World War I

 Exactly 109 years back on June 28, 1914 a young Serbian Gavrilo Princip shot dead Archduke Ferdinand and his wife to trigger World War I.

It is said that Gavrilo and his group were a rag tag bunch of nationalists who were plotting an act of terror. For some reason the cavalcade of the Archduke and his wife on whom life attempts were made moments earlier took a wrong turn and stopped right in front of them.

The couple's cavalcade was destined to take a turn to destiny on that fateful day. For Gavrilo it was a God sent opportunity not to be to missed. Couple of his bullets found their mark as the Archduke and his wife slumped lifeless into each others arms. This event had its ripple effect triggering the First World War.

The war went on and one over several years. In the same war a short, lean German soldier who was poked fun at for his short height and funny moustache was sleeping inside his camp when he had this strange urge to go outside. He duly followed his instinct and stepped outside. Moments later a bomb wiped out the rest of the soldiers sleeping inside the camp.

The rest is history as this man was no other than Adolf Hitler who survived the attack that night and another day to rewrite history by adding the chapter of World War II to it. One successful assassination started a war and another failed attempt prepared for the second. War can be treacherous & unpredictable. One war leads to another, another war to another which can end up in a World War. History repeats itself and hope we learn something from history and don't condemn ourselves to repeat it.

Happy birthday PVN

 An episode from the year 1991 might ring a bell to many. This is how then Subramanian Swamy, a man who has been in almost all parties and now-a-days a BJP man turned into a BJP critic, a Commerce Minister in Chandra Sekhar's government, had this conversation with the US Ambassador to India.

This was during a very crucial time in early 1991 when the American led coalition forces were fighting the Iraq War and Indian economy was totally in shambles. The American Ambassador asked Dr. Swamy what India needed in exchange for refueling facility provided on Indian soil to the Gulf bound US planes fighting the Iraq war.

Here is how the conversation was reported. US Ambassador - "What do you want in return" ? Swamy said - "We want $2 billion because we are on verge of bankruptcy". The Ambassador replied, "You want it from the United States" ? Swami responded - "No, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and without any condition attached".

The Ambassador went on, "How can I get you money from IMF" ? Dr. Swami replied, "You have 87 percent voting right in IMF. So, if you want landing rights, then on Monday I want $2 billion". The American played hard - "Today already it is Friday". Said Swami, "In Washington DC it is still Thursday night. I know you have the ability to get it." (And unlike many believe that world leaders get ecstatic by looking at Mahaprabhu's white beard, we know in international matters it is always a give and take relationship. It invariably needs some negotiation and hard bargaining before a deal is settled).

So US gave India $2 billion and they were given the landing rights. We changed our non-alignment policy overnight. 2 billion dollar, even adjusted to inflation is not a gargantuan amount by today's standard, considering India a USD 3. 75 trillion economy and $600 billion plus in its Forex reserve. But it was no laughing matter then, when India's Balance of Payment position was extremely precarious and its coffer was on the verge of depletion. India with few hundred million of USD in its reserves and its gold mortgaged in a London Bank was staring at nightmare scenario of economic catastrophe.

Long rule by the Congress Party and its disastrous, leftist - socialist economy policy followed by years of classic Hindu rate of economic growth took us to the doorstep of impending bankruptcy. Yet it took another Congressman, incidentally not from the Nehru - Gandhi family to fix it. A huge credit for this transformation we are seeing 30 years down the road goes to one man, who almost retired from Politics, but became Prime minister of India by fluke on the aftermath of the tragic, untimely assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. He is the polyglot, erudite ex -Prime Minister of India P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Rao's contributions to India are many. Like all politicians he had his share of failures and shortcomings which is beyond the scope of this post. So, I will touch base with two of his significant achievements during his 5 year tenure as India's Prime Minister. 

First, salvaging the economy from brink of disaster as I mentioned upstream and heralding era of economic liberalization, ending the Licence - Permit Raj and red tapism which for years hung like an albatross on India's neck constraining and contributing to its meager growth.

Two, solving the Punjab Problem which looked beyond solution when he stepped into his office in June, 1991 when Punjab was burning. Within months of becoming PM, Rao called elections in Punjab and managed to conduct one amidst fireworks of bullets and bombs. As we say in Odia, KANTA KU KANTA KADHE - A nail is needed to take out another nail. The Congress government that followed gave a free hand to the Super Cop KPS Gill whose motto was very simple - Kill a terrorist, earn a promotion. The Punjab police responded spectacularly by reaping bounties on the terrorist heads as bountiful as a successful Ravi crop harvest during the BAISAKHI (a popular festival in Punjab). By end of the year 1993, little more than two years after Rao taking office, terrorism in Punjab was a thing of past.

The man proved his mettle, carved his niche, vindicating that a leader can deliver sans histrionics in public. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PV Narasimha Rao - Thanks to you, the country will never have to resort to mortgage its gold reserves once again.

Wagner's Revolt against Putin

 In an interesting development in the ongoing Russia - Ukraine War the leader of Wagner, a Russian mercenary group revolted against Putin and started marching towards Moscow. Then he did a U - turn, cut a deal with Putin and backed out. 

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary unit used to sell hot dogs in Moscow street before becoming Vladimir Putin's Chef. His rise was meteoric as he was a great asset to Russian military until recently before turning rouge and becoming a liability to Putin. Though a shrewd guy, with this move Prigozhin protested to drive a point that all is not good on the Western front war with Ukraine. He clearly knew that with his 8,000 fighters he couldn't take over Moscow. It is akin to imagining a breakaway Indian Army consisting of 10,000 soldiers marching to Delhi to take over the government. They will be routed in no time. The head of the Wagner unit was trying to send a message to Putin by daring to take him by horn. 

