The Sufi Brothers

The popularity of Sufi music has been increasing. However, there are a few  people who are totally devoted to it. The genre has been used for commercial purposes in Hindi films and some songs are devoid of the feel and earthiness which  typical of this form.

The Wadali brothers (Puranchand and Pyarelal) are instrumental in keeping the tradition of Sufism alive. Born in ‘Guru Ki Wadali’ village of Amritsar district, Punjab, both of them entered the world of music by chance. While Puranchand was a wrestler in the local akhara, Pyarelal was an actor who played the role of Krishna in the local Rasleela. It was their father, Thakur Das, who forced Puranchand to learn music. 

He learnt from, legends like Pandit Durga Das and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana. He was trained in classical music. Pyarelal learnt from his elder brother and considers him his mentor even today.

Both of them sang some legendary numbers like ‘Waaris Shah Nu’, ‘Darda Marya’ and others. The song, ‘Tu Maane Ya Na Maane Dildaara’ from their second album, ‘Paigham E Ishq’ was a hit. No concert by the brothers is complete without it. They sang it in the ‘MTV Coke Studio’ too. 

They have also sung for some Hindi films like Pinjar, Tanu Weds Manu, Mausam and others. Their collaboration with Hariharan for a Tamil song, ‘Thooril Nindralum’ from the film, ‘Chikku Bukku’ was a huge hit.

Besides their dedication to music  they are known for their commitment to Sufism, which propagates simple living. Despite being successful, socially and financially, they lead a very simple life. They have never indulged commercially and have a few recordings to their name (mostly from live concerts). They run a school in which children are taught music on condition that they will preserve the tradition of Sufism. 

Students are not charged and besides music are taught the nuances of simple living and pure thinking. Their aversion to electronic gadgets and musical instruments springs from their belief that music is free from all modern technological developments and should remain that way.

They were awarded the ‘Sangeet Natak Akademi Award’ in 1991 and the ‘Padmashri’ by the Government of India in 2005.

Infuse power into your presentation

‘Power Point’ is one of the most-used softwares to present ideas and creative works in a systematic and attractive way. Microsoft Corporation has added many features in its recent edition to make the software more useful than before by providing varied themes, layouts and transition. Since most of us use the same software, it restricts users to create something different from their colleagues or classmates and make a mark in a presentation or meeting.

This week we bring you a few good alternatives, available online and offline, to Power Point. Some website will allow you to create your presentation without including slides in it and some others will allow you to save it on the Internet for easy access and for showing to online audience. Users can find Power Point presentations on topics of their choice for reference on many websites. Users who do not have Power Point installed in their computers can use similar applications available online for free.

Prezi—the zooming presentation editor—allows users to keep all their data—pictures, videos, images and other content--on a virtual canvas. Users need not switch slides to display their content as it provides an option to create a desired path for showing content to the viewers. Zooming in and out feature makes the presentation easy to browse between different content on the canvas. 

Users can import pdf files and Power Point slides to the canvas to make a cinematic presentation. One can create a presentation online by registering themselves on the website http://www.prezi.com. The website has its iPad app too. Users can make presentation for free using the basic account of the website but they will have to subscribe to its premium account for using additional features.  

Slideshare is a website for sharing presentations online and having a look at what others have uploaded. You can keep your presentation private or public.  The website is known for having a huge collection of Power Point presentations on varied topics and themes. Users who are new to Power Point can visit the website to get an idea as to how  a presentation is made on a given subject.

 Google Docs also provides similar features and services. Apart from providing an option to create presentations, Slide Rocket is a website that enables users to link YouTube videos and flicker pictures and flash animations to their presentations.

The open-source utility software Open office is yet another alternative to Power Point and allows  one to use applications similar to those that comes  with Microsoft Office (MS) suite. And if anyone does not have Power Point pre-installed on their computers they can download the desktop version of Open Office to gain hands-on-experience on MS office applications. 

Revitalise your mind

Good mental health leads to positive self-image which breeds satisfying relationships. Mental health has suffered tremendously in the last couple of years. Like physical health, the mind too needs your attention and some preventive care.

Some rejuvenators for the mind

1.      Welcome the irritants

When the sand irritates the oyster, the poor creature turns it into a priceless pearl. How does the oyster do it?  Simply, by leaving itself open to such irritants. Do you open yourselves to irritants? Most of us would agree that we don’t.However, in reality, anticipation of a little discomfort drives us to shut out even the things that are refreshing. What a pity! We forget that the more open our lives are, the more relaxed we become. Never mind the little irritants; think of the pearl that comes thereafter!

