The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

The snake charmers
Vikram Jit Singh

When wildlilfe conservationist Nikhil Sanger bundled a mangled Indian Rock python into his rickety Maruti car from Aguwan village, little did he foresee the bond that his team of youngsters would forge with this mighty serpent. The 12-foot female had been crushed under the wheels of a truck while crossing a village link road.

For over four months the python was nursed back to health by specialist doctors and allopathic drug treatment. The python, aptly christened Phoenix, was successfully dropped back into the wilderness of the lower Shiwalik hills.

Sanger’s team, working under the banner of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), has rescued many venomous snakes and wildlife species in the Shiwalik hills of Punjab and Chandigarh’s green areas. The youngsters have nabbed notorious poachers and replenished dry water holes. The WCS has been honoured for its conservation work twice by the Punjab Government. While Phoenix’s restoration to full health constitutes the most spectacular achievement of the WCS, conservation of Indian pythons has been an ongoing project since three years.

Dentists Dr Gurpal Arora and Dr Sheenam along with Punjab Government Veterinary Officer at Nawanshahr, Dr Kulwant Singh, innovated with modern medical methods to treat Phoenix. The python’s eyes and nostrils were full of blood and dust. The breathing sacs had got pressed. The head was just one big mess of broken tissue.

Broken teeth were extracted. To ensure the python’s comfort in winter, straw was laid in the recovery room. A heat blower and a naked bulb kept the temperature at a regulated 30 degrees centigrade. A humidity gauge maintained the level between 65-70 per cent. A blanket ensured that the python was kept snug in the bitterly cold winter.

The expenses on nursing Phoenix were high. Very few know that Chandigarh’s `bad boy’ Ranjit Bajaj is a dedicated WCS worker. “Ranjit funded a big part of Phoenix’s bills and spent time nursing her back to health. I spent Rs 12,000 on Phoenix. Ranjit has been a major help in the WCS project of rehabilitating pythons,’’ said Sanger, President, WCS.

And with Sanger’s team comprising Sonika Mann, Rohit and Ranjit, Phoenix quickly warmed up. ”Pythons not only use their bodies to constrict and kill but have a razor-sharp row of teeth that inflict deep, painful, infection-laden wounds. However, Phoneix developed a bond with us. I would go and sit by her side cross-legged and she would observe me with her healthy eye. Then she would come and snuggle between my legs. I think she felt insecure, besides the terrible cold in those days.”

Adds Sanger, “Another one of the rescued pythons, Lucifer, would always look for a particular furry blanket that I had. It would snuggle into that blanket in my bed and sleep with me just like pet dogs and cats.’’

Ranjit has a passion for pythons. Though in and out of news for all the wrong reasons, he has rescued pythons from the clutches of snake charmers and handed them to Sanger for rehabilitation in the wild. Under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, pythons are accorded the highest immunity under Schedule I, just like tigers. Python poaching can invite imprisonment of up to seven years.

“Pythons are illegally caught from forests by snake charmers and sold in the black market to foreigners and wildlife collectors. Prices can range up to Rs 17,000 for specimens going beyond 11-12 feet while baby pythons are sold for Rs 1,000. Ranjit has secured the release of 10 adult pythons from snake charmers. These included one whose tongue had been chopped off by the snake charmer while another specimen was possibly a very rare Burmese Rock python. In fact, Lucifer displayed the most extraordinary behaviour when we photographed it gobbling a full-grown Rat snake. Pythons are not known for this kind of snake cannibalism,’’ said Sanger, whose WCS has rescued more than 1,300 snakes.

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Art-i-fact
Evolving notes
Nonika Singh

Everything changes, nothing remains without change

— The Buddha

If change be the law of nature, how can the world of saat sur remain unaffected by its tempo. Yes, even in the realm of Indian classical music, which by its very intrinsic essence is traditionalist and thus resistant to modification, change is inevitable. Over the years, not only have musical styles evolved, instruments modified and the boundaries between gharanas diffused, some pioneers have stretched the musical limits even further. So, purists might feel that the classical musical world is perfect as it is and needs no further innovations, select few are not only too willing to experiment but also ready to take a risk. Thus many musicians have created new ragas and some have created new musical instruments too. So what is the provocation or inspiration?

