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JK Academy organizes traditional music programme

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:47:23 -0500

Jammu, May 16 (Scoop News) –With the aim to encourage the artists and promote and preserve the folk and traditional music of the State , J&K Academy of Art Culture and languages hold a traditional music programme today here at K.L Saigal Hall , Cultural academy , Jammu.

The prominent traditional and folk parties of the state gave their mesmerism performances with the traditional musical instruments. The artists sung Baran (Ballet) and Karkan and other famous devotional songs which has been preserved over the centuries by their four and five fathers .

Savita Bakshi ,additional secretary , J&K Academy of Art , Culture and Languages , Jammu , in her welcome address said that the traditional Indian as well as local music of the state encompasses a wide range of musical forms which have developed out of the cultural diversity of the nation . While giving the detail of the traditional music she said most of the traditional music forms are devotional in nature.

Dr. Sudhir mahajan incharge SoCA G-1 who was the overall in charge of the programme and also conducted the proceedings of the programme said traditional music is the reflection of the country’s extreme cultural diversity. There is very rich legacy of cultural music in indicia which has been developed over several eras and span centuries and need to preserve the same especially in the satellite and digital era. The Academy is making all its best efforts to preserve, promote and propagate the same art and the artists a well so that this art could be transformed into the present generation and also encouraging them to adapt this art for its further transmission in order to uphold the continuity of this intangible legacy of the age old century’s tradition.

The folk traditional parties who gave their splendid performances were Shiv Dass Party and Madan Lal and party from the Marh Block Jammu .

Bishan Dass JSA arrange all the items sung in the programme .

The function was attended by the prominent artists, writers and the members of the civil society.

scoopnews.in/det.aspx

J&K Tourism organizes Kashmir Folk Festival at Gulmarg

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:31:49 -0500

Gulmarg/ Srinagar, May 5 (Scoop News) – J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages in collaboration with Tourism Department today organized Kashmir Festival at Gulmarg after Phalgam on the second day of the Kashmir Folk Festival. Groups of artists on Sunday performed at this scenic hill station to the delight of a large number of people, mostly tourists.

The Festival was launched at Pahalgam on May 4 and will continue for two months with weekly events at Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Verinag, Kokernag, Achhabal, Zabarwan Park and Chinar Bagh during which prominent folk artists of Kashmir will perform local folk dance and music including Bhand Paether, Dhambali and Chhakri for which the Valley is widely known. Pahalgam will host events on Saturdays, Gulmarg on Sundays, Zabarvan Park on Tuesdays, Kokernag and Achhabal on Wednesdays, Chinar Bagh on Thursdays and Verinag on Mondays.

Bhand Paether, a combination of play and dance, is Kashmir’s folk theatre known for highlighting social, political and environmental themes performed by a company of drummers, clowns and jesters. Dhambali is a devotional dance performed to invoke divine blessings on specific occasions while Chhakri is the most popular folk song of Kashmir played with traditional instruments like Tumbaknari, Rabab, Sarangi and Noat.

At Gulmarg, artists of Baba Reshi Folk Theatre performed Bhand Paether, of Shakur Shah Dhambali Dance Centre Dhambali and Nazir Ahmad Bhat Gulgami and party Chhakri.

More scoopnews.in/det.aspx

Pussy Riot, Set Them Free!

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:57:20 -0500

British reporter Phil Black stood outside the courtroom on August 17, 2012 just after the court handed down the Pussy Riot verdict: "A great many people agree that their performance was tasteless... but a large number of people believe that this was a statement of free speech, perhaps even an artistic statement."

All great art strikes us as "tasteless," because it is, before our eyes, revising the dictates of taste. Tchaikovsky, Emily Dickinson, Picasso initially appeared as abrasive as 4 women in bright-colored masks doing high kicks on a church altar and chanting, "Mother Mary, please drive Putin away!"

In the courtroom, the Pussy Riot members smiled with playful exhilaration. They were now international martyr-heroes, and more importantly, had reimagined Punk, pushing beyond the futile gestures of Sid Vicious and Johnny Ramone.* Their performance at Christ the Savior Cathedral revealed a dazzling truth: No religion is safe before a three-note guitar solo! No free market tyrant can sleep soundly in his bed!

*Their greatest achievement, perhaps, was forcing reporters around the world to repeatedly use the phrase "pussy riot."

