#Matka Challenge – Coming home to health!

No, no I am not talking about that Matka…

…I am talking about that Makta!

So which Matka?

Our humble Matka in which we keep drinking water in our houses. Sorry, sorry we rather use to keep, now it has become a rare commodity, hardly to be seen.

Matka was an important component of the Varma (our) household. Even when the Refrigerator joined the bandwagon, my mother never removed the humble Matka, as we used to drink water from it. The water from ‘Mitti-Ka-Matka’ (Earthen Pot) was aromatic, cool and tasted natural. As the time elapsed, amidst changing cities, residences, places…Matka vanished from house some three decades ago. So did from many other Indian households.

The use of refrigerated water became so prevalent, that it had almost become a status symbol. Nobody cared for humble Makta which was part of our cultural treasure.

So much so, that my old daadi swiftly shifted to refrigerated water, what if her throat troubled her all the time?

Yesterday, while watching Mr Subhajit Mukherjee’s (Celebrated & Decorated Environmentalist) video on #Matka challenge, it brought me face -to-face with reality. It was an eye-opener. In his very sweet demeanour, he spoke about humble Matka. He said, “Makta is an important part of our culture. It is highly recommended that we shun refrigerated water and opt for ‘Matke-ka-Paani’ which is very beneficial for health. Most of the diseases compound by drinking refrigerated water but we don’t acknowledge it. Now, it’s high time we take up #MatkaChallenge’ and bring one in our household.”

He adds, “During Corona times when our medical sector is under tremendous pressure, we need to keep ourselves healthy. You can keep away throat-related ailments at bay by dropping refrigerated water and opting for Matka water.”

So why should accept #Matkachallenge? Why it is beneficial?

Here goes the explanation, “The human body is acidic, while clay is alkaline. Water from these alkaline pots when consumed by you reacts with the acidic nature of our body and helps in creating a proper pH balance. This is the reason why drinking Matka water helps in keeping acidity and stomach problems at bay.”

Now you will ask me, it is so hot nowadays, how humble Matka  water will quench our thirst? Valid point. But please know that the water inside the clay pot is cool due to the evaporation process. The clay pot has tiny pores on the surface and water gets evaporated very quickly through these pores. Due to this evaporation process, the heat of the water inside the pot is lost, which lowers the temperature of the water.

Now you will say that heat strokes are very commonplace during summers, how would Matka water cool that? Remember, Matka water helps you overcome heat-related ailments like sunstroke, diarrhoea and dehydration etc. Its water is very gentle on your body and your system.

A study reveals that water stored in a clay pot gets automatically filtered after 4 hours. So, move on Ros.

I have accepted the #MatkaChallenge of Subhajit and getting one for myself soon.  

When are you getting it?

Click your selfie with your Matka and post it on your social media handles and motivate people to do the same.

Hope Matka hops into your household sooner than later!

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=subhajit%20mukherjee

Life: An Existential Cocktail

If any of you want to review my Book, pls mail me on: bienumv@gmail.com or message me.

I will organise the Copy for you.

 

Thanks and Regards

 

Jaipur Lit Fest’s Brave New World crosses over 2 million views

Described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival is a sumptuous feast of ideas. The past decade has seen it transform into a global literary phenomenon having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe. Their core values remain unchanged: to serve as a democratic, non-aligned platform offering free and fair access.

Unbelievable, now that we are holed up inside our homes from over 5 months, I fondly remember my trip to Jaipur for Jaipur Lit Fest from Mumbai, planned in a jiffy, which has enriched my personal experiences beyond measure.

Every year, the Festival brings together a diverse mix of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, sports people and entertainers on one stage to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue.

Writers and Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, alongside producer Teamwork Arts, invite speakers to take part in the five-day programme set against the backdrop of Rajasthan’s stunning cultural heritage and the Diggi Palace in the state capital Jaipur.

Past speakers have ranged from Nobel Laureates J.M. Coetzee, Orhan Pamuk, and Muhammad Yunus, Man Booker Prize winners Ben Okri, Margaret Atwood and Paul Beatty, Sahitya Akademi winners Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, M.T. Vasudevan Nair as well as the late Girish Karnad, Mahasweta Devi, and U.R. Ananthamurthy along with literary superstars including Amish Tripathi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Vikram Seth. An annual event that goes beyond literature, the Festival has also hosted Amartya Sen, Amitabh Bachchan, the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Fry, Thomas Piketty, and former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.

