Made In India

Kailasha

2008-04-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

If you have already checked out Kailash Kher's latest album Kailasha (meaning crystal), you couldn't have missed the song- Naiharwa. Here's the song:

If you get a chance, listen to the version by Kumar Gandharva [Link]. It's a gem!

And here's the translation for the song:

I Don't Find any Interest in My Parents' House
My Beloved's Town is Most Beautiful
However, Nobody Goes or Comes from There
There is no Moon, Sun, Wind or Water There
Then Who Will Take My Message There?
Then Who Will Tell My Pain to My Beloved?

There is No Visible Path to Move Forward
And You Blame the Past for It
How Should the Bride go to the House of the Beloved?
Powerful Pangs of Separation are Burning from Inside
Dual Reality is Fashioning a Dance to Its Tune

There is None Other Than the Guru Who is Mine Who Can Tell the Way
Says Kabir Listen oh Aspirant
Your Beloved Will Come in a Dream-like State
That Alone Will Quench the Thirst of your Heart

Explanation

In this song Kabir portrays himself like a bride who has gone to her parents' house. But having gone there her soul burns from the pangs of separation from her beloved. The bride's trouble is further complicated because there are no messengers (such as the Sun, Moon, Wind or Water) who can reach and convey her message to the beloved. She has no path or way to solve this problem. Meanwhile the separation is killing her from inside.

Kabir, in his mystical way, is comparing the separation of the individual from the universal self like that of a bride from her beloved. He explains that this insatiable thirst comes from the feeling of separation whose root lies in duality.

He then explains that the only person who can help out of this problem is the Guru. In his final parting signature note, Kabir reveals that the way to reach the beloved is not outside but Inside (similar to a dream-like state) which alone will satisfy the seemingly unending burning thirst.

You'll love it as much as I did.

Aamchi Mumbai

2007-01-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

Mumbai and it's infamous underworld inspires yet another novel- a 900 page one this time. Vikram Chandra's latest novel "Sacred Games" seems to be a very engrossing story complete with Bolllywood songs and dialogues.
Also adding flavour to the accounts are familiar flowery street dialogue that needs an extensive glossary to explain to non-Indian readers.

Chandra is a pretty popular writer with translations in 11 languages. Hear him in an interview on NPR. [Link] The book in NPR's words:

Weighing in at 900 pages, the novel is Dickensian in scope, and part Godfather as well. Sacred Games follows a world-weary cop and a larger-than-life crime boss. Add in the world's largest film industry, Bollywood, a shady guru and the ever-present tension between India and Pakistan, and you have a full-blown literary potboiler.

Award winning writer Chandra is a UC Berkeley lecturer. [Link]

One giant set to kill another!

2006-12-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

The Goliath of retail business- Walmart is all set to trample the giant unorganized, grassroot, and sustainable retail business of India! And with it we will lose yet another identity and spell out doom for our culture and traditions.

Harsh retoric
For those it in India, my words seem harsh and unfair. And so might be the case with the high-flying businessmen and ploticians who never make it to the ground once they are in power! But for those who have spent even a few years in the US, they understand the Walmart culture, the culture of rapid corporatization of the country. No matter how much economists might have made you believe otherwise, this was a very wrong move!

Death Knell for locals
It was nothing short of bastardization of the local economy and strangling of local culture and diversity. It was just another case of Western lifestyle seeking instant gratification! How adverse the effect was on local identity and economy on opening a Walmart in the community is to be seen to be believed. Just walk into the downtown of any small and mid-sized town in the US and talk to local businesses about their history, and I bet that you'll see them dropping tears to tell you what was lost and will never be regained.

Coming soon in a neighbourhood near you ...
500 Walmart stores by mid-2007 in different parts of India is the death knell! You will never see the old lady pushing her cart in the morning outside your doorstep hawking piles of freshly plucked jasmine. You will lose the guy in the street corner who sells you fresh vegetables and fruits every morning which he brings from his garden on the outskirts of the city. You will soon wonder what ever happened to the local milkman, ice-cream peddler, or even the corner paan-shop?

While many are going to rightfully protest this unfair onslaugth of corporations on our natural economy, many of us will be tempted and excited to test this new business. But wake up and ask questions- for dishonesty and ignorance are rampant in the upper echeleons of the society, power mongers, or those that we have trusted our well being on.

I don't hate America. I don't hate Walmart. Only- the business policies they advocate and the vested interests they have in mind. It is not democratic, it is not for the people; it is solely for making more profits. They are coming there because the Western markets are getting saturated.

A decade from now we might end up looking more like America but would have traded our soul, culture and traditions for it!

If you want to hear about the multitude of horrors Walmart is getting ready to unleash, watch this movie: 'The High Cost of Low Price'. [Link] Get your facts correctly on their blog [Link].If you can't find the movie, write to me- leave a comment.

Vandana Shiva

2006-12-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

Once in a while we come across personalities who are striving wholeheartedly to make a difference in the community. Yesterday, I came across one such person. A thinker who's actively arguing and challenging popular policies that are disadvantaging the poor and the needy in the garb of empowerment.

Vandana Shiva, world-renowned environmental leader and thinker. She is also a physicist and ecologist and the Director of the Research Foundation on Science, Technology, and Ecology. She is the founder of Navdanya -"nine seeds", a movement promoting diversity and use of native seeds. Dr. Shiva was the 1993 recipient of the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize -the Right Livelihood Award. And she is the author of many books, her latest is "Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace."

People like her can help us look beyond instant gratification and objectively look for ways to truly help the impoversihed! More on her.[Link]

Here's something that she mentioned in a recent interview:

Indian farmers have never committed suicide on a large scale. It’s something totally new. It’s linked to the last decade of globalization, trade liberalization under a corporate-driven economy. The seed sector was liberalized to allow corporations like Cargill and Monsanto to sell unregulated, untested seed. They began with hybrids, which can’t be saved, and moved on to genetically engineered Bt cotton. The cotton belt is where the suicides are taking place on a very, very large scale. It is the suicide belt of India.

And the high cost of seed is linked to high cost of chemicals, because these seeds need chemicals. In addition, these costly seeds need to be bought every year, because their very design is to make seeds nonrenewable, seed that isn’t renewable by its very nature, but whether it’s through patenting systems, intellectual property rights or technologically through hybridization, nonrenewable seed is being sold to farmers so they must buy every year.

In the state of Rajasthan, which is the capital of the production of mustard -- and mustard in India is very symbolic. It’s the color of our spring. When spring comes, we dress in the yellow of the mustard flower. It’s our staple oil, and we love the pungency of it. 1998, Monsanto and Cargill managed to get a ban on indigenous oils in order to create a market for soya oil, something we’ve never eaten before.

Read on ... this is even worse!
... the nuclear deal with India has a twin agreement, and that twin agreement is on agriculture. It’s called the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture, and on the board of this agreement are Monsanto, ADM and Wal-Mart.

The World Bank, WTO, and the IMF have hijacked the developing nations with flashy solutions for things they don't understand! Politicians and businessmen in these countries have also fallen for these deals either out of ignorance or their hunger for money!

Coming up- another humbling person whom I've started revering from the first day I found out about his mission in life.

Was it out of fury or fear?

2006-12-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

You've heard about contagious diseases ... but have you ever heard of a term like 'contagious fire'? Well you might interpret it as an uncontrolled spread of fire from one area to another. But you are actually far from the target!

This is a term that was offered again lst week by the famous NYPD. The NYPD brand name has an image to maintain and they know just how to do that. They branded the recent shooting of unarmed Sean Bell and his friends outside a bar as 'contagious fire'. How convenient!

The term tires to explain why 5 police officers had to empty their barrels on a few unarmed young guys? As if one of the police officers had a 'shooting' disease which spread to his colleagues in the heat of the moment. Amazing how these days we are able to cover up everything with a play of words!

Thank you NYPD, for coining that term though! It is definitely an epidemic that is spreading through law enforcement personnel in the United States. Law enforcement is so trigger happy that one wrong move by a civilian can be fatal. Even if the police is persuing a criminal- why is it that 95% of the times they have to kill him? I thought the police were taught techniques to disarm criminals without shooting or even if shooting is involved they can always shoot to injure- why kill? Human life seems to be only valuable these days if you have the power, status or the evergreen dough!

What happened to Sean Bell? read here.

And seems like 'contagious shooting' is a common term for some years now! Here are all you want to know about 'CS'. [Link]

Can we rise up again?

2006-12-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Even after a year we heard it last, the news about India topping the HIV infection list continuous to send shockwaves. How did this ever happen? So much effort has gone into creating social awareness in the affected regions of the society. So why aren't we still managing to control the epidemic?

Whatever may be the reason, I guess besides hearing all this in the news and checking out the Billy boys and the Brangelinas, we ourselves can do a lot. 5.7 million out of a population of a billion are HIV positive. How many Indians do you think are millionaires? 61,000 according to the World Wealth Report by brokerage firm Merrill Lynch & Co and consultancy CapGemini Group. Even if each of them were worth a million each, that would make then collectively worth 61,000 million. Which is 61 followed by 9 zeros or 61,000,000,000. Forget them- they are busy or already doing a lot. There might be atleast 10 times the number (10 x 61,000= 610,000) who have altleast a dollar to spare per day. The point is- we might have enough resources between us to monetarily take care of the grave situation. The bigger problem is to select a reliable agency to work on the ground and diligently channel the funds and resources.

Again the point is that we have a problem in our hands and it is affecting our own home, our land- do we just sit back and watch. We acted wisely when there was a tsunami, we acted when there were floods, or an earthquake. What can we do now?

And by the way, celebrities are important too because that's how the whole world suddenly turns their attention to the problems? Everytime they visit India, they have done us such a favour by mixing business with charity. Thanks for every good will and good intention that comes our way!

Next, another new and deadly disease spreads ... Look out for 'Contagious fire' in the next article.

Unifying divinity?

2006-11-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

I came across this picture by Kush Tandon on Flickr. The symbols of three major world religions merged into one sculpture at the entrace of a Hindu temple. Intriguing to find such tolerance and acceptance among people out there on the streets! This is real India!

Picture courtesy: Kush Tandon on Flickr

Visit Kush's photostream to find more such pictures. [Link]

The World's wettest place is the loudest too!

2006-11-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

The beautiful hill town of Shillong, in the state of Meghalaya has earned a place into the Guinness Book of World Record. The small town was able to assemble 7.951 drummers from all corners of the state to play a single rythemic pattern en-masse for 5 mins.

For years Cherapunjee has held its place in the Book of Records for being the wettest place on Earth with an average of 11,070 mm rain. And now another distinction for the state. By the way, 'Meghalaya' means 'home of the clouds'.

This new honour may not change the course of history in Meghalaya- the forgotten state in the far east in India, but this a great chance to cash in on all the publicity. The quaint little town is on the global radar today and why not take this opportunity to turn this place into, for example the Seville [Link] of the East, or even Scotland of the east.

This is a great opportunity to renew our energies to support another beautiful part of our country with all the resources we have, and help resolve it's economic hurdles, and natural hurdles.

Here's an idea: Can we help create a repository of all things fascinating about India through independent media channels such as a blog? We can create a wiki-based website where amateur and professional photojournalists and writers can contribute to build a single resourceful web portal on India. Anyone up for it?

BTW, follow the photo story on Shillong's new earned glory on BBC as well. [Link]

Regular posting will resume shortly ...

2006-10-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while ... things need to be charged ... I think I am now ... I will slowly pick up the pace .. stay with me and keep your comments coming.

Thanks!

One year since this blog started

2006-09-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Time to take a break ...

Will be back later ...

9/11 has another significance

2006-09-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

September 11th 2006 has a special significance. It not only marks the fifth anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington, it also marks 100 years to the day that Mahatma Gandhi launched the modern nonviolent resistance movement. The non-vilolent movement known as 'Satyagraha' is made of two words- 'Satya' and 'Agraha' means 'Pursuit of truth' or 'Endeavour in Truth'.

Next Monday September 11th, the film Gandhi will be screened across the USA. Try and catch it in your city.

With so much violence and hatred plaguing the world even today, Gandhiji's message still stands true. His simple technique goes beyond religion, culture and political boundaries. It is so basic to human nature that it is nothing but the truth itself.

Gandhiji noted:

In the application of Satyagraha, I discovered, in the earliest stages, that pursuit of Truth did not admit of violence being inflicted on one's opponent, but that he must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy. For, what appears to be truth to the one may appear to be error to the other. And patience means self-suffering. So the doctrine came to mean vindication of Truth, not by infliction of suffering on the opponent but one's own self.

He also pointed out:

I have drawn the distinction between passive resistance as understood and practised in the West and satyagraha before I had evolved the doctrine of the latter to its full logical and spiritual extent. I often used 'passive resistance' and 'satyagraha' as synonymous terms: but as the doctrine of satyagraha developed, the expression 'passive resistance' ceases even to be synonymous, as passive resistance has admitted of violence as in the case of suffragettes and has been universally acknowledged to be a weapon of the weak. Moreover passive resistance does not necessarily involve complete adherence to truth under every circumstance. Therefore it is different from satyagraha in three essentials: Satyagraha is a weapon of the strong; it admits of no violence under any circumstance whatever; and it ever insists upon truth. I think I have now made the distinction perfectly clear.

He said, “Violence will prevail over violence, only when someone can prove to me that darkness can be dispelled by darkness.”

On September 11th, 1906, speaking before 3,000 Indians gathered at a theater in Johannesburg, the Mahatma organized a strategy of nonviolent resistance to oppose racist policies in South Africa. Satyagraha was born and since then, it has been adopted by many around the world to resist social injustice and oppression.

Mahatma Gandhi used it in India to lead the resistance against the British. The Reverend Martin Luther King used it in the United States to oppose segregation and Nelson Mandela used it in South Africa to end apartheid.

Please listen to a recent interview on Democracy Now with Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson [here].

More information on democracynow.org and wikipedia.

Additional comment based on a reader's feedback: Perhaps it is important to mention that the 1893 session of the Parliament of the World's Religions took place between Sep 11 and Sep 18 in Chicago. It was here that the 7000 odd audience greeted Swami Vivekananda with a 3 minute standing applause stirred by his historic speech. Read more here.[Link]

Vande Mataram wins hearts and minds!

2006-09-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

We talked about the Indian National Anthem- Jana Gana Mana recently on the occasion of our Independence Day. And we spoke a bit about Vande Mataram on our radio show. Vande Mataram, the national song of India is in the news again for two reasons.

First, today marks the centenary of the adoption of this beautiful song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as the national song of India. The song was originally composed in 1876.

Secondly, Vande Mataram has been voted as the second most Favourite Song in the World, after the Irish song- A Nation Once Again. That is certainly a huge recognition! BBC news Link.

Vande Mataram was first sung at the Indian Congress Sessions in early 1900's among many by Rabindranath Tagore and Sarala Devi Chaudurani. It was quickly adopted as the national cry for freedom against the British occupation. Read more on Wiki. [Link]

On the occasion of adopting a National Anthem Dr. Rajendra Prasad accounced to the Constituent Assembly "The composition consisting of words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorise as occasion arises, and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it."

Hopefully the current governments won't make a mockery of the sanctity of the song by haggling as to who should sing it and who shouldn't.

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीम्
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम्॥

Vande Mataram!!

Taraana Playlist:: Sep 6, 2006

2006-09-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Of course! Music from Don opens the show tonight!

Don the Theme:: Instrumental
Main Hoon Don:: Shaan
Khaike Paan Bana Raswaala:: Udit Narayan, Shahrukh Khan

Khaike Paan Bana Raswaala:: Kishore Kumar:: Don 1978

Sky Kisses Earth:: Prem JOshua
Aakarshan:: Abhijit, Ajay Pohankar:: Shanti

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas:: Kishore Kumar:: Blackmail
Dil Tumhare Bina:: Himesh & Alka Yagnik:: 36 China Town

Apni Tasveer Ko:: Ghulam Ali
Gaao Re:: Aradhna:: Satsang

World Music:: Indrajit Banerjee
Commentary on Shiv:: Pandit Jasraj's Shiv Shambho
Remember Tomorrow:: Mo' Horizons:: Putumayo Asian Groove

Tintal Gat:: Indrajit Banerjee on Sitar accompaied by Gouri Shankar on Tabla
Jai Madhav Madan Murari:: Jagjit/ Chitra:: Krishna Bhajans
Sabse Oonchi Prem:: Jagjit/ Chitra:: Krishna Bhajan

Desert Heart Beat:: Zakir Hussain:: Music of the Deserts

Download the podcast Thursday afternoon onto your iTunes and enjoy!

