photo docu: Days of India in Germany + Indian Festival (HH Port Anniversary)

1st official pics documenting the visit of Anand Sharma (H.E. Indian Minister of Commerce & Textile) on 11th May 2012 @ Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg City Hall and Hamburg Port for the inauguration of the “Days of India in Germany” (2012-2013) + INDIAN FESTIVAL @ 823rd Port Anniversary (11th-13th May 2012)

More infos: http://www.imcradio.net/daysofindiaingermany

(images/source: © 05/2012 – Indian General Consulate Hamburg)

Hamburg City Hall: Inauguration ceremony for “Days of India in Germany 2012-2013″ with concert (11th May 2012)

on stage: Dr. L. Subramaniam (violin), Kavita Krishnamoorthy (vocalist) & Ambi Subramaniam (violin) with band

(Source: 05/2012 - Consulate General of India, Hamburg)

Days of India (2012-2013) – Connecting Ideas, Cultures and Capabilities

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FC: Amplifying our voices amid cacophony of noises

(re-print from Financial Cronical)

By Anil Dharker (Mumbai) – Mar 01 2012

Go to an Indian classical music concert and at some point, you will see one of the musicians gesture to the sound engineer to raise the level of his mike. However much he flails his arms in silent entreaty, it will be the percussion — generally the tabla — which will dominate, its insistent sound drowning out the more delicate strains of the sitar, yet a musician playing a Beethoven Quartet never has to signal to the sound engineer to change acoustic levels.

Why? Because western mus­icians are more meticulous about adjusting amplification levels before the start of the programme? No. It’s because western classical musicians do not use an amplification system at all.

These thoughts came to me when I read an interview with Kunal Kapoor, who has now taken over the reins of Prithvi Theatre from his sister Sanjna. “At the Prithvi you don’t need mikes,” he said, explaining why he planned to have more Indian classical music concerts at Prithvi in the coming years. According to him, mikes and their associated paraphernalia are not needed and the sound is that much purer.

As it happens, any good auditorium is designed precisely to do that: If Prithvi does not need amplification, a theatre three times its audience capacity such as NCPA’s Tata, doesn’t need it either. Yet even maestros such as Ravi Shankar and Zakir Husain, both from different generations, cannot now perform without using acoustic enhancement.

I am sorry if I am boring you with a subject this column has brought up before. But it needs asking again and again why Indian musicians who are purists in every other way. Why they are so enamoured of raising the volume of their music when their western counterparts don’t? Does it — dare I say it? — come from a state of insecurity? Jazz and Rock musicians believe in blasting the ears of their audiences, but that’s because their music relies neither on the purity of a note nor on the exactitude of phrasing. Surely, Ravi Shankar and Zakir Husain are closer to Arturo Rubenstein and Lang Lang than John Coltrane and Mick Jagger?

Last week, this column mentioned the Opera performances at NCPA’s Jamshed Bhabha theatre. Did the soprano singing from a large stage to an audience of over a thousand people have a mike hidden in her cleavage? No she didn’t. Nor did the tenor or the mezzo, the baritone or the bass. And the lower frequencies of the two Bs (baritone and bass) must be really difficult to project to the last row in the auditorium. But they manage with effortless ease because that’s what they are trained to do.

Enough said. I am no fuddy duddy old timer asserting that all technical innovations are wicked. They are not. But sometimes they are not necessary and they are most emphatically not necessary for Ravi Shankar and Zakir Husain and their peer group.

Which brings us to the use of amplifiers in general. We live in a busy part of Mumbai. At 6.45 in the morning the loudspeaker blares with the call of the muezzin from our right. In the evening there is a Satya Narayan puja in the building on our left and the loudspeaker blasts away again. Later, more loudspeakers spring into action as someone gets married or has a child, or celebrates 60 years of life, or just plain wants to make a racket. Aren’t all these events personal and private? Yet each celebrant believes that the louder the sound the greater his celebration.

Yet, were there any mikes when Islam became a religion? In fact was there any electricity around? When the Hindu priest goes Swaha, why does the entire neighbourhood need to hear his incantation?

Yes we are noisy people. Mo­re the reason why the Prithvis, the Tatas and the Bhabhas must not only encourage music without amplification, they sho­uld insist on it.

