Wednesday 25 January 2012

Aurangabad Sets,Guinness World Record

Jana Gana Mana, 
Melodious music first sung in 1919 in the courtyards of Madanapalle, in Bengali script,now in National Library at Kolkata transliteration (NLK) chanted by a mammoth multitude to create a world record by singing it simultaneously. A National Anthem Echoed,across Divisional Sports Complex Garkheda,It's a world record and 25th of January 2012 will go down in history books as the Day Aurangabadkars sung their hearts out, a day before India's Republic day.
Its a moment of  fame, from Kenya being part of the gargantuan crowd and singing,the famous Anthem that Rabindranath Tagore wrote in 1911,sung 93 years ago,fresh from setting my foot at Calcutta University, its 'aste aste' the Bengali words still in my memory and his statue stands tall,singing in Kolkata too and now in Guinnes record its awesome.
The crowd that thronged the stadium was about 40,000 and the world record held by Pakistan of people singing national anthem in one place in unison stands at about 5857,the head count of the record could be 10,000 as the people left before being counted. School children sat in the football field as officials struggle to contain the crowd for head count,volunteers stood at every 50 people,The organizers had difficult time to contain the crowd for the count and students makes about 80% of the record.
I came, I saw, I participated, WE CONQUERED!!,Its Guinness World Record .From the great land of Africa, to the great Himalayas,the sailors sing Jana Gana Mana in the Bay of Bengal I sing it in the city of Gates.Its a song of two cities.
With the official tally at 15,342 the record set by Pakistan shattered in triple.Panning my camera with panache,minute by minute it was amazing experience.
Happy republic day India.May the echoes of your true spirit be heard in the Indian ocean and the highest peaks of the Himalaya .Awesome Aurangabad!
 Jaya jaya jaya,jaya he! Long live India

Sunday 15 January 2012

Costa Concordia

A picture for representational purposes,courtesy Simran my blog correspondent in Europe,this is a Cruise liner off Spain coast.

The Costa Concordia,a cruise ship likened to the Titanic tragedy is a stark reminder that accidents will always be there and disasters strike anytime anywhere.The tales of survivors tell the whole story.Confusion,commotion,honeymooners stranded.About 4000 people abode, Mediterranean has opened its belly but luckily God was with them that disaster averted and home they are,a century ago the ill-fated Titanic sank April 1912 about 1500 died,January 2012, Costa Concordia tilts and sinks 5 already confirmed dead about 50 missing.
Who is to blame,the rock or the navigation system? The captain blames the chart,the authorities blames the captain ,the circle goes..and the back stops at investigation.Where was the navigator? What did the nautical chart show....a rock or nothing? No distress call or a hail mayday!
A stark reminder for regulators as the world gears up for ship building and as the skies rocks with Dream liners,the empress liners with five star ships out in the seas small moving islands roaming the surface of the great oceans,safety should be the first priority and not Big Ships with fame,glamour lets not forget fate.The sea has its tales,the oceans has its past ship wreck,safe journeys for those at sea.
For the families of those who died may strength and peace be with you.Be strong,foot bravely.

Monday 9 January 2012

Kolkata Unversity

     The 'city of love' Calcutta a.k.a Kolkata
     The great metro city,a city teeming with friends,it made my day.Hey day! may day! great Indian University established in 1857,the oldest in Indian Subcontinent carries memories of the old days and brings us together in this new generation,having an opportunity to present a paper and reach out to the entire sea of elites,scholars it humbles me.
     The public transport,the trams,the underground Kolkata metro amazing!

     Howrah 'station of friends', a warm reception,crossing the 700+ m Howrah bridge was a test of time,the memories of my grandfather comes alive fighting the second world war across the boarder in the jungles of Burma, when the bridge was constructed.
A ferry across my first experience , on the banks of Hooghly religious bath at I can see the pilgrim on the banks..this is India, a dream come true,meeting strangers who are now friends for life time goes fond to my memory pockets ,the down town Calcutta magnifies the love and care..keep loves and affecting streaming down my heart. The streets ,the people night life ancient buildings oh! times immemorial.From Aurangabad 37 hours by train to a day to cherish,Bangladesh friends,the Oriya language,Bangla..keep bringing memories o! how the East India stands out of the rest of the country.
Surendranath College for Women raps up my stay with the National seminar on Journalism in the Age of New Media, panning my camera with panache ,a humble reception,well served and respected,with Kolkata cuisine,the taste that I still feel in my saliva,the humility of the students,reminds me of mama Africa, that's the spirit of Calcutta that's the spirit of India.Gracias