Rodevra Republic

A moment of greatness, met with quiet composure Here is a rare video of Sir Garfield Sobers hitting six sixes in an over. What strikes one immediately is his composure. There are no exaggerated celebrations, no theatrics — just a quiet acknowledgment of what has been achieved. At one point, there is even a casual exchange with the wicketkeeper, as if this were just another passage of play. One cannot help but spare a thought for Malcolm Nash, the bowler. He had shifted from medium pace to spin, inspired by the success of Derek Underwood at the time. After this over, it is said he never bowled spin again. Another interesting aspect is the commentary. It carries that unmistakable old-world British tone — phrases like “goodness gracious me” and “my goodness gracious” come through naturally. There is no excess, no attempt at embellishment. The commentator simply describes what is unfolding, leaving the viewer to absorb and interpret. That, perhaps, is what good commentary does. The mat...

Kailash Kher — a voice that carries both pain and resilience Here is the song “Toota Toota Ek Parinda” , sung by Kailash Kher. I would hesitate to translate it. The song carries a deep philosophical undercurrent, and each listener may arrive at a meaning that is personal, perhaps even sacred. The song was written by Vishal Dadlani — singer, composer, and lyricist. It is rich in spiritual metaphor, and at its core carries a quiet message of resilience — of not giving up in the face of adversity. Kailash Kher, of course, needs little introduction. Born in 1973, he went through a period of intense personal struggle, even reaching a point of deep despair. This song is often seen as a turning point in his life. It is not difficult to see why — the words seem to carry a force that goes beyond mere expression. His raw, unpolished voice lends the song a rare authenticity. There is a directness in the way he sings, as if the experience behind the words is not distant, but lived. These lines, in...

Bulleh Shah (1680–1757), the Punjabi Sufi poet whose verses question identity and the nature of the self One of the first steps in learning is unlearning . For a life of continuous learning, as Sir suggests, one must first empty oneself of pretenses and prejudices. Only then does the ground become ready for real learning. In this context, I am reminded of a beautiful Sufi song written by Bulleh Shah , the 17th century Sufi poet from Punjab. The poem is written in the second person, and therefore reads as if Bulleh Shah is addressing himself: “Bulleya, I know not who I am.” The song “Bulleya Ki Jaana” is sung by Rabbi Shergill. In spirit, it reflects something similar to the neti-neti approach in Indian philosophy — the path of negation. By denying every identity and label, one gradually strips away false notions of the self, until only the pure awareness of one's true nature remains. / Below is a translation of the song: Bulleya, I know not who I am. Neither am I a believer i...

Kamleshwar, a key voice from the early years of Doordarshan During a WhatsApp chat, a friend shared a post mentioning several names associated with the early days of Doordarshan. We remember them today not merely out of nostalgia, but because they represented a certain standard — they gave us content of real quality. She mentioned Kamleshwar, who was among the finest of that group. He belonged to the top league of Hindi writers, and this gave his work a distinct literary edge. He also served as editor of well-known Hindi publications such as Dainik Bhaskar , and in that role contributed to the revival of Hindi magazines like Sarita . Not many know that Gulzar’s film Aandhi was based on his novel Kaali Aandhi . He later went on to write scripts and dialogues for films like Mausam , Chhoti Si Baat , and Rang Birangi . In those early years, our media was under significant Soviet influence. There were attempts to shape Indian public opinion during the Cold War, particularly by promoting a...

Ananda and Tanusree with their daughter Sreenanda Ananda Shankar, pioneer of Indian fusion music blending classical traditions with modern sounds You must at some time have heard the music compositions of Ananda Shankar . He came from a distinguished musical lineage — the son of Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar , and the nephew of Ravi Shankar . He was among the first musicians to experiment with East–West fusion, but notably he approached it from the East rather than merely adapting Western forms. Though criticised by purists, he maintained a clear conviction: “We must preserve the classical styles of dance and music in their authentic form. But we can go ahead and create our own styles.” He was truly an original. In many ways he was creating what we now call world music long before the term itself became popular. Open-minded and farsighted, he opened a door to possibilities in music that continue to feel relevant even today. For those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, i...

