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Farmers Grow Carrots & Beetroot In Coimbatore Through Isha Save Soil Movement

By
The Commune
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“As part of our Save Soil movement we are conducting workshops on natural farming all over Tamil Nadu on a monthly basis,” said Swami Srimukha, the coordinator of the movement. “We also have model farms in Coimbatore, Erode, Thiruvannamalai and Thanjavur where – over a total area of 60 acres – we are using various natural farming techniques as an experiment.” 

Elaborating further on this experiment, Swami Srimukha said, “At our model farm in the village of Semmedu in Coimbatore district, we grew carrots and beetroot – which only grow in hilly regions – as the primary crop over an area of 30 cents each. After 120 days the carrots had grown bigger and longer than we expected. Generally, when we purchase a kilogram of carrots at the store, it weighs in about 12 to 13 carrots. However, in this experiment we found that 6-7 carrots weighed 1 kilogram; all this without any chemicals… using only Jeevamritam – a naturally prepared fertiliser mix. To prevent pests and improve plant growth, we used a Neem-seeds based mixture. The beetroot also has grown well.” 

Swami Srimukha revealed that vegetables such as radish, coriander etc have also been cultivated using similar techniques. “We used sour Buttermilk mixtures to combat the fungal growth caused by  heavy rains, thus creating a good environment for the growth of the plants. The crop has been good. We expect 1.5 tons to be harvested tomorrow,” he shared.

It may be noted that under this movement, for the last 4 years, traditional rice variety, black kavuni, has also been cultivated using completely natural methods. Last year, 2.25 tonnes were harvested from 1 acre of land – much higher than the amount harvested by the neighboring farm which uses chemicals.

“These methods that we experiment with, and find success in, are taught to farmers through on-field workshops,” said Swami Srimukha. “We have taught natural farming to 15,000 farmers so far. Many of them are successful and are examples for other farmers to emulate. We use the farms of such farmers to teach the new farmers these natural methods.”

(This is an official press release from Isha Foundation. The Commune was not involved in creating this content.)

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More Cameras Than Audience, SFI Screening Of BBC Documentary Receives Poor Response In Madras University

By
The Commune
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Student organisations affiliated with left-wing groups screened the banned BBC hit job documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Ambedkar University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Presidency University, Jadavpur University, Madras University, Pondicherry, and University of Hyderabad.

The screening received a muted response across the country, with only a handful of students affiliated with politically extinct Communist parties were present during the screening. The Student Federation of India’s screening of BBC documentary in the Madras University campus is the most recent addition to the list of muted reactions to the screening.

On Friday (27 January 2023), a small group of students argued with University of Madras authorities after the latter refused to grant the former permission to screen the banned BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ on campus.

The Student Federation of India (SFI) Madras university wing had planned to screen the documentary but were told to leave by university officials.

“We live in a democratic country. Why aren’t we able to watch the documentary? “It’s only a movie,” one of the students can be heard arguing with a university official. Vice Chancellor S Gowri stated that no permission was granted by the university. As a result, students began watching the documentary on their laptop computers.

However, there were only six students watching on a single laptop, despite the fact that the news was covered by more than double the number of cameras. After this image of a group of SFI students went viral on social media, people on social media began mocking that it ended up as a flop show while pointing out at the state of  media in the state.

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‘Tamils vs Vadakkans’: How Hate Is Being Peddled Against North Indian Migrant Labourers

By
The Commune
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After a video of two groups of workers fighting in a textile factory went viral, Tiruppur Police clarified on Friday that it was actually a minor dispute between two individuals but had been portrayed by vested interests groups as a Tamils vs Migrants issue.

The New Indian Express has quoted Commissioner of Police as saying that the issue was started by a local Tamil blowing cigarette smoke in the face of migrant labour, which escalated into a fight between the two. Later, the local who had a dispute with the migrant worker gathered some of his friends and attempted to attack the migrant worker, who retaliated with the help of his fellow migrant workers.

The police said, “A migrant worker from the garment unit at Thilagar Nagar West in Velampalayam, stepped out for a break to a roadside shop on January 14. A resident reportedly argued with him and blew cigarette smoke at his face.”

