster Sir Mark Tully.
A listener from Bihar actually said, ‘I have five cows. I will gladly sell one of them and send the money to the BBC so that it continues its MW service.’ However, the BBC charter prohibits the service from accepting donations.
The BBC World Service says it has been approached by a number of commercial parties about alternative funding.
It has now agreed to keep a one hour evening broadcast in Hindi for another year while it explores these options.
That’s a bit sad, because evening broadcasts tend to be overshadowed by television. Lots of people usually listen to the early morning BBC half hour broadcast at 6:30 am
Campaigners said BBC Hindi broadcasts, which were scheduled to end on 31 March, have 10 million listeners, many of them in rural areas.
Launched in May 1940 in the midst of World War II and the freedom struggle, the BBC Hindi service was religiously followed by generations of listeners, who considered it the most credible source of news. Listeners still remember that the BBC Hindi was the first to announce Indira Gandhi's assassination to both India and the world, even before the government broadcasters made the announcement. Reports suggest that even Maoists in the isolated jungles of eastern India tune in for the BBC Hindi.
However, from an estimated listener base of 30 million a decade ago, the BBC Hindi has seen its audience decline to just over nine million today, hit by the poor reception of short and medium wave radio and the rising popularity of television and FM.
“We are considering the option of some radio programming on the website as well,” said BBC Hindi Editor Amit Baruah. Of course, we can listen to BBC over the internet, but how many people actually have internet connections at home. How many students and young people can afford this? BBC on internet is little consolation for the vast majority of rural listeners who are the real audience and the biggest fans of the BBC.
The BBC would jump at the chance to set up an FM channel of its own, to continue providing radio services in the same way as it is doing in several other countries where short and medium wave services are being cut.
India is the only South Asian nation that does not allow private FM news channels. In fact, the BBC launched its preliminary FM initiative, providing entertainment and non-news content to partner channels reaching 52 cities, in the hope that the government would soon agree to allow news content as well.
BBC Hindi has been beaming to India for 70 years |
Posted by scorpio at 9:52 AM 1 comments
Labels: BIHAR, culture vultures, MEDIA, Radio, SHOUT BOX, Worldspace
The aftermath of the Tsumani
Another striking thing is the report I heard over the BBC about people calmly standing in the streets of Tokyo and elsewhere, busy texting on facebook and twitter, while the world rocked about them.
Now, herein lies the seeds of a 600 page article… or two.
Japan remains ‘the Land of the Rising Sun’
Posted by scorpio at 9:19 AM 0 comments
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Yesterday Once More - Radio Ceylon
When was the last time you listened to The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation?
Radio Ceylon - The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation is alive and well and can be heard on the Internet. For the past two days, my computer has willingly taken up the role of my dad's short-wave radio. I've hitched it to my old Akai sound system, and it sounds almost as good as a 1950's valve radio.
Here’s the link to the English Services of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Listen to SLBC Radio in real time on the internet.
SRI LANKA BROADCASTING CORPORATION
Posted by scorpio at 11:29 PM 1 comments
Labels: GOOD stuff, MEDIA, Music, Radio, Worldspace
Friday, March 11, 2011
Radio Gaga: BBC Radio services shrink
Traditional airwaves are being looked upon as liabilities, and spending reviews around the globe are ensuring that Short wave and Medium wave broadcasts are slowly folding up.
Posted by scorpio at 8:02 AM 2 comments
Labels: MEDIA, Music, Radio, Worldspace
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Homecoming
Here I come again
With arms of lead
And lacerated feet.
Too many treadmills trod,
Too many burdens borne.
Too many mutilated milestones
Strewn across the bridle path.
Painted on a plastic skyline.
Here I come again
Like salmon to the source –
Until a new moon rises
Posted by scorpio at 9:57 AM 0 comments
Labels: POETRY BY FRANK KRISHNER