(Source: 1st March 2012 – Financial Chronicle – mydigitalfc.com)

New Delhi: Rahman rues lack of world class concert halls in India

New Delhi, Fri Jan 27 2012, 17:50 hrs

Having performed at many major venues abroad, music maestro AR Rahman rues that India lacks state of the art concert halls and auditoriums where world class performers can entertain audiences.

Citing two of his personal experiences in India where the venue was not equipped enough to accommodate the audiences as well as performers, the Oscar-winning composer said that lack of good halls mean many performers from abroad do not come here.

“Many world class orchestral acts and classical performers don’t come to India because we don’t have such venues in many cities. So, our amazing music lovers who have never travelled abroad are denied this experience of listening to the organic sound of a symphony orchestra,” Rahman wrote in a note on facebook today.

He cited two examples where he faced problems while performing with the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg.

“Yesterday, we performed in Chennai, at the Lady Andal school auditorium with the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. It had 1200 odd seats. 4500 people wanted to see the concert but we couldn’t accommodate everyone.

“When we performed in Delhi last Sunday, at the Siri Fort auditorium, the venue could not hold almost 10 musicians in the 100-piece orchestra, and it was claustrophobic and risky to sit on the stage. Hence, some of them couldn’t play.”

The 46-year-old called upon industrialists to build better facilities and other composers to take Indian acoustic sound to world standards.

“Shouldn’t Indian composers think beyond film music?… Shouldn’t modern India build this in every major city? Wouldn’t this be an investment for intellectual musical awakening? Or is it an expense?

“This is a pukaar(call) to individuals and corporates, who are shining bright… who are interested to take the lead and change the way we live and cherish our arts,” he said.

(Source: 02/2012 – The IndianExpress)

 

Tribute to Mohandas K. Gandhi (2nd Oct 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat; † 30th Jan 1948 in New-Delhi, Delhi)

M.K. Gandhi (wikipedia.org)

Martyrdom, 30 January 1948: The epic life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was ended. This 17 min 30 sec film tells the story of the tragic but glorious day of Gandhi’s martyrdom in the cause of unity and love – a day that turned the nations of the world into one mourning family.

He had said, “If I am to die by the bullet of a mad man, I must do so smiling.” He bowed to his assassin and died with the name of God on his lips. He was the Victorious One in death as in life.

Courtesy: GandhiServe Foundation – Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service

… and pls read the commentary.

For personal, institutional and commercial use contact by email

The Gandhi National Memorial Fund
Script: Vithalbhai Jhaveri
Commentary: Vithalbhai Jhaveri
Direction: Vithalbhai Jhaveri
Voice: Romesh Thapar

Film id: ma_07_14_viewing
Digital Mastering: Peter Ruehe (chairperson of Gandhi Information Center, Berlin from 1983 to 1992)

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63rd Republic Day 2012 (Review)…. Presentations of India’s Culture…

Assam showcased its enthralling Bhortal dance, while the Punjab tableau adorned the larger than life figure of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh atop the Lahore fort. (Rec.: Goa, Nagaland and Sikkim are other states who showcased their cultural heritage.)

The tableau of Assam passes through the Rajpath (PIB Photos)

Following the tableaus, 21 young brave hearts who won the national bravery awards drove through the Rajpath in gypsies to a huge applause following which 1,200 students enthralled the spectators with a spectacular performance of various dance forms.

Students between the age group of 12 years to 20 years from West Bengal, Orissa, Delhi and other states performed five cultural programmes during the parade.

A folk ritual from Tamil Nadu to please the goddess of health and rain, fisherman dance from Maharashtra and a ritual related to Odisha were among the highlights of youngsters’ performances.

Based on the ideals of meaningful education of Mahatma Gandhi, students of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi’s R K Puram presented an item on mass literacy. Through their song and formation they invoked a world where every person is educated in letter and spirit, where everyone would touch the height of prosperity and enlightenment.

School children performing at Rajpath (PIB Photos)

Students of Government Sarvodaya Vidyala in Hastsal brought the colourful ‘Kodiyancha Karavan’, a folk dance of Maharashtra fishermen while another group presented ‘Karagam’, a folk dance of Tamil Nadu which originated as a ritual dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of health and rain.

Another performance was that of ‘Thakurani’ — a combination of ‘Animal Dance’, ‘Ranapa Dance’ and ‘Jodi’ — which is connected with the religious procession of Thakurani Jatra in Ganjam district of Odisha.