The police further added, “This enraged the worker and the argument turned physical. The migrant worker retaliated and moved away from the spot. Later, the local along with a few friends entered the garment unit and attacked the worker. With the support of his colleagues, he retaliated. A police patrol arrived on the spot and pacified both parties.”

The police further stated that it was some vested interest groups which tried to portray the dispute between the two individuals as Tamil vs North Indian issue.

It is worth noting that in recent days, Tamil Nadu has seen a orchestrated racist campaign against North Indian workers. Idumbavanam Karthik, a Naam Tamilar cadre, has been spreading hatred against North Indians by uploading random videos from crowded places, such as markets or railway stations, and claiming that North Indians are flooding into Tamil Nadu in large numbers, which has no veracity.

https://twitter.com/idumbaikarthi/status/1616448297719468032?s=20&t=vrODjeY5TDzCq-RT8P1Gsg

Saattai Duraimurugan, another Naam Tamilar cadre and serial liar who was arrested and charged under the Goondas Act for spreading lies about Foxconn, has now posted a video on his YouTube channel in which he attempts to link all crimes in Tamil Nadu to North Indians. He claimed that North Indians bring drugs from their home state and sell them in Tamil Nadu in order to live a luxurious lifestyle.

While on one hand political outfits have been peddling hatred against north Indian migrant labourers, popular Youtube Channels and other social media handles have been stereotyping and spreading racist canards against people of other states.

Slurs like ‘Vadakkan’, ‘Paani Puri wala’ ‘Panparag vaayan’ have been normalised through social media. Recently a popular YouTube channel named Paridhabangal, led by Gopi and Sudhakar, released a video attempting to portray North Indians in a negative light through their jokes and videos.

It is also noteworthy to mention that even DMK ministers like K. Pondmudi have resorted to ridiculing north Indian migrant labourers.

(with inputs from NewIndianExpress)

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DMK MP A Raja Praising Christianity In School Event Sparks Row

By
The Commune
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According to DMK MP A Raja, Christianity was the first religion to advocate for education to be made available to ordinary people in this society.

DMK MP from Nilgiri, A Raja, who was the special guest at the 157th anniversary function of Kunnoor Anthoniyaar School, Nilgiri District, said: “When we talk about education in India, it becomes a popular topic in today’s political environment. Credits should be given to the British for making education available to even the ordinary people, when it had been denied for 3,000 years.”

He added “Schools founded by Christian organisations continue to teach about our history. Christianity was the first religion in the world to accept that common people in this society should have access to education. Students recited verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran. Students who spoke before me stated that all religions are equal. However, saying this does not imply that I am opposed to any religion.”

He further said, “Ambedkar said that if a person’s education is against the country and society, he is worse than an animal. Education and knowledge are for the advancement of mankind. I adore people but have no faith in God. If God is loving and compassionate toward others, then there must be such a God.”

The comments of DMK MP A Raja have sparked debate, with many questioning why the DMK MP should praise a religion in front of school students of various faiths. Several people criticised DMK MP A Raja for bringing communal politics into a school environment, and they wondered how a Hindu and Muslim student would react when he praised Christianity.

Netizens also lambasted A Raja for giving credit to the British for growth of education in India, especially on the day after Republic Day, when Indians wrote their own constitution after gaining independence from the British.

It should also be noted that the myth that only Brahmins were educated and that others were denied education for 3000 years has been debunked several times using historical data.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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Hindenburg Vs Adani: A Dispassionate Unclouded Analysis

By
The Commune
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Disclaimer: I have no interest in any of Adani’s stocks and I do not hold them in personal capacity

US-based investment research firm Hindenburg Research, had recently published a report alleging stock manipulation and accounting fraud by Adani Group.

In its recent report on Adani conglomerate, Hindenburg Research said “We have uncovered evidence of brazen accounting fraud, stock manipulation and money laundering at Adani, taking place over the course of decades. Adani has pulled off this gargantuan feat with the help of enablers in government and a cottage industry of international companies that facilitate these activities,”.