A New Dawn

2006-09-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

"Don ke dushman ki sabse badi galti hai ki woh don ka dushman hai. "

The New- Don (2006)
One of 1970's Amitabh Bachchan classics 'DON' has been been remade by Farhan Akhtar, son of story-writer, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar. The music album was just released last month and has been amazingly adapted to cater to the new generation. Shahrukh Khan plays the lead role in Don, while Priyanka Chopra is the female lead, and Kareena Kapoor does the Helen jig.

Farhan, the maker of Dil Chahta Hai, and Lakshya has stuck with his favourite trio Shankar-Eshaan-Loy to deliver the goodies. The new ‘Don’ has five songs. Of these five, two are new compositions while three are altered versions of songs from the original movie Don (1978) that starred Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. The three songs taken from the original movie are Khaike Paan Banaraswala, Main Hoon Don and Yeh Mera Dil. ‘Don’ is slated to hit the theatres during Diwali/ Eid .

Check out the music this week on Taraana!

The original-Don (1978)

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan appeared in a double role in this action film. There was the sexy and glamorous tom-boyish Zeenat Aman and a lovely number 'Yeh mera dil pyaar ka deewana' by Helen.

In the film, there is this 'Don' Amitabh who is a ruthless smuggler. His only soft spot is Zeenat Aman. 'Don' dies in a police confrontation, and as a co-incidence there is his look-alike a country bumpkin, who has come to a city for the first time and breaks into 'Yeh hai bambai nagariya tu dekh babua'.

Cop Iftekhar spots the duplicate Amitabh and sends him as 'Don' to the notorious gang that is now being monitored by Pran. Zeenat comes to know the difference but she has already fallen in love with Don Duplicate. She joins him and Iftekhar in the guerilla warfare against Pran and his accomplices. (reproduced in part from Apunkachoice.com)

Taraana Playlist: Aug 30, 2006

2006-08-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

1. Sky Kisses Earth:: Prem Joshua
2. Shanti

Lyrics- Salil Choudhury
3. Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa :: Yesudas:: Anand Mahal
4. Ja Re Ud Ja Re:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Maya

Lyrics- Kaifi Azmi
5. Tum Inta Jo Muskura Rahe Ho:: Jagjit Singh:: Arth
6. Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar:: Jagjit Singh:: Arth

Lyrics-- Majrooh Sultanpuri
7. Raat Akeli Hai:: Asha Bhosle:: Jewel Thief
8. Jaiye Aap Kahan Jayenge:: Asha Bhosle:: Mere Sanam

Lyrics- Sahir Ludhianwi
9. Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Rahi:: Kishore Kumar:: Munimji
10. Dukhi Man Mera:: Kishore Kumar:: Funtoosh

Lyrics- Makhdoom Mohinuddin
11. Phir Chhidi Raat:: Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Aziz:: Bazaar

Lyrics- Hasrat Jaipuri
12. Woh Khushi Mili Hai:: Md. Raf:: Mere Huzoor

Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri
13. Wadiyan Mera Daman:: Md. Raafi:: Abhilasha

14. Surmayee Shaam:: Suresh Wadkar:: Lekin
15. Nainon Mein Badra Chhaye:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Mera Saaya
16. Rulake Gaya Sapna Mera:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Jewel Thief

This week podcasts not available. Looking forward to sharing an interview with Indian Ocean shortly.

Taraana Playlist: Aug 23, 2006

2006-08-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

World Music by Indrajit Banerjee opens the show tonight.

Mahadeva:: Anoushka Shankar:: Rise
Beloved:: Anoushka Shankar:: Rise

Chaand Sifarish:: Shaan, Kailash Kher:: Fanaa
Mere Haath Mein:: Sonu NIgam, Sunidhi Chauhan:: Fanaa

Main Hoon Woh Aasman:: Alka Yagnik, Rafawat Ali:: Krrish
Where's the Party Tonight:: Shankar, Ehshaan, Loy:: Kabhi Alvida Na kehna

Kishore Kumar
Rim Jhim Gire Sawan:: Manzil 1971
Ina Mina Dika:: Asha 1957

Lata Mangeshkar
Satyam Shivam Sundaram:: Satyam Shivam Sundaram 1978
Bindiya Chamkegi:: Do Raaste 1969

Mohd. Rafi
Teri Bindiya Re:: Abhimaan 1973
Pukarta Chala Hoon:: Mere Sanam 1965
Madhuban Mein Radhika:: Kohinoor 1960

Asha Bhosle
Jhoote Naina:: Lekin 1990
Dum Maro Dum:: Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971
Jawani Janeman:: Namak Halal 1982
Koi Shehri Babu:: Loafer 1972

Check back later in the day for the podcasts. Download is easy and free. Instructions on the left hand menu. Thank you for tuning in!

Politics, lies, fear and loathe ... let's talk now!

2006-08-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

News from around the world or rather the Western part of the world in the last few days:

British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny -- refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed. The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic. Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action.

On a trip back from the Middle East, Iraqi blogger and activist Raed Jarrar was not allowed to board a flight at JFK airport because he was wearing a T-Shirt that said "We will not be silent" in English and Arabic.

Two British women with young children on another flight from Spain complained about flying with a bearded Muslim even though he had been security-checked twice before boarding.

In San Francisco last week, a Canadian doctor called Ahmed Farooq, was prevented to boarding his airplane, because he was praying in his seat.

I empathize with all the people who have to go through this injustice because of their name, looks or community they belong to. Could you believe that in this age and time with all the advancements in the world- we seek so much more faith in gadgets and gizmos rather than fellow humans and human values?

Power and money, and then more of it have driven a few to commit crimes against humanity in the guise of saviors. Sometimes human beings have to make a choice between the bad and the worse- and often from where they are they cannot see very clearly. That and many other conceitful and deceitful deals between those in positions high enough have pushed the rest of the human beings to the brink of war.

With the current trend of things going on we are not far from that day when there might be a clash big enough to destroy us all. What are we getting into? We are all in self denial here. Those at the helm of affairs are fooling themselves and those that trust them to believe that they are safe or safer than before. How's that possible? Hatred, distrust and violence spawns more of the same. Maybe one day we might see complete peace and love in this world if we allow atleast two generations of human beings to grow up without any experience of war. Then they would hate none and harm none.

And, you know what would be an amazing security plan for our airports?
Banning all electronic gizmos- no cell phones, no TV screens, no I-pods, no laptops! Just the chance to chit-chat and know each other like the good 'ol times.

Taraana Playlist: Aug 16, 2006

2006-08-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

A special programme tonight on the occasion of India's Independence Day. We had Shweta as our guest tonight. Shweta is a graduate student at Texas A&M and a budding poet. Thanks for tuning in!

Jana Gana Mana:: Various artists:: Jana Gana Mana (Album)
Azaadi:: Bose- The Forgotten Hero
Speeches by Karan Singh and Jawaharlal Nehru:: Voices of Freedom (Album)

Vande Maataram:: Various Artists and languages:: Naman (Album)
Vande Maataram:: another version from Voices of Freedom

Poetry recitation by Shweta- Shri Rabindranath Tagore's 'Where the mind is without fear'.

Aey Bharoter Mahamanobe- Recitation by Shri Rabindranath Tagore
Maa Tujhe Salaam:: AR Rahman:: Vande Maataram (Album)

De di Hamein Azaadi:: Various artsists:: Voices of Freedom (Album)
Lalkaar:: Aamir Khan and co:: Rang De Basanti

Poetry Recitation- by Shweta Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, Ramprasad Bismil's composition

Mangal Mangal:: Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder:: Mangal Pandey- The Rising
Rang De Basanti:: Chitra, Daler Mehndi:: Rang De Basanti

Speech by Subhas Chandra Bose:: Voices of Freedom (Album)
Kadam Kadam:: Bose- The Forgotten Hero

Aisa Des Hai Mera:: Gurdas Maan and co:: Veer Zarra
Jana Gana Mana:: AR Rahman, Karthik:: Aayitha Ezhuthu
Thai Mannai Vanakkam:: AR Rahman:: Vande Maataram (Album)

Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera:: AR Rahman:: Swades
Iyam Swatantra Bharati:: Jaya Thiagarajan, Karthik Ashwin:: Bhakti Arpana (Album)

Ekla Chalo Re:: Bose- The Forgotten Hero

The podcast for this show could not be recorded due to unforseen technical errors. Next week- featuring Anoushka Shankar's 'Rise'.

Jana Gana Mana

2006-08-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

जनगणमन अधिनायक जय हे, भारतभाग्यविधाता !
पंजाब सिंधु गुजरात मराठा द्राविड़ उत्कल बंग,
विंध्य हिमाचल यमुना गंगा उच्छलजलधितरंग,
तव शुभ नामे जागे, तव शुभ आशिश मागे,
गाहे तव जयगाथा ।
जनगणमंगलदायक जय हे, भारत भाग्य विधाता !
जय हे, जय हे, जय हे, जय जय जय, जय हे !

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, the Maratha country,
in the Dravida country, Utkala (Orissa) and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
it mingles in the rhapsodies of the pure waters Jamuna and the Ganges.
They chant only thy name,
they seek only thy blessings,
They sing only thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee.

Jana Gana Mana ("The Minds of All People") is the national anthem of India. Originally written in formal Bengali language, it is the first of five stanzas of a poem composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. First performed in 1911 during the visit of George V, Jana Gana Mana was officially adopted as the Indian national anthem in 1950.

For years this beautiful compostion has been plagued in controversy due to the fact that it was composed on the occasion of the visit of George V to India during the Indian National Congress in Calcutta (1911). But how can anyone even doubt Tagore's loyalty to the nation? In his own words he wrote to a friend-

"A certain high official in His Majesty's service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart. In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata [ed. God of Destiny] of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense."

In short, Jana Gana Mana is addressed to God. It is not just a song, but a spiritual invocation to the Almighty in celebration of the multifaceted culture of this beautiful nation- India.

Extracted from Wikipedia [Link].

Happy Independence Day!

2006-08-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Today, August 15th we move on to our 60th year of Independence. Congratulations to everyone! (Image courtesy AP.)

Here is a glimpse of the President's address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day celebration. Read the complete address here [Link].

Jai Hind!

Annu Kapoor to conduct Antakshari

2006-08-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Announcement:

OM Kreations in association with Catch the Rhythms, Inc is delighted to bring NRI Antakshari 2006 to Houston, TX. After the stupendous success and launch of NRI Antakshari in 2005, we are bringing the show here for us Houstonians – BIGGER & BETTER.

And of course, the one and only ANNU KAPOOR - who will enchant, mesmerize audiences with his wit, knowledge, charisma and talent. This 12 year long, popular TV series owes its popularity and high ratings to the man who brought the show to life, Annu Kapoor. Always an actor par excellence, Annu with his great voice and his ability to connect to participants and audiences has drawn thousands of viewers and fans every week. Don't miss your chance to participate and compete in front of Annu Kapoor or just enjoy a fun filled evening.

Interactive, zesty and fun filled NRI Antakshari 2006 invites all of you to participate in this unique musical event.

PARTICIPATE and get 2 tickets FREE!!

Student discounts available with ID. Contact now for more details.
Where:
TSU AUDITORIUM
3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004

When:
Aug 25 2006 8:00PM to 11:30PM

Contact:
Phone: 832-794-6373
E-mail: OmKreations@gmail.com

Check out NRI Antakshari events in other cities:
• Toronto - August 13
• Houston - August 25
• Los Angeles - August 26
• Sunnyvale - August 27
• Vancouver - September 1
• Atlanta - September 4
• New York - September 8
• New Jersey - September 9
• Phoenix - September 10

Weblink to the NRI Antakshari website.

Blog of the week!

2006-08-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

For a nation plagued by controversy ever since Mr Ahmadinejad took over the reins of the government- this is a big step.

The Iranian president lauched his own blog [Link] last week amidst cautious speculations in the blogger community. Mr Ahmadinejad's first entry on his blog, which is available in Persian, Arabic, English and French and includes an RSS feed to get future new entries to readers, is dated Friday.

Besides the media attention and the world opinion on this latest action by the Iranian leader, I think it would a great way to correspond one to one with him. I am sure the comments would be moderated, but here's a way to check out Mr. Ahmadinejad through our own interaction with him rather than what we are told by main stream media, specially here in America.

Mr Bush and Mr Blair have permamently hijacked the media for the whole term of their presidency. So what does that leave other leaders with? Mr. Chavez has his own television show. . The Indian president- Mr Adbul Kalam has his own official website where one can write to him [Link]. And now Mr Ahmadinejad has started blogging. What's next?

Taraana Playlist: Aug 9, 2006

2006-08-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

Film Name- Dil Se:: Mani Ratnam
1. Chaiya Chaiya::Sapna Awasthi
2. Satrangi Re Manrangi Re:: Sonu Nigam
3. Dil Se Re Dil Se Re:: AR Rahman

Remix-
4. Laila O Laila:: Qurbani
5. Mehbooba Mehbooba:: Bally Sagoo:: Sholay
6. Chura Liya:: Bally Sagoo

Oldies-
7. Aap Jaisa Koi:: Nazia Hassan: Qurbani
8. Aao Twist Karein:: Manna Dey & Chorus:: Bhoot Bangla

9. Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon:: Banda Parwar
10. Dil Deke Dekho:: Mohd. Rafi:: Dil Deke Dekho
11. Bade Miyan Deewane Aise Na Bano:: Mohd. Rafi:: Shagird

12. Dheere Dheere Machal:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Anupama
13. Kuch Dil Ne Kaha:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Anupama
14. Raat Ke Humsafar:: Asha Bhosle:: An Evening in Paris

15. Sar Par Topi Lal:: Asha Bhosle, Mohd. Rafi:: Tumsa Nahi Dekha
16. Patli Kamar Hai:: Mukesh:: Barsaat
17. Jahan Main Jaati Hoon:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Chori Chori

18. Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kahan Ho Tum:: Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar
19. Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka:: Balbir, Mohd. Rafi:: Naya Daur

Sorry! No podcast this week.

Taraana Playlist: Aug 2nd, 2006

2006-08-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight we do a Mohd. Rafi special to pay respects to the all time great playback singer from Bollywood. All the songs listed here were sung by him between the 1950's and 1980. He passed away 26 years ago on 31st July 1980.

1. Din DHal Jaye:: Guide
2. O Duniya Ke Rakhwale:: Baiju Bawra
3. Main Zindagi Ka Saath:: Hum Dono - This song was dedicated to Sunil Kumar and the countless victims of the Bhopal Gas tragedy.

4. Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi:: Hum Dono
5. Aise To Na Dekho:: Teen Devian
6. Baharon Phool Barsao:: Suraj
7. Chhalke Teri Ankhon Se:: Arzoo
8. Tere Mere Sang Hain:: Guide
9. Chand Sa Roshan Chehra:: Kashmir Ki Kali
10. Yahoo! Chahe Mujhe Koi Junglee Kahe:: Junglee
11. Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahar:: Jaani Dushman
12. Tu Is Tarah:: Aap To Aise Na The
13. Jawanian Yeh Mast Mast:: Tumsa Nahin Dekha
14. Aaj Mausam Bada Beiman Hai:: Loafer
15. Chand Mera Dil Chandni Ho Tum:: Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi
16. Pardesion Se Na Ankhiyan Milana:: Jab Jab Phool Khile
17. Chhoo Lene Do Nazuk Honton Ko:: Kaajal

Check back later in the day for the podcasts. Download is easy and free. Instructions on the left hand menu. Thank you for tuning in!

Bhopal survivor & campaigner dies

2006-08-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Bhopal Survivor, Campaigner Dies of Apparent Suicide
- as reported on Democracy Now!

Sunil Kumar, a survivor and leading campaigner for victims of the 1984 Bhopal chemical gas leak, has died of an apparent suicide. Kumar founded the group Children Against Carbide, which attempted to bring the company Union Carbide, now owned by Dow Chemical, to justice. He was found dead last week wearing a t-shirt that read: “No More Bhopals.”

Goodbye, dear Sunil

BHOPAL, JULY 27, 2006

Born in Bhopal in about 1972, the son of a carpenter, he was living with his family in JP Nagar, Bhopal, across from the Union Carbide pesticide factory when the gas leak occurred. Sunil was left to care for his one and a half year old brother Sanjay and his nine year old sister Mamta. The siblings survived mostly on the generosity of neighbors, both Hindu and Muslim.

Read the whole thing ... here.

What happened on the night of 2nd/ 3rd December 1984? One of the world's worst known tragedies! Read along ...

2006-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Phil Donahue on Oreilly

Notice the sham I mentioned in my last post?

Hosts like these on National TV, assuming that we all are fools!

2006-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

What do people on the street want?

See for yourself?
Mel Gibson is more important than the war in Middle East, because it has all the elements!! That's addressing an intelligent society in the 21st century?

Amy makes such a whole hearted argument! Kudos to that brave lady!

Why we fuss, why we fight?