2.      Smile

Make it a habit to stretch those facial muscles. Smile at those whom others look through— a beggar child, the doorman and the peon. Reaching out brings warmth to your day.

3.      Bestir yourself

When you wake up late, you rush through the morning chores which gets you all worked up. Begin your day a little early to give yourself time to warm up and size up the challenges ahead.Savour your day by soaking in the ambient energy of the morning and listening to some soothing music. Remember, music just like our body, has its moods and time; the two ought to be compatible. Otherwise, it loses its effect.

4.      Wise words

With work spaces getting more cramped, even the best designed office leaves you claustrophobic. You have to deal with people having varied temperaments. Just remember this quote when someone gets rude, ‘Avoid loud and aggressive people; they are vexatious to the spirit.’

5.      Drag out boredom

Exercise does  many great things for you which you might be unaware of. It is a simple solution for stress, weight problems, depression, boredom and conditioning of the heart, so take some time out to relax around. Choose the form of exercise that suits you best and let the day’s problems melt away.

6.      Unclutter your mind

The merits of meditation are worth trying. Enrol in a class to learn the basics or read about the various ways of calming the mind or simply, switch off the PC/TV, dim the lights, put on some soft music and let the thoughts flow. Filter out all adverse feelings. The daily power cut is the best time to meditate. It is certainly not easy to erase stress from daily living but meditation helps to maintain a placid temperament.

Adopting these energy-boosting strategies is totally within your grasp. These would help tailor your daily routine and unleash your energy. Soon you will discover a new self!

Say ‘No’ the easy way-Edited and corrected

You  are  all set for that date. Cannot wait for the evening? But suddenly you develop cold feet or your ex-boy friend comes back.

Then.. the question is what should you do? Keep the person waiting endlessly. YS comes to your rescue to save the day and your face.

* “I am not well”.

   You may have eaten out and hence the upset stomach and giddiness. Or  maybe you have  a bout of flu and definitely you would  not want to pass it onto your date. How considerate! It may be a lie but who knows you might end up with flowers and a little gift.

*   “My boss is inhuman, s/he has piled  me  with more work”.

    Now that is something  we all  will agree to. No, matter  how sweet our boss is, we find it  easy to find fault with her/him. So what if the work is imaginary, go-getter that you are, you have to finish the work. It means your career!

*   “There is a family emergency”.

   That could mean anything from baby sitting for your sister’s child because shl3 too had an emergency to care for your mom/dad due to low BP. S/he will be sure to understand your plight. But remember to give an excuse that looks genuine enough.

*  “My sister/brother/relatives decided to give one of their surprise visits and are coming tonight.”

    Mentioning this will get you  off the hook and you will be saved.

*   “My friend broke up with her/his partner and  is down in the dumps. S/he needs me, I hope you will understand.”

     This will definitely work, for you will be taken as a caring and sensitive person. But do remember the details on your next date. You do not want to be caught on the wrong note.

*   “I need some time… to plan something special for both of us.”

    Just thinking about the special outing will keep  your partner on a high. Never mind, if that day never comes, at least you have got out of this date.

*   “My best friend is shifting his/her house, I have to help him/her”.

     This excuse rarely fails. Your partner too will be on a lookout when s/he shifts. You will be there for help.

* “I completely forgot, I am a volunteer at such and such organisation that day”.

     Better still if it is an elderly or children’s organisation no boy or girl would say no to that!

*   “I suddenly realised that I am not well prepared for the exam next week. I have to improve.”

      Relax! Your partner will not say ‘no’. After all, no boy wants to be with a bimbette or a girl with no brains.

* “My car/scooter is giving me trouble. Need to go to the mechanic immediately.”

      If nothing works, this surely will. But what if s/he offers to pick you up. You can always say you do not want to cause inconvenience to her/him or you do not trust the mechanic so you have to be at his workshop throughout.

*    “My cat/dog is sick. I cannot leave it alone”

      Take a chance but only if your partner is an animal lover and you have a pet.

Patriotic songs-Their importance in our lives

Music played an important role during India’s struggle for independence. Songs like ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’, ‘Mera Rang de Basanti Chola’ and others inspired the masses. Patriotic songs have a great influence on everyone. Even those who do not listen to songs much are moved by those that portray our country as the greatest among all.

