Sunday, May 22, 2016
Should Cricketer 'Virat Kohli' Be Protected For Bigger Battles Instead Of Being Thrown Into Every Odd Skirmish?
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Popular Culture: Centuries Before Weather Satellites And Crop Science, Farmers Turned To A Poet For Sowing Advice
By MRINAL PANDEY | INNLIVE
Through his poems, Ghagh handed down tried and tested formulae for growing good crops. Even today, his poems help illiterate villagers understand the world.
For the last four centuries and more, Ghagh, literally “the sly one”, has been undoubtedly one of the most popular poet philosophers for farming communities in the Indo-Gangetic plains. An environmentalist centuries before the word was coined, Ghagh was no romantic adventurer looking to project his longings and needs through poetry. His pithy couplets that have been handed down generations through the oral tradition, are based on time-tested linkages between weather and the moon’s path through various star constellations. As an astronomer and agricultural guru, Ghagh was engaged in a struggle for exactitude – for a language free of Sanskrit punditry to discuss crop cycles, seeds, various tips for buying healthy cattle, and sound reflections on vagaries of both man and nature, all without scientific meteorological systems and instruments. His poems still remain invisible pathways for illiterate villagers to understand the world around them. It enables them to access pragmatic tips to read the signs for a good crop year or a bad one.
Since 1900, when inexpensively printed copies of vernacular poetry and popular folk songs became available all over the northern plains, Ghagh has remained a perennial bestseller. At every rural fair, railway station book kiosk and with every roadside bookseller in the vast Hindi belt, little paperbacks on Ghagh ki kahavatein(Sayings of Ghagh) are available. Like the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, most literate rural families will have a dog-eared copy of Ghagh’s poems tucked away somewhere. Little is known about this enigmatic itinerant poet’s personal life. To the academe though, Ghagh remains something of a country mouse. And they tell us it could also be somewhat rash to presume that all the poems ascribed to him are indeed his, and not interpolated at a later date. But isn’t that also true of a large part of Vyas’s Mahabharata, Kabir’s Bijak and Guru Nanak’s writings? Then how does the same academe ascribe these works as theirs?
Hasty conception:
Legend has it that Ghagh was born in village Chaudhary Sarai near Kannauj in what is now central Uttar Pradesh during emperor Akbar’s reign in the 16th century. This is supported by the fact that the poet is believed to have settled a village called Ghagh Sarai, a few kilometers away from Kannauj, on a piece of land gifted to him by Akbar.
Legend has it that Ghagh’s father was a Brahmin scholar who was also renowned as an astute astrologer at the court. The astrologer, once going through his own horoscope, calculated that the hour to conceive a miraculously bright son was near, and decided to rush home to his wife. He soon realised that there was no way he could make it home in time for the required act. So he decided not to let the precious seed be wasted. He found a young woman working in the royal harem as a maid, whom he quickly impregnated with his genius-engendering seed. Thereafter, as in the case of Ved Vyas, Vidur, Tulsidas and Kabir, out of this illicit encounter between a man and woman from different ends of the caste scale, the great poet-philosopher Ghagh was born. He was named Bhaddar.
By this time the astrologer, in the manner of the fathers of the above-named poets, had abandoned the impregnated maid and returned to his court life and domestic bliss. So the precocious young Bhaddar, alias Ghagh, was brought up by his mother in what must have been fairly austere circumstances. Guided by his genes, by the time Bhaddar was six, he knew all about the movements of the various astral bodies and, based on those, began to forecast coming events. His fame as an astronomer-cum-astrologer (in those days they were identical) grew after he made various precocious, but correct predictions, for the palace folk. When he heard of this, Bhaddar’s father came rushing to claim the miracle child as his, and forcibly removed him from his weeping mother. Bhaddar refused to walk so he was carried upon his father’s shoulders. On the homeward journey, the two came to a field where a farmer was scattering seeds almost half of which were being carried away by a strong wind to the neighbouring field.
“When the crop is ready, who will reap the crops that will grow out of seeds being blown into the neighbour’s field by the wind?” asked Bhaddar.
“Crops, son,” the father said, “no matter where the seeds blew in from, will always belong to the land owner, not to the scatterer of the seeds.”
Bhaddar leapt off his father’s shoulders and ran off shouting, “Then I too must leave this man and go back to my mother, whose womb bore your seed for nine months and brought me into the world.”
