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Ramlilas get the techno edge
Artistes from Vrindavan mesmerise
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Another food paradise for Doonites
French gaining ground in Doon
Tree lopping leads to long power cuts
Congress to launch statewide stir
Fill vacant posts, demands irrigation staff
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Ramlilas get the techno edge
Dehradun, September 26 Though the victory of good over evil continues to be an enduring saga, how it has to be presented to the audience is being addressed differently by different Ramlila committees. The 139-year-old Shri Bhagwan Ramlila Committee has gone through several bad patches. There was a time when for several years, Ramlila could not be held on a regular basis especially when serial Ramayan was being telecast on Doordarshan. “Since we shifted the venue back to Ramlila Bhawan at Hanuman Chowk, there is some semblance of getting things on the right track. “Last year, we had brought a light and sound team of artistes from Moradabad to stage Ramlila, but we realised that the audience did not appreciate the shift. “So this year, we hired artistes from Vrindavan and the response has been worthwhile,” said Sushil Gupta, president, Shri Bhagwan Ramlila Committee. The practice of hiring outstation artistes would not have taken place if the committees had nurtured local artistes. The Doon Ram Lila has artistes in short supply as there are no persons to train them. “The old timers have taken a back seat. There are very few persons who are willing to expend energy and time to train the artistes,” said Gupta. The Ramlila that the committee stages is based on the works of Bhagat Jamnadas. The high point is Lanka-dahan for which an artificial Lanka is erected in which the fireworks last 49 minutes. This act will be staged on September 28. The committee has spent over Rs 1 lakh for hiring artistes. There is a demand for Ramlilas and people still like to see the mythological characters come alive on makeshift stages
in front of them. Such an experience television or cinema cannot provide. The 44-year-old Adarsh Ramlila being staged at the Geeta Bhavan has relied on technology to keep the interest of the audience alive. “We were the first ones to introduce light and sound Ramlila. It has been 15 years and there has been no let-up in the people’s interest,” said Sant Ram Sharma, who became famous for playing the role of Ravan and now coordinates the entry of artistes backstage. It is the only Ramlila in which women too participate. The role of Kaykeyi is being played by Chanda Bahuguna, a seasoned Garhwali artiste and that of Sita by Pooja who too has become a mini-celebrity in her school. A total of Rs 70,000 has been spent in organising the Ram Lila. The committee does not have to worry about paying remuneration to artistes. “We are not paid any honorarium, nor do we expect it. I have been playing Ram for the three years and it gives me immense satisfaction,” said Arjun Sonkar.
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Artistes from Vrindavan mesmerise
Dehradun, September 26 As though revelling in oneness, the same artistes take to staging Ramlilas in different towns and the audience revels in the purity of their performances. The artistes, who are Brahmins, have made themselves famous by popularising Vrindavan Ramlilas nationally and internationally. It is this adaptability and that is keeping them afloat and even while local Ramlilas are struggling for survival, the demand for these troupes is ever-growing. Invited by the local Shri Bhagwan Ramlila Committee, the Ramlila performance by 27 artistes during the past few days has given enough opportunity to the Dehradun audience to experience the flavour of Vrindavan Ramlila. Not only is the dialogue delivery in Chopai form but it has been learnt by heart by the artistes who began their lessons very early in life. “There is no prompting and no wrong delivery. Years of practice has ensured flawless performance,” said Thakur Lal Bhardwaj, coordinator of Ram Krishan Bhakt Lila Sanshtan, Vrindavan, who is carrying forward the tradition of his forefathers. A seasoned traveller Thakur Lal is known to be choosy about his audience and venue of the performance. He handles praise and opprobrium with equanimity. “In places like Mumbai and Pune, the audience is highly intelligent. Any disregard of grammar or pronunciation is pointed out very quickly. This is what keeps us artistes going and we relish it,” said Bhardwaj. His team has given performances in Thailand, Nepal, Canada