Friday 28 June 2013

Talk about India, from India with you



Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening my friends out there! This is 11:30pm. 28th June, 2013, Wednesday in India. How are you Friends? June is the celebration month for me! 23rd June is my birthday and 26th is marriage anniversary. I have enjoyed a lot; now, it’s the time to talk with you. So here I am!

Friends, yesterday, 27th June was the 74th Birthday of Rahul Dev Burman, the legendary music director and singer of India. Let me allow to say something about this great man.





Rahul Dev Burman, better known as R.D. Burman, was a famous Bollywood music director during the 60's through the early 90's.  He was known for introducing an upbeat, Western copied music that defined much of the music of the 1970's.  This style has influenced generations of music directors even to today.

R.D. Burman was born in Calcutta on June 27th, 1939, in Calcutta.  His father was the legendary music director S.D. Burman and his mother was named Meera.  As a child he was nicknamed "Pancham".His music education began very early on.  Naturally there was the influence of growing up in his father's home, with constant music surrounding him.  Furthermore after the family moved from Calcutta to Bombay, he started to learn sarod from the famous Ali Akbar Khan.  He also learned to play the harmonica.  With such a musical environment, it is not surprising that he started to compose music very quickly.  He was only nine years old when he composed his first song; this was Aye Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa and his father used it in the film "Funtoosh" 1956).

His professional career began in 1958.  He began assisting his father on films such as "Solva Saal" (1958), "Chalti Ka Naaam Gaadi" (1958), and "Kaagaz ka Phool" (1957).  His first film as music director was Guru Dutt's film "Raaz" (1959); unfortunately, this film was shelved in the middle of the project.  His first released film as a music director was Mehmood's "Chote Nawaab" (1961).  From there his career was firmly launched. The 1960's saw RD. Burman working in various capacities.  Sometimes he worked as an assistant music director to his father; he assisted his father on such films as "Bandini" (1963), "Teen Deviyaan" (1965), "Guide" (1965), "Jewel Thief" (1967) and "Talash" (1969).  

 
Film "Bhoot Bangla"


He also tried his hand at acting; he acted in such films as "Bhoot Bangla" (1965) and "Pyaar Ka Mausam" (1967).  But more significantly he started working as a music director in his own right.  For instance, there was "Bhoot Bangla" (1965), and his first hit film "Teesri Manzil" (1966). "Tesri Manzil" marked a major milestone in his career.  From this point on, he was well establish, and was able to be the music director for a number of major films.  This brought him a number of successful films such as "Padosan" (1968) and "Waris" (1969).  The dawn of the 70s saw, RD Burman become Bollywood's most sought after music director.  This was represented by such immortal hits as "Amar Prem" (1971), "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" (1971), "Seetha Aur Geeta" (1972), and "Sholay" (1975).


 
The poster of the film "Tesri Manzil"


This period of his life was marked by both personal success and hardships.  He married Rita Patel in 1966, but the marriage did not last; they were divorced in 1971.  In 1975 his father passed away.The death of his father may be seen as a punctuation in his career.  It did not stop him, but marked the start of another decade of successful films in Bollywood.  It is pointless to try and name them all, but a few which particularly stand out are "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin" (1977), "Golmal" (1979), "Kudrat" (1980), and "Burning Train" (1980)


 
With Asha Bhosle


His personal life was also good in this period.  In 1980 he married Asha Bhosle in 1980.  They remained happily married until his death. In 1988 at the age of 49, he suffered a heart attack.  He underwent surgery and continued to make music.  But his career limped into the 1990's with very lacklustre commercial success.  There were a few exceptions to the publics rejection of his music, most notably "1942: A Love Story".  But by and large he was considered finished in the Bollywood film industry.  At the age of 54 he suffered another heart attack.  With his wife Asha at his side, he die on January 4, 1994.

His death may have brought an end to his musical output, but he is fondly remembered today.  Where the public, and business rejected him the last years of his life, today the public tends to focus on the high spots in his career.  He has been remembered and honoured by numerous, remixes, documentaries, and the naming of the "Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent" after him.

Well friends, that’s all for today. Take care of your family and children and of course yourself! Have a good day/ afternoon/evening/night! Namaskar.



Image Courtesy: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rahul+dev

Thursday 20 June 2013

Flavors of India




Vegetable Muri Ghanto (Rice Curry)


Ingredients



  • Gobinda Bhog Rice or any flavored rice: -              1cup
  • Potato (medium size):-                                            4 piece 
  • Ginger paste: -                                                       1tablespoon
  • Tomato (slice in four pieces):-                                 1 piece
  • Green chilies: -                                                       3-4 pieces
  • Cumin Seeds: -                                                      1/2 teaspoon  
  • Red Chili Powder (if you want):-                            1/2 teaspoon
  • Kashmiri red Chili Powder: -                                 1 teaspoon
  • Cumin Powder: -                                                   1/2teaspoon
  • Coriander Powder: -                                              1teaspoon
  • Turmeric Powder: -                                                1/2teaspoon
  • Bay leaves: -                                                          2 pieces
  • Green Cardamom: -                                               2 pieces
  • Cinnamon: -                                                           1 inch.
  • Cloves: -                                                                4-5
  • Mace (jaitri):-                                                         1/6 tsp.
  • Cashew: -                                                               4-5
  • Raisin: -                                                                  9-10
  • Oil: -                                                                      1Cup (150gm)
  • Ghee (if you want):-                                                1teaspoon
  • Sugar: -                                                                   1/3teaspoon
  • Salt: -                                                                       to taste


Process:

 
 
