The glorious 82 Seconds - Saudi woman in Olympics

The game lasted 82 seconds only, but 16 year old Wojdan Shaherkani's (Vs Melissa Mojica) achievement made a mark in the history of Saudi Sports and Woman rights. Before the game starts a few people imagined about the participation of a woman from ultraconservative Saudi society in Olympics. But finally it happened.

Well, this may not change the old water tight policies the kingdom follows in matters related to woman folk. But at least there is a break with the long held policies. I can only hope that this wave of enthusiasm may open the Saudi Society further, and we could see a day when women enjoy the same right as that of men in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

All the best to Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shaherkani.

Sajeev.

Reference:
1. Saudi to send women to games but baghpat (up, india) looking in the opposite way

Photo Courtesy: London2012

Which one is more important - Olympic Games or Brand?

"Where are all your theaters and marble statues?
Where are your Olympic Games?"

These lines are from the poem 'Dialogue of the dead' by Panagiotis Soutsos; which is considered as the first reference for the revival of ancient Olymbic games. After two centuries people find themselves asking the same question - 'Where is my Olympic game?'

Read some of the stories from 2012 Olympic venue - London - as reported by various papers.

1936 - Jesse Owens in Berlin

"ban on using any other WiFi hot spot in the Olympic arena except those set up by British Telecom (BT), the “official communications services provider” for the Games. The ban extends to creating a wireless hotspot on personal smartphones and using portable WiFi hotspot devices"(#2)

"Visitors are not allowed to wear anything with logos of companies not sponsoring the Games. Journalists have had logos on their Apple and Dell computers covered."(#2)

"fish and chip stalls have been prevented from selling chips without fish as McDonald’s is the official chips maker of the Games."(#2)

"ban on using Olympic rings even as a mark of support for the Games. Old ladies trying to get into the spirit of the Games by decorating cakes with Olympic rings have been told to remove them."(#2)

"A young florist, who put up Olympic rings made of tissue paper in her shop window was threatened with legal action and forced to take them down."(#2)

"a crack team of branding "police", the Games organisers Locog have acknowledged, will be checking every bathroom in every Olympic venue – with the power to remove or tape over manufacturers' logos even on soap dispensers, wash basins and toilets." (#3)

"A photoshoot promoting easyJet's new routes from London Southend airport was also interrupted by a Locog monitor after local athlete Sally Gunnell was handed a union flag to drape over her shoulders. According to reports, Locog felt this would create too direct an association with her famous pose after winning Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992 (British Airways, rather than easyJet, is the airline sponsor of London 2012)"(#3)

Conclusion

According to the reports the estimated worth of Olympic brand is $45bn. I think the organizers often fails to understand the simple fact that $45bn tag came because of people like me and you are ready to watch the game in its original spirit. If we - the spectators - are not watching then none of the multinational companies will come to sponsor it.

Organizing committee should protect the rights of sponsors. After all they are spending hard cash to get a spot on this sporting extravaganza. But not to the extent that it will affect/curb individual's justified rights (not commercial interests). The game is for and still running because of millions of individuals like me and you - a fact 2012 London Olympic Organizing committee should always remember.

References

1. London 2012 - Using the Brand
2. What Olympics? Show me the money!
3. Olympics 2012: branding 'police' to protect sponsors' exclusive rights

Photo Courtesy: German Federal Archives

Anna Hazare - Introduction to the murky waters of Indian politics will it succeed?

India Against Corruption campaign at White Field Bangalore

Wide spread corruption was one of the severe blow faced by Indians in their life. How many of you paid bribe or did some favour to the politicians/bureaucrats to do their work or to get something which are rightfully yours? Indians, often boasting about 5000 years of history, forced to become silent each time transparency international release their report. In the late years we often stopped looking at our ranks in the list of most corrupted countries and started comparing our position with that of neighbours.

Anna Hazare's introduction of a mass movement against corruption at New Delhi was indeed a replica of what many people want to do. The mother of all scams - 2G - scam and CAG report on it only increased the anger vibrating in the minds of common citizen and gave a boost to the movement. Well, even though the stub born insistence of Anti Corruption Movement regarding to some of the clauses raised question marks, generally the first phase went well and finally the Lokayuktha bill was passed by one house.

