PUPPET AND LIFE

"You have the right to love 

and be loved as well. 

The right to, not just break but, shatter from your shell.

Run free, run proud 

sing to me and sing it loud. 

Slacks and dresses spinning and twirling, 

backs and arms bending and curling. 

Dance like the puppets do 

not seeing the strings touching you. 

please puppet master loosen your grip 

please god let his hand slip...."

​

 by Anthony Jarell Alexander, September 2011

Varun Narain's creation

"Puppets are actors though not human beings. Nor are they barely bits of woods and rags. Just as a mask is considered as 'the other face of man', Puppet is in fact, the Mask complete, from which the human actor has withdrawn, not to be disassociated but to be united with subtler objectivity for exploring yet another dimension of Theatre - yet another plane of reality". 

As the famous Mr. Richard Pischel said, "It is not improbable that the Puppet play is in reality everywhere, the most ancient form of dramatic representation." But if we dig more to find the place of origin of puppetry... well there is controversy. But the majority says, puppetry have originated in India earlier than 5th century BC, no country can perhaps claim such a long tradition in this form of art. In ancient tantric tradition and also according to the Vedanta, the essence of human life is referred to as the Ojas or the life-giving force. 

Famous puppeteer and my professor from MCRC Varun Narain and his puppet

Realising the complete parallel of the art of puppetry, where the Puppet is nothing but the reactive-self, manipulated by the external manifests - that is the puppeteer, making it possible...

Varun Narain's Creation 

Now the question is, is there any psychological reason behind making puppets? Well... well... well... we all have a strong desire to escape reality. Psychologist calls it 'wish fulfillment'. The Puppet's power of offering escape from reality through wish fulfillment is the secret of its surprisingly universal appeal which comes through identification, not with any of the Puppets but with the Puppeteer. Perhaps the largest prejudice towards puppetry and its contribution to psychology was evident in the witch hunts in Europe.

As Civilization advanced it was recognized that Puppets do not only mystify, but they also do entertain. The old traditional puppetry has been reinvigorated and Puppets have been successfully introduced to many new spheres of activity, such as education, therapeutic, rehabilitation of handicapped children, propaganda, advertising cinema and television. It has been recognized that there is no limit to the power of Puppets to provide aesthetic entertainment.

Farhatulla Beig and some local kids interacting with string puppet

Actually, puppetry can send a message more effectively and efficiently and in a non-threatening way to the children and parents and as well as to the mass than any other medium. Messages like on sex education or hygiene or communal harmony or infanticide. Puppetry can be a teaching aid in the classroom, no matter what type of Puppets you are using. A simple cut out can be more effective than a chalk n duster in the blackboard. It allows children to escape in their imaginary world. It not only delivers information but touches our inner self and awakens our subconscious mind, brings out our fear, regression.

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

​

Over the years, I have learned that 'Freedom is never free.' Freedom costs us more than just sweat and blood or whatever we are forced to give.  It costs us the lives of our fathers, our sisters and brothers and many more. But while freedom is never free, we have to remember that, it has been bought at a great price and with it comes to great responsibility. As I stepped inside the great yet notorious cellular jail, a chill gone down my spine. And soon I realized that what actually freedom means. The twilight hush, the lazy evening sky, and a retiring sun may set our mind free but the boundary wall won’t let you go too far. As if, I am a kite but my movement is maneuvered by the invisible kite man. Though there were many visitors still I felt alone. The corridors, now echoing with the juvenile chirps of the young ones. But the silent screams of our brave heroes could be heard. 

Amar Jyoti: The Eternal Flame

Memorial to honor the first World War Indian soldiers and the Freedom Fighters

Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, stands as a dark reminiscence of the British rule in the Indian subcontinent. This most dreaded and grueling colonial prison situated in the remote archipelago was used by the British particularly to exile Indian political prisoners. Isolated from the mainland, this jail, also referred to as Kala Pani (where Kala means death or time and Pani means water in Sanskrit) witnessed the most atrocious punishments imposed on prisoners. India’s struggle for independence saw imminent freedom fighters like Batukeshwar Dutt and Veer Savarkar being incarcerated in this jail. The jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired the name ‘Cellular’ because it is entirely made up of individual cells for solitary confinement. It originally was a seven prolonged, puce-colored building with central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The central tower had a large bell for raising alarm and also during someone going in gallows. The building was subsequently damaged and presently three out of the seven prongs are intact. The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom-loving people, has been declared a National Memorial. The jail museum here draws your memories back to those years of freedom struggle.