Kashmiri boy receives gold medal in Music

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:35:54 -0500

New Delhi, April 24 (Scoop News) -Shabir Mir has made the State of Jammu and Kashmir proud by becoming the first Kashmiri to receive a Gold Medal in Masters in Music (Vocal) from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Shabir stood first in the University examination . He was awarded by the UPSE Chairman Prof. D.P. Agrawal.

Shabir is a disciple of the Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori. He had his initial training from Pt. R.K. Raina and Prof. D.M. Khan. He is also learning Tabla from the renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri.

A Research Scholar from Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Shabir has a sound meritorious background. A recipient of post graduate merit scholarship, he is also the first Kashmiri boy to qualify the UGC Net in music. He came to Delhi after doing his Diploma in vocal music from Jammu University and completed his BA (Hon’s) in Music from Delhi University with the First Division.

www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx

"Born This Way": A Defense

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:16:35 -0500

Political art is impossible in America today, most critics believe -- except for a few art installations created by humorless lesbians. But this is untrue. Allow me to celebrate a successful work of social commentary by the ever-transforming Lady Gaga. You've no doubt heard this song, if you've been in a supermarket in the last two years: "Born This Way." The tune reached number one in over 25 countries, selling 8.2 million copies worldwide -- making it one of the most successful singles ever. "Born This Way" is anti--racism (and anti-homophobia) to a Disco beat. This hit song has instilled goodness into the "pop dialogue."

I've been listening to Woody Guthrie lately, and Lady Gaga is a contemporary Woody. Let us compare "Born This Way" and "This Land Is Your Land":

No matter gay, straight or bi,

Lesbian, transgendered life;

I'm on the right track, baby,

I was born to survive.

No matter black, white or beige,

Chola or Orient made;

I'm on the right track, baby,

I was born to be brave.

Nobody living can ever stop me,

As I go walking that freedom highway.

Nobody living can ever make me turn back;

This land was made for you and me.

Film Submission Deadline Extended for New Belgium Brewing’s Traveling Clips Beer & Film Tour

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:40:22 -0500

All Filmmakers, from Novices to Professionals, are Encouraged

to Submit a Film for the 21-City Tour

Filmmakers you are in luck. The deadline to submit a film for New Belgium Brewing’s annual Clips Beer and Film Tour has been extended to April 22, allowing plenty of time to grab a camera and get your entry submitted. New Belgium, maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a wide variety of award-winning beers, will choose approximately 20 films for the tour, which will travel to 21 cities this year.

The Clips Beer and Film Tour is looking for:

Creative content that touches on (but not limited to): craft beer, advocacy/activism, humor, culture, adventure, art and fun.
Films no longer than five minutes.
Filmmakers who are at least 21 years old.

To submit a film upload it though www.newbelgium.com/clips.

At each of the Clips stops guests can try beers from New Belgium’s adventurous Lips of Faith series, along with some popular classics such as Fat Tire, while catching short films made by New Belgium fans. Attendees sit under the stars and sip beers while beer proceeds benefit a local nonprofit at each stop. This year marks the fourth season for Clips, which has raised more than $200,000 for nonprofits nationwide.

The 2013 Clips tour includes the following cities:

Bloomington, IN

Friday, May 31

Kansas City, MO

Thursday, June 6

Des Moines, IA

Friday, June 14

Madison, WI

Thursday, June 20

Grand Rapids, MI

Friday, June 21

Flagstaff, AZ

Thursday, June 27

Boulder, CO

Friday, June 28

Santa Cruz, CA

Friday, July 19

Missoula, MT

Friday, July 19

Seattle, WA

Friday, July 26

Davis, CA

Friday, July 26

Portland, OR

Thursday, August 1

Colorado Springs, CO

Thursday, August 1

Milwaukee, WI

Thursday, August 15

Asheville, NC

Friday, September 6

Athens, GA

Friday, September 6

Charlottesville, VA

Friday, September 13

Knoxville, TN

Friday, September 13

Austin, TX

Thursday, September 26

Charleston, SC

Thursday, September 26

Charlotte, NC

Friday, October 4

To see highlights from films featured in last year’s Clips Beer and Film Tour and to get more details on each of the city stops this year, visit www.newbelgium.com/clips. For more information on New Belgium Brewing, visit www.newbelgium.com.