2006-08-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

With the Middle East crisis looming large on our faces, we've all spent some sad weeks, months and years so far. And there seems to be no end! With so many friends and acquantainces from the Middle East- it is but unnatural not to react. I have friends and have known several people from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Egypt, Greece so far in the last six years- they all spoke different languages, they all taught us wonderful cuisines, and shared wonderful stories. I met several of their family members too, and not one of these people seemed alien!

Their mothers and fathers seemed as loving and caring as mine back in India. They themselves loved to have fun, crack jokes, make friends, play soccer, cheat at board games, debate politics and perform wonderfully at grad school. Some of them are Christians, some Muslims, some Jews, some atheists- but we've sat together, eaten together, worked together and sometimes even prayed together. What else did you expect?

Yet today we are made to believe that religion is above everything else. Religion is what defines people and communities! We are being brain washed so much and so often that we are fogetting the screen that once separated reality from fantasy. Every day I watch with disbelief as so many brilliant minds shut down their brains and believe whatever is dished to them day and night. We all understand the reality around us and yet so many of us choose to fool ourselves and not accept reality either for the love for one's own country or people they think they know better. Why do we forget that we are what we are because of our values?

Religion, language, geographical boundaries are all inventions of the conceitful human mind. Good values like love, respect and affection are innate human qualities. We demonstrated those qualities the moment we were born. Hate, jealousy, greed, violence, mistrust and manipulation were things that we picked up along the way as we thought we were 'growing up'- didn't we?

Violence is bad and horrific no matter where it came from. Understanding why someone is doing what they are doing and if nothing else- looking at things with a clear and unbiased mind and heart is what it takes to get that courage and stand up for the truth. Our governments and leaders wouldn't have the timerity to do what they are doing if we stood up for that truth. We thought they would be the voice of our nations when we elected them and put our trust in them. Look inside yourselves now and question if what you believe today is what you want to believe!

Throughout history, our leaders and rulers have always led us into fights and wars and then made us believe that we asked for it or we believe in it! Do you know why we fall for this trick again and again? Next time you want to slap another support sticker at the back of your vehicle- take a minute and think deeply ...

Let's get back to one of my favourite rants at moments like these:

Rulers of the nation, as you fuss and fight,
over who owns the soil, and who, has the right
to design, build, sell and store and fire
all the bombs and guns to defend your holy empire
there are children hungry, children sick and dying
there are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers crying... - Sara Thomsen

Taraana Playlist: July 26, 2006

2006-07-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

1. Sri Jagadeshwari Durga:: Soumya Muralidharan:: Dancing with Durga
2. Jaga Janani Ma:: Same as above

3. Parulanna Mata:: U Shrinivas [Link]:: from Sangeet Sartaj (What is a Mandolin? Read more)
4. Warriors in Peace:: A R Rahman:: Warriors of Heaven & Earth [Link]

Review of Omkara [Link], being released July 28th:
5. Beedi:: Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh
6. Omkara:: Sukhwinder Singh
7. O Saathi Re:: Vishal Bhardwaj, Shreya Ghoshal
8. Naina:: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

9. Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaye:: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan:: Kalyug
10. Kajra Re:: Bubli Aur Bunty
11. Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo:: Farida Khanum:: Monsoon Wedding

12. Main Vari Vari:: Kavita Krishnamurthy, Reena:: Mangal Pandey- The Rising
13. Gaate The Pehle Akele:: Kavita Krishnamurty, Shraddha, Khusum:: Khamoshi

14. Man Phoola Phoola:: Sri Kumar Mardur:: Kabir's bhajan [Lyrics and translation link]
15. Poocho Na Kaise:: Manna Dey:: Meri Surat Teri Aankhen

A partial podcast (about 1.5 hrs) of the show will be available tomorrow. For podcasting instructions, click on the top left menu.

Thanks to all the listeners and well wishers for their generous pledges during the KEOS summer fund drive! Donations can be made at any time by visiting the KEOS website.

Logic lessons for B schools

2006-07-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes knowledge comes from the most unexpected quarters of the society. Sometimes B schools and marketing gurus are not the best sources to take cues for business.

The 'dabba-walas' of Mumbai have not only been giving business lessons to the needy but also helping solving complex mathematical problems! Optimization techniques and sorting procedures have been ubiquitous to the success stories of the 5000 dabba-walas of Mumbai. Dabba-walas are the lunch delivery guys in Mumbai who have operated in the city for over a hundredyears now and are an inseparable identity in Mumbai's history. They pick up the lunch boxes from homes and deliver it to the office-goers in their respective offices. They also coordinate and communicate with fellow delivery guys to create an efficient system.

They are so efficient that you might just find one mistake in 16 million lunch deliveries! The efficiency and punctuality of the tiffin carriers in the city has become the subject of study in business schools and industry associations. They have created an efficient yet simple system of coding their deliverables by marking the point of origin and destination of the lunch boxes, inlcuding the building and floor they are headed for. Look at the attached flow logic diagram. Read more on BBC. [Link]

Prince Charles has recognized this community several times during his visits to India. He was benevolent enough to invite two lunch-box carriers he met on one of his trips to attend his wedding- all expense paid. Now the 'dabba-walas' have their own website- thanks to one enterprising and kind software engineer. Read up more about them and even check out the power point presentation unraveling their business secret: mydabbawala.com Link.

No computers- no technology- no private motor vehicle- no wastage- no pollution- and no hassle- just 100% customer satisfaction! Pretty interesting huh?

Taraana Playlist: July 19th, 2006

2006-07-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last evening's live performance by 'Dhwani'. [Link]

1. Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna: Shafqat Amanat Ali, Shankar Mahadevan)
Vishal, Chorus: Katherine, Nethra, Vichika, Amnaya
2. Zara Zara (Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein: Bombay Jayashree)
Nethra, Chorus: Katherine, Vichika
3. Piyu boley (Parineeta: Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan)
Mayank Lal, Nethra
4. Pari hoon main (Talaash: Suneeta Rao)
Katherine
5. Raam karey aisa ho jaaye (Milan: Mukesh)
Amnaya
6. Western Instrumental (Eric Johnson, Victory)
Instrumentalists.
7. Tera mera pyaar sanam (Album HAWA MEIN UDATI JAAYE : Bombay Vikings)
Aswin, Katherine,Stephen
8. Voh Pehli Baar Jab Ham Miley (Indian Idol 2)
All singers
9. Intehaan Ho Gayee Intezar Ki (Sharabi: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle)
Mayank Lal, Nethra
10. Roobaroo (Rang De Basanti: A.R. Rehman, Naresh Iyyer)
Vishal, Amnaya, Aswin Chorus: Katherine, Nethra, Vichika,Stephen

The instrumentalists are :
1. Rahul on Drums
2. Aswin, Gabriel, Vishal and Mayank on Guitar,
3. Amnaya and Stephen on Keyboard

Dhwani's Feedback

Gabriel: Lead guitarist, Dhwani

Thanks very very much for having us on to play.It was a great experience for all of us, everyone's really happy. Thanks also to Anand, and also Glen. He made us sound great! I know we messed up some parts, but it turned out really nice.I know I speak for everyone else when I say thanks very much for the opportunity to play. Thanks to Archana and Ragha too; wish Deepak could have caled in also!

Amnaya: Vocals, Keyboard, Dhwani

The program was a wonderful retreat for us. I never heard ourselves sounding so good. Sure it was Glen's part that deserves the cheer, but it woudn't haven't been possible without your vision. It's late in the night, and I can't pull myself away from the podcast. Thanks for bringing us there!

Vishal: Vocals, Dhwani

Today evening was truely amazing ... we guys were up all the night just listening to the songs. I needn't repeat what the Gabriel and Amnaya emailed you from the side of the whole group!
Thanks for letting us perform there ... it was simply a mesmerizing experience!

Pictures from the Evening
Vishal's pictures ...[Link]

Podcast!!
The podcast of this show is now available. Please click on the update button on the right in itunes (podcast section) if you have already subscribed (it's free!) to the podcast. To start a subscription, click here for instructions.

This show is one of a kind! We are as happy doing this as you are listening to it! Support us with your generous pledges. Wherever you are listening to this from- we urge you to make a donation at any time, either by going to the website www.keos.org or by just calling our station at 979.779.KEOS and making your pledge effortlessly. Thank you!

Pink Floyd PULSE on KEOS 89.1 FM

2006-07-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

PULSE: PINK FLOYD LIVE FROM EARL'S COURT

This new 90-minute music intensive special celebrates the release of Pulse, Pink Floyd's new live double-DVD set, in stores from Columbia Records on July 11, 2006.

Hosted by Ken Dashow (WAXQ - New York, NY).

Pink Floyd plays some of their biggest classics live, as recorded during a 14-night stand at London's Earl's Court in 1994.

Band members David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright recall these performances from Pink Floyd's last world tour through brand-new, exclusive comments recorded for this special. Floyd's longtime art director, Storm Thorgerson, also provides rare insights.

The new 2-DVD reissue of Pulse features more than four hours of content - the full 1994 concert, the films used as a backdrop during the shows, Pink Floyd's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1996, and a feature called "Bootlegging The Bootleggers" that uses material shot from the audience.

KEOS Hosting details:

Where: KEOS 89.1 FM, College Station& Bryan.
When: July 20th, 6am (Eclectic Coffee House) , 7pm (Blue Biscuit)
Hosts: Eclectic Coffee House- Clefty & Radioactive Ray | Blue Biscuit- Mark Purcell
Length: 90 Minutes with breaks for local spots

It's our Summer Fund Drive!!

Money it's a crime ... share it fairly ....

... see you on the Dark Side of the Moon.

Live performance by 'Dhwani' on Taraana!

2006-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight!
Where: KEOS 89.1 FM studios
When: Wednesday July 19th, 2006. 7-9pm
Hosts: Radioactive Ray & Clefty

Tune in to 89.1 FM- "The left end of the dial done right!"

Queries/ Suggestions: radioactiveray@gmail.com
or call 979-779-KEOS during the show.

Dhwani: The Indian Student Music Ensemble at TAMU. Weblink.
Check back for the Podcast later!!

Wish You Were Here

2006-07-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Wish who was here?
Syd Barrett of course! The album (1975, original cover image on the left) is largely a tribute to Pink Floyd's former guitarist and chief songwriter Syd Barrett. Syd Barrett slipped into seclusion and left the group in the early 70s.

Roger Keith "Syd" died recently on 7th July. This Thursday July 20th, KEOS studios pay tribute to this musical genius and celebrate the evergreen success of the Pink Floyd. Join us this week at 6am on KEOS 89.1 FM to listen to an hour and half of Pink Floyd special. This music-laden special celebrates the release of Pink Floyd's double-DVD "P.U.L.S.E. Live At Earl's Court London" set, mostly derived from their 14-night stand at London's Earl's Court in 1994. The special is hosted by Ken Dashow of WAXQ-FM, NY, NY.

What is common between the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Cliff Richard and The Shadows?
They all recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios at some point of time.

Did you know that the Pink Floyd had timeless messages for us all in their ever famous albums?
The Dark Side of the Moon deals conceptually with the pressures of modern life that can drive normal human beings to insanity: materialism, the increased pace of life and travel, the encroachment of old age and death, the inhumanities of society and armed conflict. These themes are not just delivered with words, but are suggested with sounds and lyrics. It also deals with the issues surrounding a normal person's life, such as time, greed, conflict, travel, mental illness, and death.

The Wall: Roger Waters was inspired to create the album during a concert on 6 July, 1977 on the final night of the tour to promote Animals, dubbed Pink Floyd — In the Flesh. In Montreal, a fan's disruptive behaviour resulted in Waters spitting in the fan's face. Waters was immediately disgusted with himself, and his alienation from his fans urged him to build a wall between himself and the audience, an idea which later evolved into the album.

Information extracted from Wikipedia. [Link]

This Thursday 20th July, tune in to the Eclectic Coffee House [Link] at 6am on 89.1 FM to wake up to tune of the "Division Bell", or tune in again at 7pm the same night to be "Comfortably Numb'ed" by the Pink Floyd.

A regular podcast of the Thursday morning Eclectic Coffee House on KEOS is now available and can be accessed by following this link.

Now, web policing in India!

2006-07-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe my eyes. Found this on Boing Boing [Link]:

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) passed an order to ISPs Friday to block several websites. The list is confidential. Indian ISPs have been slowly coming into compliance. SpectraNet, MTNL, Reliance, and as of Monday afternoon, Airtel. State-backed BSNL and VSNL have not started yet but likely will soon. The known list of blocked domains is *.blogspot.com, *.typepad.com and geocities.com/*. Read more ...

Over and over again, we are seeing across the world how inept and unscrupulous governments are undermining the voice of their own citizens- the very people who put them up there. Where they could take one step forward and do some real work for their people, they take two steps backward and begin opening these ugly cans of worms! I really cannot believe this is happening in our country! I was proud to have a President and a Prime Minister who came from such illustrious backgrounds. But over and over again they have dissappointed the nation! I guess- courage to stand up for the right thing would likely be the thing they need a lot more ...

Update: There is still a lot of confusion on what's happening on this front. For the latest follow this link on the wiki [Link]. This email group has also been setup by some bloggers [Link].

India Uncut says ... [Link]
Mutiny says ... [Link]

It's been knocking on our doors, and soon it will be unavoidable- who should and how should the web be monitored or regulated? Where do we start and where do we stop? And does that stop just there or are we going to take lessons from our Big Brother and start spying on our citizens? As for the web, just like every thing good, we've got to deal with it's side-effects too.

Aamir speaks out against Mumbai terror

2006-07-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

I was in Satara when I heard about the blasts.

I was shocked and immediately tried to get in touch with Mumbai, but just could not get through - all the lines were blocked.
Read the full story on BBC [Link].

It is very important that key people in the society take a position in such instances of lawlessness. Aamir has always proved himself a very responsible human being. Millions of people out on the streets find their strengths in others- they often live in a fantasy world emulating Bollywood stars in their limited mundane activities.

I wish more well known figures and leaders came out and expressed themselves on such occasions thereby setting a good example for their millions of followers. This does not have to be only in religion and politics only- Bollywood stars are leaders in their own account. They can either choose to let their fans dwell in their reel-life fantasies or show them some glimpses of heroism in real life.

Update: Here's more action that found it's way into the Times of India. Bollywood stars voice their feelings. Photo courtesy TOI. And, here's how an artist is doing his bit. Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik. Photo courtesy TOI.

KEOS Summer Fund Drive Special

2006-07-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Donate Now!! Secure online donation.

KEOS Summer Fund Drive is underway! KEOS 89.1 FM is the only all-volunteer, non-commercial community radio station in the Brazos Valley.

Fund drives are the primary means of raising money to run KEOS, and we need YOU ... with no advertising, we rely on our listeners to help us continue to bring great quality programs and live performances to the Brazos Valley.

Wherever you are, if you believe in Independent Media- we need your support! If you haven't done this before, there cannot be a better time than now! Independent voices such as ours will survive only through YOUR support! Go ahead and make this radio station yours! Donate Now! Thank you so much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A special announcement as part of the Fund Drive:

Live performance by 'Dhwani' on Taraana
Where: KEOS 89.1 FM studios
When: Wednesday July 19th, 2006. 7-9pm
Hosts: Radioactive Ray & Clefty

'Dhwani' (means Sound) is a group of grad students from India at TAMU performing light Indian and Western music. The group comprises of several vocalists and a variety of instrumentalists due to which they perform music of varied flavor. The band came into being in 2000, when a few musically minded enthusiasts decided to group together. Since then, the troupe has undergone fresh revisions of style and flavor. With new students undertaking this musical endeavour on campus every year, the spirit of Dhwani expresses it's splendor in various cultural programs on campus, including Milan (India Association's new students welcome), I-Week, 'Association of India's Development' programs to name a few. Dhwani has also participated in the fund drive for causes like Tsunami Relief .

Dhwani participates in cultural and devotional programs organized in the Hindu Temple at Navasota and St. Mary's Catholic Church at North Gate. But this is just India exclusive; lately Dhwani has also attempted to incorporate talents from non-Indian students in their programs too. Dhwani welcomes both students as well as non-students to be a part of the spirit.

Taraana Playlist: July 12, 2006

2006-07-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's our Summer Fund Drive! Click here to redirect to an easy and secure online donation.
Thank you to all the listeners who tuned in tonight and all of you who made pledges! Your donation for such an endeavour like this is going towards to transforming society!

Podcast!!
The podcast of this show is now available. Please click on the update button on the right in itunes (podcast section) if you have already subscribed to the podcast. To start a subscription, click here for instructions.

This show is one of a kind! We are as happy doing this as you are listening to it! Support us with your generous pledges. Wherever you are listening to this from- we urge you to make a donation at any time, either by going to the website www.keos.org or by just calling our station at 979.779.KEOS and making your pledge effortlessly. Thank you!

