Sikh Ceremonies..Shaadi ke Baad . Dil Se.
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Tony Blair and Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much awaited Bangladeshi cultural festival in London with much pomp and show. The festival is being celebrated between 7th and 25th July 1999 in London and many other parts of Britain. Bangladeshi cuisine is one of the highlights and many restaurants including Soho based Red Fort of Amin Ali are taking part in this festival. Amin Ali is playing an important role in the festival and he hosted a great party with Bangladesh cuisine to mark this festival.
Details of the Bangladesh festival can be found on the following website:
http://www.artsworldwide.org.uk
The Prime Ministeter Sheikh Hasina also gave a speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. This correspondent met her informally at the Chatham House. She seemed very upbeat about peace and diplomacy. She mentioned that Bangladesh is not only a country of problems but also a country of prospects as well. "Economic diplomacy is the conerstone of our foreign policy, keeping globalisation and regionalism in view.
"We have been able to resolve our differences with our neighbours. Sharing of the Ganges water, a sore point in our relationship with India in the past has been solved by signing of the 30-year long Ganges Water Treaty. Direct bus service between Dhaka and Calcutta has been formally inaugurated on 19th June this year.
Speaking about SAARC, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that her objective in one sentence is to improve the quality of life of more than 1.2 billion people of South Asia. This calls for concerted efforts and active co-operation by all the seven member countries of SAARC.
Sheikh Hasina read her speech in English but when it came to answer the questions, she spoke in Bengali by saying, "much blood was shed in order to get the right to speak in Bengali language by its people."
Daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the father of Bangladesh escaped the family massacre on the night of 15th August 1975 as she was abroad at that time. With an appearance of an ordinary housewife, the Prime Minister is very adamant in getting women their due. She has several women cabinet ministers, her opposition in the Parliament is also a woman and at Chatham House, she wanted to give priority to women who wanted to pose questions to her.
Sikhs Stir London Life A major event to mark the three hundred years of Khalsa movement has taken London by storm. For the first time, Baisakhi was celebrated in a big way when visitors to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London were taught the art of tying 'pagdi'. Some of the lucky ones were initiated into the movements of Bhangra dance. Those who are not initiated still could hear the folk music, which accompanies the spring celebration of 'Bhangra'.
The female visitors are treated to the 'Phulkari' embroidery and jewellery workshops. The major V&A exhibition: The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms has many diamonds and precious stones jewellery on display which is drawing immense popular appeal and envy.
During the exhibition, many visitors are learning about the Sikh martial art called ‘Gatka’. There is one section devoted solely to the swords, canons, chain-mails and other arms and armoury. The Queen has lent some very important objects to this exhibition from the Royal Collection, which can be seen outside Buckingham Palace for the first time. Though 'Koh-i-noor' diamond is not on display, only its setting can be seen and admired.
On the other hand, the most important object seems to be the throne of Raja Ranjit Singh, which is made of the golden sheet. Ranjit Singh used this low-seated hard throne only on special occasions. He believed in austerity, so he generally sat on the floor.
His sons were somewhat different though. The British Empire took over the Sikh Kingdom from the inefficient successors of Raja Ranjit Singh. Raja Duleep Singh, the son of Ranjit Singh was so enamoured by the British that he was converted to the Christianity. Queen Victoria invited him to stay in the Osborne House in Isle of White. There were rumours of their short-lived romance too. Eventually, Raja Duleep Singh was disillusioned with the British and he converted back to Sikhism.
All these facts and fictions are creating ripples in the art world of London. In order to draw a larger crowd, this fine art exhibition is hosting other forms of arts such as performing arts, decorative arts, martial arts and the art of good aggressive living. The message of Sikhism which organisers wish to convey is very simple: Truth is high but higher still is the truthful living. The Sikhism according to the organisers, including the curator Susan Strong is all about comapassion, selflessness, humility, honesty and the equality of women and all religions.