War is a business of performance. Humans and History always side with the winners. Putin and Russians, including your humble blogger too and most of the world anticipated Russia taking over Ukraine in few months. It has not only failed miserably, nearly one and half years down the road Russia is nowhere close to achieve its primary goal of capturing Kiev and replace its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Putin's puppet. 

It is sad that Russia, once a superpower, is at the mercy of hired mercenaries rather than its regular soldiers who neither have an appetite or any incentive to fight a futile war. Why should they get motivated to fight the Ukrainians who not long ago were part of nation called U.S.S.R along with Russia. Do you think we Odias will be dying to fight and die fighting against Bengalis if our leader says so, a state with which Odisha has deep links and have similar language, culture and traditions for centuries ! 

The American President Joe Biden just gave a statement that US has no role to play in the uprising of Prigozhin. It reminds me of a line I read about diplomacy - "Don't believe anything until it is officially denied". 

Now it will be interesting to see where the Putin fans, especially the supporters of Modi and BJP stand ? They used to be rabidly against US and Joe Biden at the beginning of the Ukraine War throwing their lot behind Putin. Now that Biden fecliliated their Mahaprabhu on American soil, accorded him a State dinner, followed by Mahaprabhu gifting Biden's wife with diamond, their bonhomie has left our Bhakts a highly confused lot - "NA E KULA RA HELE, NA SE KULARA HELE" or "can't chose between rock and the hard place". They might consider telling their darling RSS to send a battalion of Khaki wearing, Lathi (stick) wielding Sanghis to fight on behalf of Putin's fledgling army. They will swing their Lathis so fast that Prigozhin's Wagner mercenaries will run away.

Marriages made in heaven but divorces on earth

 The Supreme Court of India last month observed that most divorces arise from love marriages. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol, while hearing a transfer petition arising out of a matrimonial dispute, made the observation. 

The Justices may not be doing justice by coming to a concluding based without any scientific evidence but they may have a point. Marriages may be made in heaven but breakups and divorces happen on earth. Amongst my friends and relatives I have observed that the success rate of arranged marriages is more than that of the so called love marriages. (The term love marriage is a misnomer here as in many cases it's a self negotiated marriage of convenience rather than any kind of real love associated with it. The usual disclaimers apply). I have seen many so called love marriages collapsing like a pack of cards, while ample of arranged marriages have succeded spectacularly. 

The simple psychological equation of (Expectations - Fulfillment = Frustration) still holds good in all spheres of life, including marriages. Every human being has both good and bad sides. In love marriages, before marriage the boy and girl know the good side of each other, shadowing their bad and ugly sides during their courtship period. During the dating phase the couples know the best part of each other and rarely aware of each other's negative side. They raise the bar of expectations to a higher level. The first 100 days of marriage is the honeymoon phase of life after which familiarity breeds contempt. As the initial attraction fades away the true color comes out like crimson evening sky  after the dissapearance of cloud cover. This leads to disaster in many love marriages. 

However the opposite happens in case of arrange marriages when the good, bad and ugly side are known only after marriage. Expectations are low as two virtual unknowns tie their knot and the couple tend to adjust with each other as trust and care slowly builds up over time akin to a slow baked Pizza crust brings out its best taste and texture. Slow and steady wins the race. Like two sides of a coin they couple may not see each other but stick together. As usual there are exeptions to rule. Either way as William Shakespeare famously said in his "A Midsummer Night's Dream - the course of true love never did run smooth." 

Nothing fascinates my American friends more than our concept of arranged marriages which they find quite intriguing and amusing. They dont use the term Love marriage like we do. I too find the term love mariage an oxymoron. In my opinion it should be rather called self arranged/ self negotiated/ post courtship marriage or whatever, but the term love marriage frankly speaking is a misnomer. 

Upon queried, I have tried my best to explain by drawing a contrast between arranged and love marriages. I tell them how my own marriage was arranged. Long story short, my wife and I met for the first and only time before marriage for 25 long minutes and our marriage is now approaching 25 years, still going strong. Our dating was limited to our conversation on phone, a telephonic courtship over 10,000 miles between US and India at an exorbitant rate of nearly $1 per minute, the contemporary call rate to India. AT&T and MCI (now defunct) should have considered giving me some bonus as those 5 months between meeting my would be wife and our marriage I contributed handsomely to their coffers. 

Not sure how much my American friends were thrilled at my telephonic dating story, nevertheless they found it quite amusing. One of them joked - " How can you marry someone you barely know ? Don't ya take a car for test drive before buying it ? You dont wanna buy a car just looking at it and talking to the dealer over phone". In another instance when I queried a friend why he is not yet married his response was "You don't have to keep a cow at home to get milk". Logic well made and point well taken.  

However one cannot compare a car with "Yaar" (companion). Though most marriages in India are arranged and in spite of the recent spike the divorces, the rate in still low compared to the western world. This gives credence to the fact that most arrange marriages succeed. America was built from scratch, has survived many challengeing time and become an immensely successfull nation. USA has an inbuilt resilience. Similar to the United States arranged marriages are built from scratch, time tested and are successful on long run, a la "LAMBA RACE KA GHODA (Horse good for long run) - robust and resilience. Contrary to my prior belief I have seen many if not not all love marriages crumbling apart, falling like a pack of cards. Not sure my views cleared the minds about arranged marriages.

