Media - An instrument of education?

Hi Folks,

What's on?

Today I would like to to share with you all the issue that Media- which is an integral part of human lives, helps us to be enlightened or not?



Media can be considered a double-edged sword which has its part of boon and bane in it. At present, it has entered collaborations with big concerns in the form of private news channels in India’s case we can take for instance the news channel CNN-IBN.

Media determines public opinion and is important for creating awareness and alertness in the citizen’s mind. Media on its party educates us in some ways for, the common man knows nothing about “ jargons.” Of different disciplines.

One can take for instance the crime cases that have hogged the attention of the national media. Jessica Lal, Nitish Katara, Arushi murder as well as the Nithari killings are worth mentioning in this regard. They have been followed up and covered from different angles.It was also seen that it had taken a vigilante stance by generating public opinion against the perpetrators of the crimes and sympathy towards the victims.

Similarly we also have to objectively take into account that both Print as well as its Electronic counterpart have also gone for sensationalisation of issues and incidents.

On this level more can be said when the national network Doordarshan telecasts the proceedings of the nation’s Parliament as well as the Budget proceedings. There is the central Government backed Lok Sabha T.V. also which helps the common Indian to learn about the processing and role of the important wings of the union government.

The simple rule is ethics and integrity is what makes Media play a potent role in dissemination of facts, figures and provide objective observation over issues, events, phenomena etc.

In the contemporary age, the public is thrust upon by many data and information. This is a natural outcome of the boom of information and technology. There was for quite some time a topical based discourse doing the rounds of the news watching and news following public again generated by revelations of Media. It was alleged that the war on terror waged against the Islamic countries by U.S. government was one-sided in the dissemination of its facts and figures, rather to put it bluntly, it was pro-west. At this juncture, the establishment of Al-Jazeera T.V. of the middle-east announced a counter to the monopoly of news dissemination. From its part the Arabian channel also brought out the inside happenings with regard to casualties, affected areas etc.
At present from the state of news reporting at least in India’s case the readers don’t come across more stories regarding Science, Technology, Social-Development, Information and Technology.
Apart from these one can see that stories of National Interest are taking the back seat now with more thrust on negative and sensational stories.
Yes, Media does its part in educating us by infusing a scientific and liberal temperament among the public but at the same time if it follows unethical processing of news and try to confuse the public, it goes the other way round and does not fulfill one of its core responsibilities - to inform.
Thank you Folks,
Keep Blogging,
Peace.

Blurring of Lines !

Hi Folks,

What's on?

News Show Formats.

Picture: Sagarika Ghose, Anchor of CNN-

IBN's FACE THE NATION.

Hello Folks,
How is everything going?
Today i would like put in front of you all the format of the news-show Face the Nation anchored by Sagarika Ghose in CNN-IBN.
Here's a few excerpts from what i've jotted down:

Date of Telecast: 25/2/09.
Time of telecast: 10:30 pm.
Topic: Should Mumbai terror attack guilty Kasab be given a free and fair trial by the Indian Judiciary?
Fair Trial for Kasab?
Question: Defend Terror Accused?

Segment-1: Law vs. Conscience.
Views and comments in text form in the show by prominent leaders and journalists:
Arun Shourie, prominent Journalist: "Kasab should be given the best of lawyers."
Bal Thakeray, Shiv Sena Supremo: " Kasab should be hanged in front of the Gateway of India."
Segment-2: Kasab: Pariah for lawyers.

Defending a Terrorist. Mention of the Constitutional Right to Life and Legal Aid (Article-21)

Mention of sections 303 & 304 of the Indian Constitution.

Guests of the show: Colin Gonsalves, Human Rights Law Network, Executive Director. He was reportedly considering a fair trial for Kasab.

Rahul Narvekar, Shiv Sena Legal cell Head resounded Mr. Bal Thakeray's Comments.

The Show was summed up by giving the results of the online poll through sms as to: Do terrorists like Kasab deserve a free and fair trial - yes : 40% and No: 60%.

Thank you all,

Keep posting and Blogging,

Peace.

Tipu Sultan Masjid.

Hi Folks,

What's on?

A Video Diary !

Hi Bloggers,

What's on?

