Mohini Attam is a dance that reflects the enchantment that is life, its enjoyment and relish that creates the state of Beautitude, enveloping the spectator in an aura of grace, charm and lyricism, writes Dr. Kanak Rele. Mohini Attam, a lyrical and enchanting dance form, became the sole vehicle for feminine interpretation and developed on the lines of the other classical dance styles of India. It is a solo dance of sheer visual beauty, far removed from the evervigilant supervision of the temple and the grip of rituals. Devotional fervour is permissible but not mandatory. Religio-philosophical tenets are not allowed…
Author: oiop
She has the distinction of being the first woman judge of the Bombay High Court. It was however, not an easy way to the top for Justice Sujata Manohar, despite the fact that she came from an illustrious family of lawyers. She proved her mettle with 20 years of substantial amount of public interest and pro-bono work, before she became a judge in 1978. Justice Manohar also held the position of the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before being elevated as a judge at the Supreme Court of India. As a judge, she took a strong independent stance…
Pamela Philipose highlights the lack of water and sanitation facilities for the least visible, articulate and influential lot — women, and how the apathy of government officials leads to serious health concerns. Among the multiplying divides between people in a world full of disparities, is one that is hardly talked or written about. Urbanologist Mike Davis is a rare exception. In his work, ‘Planet of Slums’, he lays bare the grid of deprivation that is the Third World city, where water and sewerage systems continue to elude the millions living on its fringes in teeming shanty towns and resettlement colonies.…
The Mithi River in Mumbai has become a dumping ground for dirt, pollutants and refuse. Rishi Aggarwal says efforts by civic authorities to clean Mithi post 2005 floods have failed to yield any significant results, and calls upon the citizens of Mumbai to come together to save the river. Mithi River is an integral part of the lives of a large number of Mumbaikars. Though a major part of the city’s population does not stay along its course or use it for any recreational or transport purpose the western suburban railway network, which passes over the river near Bandra station…
The most significant lesson from the 2013 Uttarakhand disaster is that we need to improve our environment governance hugely. However, in the absence of such an initiative from the government, Himanshu Thakkar hopes that the apex court will take cognizance of the serious nature of these issues and take commensurate corrective measures. THE Uttarakhand disaster in 2013 has exposed many serious infirmities of the state and the central governments. Complete lack of disaster management and responsive administration is obvious, both at the state and the central level, possibly with the exception of military forces that went all out to save…
Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma underscores the need to build awareness about water footprint and virtual water, in order to encourage people to use water judiciously. He feels reduction in water footprint ought to be a mandatory precondition for companies to remain in business. It is no breaking news that freshwater scarcity is getting scarier by the day. Equally shocking is the fact that water continues to be a tool in the hands of both the political class and the market forces, which either fling it as a free product or put an economic tag on it. On both the accounts, it…
India is facing an unseen underground water crisis due to pollution, exploitation, mismanagement and political expediency. Instead of looking for quick-fix solutions, Nitya Jacob urges water bureaucrats to improve water supply systems that use surface water, minimise water losses due to leakage and improve water quality. THERE is a crisis brewing underground. It has to do with a colourless, odourless liquid called water. And India has been hit with a double whammy of shortages and pollution. Both are serious enough to start affecting livelihoods. India is headed for a groundwater emergency because of changing lifestyles and exploding populations. Compounding this…
Kings of yore built majestic temples as hallmarks of their mighty empire. Today, the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) led by Pramukh Swami Maharaj is building similar grandiore monuments all over the world. One of them, the Akshardham temple in New Delhi holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest Hindu temple in the world. Inaugurated in 2005, the colossal pink sandstone and white marble structure stands 43m tall and 96m wide amidst the sprawling 100-acre area of landscaped garden on the banks of the Yamuna River. The temple is a stunning edifice with ornate pillars, domes,…
In New Delhi the new government runs after the power distribution companies to ensure that people do not continue to be overcharged. The dead heat between the new Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) government and power distributing private companies (discoms) in Delhi is going to become more intense, sending blistering shock waves all over the country. This new Delhi government won the elections for many reasons, not insignificant was the public resentment over issues of accessibility of civic services and pricing of public utilities notably electricity and water. In 2002, the Delhi government had privatised distribution of electricity to three private…
Come February-March, a three-letter word aptly describes the mood in Goa — FUN! It is time for the carnival, a three-day fiesta that has revellers dressed in flamboyant costumes swinging to the beats of loud music and relishing spicy coastal cuisine. This year, Goa dons its carnival avatar from March 1-4. The streets of Panaji, Margao, Vasco da Gama and Mapusa will come alive with one of the funkiest celebrations of culture in the country. The carnival is a legacy of the state’s former Portuguese rule. Though it is primarily a Christian affair, non-Christians also participate in large numbers, adding…