The Jaipur Literature Festival is a flagship event of Teamwork Arts, which produces it along with over 25 highly acclaimed performing arts, visual arts, and literary festivals across more than 40 cities globally.

For over 30 years, Teamwork Arts has taken India to the world and brought the world to India, presenting the finest of Indian performers, writers and visual artists in the cultural and art space in India and abroad through Jaipur Lit Fest.

Every year, they produce over 25 performing, visual arts and literary festivals in several countries including Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and USA as well as many eclectic festivals across India. They  produce the world’s largest literary gathering: the annual Jaipur Literature Festival; JLF international now travels to the US, UK, Canada, Qatar and Australia and they have recently launched a digital series – JLF Brave New World. Their musical extravaganza, Bollywood Love Story – A Musical, continues to tour the world with sold-out shows everywhere it is held.

April 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic forced a global lockdown, isolating millions, Teamwork Arts, the producer of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, launched “JLF Brave New World”, an online literature series to celebrate books, their power, and positivity. JLF Brave New World sought to address issues critical to our times apart from discussing poetry, fiction, environment, the writing process, geopolitics, war and conflict, art, music, food, fashion and more through conversations with renowned writers and leading experts from around the world. In just a few months JLF Brave New World has captured the attention of a loyal tranche of followers. Teamwork Arts announced that the series has reached 2 million (20,00,000) cumulative views and a reach of over 9 million (90,00,000).

The much-loved series has featured around 90 episodes so far and will be hosting a celebratory 100th episode on 29th July 2020. Sessions at JLF Brave New World has covered subjects as diverse as the political and economic impact of Covid-19, the creative process of writing, literature, climate change, psychological wellbeing and compassion in these challenging times, the art of poetry, technology, and Artificial Intelligence, etc. The series has hosted nearly 200 speakers including Abhijit V. Banerjee, Asma Khan, Benjamin Moser, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Colm Toibin, Devdutt Pattanaik, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Elizabeth Gilbert, Ira Mukhoty, Jhumpa Lahiri, Manu S. Pillai, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Orhan Pamuk, Paul Muldoon, Peter Frankopan, Peter Carey, Peter Morgan, Ruskin Bond, Rupi Kaur, Shubha Mudgal, Shashi Tharoor, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Sonal Mansingh, to name a few.

Sessions at JLF Brave New World include conversations with speakers as well as Q&A picked from social media channels where audiences can submit questions and share comments with their favourite speakers. The full archive of past sessions, as well as a list of upcoming sessions of the series, can be accessed via the #JLFLitfest social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Now that extraordinary Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted us in every way and made us distance ourselves physically from one another while finding resilience in the invaluable ties which connect us to one another.

Book-lovers are never truly alone. We’re certainly never lonely, not when we have books, and certainly not when we have each other.

We, at the Jaipur Literature Festival, has always believed in the spirit of the community. We believe that these challenging times are also the moments in which we need to interrogate and make sense of our world through books and ideas, debate and dialogue, music and philosophy, science, and the arts. The festival, which has always been a platform that celebrates the spirit of human connection, is now ready to go straight into the hearts and minds and homes.

We are privileged to present ‘JLF presents Brave New World’, an online literature series in which the sprawling grounds of Diggi Palace are replaced by the boundless possibilities of the Internet. In short, our digital platform is your virtual stage.

Reading gives us strength, inspires, and instills new hope. The iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, the “greatest literary show on Earth” embodies the power of the word and the spirit of connection. For over 13 years, the Festival has connected thousands through the universal language of literature.

We need now, more than ever before to keep alive a free-flowing exchange of thoughts and ideas, nurture and keep open partnerships and literary connections. So, let the words flow and the ideas come as you tune in from your homes and join their stellar list of speakers and authors.

 

 

Oh! What an impressive line up of Authors and Speakers!! Jaipur Lit Fest!!!

Jaipur Literature Festival 2020 to celebrate the vast bounty of Indian languages

India’s rich, diverse and colourful literary heritage remains at the core of the 13th Jaipur Literature Festival as it brings together writers from across India representing a multitude of the country’s languages. This year, the Festival hosts speakers from the vast canvas of Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nagamese, Oriya, Prakrit, Rajasthani, Sanskrit, Santhali, Tamil and Urdu writing. The programme explores the magnificent legacy of these languages while examining contemporary trends in writing.