Niscortians Visit India's Premier News Agencies.

Good Day Bloggers,

What's on?

Today i would like to share with you folks my experience of the visit to the Press Trust of India and The United News of India, India's premier news agencies.

Here's the report:

New Delhi, 14 February: Students of Niscort (National institute of social communications research and training), a media training institute situated at Vaishali, Sector-1, Ghaziabad had a feel of the news delivering process when they visited the country’s premier news agencies, PTI ( Press Trust of India) as well as UNI (United News of India) on Saturday as part of their industry related visits.

The Students from the Print Journalism course here had an interactive session with the News Agency’s Deputy Editor, Mr. Vijay Satokar who has been in the business for 30 long years.

Talking to students he said that in contemporary times the definition of news has changed, it goes beyond the conventional 5w’s and 1 H (What, Where, When, Why, Who and How).
Answering to one of the queries put forward by the Print Journalism batch, Mr.Satokar claimed that PTI is an absolutely independent body without any external interference.
As far as establishment of the body was concerned, he recalled that it was during Pandit Nehru and compatriot Sardar Patel’s time that a motion was set into process to form a news-delivering agency which was not under any influence. He added that before its establishment, Reuters called the shots.
He said that PTI follows the model of Associated Press (AP) of the United States as its yardstick of news-deliverance. He added that PTI is owned by Indian Newspapers of different languages.

The directors of the body are the owners of Ananda Bazar Patrika, Mumbai Samachar, Malayalam Manorama, The Week and other National Dailies.
Elucidating further, he stated that English dailies like the Indian Express, Times of India and Hindustan Times etc. put their money in the agency on the condition that it will be reinvested back into the industry.
Stressing on the body’s policies the editor told students that PTI is a non-profit sharing company i.e. all investments are put back into the organization. He claimed that this was the very cause for its political independence.
He asserted that its editorial point of view is always independent and is taken care of by the Editor-in-Chief.
The Newspapers subscribe to the agency in lieu of which the body charges them the required rates. He told the students that not all newspapers can buy the news items at high rates. The rates charged are determined by the high circulation of the dailies. The more a newspaper sells, more is the charge.
He drove home the fact that in Media, it is easy to plant stories. Commenting on contemporary trends of reporting he told the aspiring journalists, that news related to national interest is forgotten. The percentage of negative news is more at present.
As far as PTI’s news processing system is concerned, it is divided into 4 regions- the big metros comprising of regional centres further divided into Southern and Northern states.
He also told the students that how earlier news was delivered by teleprinters and how it has been replaced by computers at present.
Answering to a question put forward by one of the students circling around the agency’s thrust of reporting, Mr.Satokar replied that the agency basically covers hard news but also goes for soft-stories.
He said that the organization has some special services to its profile. To name a few, it has its infant television wing, feature Department etc with its Hindi service division known as “ Bhasa ”
Answering to questions concerning the impact of global economic meltdown on the Indian media, he clarified that the Indian industry is not badly hit as has been the case in the West.
As far as its work-culture goes, the Agency works round the clock and round the year, 24*7 he stated.
Mr. Satokar told the students that each department of the body be it Politics, Bussiness, Sports, Entertaintment, has a hierarchical setup.
He further stated that each beat has a correspondent and added that the business is the biggest desk. It comprises 60 people. As far as other desks go, the legal desk is also a big desk.
Commenting on the question of international correspondents, he replied that United States has 4 such correspondents based in Washington, Houston and Silicon