Playlist

Tonight's playlist is as follows:
1. Made In India:: Alisha Chinai
2. Ishq Da Rutba:: Nusrat Fateh Ali:: Kartoos
3. Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai:: Shreya Ghoshal:: Jism
4. Khamosh Raat:: Roopkumar Rathod:: Thakshak
5. Papa Kehtein Hain:: Udit Narayan:: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
6. Mairi:: Euphoria
7. Bachke Rehna Re Baba::
8. Raat Saari:: Alka Yagnik:: Zakhm
9. Mitwa::Rafaqat Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, Caralisa:: Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
10. Aham Brahma Asmi:: Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh:: Kisna
11. Salaam Namaste:: Kunal Ganjawala, Vasundhara Das:: Salaam Namaste
12. Chinnama Chilakkama:: Sukhwinder Singh:: Meenaxi- A Tale of 3 cities
13. Rang De:: Asha Bhosle:: Thakshak

Tune in next week for a live performance by Dhwani- the Indian music band at Texas A&M!

We are bombed not beaten!

2006-07-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Yet another dastardly act and loss of so many innocent lives. People who commit such attrocities cannot be considered humans, let alone be associated to any religion! For, religion does not teach inflicting pain on your own. The less attention payed to those creatures the better for this civilization. But they do need our help to show them the difference between right and wrong.

The spirit of Mumbai! Adversary brings them closer, and that's what was visible last night. The bombs on the trains did not differentiate in terms of demography and religion when they struck. And, love and concern poured from all corners of the society bringing the community closer instead of driving a wedge between sections of the society. I know the people of Mumbai will find the strength in themselves to heal and move on. One survivor remarked 'We are bombed not beaten!' I salute the indomitable spirit of Mumbai!

Somebody I know has always advised that every soul on this earth is nothing but love- some understand it and express it the right way, but so many among us sometimes get it twisted. The same element of love (for something) is being expressed in the form of hatred, jealousy and violence (towards something else).

Be it New York, Madrid, Baghdad, Gaza or Mumbai, something is not right the way we are operating. We have been able to spread more hate, fear and loathe between mankind than peace and contentment. To the common man what matters most is a house to stay, some food to eat and a family to share his love with. War fosters more war. Love I believe is the one and only solution to all these problems we face today, not war.

Images from AFP and the Urdu times. More in depth news on BBC. [Link]

Monoacting redefined!

2006-07-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

The podcast of yesterday's Taraana is now available. Please click on the update button on the right in itunes (podcast section) if you have already subscribed to the podcast. To start a subscription, click here for instructions.

There are some characters in this world who have the ability to touch others even without making a physical contact. Sometimes, just their voice can be enough to draw one to them, to fall in love with them. What follows is the story of one such character ...

A few months back a friend introduced me to an audio recording on Kabeer. Unfortunately this happened to be a copy of the original and had been passed around without the titling and credits. The monoacting on the tape was excellent, and I listened to it several times- I hadn't heard of another artist who could re-create someone else's life so realistically just by his voice! Several months of hunting around yielded no results, as I still didn't know who this talented artist on the tape was. One day, almost six months later I came across an audio cd on Swami Vivekananda at a relative's place. As I listened to it, I realized the voice on the cd was nobody but the same person who had created the Kabeer tape. I finally discovered Shekhar Sen!

Shekhar Sen has proved himself as a talented singer, music composer, lyricist and actor. Born and brought up in a Bengali family of Raipur M.P. He was fortunate to learn music from his parents Dr. Arun Kumar Sen & Dr. Aneeta Sen renowned classical singers of Gwalior Gharana & Musicologists.

Shekhar established himself as a singer with a different style by singing the medieval poets like Raskhan, Raheem, Lalitkishori, Bhooshan Bihari & many more. To his credit, he has done more than 1000 shows all over the world, released more than 165 cassettes & CD’s as singer, composer & lyricist.

He composed music in many TV serials like Shiv Mahapuran, Geeta Rahasya, Parivaar, Dhadkan etc. & given playback in the famous serial Ramayan. He then invented a new style in the field of entertainment. His monoact musical plays “Goswami Tulsidas” & “Kabeer” created history. The quest never ends, Therefore as a true representative of Indian culture Shekhar is proceeding ahead in search of new horizons.
- From www.shekharsen.com/

Shekhar Sen travels widely across the globe performing as Kabeer, Tulsidas and Swami Vivekananda. Visit his website [Link] to check out some excerpts of his performances, as well as get in touch with him for his audio cds.

Listen to a small excerpt here:

Article on The Hindu. [Link]
Article on Hindustan Times. [Link]

Taraana Playlists: July 5th, 2006

2006-07-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

The podcast of this show is now available. Please click on the update button on the right in itunes (podcast section) if you have already subscribed to the podcast. To start a subscription, click here for instructions.

Opening piece and background music: Violin recital by Dr. Smt. N Rajam [Link]

Windows:: Krishna Das, Sultan Khan:: A drop of the Ocean
Excerts from Swami Vivekananda's lectures at the World Parliament of Religions

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna:: Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam:: Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
Tumhi Dekho Na:: Alka Yagnik, Sonu NIgam:: Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

Main Hoon Woh Aasman:: Alka Yagnik, Safaqat Ali:: Krrish
Koi Tumsa Nahin:: Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam:: Krrish

Chaand Sifarish:: Shaan, Kailash Kher:: Fanaa

A sample from the life of Vivekananda:: Monoacting by Shekhar Sen [Read more about him in the post above]

Ab Kya Socha:: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

To The Fourth of July

2006-07-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Swami Vivekananda was received well at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions [Link] in Chicago, Illinois, where he delivered a series of lectures. He also earned wild applause for beginning his address with the famous words, "Sisters and brothers of America." He breathed his last on July 4th, 1902. Tune in tomorrow to 'Taraana' [Link] on KEOS 89.1FM for a special program on Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda[Link], moved by the spirit of America's Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1898, wrote a poem titled:

To The Fourth Of July

Behold, the dark clouds melt away,
That gathered thick at night, and hung
So like a gloomy pall above the earth!
Before thy magic touch, the world
Awakes. The birds in chorus sing.
The flowers raise their star-like crowns-
Dew-set, and wave thee welcome fair.

The lakes are opening wide in love
Their hundred thousand lotus-eyes
To welcome thee, with all their depth.

All hail to thee, thou Lord of Light!
A welcome new to thee, today,
O sun! today thou sheddest LIBERTY!
Bethink thee how the world did wait,
And search for thee, through time and clime.

Some gave up home and love of friends,
And went in quest of thee, self banished,
Through dreary oceans, through primeval forests,
Each step a struggle for their life or death;

Then came the day when work bore fruit,
And worship, love, and sacrifice,
Fulfilled, accepted, and complete.
Then thou, propitious, rose to shed
The light of FREEDOM on mankind.

Move on, O Lord, on thy resistless path!
Till thy high noon o'erspreads the world.
Till every land reflects thy light,
Till men and women, with uplifted head,
Behold their shackles broken, and
Know, in springing joy, their life renewed!

To The Fourth Of July
by Swami Vivekananda
Contributed by: Mukesh H. Mehta

(From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol5 Page 440.)

Do Pyaase Dil

2006-07-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this song and pl post your comments:

Artist: Archana
Event: SPICMACAY event 2005
Original song by: Talat Aziz (only saw it at raaga.com)

Peaceful Warrior- a motivational film

2006-07-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Based on a book by Dan Millman, Peaceful Warrior is a story about the power of mind and spirit. It was released recently in select theatres. Watch the trailer.

Synopsis

Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is a talented college gymnast with Olympic dreams. He has it all: trophies, teammates, fast motorcycles, fast girls and wild parties. Then Dan's world is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious stranger he calls Socrates (Nick Nolte), who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. After a serious injury, with the help of Socrates and an elusive young woman named Joy (Amy Smart), Dan discovers that he has much to learn and even more to leave behind before he can become a peaceful warrior and find his destiny. This moving tale about the power of the human spirit is based on Dan Millman's best-selling autobiographical novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

Reaction

A beautifully crafted and enormously entertaining film that speaks to the strength and resiliency of the human spirit. Peaceful Warrior offers a powerful, yet rare glimpse, into the human soul. It reminds us what we are made of, reconnecting us to the power that lies within so that we feel and embrace it. See this film and it will impact the course of your life forever.
- Tony Robbins, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER & AUTHOR

It may often seem like an extra-pretentious Karate Kid for grown-ups, but Warrior's soul lessons go much deeper, to universally vital places.
- Bob Strauss, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

The What The Bleep Do We Know? crowd may well receive the film's wisdom like communion, but the rest of us are free to gag when Salva tries to jam it down our throats.
-Scott Tobias, ONION AV CLUB

More is Less- for all of us

2006-06-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Report: U.S. Cars Responsible For Nearly Half of World’s Greenhouse Gases
A new report by Environmental Defense has determined that American cars and pickup trucks are responsible for nearly half of the greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles globally although they comprise only 30 percent of the world’s cars. The study found that cars in the U.S. are driven more miles, face lower fuel economy standards and use fuel with more carbon than many of those driven in other countries.

Download report

Global Warming on the Road [PDF] »

Fact sheet [PDF] »

Press release »

So while the West looks the other way and keeps blaming India and China for the increase in oil prices and green house gases, the truth still manages to trickle out into the open. Larger cars, SUVs and trucks are the pride possesions of the richer nations. While a tiny population continues to love these joy rides, the rest of this world pays for it! Do your part before it is too late!

Taraana Playlist: June 28, 2006

2006-06-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

Note: We will resume our podcast from next week. If you can help with podcasting please contact me. We want to start streaming the music directly from this blog. Technically, we know what needs to be done. We are looking for someone to donate about 1-2hrs of time to get this rolling. Can you?

Now for our playlist:

Devotion:: Krishna Das, Sultan Khan:: A drop of the Ocean
Namah Shivaya:: Krishna Das:: Live on Earth
(Find out about Krishna Das by visiting Featured Artists section in the menu)

Jism Dhamakta:: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
O Sukumari:: Shankar Mahadevan:: Aniyan

Badi Dilchaspi Hai:: KK & Arya:: 36 China Town
Falak Dekhoon:: Sonu Nigam:: Garam Masala

Main Hoon Woh Aasman:: Alka Yagnik, Rafaqat Ali Khan:: Krrish
Koi Tumsa Nahin:: Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu NIgam:: Krrish
(Read about Krrish in the June 21st blog)

Mere Haath Mein:: Sonu NIgam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Aamir Khan, Kajol:: Fanaa
Chand Sifarish:: Shaan, Kailash Kher:: Fanaa
(Search for Fanaa on this blog)

Jana Gana Mana:: AR Rahman, Karthik:: Aayitha Ezhuthu (Listener requested)
Rasiya:: Bonnie Chakraborty, Richa Sharma:: Mangal Pandey- The Rising

Kal Ho Na Ho:: Sonu Nigam:: Kal Ho Na Ho

Airtel Video

2006-06-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Just came across this again, and thought it was worth a re-visit:

Also archived on Google videos: Airtel ads

Taraana Podcast

2006-06-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Clefty, my partner in 'music' on Taraana has created the first podcast version of Taraana. This is from our last evening's edition of Taraana. Enjoy the show by following the directions below. Your suggestions are welcome.

Directions to access the podcast using iTunes (download free from here).

On opening iTunes, click on "Advanced" on top.
Choose the option "Subscribe to Pod cast..."
You will be asked for a URL. Type in (copy-paste) http://www2.cdlr.tamu.edu/anand/radio/taraana/taraana.xml and hit the OK button.
iTunes will now go into action and on the left hand corner, you will see an orange color animation. This means that iTunes is contacting my pod cast server and accessing the files. This might take a little bit of time, depending on how fast your internet connection is.
You should now see an item entitled "Taraana", inside the Pod casts section of your iTunes.
To the left of the name "Taraana", you will see a small gray colored triangle. Click on this triangle.
You should now be able to see the entire directory i.e. all the 6 files that make the pod cast. Clicking on the "Get" button corresponding to any of these files, will download that particular file to your computer and you can listen to it whenever you want by hitting the Play button on the iTunes player.
The files are according to the date on which they were recorded. Also, in the description you should see the files numbered as Part 1, Part 2, and so on. This is so that you know in what order to listen to them.
To re-arrange the files in order you may click once on the 'Release Date' column.
Please excuse the break in between the files as they were necessary to maintain the sound quality of the podcast, as well as enable listeners with dial-ups to download comfortably.

Enjoy the music!

Taraana Playlist: June 21st, 2006

2006-06-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

Check back for the first podcast of Taraana right here in a few hours!!

June 25th is Bollywood composer Madan Mohan Kohli's [Link] birthday. We dedicated tonight's show to him, and for the first half we played his compositions. Here they are:

1. Kaun Aaya Mere Man:: Manna Dey::Dekh Kabira Roye
2. Aap Ke Pehloo Mein Aakar:: Mohd. Rafi:: Mera Saaya
3. Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai:: Kishore Kumar:: Man Mauji

4. Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil:: Mohd. Rafi:: Heer Ranjha
5. Teri Ankhon Ke Siva:: Mohd. Rafi:: Chirag
6. Lag Ja Gale:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Woh Kaun Thi

7. Kyon Hawa:: Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam:: Veer Zaara
8. Do Pal:: Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam:: Veer Zaara
9. Yeh Hum Aa Gaye Hain Kahan:: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan:: Veer Zaara

The rest of the playlist for tonight was in the following order:

10. Chinna Chinna Aasai:: Minmini:: Roja
11. Zara Zara:: Bombay Jayshri:: Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein
12. Aami Ek Jajabar:: Bhupen Hazarika

13. Mettu Podu:: S P Balasubramanium:: Duet
14. Pehla Nasha:: Udit Narayan, Sadhna Sargam:: Jo Jeeta Woh Sargam
15. Kajra Re:: :: Bubli Aur Bunty

16. Girl Friend:: Boys
17. Sapnon Mein Milti Hai:: Asha Bhosle:: Satya
18. Salaam Namaste:: Kunal Ganjawala:: Salaam Namaste

Rrrrrrrrrring to go ...

2006-06-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

Krrish is short for Krishna (no idea if that extra 'R' is meant to give him that extra whiz). That's also the name of the latest Bollywood release after Fanaa, starring Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra. Krrish is born with un-natural powers much like the famous Superman.

Except, our Bollywood superhero does not have a logo stencilled across his chest like the Superman, even though it beats the Hollywood blockbuster by a week when it comes to the release date. Watch for it this Friday! Rakesh Roshan is getting creative again- but if we can forgive him for 'Koi Mil Gaya', I guess he's taken up the reins to explore some fresh avenues for Bollywood. Krrish is his latest venture in that direction featuring his favourite hero- his own son Hrithik Roshan.

Seasoned Hollywood special effects experts Marc Kolbe [Link] and Craig Mumma [Link](Independence Day, Godzilla, Deep Blue Sea etc.) have lent their talents in collaboration with EFX and Prasad Film Labs. The $10 million and professional treatment show in the quality of this film, but what will sell it finally is a quality story. But of course the Roshans can rely on the junta because if they made Jadoo ... oops Koi Mil Gaya a blockbuster, they can make Krrish a mega blockbuster! Visit the official website [Link].

Bollywood launches its superhero. BBC online [Link].

Unfair to Men writes India Uncut. [Link]

Superman Returns offical site [Link].

Another TIME story

2006-06-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

This last issue of TIME Magazine is not to be missed. Some well written and interesting facts about one of the fastest growing economies of the new World. It makes one proud to be an Indian, but should also be an awakening for the ones that haven't noticed the signals so far. The Cover story. [Link]

I wonder what will be the structure of our democracies in a few decades from now? If the politicians keep doing what they are best at (some got it back solid today! [see end of this post]), and the rest of India keeps moving at the pace its going- what's going to fill up that divide?

Back to the TIME mag, there's a very interesting piece of article titled 'Hooray for Bollywood' by Mira Nair. Here's a scoop:

We were gypsies, Sooni and I. Two sisters in saris surrounded by tuxedoed strangers. But instead of taking our Banjara bullock cart to the nearest water hole, we were in a limo en route to the Oscars, where our first film, Salaam Bombay!, was nominated as Best Foreign Language Film. Read the complete piece [Link].

And now ...
Meerut, India: Protesting Trash Collectors in India Fill Streets With Garbage
And in India, trash collectors in the city of Meerut are staging mass protests in an attempt to gain permanent jobs with benefits. The trash collectors have begun dumping garbage in the city’s streets and pelting the homes of government officials with filth.

The rebirth of Comics?

2006-06-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Home-grown mythologies going global? One may say so, and this probably is a good thing too. If Sir Branson looks beyond the cash register and treats this with care and understanding- this will be a great service in de-mystifing the East in the eyes of the West. This will probably herald one of the biggest showcase of the centuries of cultural development, philosophy, epics, myths, legends, history, etc, that have been the backbone of the Eastern civilizations. Hopefully the deep cultural roots and the underlying tender issues will be handled with sensitivity and respect.