The 13th edition of the Festival, set to take place between 23-27 January, features over 300 speakers from India as well as across the world.

Conversations span the length and breadth of the country and include voices from known and lesser-known literary treasure troves searched with meticulous attention to contemporary linguistic narratives especially in the many regions of India, each with its own myriad literary traditions, norms and quirks. The idea is to sustain the incomparable vastness of our national languages amidst galloping globalisation and draw succour from an incredible linguistic and literary legacy.

Rajasthani language finds voice in its distinctive syntax and variety of dialects –- the iconic Rajasthani poet Chandra Prakash Deval, a pioneer poet of Rajasthani literature Raju Ram Bijarnian, eminent authors Ritupriya and Madhu Acharya will speak of the rich heritage and linguistic traditions of the state in a session titled “Rajasthani Binya Kyaro Rajasthan”. In a conversation with distinguished author Vishes Kothari, the panel will talk about the unique genius of Rajasthani literature in its many manifestations.

In another conversation, Vishes Kothari and Chandra Prakash Deval will speak to bilingual novelist Anukrti Upadhyay on Rajasthani writer, poet and litterateur Vijaydan Detha’s rich legacy of magical narratives. Detha belonged to a family of bards and contributed enormously in bringing folklore and oral traditions into the mainstream of Indian literature. This session will feature Vishes Kothari’s vivid English rendering of the Timeless Tales from Marwar, a handpicked collection from Detha’s celebrated Batan ri Phulwari – literally “Garden of Tales”.

Modern Hindi fiction represents a continuum between many pasts and an emergent present. Two prominent writers evoke the landscape of change. Kamlakant Tripathi’s recent novel Sarayu Se Ganga is a magnificent evocation of history and culture across the last century. Another prolific Rajasthani author Nand Bhardwaj’s latest collection of short stories Badalati Sargam also covers a range of themes that highlight the quirks and contradictions of a changing society. In conversation with celebrated Hindi author Anu Singh Chowdhary, they will speak and read from their new work.

An inspirational session titled “The Rivers, The Sky, The Self”, with four writers from north-east India will speak of the landscape of memory, evoking folklore, oral narratives and the histories of their people. The panel consists of Esther Syiem, a bilingual poet, academic and playwright, who has also worked with oral scripting in Khasi; Easterine Kire, an award-winning poet, short story writer and novelist from Nagaland and author of the novel A Respectable Woman set against the decisive Battle of Kohima; and Mridul Haloi, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2017 for the poetry collection Akale Aso Kushale Aso. The distinguished panel will be in conversation with academic and feminist publisher Urvashi Butalia and read from and speak of their work and the legacies of myth and memory.

Sanskrit has been the primary language of knowledge, learning and ritual in ancient and medieval India. Its rich traditions permeate most modern Indian languages, and its tremendous influence continues in every aspect of Indian life. It remains yet very much a living language, taught in schools, broadcast on All India Radio, and with over 90 publications published in it across the nation. In a splendid session, writers and scholars from across the world will discuss the grandeur, practicality and accessibility of Sanskrit and its role in the culture and daily life of modern times. The panel will feature Oscar Pujol, writer of the Sanskrit dictionaries titled Sanskrit-Catalan and Sanskrit-Spanish; Madhura Godbole, programme head of the Sanskrit Language Department at the American Institute of Indian Studies; Makarand R. Paranjape, poet, scholar and Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies who has written extensively on pre and post-colonial Indian culture politics and society; Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Culture and Cinema at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

The landscape of Indian literature is multilingual and multivocal with 22 official languages and thousands of mother tongues and dialects. “Many Languages One Literature” will be a session that interrogates and celebrates the unity in this diversity with three celebrated writers – Aruni Kashya, KR Meera and Shubhangi Swarup will be reading from their works in Assamese, Malayalam and English, as they discuss the literary and linguistic context of their inspirations.

The Festival’s multi-faceted content promises a variety of linguistic riches.

Monumental Jhansi Fort: Abode of many historical & personal memories!