and is looking forward to travel to United Kingdom next year. Besides the year-round Raslila, the artistes perform Krishnalila during Janamashtami, Ramlila and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Charita. All artistes are well versed in rituals and traditions followed by Brahmins that they even get invitations for recitations of Mahabharata, Bhagwad Gita and Ram Charit Manas. “Vrindavan Ramlila artistes adhere to all rituals. Since we landed here, we have been eating home-cooked food. Being vegetarians, the food too has to be ‘satvik’ and without onions,” said Hari Vallabh Gaur who is playing the role of Ravana. The dresses that the artistes wear during the Ramlila are sourced from Vrindavan. “Everything has to be perfect and to lend authenticity, we rely on our tailors back home. They are a mix of Hindus and Muslims who know what we want,” said Gaur. The Ramlila begins after the recitation of ‘Sundar Kand’ and a prayer at the temple at Ramlila Bhawan, Hanuman Chowk where the Ramlila is being staged. Used to performing in front of scores of people at massive grounds, the artistes had to contend with a small stage but that has not dampened their spirit. “If we get the opportunity to come next year, we will come up with newer elements and give a different presentation altogether. “The audience has been very appreciative of the elaborate manner in which we addressed the marriage of Ram and Sita. They were given glimpses of Mithila culture and tradition to which Sita belonged.”
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Despite changes, devotion hasn’t ebbed
Dehradun, September 26 Now, in the midst of Durga Puja, the venue is bustling with activity as worshippers crowd around the Goddess Durga ‘pandal’. Still rooted to tradition in the age of Twitter and social-networking sites, the young too turn out in large numbers to participate in the five-day puja celebrations. “The painfully slow pace of the bygone era no longer enthuses the younger generation. Though traditional rituals remain the same, we have brought in several changes. “Even the old mud house at the Sahitya Samiti has been replaced with a concrete building so also has the traditional bhog that was served on plantain leaves. “It has been replaced by buffet-style eating. The menu continues to be a blend of tradition and modernity,” said Alok
Chakravorty, Secretary, Puja Samiti, Bengali Library. The venue for the immersion of idols too has undergone a change over the years. In the 1920s, the pond at Jhanda Sahib was used to immerse idols. The elaborate ceremony of taking the idol on a palanquin has now been replaced by a truck ride to Kata Pathar. “We now immerse the idols in the Yamuna at Kata Pathar. The venue may have changed but our devotion and enthusiasm have not diminished,” said Alok Chakravorty. In 1900, the Bengali Sahitya Samiti was founded by Hemant Kumari Chowdrani, Director, Education, Patiala Royal State, Lt Gen Bijet Chowdhury (IMS), Chandramukhi Bose, first woman graduate of India and Janab Kafil Ahmed Chowdhury, Senior Scientific Officer, Wood Anatomy. It was an apolitical and non-communal organisation engaged in preserving art and culture of Bengali community. In the early days, the samiti was located near Ram Tirath Mission on Rajpur Road. But at that time, much of Doon was under forest cover and community members found it difficult to move from one corner of the town to another. As a result, the samiti was shifted to Karanpur. During the same time, several Bengalis had settled at Karanpur around Swarup quarters. They were employed with the Survey of India, Ordnance factory and other scientific organisations. The Bengali community’s love for books and reading material is legendary. They kept the interest alive by exchanging books with each other even when transportation facilities were non-existent. “In the past when the means of transportation were limited, messengers services were used to exchange books. The messenger travelled long distances on foot armed with a spear and a torch from the Sahitya Samiti to the houses of Bengalis residing at the thickly forested Forest Research Institute,” said Ratan Chakraborty, souvenir secretary, Puja Samiti. The Puja Samiti has gained much credibility over the years so much so that the souvenir published by the committee is preserved and comes handy for those trying to keep track of old members of the Bengali Sahitya Samiti. Much attention is paid to the design of the cover. “Rs 1 lakh have been spent on the printing of the souvenir that has gained in
reputation over the years,” said Chakraborty.