Valley etc.The agency also has correspondents in Russia, London.While China and Israel has one correspondent each.
Mr.Satokar summed up the interactive session by informing the students regarding its employee strength which was 1,400 people all over the country while its foreign correspondents totalled to 15.
After this experience, the students visited United News of India (UNI) and were welcomed by Mr. Neeraj Vajpayee, Joint – editor of the premier news agency.
He was appointed as the joint-editor in 1999. He told students he was in the business for 30 long years.
He started his interaction with the students in a non-corporate manner by not making them feel alien and encouraged them to put forward as many questions as they could.
He said that in India, there existed two main agencies one was PTI and the other being UNI.
He said that UNI was established in 1961.He added that it would be celebrating 50 years of its formation on 2012. It had subscribers as The Telegraph, Ananda Bazar Patrika etc. He recalled Bidhan Chandra Roy was the C.M. of West Bengal then.
He told students that UNI had its first office in Khan Market. He said that the agency’s regular clients are Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR). Both of them subscribes to news annually in crores and monthly in lakhs.
As far as administration of the agency goes, he reportedly said that it has directors in the form of big Newspaper owners.
It too functions round the clock like PTI and has relieving shifts of the employees by 24* 7.
Clearing the vagueness regarding its policy he claimed that it has a no profit and no loss style of functioning. The agency people reinvest the earnings in modernizing infrastructure, payments of employees etc.
On his personal work-timings, he replied that he dedicates at the most 15/18 hours daily.
Mr. Vajpayee elucidated that they have mostly stingers abroad as news-delivering resources. These are based in Washington, Singapore; Thailand etc.He stated that the agency has “ Univarta ” as its Hindi services. Besides these, it also has Urdu and photo-services to its credit. He gave the students an additional input regarding the Urdu newspapers which are given subsidy by the government. In this regard, he gave the instance of Urdu newspapers’ subsidized rates amounting to 2,500 from the original rate being Rs.5000. Its operations are similar to PTI. Its works involved editing, scan-services, recruitment and dissemination of news.
It covers all districts of Maharashtra, Kerela, Chennai, Bangalore, Kerela has 50 correspondents approximately. He told Students UNI has a tie-up with Reuters. It also has tie-ups with IRNA (Iranian News Agency), Xinhua of China to name a few. He told that every state of the country is linked to New Delhi in its news-delivery system.
Its sources are the stingers who are reporters attached to a newspaper through a string - like network.
Mr. Vajpayee claimed that the agency has cut-throat competition with PTI. The Editor described UNI’s vocation in news delivery process by quoting the agency as “authentic wholesalers of news.”
As far as payment rates were concerned, it was on monthly basis which included subscription with photos. He said that small papers were charged 10,000 plus which included news tax. While, big papers were charged from 2, 5 or even 6 lakhs.
He elucidated that PTI followed the ABC yardstick for subscription charges which was nothing but A standing for the big-papers, B for the medium and C for the small-papers.
As far as the organizational setup of the agency goes, it follows the “ cluster ” system. According to it for instance, Bombay was a regional desk.
Commenting on some of the safeguards the agency follows while filing news he claimed that it is cautious both in filing and flashing News. He stated that certain nuances are guarded in the process pertaining to blunting of the sharpness of a news item to make it appear balanced.
He further added that news is divided into “ baskets ” here which included viz, news relating to media itself, Science, Crime, Sports, Politics as well as news-stories of all the states.
Commenting on the work-culture of the agency, Mr. Vajpayee said that it has a free work atmosphere and has no bossism going around.