The path to History

The Tower

Those ropes and....

It was my fourth visit to the jail, yet every time I feel, there are more stories to come out, need to be told. But, who will tell us? The inmates had been killed or might had been silenced by the stroke of time. Only this mute spectator, the Jail, standing along with the Peepal tree, and without uttering a single word telling a lot that mere words can describe. Tears were rolling down the cheeks, grief and sadness engulphed my heart. I was eagerly showing my kids every corner of the cells and corridors and telling the stories I have heard earlier.

Our past laid behind this lock...

So many stories...

The chair of notorious General Barry

Oil machine for coconut oil.....
But in place of a bull, our freedom fighters were made to do the bull work

The freedom fighters in hundreds were sent to the island where they remained under the custody of jailer David Barry and military doctor Major James Pattison Walker. Notable freedom fighters confined in the jail included Batukeshwar Dutt, Diwan Singh Kalepani, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, and the Savarkar brothers - Babarao Savarkar and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar among others. Being in solitary confinement the Savarkar brothers were unaware of each other’s presence in the same jail for two years. Many freedom fighters in the jail went through inhuman and unimaginable tortures, the very thought of which brings chills down the spines. The jail drew attention when its inmates observed hunger strikes in the early 1930s. Bhagat Singh’s associate in the freedom movement, Mahavir Singh went on a hunger strike in protest of such cruel treatment but died when authorities tried to feed him milk forcibly which went to his lungs. His body was thrown into the sea. In 1937-38 following intervention by Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore the government decided on repatriating the freedom fighters.

From the Roof

My kids were pretty shaken seeing the rough clothes meant for the prisoners and the torture tools used by General Barry. But they should know that the freedom they are enjoying didn't come easy. They are standing on the sweat, blood, and flesh of our freedom fighters. The road was never easy, it wasn't meant to be.

Some quick note on Cellular Jail:

When was it built: From 1896 to 1906

Who built it: British

Time took: 10 years

Where is it located: Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Why was it built: As Solitary Confinement

Architectural Style: Cellular, Pronged

Visit Timing: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm, 1.30 pm to 4.45 pm

How to Reach: Port Blair is well-connected with many cities of mainland India by sea and air.

Light & Sound Show

It regularly holds Light & Sound (Son-et-Lumiere) shows on India’s freedom struggle in Hindi and English excepting on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The price of a ticket for The light and sound show is Rs. 50/- per adult. (rates may be revised)

P.S. I have visited the place in 2019, 2009, 1993, 1992

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita

PHOBIA

Most of us have phobias and at any point in time and we can develop a complete new phobia. It's not abnormal to have phobias, but we should not be tied down by that. We can have multiple phobias or just a single one. If you find, your daily life is getting disturbed because of such phobia, you can always get yourself help from a medic or a good friend. 

Now let's talk about what is a phobia- A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months.

Phobias can develop around any object or situation, and some people may have multiple phobias. They can be roughly categorized into two groups: specific phobias. complex phobias. But some study says, there are three main groups of phobias which include:

• Specific (simple) phobias: which are the most common and focus on specific objects.
• Social phobia: which causes extreme anxiety in social or public situations, and
• Agoraphobia: which is the fear of being alone in public places from which there is no easy escape. Some experts have divided them into two- specific and complex( social+ agoraphobia). 

Specific phobias

These are phobias about a specific object or situation, such as spiders or flying. They often develop in childhood or adolescence and for some people, they will lessen as they get older.