Recently I saw a post from Balwant Jain ji with the backdrop of a fort and out of curiosity,  checked which place it was? To my great surprise, I found that our तन, मन, धन से घुमक्कड़  Balwant ji had reached Jhansi and the photographs were from Jhansi fort – Manikarnika Tambe aka Rani Laxmi Bai’s post-marital abode. Forts always fascinate me! More on that some other time…

…Many memories rolled down my eyes when I had visited the Jhansi Fort as a little school girl owing to my father’s brief posting in Jhansi and we studied in KV Jhansi. My father’s office organised a trip for families to Jhansi Fort then and for the first time I saw this fort. Till then I had only seen Gwalior Fort as my grand father’s house was in Gwalior Fort’s arena. Gwalior Fort is very magnificent and richer in every aspect. In comparison to that Jhansi fort was quite small and raw, when I mentioned this to my mother, she replied: Yeh freedom fighter ka fort hai, woh rajwadon ka fort hai!

Every corner of the fort tells the story of the freedom struggle and how many wars were fought under its aegis. Stories of love, compassion, hatred, betrayal, blood, gore, chivalry are written on its walls. Worth mentioning is the spot from where Rani Laxmi jumped from the horse with her 4-month-old son tied on her back. Balwantji was kind enough to share that picture with me.

The post enlivened the memories of our brief and memorable stay in Jhansi which was a bed of very different culture from Bhopal from where we had shifted. The language is sweet, the people are humble and food is amazing! Unfortunately, I never revisited Jhansi after leaving from there but down memory lane, it was great living there!

 Jhansi Fort or Jhansi ka Kila is a fortress situated on a large hilltop called Bangira, in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India. It served as a stronghold of the Chandela Kings in Balwant Nagar from the 11th through the 17th century.

The Jhansi fort is located in the middle of the Jhansi city. It is 3 km from the Jhansi Railway station. The nearest airport is Gwalior, which is 103 km from Jhansi.  You can also reach the fort by getting down at the Jhansi Museum Bus Stop.

The fort standing in the hilly area shows how the North Indian style of fort construction. The granite walls of the fort are between 16 and 20 feet thick and on the south side meet the city walls. The south face of the fort is almost perpendicular.

There are 10 gates giving access to the fort. Some of these are Khanderao Gate, Datia Darwaza, Unnao Gate, badaGao gate, Laxmi Gate, Sagar Gate, Orchha Gate, Sainyar Gate and Chand Gate. Notable sights in the fort are the Shiva temple, Ganesh temple at the entrance, and the Kadak Bijli cannon used in the uprising of 1857. The memorial board reminds one of the hair-raising feats of the Rani Lakshmibai in jumping on horseback from the fort. Nearby is the Rani Mahal, built in the latter half of the 19th century where there is now an archaeological museum.

The fort extends to a sprawling 15 acres (61,000 m²) and this colossal structure measures about 312m in length and 225m in width. On the whole, there are twenty-two supports with a mammoth strengthening wall surrounded by a moat on both sides. The shattered upholder on the eastern side was rebuilt by the British, who also added a floor to Panch Mahal.

In 1842 Raja Gangadhar Rao married Manikarnika Tambe who was the given the new name of Lakshmi Bai, She gave birth to a boy, later named Damodar Rao, in 1851, who died after four months. The Maharaja adopted a child called Anand Rao, the son of Gangadhar Rao’s cousin, who was renamed Damodar Rao, on the day before the Maharaja died.

In March 1854, Lakshmibai was given an annual pension of Rs. 60,000 and ordered to leave the palace and the fort. In 1857 the revolt broke out and she took the control of the fort and led Jhansi forces against those of the British East India Company.

Jhansi was besieged by the company forces of General Hugh Rose in March and April 1858 and was captured on 4 April 1858. Rani Lakshmi Bai was able to make a daring escape on horseback from the fort and the city before the city was pillaged by Rose’s troops.

In 1861 the British Government gave the Jhansi fort and Jhansi city to Jiyaji Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of [Gwalior], but the British took back Jhansi from Gwalior state in 1868.

Every year in the month of January–February a grand occasion is held known as Jhansi Mahotsav when many eminent personalities and artists perform their play.

