Growth

Here is a pessimistic article about India's growth:
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/may/29india.htm. I agree with most of his points. I can not agree with some of them because I do not understand. I disagree with some pessimism.

Indian agriculture slowing down is an old story. I had questioned the Indian ambasidor to Canada about governament's efforts to help 80%of the people who depend on agriculture. I pointed out that agriculture was not mentioned in her speech which was abot India shining! She corrected me saying only 60% depend on agriculture now. True but it is also true that their contribution to GDP is less than 20% and agriculture takes nearly half of India's land. In summary, so called reforms and development are not helping 600 million people. Corporate savings which we 5 times less than domestic savings are now only 3 times lesser! Corporations have more money than people.

It is also true, industrial growth, at best is stagnent. Only thing that remain is services. Services have done well. But we can not eat services, can we? Infrastructure: Bengaluru like cities are in shambles. What about rural infrastructure? It still takes forever to call my parents. Good communication and transport is still a dream. Capital expenditure (i mean babu's salaries) is at 13 billion and beyond, a little less than India's software export revenue! Manmohan is still working hard to add fat to the rich asses.

What about inflation? So called growth for the rich is increasing cash flow resulting in more demand and inflation.

heart broken Indians!

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/may/29inter1.htm

Some Observations on Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a musical theatre art form developed in Karnataka, India. A unique art form where all of its components: music (both singing and rhythms), dance, dialogue and plot development, are improvised. The framework for improvisation is: for rhythm, the Tala; for dialogue, the character; for plot the theme. Singing and dancing, in my opinion, do not have a stricter framework yet. I note, in the same breath, that it is naive to label this a folk art. Yakshagana is more refined and richer in some aspects than so called classical art forms.

Singing is unique in that it is sung in a high pitch with a thick folk flavour (Male: E, F) making it more popular. Singing vaguely adheres to some Raaga. Although songs are composed in a particular Raaga, they are always rendered according to the tradition. Thus, adherence to Raaga is only guided/determined by the strength of the syllables in the song since the Baagavatha (singer) does not have voice training other than the traditional training. Traditional training does not consider scales. The lack of a stringed instrument in the performance clearly shows that Yakshagana does not focus on sophistication in melody. I believe that the focus is rather on rhythms. The reasons I can think of for such inclination are niche following focusing on rhythms and commercial viability. We can clearly see an advantage here. This lack of conformity has enabled development of a distinct form of singing. A form that will establish itself as a completely separate school of music. Yakshagana signing already has enough unique features in it. Singing in a Raaga keeping the flavour of Yakshagana is a highly probable development which might take several hundred years to emerge and also might need a huge amount of interest. Drone always uses sa and Sa (an octave high). Singing a composition may involve more than one Raaga.

Rhythms are the most prominent part of Yakshagana. Yakshagana rhythms are separate and likely predate the Karnataka Sangeetha rhythms. Yakshagana rhythms have more fillers in between the beats especially played on Chande. These filling beats render Taals unrecognisable. The complexity of Yakshagana rhythms is unique in its own way. If Yakshagana were to improve sophistication by caring more about Chande's (drum) ability to produce distinct sounds, complexity will have to come down. It is this complexity (and powerful beats) that makes Yakshagana popular. Contrary to the belief that more complex the rhythm becomes people tend not to understand and follow, complexity makes the rhythm melodic. When the beats get close enough, a melody emerges and people easily follow the melody. The melody of rhythms buries the complexity and makes it sound simple. In any case, Maddale (mrudanga) is played without more distinct rhythm syllables. Sophistication in the tatkara (bols) is lost in performance. Recently a composition always has more than one Taala as opposed to single Taala compositions around 40 years ago (I have been told!).

Dancing although is supposed to follow the tradition of Yakshagana, it is not the case in reality. Recently Yakshagana dance is turning into break dance and folk dance. Nevertheless, there is an established style. The style is specific to a character as well. All aspects dance, music, dialogue are controlled to develop and portray a character as traditionally intended. Mudra and posture are well defined. Improvisation also has a framework which is a responsibility not to violate the features of a character. However, the framework is not well developed enough to bring some amount of conformity. The less emphasis on abhinaya is due to the presence of dialogues. Shivaram Karantha's ballet attempt was to enhance abhinaya by removing dialogue.