It is difficult to keep people focussed on one issue for long - anti corruption movement too was not different. We saw the thin population last time at the fast location in Mumbai.

The third avatar was able to attract people, but it was different from previous ones in two different ways. One - government cared little about the new fast (at least publically); secondly, the announcement to launch a political party.

Anti corruption movement raised a general awareness among people about corruption. It helped people to wake up, at least in the cities, for a mass movement. Even the politicians will fear more and think twice before taking public money for their private purposes in the future. The movement may help to raise the accountability at different levels of governance.

This also shares its own share of drawbacks. The first problem is even the straight officers will think twice or thrice before taking a decision. If the decision has any possibility of invoking any controversy even in the distant future they may think it better to postpone. Another problem is that, because of extra media activities if any one raised any accusation against an official then even before finding the truth media will kill them hundred times.

New political party - Some positive trends

The main advantage of forming a new political party - if it formed at all – at this time is the possible transform of a common man’s anger against corruption to votes. It can act as a vehicle to carry the desire of Indians for change.

Image of the movement and its leaders are clean so far. Apart from that, corruption is one of the subjects which every one faces in their day to day life. Corruption closes the door of equality and fairness in front of common man. If Team Anna can provide an answer to it people will certainly welcome them.

The movement also enjoys considerable support in the cities and among middle and upper class. So far people are coming in considerable numbers to the fast venue in New Delhi. Even its sister movements - for example the one in Bangalore - attracts considerable number of people.

So far Team Anna able to place themselves in the centre of media focuses. In fact it was the constant media attention which helped the movement to reach this far.  Media helped them by giving a free and popular platform to propagate their ideas.

Will the movement be able to influence the elections considerably?

How far Anna Hazare team will be able to move forward with their political party is yet to see. But there are some inherent problems with this decision. The primary one is about the interest of the mass. Middle class may support a movement with the intention to try something different but they may not take it to a logical end. Especially if it the movement dragged on. We already the saw the movement fizzled out last time in Mumbai. Current tendency is to blame politicians for each and everything no matter whether it is flood or draught. Will the people be able to join a political party and canvass others in the country side? As of now, I am seeing few chances.

Corruption is not the single problem our country is facing now. Moreover it is not concentrated on the top. In fact the corruption at the bottom level is worse than the one at top and affects common man directly. How many times you paid bribe to move a file from one table to another? Apart from corruption front people don’t know anything about the policy of Team Anna in other areas like agriculture, foreign policy, economics etc. As far as they are restraining themselves to corruption it is fine. However once they cross the boundary and enter politics, people will demand answer for everything.

Apart from this Team Anna lacks an organisational framework in the vast country side. Apart from the media sensitive cities including national capital, people may not be much informed/ confident about the movement. Even after years of organisational framework main stream parties are failing to connect with people. The largest contingents of MPs are not coming from Delhi or Mumbai or Kolkata or Bangalore, but from villages, small towns and cities where votes are often decided by caste/religious equation. Yes, in those elections where the middle class seldom shows any interest to vote.

Apart from Anna Hazare or Arvind Kejriwal or Prashant Bhooshan duo people have little idea about other faces of the movement. It is yet to have regional faces with which common people can connect very fast.

Conclusion

As of now I don’t think the movement as a political party will be a successful enterprise. The next election is almost two years away. It is difficult to carry - if central government didn’t do anything so foolish - this momentum so far. In case they failed to make any ripples in the 2014 general elections, it will be more difficult for them to do anything later. Media which often focus on sensational topics may not render the same service they did in the earlier days. Whether anti corruption movement succeed in election front or not, it will be remembered for its positive impact on nation's anticorruption front. A movement which forced the executive to correct some of its miss-steps.

Sajeev.