It is a must see event in London which will continue until 25 July 1999. Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London is open from 10 am to 17.45pm daily and on Wednesday s, there is a late night opening from 18.30 to 21.30. The admission is free for those under 18, full-time students, pre booked educational groups, disabled unemployed but for others, full ticket is £5.00 and for late evening openings on Wednesdays, the ticket is £3.00. For more information about various events, information is available on telephone number 0171 938 8638 or on the website: http://www.vam.ac.uk
Shaadi ke pehle - Maine Pyar Kiya
Shaadi ke baad - Ye Maine Kya Kiya?
Shaadi ke pehle - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Shaadi ke baad - Kuch Nahi Hota Hai
Shaadi ke pehle - Dil To Pagal Hai
Shaadi ke baad - Dil To Pagal Tha
Shaadi ke pehle - Ek Duje Ke Liye
Shaadi ke baad - Sirf Bachcho Ke Liye
Shaadi ke pehle - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Shaadi ke baad - Baaki Log Sukhi Ho Jayenge
Shaadi ke pehle - Chandramukhi
Shaadi ke baad - Jwaalamukhi
Shaadi ke pehle - Kuwara Baap
Shaadi ke baad - Bechara Baap
Shaadi ke pehle - Titanic
Shaadi ke baad - Mortgage>
Shaadi ke pehle - Hum Aapke Hai Koun?
Shaadi ke baad - Barbadi Ka Kaaran
Shaadi ke pehle - Yes Boss:-)
Shaadi ke baad - Yes Boss:-(
Shaadi ke pehle - Mere Sapno Ki Rani
Shaadi ke baad - Chutki Ki Amma
Shaadi ke pehle - Kabhi Kabhi
Shaadi ke baad - If you are lucky
Shaadi ke pehle - Aao Pyar Karen
Shaadi ke baad - Aur Bhi Kuch Kaam Karen?
Tate Gallery will display three sculptures by Doris Salcedo in Art Now 18 from 11th May 1999. The series is entitled Unland, a word invented by the artist to express the continuing displacement caused by the violence of the civil war in Columbia. It resulted in the disappearance and death of thousands of people over the past fifty years.
The work of Doris will be shown in Europe for the first time. In her art, Salcedo uses everyday domestic and personal items such as furniture and clothing and organic substances such as bone, hair and animal fibre. These materials are brought together to make evocative works that address loss, grief, pain and memory, absence and mourning.
Salcedo's work is politically and culturally engaged. She begins new work by undertaking research about her chosen topic, as well as wider reading, so that, for example, the individual titles of works in the Unland series are drawn from the poems of Paul Celan. She also gets to know the survivors of violence in order to bear witness to the ordeal they were endured. Details of this exhibition and other displays can be found on the Tate Gallery website: www.tate.org.uk
24th February 99. London Fashion Week is in full swing. Some of the very artisitc but unknown designers are rubbing shoulders with well known names. The designs by the students of St. Martin's School of Arts are amazing as they are the perfect amalgamation of functional and decorative arts, inspired by the creative energy that one finds in Soho area of London.
We were invited by the Swiss Wines to see an exculsive design work, 'The Ingres Collection' by Monica Chong. It was presented in a most beautiful maghreb restaurant called MOMO near Soho. Monica's work is inspired by both the artist Ingres (an exhibition of her portraits is on display at the moment at the National Gallery) and the Regency period. The dresses feature in a bright and jewel toned colour palette with hand emboidery and exquisite applique.
The hemline is asymetrical and the bust balconette. Monica's fabrics range from satin and silk to chiffon. The collection is the embodiment of everything feminine and glamorous. Sold only in the most exclusive luxury boutiques Monica Chong has created a new meaning to the term 'must have' dressing.
Last week, House of Commons was the venue of an important publication: 'How to Provide Information Well to Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani people' where I was able to meet a number of key people involved in communicating with our distinguished folks and communities.