The entire Hindenburg report comes to a 100 pages when saved as a pdf. On going through the report, one wonders why would this take two full years to publish unless the Hindenburg guys had multiple other projects to work on in parallel. A similar type of research on any conglomerate in the world would yield similar results. SEBI investigations and other charges against Adani is all known to the markets. So, there’s nothing unique in the Hindenburg’s findings to go gaga about. 

The phrase “stock manipulation” is used frequently and we do not know in which category this “manipulation” come under. There is very little reason to believe that this is some anti-India propaganda. People can spin whatever they want but this is purely driven by earnings money through the “short” trade no matter. As simple as that.

The allegation that Adani has been using offshore investment vehicles/funds to buy his companies and inflate his stock prices is nothing new in companies with hard physical assets. Rio Tinto, Shell, Samsung can be called out for the same. Not sure what is illegal with respect to Adani though!

Also, the timing of the release seems dubious, especially when Adani is looking to raise capital. The Hindenburg Research report came just two days before Adani Enterprises’ Follow-on Public Offer (FPO) of ₹20,000 crore, the biggest ever FPO in India, was scheduled to open for subscription on 27 January 2023.

Consider this – Company A run the largest port chain in India and makes enough cash to pay dividends. Company A legally takes the money outside the country and start a company in a tax haven and invest in a fund which in turn buys the shares of the port chain. If there is a law that prevents this, then the owner of Company A need to be behind the bars. If the money is somehow linked to owner of Company A and accusing him of holding 75%+ stake in the company, then yes he should pay for it. But, when neither of this is established, then there simply is no issue. “Anonymous” person’s scoop is all hogwash, anyone can say anything and say “anonymous” person. Moving assets between these shell companies is something that all conglomerates do. Violations are what we need to focus on: “related party transaction disclosure” being the most obvious one. But, if there are “unrelated” entities not sure how they might be related parties.

Issues regarding the auditors seems genuine in terms of capability but then there are no regulations that say that auditors who are in their 20s cannot sign off on financials or there isn’t any stipulation by the CA institute on these lines.

The true intentions of of Hindenburg can be found in its disclaimer. Hindenberg has a reputation for specializing in ‘short-selling’. Short-sellers are those investors who bet against a certain stock and borrow them from a party, ‘short’ them and later sell it at other exchanges to buy them back at a lower price to return to the lender, pocketing a profit in the process.

Lastly, India’s economy is not held back by broken capital markets. This is a low resolution argument.If Indian economy were held back by broken capital markets then neither FIIs would’ve come to India nor would you have a domestic mutual fund industry that has approxiimately ₹40 lakh crores of Assets Under Management.

The only thing that definitely makes some sense is the valuation argument. Yes, the stocks trade a high multiples. But, the onus is on the investor, they can buy or stay away. The promoter pledges are no big deal and won’t create any issue.

The trope that “Adani is silencing journos/analysts” is just an insurance policy for Hindenburg to escape in case no one buys these findings.

Perhaps, the general public is hearing all of this for the first time and is getting swayed by all the hullaballoo generated by media. The common investor, public, citizens aren’t scared of Adani.

For them, they just want to invest in a stock and make money. It could be Adani or Tata or Ambani. The only ones who have issues are a few “activist-journalists”, “activist-analysts” like Hindenburg and ofcourse Opposition politicians.

This article is based on the Twitter thread of Kishore Iyer.

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Appreciation Certificate Issued To Karur TASMAC Officials Withdrawn, Text Changed And Returned

By
The Commune
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The recognition of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) officials for revenue-generating activities in Karur during the Republic Day celebrations on Thursday sparked a row. However, following social media backlash, the DMK government rescinded the certificate.

Collector T. Prabhushankar presented appreciation certificates to P. Shanmugavel, District Manager, Tasmac, Sivakumar and Arumugam, supervisors, and Krishnamurthy, salesman, on Thursday.

The Tasmac employees were recognised for their exemplary work in generating revenue for the State-owned Tasmac, which operates Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) outlets throughout the state, according to the certificates.

The appreciation certificates were widely shared on social media, primarily by those expressing their dissatisfaction with the State government setting targets for increasing revenue by selling liquor through Tasmac outlets.

