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November 23, 2006

Indo-French project resurrects Bhopal's living heritage

THE HINDU, NOVEMBER 23, 2006

New Delhi, November. 23 (PTI): Bhopal's heritage architecture has largely been given a miss as it does not conform to any genre - but therein lies the beauty of the designs influenced by the French, Mughal, Persian, Arabic, British, Afghan and closer home Rajasthani and Gond styles.

An Indo-French venture, 'The Bhopal Workshop', launched about three years ago is trying to preserve and resurrect the living architectural heritage of the City of Begums, who ruled Bhopal for four generations in a row.

A photo exhibition showcasing the strides taken in preserving these architectural gems was opened at India International Centre annexe here on Tuesday evening.

Prof Savita Raje, the Indian partner for this project, told PTI, "we are trying to showcase the architectural and urban heritage of the historical city as a significant part of the Indian cultural heritage."

Palace complexes designed during the reign of the Begums are unique borrowing extensively from various architectural genres - nowhere in the world would a palace have Rajasthani "jharokhas", Persian natural cooling systems, French facades, Mughal courtyards with natural lighting and labour rooms for women.

Raje says, "the goodness of the designs reflects on the people of Bhopal. Their energy efficient behaviour, good health and the community feeling generated by these time-tested buildings and spaces needs to be propagated."

What really makes this project distinct is it is trying to preserve not just the buildings, but also the culture of the people.

Posted by bhola at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2006

Bhopal: A sage speaks!

Devendra Khurana, Bhopal Central Chronicle, November 21, 2006

[Shame about the Gas Tragedy, let's have some cricket, seems to be the summary of this bizarre piece, Ed]

Bhopal is a city that has contrasting shades. On the one hand, one can find tree lined avenues and greenery and on the other one can feel that the gas tragedy of 1984 still haunts and lingers. One can find that there are people who haven't recovered from the toxic gas that leaked in 1984. Coming back to the present, one can also find that the city is developing well and the benefits of economic liberalisation can be seen.

But, one can see that Bhopal hasn't hosted many international events in sports and as a result Bhopal hasn't hosted many prominent international players in disciplines as tennis, badminton, golf. Providing infrastructure for these events would give Bhopal a much-needed facelift and then Bhopal can then be on its way to become a truly international city.

Bhopal conjures up an image of being a city that can be renovated, beautified and developed in many ways. The impression one gets of the city is that it is neither ill planned nor exquisitely planned. But, having said so, Bhopal has developed into a fine city and stands on the threshold of modernity. Bhopal has a distinct charm, the charm of well laid out parks and gardens and flowers in full bloom. A visitor to Bhopal can be taken by surprise by lovely roads and tree lined avenues. But, some pockets of Bhopal are still congested. Scruffy and scuzzy by-lanes and streets should be renovated and spruced up. Bhopal has makings of a beautiful and a clean city. Therefore, we must try to focus whether air pollution in the city is under control. Alcohol fuels, hydrogen fuels and City diesel should be used as alternate fuels. This would help reduce our dependence on petrol which is fast depleting. Also, vehicles with low fuel consumption should be introduced in the city.

Frequent tree plantation drives have changed the landscape of Bhopal and Bhopal now appears more verdant and green. Suburbs of Bhopal should be developed adequately to give fillip to tourism industry.

Bhopal has never hosted an international Test match or a one-day international in cricket and as a result people have to be satisfy their thirst by watching cricket on Television and moreover Bhopal does not get to watch top national and international cricketers in action, this leaves a big vacuum for cricket lovers. Hence, Bhopal should make efforts to find a place on the international cricket map as well. This would promote a vibrant sporting culture in the city.

A long standing problem is of garbage which lies scattered at various places in the city. Big garbage-bins should be placed at various places to get over this problem. Also, another long standing problem is that roads are in not in the best of condition at various places in the city and since roads are an important index of development, roads need to be laid at various places to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Posted by bhola at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2006

Blame it on Vastu, "the building is full of Electro Magnetic field" (Where do they find these people?)

Rahul Singh, Times Now, November 11, 2006

In Madhya Pradesh, many of the states MLA's believe that the State Assembly building, one of the major landmarks of Bhopal, is cursed and they are blaming the negative energy as per the ancient Indian science of 'Vastu' for their problems. Designed by architect Charles Correa, the building is blamed my many, who work their, for their problems. People are also of the opinion that there is definitely something wrong about it.