Mr Maurice Glassman, the Chairman of National Information Forum talked about the cultural attitudes. With a long standing experience of working at the IBM in several countries, Mr Glassman is in a position to address the needs of people coming from cross cultural areas. He is interested in reaching out to the communities through the electronic media more effectively.
He and many others spokesmen emphasised the need of proper communication in various languages where just translating text from one language to another is not enough. This view was endorsed by Catherine Robinson, Senior Translation Manager of Central Office of Information who is responsible for Government publications translated into various languages.
The researchers and authors of the publication, 'How to provide....' are Cynthia Poonam Knight and Andrew Knight. They summed up the publcation in five points:
1. Recognising the needs of cross cultural communication. 2. The organisers were committed to supporting agencies which are involved in them. 3. They were engaged in listening to the community. 4. Working together with the community groups. 5. The organisation is committed to taking risks. This highly recommended publication is available from the following address: National Information Forum Post Point 10/10 BT Burne HOuse Bell Street London NW1 5BZ Tel: 0171 402 6681 or fax: 0171 402 1259SIR TERENCE CONRAN SMITTEN BY INDIA
We met Sir Terence Conran, a man known all over the world as a trend-setter and a designer who has had a profound influence on modern style and taste worldwide. He owns exquisite restaurants such as Le Pont de la Tour, where Prime Ministers and the Presidents have eaten, he owns Conran shops and now he has set up a design studio to develop an exclusive range of 1,200 products called Conran Collection.
Sir Terence loves Indian designes and he goes to India very often. He has also given helm of his empire to someone from the Indian sub-continent.
Des Gunewardena, his young Chief Executive hails from Sri Lanka and with his deep knowledge of accounting collaborates with the creative sensitivities of Sir Terence. Conran Empire includes very fashionable and expensive restaurants in London and design shops. Tony Blair and the new Labour Party vibe very well with Conran designs. In fact, the new Cool Britainnia image of Britain has something to do with Conran shops.
Sir Terence told me that lots of Indian materials are sold in his shops which he receives directly from the artists and artisans of India. On asked why he does not start an Indian restaurant with the use of Indian arts and crafts, he said: "It is such a wonderful idea that I leave it to Indians to do it."
Whole world celebrated the 50th anniversary of India at a grand scale but what did some Indians feel about it? An All India Radio reporter goes to the North Eastern border to find out. What circumstances lead him into, is the narrative line of the film, 'Dil Se'
There are indeed astonishing revelations about Indians living in the most picturesque but remote parts of the country. In the past, these communities and their existence and thought patterns were rarely captured on the celluloid. What attracted me most in 'Dil Se' was a multi-layered scenario and the way it was put into images by the distinguished director Mani Ratnam.
'Dil Se' is a novel film about conflicts: of heart and mind, of ideals and duties, of relationships and faiths, of trust and betrayal. The way these conflicts are raised and tried to be resolved in the film does not always dwel into the familiar pattern of Bollywood.
Primarily, our attention is constantly absorbed by the grandeur and enormous beauty of locations while camera angles with quick shifts from close - ups to longs shots and a succession of rhythmic cuts further the story line.
Without revealing much about the narrative, I can say that I was fascinated by the passion of Mani Ratnam for the fire and sparkles and interplay between light and shades. Visionary Mani got the support of producer Shekhar Kapoor and a number of like minded people is a feast in itself.
The technique of song picturisation of Mani Ratnam is unique which we noticed in his earlier films such as 'Bombay.' He seems to be a master of movements each time finding a new dimension into another cut. These are the edited movements in harmony with the notes and beats of lyrics and musical instruments such as Ghatam. The extreme close ups of the singing stars and the way crescendo of each songs reach are some of my favourite moments in this film.
Whatever India has achieved in the last 50 years, I am assured of one accomplishment: it's talent which is now making impressions all over the world. Films like 'Dil Se' will go a long way in presenting 'old grand cru wines in the most presentable bottles' for the most discerning connoisseurs to relish.