Social activists and opposition parties claimed that it was inappropriate to honour TASMAC employees during the Republic Day celebration for increasing TASMAC sales. After receiving backlash, the DMK government withdrew the certificates of appreciation given to four TASMAC employees.

It has now been reported that the phrase “cretificate for generating more revenues for TASMAC” was replaced with “certificate of appreciation for excellent work in TASMAC administration” and the certificates have been returned to the four TASMAC employees.

(with inputs from DailyThanthi)

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India And Egypt: The Historical Ties And The Strategic Calculations

By
The Commune
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Three-day visit of President of Egypt, Gen Abdel Fattah el-Sisi concluded recently scripting a fresh chapter for both India and Egypt in elevating their ties to a ‘strategic level’. The two sides also decided that under the strategic partnership, they will combat extremist ideology by joining hands in areas such as de-radicalisation and also come down hard on terrorism. India and Egypt have a long-standing and friendly relationship, with deep historical, cultural and economic ties but the recent visit was unlike anything in the past as it provided both the nations to engage further for prosperity of the region. Let’s take a look at the key highlights of the recent visit and also understand as to why the recent signifies India’s renewed foray in to the Arab world.

The Visit

During the Egypt’s President Sisi’s visit the two countries signed several agreements in areas such as defence, trade, and culture. The visit was seen as an opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relations between Egypt and India, as well as to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two countries signed several agreements to strengthen their bilateral relations. The President was also the Chief Guest during the 74th Republic Day parade, an invitation to be Chief Guest is an important honour that is very high on symbolism. New Delhi’s choice of Chief Guest every year is dictated by a number of reasons — strategic and diplomatic, business interest, and geopolitics. It is worth noting that a military contingent from Egypt also participated in the parade. 

A Historical Connect

The history of contact between India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilisations, can be traced back to at least the time of Ashoka, even prior to it if we take in to accounts of archaeological evidences. Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II. Soon after India’s independence the joint announcement of establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on 18 August 1947. India and Egypt signed a friendship treaty in 1955. In 1961, India and Egypt along with Yugoslavia, Indonesia and Ghana established the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM). The ties between India and Egypt have always been strong but it is post 2014 we could see momentum building up between two nations with mutual desire to enhance partnership. In 2016, the joint statement between India and Egypt identified political-security cooperation, economic engagement and scientific collaboration, and cultural and people-people ties as the basis of a new partnership for a new era.

Strategic Partnership

During this year’s meeting, both India and Egypt agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership”. The strategic partnership will have broadly four elements: political, defence, and security; economic engagement; scientific and academic collaboration; cultural and people-to-people contacts. India and Egypt have also signed a MOU for three years to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt. Under the pact, both broadcasters will exchange their programmes of different genres like sports, news, culture, entertainment on bilateral basis. India views Egypt as a moderate Islamic voice among Muslim-majority countries, and as a partner within the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. During this Republic Day meeting, India and Egypt expressed concerns about the spread of terrorism around the world as it is the most serious security threat to humanity. Consequently, the two countries agreed that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism.  The two countries are also looking at deepening defence and security cooperation. Moreover, the two Air Forces collaborated on the development of fighter aircraft in the 1960s, and Indian pilots trained their Egyptian counterparts from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. Plus, Both the Indian Air Force and Egyptian air force fly the French Rafael Jets In 2022, a pact was signed between the two countries that have decided to also participate in exercises and cooperate in training. The first joint special forces exercise between the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army, “Exercise Cyclone-I” has been underway since 14 January 2023 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

India Is A Friend In Need For Egypt

Egypt’s economy has been in chaos over the past few years due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which impacted its supply of food as almost 80% of Egypt’s grain imported from Russia and Ukraine and impacted Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves. The Egypt was reeling from food shortages and inflation. On the other side of the globe India was also witnessing challenges, on top of the impact from war, 2022’s rabi crop was struck by heatwave which almost cutdown 30% wheat yield in India. India had to impose restriction on wheat exports. Despite restrictions on export of wheat, India stepped up for Egypt and allowed shipments of 61,500 metric tonnes to Egypt. The reliability of India is increasing in the world. From India, Egypt is seeking investments in infrastructure including Metro projects, a Suez Canal economic zone, a second channel of the Suez Canal, and a new administrative capital in Egypt. More than 50 Indian companies have invested more than USD 3.15 billion in Egypt. India has been able to showcase that the nation is in fact a friend in need for Egypt.