49th Anniversary of Emergency in India

 One fine morning in June 1975, Justice Jagmohan Sinha of Allahabad High Court judged Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's victory over her rival Raj Narain, a political buffoon of the time, as null and void. This unexpected verdict was followed by calls for her resignation. Strikes and violence spread in most parts of India as anarchy reigned. Soon she imposed internal emergency on the sultry midnight of 25, June. That was exactly 49 years ago,

At that point, India was independent for less than 30 years. The hangover of being ruled in an undemocratic way was still strong (hasn't changed a whole lot since), so also the obsequiousness towards the ruler hadn't faded yet. It manifested itself by Indira Gandhi behaving herself as if she was the "Empress of India", not a democratically elected leader.

She couldn't be blamed alone, as a pliant media's branded her as "The Iron lady", we can see in the current disposition these days. The success of Bangladesh war and its subsequent liberation probably went on to her head. It is said that even a senior opposition leader A B Vajpayee of Jan Sangh (the precursor of BJP) who later went on to become India's Prime Minister famously idolized Indira by describing her as our "Goddess Durga". RSS was soft on her those days.

Indira had become a cult figure by then. With cult status came sycophancy. Deb Kanta Barooah, a Congressman from Assam famously said about her - "India is Indira, Indira is India" (We have similar thinking these days by a few who say India is Modi, Modi is India. If you are against Modi, you are anti-Indian). She was soon surrounded by pliable sycophants who fed her what she liked to hear. Her younger son and groomed political heir Sanjay Gandhi was already behaving as a bully.

All fundamental rights were snatched from the citizens. Those who protested were put in jail. Indira and Sanjay Gandhi expected the opposition and the media to bend. Yet to their surprise barring a few most of them decided to crawl. (Now history is repeating itself as the Godi or laptop media crawls before Mahaprabhu). (One exception was Kishore Kumar, an extremely popular singer at that time. He refused to sing for Sanjay Gandhi and was promptly banned from government controlled All India Radio and TV).

Not everybody were opposed to Emergency. Barring a few incidents in Kerala, the rest of South India stood solidly behind her during the emergency and after (We see some parallels now as our Vishwaguru has the backing of his staunch supporters, mostly in North India). South of the Vindyas she was popular among the mass as AMMA INDIRAMMA (mother Indira). In the Election held after emergency was lifted, Indira Gandhi swept the South though she was defeated from rest of India. (It needs to be noted that RSS and Siv Sena admired her for teaching its arch enemy Pakistan a lesson by carving a Bangladesh out of it. Both extended their covert support to her and she reciprocated by occasionally taking the help of RSS and Siv Sena during the Emergency to further her political goals).

She shrewdly played soft Hinduva card to her advantage as and when needed. But her son Sanjay had no soft corner for anyone and had no patience for the rule of law. He bulldozed slums of Delhi and rumored to have organized forced castration of Muslims, blaming them for India's population explosion.

But many who still remember those days say, though the freedom was clipped, the Emergency had some positive effect. People in government offices (biggest employer those days) came on time to work. Public sectors made profit. Buses, planes and trains were dot on schedule. Though short lived, it was proven that we Indians respect the power of DANDA (rod) more than democracy.

I still believe a benevolent dictatorship with a vision is better than the chaotic democracy we presently have. We can disagree on this, but Jeffersonian model of democracy is a myth, a mirage and certainly doesn't fit to all milieu. Yet we can agree that Emergency was one of the important events in the post Independent India and there is always something to learn from history.

Monsoon melodies

 Already delayed from its scheduled arrival around the "Raja" festival it has finally arrived in Odisha after dilly dallying for more than a week. The locals are now breathing a shy of relief after a long, hot scorching Indian summer with the monsoon finally arriving, with the rains bringing some much needed respite from heat and setting the dust.

Monsoon season is very unique to the South-East Asia in general and India in particular. The Himalayas in North gives shape to it as the the clouds originate over Indian Ocean, churn their way in and get disbursed over the entire landmass of India. It is accompanied by reversal of wind direction, quenching the thirst of a parched earth after a long, torturous summer of heat and humidity. Every one eagerly waits for its arrival - from the farmers to poets, from villagers to city dwellers, from kids to seniors. Farmers to start their KHARIF (summer) Crop, the city dwellers for a reprieve from heat and poets to add one more ode to myriads of poems dedicated to the monsoon.

Unlike West where winters are wet, cloudy depicting morbid gloom, the sunshine is celebrated when it's followed by summers bringing salubrious warmth and solace, in India the dark clouds with thunderclap followed by torrential rain is a welcome phenomenon. Birds start singing, Bards sing legendary songs in the praise of the arrival of monsoon, Peacocks spread their colorful train to dance. Dark clouds are welcomed in India over sunshine with silver linings. It brings joy and respite from the never ending Indian summer. 

Monsoon invariably arrives with a bang. Long look at the sky and the prayer for rains is answered as dark clouds roll in, dust filled winds give way to heavy droplets of water plattering the ground with a rhythmic music. Then wafts in the enchanting, earthy smell of fresh rains over the parched earth which can beat the best of French perfumes. The rains ground the dust in air,  swiping off dust from the foliage like wiper blades of a car. The buildings start looking brighter. 

People looks at the sky to savor this rare occasion of the first monsoon rains marking arrival of rainy season. Poets are motivated to let their pen capture the moment. Many love songs are written over the advent of monsoon - from the romance of Radha and Krishna, to songs of Bollywood depicting drenched actors and actresses eager to shower in the first shower of the season. Legendary poet and dramatist Kalidasa wrote an eulogy to cloud in his MEGHADOOTA (Cloud Messenger) to carry the message from the lover to the beloved several centuries ago.