Renowned musician Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, who created Mohan Veena over 40 years ago, quips, " Why should we carry the weight of tradition on our shoulders all the time. If there is a scope for a better sound then why not?"

His son Salil Bhatt, who has followed up father's creations (Mohan Veena and Vishwa Veena) with his own instrument Satvik Veena, reasons, "We don't want music and musicians to end up in museums." Chandigarh-based musician Subhash Ghosh who came up with a new instrument called sarasvani echoes similar instruments, "Music is a creative art."

So creation is no big deal? Oh but it is. Thus believe not only the innovators but also other musicians. Says indomitable vocalist of Agra Gharana Pandit Yashpal, "Even if invention is a natural process it is not everybody's cup of tea. More so in shastriya sangeet where each raga has its own personality and can' be tampered with." Thus he is adamant that only a maestro with complete in-depth knowledge of music can create something new and the field cannot and must not be left open to novices.

Of course, maestros have created anew since times immemorial. And it were not legends like Mian Tansen alone who gave us new ragas. Even in the 20th century new ragas have been created. Right from Pandit Ravi Shankar to Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan to Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, many have discovered new ragas. Interestingly often the ragas have been dedicated to individuals. Ustad Amjad Ali created one Priyadarshini for Indira Gandhi and another for Mahatma Gandhi. Not only that, Ustaad saluted his wife Subbalakshmi with a raga named after her.

Now, sceptics might scoff at this "dedication business" and consider it trivialising music. Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, who has to his credit two ragas, Vishwaranjini and Vishwakauns, created a small raga Koser dhawani for the late M L Koser, the cultural patron doesn't think it is a gimmick. "I created this raga on an impulse. See the biggest tribute a musician can pay to others is through his music." He doesn't even call new ragas a creation albeit a discovery that happens enroute a musical journey. Of course, his instrument is an authentic invention that grew out of painstaking research. He is not suggesting that his instrument is perfect. None can be but new developments according to him enrich music.

"The real motive," insists Ghosh "is an inner realisation that leads to a musical process." A disciple of sarod maestro Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan, as Ghosh went on to play classical guitar he found that the instrument wasn't fully bringing out the music within him. Presto, sarasvani that combines the sounds of sarod, veena and guitar unfolded. While his Ustaad went out of the way to help him evolve his new instrument, others he admits, were not so giving. The going isn't easy and criticism is but expected. No wonder it took decades before Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt found a niche for his instrument. Today as he plays the instrument to perfection undeniably even the doubting Thomases acknowledge the instrument in its entirety. Yet the acid test of anything new lies in how many take it up further. While new ragas have been easily accepted especially Pandit Ravi Shankar's, instruments don't find an easy acceptance. Among Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt's disciples, even today one can find none except son Salil, on the stage of performing world. Argues Ghosh, "This is so because classical music does not have many takers. New instruments will take a while before the youth turn to them." However, acceptance or rejection, the "creators" aren't deterred. Ghosh is all set to unveil the new version of sarasvani. In New Delhi, Rakesh Prasanna is coming up with a new flute called Ganesh flute.

Perhaps, they understand the import of Claude Bernard's words — Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown. Of course, to make the unknown known will require even greater persistence and dedication than arriving at the unknown.

nonika@tribunemail.com

Simple moves
Jasmine Singh

Choreographer Tanushree Rakshit, in the city for a workshop, shares how she wants to take dance to the common man

Tanushree Rakshit. Photo: Vinay Malik

We hope to catch an animated Tanushree Rakshit (the choreographer from Jhalak Dikhla Ja Season 2 who danced opposite Mika) talk to us through her eyes accentuated with a defined line of kohl, sporting funky torn denim with colourful beads woven tightly in braids, synonymous to her dancing style.