Strategic Significance

India’s decision to elevate bilateral ties to the strategic level is rooted in a recognition of the enduring salience of Egypt as a pivotal state sitting at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and Europe, with the capacity to influence political outcomes on multiple fronts.

Beyond bilateral ties, the renewed engagement with Egypt is also about expanding and consolidating India’s new coalition with moderate Sunni states in the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are eager to counter violent religious extremism and also the influence of states which influences extremism such as Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey. Delhi’s strategic partnership with Cairo also opens the door for a larger Indian role in the region which is trying to diversify its partnerships, as the US begins to turn its attention to the Pacific after prolonged and costly military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, China is rapidly raising its regional profile in the Middle East. The Indian foreign policy discourse, with its deepening anti-Western rhetoric and empathy for radical Arab States in the 1970s, was not empathetic to the concerns and interests of Egypt as it made brave moves to rethink its regional policies.

India’s new outreach to Egypt now brings greater balance to India’s engagement with the Middle East as a whole. As it turns out, Egypt is an important strategic partner for the Gulf Arabs. Emirati and Saudi capital today have a major role in the economic transformation of Egypt and its neighbourhood. Another major factor in India-Egypt relation is India’s concern towards growing Chinese influence in the region. China’s bilateral trade with Egypt is currently at USD 15 billion, double that of India’s USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22. During the past eight years, the President of Egypt has travelled to China seven times to lure Chinese investments. Apart from that Egypt, the most populous country in West Asia, occupies a crucial geo-strategic location- 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal and is a key player in the region. It is a major market for India and can act as a gateway to both Europe and Africa. However, it also has bilateral trade pacts with important West Asian and African nations which is a cause of concern for India. Thus, the current visit gives valuable reorientation to India in the Arab world to posture itself better amidst rising challenges in the international order.

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DMK Min KN Nehru Hits Party Worker In Salem, Thanthi TV Calls It ‘Streamlining’ Of Queue By Min

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration KN Nehru was seen hitting a party worker on stage in yet another display of DMK high-handedness. The incident was reported from Salem, Tamil Nadu, where DMK workers had gathered to welcome Udhayanidhi Stalin, the newly appointed sports minister.

DMK minister KN Nehru was caught on camera hitting a party worker for the second time in a matter of weeks. During an event in Salem, DMK cadres had queued up to welcome the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin. The line was so long that there was pushing and pulling on the stage, and leaders such as KN Nehru took on crowd control duties.

When a DMK cadre attempted to shake hands with Udhayanidhi Stalin’s, DMK minister KN Nehru became enraged. He grabbed the party worker’s hands first, then hit him behind the head.

A few other DMK cadres also received blows from the DMK minister KN Nehru when they attempted to get close to Udhayanithi Stalin.

Earlier on January 10, a video surfaced on social media showing DMK Minister KN Nehru slapping a DMK ward councillor on the head during a government welfare programme in Trichy.

On Tuesday, DMK Minister for Milk and Dairy Development SM Nasar was caught on camera losing his cool and throwing a stone at a party worker, allegedly over a delay in bringing chairs for him at a Tiruvallur event.

These incidents of DMK ministers publicly hitting DMK cadres have become a common occurance. However, Tamil media and certain journalists attempt to trivialise these incidents by either making absurd interpretations or failing to publish the news itself. When similar incidents occurred during the previous ADMK regime, they made it a point of discussion during prime time debates.

Thanthi TV, a mainstream news channel, reported KN Nehru hitting DMK cadres as “the streamlining of queues by KN Nehru in his own style”, attempting to trivialise the matter. Thanthi TV never stated that DMK Minister Nehru attempted to hit the cadre and downplayed the incident throughout the one-minute video.