‘Gudum Baja’, a traditional tribal dance in Mandla and Shahdol Districts of Madhya Pradesh, was also showcased during the parade.

Students of Government Sarvodaya Vidyala in Hastsal (PIB Photos)

(Source: 01/26/2012 – Rediff News | In PHOTOS: India celebrates 63rd Republic Day)

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Padma Awards 2012 list

The President of India has approved the conferment of Padma Awards-2012. This year the President has approved 109 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 14 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs/ Posthumous. These comprise five Padma Vibhushan, 27 Padma Bhushan and 77 Padma Shri Awards. There are 19 women among the awardees.

Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

The awards will conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in March/April.

Padma Vibhushan

1. Shri K G Subramanyan – Art-Painting & Sculpture – West Bengal
2. Late Shri Mario De Miranda – Art-Cartoonist – Goa*
3. Late (Dr.)Bhupen Hazarika – Art- Vocal Music – Assam*
4. Dr. Kantilal Hastimal Sancheti – Medicine – Orthopedics – Maharashtra
5. Shri T V Rajeswar – Civil Service – Delhi
Padma Bhushan
1. Smt. Shabana Azmi – Art – Cinema – Maharashtra
2. Shri Khaled Choudhury – Art – Theatre – West Bengal
3. Shri Jatin Das – Art – Painting – Delhi
4. Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta – Art – Instrumental Music – Sarod – West Bengal
5. Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol alias Dharmendra – Art – Cinema – Maharashtra
6. Dr. Trippunithwra Viswanathan Gopalkrishnan – Art – Classical vocal and instrumental music – Tamil Nadu
7. Ms. Mira Nair – Art – Cinema – Delhi
8. Shri M.S. Gopalakrishnan – Art – Instrumental Music-Violin – Tamil Nadu
9. Shri Anish Kapoor – Art – Sculpture – UK*
10. Shri Satya Narayan Goenka – Social Work – Maharashtra
11. Dr. (Judge) Patibandla Chandrasekhar Rao – Public Affairs – Germany*
12. Shri George Yong-Boon Yeo – Public Affairs – Singapore*
13. Prof. Shashikumar Chitre – Science and Engineering – Maharashtra
14. Dr. M S Raghunathan – Science and Engineering – Maharashtra
15. Shri Subbiah Murugappa Vellayan – Trade and Industry – Tamil Nadu
16. Shri Balasubramanian Muthuraman – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
17. Dr. Suresh H. Advani – Medicine – Oncology – Maharashtra
18. Dr. Noshir H Wadia – Medicine-Neurology – Maharashtra
19. Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty – Medicine-Cardiology – Karnataka
20. Prof. (Dr.) Shantaram Balwant Mujumdar – Literature and Education – Maharashtra
21. Prof. Vidya Dehejia – Literature and Education – USA*
22. Prof. Arvind Panagariya – Literature and Education – USA*
23. Dr. Jose Pereira – Literature and Education – USA*
24. Dr. Homi K. Bhabha – Literature and Education – UK *
25. Shri N Vittal – Civil Service – Kerala
26. Shri Mata Prasad – Civil Service – Uttar Pradesh
27. Shri Ronen Sen – Civil Service – West Bengal