But here she is ‘the girl-next-door’, sipping apple juice, dressed like any other girl of the city, with no trace of make-up! No revelations coming from the field of choreography. No over-the-top discussions on dancing forms. Nevertheless, what catches our attention is the pure passion and sincerity towards dance, which shows more than often in her conversation.

"I was a bit disillusioned with the format of Jhalak Dikhla Ja. When Urmila Matondkar asked me to work on Samba (dance form), I was a bit zapped. Did these people have the in-depth, ‘practical’ knowledge of dance forms? Shows like these rope in celebrities to get a good TRP. The only good thing that it has done to choreographers is that they have popularised dance forms," says this trained Latin and Ballroom dancer.

Reality shows soaked in melodrama, dummy judges`85is there anything left to be written on them? However, Tanushree’s only concern is taking dance to every common man. "How many people know about pure dancing forms save for classical dances. So much so, the only couple dance form they know is Salsa," shares Tanushree, who was flying as a cabin crew before she decided to take her childhood passion seriously. "There is no dearth of good dancing talent coming from smaller cities. I took classes in Sonepat and the response was amazing," she says, running her hands through her free-flowing hair. Yes, talent at grassroots level, preparing for some reality show happening on some channel! Smiles Tanushree, "Each parent wants to prepare his or her child for a reality show."

Tanushree’s dance academy Flames teaches people how to dance, but she is sometimes left speechless when some parents pester her to prepare their kid for a dance reality show in flat three days. "How can you expect your kid to dance like a Shahid Kapoor in three days. I am of the view that a kid must learn dance for almost a year before enrolling for an audition. Parents should understand that they can’t shove down an ‘art form’ down their kids’ throat." There you are Tanushree. A recee to umpteen summer workshops says how much the parents want their kids to mug up all art forms - dancing, singing, theatre, clay modeling, vedic maths (never heard of anything like this before!), karate!

"Choices should be left to the kids. My mother noticed that I would dance perfectly in sync with music at the age of three, but the decision to learn formative dancing was left to me," adds Tanushree, who enjoyed her experience with Jhalak Dikhla Ja, teaching Mika to match steps to rhythm.

Back to the floor, dancing reduced to weird stunts, and Bollywood lapping it up in a big way? "Stunts are a small part of hip-hop. There is definitely more to crumpling and all the stunts. Surprisingly, Bollywood has also moved on to Bolly hip-hop and Bollywood salsa (Saroj ji we need you back. Show us your dhak dhak moves)," says Tanushree who would only want to do choreography in Bollywood if given a free hand. What say Bollywood?

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Merc of an era
Neha Walia

If you drive a Mercedes Benz, you’ve arrived. And if you are a sucker for high-end innovation, another first-of-its-kind experience comes calling from the luxury powerhouse. Launching CGI technology in its latest C-class model that promises an effortless performance with excellent fuel economy.

Replacing the previous 4-in-line Kompressor technology by the sophisticated petrol direct-injection engine with spray guided combustion process, the sedan comes with a blue efficiency tag. “The CGI technology offers improved output, optimised consumption and reduced carbon imprint add top it more pleasurable drive, more sporty and quick. The C-class is the first touch point of customers with our brand and so we decided to launch C200 CGI as the revotionised version in gasoline engines,” says Piyush Arora, director technical, Mercedes Benz India.

Put at a market price of Rs 28.98 lakhs (ex-showroom price in Chandigarh, the latest model has innovation combined with the characteristics of the brand – safety, comfort and refined driving experience. “Without adding more to the safety features, the C 200 CGI has six airbags, reduced tyre rolling efficiency and better fuel and thermodynamic efficiency,” adds Piyush. The engine consumes 11.74 km/lt of fuel knocking off 0.78 lts the values of the C200 Kompressor. It also offers 5 per cent increased output at 137kW per RPM.

Maintaining the standard of safe driving, their E-class too comes with an attention assist technology that signals the driver in case of bad or unsafe driving.