Information courtesy: Wikipedia

Rani Laxmi Bai – great Indian warrior – by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan

सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंशों ने भृकुटी तानी थी,
बूढ़े भारत में आई फिर से नयी जवानी थी,
गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी,
दूर फिरंगी को करने की सबने मन में ठानी थी।
चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में, वह तलवार पुरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

सुनिए शुभा मुद्गल जी की पुर ज़ोर आवाज़ में … खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी

कानपूर के नाना की, मुँहबोली बहन छबीली थी,
लक्ष्मीबाई नाम, पिता की वह संतान अकेली थी,
नाना के सँग पढ़ती थी वह, नाना के सँग खेली थी,
बरछी ढाल, कृपाण, कटारी उसकी यही सहेली थी।
वीर शिवाजी की गाथायें उसकी याद ज़बानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

लक्ष्मी थी या दुर्गा थी वह स्वयं वीरता की अवतार,
देख मराठे पुलकित होते उसकी तलवारों के वार,
नकली युद्ध-व्यूह की रचना और खेलना खूब शिकार,
सैन्य घेरना, दुर्ग तोड़ना ये थे उसके प्रिय खिलवार।
महाराष्टर-कुल-देवी उसकी भी आराध्य भवानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

हुई वीरता की वैभव के साथ सगाई झाँसी में,
ब्याह हुआ रानी बन आई लक्ष्मीबाई झाँसी में,
राजमहल में बजी बधाई खुशियाँ छाई झाँसी में,
चित्रा ने अर्जुन को पाया, शिव से मिली भवानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

उदित हुआ सौभाग्य, मुदित महलों में उजियाली छाई,
किंतु कालगति चुपके-चुपके काली घटा घेर लाई,
तीर चलाने वाले कर में उसे चूड़ियाँ कब भाई,
रानी विधवा हुई, हाय! विधि को भी नहीं दया आई।
निसंतान मरे राजाजी रानी शोक-समानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

बुझा दीप झाँसी का तब डलहौज़ी मन में हरषाया,
राज्य हड़प करने का उसने यह अच्छा अवसर पाया,
फ़ौरन फौजें भेज दुर्ग पर अपना झंडा फहराया,
लावारिस का वारिस बनकर ब्रिटिश राज्य झाँसी आया।
अश्रुपूर्णा रानी ने देखा झाँसी हुई बिरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

अनुनय विनय नहीं सुनती है, विकट शासकों की माया,
व्यापारी बन दया चाहता था जब यह भारत आया,
डलहौज़ी ने पैर पसारे, अब तो पलट गई काया,
राजाओं नव्वाबों को भी उसने पैरों ठुकराया।
रानी दासी बनी, बनी यह दासी अब महरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

छिनी राजधानी दिल्ली की, लखनऊ छीना बातों-बात,
कैद पेशवा था बिठुर में, हुआ नागपुर का भी घात,
उदैपुर, तंजौर, सतारा, करनाटक की कौन बिसात?
जबकि सिंध, पंजाब ब्रह्म पर अभी हुआ था वज्र-निपात।
बंगाले, मद्रास आदि की भी तो वही कहानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

रानी रोयीं रिनवासों में, बेगम ग़म से थीं बेज़ार,
उनके गहने कपड़े बिकते थे कलकत्ते के बाज़ार,
सरे आम नीलाम छापते थे अंग्रेज़ों के अखबार,
‘नागपूर के ज़ेवर ले लो लखनऊ के लो नौलख हार’।
यों परदे की इज़्ज़त परदेशी के हाथ बिकानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

कुटियों में भी विषम वेदना, महलों में आहत अपमान,
वीर सैनिकों के मन में था अपने पुरखों का अभिमान,
नाना धुंधूपंत पेशवा जुटा रहा था सब सामान,
बहिन छबीली ने रण-चण्डी का कर दिया प्रकट आहवान।
हुआ यज्ञ प्रारम्भ उन्हें तो सोई ज्योति जगानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

महलों ने दी आग, झोंपड़ी ने ज्वाला सुलगाई थी,
यह स्वतंत्रता की चिनगारी अंतरतम से आई थी,
झाँसी चेती, दिल्ली चेती, लखनऊ लपटें छाई थी,
मेरठ, कानपूर, पटना ने भारी धूम मचाई थी,
जबलपूर, कोल्हापूर में भी कुछ हलचल उकसानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