Dravidar Kazhagam, an organisation that claims to be a self-respect movement, or its sister organisations led by Subha Veerapandian, Kolathur Mani, or K Ramakrishnan, have not responded to a series of events in which DMK cadres’ self-respect has been insulted, as they fear losing material support from the ruling DMK government.

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TN BJP Leader SG Suryah Follows Footsteps Of Modi, Vajpayee; Goes On Prestigious IVLP Fellowship

By
The Commune
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The International Visitor Leadership Program is a flagship program of the United State of America’s State Department that invites current or potential leaders in government, politics and other fields.

The participants are selected by American Foreign Service Officers overseas. IVLP boasts of a rich alumni club that includes more than 290 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, 2,000 cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors according to IVLP’s official website.

SG Suryah, a promising young BJP leader from Tamil Nadu has been extended an invitation from India on this year’s quota to attend the program which is titled “Young Politicians – The Future of Indian Democracy in the United States”.

BJP Tamil Nadu State President K. Annamalai declared this news through his tweet which reads “Very happy to announce that our young dynamic BJP State Secretary SG Suryah is selected for the internationally renowned #IVLP Fellowship by the Department of State, Government of United States of America. He will be travelling around the USA for a month starting tomorrow. I wish him the best for a great Fellowship!”

It is worth noting that former Prime Minister Vajpayee and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi were the participants of IVLP in the years 1960 and 1993.

SG Suryah is a notable youth leader in BJP and was earlier invited to Israel by Govt. of Israel in 2018 as one of the Emerging Young Political Leaders in India for a 10-day Youth Exchange Program. Subsequently, in 2019, Suryah was part of the Govt. of India’s Youth Leaders Delegation to South Korea for 12 days. 

Apart from being active in politics, Suryah is also a well-known columnist and author with 7 books to his credit all published before he turned 30 years. His biography of internationally renowned social worker Palam Kalyanasundaram and his Tamil book on BJP sweeping the polls in North East India in which he explains its strategy and hard work are bestsellers. His Tamil translation of Veer Savarkar’s Mazi Janmathep and Yogi Adityanath’s Biography are critically acclaimed and bestsellers too.

Suryah currently serves as the State Secretary of BJP in the state of Tamil Nadu and is the youngest to hold this position in the history of BJP.

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The Songs Of Spring

By
The Commune
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India is the land of Shad Ritus or six seasons: Vasant (spring), Greeshm (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), Hemant (early winter) and Shishir (deep winter). Most festivals of India are deeply connected to these seasons as each of them holds significance in the nation’s agrarian way of life. Each season is a unique experience and brings along natural gifts. It is these seasonal abundances that are celebrated in the art and culture of the subcontinent.

Two seasons that are celebrated the most in Indic literature, music, dance and folklore are Vasant or spring and Varsha or monsoon.

In Hindi literature, Vasant is called Rituraaj or the king of seasons and Varsha is considered the queen.

In Uttar Pradesh and parts of Bihar, special seasonal songs in semi-classical and folk style, are sung during both. Baramasi, Kajari, Saawani and Jhoola are songs of monsoon, sung particularly during the month of Shravan or Saavan. Phaag, Hori, Ullara and Chaiti are the songs of spring, sung during the months of Phaalgun and Chaitra (called Phaagun and Chait, colloquially).

Vasant Panchami (fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha) marks the onset of spring. However, it takes a month and a half after Vasant (colloquially called Basant) Panchami for winter to leave completely. Ten days of Magha and the entire month ofPhaalgun form a period of change from Shishir (extreme winter) to Vasant.

According to the Panchang (Indic calendar), Phalgun is a Shishir month but in popular culture, it is considered a Vasant month. It is spent witnessing the magical transition of winter to spring : the thick winter fog of northern India lifts, gentle breeze or Basanti byaar blows, days become longer, sunrays become warmer, leaves fall, new shoots take their place and flowers bloom.

In Phalgun, cheery yellow marigolds and mustard fields gradually make way for the passionate reds of Semal (Silk cotton), Tesu/Palash (Flame of the forest) and Mahua blossoms. The Asian Koels break their silence after many months and Bumblebees or Bhanwrey buzz around the gardens. This natural celebration peaks on Holi when humans join in, smear colour made from Tesu flowers on each other’s faces and throw scented water on one another to mark a complete riddance from winter. The Phaag and Hori songs describe the beauty of this seasonal transformation.

