When Prakash Amritraj won the match against Farrukh Dustov and helped India clinch the Davis cup tie of the Asia-Oceania group, it brought both joy and deja vu for millions of sports lovers.

The young Prakash, put up an inspiring fight, just like his illustrious father, Vijay Amritraj, who always raised the level of his game whenever he played for his country in the Davis Cup.

It was not easy for Prakash when he walked into the court against the Uzbek in the decider. India was 2-2. Rohan Bopanna had lost the first reverse singles match after a tough fight.

Already Prakash’s captain Leander Paes had dubbed him unprofessional. But once in the court, he left everything behind and the 265-ranked Prakash showed his grit in beating the higher ranked Dustov.

After both players won a set each, Prakash broke the serve of Dustov and the latter couldn’t recover thereafter. He had to take a medical break also. In the end Prakash Amritraj defeated Farrukh Dustov 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that was also a victory of nerves for the US-based Prakash. He finished the match in four sets.

The US-based Prakash showed the same determination which his father, the legendary Vijay Amritraj, displayed in the Davis Cup matches. With this victory in the match, India won the tie and will now take on Japan in the second round in April.

Earlier, Prakash was not played in any of the match on the first two days of the Asia-Oceania Davis cup rubber. He had contested his skipper Leander Paes’ claims that he (Prakash) was unfit. Paes had later criticised him for going to the media.

But after Prakash demolished Dustov, an emotional Paes went ecstatic and lifted his young team man. The camaraderie among the team was also touching. Paes described Prakash as a ‘Hero’.

The victory revived the images of an ageing Vijay Amritraj almost single-handedly (along with Ramesh Krishnan) taking India to the final of Davis Cup 20 years ago. Vijay had beaten players like Amos Mansdorf, Martin Jaite, John Fitzgerald and Wally Masur in epic matches in 1987.

All these players were much younger, had higher rankings and were on top of their careers. Now the second generation of the Amritraj family has taken charge Prakash’s maturity augurs well for India, specially in the post-Leander & Mahesh Bhupathi age. Also, this win will hopefully bring back focus on Indian men’s tennis that seems to have taken a backseat due to the Sania Mania.

Photo: The Telegraph 

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Just when urban India skips a beat over a plunge in Sensex, hundreds of families on verge of starvation are stepping out of their ancestral villages in Bundelkhand, leaving their homes and fields.

And just when Urban India goes ga ga over the launch of Nano, families are eating ‘roti’ made of grass in villages of Jhansi and Jalaun and farmers are committing suicides.

There are numerous villages where not a soul exists due to the mass exodus and only the elderly remain, waiting for their death.

The backward Bundelkhand region is reeling under the impact of successive droughts. For four years there has been no rain. The farmer with small land-holdings is the worst sufferer. Ironically when a tragedy of such magnitude is unfolding in this region, politicians are rushing to Bundelkhand.

Never so many political rallies were held in this region in the past. The politicians have smelt power. Cashing in on Bundelkhand’s misery, they hope to attract the disillusioned voter. Also, there is possibility of a new state being carved and the possibility of power in another state.

CM Mayawati charges the centre for not giving a special package for the drought-hit region. And at his rally Rahul Gandhi, hits back at Mayawati, claiming that her government misused funds.

A 72-year-old man lying on the cot is barely able to talk but too proud to say that he is hungry and that there is no grain left in his house. He dies a few days later and his son breaks down before TV journalist Anamika, ‘na aata hai, na athanni ghar mein’.

Jaswant later said that his father died because there was nothing to eat in the house. The neighbours said that the chulha hadn’t seen fire for fifteen days in their house. But there is an unwritten rule, no state accepts death due to starvation.

The official in this case also puts it in a slightly different manner. “This 71-year-old man died because he was ill and couldn’t afford treatment”. A channel reported six suicides in just 24 hrs. Hundreds of farmers have ended their lives in Bundelkhand and though ruling party and the opposition parties contest each other’s claims, the truth is that life is getting harder and darker in the countryside.