The celebration is not just limited to the reel world. In real world folks come out to play on swings propelled by cool, gusty winds, singing songs of delight to welcome the arrival of Monsoon. Swings play an important part in Odia festival of RAJA exactly timed around monsoon. 

Many love to get drenched, as they believe that getting soaked in the first rains of the season cures skin infections. 

Monsoon is rarely an equalizer, far from being uniform. It could be deficit at one place but at the same time causing waterlogging in the cities and floods elsewhere. Vagaries of monsoon is neither new, nor unheard of. Its inherent tendency is to be bountiful one year, scanty the next. 

We see intermittent dry spells during the monsoon, shorter or longer in duration. A year of flood is followed by a year of draught, with repetitive precision. Even within the same year and same nation, one part of India suffers from draught while another part beg for flood relief.

My grandfather told me about the NA ANKA DUBHIKHYA (The Great Drought of 19th Century), which was told to him by his grandfather. NA ANKA in Odia refers to the years around 1885 - 1887 in the Gregorian Calendar. The monsoon rains, restricted to the summer months of June - September, failed spectacularly for a prolonged duration of at least three  consecutive years.

There is no reason to believe that it was caused due to deforestation or Green House effect. It was simply the Dust Bowl years of Odisha. Hundreds of thousands died in that time span due to hunger and malnutrition caused by their dependency on the rain fed crop, which failed to crop up due to bad monsoon.

The High and Mighty Himalayas, with its Mt. Everest standing tall at its highest point of 29,000 feet, run East to the West, acting as a natural barrier to India from the bitter cold winds coming from Siberia and Pamir plateau. The tallest mountain range in the world gives India a unique geographical identity, keeping it warmer compared the other places in the world along similar latitude and shaping the contours of the monsoon, restricting it to the Indian Subcontinent. India is left at the mercy of Monsoon for most of its freshwater supply. That makes it imperative for rainwater harvesting when the rain in plentiful during the monsoon months. Sadly, we only realize when water is neck deep. 

Invariably every year, the monsoon arrives in June - July and takes leave in September - October, with a highly inequitable distribution of rainfall. This Odia proverb aptly depicts  the vagaries of monsoon :

JALA BAHULE SRUSTI NAASA,
JALA BIHUNE SRUSTI NAASA, meaning

"Lack of water causes catastrophe,
 Excess of water causes catastrophe."

Modi in USA - June 2023

India's Prime Minister Modi is on an official trip to USA. It coincides with June 21, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and World Yoga Day, but most likely chosen by our Vishwaguru (the Scion of the World).for self promotion and visibility rather than an humble attempt at promoting Yoga. The man is a narcissist, a sine qua non of most right-wing politicians who harbor dictatorial tendency. 

Having conquered his home turf in popularity (he is definitely the most popular politician in India right now) and subjugating the media, social or otherwise, Modi aspires to be a global leader. In that context what better place can be other than the soil of the United States for self proclamation ! It's another matter whether world will oblige to his desire to be Vishwaguru or not. He has undoubtedly built a cult around him in India and amongst a section of NRIs. To his "Andh Bhakts" (Blind Devotees) Mahaprabhu's fart smells like the world's best French perfume. 

Nothing wrong in promoting Yoga world wide (though I sincerely doubt the Uintes Nation's role in promoting Yoga when the bloated bureaucracy has spectacularly failed to promote world peace). For his Bhakts, Modi is the one who showcased Yoga to world. That's simply a misconception. Modi didn't bring Yoga to the West. Yoga was already present in West when Modi was in his Chuddi (underwear). The Iyengar Yoga had been taught and gained popularity in United States in the 1960s. 

As I write the US President Joe Biden is hosting a White House dinner for Prime Minister Modi. Fair enough. But some of his fans going berserk that he is the first Indian Prime Minister to be honored with such a privilege. Dr. Manmohan Singh was extended the same honor by President Obama in 2009. Also contrary to those doing monkey dance over Modi addressing a join session of House, both PV Narasimha Rao and AB Vajpayee were given the same privilege as visiting dignitaries. Some justify by saying that Modi will address for second time. What's so big deal about it ! Both PVN and Vajpayee were one term Prime Ministers. So they got one chance, whereas Modi being in his 2nd term got this opportunity twice. But poor Bhakts are poor in Math as they hold degrees from Whatsapp University. 

Contrary to the belief of many and Godi (laptop) media reporting back home, the coverage on Modi's visit on American media is at best frugal, far less in contrast to the trips made by his counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Europe. They might blame it on the left leaning CNN, MSNBC not giving their Mahaprabhu enough coverage, but the conservative media like Fox News seems to be hardly enthused about Modi. 

Many back home are under the misplaced notion that the US President loves Modi due to the later's magnetic white beard and his sengor holding walk. No American President is pro or anti Modi, they are pro American interest. At this point American interest is converging on India as a nation of 1.4 billion plus people with a lucrative market for doing business and selling arms and armaments. It is desperate for a counterweight to a rising China and thinks India fits the bill. 

So a shrewd businessman like Elon Musk and politician in Joe Biden don't like Modi for his flowing white beard but as the Prime Minister of a country who will provide them both business and strategic opportunities. They would do exactly the same if tomorrow a Rahul Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister of India - Vishwaguru's histrionics not withstanding.

Jagannath 101 - Ratha Jatra 2023

 On today's occasion of Ratha Jatra I name this blog "JAGANNATH - 101", a simple and brief introduction to Sri Jagannath and his famous chariot festival. It is intended for the uninitiated, striving to be as much informative as possible without being inordinately long. Bulk of this was published on the KHABAR magazine in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. I repost this every year as a refresher and for those who came late.