In the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, the birth place of Ram, the songs speak of ‘Ram ji’ playing Holi. While in the Braj region, birth place of Krishna, they retell stories of the epic holi ‘Kanhaiyya ji’ used to play with Radha and Gopikas. However, this doesn’t mean that songs in praise of Krishna are not sung in Awadh.

A popular Awadhi Hori – Hori khelen Raghuveera awadh maa (Ram plays Holi in Awadh) was adapted for Amitabh Bachhan’s film Baaghban in 2003. An authentic version of this Hori, rendered by Malini Awasthi can be heard by clicking here.

These songs are mostly in languages like Awadhi, Brajbhasha and Bhojpuri.

All these languages are different from each other. Most people, including some natives of North India, tend to think that the entire Uttar Pradesh and Bihar speaks Bhojpuri. This is an unfortunate misconception.

The fact is that the region popularly called the Hindi heartland or Hindi belt (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Territory of Delhi) has multiple languages.

Both Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have five to six local languages and not all of them are merely dialects of Hindi. They share an affinity with Hindi and Urdu but they are distinct in character. It is believed that some of them were spoken even before Hindi and Urdu came into existence. These languages play an important role in folk traditions.

It is worth mentioning that the classical Holi compositions are different from folk and semi-classical songs. Phaag, Hori and Ullara songs are based on ragas but don’t strictly adhere to the raga structures. They are simplified, fluid and more ornamental in nature.

After Holi, the month of Chaitra or Chaita begins. Songs called Chaiti are sung during this month. Mostly, they can be identified by the leitmotif ‘Ho Rama’ that is repeated throughout the composition. A beautiful Awadhi Chaiti by Girija Devi – Chait maase chunri rangaibe ho rama! piya ghar aiye hain (I will get my scarf dyed in bright colours during the Chait month, my beloved will come home then) can be heard by clicking here.

Pt. Chhannulal Mishra has also rendered a melodic Benarasi Chaiti – Sejia se saiyan ruth gaile ho rama! koel tori boliya (My beloved is upset and refuses to make love while the Koel calls incessantly), it can be heard by clicking on the link below. In the recording ‘Pandit ji’ also speaks about Chaitaa and Ghato, two other forms of Chait songs. To hear click here

Given below are the links to a Hori Aaj biraj mein Hori re rasiya (Holi is being celebrated in Braj today) and a Chaiti Piya milan hum jaibe (I shall go to meet my beloved) rendered by Shobha Gurtu.

One –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4DxKTLzHU

Two –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDEAVqqegmk

Vasant and Varsha are considered seasons of love. Therefore, their songs are predominantly romantic or Shringaar rasa-pradhan in their themes. The intense pangs of Viyog (separation) shringaar and the pleasures of Sanyog (union) shringaar are expressed in them. These songs also have a spiritual meaning. Piya or Saiyyan (beloved) is a metaphor for Parmatma or the supreme soul and the Jeevatma or living being yearns to unite with Parmatma.

Synchronising one’s lifestyle with the seasons is a way of becoming one with nature, the purest manifestation of Parmatma. Songs of the seasons facilitate this process of living in harmony with nature. Spring is a season that invigorates the senses and stimulates the mind.

Phaag, Hori and Chaiti songs make one appreciate the beauty of this season even more.

P.S. The words Phaag, Phaagun and Phalgun are pronounced with a Phsound created by pressing both lips together. The sound of Ph has no equivalent in English. Fa is pronounced by touching lower lip and upper teeth. Fa and Ph are distinct sounds and both are present in Indian languages. Faag, Faagun and Falgun are incorrect pronunciations and spellings as words of Sanskrit origin have no Fa sound, it is present in words of Arabic and Persian origin.

Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Shivangini Yeashu Yuvraj, Hindustani vocalist and expert on seasonal songs, for her inputs.

This article was originally published in e-Samsrikriti and has been republished here with permission.

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