The unbridgeable disparity between urban and rural India is only getting worse. After Vidarbha, the country side of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Bundelkhand region of UP and MP is witnessing the same phenomenon. The reality is that stock markets fascinate us. And we turn a Nelson’s eye towards rural India that continues to bleed. How long will our economy survive if the villages keep getting vacated and the migrants’ inflow to urban centres continues?

Photography by Carf

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Nowhere in the world, poetry has such importance in society as in the Indian sub-continent. After all, where would thousands sit till midnight and after to listen to the poets! There is definitely something magical about Urdu poetry.

The Republic Day mushaira brought back memories of the mushairas of the past. After all, poets of the stature of Shaharyar, Waseem Barelvi, Saghar Khayyami and Zubair Rizvi were present on the stage

chiraaghoN ko bujhaana chaahti hai/havaa bhi aab-o-daana chaahti hai
ameer-e-shahar aaNkheN band karle/Gharibi muskuraana chaahti hai

This couplet by young poet Tariq Qamar set the stage and signalled that new generation of poets is ready to take off. After the Lucknow poet, it was Naeem Akhtar’s turn to wow the audience.

mere tumhaarii baat fasaana to hai nahiiN/hai bhii agar to sabko sunaanaa to hai nahiiN
tum do fareb aur maiN samjhuuN hunar use/itnaa bhii saadgii ka zamaanaa to hai nahiiN

The poet from the historic town of Burhanpur recited his ghazals in ‘tarannum’. And when Navaz Deobandi held the mike, the atmosphere was truly electric. His ghazal with the opening couplets:

jalte ghar ko dekhne vaalo phuus ka chhappar aapkaa hai
aag ke piichhe tez havaa hai, aage muqaddar aapka hai
uske qatl pe maiN bhii chup thaa mera number ab aaya
mere qatl pe aap bhii chup hai, aglaa number aapka hai

And the subsequent ghazals that had couplets like…

sach bolne ke shauq meN nuqsaan to huaa
lekin maiN saare shahar meiN zeeshaan to huaa

Poetesses were also impressive. But the mushaira reached its peak when the prince of Urdu poetry on the platforms of Mushaira, Professor Waseem Barelvi began reciting his ghazals and audiences wanted him to continue reciting his ghazals and geets.

bhalaa ghamoN se kahaaN haar jaane vaale the
ham aaNsuoN kii tarah muskuraane vaale the
hamii ne kar diyaa elaan-e-gumrahi varna
hamaare piichhe bohat log aane vaale the

After him the doyen of Urdu poetry and arguably the greatest poet of Ghazal in the country, Shaharyar, recited his ghazal:

dil meN utregi to puuchhegii junuuN kitnaa hai
nok-e-Khanjar hi bataayegii ki khuuN kitnaa hai

The ageing poet despite his ill health read his ghazal that turned the audience emotional. Elderly poet Saghar Khayyami injected humour into the gathering when he read out his ghazal:

Huuraan-e-khuld husn meN behtar haiN kis qadar
maide kii loii jism hai aur sharbati nazar
har chiiz naazukii meN rag-e-gul se Khuubtar
shab bhar Tatolte raho miltii nahiiN kamar

Above are just a few couplets of selected poets. The Mushaira was organised by Urdu Academy to mark the Jashn-e-Jamhuriyat (Republic Day).

The mushaira organised in Delhi, was a resounding success. Just when you start getting worried about the declining standards of poetry, there is an event that strengthens your belief about the survival of a language as sweet as Urdu and the charm of Urdu shaayri.

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For our generation that grew up in 80s, the great era of spin magic was a distant past. We had heard about Bedi, Chandra and Prasanna, who together took over 600 wickets and cast a spell on the opposition batsmen but for us it was all folklore and we really didn’t care much about spinners.

Except the occasional L Sivarama Krishnan, Narendra Hirwani and Maninder Singh, most of our successes were scripted by medium pacers led by the charismatic Kapil Dev. Not until Anil Kumble arrived on the scene did India rediscover its lost art of spin bowling.

Not a spinner in the classical mould, this techie from Bangalore was different from the spinners who were one-test wonders or those who we were used to seeing: Gopal Sharma, Arshad Ayub, Shivlal Yadav or the most unique of them Ravi Shankar Shastri.