“Jo har jotey kheti taki, aur nahin to jaki taki (The field belongs to one who tills it, otherwise anyone may come and grab it)” runs one of Ghagh’s famous sayings, inspired perhaps by this early initiation on reproductive rights and wrongs.
Man of many parts:
A lonely precocious child will often invent imaginary companions. We see in some couplets that Ghagh too has an alter ego, whom he addresses as Bhaddari. Since most of the poems ascribed to the poet known as Bhaddari are the same, it is safe to presume that Ghagh was born as Bhaddar or Bhaddari and continued to address his lost self after he took the pen name Ghagh.
As was natural for a fatherless boy, Ghagh developed a deep and compassionate insight into the female psyche and grew up to be something of a ladies’ man. The poems hint that at some point he found himself a devoted and vivacious wife whom he lovingly addresses as his confidant Ghaghini, in some of his couplets.
Like Aesop, a tanner by profession who was jailed later in life, Ghagh too was a man of many parts – scholar, astronomer, astrologer, lover of women and vet. His poems, for instance, offer a cornucopia of information on how to tell a good horse, bullock or a milch cow, or gauge the temperament of an animal before buying, based on certain subtle physignomical details.
In a feudal age dominated by the nobility and major landowners, Ghagh had watched the spectacle of power closely. As a witness-turned-participant, Ghagh was not arrogant but stoutly refused to suffer fools or bullies. “The biggest landlord, if he is no use for tackling my woes, can go hang himself for all I care,” he said. Farming, Ghagh was convinced, was the best among all professions for a self-respecting commoner, giving him the supreme authority of the self-employed. Trading came next. It may uproot a man, but helped him retain financial self-sufficiency. At number three was service, an infinitely worse choice than the first two, but better than begging: “Uttam kheti madhyam baan, nikhid chakri, bheekh nidan.”
Farming, according to Ghagh, was of three kinds: the self-sufficient one, where the owner himself tilled the land, the fraternal kind, where one’s brothers looked after the fields, and the last was the kind where serfs were left to handle all affairs, and even if the land was going to the dogs, they could not care less.
Common wisdom:
As an abandoned son Ghagh turned his face firmly away from a certain sort of classical learning favoring instead the age-old wisdom of the ordinary farmer. He borrowed his authority from the simple folk among whom he lived and loved – farmers, housewives, widows, barbers, cobblers, makers of simple farming tools, farm laborers, tarts, witty thieves and scoundrels. They all revealed to him their hidden desires and secret lives: “Teetar kari badri, vidhawa kaajar rekh, yeh barse, vo ghar kare, ismein na koi mekh,”(If the cloud is the colour of partridge feathers and a widow sports kohl in her eyes, the first, have no doubt, will bring rain, and the other will shack up with another man.)
“She eyes you, then looks at herself suggestively, touches her ornaments, lets her head covering drop to reveal her midriff, after this the harlot does not need to beat drums to get attention.”(Parmukh dekhi apan much govey, choodi, Kankan, besari tovai/Aanchar tarey pet dikhavey, ab chhinari ka dhol bajavey.)
Ghagh also makes some shrewd pronouncements on the downward slide of worldly power and/or natural degradation: “Ochho Mantri raja nasey, Taal binasey kai/saan sahibi foot binase, Ghagha pair bivai “(A foolish minister is the death of the ruler, moss destroys a pond, a flashy lifestyle is killed by insider trading and a foot is destroyed by cracks in the heel).
According to Ghagh, there are four things that may cause sorrow unless one watches out – A pretty wife, a servant who knows your secrets, a well-worn silk garment, and a period of bad governance.
To the farmer, Ghagh handed down many tried and tested formulae for growing good crops. Sow jowar (millet), he said, at a distance covered by a frog in one leap, sow bajra and cotton at the distance of a footstep, and cucumbers at the distance covered by a deer in one leap. Sugarcane is best sown in clumps close together where water is plentiful.
There is also oft quoted advice from Ghagh on a healthy diet for men and women – Jaggery in chaitra (late February, early March), oily food in Baisakh (April and early May), and bel juice in Asadh (July). Food to be avoided during specific seasons are greens during the monsoons, curds during Bhadon (August), buttermilk in Kartik (early winter), cumin in Aghan (late spring), coriander in winter, sugar in Magh (early winter), and chana (gram) during Falgun (early February).