At the Flower Market , by Henry Victor Lesur “At the Flower Market” by Henry Victor Lesur. Lesur’s work reflects scenes from everyday life, often set against the backdrop of a changing France. In the years following the Franco-Prussian War, artistic expression had begun to move toward a harder realism. And yet, in paintings like this, one senses a lighter note — a quiet return to the ordinary. To choose a subject such as a flower market is, in itself, telling. It suggests a moment where people turn again to the small, everyday rhythms of life. There is a certain levity here — not in the sense of triviality, but as a gentle counterpoint to what may have come before. The act of buying flowers, simple as it is, becomes a way of reconnecting with life. The artist captures this immediacy with restraint and grace. There is also a careful attention to detail. The cobblestone street, the slight slope toward the gutter, the worn texture of the buildings — all are rendered with quiet precisio...

Bill Bryson — wit, language, and quiet humour Here is something that some of you may enjoy — listening to Bill Bryson. An American-born author, Bryson has written across a wide range of subjects, from the English language and science to travel and general non-fiction. Though born in the United States, he moved to Britain in his twenties and eventually settled there. If you enjoy the English language, his speaking style itself is a pleasure. It carries an interesting blend — the base notes of an American accent, shaped by his upbringing, layered with the cadence and tone of British English. Even in simple words like “fast,” one can hear the American inflection, while the overall delivery remains distinctly British, including his understated humour. Some have compared him to P. G. Wodehouse , though their styles differ. Wodehouse’s humour often leaned on irony, absurdity, and playful exaggeration — phrases like “Jeeves’ superhuman equanimity” come to mind. Bryson, on the other hand, is m...

Abdulrazak Gurnah — telling stories across continents With the selection of Abdulrazak Gurnah , he becomes one of the very few Black writers to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Looking at past recipients, this award stands out for the way it recognises a body of work that brings sustained attention to a deeply human concern — the experience of refugees, and the lingering effects of colonialism. Much of Gurnah’s writing is shaped by these themes, exploring displacement, identity, and the emotional distance between cultures and continents. As is well known, unlike awards such as the Booker Prize, the Nobel Prize in Literature is not given for a single work. It recognises an author’s entire body of work — the depth, consistency, and impact of their writing over time. When the literature prize was first instituted, it was meant to honour those who had “conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Seen in that light, Gurnah’s recognition feels appropriate. Through his writing,...

Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s voice in “Mahishasura Mardini” has awakened Bengal at dawn on Mahalaya for generations A little bit of history, culture, and a radio programme. Today is a very special day for Bengalis the world over. It is Mahalaya , the day that marks the beginning of the Durga Puja festivities, with an invocation to Goddess Durga to descend upon Earth. What makes the day even more special is that every year on this day, at 4 am sharp, practically every Bengali household tuned in to AIR for the Mahishasura Mardini programme. My Bengali friends still remember waking up early on this day, sleepy-eyed, all gathered around the radio. The programme was first aired in 1932, and until 1966 it was broadcast live. The iconic voice was that of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. Birendra babu would bathe in the Ganges at Babughat, just a short walk from Akashvani Bhavan, before coming to perform the programme. Such was his dedication, and it shows in his rendition. Year after year he did it....

A moment where voice and expression become one Here is a really beautiful song to start your day. It is from the 1982 film 'Vijeta' by Govind Nihilani. Asha Bhonsle has done full justice to this pure classical song. Rekha is in perfect synchronization with the singing, an indication she may be a trained singer herself or at least learnt singing the song from Ashaji or the music director, Ajit Varman. The overall impact is sublime. While on this point, we know actors go to great lengths to achieve perfection in every act of theirs and try to do full justice to the demands of their role. The method actor that Dilip Kumar was, he actually learnt playing the sitar for the song, 'Madhuban mein Radhika nache re'. [02/10/2021, 07:59] Raj Mahimkar: https://youtu.be/kPc_dyJbs1U