Sufi singer Kailash Kher debuts in Kashmir

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:26:45 -0500

Jammu, March 26 (Scoop News) –World renowned Sufi singer Kailash Kher is all set to perform in Kashmir for the first time. Kher himself being a Kashmiri had never been there. But only after his marriage, his wife Sheetal, a Kashmiri, took Kailash Kher to meet her other family members. Kailash was astonished to see the divine beauty of Kashmir. And later on, one of the songs from his album ‘Rangeele’, ‘Yaadan Teriyan’ had Kashmir based music video.

On asking Kailash Kher he said, “The beauty of Kashmir really inspires me. I don’t know why I had never been there, but now that I am doing my first show in Kashmir, and would like to visit sometimes again. I want to dedicate my 1st show in Kashmir to the people who live there.”

His show is on 7th April 2013 in J&K.

It may be mentioned here that Kailash Kher was born 7 July 1973 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to a family with Kashmiri roots. His father’s name is Pt.Mehar Singh Kher and his mother Chandrakanta Mehar Singh Kher. His father was an amateur musician whose performances of traditional folk songs were a regular household event.

Kailash learned music from him in his childhood. Kailash Kher was brought up in a musical atmosphere and from his school days he was fascinated by music and used to listen to his father's Indian folks songs all the day.

More at scoopnews.in/det.aspx

River Cauvery being exploited to the brink

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:38:56 -0500

The Cauvery river water issue, which is a bone of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and also entangles Kerala and Puducherry, is now caught up in a new row.

This time within Karnataka itself, where the river majestically flows and on which as many as 62 Mini Hydel Projects are commissioned by the state government, having adverse impact on the water supply, hydrology, ecology and environment.

According to media reports, “following the drastic fall in the water-level in the Shiva Balancing Reservoir (SBR), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has asked Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL) and Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) to stop power generation from four mini-hydroelectric projects in the Cauvery basin, at least till May.”

The projects that were asked to stop generation include: Madhavamantri, Satyagala, Shiva Anecut and Shimsha mini-hydroelectric projects.

However, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People SANDRP is dismayed about the latest move. Parineeta Dandekar of SANDRP inquires about the status of 58 other mini-hydroelectric projects on Cauvery River that are causing immense environmental damage.

The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has commissioned a whopping 62 mini hydel projects on the Cauvery, most of them downstream KrishnarajSagar Dam.

“Some of these projects are downstream from the Shiva Anicut from where water supply to Bangalore is routed. In addition to decrease in water availability, water stored by several mini hydel projects increases the evapo- transpiration rate of water, particularly in summer,” says Parineeta.

“These projects also hold back water, critically affecting water supply cycles to Bangalore and other towns and villages dependent on the river. Similar conditions had occurred in Mangalore, last year, where water levels in the Thumbe Dam fell to alarming levels due to mini hydel projects hoarding up water in the upstream” she adds.

“If at all the state government, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and others are concerned about impact of water supply due to mini hydel projects on Cauvery, they need to consider the impact of these projects on the water supply, ecology and livelihoods in the downstream areas. There is an urgent need to consider halting power generation of these projects during this summer when the Cauvery basin is facing dire water crisis” she argues.

Cauvery River is popularly known as Jeevanadhi in Karnataka which in Kannada, language means a river supporting life. Its origin is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. The river flows south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths.

The Cauvery basin is estimated to be 81,155 km with many tributaries. The river's basin covers 4 states and Union Territories - Karnataka (34,273 km), Tamil Nadu (43,856 km), Kerala (2,866 km) and Puducherry (160 km).

Rising in southwestern Karnataka, the river flows southeast some 800 km to enter the Bay of Bengal. After the river leaves the Kodagu hills and flows onto the Deccan plateau, it forms two islands,

Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra. Three kilometers away from Srirangapatna, the Cauvery is the basis for the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary.

In east of Mysore is the island Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 320 ft (100 m). Asia's first hydroelectric plant was built in 1902 on the left falls and supplied power to the city of Bangalore.

Cauvery River is the source for an extensive irrigation system and for hydroelectric power. In its course through Karnataka, the channel is interrupted by twelve "anicuts" (dams) for the purpose of irrigation.

In addition to providing many ancient and modern canals with water from the river for irrigation purposes, the Cauvery also serves as the main drinking water source for many towns and villages. The cities of Bangalore, Mandya and Mysore depend almost entirely on the Cauvery for their drinking water supply.