A very good dialogue demands scholarship. Although dialogues have gotten loose in the name of on the fly speaking, it still remains charming. One important thing that still remains interesting is, speaking to a drone! Dialogues are always to a drone making the dialogue music to the ears. We also get that kick out of those dialogues. It makes the dialogues sound extraordinary.

The Yakshagana aata (play) as a whole is a performance. Audience are a part of it. The discussion of the performance, paan filled red mouth, comments on characters, green room visits and chat with the performers, snacks, appreciation, everything is a part of the performance. It is a family night out; an art crawl. Now with the introduction of 3hr performances, some of its charms are lost but is more accessible to the busy crowd in the cities.

I will eagerly wait (I will ask my kids when I die!) for the day when Yakshagana turns into a Mattu (school of classical dance) from merely a Tittu (a variation of musical art) while I continue to enjoy what it is now.

glow

there are different levels of conformance. higher degree of conformance to accepted norms is usually taken to be of higher quality. it occured to me, on a dull day that was last sunday, it is incorrect to attribute quality to conformance. however, i stop to acknowledge the effort and detail involved in achieving conformance.

in simple inglipish "unconditional appreciation is the key, not quality" (social socialism? eh?). i remember my grandfather appreciating even a rotten performance. he would say something that meant, "it was interesting in its own way!". that is only an example; i am not talking only about art. Be it science or anything for that matter. a seed for development lies not in conformity but in difference/deviation. pressumed lack of quality comming out of nonconformance is very important for development and hence deserves support.

even simpler: appreciating everything is very(!) neccessary. i know it is a hardest thing to do, but i am convinced , it is a more useful way of being.

if you did not understand what i was saying, easiest way to tell you is to tell you to appreciate my blog inspite of grammar and spelling mixtakes! i wont correct them, in either case :)

ಜೋಗುಳದ ಹರಕೆ

ಈ ಶಬ್ಧಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿ: ಹಲ್ಲುಮಟ್ಟೆ, ಗಿಣಗಲು, ಕೈಚಲಿಗೆ, ಗಿಬ್ಬು, ಅರಲು, ಜಾರಿ, ಸುಟಿ, ಬೈರಿಗೆ, ಕು೦ಟಾಣಿ, ಅ೦ಡೆ, ಜೀಕು, ನೆಗ್ಗು. ಈ ಶಬ್ಧಗಳನ್ನು ಉಪಗೋಗಿಸಿದ್ರೆ, ಯಾವ್ಭಾಷೆ ಸ್ವಾಮೀ ನಿಮ್ದು ಅನ್ನೋ ಪರಿಸ್ತಿತಿ. ತಪ್ಪಲ್ಲ, ಅವಶ್ಯಕವಲ್ಲದ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ಹೆಸರು ಅಥವಾ ಇ೦ಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಪದಗಳಿ೦ದ ಒದೆತ ತಿ೦ದು ಓಡಿಹೋದ ಪದಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗದಿದ್ರೆ ನೆಲಡೊ೦ಕು ಅ೦ತ ಏಕೆ ಹೇಳೋಣ?

ರೂಢನಾಮಗಳು, ಪ೦ಗನಾಮಗಳ ಸಾಲಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿ, ನಮಗೆ ಪಿತ್ರಾರ್ಜಿತವಾಗಿ(?) ಬ೦ದ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಯಾವುದೋ ಒ೦ದು ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊ೦ಡರೆ ಅದೇ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಅನ್ಸುತ್ತೆ.

ಮೂನ್ - Moon! - ಸ೦ದ್ರ :)

ನಿನ್ನೆ ರಾತ್ರೆ ನನ್ನ ಬಿ೦ಬಗ್ರಾಹಿ ಕಣ್ಣು ಮಬ್ಬಾದಾಗ....

ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮಿ ಚ೦ದಿರನ ಹೆಣಾ ಬ೦ತು ಮುಗಿಲಾಗ ತೇಲತಾ ಹಗಲಾ! - ಬೇ೦ದ್ರೆ. ಇದು ರಾತ್ರೀನಾ, ಆದ್ರಾ ಬೇ೦ದ್ರೆರ್ ಕವನಾ ನೆನಪಾತ್ ನೋಡ್ರೀ. ಕಣ್ಣಿಗ್ ಕಾಣೋದನ್ನಾ ಹಾ೦ಗ ತೆಗಿಲಿಕ್ಕಾ ಬರೋ೦ಗಿಲ್ ನೋಡ್ರೀ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾದಾಗ. ಇದು ಚ೦ದ್ರಾ ಅ೦ತ ಅದರ ಕೆಳಗ ಹಲ್ಗಿನಾಗ್ ಬರಿಯೋಣ೦ತಿರೇನ್?

Plumeria - ಕಣಗಲ ಹೂವು

The image is stolen from somewhere!:)

This is ಕಣಗಲ ಹೂವು. Plumeria in Inglish. We made ಗಿರಿಗಿಟ್ಟಿ (girigitti) with these flowers. All you need is a grass stick (ಕರಡದ ಕಡ್ಡಿ) and a paddy hay tube. We ran against the wind with this rotating flower in hand! sexy? eh?

Most interesting thing about this tree is that if you separate a twig from a tree and hang it in the air you will see it growing! Leaves sprout from the hanging twigs!

This flower smells heaven. The tree is completely fragile. No one dares climb the tree! Yes its friend Karaveera stands next to it in our village.

This is used to make the famous Naga Champa incense sticks (along with sandle oil). I saw how the Native Sweet Grass is used. But nomatch for ಧೂಪ (Vateria Indica).

Why is this suddenly in my blog? :) Unlike in other places, Havyaka bride garlands the groom with a garland made of this flower, before the knot is tied! Then I have to return the favour. :)

Jembe - "everyone together" African drum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembe

this can produce an amazing sound. you may want to check Chande the Indian counterpart.

a dance in tabaal room.. :)

it will be a year this june 10 with my Tabla. it is out of shape. but i left Saskatoon last year on May 9 thinking i will bring a Tabla.

here is my 12 beat khaida do not ask me the precise bols... its actually

taink taink taink da
taink taink taink da
taink taink taink ta
ta taink ta taink da :)

[Teen Taal 12 beat composition (Khaida bols and emphasis are mine)]

adjust maadkolli.... recorded using my chat microphone.... and dust bin did not refuse to play the role of a mic stand :)

taink taink taink da
~rAGU :)

free_culture

Lessig speaks:

http://randomfoo.net/oscon/2002/lessig/free.html

The punch line. "It's not about right or left, it is about right or wrong"!

[1] http://www.eff.org/

[2] http://www.publicknowledge.org/

[3] http://lessig.org/

[4] http://eldred.cc/

flood for thought

a guide line to instructors and teaching assistants says:

"It is not appropriate to date or flirt with your students. If a student is flirting with you, make it clear that you are not interested and that this behaviour is inappropriate. Note also that you should respect every student's physical space. Everyone has privacy and space needs, and our personal preferences regarding this may differ -- a general rule is that you should not touch or make physical contact with the students you are helping. "


:)

it is caste again

read about the Caste Wall. a lot of things come to my mind. i will blabber them all here.

e gulabiyu ninagagi

Tervuren Gardens

A girl asked, "why did you give me the red rose?". I reminded, "It is a picture of a rose!".

I remember rice because of rose! Do you know why there is a food crisis? Leave poor bush for his comments on Indians eating more and Condoleezza (US secretary of state) was only commenting on her last name (Rice!)! Actually Vivekananda asked the youth to "Raise". Indians heard it wrong! We thought it was rice! So ate so much that NRIs are waitinig for rice in Saskatoon since 15 days :)

May 2007, Sky of the First Season, Seen from Areca Plantation, Talebailu

ಅಲ್ಲಿ, ಓ ದೂರದಲಿ, ಕಣ್ಬೆಳಕು ಸಾಗದಲಿ,

ಸಾರವೊ೦ದಿದೆಯ೦ತೆ ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲ ನನಗೆ!