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Another food paradise for Doonites
Dehradun, September 26 Started in 1901 by late Pita Lala Prahlad Swarup, the shop gained popularity due to variety of sweets made in proper hygienic conditions here. The sweet shop is known for its Holi special gujias, ghewar, the monsoon sweet, and for crispy nankeens. “I take immense pride in being associated with the hospitality industry since the past so many years. And as we wanted to offer variety to our customers, I and my son are coming out with a vegetarian food paradise very soon,” said Anand Swarup at a press conference here on Friday. Anandam is located in the Rajpur road area and to provide easy parking facility there has been an arrangement of parking for for almost 100 cars. The interiors of the food joint has been designed by exclusive designer of India. “Not only we have laid extra emphasis on interiors, but as we want to provide array of food items we have hired expert cooks from Delhi. And with hi-quality sweets, there’s going to chaat and snacks which will be cooked with RO water plant,” added Anand Swarup. Moreover, with people of Dehradun looking forward to the grand opening of Anandam, the management feels that in the coming days people are definitely going to appreciate their genuine efforts.
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French gaining ground in Doon
Dehradun, September 26 The Rose Mount Institute, a language institute in the city, with a motive to provide excellent facilities for French language, took franchise of Alliance Francaise. In today’s age with competition increasing everyday, a large number of people in the city are getting themselves enrolled in language courses for better career opportunities. “I did a French course at Rose Mount as Alliance Francaise is a known name. I am pretty satisfied with the facilities they provided to get me well versed with the language,” said Rahul Chakrabarty. Besides teaching the language, Alliance Francaise imparts lessons with a different methodology, awards a certificate which works throughout the world and tells its students about French civilisation. “The response in the city has been quite satisfactory as learning a foreign language provides one an edge over others. It helps immensely if one wishes to study or work in a foreign country where French is spoken,” said Aditi Kapil, teacher of French at Alliance Francaise. “There are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 levels in the French course. It takes approximately 130 hours to complete these levels and after that, one has to sit for the DELF examination. “I believe if more exposure is given to language courses of known institutes, a lot of people from small towns will benefit. Presently in the city, people like to enrol for A1 level course after which one has to appear for an examination that is not very difficult,” added Aditi Kapil.
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Tree lopping leads to long power cuts
Dehradun, September 26 In order to curtail wire damages often caused due to trees, Uttarakhand Power Corporation officials these days are undertaking lopping of trees that are in close proximity to wires. These, mostly on private compounds or footpaths, are primary reasons behind damage caused to electricity wires during storms and excess rains. As the exercise that began the previous day involved long hours, power cuts were undertaken in the city throughout the day. However, the officials said they could do little as lopping of trees were very essential to avoid breakage of wires. “Once lopped, the danger of falling of tree branches over electricity wires reduces substantially which is in the larger interest of consumers,” said a senior official. He said the lopping exercise would continue for a few more days.
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Congress to launch statewide stir
Dehradun, September 26 At a meeting of the cell held in Dehradun on Thursday, senior party leader Suryakant Dhasmana expressed concern over the hostile attitude of trade unions in the state vis-à-vis issue of workers in unorganised sectors. He said those employed with industrialists coming up across the state were not even provided with minimum wages. “It is the responsibility of the Congress workers to ensure that the rights of unorganised sector employees are protected,” he said. District president of the cell Dinesh Kaushal said the workers were suffering at the hands of the BJP government and accused the state government of failing to come up with even one scheme for the benefit of the workers.
— TNS
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Fill vacant posts, demands irrigation staff
Dehradun, September 26 A delegation of union members met the Chief Engineer under leadership of Yashpal Singh Negi. Through the memorandum they also demanded that 50 per cent of their dearness allowance should be merged in their salaries. They demanded that the department should recruit eligible persons on the posts reserved for women, if one fails to find women candidates.
— TNS
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