The important thing is to still convey the same simple message only garbed in more contemporary graphics. Meanwhile, this will be a giant positive leap for one of the most popular media of today which has been riding on the backs of the popularity of Manga and Anime for sometime now.

Now for the background if you haven't heard about it already:

VIRGIN EXPANDS ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVES WITH THE FORMATION OF 'VIRGIN COMICS' AND 'VIRGIN ANIMATION'
New York, NY - Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Books Limited today announced a new entertainment partnership with world-renowned author Deepak Chopra, acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and South Asia's leading publisher of comic magazines, Gotham Entertainment Group LLC. The partnership will launch two new Virgin branded companies, Virgin Comics LLC, based in NYC and Virgin Animation Private Limited, based in Bangalore, India, focused on creating original comic books and character properties for a global audience. Read more [Link].

Savor your eyes further [Link].

A reader and fellow blogger has recently written this [Link].

What's weird about this picture?

2006-06-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

A Brazilian flag right in the center of a Calcutta market! As I am taking a break from my blogging ... you still have entertainment all around you! Read this story.

Apocalypse Now!

2006-06-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today is the sixth day of the sixth month of 2006. So whether you write it in the European style or in the American format, you end up with 06/06/06. That's the ominous 6-6-6: the legendary mark of the Antichrist or the coming of the Apocalypse.

14 hours:13 mins:50 secs down, and less than 10 hours left on this day. Will we all perish or be saved in the nick of time [Link]? While you wait for 'something' to happen why don't you check out a number or two by Iron Maiden or Viking Skull? Or watch the 'Omen', Rosemary's Baby or the original Ringu? Yet another day to celebrate .. oops maybe commemorate, or just observe. The lure of doomsday and apocalypse has ensnared many to take their own and the lives of others over the years. What is it that drives people to believe in things such as this? Is it ignorance, false knowledge or too much knowledge?

For those who do believe that world is about to end- why did you wait till the 11th hour to start your prayers? Do you think we have enough time before those prayers will be heard? Man we are so doomed! According to latest reports- sadly scores of innocent people have just been killed in a bomb blast in Iraq, and unfortunately about a dozen or so just perished in Darfur, and oh, did I mention that some ill-informed gun-trotting school kids just happened to take their lives somewhere in the mid-west?

But for the lucky few who make it through the day, a percentage of them will possibly make big bucks at the expense of a gullible crowd that is too easily entertained.

Thank you!

2006-06-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the frequest visitors, readers and contributers to this blog! We have had more than 160 posts so far and over 5200 hits so far!

Keep em' coming!

- RR

STOP AIDS!!

2006-06-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

No other disease has as devastating social and psychological implications for the mankind as AIDS!

That's what a banner at an AIDS awareness camp in India reads. India is suddenly in the spotlight- 'India has most people with HIV'. A wakeup call for the government and all of us. We have overtaken even the poorest of nations for this dubious record as we run behind other lucrative economic successes. What do we do with all the wealth and resources if we can't invest them in the right areas? India has a wonderful pharmaceutical industry- what are they doing? India has cutting edge technology and unparalled brain power- where's that going?

40 million lives across the developing nations are at stake! And not just adults- but millions of small children! What can we do?

The UN report just out, paints a sad picture. You can access the full report here.

I appeal to all of you to take control of the situation- we can no longer wait for someone else to clean up the mess. Let's start a revolution!
I appeal to humanitarian organizations and NGOs [Link] currently working in India and other poor countries to do everything in their power to address this grave public health crisis. A country of billion people can definitely help a few million!

Also, let's have an 'AIDS-donation-box' on our desks from today. Take any box and plaster it with news and visuals that spread the word. And at the end of this year donate the money to an organization of your choice that could help the AIDS victims.

Get creative and help save human lives!

Rulers of the nation, as you fuss and fight,
over who owns the soil, and who, has the right
to design, build, sell and store and fire
all the bombs and guns to defend your holy empire
there are children hungry, children sick and dying
there are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers crying... - Sara Thomsen

picture courtesy BBC.com

Reservations in IITs?

2006-06-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

-from an unknown creative source.

Asha Bhosle on NPR- World Cafe

2006-06-01T06:46:00.000-07:00

World Cafe, May 17, 2006 · One of the most-recorded artists in the world, Asha Bhosle's career began over 60 years ago in 1943. She has done playback singing for nearly every famous actress in close to 1,000 Bollywood movies, and has sung in many different languages including English, Russian and several sub-continent dialects.

Her latest album, Love Supreme (released in March 2006) is comprised of ghazals, a 10th-century Persian poetic form that translates to "speaking with women" in Arabic. This poetic form is popularly set to music in India and Pakistan.

Check out the audio here.

Taraana Playlist: May 31st, 2006

2006-05-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

1. Ik Onkar:: Harshdeep Kaur:: Rang De Basanti
2. Namah Shivaya:: Krishna Das:: Pilgrim Heart
3. Suprabhatam (club mix):: unknown
4. Kozhi Kunju:: SP Balasubramanium:: Kadhalan

5. Sochan Dungian:: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan:: The Last Prophet
6. Dol Dol:: Rap & Lyrics by Blaaze:: Aayitha Ezhuthu
7. Musafir:: AR Rahman:: Vande Mataram
8. Warriors in Peace:: AR Rahman:: Warriors of Heaven & Earth
9. Tanhayee:: Sonu Nigam

10. Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni:: Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
11. Dil Ka Bhanwar:: Mohd. Rafi
12. Sur Na Saje:: Manna Dey:: Basant Bahar
13. Satrangi Re:: Sonu Nigam:: Dil Se

14. Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom:: Euphoria
15. Punjab:: Kuranesh:: The Long Safari
16. Zara Zara:: Bombay Jayshree:: Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein

17. Pari Hoon Main:: Sunita Rao
18. Humrahi Jab Ho Mustana:: Udit Narayan:: Pukar
19. Mundiya Tu Bach Ke Rahi:: Punjabi MC

Next week ... a review of 'Fanaa'- which was released last week. My earlier music review is here.

Taraana playlist: May 24, 2006

2006-05-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

1. Earth Kisses Sky:: Prem Joshua

Tonight we dedicate the evening to Naushad Ali, one of the greatest Bollywood composers, who passsed away recently at the age of 84. Read more about him.[Link] These songs tonight are all his compositions:

2. Awaz De Kahan Hai:: Noor Jehan, Surendra:: Anmol
3. Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon:: Uma Devi:: Dard
4. Main Bhanwra Tu Hai:: Mukesh, Shamshad Begum:: Mela

5. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki:: Mohd. Rafi:: Dulari
6. Ae Dil Tujhe Kasam:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Dulari
7. Ankhinyan Milake:: Zohra Bai:: Rattan

8. Tu Kahe Agar:: Mukesh:: Andaz
9. Jhoom Jhoom Ke:: Mukesh:: Andaz
10. Uthaye Je Unke Sitam:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Andaz

11. Ae Dil E Beqarar:: K L Saigal:: Shahjehan
12. Tu Mera Chand:: Suraiya, Shyam:: Dillagi
13. O Door Ke Musafir:: Mohd. Rafi:: Uran Khatola

14. Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re:: Mohd. Rafi:: Kohinoor
15. Naina Lad Jaihen:: Mohd. Rafi:: Ganga Jamuna
16. Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat:: Mohd. Rafi:: Mere Mehboob

We play more recent songs from Bollywood now:

17. Dheere Jalna:: Instrumental:: Paheli
18. Laaga Re Jal Laaga:: Sonu Nigam:: Kisna
19. Bangri Marori:: Water
20. Raga Bhairavi:: Hariprasad Chaurasia:: Pure Joy
21. Main Vari:: Kavita Krishnamurthy, Reena Bharadwaraj:: Mangal Pandey

Vivaldi goes East, Tyagaraja to the West

2006-05-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Susheela Raman won the BBC Newcomer Radio 3 Award for World Music in 2002 with her debut album- Salt Rain. Susheela attempts several things with her music, apart from exploring her own musical boundaries. She attempts to uplift her listeners, and bring out their emotions as she weaves stories through her music.

But in the end, what do you think is happening? While Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven have captured the imaginations of contemporary Eastern composers; Tyagaraja [Link] and Dikshitar [Link] have quitely travelled to the West. Western musicians experimenting with fusion music have found inspiration and direction in Indian Classical music. Susheela is one such artist. She continues to explore and evolve with new sounds that celebrate multiplicity. She has successfully collaborated with musicians across Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa to re-capture compositions in a new light or give birth to new ones.

Susheela talks about her background ...

I was born in London in 1973 to South Indian parents. My family moved to Australia when I was very young and were eager to keep our Tamil culture alive. I grew up singing South Indian classical music and began giving recitals at an early age. As a teenager I branched out into more blues-based music, which demanded quite different voice techniques. The question then was how to bring these streams together. In 1995 I went to India to study with Shruti Sadolikar, one of the greatest living Hindustani vocalists. This was a challenging experience as I had to let go of what I thought I knew and find a new, more insightful approach to my craft.

Returning to England in 1997, I started to work with Sam Mills who had made a record called Real Sugar with a Bengali singer named Paban Das Baul. This record inspired me because it bridged a gap and found common ground for Indian music to be expressed to a new audience. Sam’s work with West African group Tama also opened a whole set of musical contact points.

A little about one of her debut album- Salt Rain:

Salt Rain marks the debut of an extraordinary new talent on the world music scene. A singer born in the U.K. to South Indian parents, Susheela Raman's bold and sensuous voice weaves the music of India with sounds from her Western upbringing, celebrating the collision of European, African, and Asian musical cultures. Empowered by her Indian classical training but not limited by it, Susheela maps out a new musical landscape of intense beauty and invention.

Salt Rain is the culmination of a three-year collaboration between Susheela Raman and Real World producer/guitarist Sam Mills.

Explore more about Susheela on her webpage. [Link]
Also, don't forget to check out our links to many other artists from around the world at the bottom of the left menu. This list keeps growing because there is no dearth of talent in the world!

Guru of Fusion- Prem Joshua

2006-05-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Almost 2 years back, I came upon an album called 'Sky Kisses Earth' through a friend of a friend. The music from that album still sticks close to my heart as I have played it over and over. Sky Kisses Earth as well as 13 other such albums represent another amazing example of what happens when the (traditional) folk-culture of the East merges with the techno-culture of the West.

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Prem Joshua is a pioneer in the field of World Music, exploring and creating a new synthesis in sound which takes us beyond the borders of both East and West. He is a wonderful German born wind player who has successfully taken elements of his own jazz and rock based music and fused it with Indian tribal music while retaining the more traditional elements of both without the a-cursed dominating rock drum kit and bass format.

All of his CDs are master works of performance and studio mixing. Haunting melodies on the sitar, bamboo flute and soprano sax soar over driving tabla rhythms - ancient Sanskrit and Sufi poems are re-awakened by captivating songs and chants.

Prem Joshua has been hailed as the 'Guru of Fusion' by the The Times of India and in 2003, the BBC nominated him for its prestigious “World Music Listeners Award”.

Check out Prem Joshua's music and more about him here [Link].

Taraana Playlist: May 10, 2006

2006-05-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

This week's playlist is being skipped. Owing to an unforeseen event, we didn't have much of a show except the interview with Pieces of East. Please come listen to the band live this Saturday at the Revolution Cafe and Bar at 9pm on May 13th. More info call 979-779-KEOS.

Also playing this weekend will be 'The Last Minute'- local Jazz band.

Please be informed that next week we'll have a special- dedicated to Naushad Ali- the veteran Bollywood composer who passed away recently. Don't miss this special!

Thanks!
Radioactive Ray

Naushad passes away

2006-05-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Bollywood's most famous composer Naushad Ali is no more. He breathed his last this morning in Mumbai. He was 86.

Suhani raat dhal chukee ...

Born on December 25th 1919, Naushad has wooed several generations of Bollywood music lovers since the 1940s, when he tasted his first success as a movie director. His music training was under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali and Ustad Babban Saheb. Trained in Hindustani music Naushad tastefully adapted it to Hindi films. Many of his compositions were inspired by Ragas and he even used distinguished classical artistes like Amir Khan and D.V. Pulaskar in Baiju Bawra (1952) and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) to achieve his objective.

Jo kahi gayi na mujhse, woh zamana keh raha hai ...

Naushad has probably left very little unsaid with his beautiful compositions, and its true for generations to come he will remain immortalized in our hearts. He was awarded one of India's highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan, in 1992. In 1982 he also received the Dadasaheb Phalke award - named after the father of Indian cinema - for his "lifetime contribution to Indian cinema".

Naushad played a big role in the careers of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd. Rafi. The combination of Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi spelt instant success and will remain unparalleled for a long time.

We will miss you dearly Naushad sahab.
Gaye jaa geet milan ke, tu apani lagan ke ...
Kahe chalke naino ki gagri ... kahe barse jal ...
Tujh bin sooni sajan ki nagri .... jaate hain deep gagan ke .. tere darshan ke...

Read more about Naushad on Upperstall [Link]. His filmography on IMDB [Link]

Grassroots music strikes a note

2006-05-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

Pieces of East
Folk, World genre - based in Austin, TX

Pieces of East draws inspiration from Indian classical music and American folk music. This band brings together a very creative mix of Eastern and Western instruments and vocal styles. As Laura points out, Pieces of East has listened to the 'voice within' and can be an inspiration to many who see a future without boundaries.

Lead Vocalist and Songwriter Laura Giammona's voice is soft, surreal and haunting, at times reminiscent of Enya. Not surprising that she was picked among several applicants for the Old No. 9 Songwriting Scholarship winning a weekend workshop with Grammy Award nominated songwriter Eliza Gilkyson.

Gutarist and vocalist Anuj Timblo has long revered Eric Johnson, ever since he was a kid growing up in Bombay. And Bass guitarist Pat Cieply's 'One Hand Clapping' group used to regularly open for Eric's Electromagnets in the 70s. How funny this world of ours is- in 2004, Pieces of East opened for Eric Johnson at the First UU Church in Austin.

They have performed with diverse acts such as grammy nominated virtuoso guitarist Eric Johnson, Terry Bozzio from Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, billboard-charting singer/songwriter Patrice Pike as well as the Tosca String Quartet from David Byrne's 2004-05 tour.

Invited to several national music conferences and festivals that include South Park Music Festival (Fairplay, CO), Nemo Music Festival (Boston, MA), Northgate Music Festival (College Station, TX), Go Girls Music Showcase (Houston, TX), Ladyfest, TX (Austin, TX), Midwest Entertainment Conference (Lexington, KY) and Pecan Street Festival (Austin, TX).

Pieces of East [Web Link]

Laura Giammona - Vocals, Piano
Anuj Timblo - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboard
Abhinit Bhatt - Tabla, Percussion, Beat Vocals
Pat Cieply- Bass
Will Kidd- Drums & Percussion

Coming here near you ... May 13, Revolution Cafe & Bar, Bryan at 9pm. Opening music by The Last Minute. Email me for details.

Taraana Playlist: May 3, 2006

2006-05-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here's tonight's playlist. Playlist arranged in this order Song Title:: Artists:: Film/ Album

Vande Maataram:: various artists:: Naman 2
Vande Maatram (Hail to the Mother) is one of the most famous national songs of India. It was composed by Bamkin Chandra Chattopadhyay with an immense amount of passion to honour India. This version played today is a very unique one and not so commonly heard.

Songs from Bollywood-
Guncha:: Mohit Chauhan:: Main Meri Patni Aur Woh
Maula:: Amartya Rahut & others:: Iqbal
Ladki Kyon:: Alka Yagnik, Shaan:: Hum Tum

Pieces of East is an Austin based band, that's currently touring the US. They will be here in Bryan, TX at the Revolution Cafe and Bar on May 13th, 2006. More info at www.piecesofeast.com
Brothers in War:: Pieces of East:: Shadow Box
Glass Menagerie:: Pieces of East:: Shadow Box

Jana Gana Mana:: A R Rahman, Karthik:: Aayitha Ezhuthu
Surya Namaskar:: Various artists:: Naman 2 [Is this Yoga?]

Mira Nair is the director of Monsoon Wedding and her next film is called The Namesake. Read more in our previous article- A tale of two women.
Aaj Mera Jee Karda:: Sukhwinder Singh:: Monsoon Wedding - Listener Request

Garden of Dreams:: Ali Akbar Khan:: Garden of Dreams (Instrumental)

Bollywood music again-
Dilnashin Dilnashin:: Aashiq Banaya Aapne
Yeh Lamha:: Sunidhi Chauhan:: Chameli

More about Krishna Das can be found at krishnadas.com We will feature more on him soon. Sultan Khan is probably one of greatest Sarangi players alive.
Devotion:: Sultan Khan, Krishna Das:: A Drop in the Ocean

We played a wide variety of music capturing various stories and information as we went along. Taraana is not just about playing music- its about exploring the stories and histories behind what our ears like to hear. And this not just about history either- its about giving everyone an equal opportunity- be it old or young. Taraana likes to introduce new talents and support their music with this effort.