It is said that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, was moved to tears after hearing ‘Ae Mere Watan ke Logon’. Besides, the soulful voice of Lata Mangeshkar, the lyric by Kavi Pradeep was meaningful and suited the situation that the country was facing then. The lyricist was moved by the casualties of the war, especially the stand of ‘C’ Company of 13 Kumaon Regiment at the ‘First battle of Rezang La’. The song has been remastered several times and is still popular.

Rabindranath Tagore, the legendary litterateur, wrote the lyrics of several patriotic songs. Some were in Bengali and are a part of Rabindra Sangeet. His ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the national anthem of India. It was written originally in Bengali and was later translated into Hindi. Another song from Rabindra Sangeet, which inspired youngsters to stand up against injustice, even if nobody was with them, was ‘Ekla Cholo Re’.

Patriotic songs have been popular in Hindi films also. Who can forget, ‘Mere Desh ki Dharti’. Another song, ‘De di Humein Azaadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal’ from the film, ‘Jagruti’ highlights the achievements of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who without resorting to violence and by means of non-violence and truth threw the Britishers out of India. Manoj Kumar showed the world what it means to be an Indian with the song, ‘Hai Preet Jahan ki Reet Sada’. It was sung by Mahendra Kapoor and was from the film, ‘Purab aur Paschim’.

In recent times, A.R. Rahman passionately sang the number, ‘Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera’ from the film, ‘Swades’. It is meant for people who leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. This phenomenon is also known as the ‘brain drain’. Although the meaning and situation for which patriotic songs are composed have changed over the years, the appeal however remains the same.

Indians enjoy online freedom more than its neighbours

Seeing the popularity of the Web and its usage of spreading information at lightning speed, several governments across the globe are blocking websites and blogs. For instance, China does not allow its people to access several popular websites such as Facebook, IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base), Reporters without Borders, Blogspot, Wordpress, Scribd, Twitter and many more. 

The Chinese cannot access torrent websites for downloading books, movies, TV shows, etc. Even a  country like the United States of America has come up with legislations like Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and Anti Counterfeiting Trade Act (ACTA) to put a check on online activities.

The Indian government too had proposed to screen the content of websites but later backtracked after public outcry over the issue. Earlier, the Indian government had banned access to some websites that were spreading controversial and defamatory content. 

These sites include Pakistani newspaper Dawn’s website, many Yahoo and Orkut communities, a website promoting a separate country for Dalits, Cartoons Against Corruption website, etc. No Act has been passed yet in the country exclusively for Internet censorship but a few over-cautious Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have blocked some websites which harm their interests. People believe that it is the infringement of their right to freedom of speech and expression.

It is evident that India is much better than other countries and allows its citizens to enjoy  freedom of expression on the Web. The Open Net Initiative (ONI), an organisation that monitors and reports on Internet filtering and surveillance practices by nations, defines India as a country that “respects the right to free speech and allows a wide array of political, social, and economic beliefs to be expressed. 

However, on targeted political and social conflicts, the government censors media and online discussion, particularly in areas of social unrest.” The organization calls Internet filtering in India ‘selecting filtering’.

Many a time employers block a few websites in offices hoping that it will make their employees more productive but tech-savvy employees access websites of their choice by using proxy websites or turning their Wordpress blog or websites into a proxy server. 

Tech-savvy people find different ways of circumventing Internet filtering if a website is either blocked by the government or by their IT administrator but one should not engage oneself in circumventing Internet filtering because it can invite trouble as it has been criminalised under the Information Technology Act, 2008.Your freedom vs. my freedom

It is rightly said that “your freedom to swing your fist ends just where my nose begins.” Online freedom does not mean that one can spread defamatory or obscene information with impunity. To deal with online stalkers and law-breakers, the Indian parliament had passed the Information Technology Act (2008) that grants  powers to the police to search premises without warrants and arrest individuals in case of electronic publication of obscene content. 

The government can ban online content in the interest of the country. Victims of cyber crime  can complain to the local police station or send their complaint with all the evidence to cyber crime cells set up in different parts of the country.  

Friendship defined by music

Who can forget, ‘Yeh dosti hum nahin todenge’ from the film ‘Sholay’?  Besides Gabbar Singh and his dialogues, the friendship between the two lead actors was the trademark of one of the most popular Hindi films of all time. The song was about friendship.