This bespectacled mechanical engineer made his debut in England in 1990, many hadn’t realized that he would not only become arguably India’s greatest spinner and highest wicket-taker but also the man who has won most test matches for India. Jumbo came into Indian team when Sachin Tendulkar had already shown glimpses of his talent. The career of the two progressed together henceforth. Given that cricket is a batsman’s game, Sachin’s exploits almost always eclipsed the humble Kumble.

In the 90s, India’s most cricketing wins came courtesy Anil Kumble’s wizardry.

It has been a long and arduous journey for Kumble, who has carried the burden of bowling opposition teams out, for the last 18 years.

Still, he was often criticized. He was termed a winner at friendly pitches. The batsmen always got more praise than their due. Aided with Venkatapathy Raju and Rajesh Chouhan, he brought victories to India team both at home and abroad.

In the 60s and 70s, India had three world class spinners. The trio—Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, was later termed quartet when Venkataraghavan arrived on the scene. They brought us the great victories at Oval, Port of Spain and Dunedin.

Kumble never got such support from the other end (of course, until Harbhajan Singh’s advent). Still, he today boasts of 600 wickets, taken in lesser tests than the Australian Shane Warne, who had to play two more tests for achieving this milestone.

In 2006, Kumble had taken 6-78 in second innings after hitting valuable 45 in first innings in India’s win at Kingston (Jamaica) against West Indies. In India’s victory in South Africa in the same year and victory at Adelaide Oval in Australia in 2003-2004, he had played his part with the ball.

Along with Muralitharan and Warne, Kumble is part of the golden era of spin bowling in the modern age. When he was given the responsibility to lead the team, Kumble accepted it with full responsibility and we beat arch-rivals Pakistan in November 2007.

Kumble took seven wickets in the test and earned the Man of the Match award in the Firoz Shah Kotla Test. History was created as India had won the series against Pakistan after 27 long years.

Down Under, Kumble gracefully handled the controversy in the Sydney Test and though we lost the Test due to poor umpiring, he earned respect. The graceful Anil Kumble emerged as a statesman and even the Aussie press was all praise for the man.

The Perth test brought a personal milestone of 600 wickets for him. And India’s victory added a feather in his cap. That was the first occasion an Asian team had won a test at Perth. He has reached many landmarks. Has taken all ten wickets in an innings, even hit a century in test cricket and is all set to play a vital role for India in future.

At 38, Kumble still has a couple of years of cricket left in him. Known for his mental toughness, he is respected for his commitment. The courageous Kumble played with a bandaged jaw in West Indies and this scene is etched in our memory. Apart from his bowling exploits, he has earned respect for his behaviour on and off the field, which makes Anil Radhakrishna Kumble, a unique jewel in the Gentleman’s game.

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Holding swords they run around barefoot for days ahead of the Yaum-e-Ashura, to commemorate the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson at the battle of Karbala.

The Paigis had played vital role in driving the British forces out of Kanpur during the freedom struggle of 1857. Dressed in green and black, these youths don’t take rest or lie down in this period, not even going to their homes.

Nearly 25,000 Paigis led by their local Khalifas keep running for three days until Ashura. The Khalifa of Paigis, Mohammad Idris Pahalwan had a meeting with Shahar Qazi on First of Muharram (1857) and it was decided to extend support to Nana Sahib, Azimullah and Tatya Tope at a time when the English forces led by Colonel Stewart were involved in large-scale killings of Indians.

It is believed that the Paigis (from the word Paigham ie message) had taken part in the battle of Karbala and recovered the missing bodies from the battlefield.

For centuries the Paigis in Kanpur continue this tradition. During the first freedom movement, the droves of Paigis and the echo of the bells sent shiver down the spines of British forces.

Undaunted by the strength of the opposition they walked with Imam Zamin on their arm, sword in hand. Vande Mataram Sangharsh Samiti president Alok Mahrotra says that the British were so scared of Paigis that the army had ran out of the Parade ground during Muharram and later left the City.

“Sufi Saint Dass Baba had asked Begum Hazrat Mahal and Azizan to distribute the ‘roti ka tabarruk’ after Majlis. “Nainavati would distribute this ‘tabarruk’ and it created a strong sense of nationalism and communal harmony in Kanpur”, he says.