Talking about catering to a growing market in Punjab, Piyush shares that after Ludhiana, Jallandhar is the next big Mercedes hub. “The number of customers from Jallandhar has significantly increased over the recent years. The profiles of the customers are also changing as we have more young buyers from both professional and business strata. The usual notion of having money but not spending it has been broken and people now want all good things in life.”

Well, who minds a heavy dose of luxury when it comes with a promise of excellence.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

Step by step
Manpriya Khurana

Shiamak Davar

Just when they confused jive with gymnasts, performed somersaults in the name of steps and replaced choreography with stunting, herein comes the much-needed instruction from a sensible school of dancing. “I hate, hate, absolutely hate (yeah, he said it thrice) all those acrobats and somersaults that they perform as part of dance,” Shiamak Davar, the choreographer, couldn’t have been more blunt and bold over the phone.

He adds, “Those who want to do all that should probably go to an athletics or gymnastics competition. Dancing is not about jumping over the fence or anything of the sort. May be if you are doing B-bouying, but not otherwise.”

A natural statement from someone whose moves are more of a blend of rhythm and harmony. Shiamak explains his this year’s summer funk style. “Just Dance is the theme of this year’s summer funk workshops,” while SDIPA’S motto, ‘have feet, will dance’ remains intact.

Everything else is not immune to reinvention. “The only reason that I’m here is because I’ve been reinventing; it’s extremely important and with not just the dance, the steps or the choreography but the sound and light as well.” Yet another commandment, loud and clear.

His company represented through an alliance in practically every major city of the country; his summer and winter funks being a regular in Chandigarh circuit since years now, it’s natural he has an opinion on the place and its progression. “Chandigarh has immense talent…I would call the place more beautiful than even Delhi.”

As for changes, he’s happy to be coming here, holding more shows, starting from an era when dance was not important, let alone being a part of everyday life. “Dance is part of everyday life now, especially with the coming of all these reality shows. There was a time when I had to ask people to look at me; tell them what dance is, and how it’s important.”

Therein he mentioned the inevitable, the reality shows. That have come to be inextricable linked with dancing. He jokes on his stint with the Dance Premier League, “I said yes to the show because I had very little to do in it,” and adds, “Prior to this we’d never seen group dance shows, they were only solo competitions; it was nice to be judging group performers.”

And it’s been a while since he personally did any Bollywood tracks. “I love my school more than anything. I am happy to be doing shows and workshops; there’s too much happening out there. And maybe once in two three years, I might say yes to a Bollywood movie.” Just as he might, probably say yes to a movie titled Robot. That’s when and if at all that happens. As of now, post the conference; he’s off to meet his mom. Keep dancing!

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Side Lanes
She belongs to us
Joyshri Lobo

Rajiv Gandhi and I had only one thing in common. We were both born in 1944. He was five months younger than I. Sanjay and he studied at Doon School, Dehra Dun, where Uncle Gyan was the Bursar. A hard man to please, he dismissed the boys as ‘not brilliant’. Perhaps he did not see their true worth through their humility, reticence and laid back behaviour. However, he must have changed his opinion a million times before he passed on.

Sanjay’s illustrious and meteoric rise came to an end on the wings of a plane. If he had lived, our population would definitely be less and the face of Modern India could have changed.

The elder brother started many new projects, the fruit of which can be seen and felt today. There is peace in some of the North-Eastern states. The mobile is a part of every Indian. I often ring up the maali and the bartanwaali to find out their minute-to-minute whereabouts. The whole country is wired up through the Internet. Many towns are the hub of computerisation. We export our services via the net. NREGA is finally looking after the poor. Women are being given their due. The Rajiv stamp is all over. He must be smiling benignly at his son who dares to eat and mix with the poorest of poor. Rahul does not know the meaning of caste even though he is a scion of one of the most high-class families in the country. The father laid the first brick for a Shining India.