A tale of two women

2006-05-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jhumpa Lahiri

Year 2000 Pulitzer prize winner for The Interpreter of Maladies, and author of The Namesake. Her writing style is crisp, simple and full of anecdotes. It is amazing to note how she has captured all those small details in life that we so enjoy but tend to forget eventually. Her stories have as much beauty and softness about them as you might have felt when you watched the film Amélie [Link]. No Bengali worth his salt would forego her stories!

Jhumpa Lahiri was born 1967 in London, England, and raised in Rhode Island. She is a graduate of Barnard College, where she received a B.A. in English literature, and of Boston University, where she received an M.A. in English, M.A. in Creative Writing and M.A. in Comparative Studies in Literature and the Arts, and a Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies.

She has taught creative writing at Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Her debut collection, Interpreter of Maladies was translated into twenty-nine languages and became a bestseller both in the United States and abroad. In addition to the Pulitzer, it received the PEN/Hemingway Award, the New Yorker Debut of the Year award, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Addison Metcalf Award, and a nomination for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Lahiri was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2002. The Namesake is Jhumpa Lahiri's first novel. She lives in New York with her husband and son.

Mira Nair

It will be worthwhile to expect Mira Nair to do a truly wonderful job when she turns The Namesake [Link] into a film this year. She's known to have captured the essence of the stories with her screen play. Be it Monsoon Wedding or Missippi Masaala, Mira has treated her subject with due understanding and sensitivity. It will be a demanding role for lead role Kal Penn after the tongue and cheek, American style humour in Harold and Kumar. Here's Mira Nair reading an excerpt from The Blessed House (short story from The Interpreter of Maladies) on WBEZ's This American Life [Audio Link].

Accomplished Film Director/Writer/Producer Mira Nair was born in Bhubaneswar, India in 1957. Educated at both Delhi University and Harvard University, Nair began her artistic career as an actor before turning her attention to film. She found incipient success as a documentary filmmaker, winning awards for So Far From India and India Cabaret. In 1988, Nair’s debut feature, Salaam Bombay!, was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It also won the Camera D'Or (for best first feature) and the Prix du Publique (for most popular entry) at the Cannes Film Festival as well as 25 other international awards. Read more ...

Artists' List Updated

2006-05-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

Did you notice the new feature at the bottom of the left menu on this page?
Hariprasad, U Shrinivas, Nusrat, Prasanna, Sangeeta, Abhijit ...

Check out these listed artists and many others under the section 'Featured Artists'. This section will take you to the homepages of many established artists in the Indian music circle (or closely related).

Help me build on the list. Thank you!

May Day

2006-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today is May Day.

As a kid every May Day I always wondered why we didn't have the festivities that were associated with most other national holidays in India. Maybe there were celebrations; my small head somehow could not seem to comprehend the reasons behind the importance of May 1st back then.

Today I do, and I think it is a day that marks yet another instance in the history of mankind when the humans evolved.

The day is an official government holiday in most countries with mass demonstrations, rallies and marches being held to express labor solidarity and celebrate worker's rights. Here in the United States May Day is not a government-sanctioned holiday.

Why we work 8 hours a day?
But do you know where May Day began? The commemoration originated in 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. May Day or International Worker's Day is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. This is where the eight-hour work culture that checked the rampant exploitation of workers, has its roots. It wasn't an easy process because people were evolving and making mistakes in the process. Lives were lost, opinions and beliefs clashed, but in the end truth was upheld, and mankind became wiser.

Over the years, those against the basic belief behind this movement have attempted to paint this Day in alternative subvertive colors, but obviously it did not work. Although, this includes a much accepted 'Labour Day' celebration of the first Monday in September in the US.

A day without the Immigrants
This year, immigrant groups around the US have chosen this day to stage a work strike and take part in a one-day economic boycott to protest anti-immigrant legislation being considered by Congress. Hundreds of thousands are expected to participate in the boycott and various other events taking place throughout the country. Today is probably going to be another big turn in the history of the Western world- sit up, and take notice!

More resources available here. Juan Gonzalez on Immigrant protests in NY Times. [Link]

Young violinists woo America

2006-04-30T23:31:00.000-07:00

Ragini Shankar, is just 16 years old, but already following confidently on the footsteps of her illustrious mother Dr. Sangeeta Shankar and grand mother Padmashree Dr. N Rajam. Nandini is about 12 years old and it is amazing to see the enthusiasm in her voice and actions. Just like the two generations before them, for both of them the violin is very close to their heart.

The four of them are currently touring the US as part of the 'Three Generations Concert'. Here's how these two little girls describe their experiences so far:

Q. This is your first trip to the US. How do you feel?

Ragini (R): Coming to the USA has been extremely great! Since it is our first trip here, we are amazed to see everything so advanced, hi-tech and fast-paced. So far, we have covered Columbus, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Charlotte and we were surprised to see everything so organized and beautiful! All our concerts went off very well and the response from the audiences have been wonderful.

We have concerts only during the weekends so the rest of our time is spent either in shopping, sight-seeing, practicing, drawing,meeting people and visiting their homes for lunches and dinners and travelling. The huge roads, moderntechnology, greenery, beautiful houses, the cleanliness, sight-seeing, the malls and every product that we see is so nice and new. We went to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Beaches and many places. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!!!

Nandini (N): Yes, first time here. USA is really beautiful, clean, organized, green, and best of all, everything is developed here. We visited Disneyland and Universal Studios a week ago. Stunning rides and technology accompanied with beauties made our day! We had fun :)

The first city we visited was Columbus - peaceful, green, calm and silent. Everything quiet and perfect for living! After that was the journey to Los Angeles - a city full of life, stunning beauty and everything fast like a horse-race! People running for time, so many traffic jams, reminded me a bit of Bombay too!!! Now we're in Charlotte - an evergreen-tree storehouse. Sunny, quieter and picturesque, the perfect location for a well-settled life!

Q. Ragini, how are the concerts going? Can you describe your experiences so far?

R: In most of these places, the audiences were amazed to see us performing at such a young age! In fact in Charlotte, we got a standing ovation for our performance and we had to play again with Ammaji and Amma(my grandmother and my mother) due to the audiences' demand. In LA, it was a packed audience and we had music stalwarts like Padmabhushan T. N Krishnan, Lakshmi Shankar, Paul Livingston and many other eminent personalities listening to us. Indeed, it was a privilege to perform in front of them.

Q. Nandini, how would you describe the audience response so far?

N: We've visited 4 cities so far. The response is wonderful! In fact, we have so many people complimenting and congratulating us! Yet, we have a long way to go in perfecting our violin-playing... we've only just started out.
So far, Los Angeles and Charlotte concerts went off very well. The main reason being that the audiences were encouraging and the response was excellent. Americans in particular are amazed at our technique of violin playing - "The Gayaki Ang". It is so new to them.

In the Charlotte concert, we got a standing ovation. People were extremely happy hearing our concert. That was an amazing experience!!

Q. How do you feel sharing the stage with your mom and grand-mom- both of whom are such renowned artists? Any special moments?

R: Both of us are extremely confident on stage and we enjoy when we play. The concert sequence is unique: We perform for about 45 minutes followed by our Gurus. We have never done such a unique idea before. US has been our first concert tour so far as we have not performed in India more than 5 times. In India, one of the performances was really special, it was in front of the Art of Living Guru, Sri Sri Ravishankar.

N: Actually, the three generations concert is designed in such a way that first Ragini and I play for about half an hour to 45 minutes, followed by Ammaji and Amma playing the rest of the concert. The opportunity to play with them on the same stage is yet to come!! We've once done a three generations concert in the same manner in Jan 2005. But now we're quite accustomed to it.... 3 concerts done already.

Q. What would be your advice to the young kids of your age? How should they balance academics with their love for music?

R: The key behind balancing academics and music is to focus on your goals and to plan your day properly so that you can stabilize work and fun together. But the main factor that makes a person excel in both is hardwork and interest in them!

N: To have a good balance in all the fields you're interested in, time management is very necessary. If we plan our time and do things, it becomes very easy to manage music and education as well as have time for playing and other recreational activities.

Q. What's in store for the rest of the tour?

R: We are looking forward to all the remaining places and we are expecting all of them to be as wonderful as our previous ones.

Have fun you two! I am sure you'll woo America just as America woos you!

Three Generations previous coverage on Made In India. [ USA Schedule] [Dr. Rajam]

Christian Yoga? Now what's that?

2006-04-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today on the BBC:
Christian yoga becomes the latest craze to sweep the US [Video Link]

This is just crazy and not just a craze! Half baked knowledge is indeed more dangerous that anything else. Patanjali and other gurus of his time must be tossing in their graves! Christian Yoga, Hindu Yoga ... what's next?

Yoga is not associated with any religion as many are being made to believe. Yoga is not a form of exercise or workout as many are made to believe. And those who really know the truth about Yoga don't go screaming about it- they just live it.

Well if you are used to believing that Yoga is a form of exercise, then I should probably tell you that Yoga is not just an exercise for the external body- it is an exercise for your physical self, your internal organs and your mental frame. I am not an expert either but I can probably tell you that in truth Yoga is actually a discipline. It is like a good daily habit- like brushing your teeth, or taking a walk in the morning. When do we start talking about Christian brushing or a Hindu walk?

There's nothing complicated about Yoga. One needn't beat it over and over again trying to redefine it and reinvent it. It is really a very very simple and basic way for us to respect our bodies and souls and not take it for granted. And when one does this routine over and over again, one gets deeper and deeper into this rhythm and starts discovering the true meaning of a yogi. It's like opening a beautiful lotus petal by petal and discovering beauty and joy ... don't spoil the lotus by calling it Christian or Hindu!

No amount of talking can explain this until one truely experiences it ... but you can probably start your discovery here.

Taraana Playlist: Apr 26, 2006

2006-04-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

1. Chand Sifarish:: Shaan, Kailash Kher:: Fanaa

Songs by Mohd. Rafi
2. Chand Mera Dil Chandni Ho Tum:: Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi
3. Yeh Jo Chilman Hai:: Mehboob Ki Mehndi
4. Baharon Phool Barsao:: Suraj
5. Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahar:: Jaani Dushman

Songs by Kishore Kumar
6. Diye Jalte Hain
7. Aati Rahengi Baharein:: Kasme Vaade (with Asha & Amit Kr)
8. Chingari Koi Bhadke
9. Shei Raat
10. Ogo Nirupoma

11. Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies (Pulitzer Prize winner 2000)
An excerpt from a story in the book, read by Mira Nair
(originally featured on This American Life)

Mira Nair will be directing the movie based on Jhumpa Lahiri's second book- The Namesake. It's a story about American-born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, who wants to fit in among his fellow Bostonians, despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. Tabu (Bhagmati, Sharhad Paar) and Irfan Khan (Salaam Bombay, Road to Ladakh) will play roles of the parents while Gogol's role will be played by Kal Penn (of Harold and Kumar fame [Link]). In fact, Jhumpa Lahiri herself has a small role in the film. The film will hit the box office this year.
Here's an interview with the author. [Link]

Songs from Mira Nair's Film- Monsoon Wedding
12. Chunari Chunari
13. Aaj Mera Jee Karda:: Sukhwinder Singh
14. Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan:: Mohd. Rafi

15. O Sukumari:: Shankar Madhavan, Harini

Three Generation Violin Concert update

2006-04-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Three generations of violinists- Padmashree Dr. N. Rajam with daughter Dr. Sangeeta Shankar and grand daughters Nandini and Ragini Shankar, in concert. Here's their complete itinerary:

April 14 - Cincinnati
April 15 - Columbus
April 22 - Los Angeles
April 23 - Charlotte
April 30 - Raleigh
May 06 - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami [Link]
May 07 - Houston [Link]
May 14 - New York [Link]
May 14 - Washington DC [Link]
May 19 - Boston [Link]
May 20 - Calgary, Canada[Link]

Stay tuned for more ... read my earlier report [Link]. Message from Ragini & Nandini [Link].

Taraana Playlist: Apr 19, 2006

2006-04-19T23:06:00.000-07:00

Meenaxi- Tale of 3 cities:
Noor-un-ala-noor:: Murtaza Khan, Qadir Khan
Cyclist's Rhythm:: Shivamani, Navin Kumar
Potter's Village:: Hossam Ramzy, John Themis

Bollywood music from the 1940s:
Main Bhanra Tu Phool:: Mukesh, Shamshad Begum:: Mela
Hawa Mein Udta Jaaye:: Late Mangeshkar:: Barsaat
Jiya Beqarar Hai:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Barsaat
Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki:: Mohd. Rafi:: Dulari

Bollywood music from the 1970s:
Aapki Yaad Aati Rahe:: Chhaya Ganguli:: Gaman
Ajib Saneha Mujh Par:: Hariharan:: Gaman
Aaj Mausam bada Beiman:: Mohd. Rafi:: Loafer

Fanaa 2006
Chand Sifarish:: Shaan, Kailash Kher
Mere Haath Mein:: Sonu Niigaam, Sunidhi Chauhan:: Aamir, Kajol
Des Rangila:: Mahalaxmi Iyer
Dekho Na:: Sonu Niigaam, Sunidhi Chauhan
Chanda Chamke:: Babul Supriyo, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Master Akshay Bhagwat
Fanaa For You:: DJ Aqeel
Destroyed In Love:: Instrumental

Surya Namaskar:: Various artists: Naman (Mantras for Children)

Fanaa - Music Review

2006-04-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

Fanaa 2006 (Annihilation, Destruction, over here- 'Destroyed in Love')
- some spell it as Fanaah (remember the song from Yuva?).

Directed by Kunal Kohli
Produced by Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra
Written by Shibani Bathija & Kunal Kohli
Starring Aamir Khan, Kajol, Tabu, Rishi Kapoor, Kiron Kher
Music by Jatin-Lalit
Distributed by Yash Raj Films

Expectation factors:
- Aamir starrer of 2006
- Kajol is back from her sabattical
- Aamir and Kajol are cast opposite each other for the first time
- Tabu possibly will create a few flutters [but that's just my wish :)]

Fear factors:
- That Rishi Kapoor, Kiron Kher don't steal the thunder with exemplary over-acting
- I doubt Lara Dutta can do any damage

Based on scoops available on the web at this point [Link] about the highly secretive story and listening to the songs over and over again, you can pretty much guess what's in store. But I am sure the story will do favourably with the audience. I would give the film between 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5. But it needs to be seen if Kajol and Aamir can pull it off to higher standards with their talents. And of course the credits would go to Kunal too if that happens.

The music for Fanaa seems to have drawn inspiration from too many places. This doesn't seem to be the best that Jatin-Lalit are capable of. A lot of experimentation in each of the songs, and a failure to give the album a unified single identity. After Rang De Basanti this was the next much-awaited album but seems like the performance pressure proved too much for Jatin Lalit. Sonu Niigaam (I hate that name change!) and Sunidhi Chauhan couldn't have done a better job. Shaan and Kailash Kher did an excellent job with the Chand Sifarish number.

Here's my evaluation of the music album:

Chand Sifarish- The song Chand Sifarish is the best of the lot, with a catchy guitar and tabla gig which gives it the extra kick. Sounds like a fusion band number, but a pretty good composition. Probably would look much better with the picturization. This song was reproduced as a remix version at the bottom of the album.

Mere Haath Mein- Hummable, slow and melancholic romantic number. Good to hear the voices of Aamir and Kajol interspersed in between. This song captures the music of the mountains as the story is set in a Himalayan village.

Des Rangila- A typical Bollywood number this one. Going by the the lyrics of the song it seems like a Holi number sprinkled with a patriotic theme. A curious spray of tribal drums, and mridangam beats in between the dhol beats. A run-of-the-mill number with a deliberate attempt to make it sound like a patriotic piece by throwing in some 'Vande Maa Taram'in between and some national anthem tune in the end.

Dekho Na- A simple romantic song. A wannabe Rahman type number, but not quite. I would have preferred that Udit Narayan had sung this, not because Sonu Niigaam wasn't good- just thought he didn't quite fit in there.

Chanda Chamke- This one seems like a song that the to-be-lovers or disgruntled lovers would be singing on-screen as a handful of kids try hard to make the pair click; or an excuse to bring the lovers together by throwing in a bunch of kids. Not a piece to talk about too much.

Fanaa For You- And as usual the music director is playing it smart by signing in these DJs and creating their own remix versions before somebody else ripped off a more club type from the original. A good reuse of the original song with a profusion of foot tapping beats. I am sure that'll be the chart topper at the discs around the nation.