इस स्वतंत्रता महायज्ञ में कई वीरवर आए काम,
नाना धुंधूपंत, ताँतिया, चतुर अज़ीमुल्ला सरनाम,
अहमदशाह मौलवी, ठाकुर कुँवरसिंह सैनिक अभिराम,
भारत के इतिहास गगन में अमर रहेंगे जिनके नाम।
लेकिन आज जुर्म कहलाती उनकी जो कुरबानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

इनकी गाथा छोड़, चले हम झाँसी के मैदानों में,
जहाँ खड़ी है लक्ष्मीबाई मर्द बनी मर्दानों में,
लेफ्टिनेंट वाकर आ पहुँचा, आगे बड़ा जवानों में,
रानी ने तलवार खींच ली, हुया द्वन्द्ध असमानों में।
ज़ख्मी होकर वाकर भागा, उसे अजब हैरानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

रानी बढ़ी कालपी आई, कर सौ मील निरंतर पार,
घोड़ा थक कर गिरा भूमि पर गया स्वर्ग तत्काल सिधार,
यमुना तट पर अंग्रेज़ों ने फिर खाई रानी से हार,
विजयी रानी आगे चल दी, किया ग्वालियर पर अधिकार।
अंग्रेज़ों के मित्र सिंधिया ने छोड़ी रजधानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

विजय मिली, पर अंग्रेज़ों की फिर सेना घिर आई थी,
अबके जनरल स्मिथ सम्मुख था, उसने मुहँ की खाई थी,
काना और मंदरा सखियाँ रानी के संग आई थी,
युद्ध श्रेत्र में उन दोनों ने भारी मार मचाई थी।
पर पीछे ह्यूरोज़ आ गया, हाय! घिरी अब रानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

तो भी रानी मार काट कर चलती बनी सैन्य के पार,
किन्तु सामने नाला आया, था वह संकट विषम अपार,
घोड़ा अड़ा, नया घोड़ा था, इतने में आ गये अवार,
रानी एक, शत्रु बहुतेरे, होने लगे वार-पर-वार।
घायल होकर गिरी सिंहनी उसे वीर गति पानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

रानी गई सिधार चिता अब उसकी दिव्य सवारी थी,
मिला तेज से तेज, तेज की वह सच्ची अधिकारी थी,
अभी उम्र कुल तेइस की थी, मनुज नहीं अवतारी थी,
हमको जीवित करने आयी बन स्वतंत्रता-नारी थी,
दिखा गई पथ, सिखा गई हमको जो सीख सिखानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

जाओ रानी याद रखेंगे ये कृतज्ञ भारतवासी,
यह तेरा बलिदान जगावेगा स्वतंत्रता अविनासी,
होवे चुप इतिहास, लगे सच्चाई को चाहे फाँसी,
हो मदमाती विजय, मिटा दे गोलों से चाहे झाँसी।
तेरा स्मारक तू ही होगी, तू खुद अमिट निशानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।।

By: सुभद्रा कुमारी चौहान

Colgate launches 10th edition of its Scholarship Program

The aim is to give children a future to smile about

In its 10th year, the program offers more scholarships and a free one-month subscription of BYJU’s study material with every offer pack

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the market leader in Oral Care in India, launched its annual, Colgate Scholarship Program. As a part of the program, more than 500 children can avail scholarships up to Rupees One Lakh, and every consumer who buys the offer-pack gets a free one-month subscription of BYJU’s learning app.

Since its launch in 2009, the Colgate Scholarship Program has been contributing to the lives of children in a meaningful way. So far, these scholarships have enabled more than 1000 Indian families, across 100 cities, to give their children a brighter future – be it in dance, sports, music, or academics.

In the last three years, 14.8 million children have participated in the scholarship program. In the 2017 edition, about 0.9 million consumers benefitted from the BYJU’s study material provided through the Scholarship packs. The free BYJU’s subscription gives the consumer access to Maths and Science video tutorials for Standard 4 to 12, and can be accessed on the BYJU’s application using a unique code printed inside the Colgate Scholarship packs. For those who are unable to access the BYJU’s app, the study material has been converted into audio lectures, which are made available through a toll-free number provided on the pack.

