Shaant Yagya: A Homecoming for The Festival of Himalayas

Snowclad Darkhul the seat of Devta Gudaru 

Ball had started rolling for the upcoming festival of Shaant – The Festival of the Hills, at my native village of Diswani, ever since Pratishtha (in Pahari dialect: Patishta) of Devta Gudaru of Diswani was done at the revered sanctum of Darkhul in January 2009.

Whole village had contributed to the re-construction of the Darkhul, and it was only over in later end of the year 2008 and on January 6th to 8th, 2009 village hosted celebration of Pratishtha Yagya by inviting Devtas from nearby villages.

But the three day Yagya last held in December 1968, has its inception, centuries back, from the same very village, so this festival is homecoming of the tradition of Shaant Yagya celebrated in Rohru region of the erstwhile Shimla hill state. Another village in the Rohru region hosted this festival in 2014 (See Pic)

Shaant Yagya at Devidar village, 2014 | Shimla Life

I am humbled by the words of my elders, who while speaking about the significance of this festival have me told me that this yagya seeks welfare, peace and prosperity to all. As the name suggest in Sanskrit 'Shaant' means 'at peace'. The celebration shall be in the Shaivaite tradition of Himalayas country and deities shall be honoured with three day long Yagya, along with sacrifice. People will celebrate this occasion no less than celebrations of marriage in every household welcome anyone and everyone to their house. "No-one should stay hungry", declared one of our village elder, "for these three days. It will be a test of our village as gracious hosts."

First day called the Sangheda, will welcome devotees, guest Khoond (village tribes) and their invited village deities; second day named Shikha-Pher will have two of the invited village deities taking roles of leading ceremony of Shika and Pher. Shikha Poojan will be done on the top of the Darkhul (see pic) and Pher  or the Parikrama of whole village will have designate village deity cover the whole village to secure it. And final day of Uchhadpachhadi will see final ceremony in the lawns of Darkhul on 10th December, following which all devotees shall lead to their respective places.

And just like you loved ones who stay long, we also want them to sleep-over. Some of the village trible and the village deity can and many a time do stay in Darkhul as guest.

Shaant Dates: 8,9,10 January 2017

Full Address: Diswani village, Rohru, Distt Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Curious case of Ta-Ta names in Shimla

“What is in a name?” asks Shakespeare in his most loved play Romeo & Juliet, “that which we call a rose by any other would smell as sweet”.

As one travels to Himalayan countryside in Himachal to find people putting Ta-Ta in their names is not because of its overwhelming brand appeal of Indian conglomerate Tata. Be it the Priety Zinta, Deshta, Panta, or the tongue twisting Sasramta, Persingta, Khanolta all of these one could easily find in telephone directory of Shimla district.

Origins to these surnames one finds in the tradition of associating village-name or the ancestor’s or the family elder’s names along with given names to specify one’s identity. This practice ending with letters –ta, is most particular to the coming under the erstwhile Shimla Hill State, which had later merged with parts of Punjab ranging under foothills of Shivalik Mountain to form today’s Himachal Pradesh.

An earlier version of the blog by the same author had featured detailed list names here.

People’s President

I wrote this article a year ago before the President elections in July 2012, checked it couple of days ago, and thought of sharing with everyone.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Just finished watching ‘I am Kalam’ – the movie. Impressed by its subject – genuine, emotional, touching – as it really had that feel of ever inspiring aura named ‘Abdul Kalam’.

Looking at the present situation of the President election, I am pained and fear that we might have to wait another 50 years before any new Kalam shall emerge in Rashtrapati Bhawan, to be able to inspire us. Thought I don’t have any contempt for any of the personalities to have occupied Rashtrapati Bhawan or those who are in electoral battle for this post.

My idea of the first citizen in a Westminster based parliamentary democracy is of having someone who is capable of garnering that respect, command aspiration to greater heights, and has aura to inspire millions to whom a PM, tens of Ministers, hundreds of MP & MLA could feel honoured to work under. He must be person whom even politicians too find a source of passion to work for its people. A president is not suppose to run cabinet, not suppose to legislate in parliament, not suppose to fight on borders not even suppose to run ministries in New Delhi; he is suppose to make us dream bigger and shall make us believe ‘all shall be fine’ when crisis are overlooking us.

Who else, in my dreams I have seen doing?