I would give the album a 3.5 out of 5 at this point.
Disclaimer: I might change my mind after a few more rounds on the songs- which might be a good sign.
Visit the official Fanaa site here.
All image credits go to Yash Raj Films.

So many of you are bound to chance upon this piece looking for info on Fanaa. What's your take on the following?
1. Traces of Jatin-Lalit's previous works (KKKG?) have trickled into the current one (Fanaa). Y/N?
2. Fanaa reflects their best work. Y/N?
3. Do you like the music in Fanaa? 1/7 songs, 2/7, 3/7 ... ?
4. War of the Khans- Fanaa vs Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Which one will win?

Creative PUSH

2006-04-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

A highly innovative solution to hit the message home!

Trikaya Grey, one of the few admirable advertising houses in India, won accolades for their soul searching design for PUSH. This effort for Childcare, India aims to help more than 20 million Indian street children who have to beg each day. Check out their other creations too. [ Link ]

For decades Mumbai remains the center of the advertising business in India. And, time and again the Indian firms have proved that they are really world class. They have dominated the Cannes Lion award list for several years in a row now. [Link] It is an amazing experience what happens when these creative minds at Grey, Ogilvy & Mather [red on the web], Saatchi & Saatchi [Link] and others, get their ideas rolling on to the billboards and television screens. And boy aren't these guys lucky too? With such a deep basket of cultural and traditional experiences to dip into, aren't they happy to belong to one of the oldest civilizations in the world?

Here are some of the remarks in The Wall Street Journal recently:
"Business is highly competitive, and clients say we need the best ideas," says Arvind Sharma, the company's CEO in India, internally named Burnett's top global office in 2003. "India can be a good place to turn, because quality is high and costs are significantly less." Read the full article ...

Geoffrey A. Fowler/ Cris Prystay
The Wall Street Journal, 22 March 2006

This weekend in Dallas area

2006-04-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL
with Art Greenhaw
(as part of Dallas International Festival)

When: Friday, April 14, 2006
Where: McKinney Performing Arts Center
Time: 8 pm
Tickets: $10

Welcome by Art Greenhaw of the Grammy-winning Light Crust Doughboys. The sound of the guitar, its global relatives, and how they became part of the folklore in their own regions and of North Texas cultural heritage. Featuring artists from Asia, Africa, Middle East, and S. America besides several local US artists.

Get you tickets and info here. Ph: 972-547-2651

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Asha Fundraiser with Indian Ocean

An electrifying fusion music concert by Indian Ocean featuring
Susmit Sen, Amit Kilam, Rahul Ram, Asheem Chakravarty.

April 14th Friday 7:30pm. Doors open 7pm
Hill Performance Hall, Eisemann Center
Richardson, TX.
Ticket prices start at $20, $35 and $55.

More information here. Ph: 214-223-9975

Taraana Playlist: April 12, 2006

2006-04-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight we explore some excellent pieces in Indian Classical Music, besides our usual dose of main stream music. We explore how a handful of very talented artists have succesfully experimented with different Western instruments and created magic! Also learn about the 'Three Generation Concert'- a Mother's Day special event.

Classical Music on Guitar:
Guitarist Prasanna has single-handedly brought the Electric Guitar into prominence in Indian Classical Music with his authentic and explosive performances around the world. He was trained by Masters like S Balasubramaniam and Violinist A Kanyakumari. Check out his latest album. [Link]

1. Shakthi Sahitha Ganapathim:: Composer- Muthuswami Dikshitar
2. Bhajan
3. Karimuga Varada:: Raga- Nattai:: Tala- Adi:: Composer- GN Balasubramaniam

Spiritual Compositions:
Aradhna- Satsang
Chris Hale and Peter Hicks came together in London in August 1999, and formed this group called Aradhna (means worship in Hindi). They travelled across India and Nepal and were inspired by the culture and music of the sub continent. This album(Satsang) consists of songs sung in praise of Yeshu (Jesus) and represents modern evangelical compositions in Hindi. [Link]

4. Gaao Re (Sing with me)
5. Naam Leo Re (Take His name)

Krishna Das- Breath of the Heart
Krishna Das has been chanting on a regular basis in yoga centers all over the world. He has taught with Ram Dass and sung for many saints and yogis here and in India. [Link]

6. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya (I bow to the Lord who lives in the Hearts of All)

Classical Music on the keyboard:
Abhijit Pohankar (keyboard), Ajay Pohankar (vocals)
Pandit Ajay Pohankar is a vocalist who has been in the Indian classical scene for almost four decades, throughout which he has experienced a magical... and musical journey he will never forget.
Abhijit Pohankar, son of Ajay Pohankar is probably the only Indian to play Hindustani classical music on the keyboard. He also has had the good fortune of training in various styles of music. [Link]
Check out his tour schedule here.

7. Gaathi
8. Bechain

Classical Music on Violin:
Padma Bhushan Dr. Smt N Rajam
Legendary violinist, Dr. Rajam is one of the foremost hindustani violinists. Born to a musical family, she is well versed with both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. Her brother is the well known carnatic violinists T N Krishnan. In recognition of her service to music, she was awarded the Padmashree in1984. [Link]

9. Narwar Krishna
10. Ghey Chand
11. Nath Aa Majha

Dr. Rajam's daughter- Sangeeta Shankar began her musical training at the tender age of four. Initiated and trained by her illustrious mother Dr. N. Rajam, she quickly mastered the intricacies of playing the violin and started performing concerts when she was only thirteen.

Dr. Rajam's grand-daughters- Ragini and Nandini Shankar are also following the path of the last two generations and have proved themselves to be budding artists.

Watch the Three Generations in concert at the Jones Hall, St Thomas University, in Houston, TX. On the eve of Mother's Day Sunday May 7th, 2006. Contact 713-522-7911 or 713-789-4653 for more information [Link].

See their complete itenerary here. [will be linked here soon!]

And now a taste of Bollywood before we wrap up for the night-
From the film Monsoon Wedding,
12. Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo:: Farida Khanum
13. Aaj Mausam Bara Beimaan Hai:: Md. Rafi
14. Aaj Mera Jee Karda: Sukhwinder Singh

15. Unbreakable Theme: Bianca & Ranjit Barot:: Aryan (2006)

Dr Rajkumar passes away

2006-04-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

Popular Kannada (S. Indian) film actor Dr. Rajkumar passed away this morning following a cardiac arrest in Bangalore. He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan from the government of India and the Dada Saheb Phalke award for lifetime contribution to the Kannada film industry. The 'John Wayne' of South Indian films had acted in over 200 films and was also an accomplished singer.

Indian actor Rajkumar dies at 77: BBC News [Link]

Complete information on Dr Rajkumar on Wikipedia. [Link]

Condolences

2006-04-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

Dozens Killed in Indian Inferno: BBC online Monday Apr 10, 2006.[Link]
Our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their near and dear ones at the tragedy in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh- India.

Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam ||
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat ||

--------- Apr 11 ---
And yet the carnage goes on ... China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iraq ... so comman-place that they don't get to the front pages any more.

A billion dollar team!

2006-04-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

picture courtesy AP

Team India!
Yes, finally a note on cricket. I know, you already had enough of cricket everywhere else. Yes, and that's the reason I didn't talk about it here. So why now? Because I can't hold it any longer! :^(

But I am sure the Western audience would love to hear a few words on Cricket- a game that drives the Indian nation wild just as baseball and football does it in the US. A nation of billion people behind one team- Team India!

But there is another 'one billion' mark that is blessing the Men in Blue- sponsorship and media rights around the Indian cricket team touched one billion dollars following a new five-year deal for one-day matches across the world.

Ignoring that slight tinge of uncentainty involved with this game, I have to admit it that I have never felt this good about the Indian team ever before. A rush of young blood, a captain who is known as the 'Wall', and a dash of fearless attitude has sent shockwaves through every opponent camp this season.

And, here's what the Indian team is upto these days. Messing with the English team in our own backyard. [Link]

BTW, some recent Bollywood films that touched the subject of cricket:
Lagaan- where a team of poor Indian villagers take on an English team that represent the British Raj (occupying British empire) [Link],
Iqbal- where an underdog tries to make it to the national scene [Link]

and Ajay Jadeja [Link], who did just the opposite, a cricketer who touched Bollywood.

So what's more exciting- baseball or cricket? Anyone? Anything?

Shantaram: An extraordinary saga

2006-04-07T00:24:00.000-07:00

Bet you haven't heard of a story like this one!

Imagine Johnny Depp as Shantaram ...

born in Melbourne, 1952;
union activist, founder of an anarchist group;
student leader, Melbourne University;
heroin addict;
armed robberies in 1977;
escape from maximum security prison;
arrive in Mumbai 1982;
runs free clinic for slum dwellers;
recruited by the Bombay mafia;
gunrunner in Afghanisthan;
smuggler in Middle East and Africa;
singer in Germany;
actor in Bollywood;
back to smuggling;
captured and imprisoned in Germany and Australia;
develops 'Resolution Theory';
debutes as author and sells movie rights to Hollywood in 2004.

One hell of a story! Watch out for Shantaram in 2007, starring Johnny Depp, directed by Peter Weir. [Link]

Gregory David Roberts aka Shantaram's story is extraordinary! One man- a dozen faces- and amazing capabilities of human resolution. Visit his website and check out his book. [Link]

Can we do without television?

2006-04-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

What do you do with someone who betrays you? What do you do with a friend who continues to mislead you every day? Foresake them? Show them the door?

What happens when the media betrays you everyday? We trust and remember things we see on television probably more than anything else. And they are using that trust to mess with our minds more than ever before. Both the government and the corporate crew are guilty of dishing out fake news guised in the suits of public service messages or just plain simple news-releases. It is being slipped in so smoothly that you won't even notice that something is astray- until you are lucky enough to catch the same information being quitely re-plastered into the minds, this time re-voiced and as part of your evening news health watch. See the Quest Diagnostics example below.

Now here's the real story:

A new study being released today by the Center for Media and Democracy reveals that at least 77 TV stations around the country have been caught airing corporate-sponsored propaganda disguised as news releases in the past 10 months. Companies funding the video news releases include General Motors, Intel and Pfizer.

Read the transcript or watch the video segments on 'Democracy Now!' [Link]. But before you do so, I'll forewarn you about potential after-shocks unlike some people out there in the market, who have coaxed, hoaxed and vioxx-ed their way into your hearts!

And if that didn't hit you good enough, try these video segments that were aired to the American audience in past few months! [Link] Take a look at these sample clips. You'll be astounded how sweet and serreptitious our labs and businesses can get.

Quicktime videos of the original VNRs with selected newscasts that incorporated them.

	A Fake News Report About Fake E-Mail Trend Micro
	A software company VNR is nationally syndicated through the Tribune network.
	Safety Information Sold Separately Stiefel Laboratories
	A pharmaceutical company dodges federal regulations through fake TV news.
	Work Woes at WBFS-33 Towers Perrin
	A Florida newscast uses a station reporter to disguise a VNR as journalism.
	"Is Your Child Constantly Sick?" Quest Diagnostics

You may think it is not hurting YOU, but if you think carefully enough you'll notice that attitude has permeated into every aspect of our life- so much so that we have accepted these as a way of life. Ignoring a crime or a wrong doing is not the smartest thing to do. It can get you one day!

So what do you do about it? Stand up and speak out. Express your thoughts. Let your local channel [Violater list- Link] know that they have been unfair to you and the community. Or just trash that idiot box! Just kiddin'! Ok, simply snap that cable!

Taraana Playlist: April 5, 2006

2006-04-05T22:59:00.000-07:00

Right Here Right Now:: Abhishek Bachchan, Sunidhi Chauhan:: Bluffmaster [Scoop!]

Himesh Reshammiya [Link]
Tum Sanson Mein (Humko Deewana Kar Gaye):: Himesh Reshammiya
Tere Sang Ishq:: :: Tom Dick & Harry
Tanha Jiya Na Jaye:: :: Tom Dick & Harry

Dilnashin Dilnashin:: Kay Kay:: Aaashiq Banaya Aapne

Beeghi Beeghi:: James:: Gangster (2006)
Ya Ali:: Zubeen:: Gangster
Lamha Lamha:: Abhijeet:: Gangster

Rafta Rafta Tumse Pyar Ho: Udit Narayan:: Rafta Rafta
Pyar Mohabbat Romance:: Kunal Ganjawala, Madan:: Rafta Rafta
Lagi Lagan:: Kirti:: Rafta Rafta

Sonu Nigam [Scoop!]
Falak Dekhoon:: Sonu Nigam:: Garam Masaala
Soniye Sun Zaraa:: Sonu Nigam:: Lucky
Kal Ho Na Ho:: Sonu NIgam:: Kal Ho Na Ho

Classical
Dil Ke Dardiya:: Bireshwar Gautam
Bireshwar Gautam is a talented Kathak dancer and a trained thumri/ khayal vocalist. [Link]

Srimahaganapathi:: U Shrinivas:: Sangeet Sartaj
U Shrinivas is also known as Mandolin Shrinivas, and is an establised Mandolin artist (Indian classical) who has also made a name for himself in the world of Jazz. [Link]

Discover India with Jeremy Piven

2006-04-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the Discovery Channel travel program on India, a two-parter which starts today (Monday) night. It's hosted by a comedian named Jeremy Piven. The first episode is on Southern India and much of it was filmed in the state of Kerala. He takes a boat trip through the "Backwaters of Kerala". [Link]

Jeremy titles it as 'Journey of a Lifetime':

Episode 1—Southern India
Airs Monday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Jeremy Piven's Journey of a Lifetime begins in the hustle and bustle of Bombay, where Jeremy finds pockets of spiritual passion and human compassion in the heart of the teeming mega-city...

Episode 2—Northern India
Airs Monday, April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
In this episode, Jeremy arrives in Delhi and heads to Rikhi Ram music, where the Beatles first experienced the power of the sitar...

Thank you!

2006-04-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you listeners!

Our fund drive went extremely well and we were very happy to touch base with so many of you over the last two weeks. We also met so many of you at the Forward Fest and Revolution during our Finale Event! It was wonderful!

If you still haven't met some of your favourite DJs, come by the Kyle Field on April 8th for the Woopstock Fest. We'll be there.

Thank you for your love and support!

For the last time ...

2006-03-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the birds and bees
I want your money

(That's what I want) x 7

Your love gives me such a thrill
But your love won't pay my bills
I want your money

(That's what I want)

Money don't get everything it's true
But what I don't get- I can't use
I want money

(That's what I want)

I want money
I want lots of money
In fact I want so much money
Give me your money
Just give me money

- Money (That's what I want) by The Flying Lizards [Link]

Do you get the hint? So yes ... just 2 days left in our spring fund drive. Your Spring is here ... make it ours too. Give us your money ... keep independent radio alive in this age and time.
remember that KEOS 89.1 FM is non-profit, all-volunteer, commericial free radio. It's a wonderful endeavour that needs your continuous financial support. And this is how a public radio works- by our generous contributions.

Donate Now! Secure online [Link].

Or just call someone at 979-779-KEOS to help you do that effortlessly.

FM radio setup in $1

2006-03-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

Today on the BBC:

'World's cheapest radio'

Raghav Mahato, a poor radio mechanic, set up his DIY radio station in the village of Mansoorpur in Vaishali district in 2003.
The station proved a big hit with locals - licence or no licence.
"Women listen to my station more than men," Raghav told the BBC. "Though Bollywood and local Bhojpuri songs are the staple diet, I air devotional songs at dawn and dusk for women and old people."
The transmission equipment - which at a cost of just over $1 made the station possibly the cheapest in the world - was fitted on to an antenna attached to a bamboo pole on a neighbouring three-storey hospital.

Read the whole story. [Link]

But alas this popular radio has fallen prey to local authorities and some outdated laws!

The original story on BBC from last Feb. [Link]

Image and story coutesy- BBC.com

Taraana Playlist: March 29, 2006

2006-03-29T21:55:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! Here's the songlist from tonight but in plain and simple format. Let me know if you have questions:

1. Gaata Rahe Mera Dil
2. Mana Janab Ne Pukara Nahin
3. Chingari Koi Bhadke
4. Yesh Sham Mastani
5. Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si
6. Aati Rahengi Baharein
7. Khaike Paan Bana Ras Wala
8. Rang De
9. Zara Zara
10. Khamoshiyan Gunguna
11. Urvashi Urvashi
12. Roobaroo
13. Gurus of Peace
14. Right Here Right Now
15. Azaadi
16. Chup Chup Ke
17. Bhaage Re Mann
18. Kitni Sardi Kitni Garmi
19. Dus Bahane
20. Adaa
21. Dhuaan Dhuaan
22. Kal Ho Na Ho
23. Oh Sukumari

First of all thanks to all of you who sent in their music requests prior to the show!

