বলিরাজা ও বামন

দক্ষিণ ভারতে আজ বলিরাজার পূজা। প্রচলিত কাহিনী এইরকম যে কোনো এক সময়ে বলি রাজা প্রচন্ড রকম প্রভাবশালী হয়ে উঠেন এবং অন্যান্য ছোট রাজারা সবাই বলিকে ভয় পেয়ে বলির প্রভুত্ব স্বীকার করে নেন। খবরটা তথাকথিত দেবলোকে পৌঁছে যায় এবং দেবতারা ভীত হয়ে নারায়ণের স্মরণাপন্ন হন এবং বলিকে দমন করতে অনুরোধ করেন। বলিরাজা খুব দানশীল ছিলেন আর যাগযজ্ঞাদির শেষে প্রচুর দান  ধর্ম করতেন।শোনা যায় উনি কোনো প্রার্থীকে ফেরাতেন না।ক্রুর নারায়ণ এই দুর্বলতার সুযোগ নেন এবং এক বেটে বামনের বেশে বলি রাজার সভায় প্রার্থী হিসাবে যান। তখন প্রদোষকাল আর বলিরাজা সেদিনের মতো দেন যজ্ঞ শেষ করেছেন। তবুও দয়ালু বলি বেটে বামনকে দেখে জানতে চাইলেন তার যাচনা কি ? বামন বেশি নারায়ণ বললেন " আমার মাত্র ত্রিপাদ( তিন পা ) ভূমি চাই। "বলিরাজা অট্টহাস্য করে বললেন " হে ব্রাহ্মণ! তোমার যেদিকে খুশি যেরকমভাবে তিন পা মেপে নাও। "
নারায়ণ তখন আকাশ ছাপিয়ে বিরাট রূপ ধারণ করলেন আর এক পা রাখলাম স্বর্গে, আরেক পা রাখলেন পৃথিবীতে ; বজ্র মদ্রস্বরে বললেন "বলি, দুপা রেখেছি, আরেক পা কোথায় রাখবো বলে দাও।"
বলিরাজা সবই বোঝলেন। তিনি যে নিজের কথার ফাঁদে পা দিয়েছেন বুঝতে পারলেন। কিন্তু ভয় পেলেন না। বুঝলেন যে তার শেষের দিন সমাগত। তাই হাতজোড় করে বললেন " আরেক পা রাখুন আমার মাথায়। " নারায়ণ কথা রাখলেন আর তার পায়ের চাপে, বলিরাজা চলে গেলেন পাতালে। এই হচ্ছে মোটামুটি প্রচলিত গল্প।
কিন্তু আসল ঘটনা হয়তো এই রকম। উত্তর ভারত আর দক্ষিণ ভারতের মধ্যে যুদ্ধ বিগ্রহ তখন লেগেই থাকতো। দক্ষিণ ভারতের লোকদের দ্রাবিড়ীয় গঠন ছোট খাটো এবং কালো চেহারা উত্তর ভারতের আর্য গোষ্ঠীদের কাছে ঘৃণ্য ছিল আর তাদের অসুর বলে চিণ্হিত করতো।মহিষাসুর তো দক্ষিণের খুব বিখ্যাত আর দয়ালু রাজা ছিলেন বলে কথিত হয়, আর তার নাম থেকেই 'মাইসোর' নামের উৎপত্তি। উত্তরে আর্যাবর্ত কখনো দক্ষিণের আধিপত্য সহ্য করতে পারতো না। তাই বলি রাজার প্রতাপ উত্তরের মাথা ব্যাথার কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছিল তাই তাকে সবাই মিলে তাকে কৌশলে পরাস্ত করে আরও দক্ষিণে(পাতালে) পাঠিয়ে দিয়েছিলো।
সমগ্র দক্ষিণ ভারতে বলিরাজার পূজা খুব নিষ্ঠা সহকারে করা হয়।

Kashmir : The Garden of Eden; Paradise on Earth.

As per The holy Bible, the creation of mankind was done in the east. The place might have refereed as PARADISE ON EARTH.
" And Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed ( Genesis 2.8)
One of the earliest civilisation found in India in its Punjab region ( both Punjab east and west) viz. the Indus Valley Civilisation dated back to 3000-5000 B.C.But in Kashmir area archaeological traces are found date back 50000 years.