ಕಲ್ಲಿನಾ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯಲಿ, ತಲ್ಲೀನ ತಪಸಿಎದೆಯಲ್ಲೀ,

ಆತ್ಮಒ೦ದಿದೆಯ೦ತೆ, ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನ೦ತೆ!

ಬಾನಾಚೆ ನಾಡಿನಲಿ, ಭುವಿಯಡಿಯ ಗೂಡಿನಲಿ,

ದೇವರೋ ಕಾವರೋ, ಬರಿ ಸುಳ್ಳ ಕ೦ತೇ.

ಅರಳಿದಾ ಹೂವಿನಲಿ ಇಹ ಶುಭ್ರ ಶಾ೦ತಿಯದು,

ಮತ್ತೆ, ಮಲತಾಯ ಮಮತೆ ಮಡಿಲು, ದೈವತ್ವವಲ್ಲದಿರೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಇನ್ನೇನು?

ದೇವನಿಹನೀಜಗದಿ, ನಾವು ತಿಳಿದ೦ತಲ್ಲ,

ಎಲ್ಲರಲಿ, ಎಲ್ಲಕಡೆ, ಒಳ್ಳೆತನದಲ್ಲಿ.

ಬೆ೦ಗಳೂರು

೨೦೦೧

There , where the eyes can not reach,

"Is there the almighty?", I am not aware!

In icons and in the hearts of sages,

"Is there a soul?", GOD to many!

Beyond the sky and beneath the ground,

Lies the lord, the protector: a bunch of lies.

The peace in blooming flowers,

And the care of a step-mother, are not they devine?

There is GOD, not the way we imagine,

Everywhere, in everyone, in goodness and gay.

Bengalooru
2001

the rainmaker

rainmaker refers to First Nations people who lead the ritual to bring rain. in Karnataka there was a tradition. an unmarried girl visited houses with something on her head and people poured freshly picked water on her while the other girls around her sang folk songs that bring rain. i have forgotten what the whole thing was called. it was interesting. i recall, it is Kappe Maduve: the marriage of frogs. they carried a rain frog called "vater kappe" in a basket over the head. rain frogs are frogs that make a vater vater noise and it is widely believed that they make more noise when it is about to rain in a while. vatergappe. i have seen it works. the more learned have called them common rain frogs.

[1] many claim they are only in Africa. i am sure there are some in India. at least similar if not the same. biology people figure out!

however, so called the sophisticated also do such rituals as Parjanya. i have carried water and we filled the sanctum sanctorum of a temple completely with water. there is a related vedic ritual , together they are supposed to bring rain. i enjoyed the whole process. silk, sacred topless clothe, hymns and the team effort brings people together during drought; not a bad idea.

the rainmaker is a novel by john grisham. i call it a story; it is short; only 80 pages. the last novel i read was 2 years ago: not a penny more not a penny less. i do not remember reading any novel other than this since long. i overheard Napoleon say only women read novels; men should read geography. now that i do not have wars at hand, i chose other ...graphies.

the rainmaker is a crisp fast running story. its style sometimes resembled my own way of talking. implies a lot and jumps from scene to scene in an unexpected way. uses readers imagination to fill the gaps. calls new characters by name and never explains who they are, leaving users guessing. the american setting and names do not help international readers much. i disliked its ending: hero marrying the wife of someone! could the author not think of something better? but it still is an amazing story.

the rainmaker is about a law student and his first case that he fights against an insurance company who refused pay a poor couple whose son has blood cancer. Donny Ray dies. Rudy fights the case in an interesting way and wins. disgusted, abandons the law profession.

by the way jury system was abolished in India i think in 1965. read about it here.


[1] http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/07/10/common-rain-frog/