Kalam, certainly; still same skinny, old man but young at heart, shining grey hair but childlike curiosity, in the system but un-fazed by the corruption ridden system, on duty 24x7 to spread his ideas for a vibrant nation.

Post Script: Now, after a year or so, when I look at the present Rashtrapati Bhawan, it is same as pre-Kalam era Rashtrapati Bhawan. And, Kalam is still visiting schools, colleges inspiring youth to dream big and dream for our nation. What I can conclude here is a question in front of us. Is it the post he didn’t regain or the love or affection which he commands across length and breadth of India, which makes him the ‘People’s President’.

Photo Credit: greatindiannews.wordpress.com

Annandale – The Duel

Having lived nearby iconic the Annandale ground of Shimla, which is in news for quite some time now. On periphery, of which, we played, walked and enjoyed our childhood. The two custodian institutions of the ground property are in war of words these days, politics of the hill state on rampant duel of allegations, controversy which denies dying down, but for all wrong reasons. As a common Shimlaite I’m pained.

Located well within the city, Annandale ground has its unique ambiance, surrounded on three-forth of its circumference by hill side. Two part of the hill side is dense forest below Choura Medan and one part of it is slopes of Kaithu suberb below Tarahall. Only around one-fourth of the surrounding is open akin to a piece cut out from a birthday cake. It is this gorgeous setting which gives people visiting Annandale their unforgettable memories.

Well placed in history books, this Annandale ground bears the crown of holding second oldest football tournament in the world. In 1888, the Durand Cup was first played here. Annandale ground barely about 5 km from Scandal Point on the Mall, very heart of the city, had been a spot for cultural and recreational area even in British era, as documented by Vipin Pubby in his popular book ‘Simla then and Now.’

Staying these days away from my hometown, I was shocked on the carelessness of the both entities, as they indulged in needless public utterance on the issue of it ownership.

During the British Raj it belonged to Central Government as on independence it went to State Government and for decades it was with the Army on lease, over a few years back, not renewed also.

Having said that, the arguments of the Indian Army, which even to this day is in control of the ground property houses its barrack and training center in the same location, states that this ground is useful for relief operations during natural calamity like floods and earthquakes and in case of the military expeditions during war also, can be taken in case specifics. Ground can houses around four helicopters simultaneously. Its usefulness in having, a close to city location of landing and taking off of choppers with dignitaries is well utilised.

Usage of the of Annandale for relief work during natural calamities is valid argument, but during tactical employment of the armed forces for strategic operation using this as one of the base doesn’t seems to be a sound argument. As Kaithu, Choura Medan area overlooks the ground and it would be nearly impossible to maintain secrecy as people can vigil tactical movement of the persons from their balcony.

Still Government and the Army establish must still together sit and analyse the strategic needs and possibilities if those could be met at any other location without compromising on the strategic significance of any such operation which army wishes to take up.

State Government is facing allegation of probable favours for proposed building of Annandale as a Cricket Stadium. As Anurag Thakur, head of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, is the son of current Chief Minister of the State.

Anurag Thakur, got  acclaim in his successful bid to make Dharmashala cricket stadium a IPL T20 cricket venue and attracted sports enthusiasts from India and abroad. Now this CM scion is eyeing for a cricket stadium in the queen of hills.

While I assess the quality of communications between army and government establishment, it made me concerned that how can these people holding high offices, could go on record and made such remarks. Had it been any other, apart from present CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, discussion wouldn’t have taken so sharp turns as it were evident because Anurag Thakur’s vocal support for transforming Annandale into a cricket stadium.

I for that matter not against cricket, football or any other sport being played at the Annandale Ground, as army people too uses portion of the ground for Golf. But, it would be of a thoughtful leadership of the government, even if they intent to use this ground for sports, must they sit and discuss the issues with Army brass.

But need of the hour is to have a sensible discussion among both the institutions keeping integrity of the said institutions. I personally shall support a Black & white policy which doesn’t needs leaders in petty commentary or media muddling but Army and Govt both needs to come with arguments, why they need this ground. And what better if they come with the final statement on the issue.
(to be cont..)

Stop Kota!

Very purpose of inclusion of +2 Class Board Exam Marks in engineering entrance is a flawed idea. If the idea is to make student go to schools and study, then that decision would not change, yet more coaching shall be there from before; one for board exam and another for engineering entrance. Which is the exact thing happening with these premier institutes’ admissions.