Some of the more common specific phobias are:

-animals (such as dogs, insects, snakes, rodents)

-the natural environment (such as heights, water, darkness, storms, germs)

-situational (such as flying, going to the dentist, tunnels, small spaces, escalators)

-body-based phobias (such as blood, vomit, injections, choking, medical procedures, childbirth)

-sexual phobias (such as sexual acts or fear of nudity)

-other (such as certain foods, objects, costumed characters)

Complex Phobia

Social phobia 

Social phobia can be extremely debilitating and can make it very difficult to engage in everyday activities such as:

-talking in groups or starting conversations

-public speaking

-speaking on the phone

-meeting new people

-talking to authority figures

-eating and drinking in front of others

-regular trips out to the shops or bank

-going to work

Agoraphobia

If you have agoraphobia you are likely to experience high levels of anxiety and may avoid a variety of everyday situations such as:

-being outside the home alone

-being in open spaces

-being in a crowd of people

-traveling by car, bus or plane

-being in enclosed spaces such as a lift or in a shop

Well, as the study shows, almost all phobias can be treated, only that we have to identify early and have a willingness to get over with it. Next time if you find someone with some phobia, extend your hand to make the person overcome the situation, rather labeling him or her as a freak. Who knows, what have you got-watch out. 

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita

A CUP OF TEA AND A STORY

TEA …does this word strike a chord in your mind, or do you miss a heartbeat if you miss your morning cup of tea. Oh! Dear, these are nothing meant for me. Am I supposed to be an out of the world one!!! Well! For me, tea is a delicacy, a memory, a story to go on from generation to generation. My great-granddad was very much fond of tea and at that time, says about in the 1950s it was a luxurious affair indeed. My grandmom used to make a big pot full of tea in the early morning. Other old village men used to gather in our courtyard and eventually they all ended up having tea with a daily dose of big talks. Though I couldn’t experience any such things, but the description was so vivid that I felt as if I have seen all. For me, tea was always meant special. While traveling on a long-distance train, the nasal tone of the hawkers in the station, shouting for “CHAI! CHAI!” always made me more curious about the drink. I knew I won’t get a better tea from these vendors, yet every time I would buy in the hope of getting a better taste to remember long.

Not only me but for many of us, tea holds a special place. In some cultures making tea is a part of rituals, it’s an art. There is various way of making tea to appease our tea-thrust. To bring out the right flavor, taste, and color of the tea, is a matter of precision. Talking about tea is like an epic experience. My good friend Samya Roy once enlightened me with some beautiful inputs on Indian Tea varieties. In the Indian market, we get mainly three major varieties of Tea—green Tea, Kangra& Orthodox.

Now a day’s people are more fascinated with green tea for its antioxidant property and nutrients. Green tea helps to detox your body and melts your stubborn fat. So, while a cup of green tea detoxifies your body, the toxic contents accumulate in the kidney. Hence, it is advisable to take plenty of water as well to flush out those toxins, otherwise, the effect may differ. On a funny note, one surly would lose fat, once the person will pluck the leaves by self and make tea out of it.

Kangra tea has a distinctive flavor. The subtle taste and smell can make your morning happier. It doesn’t produce dark liquor, as it is leaf-based. People, like my dad, who enjoys black tea, Kangra could be a wise pick for them.

In general, we drink orthodox tea. It has two different varieties, leaf and CTC or crushes, tears and curl. Well, leaf further can be divided into – leaf, half dust, and dust. CTC, on the other hand, has numerous varieties too, like—PD, OF, BP, BOP &, etc. Most of the street side tea sellers use the low-quality CTC tea only, thus we get color but no flavor. People, who love to have milk infused tea, use CTC and at the end of preparation, they tend to add pinches of leaf tea to get the flavor as well. One may get the best quality CTC tea from Assam’s tea gardens, where it has taste and flavor but may cost a bit heavy. Darjeeling tea is widely marketed and It is processed as black, green, white and oolong tea. When properly brewed, it yields a thin-bodied, light-colored infusion with a floral aroma. Some may like Nilgiri tea as well and draw a comparison between Darjeeling and Nilgiri varieties. Darjeeling tea is a very light-colored infusion with a mossy-vegetal and some may even say fruity flavor. The flavor tends to last on the palate for a long time and is very palatable. Nilgiri tea, on the other hand, is known for its extremely strong aroma.