When Rajiv died, country-wide shock and silence prevailed. It was hard to identify the faceless, mutilated body with the energetic man we were so used to seeing. In our collective grief, we all turned to his widow. We could identify with her. Our hearts bled for her and we were sure she would leave for her own country, unable to bear the cruelty of ours. She lost a beloved mother-in-law to assassins’ bullets. She lost her husband to a suicide bomber. But, she was defiant. Today, Sonia Gandhi has the collective courage of all those she lost. She is more Indian than us and has put herself and her son forward in looking after this country. Through her sacrifices and dedication, she is the most powerful and caring woman in the world. As always, faced by pain and sorrow, I wrote two poems. They were tearful, maudlin, definitely not great pieces of verse. While my courage lasted, I posted both to the young Italian widow. Today, I refuse to quote them, afraid that people will find fault with structure and meter. Within a few days, the postman brought an envelope from 10 Janpath. Emily Dickinson’s simple lines headed the letter:

It feels a shame to be alive

When men so brave are dead

One envies the distinguished dust

Permitted such a head

This was followed by the usual words of gratitude, probably sent to many others who sorrowed with her. The last line and signature were in Sonia’s writing: “Thank you for your lovely poems.” I hang onto that letter, often showing it to my grandchildren and friends with great pride. Just that one line shows her greatness and humility. She does not stand above us but on par with us. She belongs to us.

Dilli haunt

It's always nice to be in Delhi, says Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan Wednesday said it was always a 'nice feeling' to be back in Delhi and that he got a massive response compared to other cities. People of varied age groups patiently waited to get a glimpse of the superstar who looked lean and mean in his black suit and well-gelled spiked hair, which complemented well with his aviator sunglasses.Shah Rukh Khan came to the Ambience Mall here for the promotional event of the Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer for which he is the brand ambassador.

Much before the arrival of the star, all four floors and sides of the mall were occupied by his fans - even the movement of the escalators was stopped so that people could stand and interact with Shah Rukh.As soon as Shah Rukh arrived on stage, the whole atrium rang with applause and whistles and people from all directions were yelling "Shah Rukh, we love you".Shah Rukh Khan also didn't disappoint his fans by replying back to them "I love you all".

At the same time, the actor acknowledged the gestures of his fans by waving back to them or sending then flying kisses."It is always a nice feeling to be back here. Everybody knows me here and I always get massive response here compared to other cities. You all are very nice and thanks for loving me unconditionally," Shah Rukh told all his fans. — IANS

Koffee break
On a high

Award-winning Spanish film My Brother's Wife fame Mexican star Barbara Mori is looking forward to a long innings in Bollywood. Her debut Hindi movie Kites produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu is set to be released this Friday on a grand scale-with an International release. Here is the star on her working on Kites and her future plans. She shares her thought and experience with the Lifestyle.

How was working in Bollywod?

The experience is totally different from the films I have done in Mexico. It is my first big budget Hindi and English movie. It is the best experience in my career till now.

What made you agree to do Kites?

When I heard the story from Anurag Basu and Rakesh Roshan in Los Angeles, it got me interested. I liked the plot. The credit goes to Anurag Basu for being a good narrator.

Is Kites about a salsa dance teacher?

The character is not about salsa and the film is not about dance. It is about two people from different parts of the world falling in love. Against all odds, they fall in love and their love is beyond boundaries and beyond language.

Tell us more about your role?

I play Natasha, a Spanish girl, who has an ailing mother. She goes to the USA to earn. There, she has to choose between love
and money.

How about working with Hrithik Roshan?

It was an enlightening experience. Over here, we all come from the same school of thought about our work; we know what we have to give. Hrithik is great and treat me really well. He always makes me feel at home.

How did you manage with Hindi words?

Anurag Basu would talk in Hindi and I would have to stop him as I would not understand. Hrithik with then comes to my rescue and would translate it.

How much English will there be in Kites?

It is a simple straightforward love story. There is lot of English as the hero is from Las Vegas and he meets a foreigner, so they will talk in English.

Your future plans?

I will go back to Mexico and do another film. I am producing and acting in a play. I have been offered another Bollywood film, but right now I will not be able to disclose the details.

— Dharam Pal