RATHA JATRA (RATH YATRA) of Lord Jagannath is a major festival in Odisha and for Hindus living around the world which invariably comes in late June or early July as per the Gregorian calendar. Millions of devotees from all over world throng to the temple town of Puri, Odisha braving the heat and humidity to have DARSHAN (devotional peek) of the Lord.

Locally the Rath Yatra is also called DHULIA GUNDICHA (dusty festival) or KADUA GUNDICHA (muddy festival) depending on the monsoon which is known to be capricious every year. One year it would be dry and dusty due to scarcity of rain, the other year chariots of the Lords have to be dragged on a slushy ground due to abundance of rainfall.

Who is Lord Jagannath ? He is our famous Hindu deity. The word Jagannath is formed as the conjoint (SANDHI) of the two words JAGAT (Universe) + NATH (meaning Lord of the Universe) = Jagannath. He is also addressed by many other names names - CHAKADOLA (Circular eyeballs), KAALIA (for his Amber complexion), JAGABANDHU (Friend of Universe), PAITAPABAN and myriads of other names by his devotees. Sri Jagannath is considered as a form of Lord Vishnu. Inside the temple his soul resides in his idol made from DAARU (wood). He is accosted by his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra on his side.

What is Jagannath culture ? To keep it simple - it is a way of life, our way of life. It denotes the wonderful culture and traditions of Odias and the great state of Odisha. Jagannath culture envisages devotion and respect for elders, love and affection for the younger, compassion for all. The Lord invokes us to do the right things and follow the path of righteousness and justice. It is as simple as that, need not be any more complex to comprehend or visualize.

In its realms the Jagannath culture sees God in every object, in its endless and infinite form. It is just not limited to any national or international boundary. As His name indicates, Jagannath belongs to the whole universe - He is not limited of any particular caste, creed, nation, community or person. Believers, atheists and agnostics alike agree on one thing, i.e, Lord Jagannath is our window to the world. It is our export which does not bring us any foreign exchange, but tons of gems in the form of goodwill and joy.

Now lets take look at Jagannath temple from historical prospective. The coastal township of Puri in the state of Odisha is famous for its Jagannath temple which is one of the CHAAR DHAAMs or the Four sacred abodes of God. The other three are Badrinarh, Dwarka and Rameswaram revered by all Hindus. The Jagannath temple in Puri was built in the 11th Century by King Chodaganga Dev from the Ganga dynasty. But according to the legend the temple which precedes that time was built by King Indradyumna many centuries ago. 

Lord Jagannath who always resides in the heart of Odias have helped their race for centuries. Legend has it - He, along with His elder Balabhadra assisted our King Purusottam Deb of Puri in defeating his opponent, the King of Kanchi. It is also said that the Lord saved himself from the marauding KALAPAHADA the JAVANA (The outcaste), an euphemism for the Muslim General who desecrated the temple in the 16th century.

Sri Jagannath is offered CHAPPAN BHOG (56 kinds of foods) as offerings, but the MAHAPRASAD (the great food offering) also colloquially known as ABHADA tops it all. It is cooked on huge earthen pots fueled by fire woods. No garlic, onions or vegetable of foreign origin - Potato, Tomato, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Papaya etc are ever used as ingredients. This is the favored meal of all religious occasions and post death rituals like DASAH (10th Day after death ceremony) and SHRADDHA (Annual Death Anniversary prayers). It has a unique appetizing smell and taste which is attributed to Lord's MAHIMA (miracle).

Inside the temple there is a place named ANANDA BAZAAR (The Market of Happiness) where the Hindu devotees irrespective of caste, creed or class can seat and eat together. It is a profound aspect of our culture where all are considered equal in the abode of the Lord. 

The MAHAPRASAD is buried in the ground without being offered to the Lord as it is considered MAARAA (inauspicious) on three grounds.

1. A person other than a Hindu or Sikh, from any Religion of foreign origin enters the temple as non-Hindus aren't allowed inside the temple.

2. A person dies inside the temple premises. (It is believed that if one dies inside the temple gets a straight ticket to Heaven)

3. A dog, considered as a dirty animal for some reason enters the temple. However cats and monkeys roam free inside the temple.

Now let's move on to RATHA JATRA or  Car Festival which is held in the months of June -July depending on the auspicious occasion as per our Hindu Lunar calendar. It is held all over the world including our state of Georgia, but the most famous is the one held in Puri.

Lord Jagannath is regarded as one among us. Like a normal human being he eats, takes a shower on SNANA PURNIMA (the full moon day for bath) and falls sick. He suffers from fever for several days until the day of RATHA JATRA when he travels to his MAUSI's (sister of his mom) house a few miles away sitting on a chariot named NANDIGHOSA. His brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra also travel in two separate chariots along with him. The King of Puri sweeps the top of the Lord's chariot using his golden broom. All the three chariots are pulled by hundreds of thousands of devotees thronging BADADANDA (The Broadway) of Puri of amidst heavy beating of GHANTA (brass plates), DHOLs( drums) and sirens of  SANKHA (conch shell). 

The DAHOOKA or Charioteer is the person in front of the chariot is known to chant the Puri BOLIS (limericks) full of profanity in order to entice the crowd. This practice of utterance of expletive filled chants has stopped from 1995 and replaced by Sanskrit SLOKAS (hymns) these days. Though highly offensive this practice continued for centuries and cannot be ignored or denied as part of our history and Ratha Jatra rituals.