Have a cool day folks,

Keep blogging and posting!

Peace.

Afghanistan - India's Historical and Cultural Friend.

Hello Bloggers,

What's on!

Understanding Mall Culture !

Hello Bloggers.

What's on?

Serene Calmness!

Hello Bloggers.

What's on?

Braveheart ! Ruminating Docu-Drama

Hello Netizens,

What's on?

Corporate Satire !

Hello Netizens,

What's on?

Obamania ! The U.S. President's Exclusive Interview.

Hello Bloggers,
What's on?
Today i would like to share with you all a few notes i jotted down from U.S. president Barack Obama's exclusive interview to the channel Al-Arabiya.
Here are the notes:

1st Segment: On new ties with the Muslim world:
America needs to listen and not dictate, Its time for Palestine and Israel to negotiate. We can make a significant progress, if we work together(Mr. Barack Obama)
Crisis across Mid-east and Asia are interrelated.
We're ready to build a new partnership (based on mutual respect and co-op.) Israel will continue to be a strong ally of the U.S.

2nd segment: On West Asian Crisis:
Its possible to see a bright future. Matter of fact, situation for Palestine has hardly changed.The bottomline is:We need to focuss on the lives of Palestinian children.

3rd Segment: On Osama Bin Laden:
Al-Qaeda's ideas are bankrupt (No action behind their motives)
Al-Qaeda has been immensely destructive( Children of Muslim world need Knowledge).This being neglected.
Regardless of religion, Common hope exists among U.S. people.
Message to the Muslim world: America not an enemy. America is not a colonial power( Cites America's history in its build up to nation)
His own Conviction: "People will judge me by action not words."
"I 've fulfiulled my job by sending Mitchell (wife and first lady) to mid-east."
Thank you folks,
Keep blogging,
Peace.

Contemporary format of News Shows: a case study.

Hello Netizens.

What's on?

Today, i would like to take up the case of format of the news-shows aired on private news channel.Tell me what do you think about it?

Examining the elements of a Talk Show.
Name of the Talk-show: “Face the Nation”.
Anchor/ host: Sagarika Ghose.
News channel: CNN – IBN.
Date of Telecast: 25-9-08.

Segment: Crossfire.
Issue/ Topic: Is U.P. exporting Terror?
Guests: Y.P. Singh (Former A.C.P., Mumbai), Rashid Alvi (Cong M.P.), Sharat Pradhan (Senior Journalist in the studios with Sagarika.)

While watching the analytical talk show, Face the Nation hosted by one of the eminent faces of electronic journalism, Miss. Sagarika Ghose I came across some peculiar characteristics of present day broadcast media. Our paper shall discuss the trends followed in the present broadcast arena.

Sagarika began the show by putting forth the issue of the recent terror acts in the capital and highlighting of U.P. as a terror hub/den. While ACP Singh and Cong M.P.
Rashid Alvi where answering her queries through Videoconferencing. Special guest, Senior Journalist, Sharat Pradhan was analyzing the statements made as well as the statements put forward by Sagarika.
The question put forward first was-(A) (Sagarika): Why did the blasts took place?
(ACP Singh): The police was not efficient enough in its processing.
-(B) Secondly, (Sagarika): Quoting British P.M. Tony Blair “ we cant afford to be volatile towards the second largest religious community in the world as it is they(the Muslims) who can aid us in tackling world terror.” Do you agree?
(M.P. Rashid Alvi): We cannot blame a single community for the acts of a few.
- (C) Thirdly, (Sagarika): Is U.P. a breeding ground for gangsters of organized crime , backed by statistics and data of presence of anti-social elements at Meerut, Bulandsahar,
Azamgarh.
(ACP Singh): Religious conservatism was the root cause of such actions.
(D) Count erpoint made by Sagarika at this juncture while still introspecting the issue at hand. “Organized Crime” in cities like Mumbai carried on in full swing earlier was known to be recruits from U.P.
(E) She then put forward a question to Rashid Alvi “Is Police communalizing the investigation processes”?
- (Rashid Alvi): During the investigations after the blasts, Muslims in areas as Azamgarh, Meerut & Bulandsahar are feeling alienated as the community living there are
typecast with Sagarika interrupting in between by stating the phrase, “Police arrest any
Dari topi waala” (person with a beard and a skull-cap), to which the MP replied that intelligence inputs are poor. He made a suggestion to back his statement; Muslim leadership should come forward to lend transparency to the number of Madrasas.
(77 Madrasas are registered in U.P.)
(F) (Sagarika): “Should we in such a situation expect politicians to be playing a socially
Constructive role”?
- (Sharat Pradhan, Senior Journalist): While we are discussing and analyzing about the cause and effect of the terror acts, the real culprits/ brain behind such acts are slipping away (even if he/she is a Muslim/ Hindu)
The ACP concludes the show by saying that a single community is being charged
given the blame and this was so due to poor quality of investigations.

After evaluating the show we touch upon trends of new-age electronic journalism. The following Points will give us a clear picture-

(1) The show is meant for half an hour (30 mins. Running time).It actually ran for 25-26 mins which indicates commercialism, unhealthy competition between various pvt. News channels.
(2) The points answered were apparent layers of the vast and complex issue of terrorism. Untouched perspectives were not brought out.

(3) The host was taking bytes of each guest present very rapidly which highlights
Trends of expedience.