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia

A Chalukyan Pilgrimage II - Pattadakkal

Group of monuments in Pattadakkal dated back to 8th century CE. These monuments are currently considered as world heritage site by UNESCO. This former capital of Chalukyans contains a number of temples - including a Jain temple - dated back to seventh and eighth centuries. These temples are constructed in Dravidian, Nagara and Mixed styles.

My auto reached Pattadakkal in the afternoon. After paying the driver I moved towards the ticket counter, here you don’t have to pay for camera.

Main temples in Pattadakkal are,

Virupaksha Temple - Built by queen Lokadevi in 740 AD to celebrate her husband's - Vikramadithya II - victory over Pallavas. This shrine measures 224 feet east-west and 105 feet north-south with a big hall in the centre. This complex contains one central shrine, two separate shrines and one Nandi mandapa. Rangamandapa is supported by 18 rectangular pillars in four rows full of sculptures with episodes of Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and Bhagavata engraved.



Sangameshvara Temple - Built by King Vijayaditya Satyashraya in 725 AD. This huge temple has one main shrine and two subsidiary shrines. Nine lattice windows allow the light into circumambulatory path is unique in their geometrical pattern.


Mallikarjuna Temple - This temple built by Trailokadevi - younger queen of Vikramaditya II and sister of Lokadevi - is almost in the same design of Virupaksha temple but slightly smaller.


Kashivisvanatha Temple - This 8th century temple with a nagara shikhara contains a series of Chaitya windows. The front part of the Shikhara has beautiful figures of dancing Shiva and Parvati. The central ceiling also have sculptures of Shiva, Parvati, child Kartikeya and Nandi.

Kadasiddhesvara - This temple resembles Jambulingeswara in size and design has a northern rekhanagara shikhara. Above the lintel of the Garbhagriha there is a image of Shiva, Parvati, Nandi, Brahma and Vishnu. On the outer walls you can see the figures of Harihara, Lakulisha, Ardhanarishwara etc.

Jain Narayana temple, Jambulingeswara temple, Galganatha temple etc are some other temples located here.

I walked slowly around each temple. Some priests were performing poojas on a Nadimandapa and on the Shiva temple opposite to that. Apart from this area pooja's or any other rituals were not performed in any other part of this group of monuments. After going through the entire temple, I sat on a side bench and lost in thinking about the Chalukyan times.

Well, it’s already 6 'o' clock the place is about to close. I slowly walked outside and start waiting for some vehicle to reach Badami. Around 6.15pm I got a bus to Badami. This time I got down at Badami railway station and walked towards it.

Pattadakkal Group of monuments

Sajeev.

How to reach Pattadakkal: You will get private vehicles and buses from Badami bus stand or railway station

Information Courtesy: Archaeological Survey of India, Wikipedia.

A Chalukyan Pilgrimage I - Aihole

Durga Complex

From the side seat of Sholapur Express, the long flat land on both sides of the track covered with black soil represents a typical Karnataka village. A person sitting opposite told me that after taking a long vacation there was some rain on his part of Karnataka.

At Bhagalkot

I reached Bhagalkot railway station around 8.30 in the morning. My plan was to reach Aihole first, continue to Pattadakkal and in the end visit Badami. But according to many people I consulted in Bhagalkot it was better to go to Badami first and then to Aihole. After many unsuccessful attempts with a number of buses I got one direct bus to Badami. If you are coming from South the best way to visit all these places is by taking to Sholapur or Bijapur from Yeshwantpur railway station and get down at Badami.

Badami - On the way to Aihole

Around 10am I reached Badami bus stand, beautiful red sandstone decorates one side of the town. Even though it was a retracing the journey back to Badami was an interesting one. Majority of men wearing white dhoti, white kurtha and Gandhi cap. It was a unique experience to see many people in Gandhi caps. Now-a-day you can't see this much Gandhi caps even in Congress rally. On the way we overtook so many bullock carts - tractors are indeed very less in number. Many girls were pedalling their cycles to school in full school uniform. In fact in one of the school on the way - Digambareshwar High School - had a huge collection of cycles.