Recent decision of IIT Council and MHRD, Govt of India having accepted the recommendation of Prof Ramaswami Report on common entrance test for all engineering courses on undergraduate level, has surrounded in controversy on multiple issues like ignoring procedure, lack of research in proposing changes. IIT, India’s premier engineering institutes, community had slammed these proposed changes.

Single exam - better
Today, India has many entrance tests for engineering stream IIT JEE for all IITs and IISc and some equivalent central government funded institutes, AIEEE for all NITs and majority of private engineering institutes accept its score too and every central, state and Private and Deemed institutes take their separate tests some of these also accept AIEEE score along with their test score. Having a single exam helps in providing single window to all engineering institutes. Yet, autonomy of engineering institutes in selection should also be maintained to sustain quality of education in the institutes.

Mushrooming Coaching Industry
Issue lies in the mushrooming Coaching industry, charging fees in lakhs of rupees, placing students from modest backgrounds lagging behind in the race, forcing middle class family to manage - anyhow and fund their off-springs dream to join IIT JEE. Now cities like Kota have emerged as centres of this coaching industry with giants like Bansal Classes, Resonance and FIITJEE as new czars of the new regime.

Subjective Exam
The difference between students of Bharat and student of India is widening. Post 2005 when IIT administration had changed the pattern, abolishing mains, a six hour subjective exam, IIT alumni and Professors too claim that quality of student population has gone down. Rigorous mugging of short-cuts and question bank has led not so sharp student to also manage the cut at top IITs, which has raised questions to the IIT JEE, even then changes suggested in Prof Ramaswami committee doesn’t has fact, figures to support this claim, and suggested changes presents no idea of the objective, apart from having single entrance test, of the new test. What implication it shall have on the coaching industry is not stipulated.

Pre 2005 IIT JEE, where students appeared in preliminary, an objective multi choice, examination for screening level and mains, a comprehensive subjective, examination to judge best talents for IITs and premier engineering institutes. It will be wise to re-think and go back to the pattern which had yielded us for decades. This pattern shall be helpful in tackling ongoing debate of Common Engineering Test.

Autonomy of IITs
Overlooking statutory bodies like IIT Senates of each institute before declaring end to IIT JEE is a blatant move of undermining the autonomy of IIT like premier institutes, this move shall be opposed.

Parity of +2 Marks among different Boards?
Inclusion of +2 board examinations which as we understands, would involve complication of disparity among various board exam and normalization of marks between various boards, issues of copying, unfair means cases are still faced by many education boards, shall make it of no use to judge the best talents of this country. Diploma students, International Baccalaureates and other international exam students shall be placed outside this system and would be oversimplification of the rule if normalised.

Aptitude Test
It is not worth to have quantitative aptitude test for engineering students, who should be best judged on understanding of fundamentals, and it is to give undue advantage on English language proficiency, would set back students of rural backgrounds. When student study higher maths then it is not needed to have aptitude test asking student to judge among words, coding-decoding, reasoning etc, which is of little use for students who should be best judged on the level of competence on deciphering the fundamentals of science and mathematics the core of engineering.

Who shall conduct the exam?
Generally, organisation which is inducting applicants takes the exams, so unlike UPSE, State PSE, UGC NET, CAT, SAT, GMAT, this new exam pattern would be different as it shall be governed by CBSE not any University or autonomous organisation of institutes inducting students.

Why Miss World or Miss Universe stands irrelevant

Transgender contestant Jenne Tereckova’s fame from Miss Universe Canada fiasco has started debate on relevance of Miss Worlds and Miss Universe beauty pageants.

Recent debate started on for the validity of Transgender participating in feminine beauty pageants. Flipping through TOI and glancing on blogs, debate has is still on and is doing round at very axis of gender identity and principle of equality and justice being advocate.

Whether a transgender be allowed to participate in Beauty Pageants? It is particularity because of Canadian beauty Jenna Teleckova, who went gender reassignment surgery at 19, is first being disqualified from the final round of Miss Universe Canada, and later, eventfully, is allowed to participate. And, now Miss Universe organization owned by Donald Trump has allowed transgender, from now onwards, allowed to participate and become beauty queens, officially.

Though Jenna doesn’t needs any title now, as she has generated tremendous following on Twitter and Facebook with people writing about her, and is a celebrity now. Media giants like NYT, Washington Post are writing blogs on her.

