Rodevra Republic

Children sheltering under an umbrella surrounded by lively terriers — the warmth and innocence of a rainy afternoon It is a lovely painting, quite idyllic, with children and dogs. I found the focal point of the painting very well accentuated; one can almost visually draw a circle at the centre. The effect is created by the open umbrella on the right and the placement of the dogs on the left, forming a circular line together with the barrel. It is almost as if the artist first drew the circle and then placed the elements inside it. Try partly closing your eyes and looking at the painting; you will see the structure of the composition more clearly. But within this circular arrangement there is also a gentle sense of movement. A diagonal seems to run through the picture from the boy's raised stick to the dog jumping up and further across to the girl holding the puppy. This diagonal quietly animates the composition, preventing the scene from becoming static and giving the painting a li...

This bhajan by Kabir Das highlights one of the biggest realities of our spiritual existence. He was one of the most influential and evocative poets.  He played a major role in the Bhakti movement in India in around the 15th century through his simple poetry that touched the common man. One of his most well-known poems was, “ Ud Jayega Huns Akela”  This poem elucidates the reality of our existence by giving apt metaphors, rich in meaning and imagery. Ud Jayega Huns Akela, Jug Darshan Ka Mela Jaise Paat Gire Taruvar Se, Milna Bahut Duhela Naa Jane Kidhar Girega, Lageya Pawan Ka Rela Jub Howe Umur Puri, Jab Chute Ga Hukum Huzuri Jum Ke Doot Bade Mazboot, Jum Se Pada Jhamela Das Kabir Har Ke Gun Gawe, Wah Har Ko Paran Pawe Guru Ki Karni Guru Jayega, Chele Ki Karni Chela Here Huns  (Swan) represents our free-spirit that continues to live beyond the death of the body. When the physical death comes, the "less-constrained" life leaves every worldly thing behind (including the bod...

Sahir Ludhianvi — poetry that questioned both society and silence Recently, a friend sent me the following lines and asked if I had something to say about them on a quiet Sunday morning: Aasmaan Pe Hai Khuda Aur Zameen Pe Hum Aaj Kal Woh Is Tarah Dekhta Hai Kum... At first, I felt that perhaps nothing more needed to be said. These lines are powerful enough to stand on their own, and sometimes poetry is best left to quietly settle within us. But on second thought, they invite a deeper reflection. To understand the full meaning of Sahir Ludhianvi’s thought, it helps to look at the complete context of the song. These lines are from the 1958 film Phir Subah Hogi . Aasmaan pe hai khuda, Aur zameen pe hum; Aajkal woh is taraf dekhta hai kam. Aajkal kisi ko woh tokta nahin, Chahe kuch bhi keejiye, rokta nahin; Ho rahi hai lootmaar, Phat rahe hain bam,Z Zindagi hai apne apne bazuon ke dum... As the later lines reveal, the song is essentially a critique of society. Sahir wrote it when he wa...

Human breasts are unique among mammals — a fact that has intrigued both artists and biologists Among the roughly 5,000 mammalian species on Earth, humans are the only ones where breasts remain permanently visible. In most other mammals they appear only during nursing and disappear after lactation. In humans they develop during puberty and, thankfully, remain. Ganga Subramaniam Oberoi, an Indian married woman, once received an award for having the most beautiful breasts in the world. It makes one wonder what the selection criteria might be. It cannot simply be size, because it is widely acknowledged that firmness, even skin tone, and a certain visual proportion are what matter more in breast aesthetics. Above all, there is the question of how a woman carries them — whether she is apologetic about them, or confident enough to hold her chest high and make their presence felt. Ganga seems to score well on that last point, though I am not too sure about the first two. By the way, size ha...

A moment where skill and timing come together A friend recently shared a remarkable photograph of a bird — one of those rare captures that seem almost impossible. Many of us responded with admiration. One comment described it as having a “hawk’s eye” for spotting such moments. That felt apt, but it also seemed that something more was at play. Such photographs do not happen by chance. To reach that level, there must be a certain alignment — of mind, attention, and presence. Skill, of course, is essential. But beyond skill, there is a quiet readiness, a way of being fully available to the moment as it unfolds. Perhaps humility plays a part too. It allows one to keep learning, to stay open, and to respond without interference when the moment arrives. And when that happens, it almost feels as if nature itself allows the image to be taken. One begins to see this in many fields. When Sachin Tendulkar plays an extraordinary shot against a fast bowler, it seems to be created in that very inst...

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...