Oh!!! We have chatted over a long tea story. Without taking much of your time, I may conclude with a little tip. Take a small amount of tea, and start rubbing it with your thumb on to your palm. If those tea granules pinch your skin, then it’s fresh tea. And if it doesn’t pinch, it’s stale. Tea is very sensitive and it loses its taste within two to three months of plucking. Next time you go for a tea shopping remember these, and you will get good quality for sure…. Bon Apetit!!

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita

#এলোমেলো_কিছু_কথা

"ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি
এই সুরে কাছে দূরে জলে স্থলে বাজায়
বাজায় বাঁশি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি।
আকাশে কার বুকের মাঝে ব্যথা বাজে
দিগন্তে কার কালো আঁখি
আঁখির জলে যায় ভাসি
ভালোবাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি।"

আচ্ছা ভালোবাসি এই ছোট্ট কথাটা বলতে গলা শুকিয়ে যায় , হাতের তালুতে ঘাম জমে , পা ঠান্ডা হয়ে যায় , কানটা বিনা পারমিশনে লাল হয়ে গিয়ে নিজেকে বিচিত্র প্রাণী বলে মনে হয় ,,,,, আরো কত কিছু হয় । অথচ এই একটা কথা সারা বিশ্ব জয় করে নেবার ক্ষমতা রাখে । রুখে দিতে পারে কোনো ঘনিয়ে ওঠা ঝড়। একটু বেশি কাব্যিক হয়ে গেল কি? বাস্তব জীবনে একটু অন্য চিত্র তাই তো --- পরিবার , পরিবারের সম্মান, মাথা নাক কাটা যাওয়া , সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা, সামাজিক মর্যাদা আরো কত কি সামনে এসে দাঁড়ায় । তাই অনেকের রাত্রিই ভোর হয় না, চোখের জলে বা নির্বাক কান্নায় ভিজে যায় বালিশ। সকালে উঠে ফোলা নাক চোখ অনেক কিছু বলতে চায় -- একটু অভিনয় আর হালকা কাশিতে গলার সুর বদলে " এক কাপ আদা দিয়ে চা খেলেই সর্দি কমে যাবে " ডায়লগ সেই ঘনিয়ে আসা মেঘকে উড়িয়ে নিয়ে যায়। বাবা মা , পরিবার ভেবে নেয় যাক এযাত্রায় বেঁচে গেল আমাদের ,,,, ইত্যাদি প্রভৃতি। মনের মাঝে অসংখ্য ডমরু বাজে , চিৎকার করে বলতে ইচ্ছা করে " সব ঝুট হ্যায় , সব ঝুট হ্যায়" ,,,, স্নানঘরে অকারণ জলের ছপাৎ ছপাৎ , চোখে শ্যাম্পু চলে যাওয়া , ,,,,, সব , সব কিছু অন্য কাহিনী বলতে চায়। চেনা মুখ দেখেও মুখ ঘুরিয়ে নেয় , কি দরকার জিজ্ঞাসা করলে যদি প্রশ্নটা ঘুরে আসে । সেই যে আনন্দ সিনেমায় বলেছিল রাজেশ খান্না , জীবন টা একটা বড় অভিনয়ের স্টেজ । আমরা সবাই নিজের নিজের পার্ট করে চলেছি । যেদিন ডায়লগ ফুরাবে সেদিন অবসান হবে এই নাটকের , অবসান হবে তোমার আমার অভিনয়ের। তার মাঝে যেটুকু সময় কেন আমরা দুটো ডায়লগ নিজের মতো বলবো না --- চিৎকার করে বলবো , আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। সংসার , পরিবার , সমাজ সব কিছু সামলেও তোমায় ভালোবাসি । ভালোবাসতে নেই কোন মানা , ভালোবাসা জানেনা কোন কারণ বারণ । তাই ভালোবাসি

"সেই সূরে সাগর কূলে বাঁধন খুলে
অতল রোদন উঠে দুলে
সেই সূরে সাগর কূলে বাঁধন খুলে
অতল রোদন উঠে দুলে

সেই সুরে বাজে মনে অকারনে
ভুলে যাওয়া গানের বাণী
ভোলা দিনের কাঁদন
কাঁদন হাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি!!

এই সুরে কাছে দূরে জলে স্থলে বাজায়
বাজায় বাঁশি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি …" (রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীত)
@anindita