During this whole issue, I was posed with some questions, while trying to answer those, I think have made an opinion on beauty pageants the very issue which has given new light to the debate of transsexual and transgender identity.

Famine Beauty - is it the idea of holding a la Miss World or Miss Universe?
If the idea of holding a Miss World or Miss Universe, is to judge the physical beauty combined with some questions here and there, then I for that sake support Jenna Teleckova being at the Miss Universe Canada and why not a person with qualified possession such standards of contemporary idealism of feminine beauty be allowed to participate.

Womanhood – if celebrating womanhood is essence of Miss World or Miss Universe?
And, if the central idea of judging is womanhood, and celebrating it, then I think mere display of body doesn’t serve purpose. Womanhood, in our Indian culture embroils every role which a female takes as daughter, sister, wife and mother; and Motherhood, as former Miss Universe said in her final answer to the pageant, becoming mother shall be greatest pleasure in her life, for which she looks forward. Later this beauty queen adopted a girl child named ‘Rene’ taking it from English word Renaissance.

Culturally in India, being mother it is most revered status to womanhood, where people associate rivers, goddesses and nation itself to motherly identity. Hence, alas, these Miss Worlds and Miss Universe are good for multinational national companies but no good to celebrate that true womanhood.

So debate is though still on, with these argument, I wonder if Mrs Worlds are more relevant that Miss Worlds.

IIT Entrance - an outsider's perspective

If one can remember in October 2005, IIT system took decision of making admission to flagship undergraduate programme of Indian Institutes of Technology, only through two consecutive chances of JEE, it was argued by board of directors that it will eradicate the coaching institute hegemony in JEE and will make numbers of students competing for JEE steady.

"We (are) implementing this rule to control the large number of students appearing in JEE and to ruin the coaching industry completely," said one board member in 2005. But, five years of implementation of this plan, total number of student appearing for IIT-JEE has doubled from 2005, and coaching industry made double the turnover in this span.

Initially student opposed this rule, but had to accept it as ‘egoistic’ IIT board took this step, which was not unanimous decision as it had voting done for the said decision, as some administrations and intellectuals were against it.

It would be very important to visit back the time when IIT Board of Directors took a ‘weird’ decision of slashing number of chances once unlimited to only two after 10+2 exam. After implementing this rule, the first result of 2006 was very fascinating. The percentage of successful candidates was more who have taken more than two attempts. ie three or more; does IIT directors believe that those students are duffers?

After result print media reported it as "JEE Ke Rule Ulte Sabit Huye, Students Coaching Aur Exams Dono me Badhe "(Rules of JEE found reversed, students increases in both coaching and in exams).

IIT responded with bring out data on 2007 result as "Sarkari Ankado Ke Mutabik Is Bar First Attempters Ka Success Percentage Jyada Hai” (According to Government figures, success percentage of first attempt student is more). This is obvious though when 70% students are 12th appearing and having only two consecutive attempts available with them.

Question is raised on IIT JEE, is it an exam of talent basis or had it become a notorious chance game. All these matters didn’t satisfy the ego IIT hierarchy, they came up with a plan in Jan 2010-11 that student should have 80% in 12 standard to appear in IIT-JEE. Decisions are made in as if IITs were their personal property.

When seats in IITs didn’t fill, IIT administrators made new formula of ‘extended merit list’ and had claimed that they are using this for filling seats of IISc Bangalore.

One side they(IITs) claim that they made paper easy, but the 'level of difficulty' is same as before.

Once again IITs are preparing to give one more chance for 'poor' JEE preparing students, Is JEE a matter of chance?

This vicious trap of ‘chances’ making students and parents adapted for these unusual pressure, which is anti student. Besides these are so many questions arising and points are endless against this chance game. Now more number of students leave their 10+2 exam for getting better prospects in two consecutive JEE chance once they appear for board exams.

Stressed by this pressure students start preparation for IIT JEE from 9th standard and overload themselves and their parents with added pressure.

I want to know your response, had faxed these things to AAJ TAK, NEWS24 etc but they said that once we start any movement they’ll back us. This is the same mail which is sent to all coaching institutes’ students around the country and two media and student organisations, though response was exceptional from everybody. Everybody asking us of what they need to do in this movement.
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with discussions with Anupam Gupta, Kanpur | edited by this blogger