A display of tribal musical instruments of Madhya Pradesh

It was an exhibition for music lovers and a learning experience for others like me wherein about ninety tribal instruments used by various tribes in the state of Madhya Pradesh were on display. Many of them may be at verge of extinction in today’s world of electrophone instruments. The exhibition titled as ‘Adirag’ was held at Bharat Bhawan from December 27 – 29, 2007 which was organized by Tribal Department of the State of Madhya Pradesh. Musical instruments from the districts of Balaghat, Chindwara, Dindori, Hoshangabad, Dhar, Dindori, Betul, Mandla and Khargone were on display. In addition to instruments photographs of various tribal musical instruments could also be seen. Instruments like Chikara, a string instrument, which has three strings (two horse hair & one steel) and is used by Gond tribes was on display from Dindori district. Instrument like Turra used by Baiga tribes, Tutuna, which has a unique sound effect produced by pressing and releasing the cane after plucking the string, Gudum used by Gond, Baiga and Dholia tribes, Ghunguroo and Mandar were on display. In addition to it various forms of Dhol, Dholki and Dholaks used by tribes like Bhils, Gond were simply fascinating. Nagara which has two pieces, the smaller one the female placed on the right & the bigger one the male placed on the left, played by Baiga and Gond tribes placed at the entrance of the exhibition attracted attention of many who were visiting the exhibition. In this display one thing which was missing and could be looked at was a small info- leaflet on the instruments probably could have contributed in spreading and retaining information about them before they fade away to few lines in the books of tribal history. But an effort of the department, well appreciated by the visitors, media and needs to be replicated.

Contributed by Anil Gulati

The Kingfisher at Bhopal's Van Vihar

Kingfisher bird at Bhopal's van vihar, the National park in capital of Madhya Pradesh.

Kingfisher bird live in both woodland wetland habitats. Kingfishers that live near water hunt small fish diving. They also ea crayfish and insects. They are able to see well both in air and under water. To do this, their eyes have evolved an egg-shaped lens able to focus in the two different environments.

(Pic by anil gulati)

Madhya Pradesh fisheries federation nets ISO certificate

Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Federation (MPFF) has bagged the country's first ISO certificate for fisheries, awarded by Surewin Quality Certification, Minister of State for Fisheries Moti Kashyap said. 'The federation has been assessed and found to be in conformance to the requirements of the quality management standard,' the minister said in an official statement here Thursday.

The certificate recognises the effective measures adopted by the federation for the welfare of fishermen and was a positive outcome of transparency, good performance and welfare programmes, Kashyap said. MPFF Managing Director Kanchan Jain said it was the first such certificate given to an Indian cooperative working for fishermen's welfare.

'The federation has this year introduced an innovative scheme called Jaldeep to provide basic facilities such as education and health to fisher folk living on small islands and isolated areas. It conducted a survey to identify such beneficiaries,' said Jain.

Another noteworthy achievement of the federation, she said, was the credibility and prestige it earned among international funding agencies due to the initiatives taken by it. These included improving efficiency, constantly increasing fish production and undertaking welfare measures for fish farmers in the state. 'It is also for the first time that the fishermen who suffered losses last year due to heavy rains have been given compensation,' she said.

Source - IndiaPRwire

Brand your shop, a new buzz word in rural marketing !

‘Branding’ a buzz word used by multinationals or Indian biggies but is practiced by many including by retail shopowners in Madhya Pradesh. Shopkeepers in Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh use ‘the so called branding techniques’ to creatively name their shops. They may not be undertaking ‘marketing research’ or using ‘advertising agencies’ but it is their local painter and their own creativity which brings in the midas touch.

Barber shops in Budni and Babai area of Hoshangbabad have named themselves as hair styler’s or hair care centre or men parlors. Particular examples are ‘Fine hair stylers’ and ‘Narmada hair art’ in budni area of the district. Others call themselves as ‘men parlour’ or ‘hair care centres’ or ‘hair saloons’. Though the service provide are hair cutting, hair setting, hair dyeing, and head message, which is more than just cutting, hence the justification. Bollywood and cricket have its influence here and one can find posters from both the sectors in their shops. Not to left behind are the paan shops in the district which have taken away the word ‘shop’ and replaced it with ‘paan palace’ or ‘paan centre’. ‘Friend paan centre’ owner in the district shares that ‘I am actually friend of my clients, they come to my paan centre, share their thoughts, we debate on issues and in all this they also smoke a puff or buy paan, hence the name. This may sound bit interesting but fact is that both paan chewing and smoking is harmful and are cancerous, and should be discouraged, which he too agrees. But in terms of ‘marketing’ all them are creatively branding their shops to gain by attracting more customers and ‘position’ themselves as different then the others, well that is what is taught at B - schools which none of them have been !