  1. Wash the rice very well, drain the water and keep aside.
  2. Cut the potatoes in cube pieces. Crushed the green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mace and keep aside.
  3. Full heat the oil in a pan and add the bay leaves, cumin seeds and crushed garam mashala one by one and fry for 15-20 seconds. When it smells, add the potatoes, turmeric powder and salt in it and mix well.
  4. When the color of potatoes should take up a bit of brownish; add the rice and fry for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Now, add the ginger paste, tomato and green chili and fry again for 2-3 minutes
  6. Add ¼ cup water, all the powders of ingredients, and sugar in it & cook for 2-3min.
  7. When it becomes dry add about 2cups of water and stirs well.
  8. Cover and let it cook for 10 minutes on low flame.
  9. Take it off the flame and add the ghee when the potato well cooked.
  10.  Serve hot with Rice or Roti or Paratha.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Destination India


West Bengal (PART-XII)

Bankura(1)



Bankura District, which forms a part of the eastern Chhota Nagpur Plateau, has been decorated by nature with her own hands. There are old brown hills, gleaming rivers, several ancient temples, and monuments here that are the repositories of the culture and tradition of Bankura. Bankura is located in the western part of the State of West Bengal. It is a part of Bardhaman Division of the State and included in the area known as "Rarh" in Bengal. It ranks 4th according to Population and literacy rate of 2001 Census in the State.

It is here that the unique ‘Vishnupur Gharana’ was developed. During the medieval period, several poets of the region came in the limelight, among which Chandidasa, the creator of Shi Krishnakirtan is the most prominent. In Mahabharata, Bankura is often referred as Suhmobhumi. 

Bankura is located some 185 kilometres from Kolkata, in the western side of Bankura district in the state of West Bengal in India. Bankura has Paschim Medinipure district lying towards the south, Bardhaman district in the north and Purulia district in the western side. River Damodar flows along the northern side of Bankura.


Terracotta horses



The town of Bankura is famous for its culture and tradition as well as local arts and crafts. Local architecture and terracotta art defines Bankura, especially the terracotta Bankura Horses which are terracotta figurines famous all over India. The place is synonymous with handicrafts. Apart from this, other forms of art like paintings and different genres of music have their roots in this region.

On the historical front, Bankura rose to prominence under the Malla kings who ruled over this area. Under the Mallas, Bishnupur, a town close to Bankura became an important centre for classical music and temple building.



Attractions of Bankura:

Bishnupur

Terracotta work on the wall of temple

Bishnupur, 152 km from Kolkata and 34 km from Bankura, now the headquarters of the subdivision of the same name in Bankura District, is a seat of terracotta architecture, crafts and culture. For almost a thousand years, it was the capital of the Malla dynasty of Mallabhum, of which Bankura was a part, till their power waned when Mughal rule weakened under the last monarchs of that dynasty.
The patronage of the Malla king Veer Hambir and his successors Raja Raghunath Singha and Veer Singha made Bishnupur one of the principal centres of culture in Bengal. Most of the exquisite terracotta temples, for which the town is justly famous, were built during this period. Apart from the unique architecture of the period, Bishnupur is also famous for its terracotta crafts and its Baluchari sarees woven in pure silk with motifs representing Indian mythology. Royal patronage also gave rise to the Bishnupuri gharana (school) of Hindustani classical music and the Bishnupur school of painting. Bishnupur is famous for temples with terracotta art and large water area and there are approximately 16 temples in the Bishnupur. Most of the temples made in the decade of Mallaraja namely Jore Banglow, Rsmanch, Madanmohan Mandir, Shyam Roy Mandir (Panchcura) & Chhinnmasta Mandir etc.Bishnupur is famous for it own musical gharana (Classical Music) and Dalmadal Kaman (canon).


 Famous Temples in Bishnupur:




 Malleshwar Temple :  





Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the oldest temple in Bishnupur.



Rasmancha :  




Built in the late 16th century by King Bir Hambir, the temple has an unusual elongated pyramidical tower, surrounded by hut-shaped turrets. Idols were kept here for public worship during Ras-utsav.


Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Raya :  

Built in 1643 AD by King Raghunath Singha. The walls are richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring different aspects of Lord Krishna’ s life.


Jorebangla Temple of Keshta Raya :  





Built by King Raghunath Singha Dev II in 1655 AD, the ornate terracotta carvings are set off by the roof in the classic chala style of typical Bengal architecture.


Madanmohan Temple :  





King Durjana Singh Deva built the temple in 1694 AD in the ekaratna style. It is a square flat-roofed building with carved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle. Impressive carvings on the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas.


Kalachand Temple  :  




It is of ekratna style and is on the bank of Lal-bandh.


Mukutmonipur




The second biggest earther Dam of India, Mukutmonipur is 55Km away from Bankura (a 2 hours drive) District Head Quarters and is situated at the confluence of river Kangsabati and Kumari. Green forests and hillocks surround the vast bluish tract of water. The undulating terrain along the southern edge of the Kangsabati Water Reservoir spreads as a  three-dimensional necklace of green and Terracotta colour. The stand-till water of the reservoir look like a large blue tinted glass mirror reflecting the  vast expanse of sky over it. The vastness  of the lake stretches as far your eye can reach. The view of the sunset with the lake on the four ground is breath taking . You must also experience the moonlit night around the reservoir . The surface of the static water turns into a shiny silvery plate gifted by God. 








Jhilimili







Jhilimili is situated 70 Km away from Bankura Town. It is a beautiful, undisturbed dense natural forest. The road from Ranibund to Jhilimili offers a wonderful view of spectacular forests on varying heights on both sides, finally reaching Jhilimili, which is mounted on the top of a hillock. The sparkle of micaceous soil adds to the beauty of the environment.



 Image Courtesy: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=bankura&tbm