Mini Hydel Projects which are below the capacity of 25 MW do not need Environmental Clearance, Environment Impact Assessment or public hearing. More than 60 Mini Hydel projects are planned or commissioned on Cauvery River, one after the other, severely affects the hydrology as well as ecology of a river system and also people and their livelihoods in surrounding areas.

Many projects are right next to the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and are causing impediment to movement of elephants, increasing man-animal conflicts. This has been highlighted by the Karnataka Elephant Task Force. Due to their cumulative impacts on ecology, High Court of Karnataka has halted construction of any such projects in Western Ghats, informs Parineeta of SANDRP.

SANDRP appeals for a cumulative impact assessment of mini hydel project commissioned along the River Cauvery that is urgently needed, keeping water supply, hydrology and ecology in view.

Cumulative impact assessment and Individual impact assessment of unprecedented number of mini hydel projects is also required urgently because of approaching summer and dire water situation in the state, says Parineeta.

Earlier such appeals to Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), Karnataka Forest Department and Karnataka Wildlife Board had fallen on deaf ears, she says.

This time Parineeta hopes that the Karnataka government, BWSSB, KPCL, KREDL, KPTCL, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam and all others concerned will come together and conduct this assessment urgently and cancel the projects which are having unacceptable impacts on people, ecology, hydrology and water supply of Cauvery.

As Cauvery needs urgent attention, SANDRP along Nityata Foundation, Bangalore and River Research Centre, Kerala has made this appeal on the International Day of Action for Rivers.

Parineeta Dandekar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) can be contacted at parineeta.dandekar@gmail.com

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

There'll be no Returning to the Old Windmill

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:45:01 -0600

Chorus:

There'll be no returning to the old windmill
where wild lilies grow and moments stand still.
Our kisses are sweet as sap from maple trees
we sit embracing while I believe in you and me.
There'll be no returning to the old windmill
where wild lilies grow and moments stand still.

Verse I:

The old windmill keeps turning from gusts of wind
blackbirds sit on its eave cawing and flapping wings.
Your smile expresses a lie while searching my eyes
orchard grass bends like I'm in for a big surprise.

Verse II:

What happens to love, why does it diminish in time?
It disappears like the singing of whippoorwill lines.
There's never a certainty or a promise of eternity
it evaporates like fog into an early morning sky.

Repeat Chorus:

Verse III:

Even mockingbirds appear to be laughing at me
I thought our love was wrapped with love for eternity.
I'll hold back dreaded tears swelling up in my eyes
I'll accept to know this is our last ever goodbye.

Repeat Chorus:

Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this song - copyright@2013 - use with permission of the writer only.

The Oscars: Hollywood At Its Tackiest

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:43:12 -0600

Last night Hollywood engaged in its annual fete of self-indulgence.

It started with an hour long commerical of all the red carpet "interviews" publicizing the designers and jewelers who donated their services for Oscars special day. I've never seen so much promoting on an Oscar telecast as the one last night.

Media stories afterward, but not naming the designers and jewelers for each and every Oscar contender. As if the average American or even foreigner really could afford to buy any one of those gowns or the jewels, which was the majority of those watching.

Oscar is global, after all.

In fact, it seemed there were more foreign winners, and even presenters than there were Americans at this event.

But then Oscar is so very politically correct.

Even the "winning" six students who were tagged to guide the presenters and provide the statuettes were "diversified."

Two films which garnered the most nominations were, of coruse, political Hollywood propaganda.

"Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty"

"Argo" based on a supposed "declassified" event - and as one who lived through the Iranian hostage crisis, never had heard this one until it was "declassified." Of course, making the Canadians the heros in this saga, for all intents and purposes.

Haven't seen "Zero Dark Thirty" and most likely will never see it.

I still can't get my head around the bin Laden story, as much as I have tried in the days since 911.

A joke was made by the rather lame MC about the Jews who run Hollywood.

And today, of course, the ADL is playing the anti-semitism card - no matter how much truth there even might be to those comments.

Some rather off colored jokes, and a production number about actresses boobs.

With Ms. Obama rounding out the finale.

I'm sure the global audience got a great glimpse of Hollywood last night.

I tuned in to see if it had changed from the Hollywood I had once known, which was a rather subdued affair compared to this one.

Each year, I am amazed at just how far the bar has been lowered for this annual event.

Maybe next year, it could be moved to London and held in conjunction with the BAFTA awards, of course, in order to further stimulate the European and foreign economies?