Centuries have elapsed but this tradition has survived. The Paigis consider themselves as Qasid-e-Husain, the messenger of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

(A website claims the figure of Paigis who run to be over 50,000)

Photograph: Bara Imambara, Lucknow by Amit.Priya

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The government has asked the NCERT to consider revising the Urdu syllabus and replace tough Urdu words with simple ones. The report says that words like aala-e-paimaaish-e-haraarat (thermometer) are tough for students.

But I suggest a consideration for Hindi also. What is pratyasthata? It is Hindi term for Elasticity in Physics and not lachilapan which everybody can understand. Or resonance which become sanspandan. The textbooks are full of such terms and the language of the books is also highly Sanskritised one, which turns the student off, as he has to make an effort.

Both Urdu-walas and the Hindi-walas needed to use simple words but ironically the text books that ought to be simple and easy to understand are most unattractive, boring and written in the toughest possible language, as if the aim is to daunt the student.

Though I never studied Urdu in school, I remember I was told words like miqyasul haraarat for thermometer and mukabbur-us-saut for loudspeaker and it was fun to remember them as a hobby. But I think it is no longer fun when you have to learn dozens of difficult words at a tender age.

It is not a bad idea to simplify the language at least for the beginners. At college level (especially Medical and specialised streams) where it is necessary, tougher istilaahaat (terminologies) can be used.

Ironically, Baba-e-Urdu Abdul Haq tried all his life to simplify the language. His terminologies like aksi shoaa for ‘X-ray’ (aks=image) and saaye-numa for cinema were never used. I had sometime back heard Bhajan Lal recalling Abdul Haq’s contribution.

Languages are tools of communication. Text books must be attractive and written in a language that appeals to the student, rather than aimed at harassing him. It is the irony of this country that no two languages, as beautiful and as intrinsically linked to each other, have developed in the same geographical region and are surviving.

But we tried to kill them by trying to stuff alien words. The result is that a kid looses interest in learning in his mother tongue. He is at loss to acquire the simple and natural language through which the toughest phenomena can be understood easily.

Over the last 60 years Hindi was systematically taken away from the masses, especially the uneducated rural lot and it became a Jinnati zabaan in its homeland.

Pictures: Hindi Sign by John K, Urdu Sign by Elephant Kitty

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Salman Rushdie is in India and the rabble-rousers are again whipping up sentiments of Muslims against the writer. The furore over Taslima Nasreen’s stay in India has barely died down.

And now we have Rushdie back in Mumbai, the very City where Muslims had protested the publication of his notorious book and 12 Muslims had lost their lives in police firing in the 80s. Ironically, once again there is an attempt to drag Muslims in needless controversies and some Muslim organisations are trying to bring out Muslims again on the streets to protest his arrival.

An Urdu daily screams, ‘Why should he be allowed to stay in Mumbai, especially visiting the country during Muharram”. Meetings are on where Ulema and politicians are chalking out strategy to lodge protest. And once again we have all forgotten how Rushdie and writers like him continue to get a new lease of life in literary world, with such protests.

Some Muslim organisations have already burnt his effigy and raised slogans. There is condemnation of Parmeshwar Godrej, who has invited Rushdie. Memorandums to Ministers have been given and again a huge rally may be planned out.

Jamiat has threatened that if something goes horribly wrong, the government will have itself to be blamed. Raza Academy is demanding his immediate expulsion from the country.

Will Muslims always remain stuck in this time warp where they will keep protesting for dead causes. It is our democratic right to protest but there are ways we can do that. Whipping a frenzy through speeches will not serve the interests of the community. Can’t we simply ignore him or simply finish it with a couple of symbolic protests.

Adnan

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Legendary musician, Tansen, is considered the greatest singer-musician ever born in India.
One of the nau-ratnas (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar, Tansen was born around 1505 AD near Gwalior.

Though a Hindu by birth, the ‘Sangeet Samrat‘ was also a believer in Islam. He was a disciple of Sufi Saint Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, and after his death the great musician was buried near his spiritual master’s mazaar.