The Holy Narmada, Hoshangabad

(Photo of the holy Narmada river from pitching Ghat in district Hoshangabad.)

यह मेरा घर, यह तेरा घर !

Large cormorants at Van Vihar, in Bhopal on December 2, 2007. (Pic courtesy - anil gulati)

Death of tiger in Bhopal’s Van Vihar raises concern

Gautam, a five year old male tiger died at Van Vihar, national park in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. This is not the first death this year. Deaths of these ‘big cats’ have being happening at regular intervals since October 2006

GAUTAM, A five year old male tiger died at Van Vihar, national park in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. This is not the first death this year. If we look at the figures, two tigers and one white tiger have died this year in Van Vihar. Particularly disturbing is the fact that deaths of these ‘big cats’ have being happening at regular intervals since October 2006. A total of six ‘big cats’ have died here. This includes two white tigers, one tigress, two tigers and one lion.

Post-mortem report conducted on Gautam’s body, which was shared with the media, states that the death could have been due to some parasitic disease namely ‘Bebesia’. This raises questions regarding the safety of other animals particularly tigers, lions and panthers in Van Vihar. The question is whether it can spread across to them? Though as a precautionary measure, blood samples of other carnivorous animals of the park has been sent for testing. But is that enough?

Van Vihar is the pride of Bhopal and is home to a number of animals, including white tiger, panther, lion and tigers. But these deaths have raised concern in the state among wild life experts, media and animal lovers. There is a need to take steps to prevent these deaths. Some wild life experts feel that there is a need for wildlife health centre in the state and also create greater awareness within the state regarding wildlife.

Gautam’s death has once again brought this discussion to the forefront. But let us hope that some positive steps are taken in this regard, lest we forget Gautam’s death. We may not get a second chance.

Anil

State museum in Bhopal, a showcase of cultural prosperity

by Anil Gulati
Source -www.merinews.com

The state museum of Madhya Pradesh has an impressive collection of artifacts illustrating rich cultural history of the state. Sixteen galleries exhibit collection of sculptures, archival and excavated materials collected from different parts of state.


IF YOU are planning to visit Bhopal, you should not miss a chance to visit the state museum of Madhya Pradesh. The museum is a splendid collection of artifacts illustrating rich cultural history of the state. Bhopal, the capital of MP, hosts the state museum that is located in the Shymala hill. The museum exhibits some old and the best pieces reflecting art and culture richness of the state.

The museum has sixteen galleries displaying unique showcase from pre-historic tools of lower Paleolithic period to stamps and autographs used in previous years in the state. The state museum was established in year 1964 and it was shifted to a new building at the end of year 2005 for better display of the exhibits. The museum, actually based on archaeological relics, also exhibits antiques such as sculptures, paintings, objects of arts, crafts, coins, bronze images, archival and excavated material from different parts of diverse state of Madhya Pradesh. The beautiful and rare exhibits of statues like Narwar in Shivpuri, sixteen feet long treaty of Burhanpur of year 1804, statues of Lord Shiva and many others will keep bringing you back to museum again and again. In the first hall of the museum, titled as master pieces of Madhya Pradesh, you can find some of its best sculpture pieces like sculptor of Yakshi of 2nd century BC, acquired from Satna, and statue of Buddha of 2nd century AD, acquired from Gwarighat, Jabalpur.

The Narvarha of 9–10th century AD, acquired from Mansaur, was not in India. Recently, it was brought back to the museum. Similarly, ‘Birth of Krishna’ that dates back to 11th century AD was also bought recently to the museum. Some interesting exhibits acquired from lower Paleolithic period are on display in its fossil section. In sculpture gallery, one can find sculptures of Ganesha, Shiva, Uma–Maheswar, Vishnu etc. These sculpture were collected from different places of state.

You can find a valuable collection of different editions of stamps of Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Badwani, Orcha and Datia state. In the musical instrument section, you can see the well-preserved instruments such as Israj and Rudra Veena. You will notice cannons of 18th century AD acquired from Indore, guns of Holkar period in the weapon section and coins dated back to British and Moghul period in its coin section.

In the excavation section, the water conservation and water reuse systems are just gleaming to watch. One can imagine how beautifully the communities in early years used to conserve and recycle water.

In the inscription gallery, the museum exhibits inscriptions on stone, copper plates found in state, prominent citations, grants issued by Pratihar and Parmar rulers and interesting six line inscription referring to building construction in Chanderi, Guna (now Chanderi is in newly formed Ashok Nagar district). In the section of royal collection ornate art objects, you can find several interesting things such as inkpot of 18-19th century AD and pen stand of 20th century AD also. One can say after visiting the state museum that this is really a splendid collection of artifacts illustrating the rich cultural history of the state.