Padma Shri

1. Shri Vanraj Bhatia – Art – Music – Maharashtra
2. Shri Zia Fariduddin Dagar – Art – Music – vocal – Maharashtra
3. Smt. Nameirakpam Ibemni Devi – Art – Music- Khongjom Parba – Manipur
4. Shri Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani – Art – Yakshagana dance drama – Karnataka
5. Shri Moti Lal Kemmu – Art – Playwright – Jammu and Kashmir
6. Shri Shahid Parvez Khan – Art – Instrumental Music-Sitar – Maharashtra
7. Shri Mohan Lal Kumhar – Art – Terracotta – Rajasthan
8. Shri Sakar Khan Manganiar – Art – Rajasthani Folk Music – Rajasthan
9. Smt. Joy Michael – Art – Theatre – Delhi
10. Dr. Minati Mishra – Art – Indian Classical Dance-Odissi. – Orissa
11. Shri Natesan Muthuswamy – Art – Theatre. – Tamil Nadu
12. Smt. R. Nagarathnamma – Art – Theatre – Karnataka
13. Shri Kalamandalm Sivan Nambootiri – Art – Indian Classical Dance- Kutiyattam – Kerala
14. Smt. Yamunabai Waikar – Art – Indian Folk Music-Lavani. – Maharashtra
15. Shri Satish Alekar – Art – Playwright – Maharashtra
16. Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey – Art – Chhau dance and choreography – Jharkhand
17. Shri Ramakant Gundecha and Shri Umakant Gundecha# – Art – Indian Classical Music- Vocal – Madhya Pradesh
18. Shri Anup Jalota – Art-Indian Classical Music- Vocal – Maharashtra
19. Shri Soman Nair Priyadarsan – Art – Cinema- Direction – Kerala
20. Shri Sunil Janah – Art-Photography – Assam
21. Ms. Laila Tyebji – Art-Handicrafts – Delhi
22. Shri Vijay Sharma – Art-Painting – Himachal Pradesh
23. Smt. Shamshad Begum – Social Work – Chattisgarh
24. Smt. Reeta Devi – Social Work – Delhi
25. Dr. P.K. Gopal – Social Work – Tamil Nadu
26. Smt. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav – Social Work – Chattisgarh
27. Dr. G. Muniratnam – Social Work – Andhra Pradesh
28. Shri Niranjan Pranshankar Pandya – Social Work – Maharashtra
29. Dr. Uma Tuli – Social Work – Delhi
30. Shri Sat Paul Varma – Social Work – Jammu and Kashmir
31. Smt.Binny Yanga – Social Work – Arunachal Pradesh
32. Shri Yezdi Hirji Malegam – Public Affairs – Maharashtra
33. Shri Pravin H. Parekh – Pubic Affairs – Delhi
34. Dr. V. Adimurthy – Science and Engineering – Kerala
35. Dr. Krishna Lal Chadha – Science and Engineering – Agriculture – Delhi
36. Prof. Virander Singh Chauhan – Science and Engineering – Delhi
37. Prof. Rameshwar Nath Koul Bamezai – Science and Engineering – Jammu and Kashmir
38. Dr. Vijaypal Singh – Science and Engineering – Agricultural Research – Uttar Pradesh
39. Dr. Lokesh Kumar Singhal – Science and Engineering – Punjab
40. Dr. Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan – Science and Engineering – Karnataka
41. Prof. Jagadish Shukla – Science and Engineering – USA*
42. Ms. Priya Paul – Trade and Industry – Delhi
43. Shri Shoji Shiba – Trade and Industry – Japan*
44. Shri Gopinath Pillai – Trade and Industry – Singapore*
45. Shri Arun Hastimal Firodia – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
46. Dr. Swati A. Piramal – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
47. Prof. Mahdi Hasan – Medicine-Anatomy – Uttar Pradesh
48. Dr. Viswanathan Mohan – Medicine – Diabetology – Tamil Nadu
49. Dr. J. Hareendran Nair – Medicine – Ayurveda – Kerala
50. Dr. Vallalarpuram Sennimalai Natarajan – Medicine – Geriatrics – Tamil Nadu
51. Dr. Jitendra Kumar Singh – Medicine – Oncology – Bihar
52. Dr. Shrinivas S. Vaishya – Medicine-Healthcare – Daman and Diu
53. Dr. Nitya Anand – Medicine – Drugs Research – Uttar Pradesh
54. Late Dr. Jugal Kishore – Medicine – Homoeopathy – Delhi *
55. Dr. Mukesh Batra – Medicine-Homeopathy – Maharashtra
56. Dr. Eberhard Fischer – Literature and Education – Switzerland*
57. Shri Kedar Gurung – Literature and Education – Sikkim
58. Shri Surjit Singh Patar – Literature and Education – Poetry – Punjab
59. Shri Vijay Dutt Shridhar – Literature and Education – Journalism – Madhya Pradesh
60. Shri Irwin Allan Sealy – Literature and Education – Uttarakhand
61. Ms. Geeta Dharmarajan – Literature and Education – Delhi
62. Prof. Sachchidanand Sahai – Literature and Education – Haryana
63. Smt. Pepita Seth – Literature and Education – Kerala
64. Dr. Ralte L. Thanmawia – Literature and Education – Mizoram
65. Shri Ajeet Bajaj – Sports – Skiing – Delhi
66. Smt. Jhulan Goswami – Sports – Women’s Cricket – West Bengal
67. Shri Zafar Iqbal – Sports-Hockey – Uttar Pradesh
68. Shri Devendra Jhajrija – Sports – Athletics- Paralympics – Rajasthan
69. Shri Limba Ram – Sports – Archery – Rajasthan
70. Shri Syed Mohammed Arif – Sports – Badminton – Andhra Pradesh
71. Prof. Ravi Chaturvedi – Sports- Commentary – Delhi
72. Shri Prabhakar Vaidya – Sports-Physical Education – Maharashtra
73. Shri T. Venkatapathi Reddiar – Others-Horticulture – Puducherry
74. Dr. K. (Kota) Ullas Karanth – Others-Wildlife Conservation and Environment Protection – Karnataka
75. Shri K Paddayya – Others-Archaeology – Maharashtra
76. Shri Swapan Guha – Others-Ceramics – Rajasthan
77. Dr. Kartikeya V. Sarabhai – Others – Environmental Education – Gujarat