Houses on both sides of the road are small - many had one or two rooms only. In between many students boarded our bus using their free pass - One of the good initiatives by Karnataka RTC. I moved some years back in my memory lane - in my school days - we got concessions on almost all private buses but not in Kerala RTC. As the road was not a nationalized in that part of Kerala, government run RTC never even bothered to provide concessions for students!!!

Next direct bus to Aihole was around 1.30pm but there were so many small tempo travellers running shuttles. After checking with some people I got in one such vehicle - 20 Rs to Pattada Kallu (Pattadakkal). It took some time to start; I never imagined that that much people can travel in that small vehicle!!!

Ravana Pahadi

There were so many young and old men, women and kids. Men who were old were wearing white and white dress with Gandhi cap. Young men were wearing shirt and pant. Women appeared generally in sari; however some girls in their early twenties gave a chance to Churidar. Women had a number of jewelleries in ear as well as in neck. Apart from piercing the lower part of the ear, they were also wearing jewellery by piercing the upper part of the outer ear as well. Lady sitting opposite to me was wearing a special type of necklace, I turned around, and many women sitting behind me (except one) were wearing necklace of similar kind.

We crossed Badami railway station as we continue our journey more and more people came in. One side of the road was full of sunflower fields, after some we reached another junction. Here many people got down and the vehicle started sunning in seating capacity. But in the next stop, one farmer came with a number of Urea sacks. 1, 2, 3...7 big sacks full of Urea. Because of this extra passenger I was not even able to move my legs any more. With not so comfortable smell urea we continued our journey. Farmer also jumped in and sat opposite to me happily looking to his urea possessions, smiling....

We finally reached Pattadakkal World heritage site. As Aihole was some more kilometres away from here I had to take a shared auto to reach there.

Aihole Inscription

Aihole

Finally, I am in Aihole. Situated near Malaprabha River in Bhagalkot district, this ancient capital of Chalukyans is more than 500km away from the current capital of Karnataka - Bangalore. It was a major city and fist capital of early Chalukyas. They built over 125 temples in this area.  Later Pulakesi I moved the capital to Badami which was then known as Vatapi. Aihole has been described as one of the cradles of temple architecture in India. Some temples are dated as back as 5th century CE.

Durga Complex, Museum and Temples

After buying the ticket from the gate, I walked towards Durga Complex. This is not a temple of Durga; the name came because of its vicinity to the fort. This temple was built by 'Aatada Ale Komarasingha' during the days of Vikramaditya II. Durga temple is in the form of Gajaprishtha with exterior narrating Ramayana scenes. From here I went to museum located close to this temple (there is separate ticket for museum - 5 Rs).

After visiting other temples in the area - Suryanarayana Gudi, Gaudaragudi, Chakra Gudi, Lad khan temple, Ambigere Gudi, Shri Huchchimalli temple etc - I moved towards Ravana Pahadi cave temples.

Ravana Pahadi

This 6th century rock cut Shiva shrine has a tall dancing Shiva with ten hands and equally tall Saptamatrikas observing Shiva's dance along with rows of beautiful ganas, varaha, Mahishasuramardini and other figures. Bhoodevi's and Nandi's sculptures are also present here.

From RavanaPahadi cave temples, I walked straight to Aihole Fort. Jyotirlinga temple group and Mallikarjuna temple complex are one the sides of this road. We have to go through a number of steps to reach the top. There is nothing other than the reconstructed wall by ASI which indicates there was a fort.

Meguti Jain temple and Aihole Inscription

The famous Meguti Jain temple is here. The famous Aihole inscription - in Sanskrit language and old Kannada script - dated 634 CE, is on the walls this Jain temple. After walking in and out of the temple finally I saw the inscription on the outer side of temple wall. After spending some time there I walked towards the Aihole junction to catch a vehicle to Pattadakkal. There are some more temple complexes in this area.

Please note the frequency of buses is very low. You have to depend on hired/shared vehicle. After checking with so many people and waiting for long time I got a shared auto to Pattadakkal.

Sajeev.

How to reach: The best way to reach here is by getting down at Badami Railway Station and then using either bus/ private vehicles.