The name Kashmir might have derived from Sanskrit Kashmira; Kashmiri, Kashir and there may be three more different ways :
01 Cush( Kosh) the grandson of Noah,( believed to be tenth descendent of  Adam) whose descendants populated the earth had settled on this fertile land on earth.Thus Cush of Bible might have changed into 'Kash' and the word 'Mir' means in Russian as place occupied by a community is the reason of becoming the name of Kashmir.
02.Another interpretation on Hebrew word 'Kasher' ( in English 'Kosher) related with food. And Israelis are known for their separate dietary regulation had  gave this name who came to settle in this part of earth.  
03. The Sanskrit meaning of Kashmir might have come from 'Kashyap' the recluse, and  'Mir' came from 'Mar'. The Vedic text says the name of creator also Kashyap,so, the Kash-mar or Kashmir practically means the 'Land of God".

According to many historians and archaeologist, this part of land was originally inhabited by Israelis (Hebrews) from beginning.According to A Barnes, the father of Ermiah was the father of Afghans, who was contemporary of Nebuchadnezzar and the Afghan legend of Nebuchadnezzar confirms Israelite were transplanted from the holy land of Ghore in north western Kabul Province.They remained Jews in faith till 682 AD, when the invader Arabs converted them to Islam.There are many signage and inscriptions in Hebrew found in Kashmir of India.Quite close to Taxila,now in Sirkhap, Pakistan a stone was found having inscription in Aramaic, the language Lord Jesus Christ spoke.There are many more inscriptions are found in POK ( Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) confirms the presence of Israelis in Kashmir long before Hindu and Islamic era.

For immediate interest of my readers I inscribe below some common words spoken  and name of places in Kashmir which have similarity with those words refereed in holy Bible :

Name in Kashmir                           Name in Bible                  Biblical Reference
Amal                                                   Amal                            1. Chronicle 7:35
Bal                                                      Baal                             1. Chronicles 5:5
Gabba                                                 Gaba                             Joshua 18:24
Gani                                                    Guni                             1 Chronicles 7:13
Gomer                                                Gomer                             Genesis 10:2


Places in Kashmir                            Biblical Name                 Biblical Reference    
Balpura ( Awantipur)                         Baal peor                        Numbers 25:3
Behatpur (Handwara)                        Beth Peor                        Deuteronomy 34:6
Harwan (Srinagar)                             Haran                              2 Kings 19:12
Amariah (Srinagar)                            Amariah                          1 Chronicles 23:19


Inhabitants of Kashmir are not like other communities or races of India in every respect. There life, behaviour, customs , habits , food are very much similar of Israelis.
a) Kashmiri people do not use fat for cooking and baking like Israelis; they use only oil.
b) Kashmiri people like boiled fish called 'fari' like Israelis. They probably remember their forefathers used to have plenty of fish long back before their exodus from Egypt. It is mentioned in (Numbers 11:5) " We remember the fish which we dis eat in Egypt freely"
c) Butcher knives are made in Kashmir in half moon shape like Israelis.
d) Rudders of Boat or Shikara are made heart shaped same as Israelis do.
e) After bearing a child Kashmiri mother are quarantined for forty days for purification which is same way followed in Israel.
f) Apparels for Kashmiri women are similar to Israelis. Both wear headscarves and laces.
g) Young Kashmiri and Jewish girls dance alike in two facing columns with linked arm moving forward and backward with rhythm.Both calls their song as 'rof'  
h) Old Kashmiri graves are found in east -west orientation although in Islam graves are dug in north south orientation. Old graves are found with Hebrew inscriptions.

All that above proves that the Kashmir was the place where Hebrews were inhibited densely many many years ago. The place was considered from days of immortal that Paradise on Earth.It is the Garden of Eden as described in holy Bible.The next verse will tell the geographical location of garden of Eden.
" And the river went out of Eden to water the garden ; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads" ( Genesis 2:10)
And everyone knows the river Indus started from Kashmir with its tributaries Sutlej, Jheelam, Chenab. ( Source : Courtesy : Holger Kersten author of Jesus lived in India))

         

Bob Dylan and an Indian Panorama

FLASH ! FLASH! FLASH!

Bob Dylan is selected for Noble Prize in the field of literature for 2016

The news broke in world press and after an hour a conversation between two PhD level students in Delhi University as under: 

" Han yaar, I have heard the news also but I did not read any book by Bob Dylan.You? "

" I read of Munshi Prem Chand, but not this Bob......kya Dhillon. Punjabi kya?"

"No yaar, suna hai koi phoren ka."

" I have book of Dane Browne you know. Da Vinci Code, Angels and demons, aur Kya

. ...han kuch point...I forgot the name ".

" are yaar do you know Leander Paes is Indian? My sis confirmed me other day. I Knew the guy is phoren ka.