————————————————————————
* indicates awardees in the category of Foreigners / NRIs/ PIOs/ Posthumous

(Source: 25 Jan 2012 06:26:09 PM IST – expressbuzz.com)

Mysore: Schools, universities for music is the need of the hour, says expert

(Mysore, January 22, DHNS) – To preserve and enhance the scope for music, there is a need to establish music schools and universities, opined violinist Prof. S. Mahadevappa. (Rec.: Father of Mysore Sri M.Nagaraj & Dr. Mysore Manjunath = Mysore brothers, see videos)

After inaugurating the first anniversary of Ganayogi Panchakshareshwara Hindustani Sangeetha Vidyalaya at Veene Sheshanna Bhavan here on Sunday, he recalled the days of the Maharajas, when music was given high priority. He expressed regret over decreasing popularity of classical music among the public.

He called upon the students to learn music with dedication for a successful career.

He advised parents not to force children into learning music just for the sake of appearing in media. He stressed on the importance of maintaining good relationship among teachers and students.

With high regards for teachers, self respect, confidence and patience one can be an expert in any art form, said Krupa Phadke, a classical dancer. She said art can become a property of achievers, provided they practice it with constant hard work and dedication.

Illusion

She said popularity in the media was an illusion, which is short-lived and only those who are continuous learners can be real achievers.

The function was presided over by Pt Indudhara Nirodi. Various classical music forms were presented by Shiva Deva, Dhushyanth H Dore, Mayur H Dore, Sunitha Hiremath and others.

(Source: 01/22/2012 – Deccan Herald)

The Mysore Brothers…

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5th Intern. Conference (Agra/India): “Exploring New Dimensions in Fine Arts”

5th Intern. Conference: “Exploring New Dimensions in Fine Arts”

…

Sponsor: I.C.C.R. & Ministry of H.R.D., Delhi
Venue: Agra Club (Agra)
Date: 28th and 29th January 2012  (beginning with an inaugural session on Saturday @ 10.00 am)

key note/guest speakers: Prof. Stephen Slawek (Sitarist, USA), Prof. Joep Bor (Academy of Creative and Performing Arts of Leiden University, Netherlands), Dr. M.R. Azadehfar (Dean of Music Faculty, Tehran Arts University), Prof. J. Moreno (Music Therapy at Maryville University), Prof. Krishna Bisht (Delhi), Prof. Veena Vishwaroop (Khairagarh), Prof. B.P. Kamboj (Dehradoon) and other professors and scholars of different Universities

+ different Indian maestros e.g. Pandit Viswa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena, Jaipur)

Musical programme:
28th January 2012 (06:00-08:00 pm) with  sitar recital and a vocal recital :
Professor Stephen Slawek (Sitar, U.S.A.) & Gauri Khanna (vocal, Agra)

Contact:
- Dr. A.K. Sharma (Chairman – Organizing Committee)
- Prof. Dr. Lovely Sharma (Executive Convener – www.drlovelysharma.com)
- Debasis Chakroborty (Organising Secretary – www.debasischakroborty.com)

email: kritikalasansthan@gmail.com

Event page @ Facebook

Download as PDF…

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