During the British rule the Englishmen were appalled at devotees throwing themselves off in front of the chariot with the belief of being assured a place in heaven (The word Juggernaut derived from Jagannath is probably the only word in the English lexicon which has its origination in Odisha, meaning a heavy object on roll).

I will end this article with

JAGANNATHA SWAMI,
NAYANA PATHA GAMI
BHAVATUME,

which roughly means -

"O Lord Jagannath, 
The Beacon of our eyes,
He who shows us the path, 
Be visible to me.

RIP Gufi Paintal

 His death went unnoticed on June 5, less than a week ago. The actor was famous for playing the role of wily Shakuni in B.R. Chopra's popular Mahabharat tele series from late 1980s. Born in Pakistan and trained as an Engineer he served in Indian Army for sometime before choosing showbiz as career. He was actor Gufi Paintal.

The heavy metal music which accompanied his limpy walk, his villainous glare as he cuddled a pair of dice, rolling over his palms still rings a bell. He was no doubt a central character of Mahabharat. The 18 day war which ended in a Pyrrhic victory for the Pandavas over the Kauravas was arguably a war of his making, which played into the hands of Sri Krishna's ultimate desire to eradicate evilness from the earth's surface.

Gufi Paintal played Shakuni's role aplomb, with perfection and grace as a fish to water. In our legendary epic an arrogant Duryodhan imprisoned his maternal Uncle Shakuni and his brothers with the intention of killing them. All of them died of starvation saving Shakuni by feeding him their quota of allocated food to stay alive so that their wily brother can survive to take revenge on another day on the egotistical Duryodhan. Shakuni lived another day. He thrived and as a payback took his revenge by manipulating his nephew against his cousins Pandavas, fully knowing that ultimately the Pandavas are going to be victorious in the protracted war. Shakuni had his last laugh as the entire Kaurav Dynasty perished in the ill fated war.

Though seen as the bad guy in the epic, some see Shakuni as a patriot. He loved his sister Gandhari and wanted her to marry Pandu, the crown prince rather than a blind Dhritarastra. He felt humiliated as Gandhari chose to marry the blind man after accepting the marriage proposal from Bhisma Pitamah, the custodian of Kuru Dynasty. So Shakuni vowed to see the Kingdom of Hastinapur destroyed by prolonging his stay in his sister's house and scheming towards his goal by instigating an ambitious Duryodhan against the Pandavas.

Shakuni, the sly fox judged people by his guile and used them like pawns in game of dice, a game in which he was an expert. One of them was Karna - the valiant, generous but illegitimate son of SURYA (Sun God), a close friend and confidant of Duryodhan. Karna was seen as a person of utility by shrewd Shakuni as he was the only one who could match Arjun in Archery.

In a scene from B R Chopra's famous teleseries, Shakuni plots the death of the Pandavas planning to roast them alive inside the famous inflammable palace called LAKHYA GRIHA (The Jade House). When Duryodhan was about the divulge the plot to his buddy Karna, Shakuni dissuaded him - "There is no question about Karna's dedication towards you, my dear nephew Duryodhan. But he is just a pawn, part of my larger game towards your goal of attaining the Kingship of Hastinapur. Kingship is better than Kinship. It won't be wise to divulge all plans to him. Yet, keep your friendship alive, as he is our asset, an invaluable weapon to take on Arjuna. No doubt Karna is a man of principle. But such folks can be of dangerous proposition as a principled person can't compromise on his values and can have an independent streak. He can never be trusted to be part of such heinous conspiracy lest he puts a spanner in the wheels of my plan. It's prudent to tell him only those stuff as and when needed".

In another scene our Shakuni, also addressed as "Mamashree" (Maternal Uncle), a well earned sobriquiet, steps into a room where his nephews Duryodhan, Dushashan and their friend Karna were laughing and chatting when Yudhistir's coronation ceremony was taking place at another location. Sakuni delivers his monologue ridiculing Duryodhan - "HASO BHANJE, HASO. KYON KI MURKH WOHI HAI JO RONE KI WAQT PAR HASTE HAIN" (Go on laughing, my nephews. Morons are those who laugh at the time of crying). He was alluding to Duryadhan's laughing when his bette noire eldest Pandav was annointed as the King. Many eye catching dialogues including this was written by Rahi Masoom Reza in that teleseries.

As a shewd strategist, Shakuni was confident of implementing his master plan to success over the gullible Pandav brother. But he was afraid of one person of matching intelligence who could throw a spanner in his scheming wheels. It was non other than Sri Krishna who was firmly in the Pandav's camp. Shakuni would go on - "YEH VASUDEV KRISHNA HI MERA CHAAL PEHCHAAN SAKTA HAI. USE KISI BHI TARAH UN PANDAVON SE ALAG KARNA HOGA", "It is only Vasudev Krishna who could see through my scheming, no one else can. We should keep him apart from the five Pandav brothers". But Sri Krishna was smart enough not to walk into Shakuni's trap.

For our generations and many more to come the face of "Kapati" treacherous Shakuni will be synonymous with that of the role played by this nondescript actor. RIP Gufi Paintal.

Kinky stuff and corruption in China

 Recently a Ferrari reportedly going at a speed of 178 mph (285 kmph) was recorded on the radar of Atlanta police. It reminded of this incident little more than a decade ago.

One fine dawn in the year 2012 in Beijing, China a young man, just 23 years of age along with couple of his girlfirends was cruising at a very high speed in a Ferrari following a late night party. The kinky stuff they were supposedly doing inside the fast and fateful moving car led them lose control at the height of excitement (the first responders found their mangled bodies in different stages of undressing) leading to a fateful, fatal crash. 