A curious composure exists in Ghagh’s poems, despite occasional cynicism and a sardonic sense of humour. Moralists, theologians, merchants and philosophers may often ignore experience, being exclusively concerned with actions and products. Literature, therefore, will be mostly created by the disinherited or exiled who, even after four centuries, seem to be sitting cross-legged under a tree and smiling at you as they define true happiness:
“Khet hoye goinde, hal hoy char
ghar mein grahasthin, bhains dudhar
ann mein gehun, dhan mein gay, agal bagl baithey do bhai
Hans ke anda as dadhi hoye
banke nayan parosey joye
rhreek padti, jdhaney bhat
galgal nimbua aur ghee taat
Oonch atariya bahey batas, Ghagh kahey ghar hee Kailas.”
(Says Ghagh, who would wish to move to another heaven if the family farm lay close to the village, and one owned four pairs of bulls for ploughs, a milch cow, a duo of blood brothers always by his side, and finally a wife, who still gives her man an arched glance each time she serves him a good meal: a ladle full of arhar dal on fragrant and freshly cooked rice served with side helpings of hot butter and slices of lemon, and all topped with a bowl of rich yogurt solid as a duck’s egg, topped with raw sugar.)
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Exclusive: 'Secret Tricks' To Get Lose Weight At 'Old Age'
It`s sadly but as we are getting older some evil forces conspire and work against us and we are losing our weight more difficult.
All those years of walking up and down on buildings, playing sports and general moving are making our joints and muscles less cooperative. They are stiffer, they hurt more and make exercising unpleasant.
That is just a beginning. Our metabolism is gradually slowing down and it doesn`t make for us favors as we age. People are burning 1 – 2 percentage fewer calories every year thanks to putting on fat and thanks to losing muscle mass.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Women's Kabaddi Still Fighting Its Place In Man's World
#WomenKabaddi: It has been three weeks since U Mumba beat Bengaluru Bulls to win the second edition of the Pro Kabaddi League.
It brought to an end a surprisingly successful campaign for the Star Sports and Mashal Sports-run league. It actually saw an increase in viewership - something only the Indian Premier League cricket tournament had managed so far.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Weekend Special: What 'Being Left-Handed' Makes Your 'Personality' More Impressive Or Shabby?
There’s no denying it. Left-handers are the odd ones out. Sure, lefties make up about 10 percent of the population -- but, frankly, it seems like society has forgotten about them. Just consider all of the right-handed gadgets, awkwardly designed desks, and cooking tools that fit comfortably only in your right hand.
What causes someone to become a southpaw? Scientists aren’t exactly sure, but research points to a complex collaboration between genes and environment.
Thursday, August 06, 2015
How Much In Web Traffic Changing The News You Read?
In this interview with INNLIVE, she talks about a new paper, “Clicks and Editorial Decisions: How Does Popularity Shape Online News Coverage?” The paper, which was co-authored by Ananya Sen, a doctoral candidate in economics at the Toulouse School of Economics in France, teases out the differences in how high-traffic stories get treated in terms of longer-term coverage.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Higher Education Scenario: On Offer At Private Varsities Are Heated Pools, Gyms, Stadia, Salons And Malls
Like many government-run entities, public universities in India often get criticised by students and their parents for their poor infrastructure, ranging from overcrowded hostels to stinking toilets. Some campuses are located several kilometers away from a town, making the commute for students both tiring and unsafe. This, however, does not seem to deter students who flock from across the country to take admission in premier institutions, such as Delhi University, whose students have protested against the inadequate living conditions.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Sports Spotlight: Why Does Cricketer Suresh Raina's Name Crop Up In Every Other Controversy?
By Fahad Shah in Mumbai |
It's going to be a tough Monday for the senior national selection committee. The five selectors will meet in the Capital to pick the Indian team for the tour of Zimbabwe. Sandeep Patil & Co. were reportedly looking to rest some of the key players for this low-key comprising three ODIs and two Twenty20 games.
But things have dramatically changed over the last 48 hours after former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi tweeted on Saturday that Chennai Super Kings players Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo were in "close contact" with a real estate tycoon known to be a "big punter and also a bookmaker".
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Existential Crisis: 'I Sacrificed Everything - Health, Wealth And Teenage To Study At IITs - But Why It's Not Worthy?'
By Ananya Rathi in Mumbai |
Impressed, my class teacher asked me, “So what have you finally decided? Who do you want to be: a cardiologist, a historian or a scientist?” Those days I used to proudly proclaim that I wished to be a cardiologist, primarily because my doctor parents used to tell me that it was the hottest specialisation in medicine. Excited by my teacher’s praise, I went to my father and told him about it. It brought a proud smile on his face and he said, “Tell her you want to become an IITian.”