The annual Tansen Cultural Festival started in Gwalior recently. The four day long event was inaugurated with Hari Katha, Milad and recital of verses from Holy Quran, as per the age-old tradition.

The bhajan ‘Ek raaii ke hazaar hisse, us mein bhii Khudaa basey’ was sung. After Naat Sharif and Qawwali, the ‘chaadar’ was ceremonially brought to the Mazaar of Sufi Saint Muhammad Ghaus. With ‘chaadar-poshi’ on Miyan Tansen’s mazaar, the function started.

Tansen’s real name was Ramtanu Pandey. He learnt music under the tutelage of Saint Hari Das, also a Bhakti Sant. (The painting above shows him in the company of his guru Sant Hari Das and the Emperor Akbar). It is commonly believed that this singer-instrumentalist could bring rains with Raga Megha Malhar and candles would light immediately when he started singing the Deepak Raga.

Even till the early part of 20th century, it said that were a couple of exponents who could turn a a place warmer with the raga. Truly Tansen’s Ragas laid the foundation of Classical Hindustani music and all the mausiqui (sangeet) gharanas of India trace their linkage to him. Tansen is the most important person in creating the genre of classical North Indian music. Abul Fazl called him the greatest musician since Bharat, the son of King Dhushyant and Shakuntala.

Legend has it that his Pir Ghaus had placed a drop of paan juice from his mouth on the child Tannu’s tongue. And the boy after receiving the blessing went on to become be the Emperor of music.

Five centuries have elapsed but the tamarind tree (Imli) under the shade of which he practiced music, still stands though it has dried down and there were plans to cut it recently, which met resistance.

KL Saigal came to Gwalior and tasted the leaves of the tree. Tansen popularised rubab. He created dhrupad style of Hindustani vocal music and invented ragas like Miyan ki Tori, Mian ki Malhar and raga darbari. This great composer musician died in 1589. His tomb is in Gwalior and every year the Sangeet Samaroh is held in his memory. (The photo of Tansen’s tomb on the left. The tomb of Mohammad Ghous is close to it)

Tansen had both Hindu and Muslim wives. In Gwalior court, the legendary Queen Mrignayani got friendly to him. Also, there are tales about his affair with Akbar’s daughter Mehrunnisa. In popular folklore Baiju Bawra is considered another musician of the era who challenged Tansen and they had a musical duel in the court of Akbar.

Listen to some of Tansen’s ragas sung by modern musicians.

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Kolkata was in flames on Wednesday. Mercifully the violence didn’t spill out of control. As TV channels started flashing the ‘alert’ about Army called in Kolkata and later the images of All India Muslim Forum activists, I really got worried.

If it was a protest over just Nandigam, I could understand. But the way Jamiat brought the issue of Taslima Nasrin and also the murder of Rizwanur Rahman, it is a dangerous signal. For Rizwanur Rahman, the entire Bengal has come together. And Muslims surely have other problems to worry about than Taslima. I don’t know how many protestors have read her works. They are not readable anyhow. And even if she has written something that doesn’t go well with us, we have the option not to read it or ignore it. With every such protest Taslima’s stature as a writer will go up even if she doesn’t deserve that.Violent street protests don’t serve anybody. But what perturbs me the most is the involvement of Jamiat-e-Ulama and the Muslim Forum. By communalizing the issues and raising the same old ‘victim’ complex, it is not going to help Muslims of West Bengal rather anti-Muslim feelings may rise.

As I saw the stone pelting on streets and the images of burning car and mob clashing with police, imposition of curfew, I could imagine what must be going through the minds of many non-Muslims, ‘These Muslims, the troublemakers…they are at it again’. I am not sure about the All India Minority Forum whether it has any following amongst Muslims in West Bengal.

But Jamiat’s political ambitions are a cause of worry. Muslims must fight for their rights, but peacefully, as as part of the society by taking along others. Muslims should raise their voice against atrocities on themselves and also other sections of society who are facing injustice. The minority community can’t afford to be an insulated group.