Nothing unusual in an age where many rave parties of young adults are followed by tragedies, except this young man was the classic case of a "PAISE WALE BAAP KA BIGDA HUA AULAAD" or the Spoilt Brat of a Moneyed Father. He happened to be the only child (China has strictly enforced one child principle since 1970s) of a powerful aid to then Chinese President Hu Jintao. 

A frantic effort for cover up began, but it turned out to be a botched attempt as the news had already gone viral on the Chinese micro-Blogging sites. More infirmation about the government offcial was dug out. Chatters went around, how come someone with a paltry salary of about $2500 or about 1.5 lakh Rupee a month those days could afford a Villa with a Swimming pool at a posh Beijing locality and gifted a Ferrari to his son. (A person earning that much in a 2nd tire city like Bhubaneswar would be considered Middle Class these days). The bureaucrat's salary may be meagre, but not the money the bereaved father possessed through other means. 

Iron curtain is gradually coming up in China, exposing its ugly underbelly. In spite of its success story, China is not immune to the disease of corruption, even though scores of people are hung every year in China on charged of corruption (in India they are at best suspended from their job). 

But I like the approach of their current President Xi Xinping taking the Corruption Bull by Horn before it enters the China Shop. He has even earned a rare praise by Dalai Lama who isn't exactly a fan of Beijing. Some say, the Chinese leader is doing this to fix his political opponents and they might have a point. 

Yet what is commendable is the pragmatic Chinese leaders known for their focused approach are doing something, rather than let the sleeping dog lie. Its authorities have followed hot in heels, going after those who have migrated abroad with money stollen from its coffers. This has led to a decline in the number of applicants to their equivalent of India's Civil services as it has lost its lustre because scope of corruption has gone down.

They have managed to get their hands on some who fled abroad with ill gotten money and extradited them back to China - which is something to take a cue from and replicate by other nations facing similar issues of their financial perpetrators absconding abroad.

Ides of June

 June started on a bad note. In a tragic accident in my home state back home in Odisha, India hundreds died and around a thousands were injured. The first week of June also reminds me of couple of events of far reaching consequences. One is the Operation Blue Star, which happened this week exactly 39 years ago in the year 1984.

Congress party which perfected the art of mishandling issues (Bangladesh war of 1971 being the exception), completely blew the Punjab crisis out of proportion by catapulting Bhindranwale, a Sikh with a flowing beard and aquiline nose from a small time preacher into a big time martyr. (BJP is fast catching up with Congress in mishandling issues - the longer is its tenure in power, the more screw ups they are in making). 

As Khushwant Singh mentioned in his autobiography, Giani Zail Singh, ex Home Minister and President of India famously described Bhindranwale as SADDE DANDA "our stick" to beat the Akalis with. Congress party wanted to use him as an useful idiot to settle score against its opponent. Eventually the genie escaped from the bottle and the DANDA became a huge stick to cause pain to Congress and nation's backside. 

Bhindranwale's myth still lives on. It's not unusual to find T-shirts figuring his turbaned head and cassettes containing his speech in parts of Punjab, especially in the rural areas. His simple slogan 'JO DARTA WOH SIKH NAHI AUR JO SIKH HAI WOH DARTA NAHI' (one who fears is not a Sikh, one who is a Sikh never fears) caught the imagination of the Sikh youth.

The violence and senseless killings reached its peak in the late 1980s when the Punjab problem seemed beyond solution. I met an Odia guy, who was lucky to survice one such attacks in JCT Mills, Phagwara. One night, a bunch of terrorists entered the plant compound and wrapped up all the outsiders from outside of Punjab they could get their hands on. Then they forced them to stand in a line and shot them randomly. 

But before doing their cold blooded target practice, those heartless folks took some time to play with their victims who were crying and begging for their lives. Our Odia guy was standing in a dark corner. In the commotion, he decided to take his chances. He slowly back stepped, jumped off a wall and ran away, luckily surviving the volley of bullets sent after him. The darkness and his luck saved him. The next morning (Night time bus services were banned in Punjab those days) he left Punjab once and forever, determined not to return again. His story sent chills down my spine.

Sending out the Army into the Golden Temple to flush out terrorists was akin to bringing down a house to get rid of rat menace. Operation Blue Star on 4th June had its series of consequences. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards not long after the operation to flush out terrorists from Golden Temple. Khushwant Singh who once used to be close to her family, especially to her younger son Sanjay Gandhi, but later fell out of her favor after Sanjay's death in an air crash, wanted to visit her place to pay his last respect, in spite of their estrangement.

When he was about to leave he got a call from a well wisher (I have forgotten the person's name) - "Sardarjee (as Sikhs are addressed), Have you lost your mind ? Don't ever dare going out now. The goons of Congress are dragging Sikhs out of vehicles, roasting them alive. They are going to make a Sikh Kabab (roast) out of you".

It was followed by killing of many innocent Sikhs who were buthered by hired Congress goons. The Sikhs retaliated by killing many innocent Hindus in Punjab as the terrorism continued for many more years to come.

The other event in June is the 34st Anniversary of the Tiananman Square massacre in China. The famous picture from the 1st week of June 1989, of the lone young man standing bravely in front of a Tank carries a lot of connotations.

It is an image of defiance and a strong desire for freedom by the contemporary youth. Sadly the Chinese government effectively quashed the freedom movement. The movement became dormant, but is far from dead. Quarter of a century later in that nation well connected with microbloggers it's sitting on a tinterbox to implode any moment. History could be made any time. One never knows.