It was also wonderful to get so many listeners calling in tonight and make those wonderful pledges! Thank you so much! Your love and support seemed to be pouring in tonight from all quarters. Glad to know that you appreciate what I do here. Thanks also to my co-host Molly for giving me company, pitching and taking the calls tonight.

'You are the change! And the world is changing right with you!'

Keep us on the air! Pledge your support!

2006-03-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Why do the people on KEOS keep bothering the listeners to donate money? Why can't they just generate the money like everybody else and not bother us?

That's right- we at KEOS are not ashamed to come beg to you thrice a year (2 weeks each time) for money! Because we are proud to be a listener supported radio! That's what we are! And we hope to make you proud of your association with us! It takes us over $60,000 annually to run this station with the barest minimum. And so we need you!

No fancy commercials to seduce you in midst of our programming- isn't that better? We will not sell our souls to the corporate conglomerate or the politicians or anyone! We love to be independent and love to serve the community with fairness and diversity. Why do you think this is the only radio station that brings to you music genres that span from the Roots, the Blues, Jazz, Soul, R&B, Hip Hop, Latino-music, Indian music, you name it .. it's there! If it's not- come and do your own show! Wow! And of course when it comes to informational programming- we have BBC, Democracy Now, The World, Jim Hightower, Touchstone Radio and several other nationally syndicated programs.

All that for just $50 from your check book! Not asking too much are we? Think about it- you can just do $10 every month by recurring donation- that's less than 35 cents a day! It does not hurt- does it! What's stopping you from supporting this great endeavour?

Even if you are not a listener, see our mission [Link] and support it with whatever you can. If you believe in truth and freedom ... this is it. Make a small contribution (or big)- help us help you! Alright if that's not enough! Why don't you help me- your friend? Help me share the wonderful music and info with all our listeners. Donate just enough to keep Taraana on air!

You can also call 979-779-5367 and a volunteer will take your pledge. It takes 2 mins to do it! Come on- surprise us and yourself! Do this bit NOW!

Do it now! Take the lead- step up and make that pledge! Just click on this [Link] and donate securely whatever you can. If you haven't done it yet- and show us that you appreciate!

It's our Spring Fund Drive! Donate Now!

Thank you!

Good Breath, Bad Breath

2006-03-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry to throw you off track with the title! No, I am not talking about breath odour here.

My story today is sparked off by the sad demise of Adwaitya (the only one) a few days back. Adwaitya was a tortoise in a zoo in Calcutta, and the oldest member of the zoo, who is believed to have been anywhere between 150-250 years when he died. He's been witness to major part of the history of modern India! It is believed that this Aldabra tortoise was a pet of General Robert Clive of the East India Company sometime in the 18th century. I share the sadness too because I have met this grand old tortoise when I visited this zoo almost 10 years back! [Link]

So, what about my breath? Everything!
So how can an animal survive for so long? If you have been noticing around you, you'd see that animals with a slow breath rate such as pythons, elephants, and tortoises have long life spans. Whereas, those with a fast breathing rate- such as birds, dogs, and rabbits, live for only a few years. There are some insects that live only for 3 days! Man! Some people know how to burn themselves out fast!

Yogabound.com [Link], explains this for us-

... they realized the importance of slow breathing for increasing the human lifespan. Those who breathe in short, quick gasps are likely to have a shorter life span than those who breathe slowly, and deeply.
Rhythmic, deep, and slow respiration sublimates, and is stimulated by calm, content, states of mind. Irregular breathing disrupts the rhythms of the brain, and leads to physical, emotional, and mental blocks. These in turn, lead to inner conflicts, imbalances, personality disorders, destructive lifestyles, and disease. Pranayama establishes regular breathing patterns, breaking this negative cycle, and reversing the process.

So, you'd notice that it is important to know what a good breath cycle is. How to breathe and why? One expert quotes from the vedic scriptures to point out that a human life cycle is not counted by the years we live, but by the number of breaths we take. [Link]

It is said that a healthy human life is comprised of 946,080,000 breaths, the equivalency of 120 years. Through concentration on controlling the breath rate and prescribed nasal breathing, one can live to their full potential.
Physical and emotional imbalances can be corrected by consciously altering the breathing pattern of the nostrils, by purposely closing off one nostril and breathing through the other. In yoga, alternate nostril breathing is a common technique for centering and finding inner peace.

Further information:
Art of Living Foundation [Link]
Pranayama Institute [Link]
The Wikipedia explanation [Link]

And, while you are it digging deeper- try some mathematics to calculate how you are doing ... [Link]

Amy Goodman Live on 89.1 FM

2006-03-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

This week's big news is that Amy Goodman will appear live on KEOS 89.1FM this Wednesday, shortly after her Democracy Now! broadcast! Our own Ann Preston is a big fan of Amy's and has agreed to come in and do the on-air interview.

Amy Goodman, [Link] is the host and executive producer of Democracy Now!. She is co-author of the national best-seller The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media that Love Them written with her brother David Goodman. Democracy Now! is a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on over 300 stations in North America.

Tune in for this one folks!

Surya Namaskara- Sun Salutation

2006-03-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

I played a composition called 'Surya Namaskar' last night from the album Naman 2. Here's how it goes:

ADITYASYA NAMASKARAM YE KURVANTI DINE DINE
JANMANTAR SAHASTRESU DARIDRYAM NOPAJAYATE

OM MITRAYA NAMAH
OM RAVAYE NAMAH
OM SURYAY NAMAH

(Repeat first couplet here)

OM BHANAVE NAMAH
OM KHAGAYE NAMAH
OM PUSHNE NAMAH

(Repeat first couplet here)

OM HIRANYA GARBHAYE NAMAH
OM MARICHAYE NAMAH
OM AADITYAAYA NAMAH

(Repeat first couplet here)

OM SAVITRE NAMAH
OM ARKAYA NAMAH
OM BHASKARAYA NAMAH

(Repeat first couplet here)

The 12 chantings dedicated to the Sun in the above composition are meant for each of the 12 postures during the Surya Namaskar yoga routine.

The first two lines sum up the benefits of this yoga routine-
He who performs Surya Namaskara daily does not get poor in thousand births. (And poor does not refer to wealth!)

Surya Namaskara means prayer (Vandana) of Lord Surya (Sun God). Surya Vandana is short. Surya Namaskara is an ancient system of Indian exercise. Stand facing the east at dawn and peacefully chant the mantras to pray to Lord Surya and offer red sandals, flowers, rice grains (Akshatas) with water or simply the water alone as ARGHE (libation) and perform Surya Namaskara. This whole process is performed before the sunrise.

The Mantra that goes with this prayer is:

DHYEYAH SADA SAVITRI MANDALA MADHYAVARTI
NARAYANAH SARSIJA SANA SANNI VISHTHAH !
KEYURVAN MAKAR KUNDALA VAAN KIRITI,
HARI HIRANYA MAYA VAPUR DHRIT SHANKHA CHAKRAH |

Why donate?

2006-03-22T22:37:00.001-08:00

What on Earth brings you maximum happiness? Sharing... Right?

There is so much suffering, so many negativities in this world. And then there are these few of us who have so much in our lives. Don't we? If we can share a little; a pinch of our resources for a good cause- it does not hurt at all. In fact, it brings so much joy!

Think of it like this:

You are walking down the street with a packet of bread for your dinner. You'd also have some salad, some pasta and a drink to go with it tonight. Suddenly you see a hungry old man at the corner of the street. Wouldn't you just break a
piece of your bread and give it to the old man? You won't go hungry tonight- but how pleased would you be in your heart to think that at least tonight the poor man won't go to bed with a hungry stomach? That's the joy to live for!

So, pick up a few good social efforts in your vicinity and support them!

Giving back to the community for a good cause is one such thing. KEOS 89.1 FM [Link] is an all volunteer community radio station that works selflessly to provide the community with entertainment, knowledge, wisdom and truth. That's a great cause to support! Isn't it?

It's our Spring Fund Drive!
KEOS depends on support from listeners like you to continue providing the radio programming that you've made a part of your life. Every dollar that you give goes directly to work for you and all KEOS listeners! We have a secure site, so that you can make your donation with confidence. Here's the [Link]. If you don't feel comfortable pledging on-line, please print out your pledge to mail in.

Be the change you want to see in the world! - Mahatma Gandhi

Thank you!!

Taraana Playlist: March 22, 2006

2006-03-22T22:23:00.000-08:00

Entha Muddo:: U Shrinivas:: Sangeet Sartaj series
Surya Namaskar:: Various artists:: Naman 2 (If you'd like to see the beautiful lyrics, follow this [Link])
Ab Ke Sawan:: Subha Mudgal:: Best of Subha Mudgal

Right Here Right Now:: D J Yasee:: Bluffmaster
Khalbali:: A R Rahman, Aslam, Nacim:: Rang De Basanti
Paathsala:: Moh Aslam, Naresh Iyer:: RDB
Rang De Basanti:: Chitra, Daler Mehndi:: RDB

Oh Sukumari:: Harini, Shankar Mahadevan:: Anniyan (Tamil)
Iyengaaru Veetu Azhage:: Hariharan, Harini:: Anniyan

Main Aisa Kyun Hoon:: Shaan:: Lakhshya
Main to Kheloongi:: Bireshwar Gautam:: Legends (Hindustani Classical)

Dil Ki Sun Zarra:: Shreya Ghoshal:: Sun Zarra
Bangari Marori:: __:: Water
Naina Neer Bahaye:: ___:: Water
O Re Chori:: Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik:: Lagaan

Brindavan Hare Ram:: Krishna Das:: Breath of the Heart
Gurus of Peace:: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, AR Rahman:: Vande Mataram

Salaam Namaste:: Kunal Ganjawala:: Salaam Namaste
Bombai Nagariya:: Bappi Lahiri, Vishal:: Taxi #9211
Meter Down:: Adnan Sami:: Taxi #9211

Ena Solla Poghiraai:: Shankar Mahadevan:: Kandukonden Kandukonden (Tamil)

Thanks to all the listeners who called in tonight with their generous pledges towards our Spring Fund Drive, and all others for their support. You may still pledge your support securely online. [Link]

Voices you might like to hear more often

2006-03-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Aparisim Ghosh, chief international correspondent for Time magazine. Read Time's story "One Morning in Haditha" [Link]

Pratap Chatterjee, managing director of Corpwatch [Link]. He is the author of a new piece on the Dubai ports titled "Ports of Profit: Dubai Does Brisk War Business" exploring how the U.S. depends on UAE in it war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Arundhati Roy, acclaimed Indian author and activist. She is author of several books including, "The Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire," "The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile" and her Booker prize-winning novel, "The God of Small Things." Her latest article, published on The Nation website [Link] is titled "Bush in India: Just Not Welcome."

Arun Gupta, investigative journalist who writes frequently for Z Magazine, Left Turn and the Indypendent newspaper in New York. He is an editor at the Indypendent [Link] and a former editor at the Guardian weekly in New York.

Rahul Mahajan, editor of the website EmpireNotes.org [Link] and author of the books "The New Crusade: America's War on Terrorism" and "Full Spectrum Dominance: U.S. Power in Iraq and Beyond."

Techculture overshadowing Agriculture?

2006-03-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

A banner in a village in Maharashtra- India reads:
"This village is ready to be auctioned. Permit us to commit mass suicides."

While every Indian is proud of the continuing economic rise of India- let's not make the same mistakes that some of the 'developed' nations have made in the past few decades. We do need an economically strong India- but not at the cost of self-sufficiency. India has always been and should be a strong agro-based economy, and that's the secret of our strength. If we can feed our billion natives without borrowing a morsel- we can call ourselves a super power one day (though that's not the goal). Nuclear weapons, information technology, and industrial technology alone cannot do the wonders.

As millions and millions of acres of farming land are being sold off to developers and builders, we are slowly but steadily losing the soil beneath our feet. The farmers are helpless because if the economic policies of the nation continue to ignore them- they are left with no choice but to give up the profession of their ancestors. Why can't our brilliant minds come up with solutions to create Tatas and Birlas behind the wheels of our tractors?

Several decades ago, Mahatma Gandhi said- "Independence must begin at the bottom." He envisioned a strong India built on the foundation of strong villages powered by self-governance, and self-sufficiency in every regard.

Read more on the plight of our villages today... 'The end of Gandhi's dream: India's economic boom and bust' [Link]

Have we forgotten those beautiful words?

"mere desh kee dharatee, sonaa ugale, ugale hire motee"

India is probably the only nation in the world that has fed generations after generations through farming. But our ancestors have not just been taking from our lands, but giving back too. No wonder Mother Nature has blessed our lands with an evergreen fertility- let's stay true to it forever and treat it with due reverance. Read more ... [Link]

Taraana Playlist: March 15, 2006

2006-03-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

The festival of Holi has inspired numerous Bollywood songs. Bollywood captured the spirit of Holi in all its tints- love and longing, fun, frolik and flirting. We welcome the Spring season and celebrate this occasion with our choice of music tonight.

The first song celebrates the eternal love of Radha and Krishna- a never ending theme for several Bollywood numbers. The other songs in this first section primarily rejoice in the colors of nature and build up the energy for the second set which primarily consists of songs which picturized the revellery associated with the festival of Holi.

1. Radha Kaise Na Jale:: Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan:: Lagaan
2. Rang De:: Asha Bhosle:: Thakshak
3. Ho Ja Rangeela Re:: ?:: Rangeela
4. Rang Hai:: Alka Yagnik:: Meenaxi- Tale of Three Cities
5. Pacche Nirame::? :: Alaipayuthey
6. Piya Tose Naina Lage Re:: Lata Mangeshkar:: Guide

7. Ang Se Ang Lagana:: Alka Yagnik, Sudhesh Bhosle, Vinod Rathod, Devki Pandit:: Darr
8. Rang Barse:: Amitabh Bachchan & Chorus:: Silsila
9. Neela Peela Hara Gulabi:: Lata Mangeshkar Manna Dey, Mahinder Kapoor:: Aap Beeti
10. Dil Mein Holi Jal Rahi Hai:: Kishore Kumar & Chorus:: Zakhmee
11. Meri Pahle Hi:: Kishore Kumar, Anuradha:: Souten
12. Tan Rang Lo Ji, Aaj Man Rang Lo:: Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar:: Kohinoor
13. Aaj Na Chhodenge:: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar:: Kati Patang
14. Holi Re Holi:: Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey:: Paraya Dhan
15. Holi Aayi Re Kanhai:: Shamshad Begum & Chorus:: Mother India

And now throwing in a couple of colourful songs from recent films ...
16. Holi Re:: Udit Narayan, Aamir Khan, Chinmayee, Madhushree
17. Rang De Basanti:: Chitra, Daler Mehndi:: Rang De Basanti

Next week we celebrate the KEOS Spring Fund drive with some fresh music! Do join in!

Gandhi's Dandi March still inspires

2006-03-15T08:50:00.000-08:00

On Sunday March 12, 2006, a group of anti-war protesters set off on what will be a 241-mile march for peace across the Mexico-US border and through California. At 6:30 Sunday morning the marchers set off from Tijuana Mexico. They crossed the Mexico-US border later that day, and plan to end the march with a rally in the California city of La Paz.

Key organizer Pablo Paredes, an Iraq war resister was a Navy petty officer who refused orders to board a ship in 2004 heading to Iraq. He draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's 241 mile Dandi march and non-violent struggle to generate public support. [Link]

You can extend your support here: www.swiftsmartveterans.com

Quote from the website:

Despite embarking on a very bloody and costly war with no just cause; President Bush insists on disrespecting Mohandas K. Gandhi memory by visiting his grave to lay down a memorial wreath. Fortunately, many in America do understand Gandhi's teaching of peace and non-violence. On March 12, 2006 3 young latino conscientious objectors and 1 parent of a fallen latino will lead a march for peace inspired by Gandhi's 241 mile salt march. The march will coincide with the anniversary of the war in Iraq, the anniversary of Gandhi's salt march and will end just as congress reviews key war related legislation. High profile activists such as Cindy Sheehan and Dolores Huerta will also support and participate in this effort.

Dekho Holi Aayi!

2006-03-14T06:47:00.000-08:00

Ayi Holi ayi, sab rang layi,

Bin tere Holi bhi na bhaye;

Bhar pichkari, sakhiyo

Bhigi more sari hai hai ....

Celebrate the arrival of spring by splashing colors on one another today!

Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration.

Holi is the most energetic Indian festival, filled with fun and good humour; even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned.

Holi is also called 'The Festival of Colours', and people celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing coloured powder and dye around in an atmosphere of great good humour.

Holi is seen by some as the Hindu festival that is nearest in spirit to St. Valentine's Day.

Join me tomorrow on FM 89.1 for a fun filled evening with Holi songs.