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Professor Barkatullah, the first Prime Minister of the Government of India in-exile (Raja Mahendra Pratap was president) that was formed in 1915, was a great patriot and amongst the founders of Ghadar Party, who spent all his life to propagate revolutionary ideas for the overthrow of British rule in India, and ultimately passed away in San Fransisco.

Wanted: Revolutionaries to stir up Ghadar
Place of Work: Hindustan
Renumeration: Death
Reward: Martyrdom
Pension: Liberty

This was the call which was published in the party’s mouthpiece Ghadar which was published from San Fransisco to propogate revolutionary ideas amongst Indians.

Barkatullah, the son of Maulvi Shujatullah, a schoolteacher, was born in Bhopal in late 1850s (the date of birth is disputed). After completing his education his spent a few years teaching before he disappeared from Bhopal.

In Mumbai he learnt English and during this period and developed nationalistic feelings. He went to England in 1890 where he got the job of Professor Arabic at Liverpool University.

It was during his stay in England that his articles on India’s independence started appearing in magazines and papers. He delivered fiery speeches. When famine killed millions in India, Barkatullah was unable to bear the lack of sensitivity of the British.

“A country of the size of Iran has been wiped out within India and they are just not bothered”. He realised the extent of exploitation Indians were undergoing by the imperial forces and left for USA in 1899.

He moved to Japan where his article in the leading newspaper about the Islamic belief that Prophets were sent in all groups of people including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims, caught the eye of Emperor who offered him the post of Professor Urdu.

It was during his stay in Japan that Barktaullah started a newspaper Islamic Fraternity, which soon turned political and was banned by British government both in India and England. It used to be smuggled in India. He gave voice to the Indians living in Far East countries like Java, Burma, Malaya, Singapore and Indonesia, urging them to unite for the cause of India’s indepedence.

The British government requested Japan to deport him. He was asked to tone down his paper. But Barkatullah’s activities only got intensified and he established a network of inquilabis in the East Indies. His Inquilabi Party had branches in Shanghai, Hongkong, Colombo and other places and had forged close relations with revolutionaries like Mathura Singh, Bhagwan Singh and others.

He was forced to leave Japan and made Frnace his base where he started a newspaper Al Inquilab but had to leave for US. Just before the First World War, Barakullah, Krishan Verma and Lala Hardayal joined hands to form Indian Association of Pacific Coast, which later became Ghadar party and had the famous mouthpiece Gadar (also written Gaddar) which was published in Urdu and Gurmukhi.

There were around 20,000 Indians in North Ameria then. Barkatullah and paper’s editor Ram Chander not only gave speeches but also worked as hawkers for the paper. The Gadar movement spread to USA, Canada, Mexico and to far East in countries like Philippines, Malaya etc.

The Indians all over the world were urged to organise, stop paying taxes to British government in the country. It published advertisement for recruitment of revolutionaries for Gadar in India.

In 1914, the August issue appealed for mass revolution and urged to loot banks, dismantle railway tracks. Lalaji was forced to leave USA and he went to Switzerland. It was here that Barkatullah’s personal secretary Harendra Nath got him in touch with Raja Mahendra Pratap and the relationship of Barakatullah and Raja Sahab is now part of history.

Earlier, all the Inquilabis had met in Berlin and met King William for the strategy to free India. Later in 1917, Barkatullah was amonst the 105 against whom case of armed struggle against British rule and organising revolutionaries, was intiitated and many were sent to jail.

Barkatullah reached Afghanistan and convinced the Amir Habibullah that if Turks and Gernman forces reach there, the combined army would move towards India for freeing the country of British rule. Barkatullah during his meeting with Lenin sought his support also. When Habibullah backed out, a dejected Barkatullah planned a similar attack with the help of tribes in the frontier region. This was when he became seriously ill and diagnosed with diabetes. He spent sometime in Russia. Lenin wanted to stay him there but Barkatullah left the country in 1922. He made France his base but was forced to leave for spreading Bolshevik ideas.

In 1927 in the Brussels conference, the Prime Minister of the first govenrment in india in exile Barkatullah first met the would-be first prime minister of nation Jawaharlal Nehru. Later during his stay in Germany he renovated the mosque built for Muslim prisoners. He met Mussolini as well…

Adnan

…Continued

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