Anasara of Lord Jagannath and Shana Purnima

 When there is a pandemic the authorities take steps to quarantine in order to contain and prevent the spread of any disease. Coronavirus had prompted us stay indoor, to go into a phase of self quarantine and social distancing. Classes in schools and colleges were held using on line instructions while of us were instructed to work from home for the unforeseen future. Many restaurants weren't letting customers in, only allowing them to order online or take "to go" meals at drive through pickups. 

However there is nothing new or novel regarding the concept of quarantine in order to stay away from viruses and convalesce. Same happens to Lord Jagannath, our famous Hindu deity of the better known Sri Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha. The word Jagannath is formed as conjoint (SANDHI) of the two words JAGAT (Universe) + NATH (meaning Lord of the Universe). He is also addressed by several other names by his devotees - CHAKADOLA (Circular eyelids), KAALIA (for his Amber complexion), JAGABANDHU (Friend of Universe), PAITAPABAN and myriads of other names by his devotees. 

A la humans, our Lord Jagannath has a human aspect when he goes on a self imposed quarantine before the famous Rath Jatra (Chariot Festival) which invariably comes in the Gregorian calendar month of June - July. Like a normal human being he eats, takes a shower on SNANA PURNIMA (the full moon day for bath) and falls sick. But unlike humans, the Lord doesn't infect anyone except with infectious BHAKTI (Devotion).

Following this, He suffers from fever for several days until the day of RATHA JATRA when he travels to his MAUSI's (mom's sister) house a few miles away sitting on His chariot NANDIGHOSA. His brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra also ride with him in separate chariots. 

Coinciding with handful of days prior to the arrival of monsoon, this time in Odisha is accompanied by stifling heat and humidity - perfect concoctions for a viral bug bite as viruses tend to be active in hot and humid weather. This particular phase is locally called as ANASARA GULUGULI (muggy) days. The almost static air, pregnant with water vapor and barely moving a leaf on the trees becomes unbearable. One feels like a melting man with hardly any relief in sight. The local populace take solace from a free Sauna bath for a few days, praying for early advance of monsoon.

Now also we do exactly the same thing - hibernating, socially distancing and staying quarantined, trying to stay safe from the viruses which was symbolized by Sri Jagannath culture. Only difference, CHAKAA AKHI SABU DEKHUCHI (The Round Eyed Lord, as Sri Jagannath is referred to is omniscient and foresees everything). But we, mere humans have no idea what's in store for future.

FATURANANDA - The forgotten Odia writter

 He is another Gemini like me. I doubt many from the current generation would remember him today. A talented but underrated writer he was born on this day more than a century ago in Odisha. Like a typical Geminian he was an excellent communicator and artistically inclined since childhood. His real name was Rama Chandra Mishra, but went by his pen name FATURANANDA - the Blind writer of Odia short short stories. 

Born in Jhanjhirmangala, Cuttack he was a non conformist and his writing mostly satirical. He suffered from a disease during his childhood which took out his eyesight. Growing in an era when Odia literature was not appreciated a whole lot, nor could buy a decent, comfortable living - he vented his frustration and cynicism in his writing using satire as a weapon. His language was lucid with a unique flow, his black humor and sheer poignance driving the images of his characters. 

Faturananda's description in minute details of the ethos and pathos of life was amazing - especially of the human feelings. He was very young when he lost his eyesight, so could never fell in love at firstsight. He described the feeling of love in his unique way, the way a blind man sees it - "PETA RU GOTE GARAM PABAN BAHARI CHHATI KU KUTU KUTU KALA PARI ABHINGAYA" (Love is the feeling of a warm air emanating from the stomach and tickling your heart). I fell in love with that expression of a person who could see his feelings without being able to see. 

In one of his short stories, a talented but failed painter was surprised at the sudden adulation in his art gallery. He painted a portrait of BUDHHA DEBA (Lord Goutam Buddha). But suddenly he noticed some changes on his painting. Without his knowledge, the night before his infant son played with the paint brush, crisis crossing Lord Buddha's painting with his playful hue straight from his shit. A Connoisseur of art interpreted the brownish shit coated portrait as BUDDHA DEBA turning into KRUDHA DEBA (An Angry God) and its aroma depicting the the non-violence protagonist Buddha's disgust at the prevalent go of the world. The poor and struggling arist got a hefty price when that painting was auctioned, least knowing that the credit should goes to his child. 

There is this story behind his unusual pen name FATURANANDA. Every evening he used to sit with his friends (called GULLI KHATTI or light hearted chatting in local parlance) inside a dilapited room of a local Club in Cuttack. In one such Gulli Khatti gatherings everyone was asked to give a nickname to the other guy ending with the word "Nanda". The participants gave each other a name like Prema (love) - Nanda, Dharma (righteous) - Nanda, Dhana (wealth) - Nanda, depending on their proficiency in love, spirituality and wealth. Nobody could coin the appropriate counterpart for him, so he came up with FATURANANDA - which basically means nothing. But the name stuck to him and he used it as his pen name. 

His Biography "MO PHUTA DANGA RA KAHANI" (The story of my punctured Boat) was a bare all of the morbid milieu and his struggle in a feudal, poverty stricken society known to be a graveyard for any kind of creative pursuit. I believe he was the proverbial "BANA MALLI BANA RE JHADI JAE" - "Jasmin flower in the forest falls off without its fragrance ever getting noticed".

Mortal man with immortal contribution. My two cent of tribute on his 108th birthday - to the man who is one of many talented Odias ignored by the sands of time, hoping it inspires the current generation and many more generations to come.