This is the situation in one of our premiere University and who is responsible for this quality of students? As per my assumption that there is no proper standard of admission process; since the admission cost is cheap any quality form any strata are getting chance to be admitted there. Moreover, too much dependency on Hindi and total hate on Anglican culture in so called 'cow belt' in north India has created this big vacuum in basic education level.It should be necessarily understood by all so called fundamentalists that egoism on only Hindi language will not serve all purpose in modern era. In this digital world students and younger generations must be equipped with all guns of their knowledge to secure position in this competitive atmosphere.A university like Delhi University or JNU should not be the beehive of any particular ideology and students should come under the ugly umbrella of any such egoism.Mass people of this country are moving with whims and emotions and they do not act properly with their conscience.Some media house (both electronic and print media) are adding fuel to emotions of fellow countrymen and women from this or that ideology and ultimately the wisdom and knowledge suffering the most. Thus, a class of people will hate English although it is the 2nd Language of the country, rather they are taught by their fundamentalist parents and relatives that " hate English , this is phoren language, and stick to our basic Hindi and other major Indian language , as the case may be." and thus students of vast mainland  have not heard of Ludwig van Beethoven or Mantovani. They even fail to taste the great western classics. Most them never heard the names of Federico Fellini, Nicolas Klotz or Akira Kurosawa. So, there is a big knowledge gap in youths coming up from middle class and lower middle class society.There is not much problem with upper middle class and upper class society but they generally go to IIM  or some universities abroad,because this a costly affair. These youths receives their education in top class private institutions of the country from primary level itself and those youths do not miss much although there is exceptions everywhere. I remember few years before on the eve of Independence Day a group of Delhi youths were asked by media people that who wrote 'Vandematarm'. The unexpected replies came with hesitation " I am not sure, may be A R Raheman." 

This is the situation of present  educated India that disturbs me the most.Television was a source of imparting knowledge once upon a time may be around 25/30 years ago, but the quality of TV productions has also reached in its nadir, to be precise.So, in this present scenario, I am afraid that tomorrow our own Derek o'brain or Stuart Binny will be mistaken as foreigner by a class of people whom we call our future.God save the.....

Ballad of a Noble Laureate

In the summer of 1941 when the entire world was passing over the dark days and longer nights of great second world war, in a cool and small place named Duluth in Minnesota, USA a child was born. Precisely it was 24th May of the year and proud parents named him as Robert Allen Zimmerman. A person who would be multipurpose genius with absolute versatility was probably destined at very early age when he quickly learned to play three instruments with equal ease i.e. Guitar, Harmonica and Piano.A connoisseur of Folk movements during sixties of last century leaped forward with his giant step towards his unparalleled journey equipped with magnificent voice modulation along with masterly manifestation of those musical instruments he played throughout next five to six decades and mesmerised the entire earth.Those old timers like us will go down memory lane today where they will find popular numbers of yesteryear from voice of today's great humming into their ear "Blowin' in the wind " or " The Times They Are a changin' "

Meanwhile, he rechristened himself as BOB DYLAN from  Robert Allen Zimmerman, probably inspired from Dylan Thommese that he later on denied vehemently . These two numbers of sixties of last century quickly  became anthems for the American Civil Rights and Anti war movements. Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival, his six minutes number recorded in 1965 " Like a rolling Stone" enthralled entire American population and enlarged the range of popular music during those days.  Although, Dylan's folk numbers recorded in mid 1960s with rock musicians topped the chart of United States Music chart but at the same time hard criticism he had to consume from orthodox group for using the electrical instruments in the field of folk music.

Through out his journey he incorporated lyrics influenced from a wide large of political,social, philosophical and  of literary world. They defied existing pop culture and appealed to the burgeoning counter culture..He was in his initial days inspired by the performances of Little Richard and  the songwriting of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams. Dylan has amplified and personalised musical genres . His recording career, spanning more than 50 years, has explored the traditions in American song—from folk, , blues,and country to gospel,rock and roll.From rock to English, Scottish and also Irish Folk music.He has experimented even jazz and others from Great American song book. Although,his accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career, but songwriting is considered his greatest contribution.

Since 1994, Dylan has published six books of drawings and paintings, and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries.As a musician, Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best selling artist of all time. He has also received numerous awards including ELEVEN GRAMMY AWARDS, a Golden Globe award, and an ACADEMY AWARD . The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 awarded him a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." In May 2012, Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President of USA Mr Barak Obama.IN 2016 HE HAS RECEIVED THE NOBLE PRIZE FIRST TIME BY A COMPOSER OF MUSIC AND LYRICIST IN FIELD OF LITERATURE.

Where 18 members of juries in Noble committee rightly expressed comparing him with Homer of ancient Greece and said that Iliad is a ballad sang by Homer 2500 ago and so the poetry and its verses of BOB DYLAN as he sang will be continued to be listened by people long after.  

BOB , YOU ARE AN  INSPIRATION !!!!!!