Moreover, the MLA's blame it on ancient Indian science of 'Vastu' and claim that there is negative energy around the building. Their opinions and belief have further strengthened and gained ground since around 16 MLAs have died since the Assembly was shifted to the new building in 1996.

Elaborating the reason behind the negative opinion associated with the building, Kailash Vijayvergiya, Minister of PWD, Power and IT said:"Every year, we end up bidding goodbye to at least one MLA. The history of this Assembly building is not good. One of the world's worst industrial disasters, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, took place in 1984, when the construction of the Assembly started. In 1996, when we shifted to this Assembly, Madhya Pradesh was bifurcated into two states."

However, the moot question is are the MLAs just being plain superstitious. However, Vastu experts do not agree and believe that the Assembly building violates the basic rules of Vastu science and does attract the negative energy of the earth. Pankaj Agarwal, Vastu expert explains the reasons and attribute it to cetrain flaws:"The Assembly has road on one side, the main entry is from South-West direction. In addition, the Assembly is in circular shape, which according to Vastu science is not considered good. The earth emits negative energy and the building is full of Electro Magnetic field."

With Vastu experts blaming the Assembly building for the political problems of Madhya Pradesh, for the Chief Minister, Shivraj Chouhan, who has had a tough time since he came to power, it might just pay to turn to Vastu.

Posted by bhola at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)

November 04, 2006

Advanced idlers only

Jane Rankin-Reid, Tehelka, issue of November 11, 2006

The indolence enforced at the Lazies’ was both delightful and exacting, says Jane Rankin-Reid of a uniquely eccentric writers’ club

Without doubt, I’m one of India’s most indolent tourists. On a recent visit to Bhopal, with rain deluging sightseeing plans, I happily spent almost every waking hour in an old socialist café, the Indian Coffee House, in the middle of the city, listening to stories of Bhopal life beyond the dark legacy of the gas tragedy. In the 25-odd years since the Union Carbide leak, Madhya Pradesh’s state capital has seen waves of ambitious development, while thousands of Bhopali residents still suffer from the excruciating after-effects of noxious asphyxiants and contaminated groundwater. But, even as the battle for fair and equitable restitution continues, Bhopal’s proud 20th century cultural heritage is in danger of being drowned in the drama of the fatal catastrophe that has reshaped the city’s identity in international imagination.

As rains lashed the café windows with the fury of a spoilt child, my Bhopali companions warmed to a subject close to their hearts. Writer Nasir Kamaal’s beautifully-phrased weekly columns, “Bhopal Then and Now”, ran for almost a decade and they’re a rich resource of wacky literary nuggets about the city’s glorious days as the heartland of the great Indian ghazal. According to Kamaal, the legendary Lazies’ Club, the Daairat-ul-Kuhala, began in the late 1920s, partly in response to global strife which its founding members believed was happening because the world was in “too much of a hurry”. Bhopal’s extensive community of writers and poets responded to mounting external turmoil by elevating laziness to a socially desirable art form.

Widely recognised as a mid-century home to the elegant, heart-wrenching Urdu ghazal traditions, Bhopal’s literary legacy is inextricably coupled with the uniquely Indian phenomena of creative lethargy. Few of the poets, singers and ghazal lovers who flocked to the city for great evenings of poetry and song could escape the infamous Lazies’ Club which often hosted recitals by the famous Urdu poet, Jigar Moradabadi, who eventually became the Lazies’ president Joining the Lazies cost a pillow but membership rules were excruciatingly demanding. The club’s etiquette ranked members’ status by whether they were quite literally lying down, sprawled, seated or bolt upright. Anyone left standing paid for drinks and, after an evening of fetching and carrying for more senior idlers, newcomers learned never to stand on ceremony again. Traditionally members slumped to the floor immediately upon arrival. Word games and Hindi-Urdu alliterations were commonplace, as were bizarre clubbable ranks and titles. Such were the deliberate degrees of decadence at the Lazies’, that Moradabadi called it his second home on his frequent extended visits to the city — and he wrote more there than anywhere else in his extensive career. Bhopalis adored the wandering poet to the point of near extinction: a goon kidnapped him one afternoon for a private recital. He was also just as popular with the freedom fighters at the local Anjuman Khuddam-e-Waton office. Moradabadi’s extensive drinking habits were tolerated too, which was fortunate given his profession and the Lazies’ membership rules.

Posted by bhola at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)