Music can convey a thousand emotions, one of them is friendship. It has been used as a central theme in several Hindi films and songs. Remember, ‘Bane chaahe dushman’ from the film ‘Dostana’. The song was a big hit in those times. Another song, ‘Tere jaisa yaar kahan’ from ‘Yaarana’ was about two friends, one who is successful and rich and the other, who sings well, but is poor and ignorant. 

The song moved many to tears due to the on-screen chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan and the soulful voice of Kishore Kumar. Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘Saathi’ was based on two friends, one ruthless and wayward and  the other, humane and considerate. The song, ‘Yaarana yaar ka’ from the film, sung by Kumar Sanu and Vipin Sachdeva conveyed the feelings of two youngsters who cared for each other more than anything else.

 The film, ‘Zanjeer’, besides, turning Amitabh Bachchan into a star and angry young man also showed that sworn enemies can become best friends. ‘Yaari hai imaan’ was based on the friendship of a police officer and a gangster. The song was a hit and eventually achieved cult status. The music director trio of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy, who are good friends in real life, composed ‘Dil chahta hai’ based on three friends. The song was an instant hit as many youngsters could relate to it. Another song, ‘Yaaron dosti’ by KK also became immensely popular among youngsters, especially college students.

As times changed, so did the definition of friendship. Friendship between a boy and a girl was portrayed by the song, ‘Ladki badi anjaani hai’ from the film, ‘Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai’. The remarkable feature of the song was the energy, which was characterised by fast paced drum beats. It is not that only Hindi films and its songs portray friendship. The song, ‘Seasons in the sun’ by ‘Westlife’ is based on friendship. The song is based on the intricacies of friendship. 

It was sung by many others, but Westlife gave us the best version with their soulful rendition.  Several International rock bands have been formed by close friends who understand each other’s style and music. ‘Yaaron yehi dosti hai’, a song by a Pakistani band called, ‘Junoon’ was sung by the lead singer Ali Azmat. The song is fast paced and is loved by youngsters in India and Pakistan.

Is virtual friendship more equal than a ‘real’ one?

Many of us must have heard people boasting, “I have 2,500 friends on Facebook. 5,000 people are following me on Twitter.” Are they their real friends? Can people bank on them in need?  Whatever the answers of these questions are, the fact is that the Internet has changed the way we interact with our friends and the way we make friends.

There is a burgeoning interest in cyber friendship these days. People make friends, share sweet-bitter moments with them with ‘likes’ and ‘comments’, and nothing seems impossible that cannot be conducted down the wire. The evolution of social networking websites has allowed users to keep in contact with their loved ones, however far away.

Talking with friends online is convenient. If we want to talk to any of our online friends, we know when to ping them. Their status message on Instant Messenger (IM) tells us whether we can talk to them or not.

“I am in Bhubaneswar but most of my childhood friends are living in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to pursue higher studies or to work in multinational companies. FB is ubiquitous but a few of my friends are not tech savvy and do not have accounts on Facebook. 

I do talk to them but not as frequently as I talk to those who are in my FB friends list,” said Somesh Dash, a student of Utkal University.  There are many introverts who share happy-sad moments of their life with their friends in the virtual world. 

There are different degrees of friends in real life—some are acquaintances, some are just friends and some others come in the category of Best Friends Forever (BFF). The same degrees exist in the virtual world too but most of us have more acquaintances than friends on social networking sites.

Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist, points out in his recent book You are Not a Gadget that this ‘semi-automated self-presentation’ is borne of the binary approach of software engineering, rather than the ambiguities of human interaction. ‘Suggested friends’ and ‘who to follow’ prompts on your Facebook and Twitter account as a result of data filtering.

A year ago Simon Black updated her status: “Took all my pills be dead soon bye bye everyone”. She died after a few hours of updating her FB status. And no one, out of her 1082 friends on Facebook, turned up to help or try to find out what happened to her. However, according to a news report, a few of them lived at a walking distance and could have saved her life.

 Instead of helping, many of them mocked and wrote cruel taunts such as “she does it all the time”, “she is a liar”, “she is not a kid anymore” and other such comments. Conversation with online friends is considered a form of recreation and this incident proves it and indicates that people hardly make friends in the virtual world.

Madhusmita Choudhary said that she has 1,500 friends on Facebook. She invited 150 online friends --with whom she interacted frequently online -- to her wedding but none of them turned up. While, on the contrary, almost all the friends in the ‘real’ world were present at her wedding. 

She said that she was not disappointed because she had not met any of her FB friends in the flesh. She says, “You cannot count on your Facebook friends. Real friendship lies in the real world, not on the Internet.”