(4) Messages or Advertisements ran within a space of 5 mins twice denoting
Commercialism.
(5) Answers were not encompassing the issue fully .For e.g. ACP Singh’s answer
To Sagarika’s question no.3 “Is U.P. a breeding ground for organized crime”……?
“These are all related to religious conservatism.”
He should have explained what “Religious Conservatism” is and how it can be the driving force behind organized crime. Otherwise the viewer grasps a vague angle of
The issue which leads more confusion and misinterpretation.

(6) Speaking from a Democratic perspective, the persons brought as guests represent
a specific strata of our country’s administrative-setup. They do not represent the masses as a whole and also there should have been an audience present in the news
Centre itself which could also have been beneficial for shaping public opinion.
Thank you all,

Keep bloggging.

Peace.

Moral Policing and Freedom of Expression:Where do they stand?

Hello Netizens,

What's on?

Today i would like to discuss with you all my report of the 76th World Around Programme last week on Friday which had the guest speaker, Amit SenGupta, Editor-Hard News interacting with the students of Niscort (National Institute of Social Communications Research and Training) on an issue hogging media limelight of late.

The topic at hand, Freedom of Expression and Moral Policing was dealt in an all encompassing manner by the Editor.

Here's the report:

Ghaziabad,Feb13 (NISCORT): Amit SenGupta,Editor of the Magazine Hard-News presiding in the 76th World around programme at Niscort, a media training institute spoke at length over the issue of Freedom of expression and Moral policing.

"Nothing happens in isolation"-this was the bottomline of the editor's all-encompassing speech over the hotly debated topic.

Talking to students over the issue which had invited the antics of the Ram Sene in Mangalore led by the hardliner, Pramod Muthalik, he said that the basic problem was not that of women going to pubs for drinks but of the obvious growth of an Anti-Woman mindset.

He stated that going by this mindset incorporated that women were meant only to procreate.He also added that this hatred was similar to that of German Dictator, Hitler's alledged claim of "Aryan" supremacy.

He gave students an insight into the processing of extremist right-wing political parties in the scene of Indian politics.

He said that BJP is the political front of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) functioning and capitalising in tribal and Christian populated areas of the nation.

He further added that the alledged "Hindu-Rashtra" ideology often cited by the radical right wing political parties is basically Brahmanical, upper-caste oriented hegemony which is taking the shape of a "patriarchal" element in the society.

He shared some facts and figures involving "Communal Clashes" reported to be engineered by the right-wing radical fronts. He added that '84 Sikh riots in Delhi were an exception as Congress leaders themselves were alledged to behind the mob-attacks.

The Editor stressed that these created and state engineered clashes in the name of religion were infact what can be said as "blurring of lines" i.e. the hair-line difference between what was humane and what inhuman, what was sane and what insane.

He pointed that radical and unviable solutions,views were reducing the importance of everything which is humane.

He further added that in India, there was right of conversion. As far as women's defiance to such antics are concerned he reportedly said that they should denounce them publicly and also reject the shackles of male-domination even if they are condemmned as Dalits had been in the Indian society.

He told students tht Ram-Sene and all other Rightwing hardliner groups are Hydra-headed, having octopus-like tentacles as evident from their alledged activities.

He stated that Ram Sene's focus on moral-policing involving women were nothing but desperate attempts of individuals having Sexual-Frustration and deep-rooted machoistic outlook.

He commented on the hypocrisy of all the Right wing Radicalists by describing their lot as "sinister individuals" mushrooming in "quagmire who were nothing but xenophiles."

He reportedly said that the incidents in Karnataka were nothing but a conscious attempt at turning the state into a new-laboratory of hate.

He summed up the session by stating that moral-policing issues and antics were nothing but larger politics of holocaust and added that there was counter resistance from some forces like the banned Naxalites and Salwa Judum of Chattisgargh were resisting them.

Thank you all

Comment on what you think about the issue?

Peace

Lip-smacking and Tempting Curry !

Hi Folks!

What's on?

Of Lunatics and Convicts !

Hi There!

What's on?

Its good to be ordinary...!

Hi Folks!

What's on?

Of The Journey in Life and other Philosophies !

Hello Netizens!

What's On?

An Encounter with The Apostle of Truth and Non-Violence.

Hi Netizens!

What's on?

Origin of Rocketry !

Hello Folks,

What's on?

Wrist-Watches, the quintessential accessory!