Monday, June 15, 2015
OpEd: Tomorrow's World - Inside The Minds Of Arab Youth
By Mohd Ahsanuddin Haseeb Principal Gulf Editor in Jeddah, KSA |
Confidence among Arab youth that the Arab Spring would bring positive change across the region is declining. In 2015, just 38 percent agree that the Arab world is better off following the Arab Spring, compared to 54 percent in 2014, 70 percent in 2013, and 72 percent in 2012. Similarly, fewer than half (41 percent) agree they will be better off in five years following the uprisings, down from 58 percent in 2014, 74 percent in 2013, and 71 percent in 2012.
The continued regional turmoil appears to weigh heavily on Arab youth outside the GCC region. When asked to think about the Arab world following the uprisings, 35 percent in North Africa and 25 percent in the Levant think it is better off, while looking ahead at the next five years, just 39 percent in North Africa and 26 percent in the Levant feel they will be better off.
Sunday, June 07, 2015
Why 'Celebrity Endorsement' Is A Double-Edged Sword?
Almost everyone is in on the act, ranging from cola giants to soaps to even sports leagues such as IPL, services like Tata Sky and news channels, including NDTV Prime. It is a recipe for success after all, since consumers are likely to be inspired to mimic the projected consumption habits of their idols.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Tata Motors Launches 'GenX Nano' At 2 Lakh Starting Price
The new GenX Nano will cost Rs. 2.10 lakh to Rs. 2.59 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) for the manual transmission and Rs. 2.80 lakh to Rs. 2.99 lakh for the AMT model.
In Delhi, the manual transmission Nano will be available in the range of Rs. 1.99-2.49 lakh and the AMT model will cost between Rs. 2.69-2.89 lakh ex-showroom.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Is Indian Packaged 'Fruit Juice' Just Another Sugary Drink?
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
An Open Letter To Owaisi Brothers And Majlis Party: Indian Muslims Needs 'Real Service' Not 'Political Stunts'
In politics Communal issues are never buried, they are kept alive, for the bread and butter of politicians. Ever since the partition and even before partition politicians have been milking the benefits of people’s communal mentality; every now and then we get a new statement from BJP, AIMIM and other political 'Big Mouths'.
Too Early: General Motors’ Big Plans For India Expansion
But the Detroit-headquartered firm has now set such a massive target for its Indian subsidiary for the next ten years that it almost seems a tad too ambitious.
Saturday, May 02, 2015
Spotlight: Super-Luxury Cars Vroom Emerging India Cities
Move over Mumbai and Delhi, new Indian markets in smaller cities have now caught super-luxury car makers by surprise. Cash-rich customers from cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Kochi, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Ludhiana are no longer ogling at Lamborghini, Jaguar-Land Rover, Mercedez and Audi. They are increasingly lapping up the Rs one crore-plus offerings from these global giants.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Special Report: Global Brands Drive More Than 6,000 Crore In India’s Active Sportswear Market
From a segment driven by a collection of largely unorganized and homegrown SMEs two decades ago, today these international icons have not just made the market much more organised but have bolstered its overall size to over Rs. 6,000 crores. Many pure-play brands today are also into sports accessories, gear & equipment, while others have expanded their offerings to include sports-inspired product lines.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Travel: Seychelles Treasured Islands With Comfort, Ease
Yes, it just routine in the Seychelles lifestyle embedded in nature's beauty. With such a dreamlike setting, the Seychelles is unsurprisingly a choice place for newlyweds.
But for those looking for more than a suntan or romance, this archipelago offers a number of high-energy distractions. There are jungle and coastal walks, boat excursions, and diving and snorkelling to keep you buzzing.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Tribute: Mountaineer Mastan Babu, A Real Hero Of India
The news of Mastan Babu missing since March 24 in the Andes, the longest and among the world's highest mountain ranges, was first announced on a Facebook page, "Rescue Malli Mastan Babu", created by his fans and well-wishers, to provide information about rescue and search operations.
'Ashapura Intimates Fashion' Gains On New Investments
"I started my career with it (the lingerie business). At a very young age of 15 years as a sales manager I started this work. I was the sales manager in India's first lingerie store," Thakkar told INNLIVE.
With a capital of Rs 4 lakh, Thakkar started Ashapura Intimates in 1999. The company's market value now stands at nearly Rs 500 crore. In 2013-14, the company posted a net profit of Rs 5.41 crore over revenues of Rs 166.50 crore.