Mr. Issam Bachaalani, Managing Director, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited said, “At Colgate, we believe that everyone deserves a future to smile about and we attempt to bring that alive with our annual Scholarship Program, which we have been growing significantly every year. This year we have not only increased the number of scholarships but also maintained our partnership with BYJU’s, the learning app, to enable free education through every Colgate Scholarship pack. It is our constant endeavour to encourage more and more Indian families/children to take advantage of the Colgate Scholarship Program and to be able to support them in securing a better and brighter future.”

Byju Raveendran, Founder & CEO, BYJU’S, said, “We are excited to continue our association with Colgate Scholarship Program, and make education accessible, enjoyable and engaging for children. We hope to reach out to more Indian families and benefit their children with our specially created courses.”

How to participate in Colgate Scholarship Program?

Give a missed call on the toll-free number 1800 313 4575 -printed on the Colgate Scholarship packs (and also communicated through Colgate advertisements), answer a simple question on Oral Care, and stand a chance to win a Colgate scholarship.

The terms and conditions of the Scholarship Program, which is open from June 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018, are available at http://www.colgatecares.co.in.

Purchase of any Colgate pack is not mandatory to participate in the Scholarship Offer. The limited-period Scholarship offer is available on all Colgate packs with the BJYU’s unique code printed inside the Colgate Dental Cream (50 gms and above), Colgate Active Salt (100 gms and 200 gms), Colgate Active Salt lemon (100 gms and 200 gms), Colgate Active Salt Neem (100 gms and 200 gms), Colgate Cibaca (80 gms and 175 gms) and Colgate Cibaca Vedshakti (80 gms and 175 gms) packs.

Colgate Scholarships few Lucky recipients share their story:

Travel-knots wishes you a happy World Tourism Day!

 

 

 

 

Top 21 Travel Destinations from Robb Report

https://travelknotsv2.wordpress.com/2017/01/06/top-21-travel-destinations-from-robb-report/

Bollywood Park, Dubai opens its doors tomorrow!

Come November 17, Circa 2016 and Dubai will open its doors to the first theme park in the world dedicated to all things Bollywood!

The park is generously packed with action, adventure, romance, comedy, music, dance, flavour and emotion, in true blue Bollywood style.

A celebration of Mumbai’s legendary film industry in five zones inspired by Bollywood blockbusters, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, stage performances and flamboyant cinematic rides in an experience unlike any other.

For the first time ever, you will live, learn and experience the kaleidoscopic world of Mumbai’s famous film industry, in the world’s first Bollywood themed park covering 1.7million square feet.

Bollywood Parks Dubai is the first park of its kind in the world. In five fascinating zones, you can experience different environments inspired by the greatest Bollywood blockbusters.

If you are planning a trip to Dubai, add this must visit attraction in your travel plans particularly if you are a Bollywood buff.

Be prepared to be greeted by a vibrant display of cafés and live entertainment at the Bollywood theme park Dubai, all before the party starts at the Rock On!! Restaurant.

The Bollywood parks feature an array of cinema-centric rides and attractions based on movies starring some of the biggest names in Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Farhan Akhtar.

At Mumbai Chowk, you can stroll the streets of Mumbai with its famous food, shopping and party spirit. To add some thrill; join the mafia boss Don on a chase through the streets of Dubai

At Rustic Ravine, you can explore the spirit of rural India comes to life in a picturesque setting. Be part of never-ending adventures as played out in Dabangg, Lagaan and Sholay.

At Royal Plaza, you can experience visual splendour like never before at Rajmahal Theatre, the home of the region’s first Broadway-style Bollywood musical.

Here at Bollywood Film Studios featuring Hall of Heroes.  

If you want to learn how to create a blockbuster like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and meet your favourite Bollywood superheroes, such as Krrish and RA.One at the exciting Bollywood theme park, this is the place to be in.

This iconic landmark is the heart and soul of Bollywood Parks Dubai. With several shows per week, this world-class venue will play host to the region’s first Broadway-style Bollywood musical.

Don’t miss the chugging train, an ever-present image in Bollywood films, in this show, performers atop our train rooftop stage will dance to a range of popular songs that have romanticized the Indian train. The shows also celebrate the Taporis, the small time street hustlers of Mumbai, with their unique vocabulary and a cadence of speech that makes for great comedy and characterization.

Can you afford to miss the destination when in Dubai?