Hi Bloggers,

How is everything?

What is Valentines' Day?

Hello Bloggers,

What's on!

Papads: Sumptuous, Crispy offerings !

Hi Bloggers,

What's on,

Rajputana Appetiser !

Hello Netizens,

What's up!

Assam - Abode of Greenery !

Hello Bloogers,

What's on!

An Apple a Day keeps the Doctor away!

Hi There, What's up Folks!

Prince of Thieves: Robin-Hood !

Hi Folks,

How is everything?

Beyond Superstardom, King-style!

Hi there!

Hope this finds you all in the zenith of whatever you all do!

Adrenaline Personified:The Man, The Machine !

Hello Folks,

Salaam, Namaste and a good day to you all!

Today, i would like to discuss with you all my ruminating experience on one of the earliest foreign shows on Doordarshan.

It is the Sci-fi Action T.V. show Street-Hawk about a cop injured in the line of duty and assigned to ride an all-terrain Governmental motorbike with enhanced technology.

Incredible India:Mighty structures !

Hi There!

What's on!

Today i would like to share some personal experiences of my visit to Historical and Cultural monuments.

I along with some of my friends comprising of batchmates and some seniors took a trip to 5 historical and cultural locations of New Delhi.

We took two private cabs available for travel and sight- seeing in the city.We started from Mehrauli. It is said that the place got its name from the term " Meherwali " probably ofPersian origin denoting the sobriquet earned by the Medieval saint of the area.The term literally stands for Wali denoting close friend of the Almighty God and Meher standing for a stream or a brook.

We visited the Sky-high Qutub-Minar there. It was built by the monarchical dynasty before the Delhi-Sultanate and completed by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibek , founder of the Slave dynasty which was to gift the capital with the first woman Empress in the form of the chivalrous, Razia Sultan.

The Minar which means "tower" is a significant structure for it denotes victory. We went inside the complex structure surrounding the Minar. It comprised of sprawling lawns with stonehenge like walls around the area.

The Minar on closer looks reveals Arabic scriptures intricately carved out on the robust surface.

The Minar is 24.5 metres high and is surrounded by walled-structures comprising domes of different shapes and sizes.

The architecture of the minar as well as the co-ordinating big and small structures around it are similar to the magnificent Persian and Central-Asian designs.

While taking a stroll , one can see that the space around the Minar has tombs laid symetrically with few yards of distance between them.

I interviewed a Hungarian Couple who were visiting the monument for the first time, Karol and his fiancee Ildi told me that they liked the ambience surrounding the place.They further added that they had seen a documentary series about India on BBC.

The Next Stop was Lotus-Temple belonging to the Bahai faith, a recently developed religion which is independent and all embracing in its scope.(Folks, you can learn more by visiting the Temple located at Bahapur, Kalkaji, New-Delhi.)

Inside the temple, i observed the patterns of the interior cieling. There is a golden flower-shaped ornamental - motif fixed on the middle of the cieling with symmetrical criss-cross patterns of Persian design running parallel to the motif all over. There was peace and calm pervading at the place.

There I interviewed a Polish tourist Mr. Zbigniew Pulcny who frequently visits the capital.He says that whenever he gets stressed out in his work back home, he frequents India.

After this spiritual and cultural location, we headed for the Red Fort-a giant fortification for the Mughal Military which got its name from its red sandstone colour. Inside the fort, there are small shops selling fares as replica of Mughal jewellery, traditional paintings, handicrafts, sequinned bags etc.

Inside the fort there is a pristine white palace which has engravings, ornamentations, flower-motifs etc. The pillars of one of the chambers were in the Central-Asian trademark colour, emerald-blue, maroon and golden.

The net-like windows with engravngs of a flower and leaves looked very delicate. There, i had noticed that one such window was broken, maybe the Archaelogical Department can restore it.

Facing the palace on the lush green lawn, there were benches on which were seated a European couple. Upon approaching, he asked me what i wanted! I inquired wheter this was the first time they had visited the capital: yes , came the answer !

The man at first gave the impression of the upper tight-lip Englishman but gradually opened up. Maybe this has got to do with the comfort-space in different regions and culture. They told me that they liked the ambience and the uncomparable architecture of the place. The couple, Ryan Waters and Sarah Wofley were from London, Twickenham.

I thanked them for choosing India as their escapade.

After leaving the symbol of India's Monarchical resistance in the 1857 rebellion, we headed for Rajghat the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a simple place with lush green and maintained lawns with the epitaph in memory of the Father of the nation in the middle of it.

The parking lot opposite to the exit-gate has a shop selling Gandhiji's literature and journals etc. There was a simple and affectionate old lady sitting on the reception, wherefrom i collected a catalogue on the titles available on Gandhiji and India's freedom struggle history and also recieved a complementary Journal which was from a society preserving the Gandhian ideals.

After that, we headed for the India-Gate, it was evening then. The structure stands in memory of the martyred Indian soldiers in the Second World War. Upon closer look, the surface of the structure shows off the names of the men who fell on the fateful day.

In front of the gate, there flutters the three flags of the Indian Army, Navy and the Air-Force. There was a lot of crowd as it was Sunday. It comprised of adults, children and youngsters of different nationalities.

After these we took the street opposite to the India Gate leading to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It appeared magnificent in the evening with colonial and French details in its architecture. This and the Parliament were built by a French architect. We couldn't stop our vehicle there but as we drove whatever little we observed we cherished it.

As for the Parliament, it needed special permission and VIP passes to enter the area for security reasons.

The trip was a delightful experience for aesthetic as well as a study in itself. There are a lot of Historical and heritage structures in Delhi which should be taken care of and promoted at the deserving level.

I will discuss about the others when i visit them!

Till then Keep a little sense of History, Arts and Culture in all your hearts!

Keep Blogging

God Bless You All.

Peace.

May 4th 1799: The Tiger Burns Bright

Hello Folks,

How is everything going on!

Today i would like to share with you a brief sketch on one of India's most energetic and pioneering rulers, Tipu Sultan of 18th century Mysore, India.

India's history is glorious. It has indeed produced some pioneers in Arts, Science, Spirituality and even Miltary warfare and Political Sagacity.

India before the coming of foreign powers as the Dutch, Portuguese, French and finally the victors Great Britain was a Monarchial territory.

The matter of fact being that three kings or Monarchs shine bright in ruling the country unitedly: Asoka, Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar and to some extent the country's first imperial king - Chandragupta Maurya.

The Divine order of succesion adapted to Indian socio-economic-cultural standards was followed.

A king in the ancient, medieval and modern era of India(18th century) was regarded as a guardian of the masses. Though allegations fly of any king ruling by the might of the sword yet he was after all a protector of his subjects.

This was the ideal force behind the institution of Monarchy.

18th century India saw a turbulent phase in the political affairs of the country. There were only three significant "native-powers" with a constant struggle between the French and the English for Politico-Economic supremacy over the land.

The English were engaged in influencing one royal court or the other and even installing what are known as 5th collummists in history.The bottomline is that the French and the English were playing a proxy war with one power supporting rival princes and even aggravating animosities amongst them on "insignificant issues."

The English had an extra edge over them in the sense that they were a envied sea-power. The French had also supported India's first monarchical resistance to the English in the form of the Nawab of Bengal, Shiraj-Ud-Dowla. It is said that he lost it all due to Robert Clive's imperialistic conspiracy of installing 5th collummists in his court a part of a bigger conspiracy against the ruler and also bribing his Diwan, Mir Zafar.

Speaking of the three Indian powers of that period, The Marathas, Nizam of Hyderabad and the forceful of them all in the armed resistance of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan of Mysore( present Karnataka) never ever gave the indication that India would come under the shackles of the colonists.

But history, they say is full of ifs and buts !

The Mysore of that period was very insignificant regarding its size and dominions. It is said that the kingdom's prime fortress complete with the city walls and gate which was to be used by later powers was built by a general, Kempe Gowda in the 15th century.

The state of Mysore was a part of the golden state of Vijaynagar which was said to be one of the richest kingdoms of Indian history. Krishnadeva Raya was a significant ruler of the state.

The passage of time saw the decay of the Kingdom and the final blow was when the Vodeyar dynasty's forces defeated the Vijaynagar royal forces and overpowered them in the process.