“We declare that Section 377 of the IPC, insofar as it criminalises consensual sexual acts of adults in private, is violative of Articles 21 [Right to Protection of Life and Personal Liberty], 14 [Right to Equality before Law] and 15 [Prohibition of Discrimination on Grounds of Religion, Race, Caste, Sex or Place of Birth] of the Constitution.”

About time. The State has no business to peek into our bedroom. this is not just about decriminalizing homosexuality – it is about ensuring everyones’ right to privacy.

i predict that every religious nut-case organisation- from the Bajrang Dal to SIMI  will join hands to create disturbance.finally something will unite them.

When that happens, I hope that the State & Civil Society beat them down. Constitutional rights are universal and applicable to everyone in the nation. Religious rights are only for those who observe. Religious leaders cannot ask for their dogma to be imposed on the rest of the state.

The way ahead is to ensure that all laws that contradict fundamental rights are repealed one by one. And, when there is a dispute between Constitutional Law and Religious Law -the former triumphs.

I hope that this is the precedent for ensuring greater equality for all sections of society, especially women who are governed by archaic Christian and Muslim codes. Thankfully, Nehru freed Hindu women of that tyranny – now it is the time for our sisters to get their due in terms of rights.

for more read Religion vs. Gender Equality & Feminism - by Mahendra.

Yesterday, it finally rained. the proper monsoon downpour. the kind of downpour that gets the roads flooded, and sends you towards a samovar of adrak chai. Suddenly the world looks beautiful, the earth smells lovely, and the heart smiles !

The link that India has to rains, is much like the colder nations of the North have towards Spring. A lot of our mental and physical well being is linked to it raining and raining well. it is hardly surprising that monsoons are such an integral part of Hindi Cinema (and regional cinema).

But, before cinema got into the act there was folk and classical music that celebrated the rain gods. In Hindustani Classical Music – Malhar and its many variants cover the whole range from longing for rain (or the love of your beloved); to celebrating it ! With the first rains, i thought i will list some of my favourite film songs based on the rain ragas. do add yours to this list :

Raga Miyan Ki Malhar - by Salamat & Nazakhat Ali Khan – in Satyajit Ray’s masterpiece Jalsaghar. The film is about the passage of time, and the decline of glory – it tells the story of a zamindar who gives a last hurrah to a dying way of life – by hosing a magnificent music concert in his music room. Miyan ki Malhar is a raga that captures the full power of the monsoons – complete with the thunder & lightening

Bole Re Papi Hara - based on Raga Miyan ki Malhar – a fabulous rendition by Vani Jayaram. I always thought that Vani Jayaram’s voice was too mature and strong for a school girl – which is what Jaya Bhaduri played in the film Guddi.

Woh Chup Rahen – in Raga Ramdasi Malhar – a variant of Malhar, picturized on Minoo Mumtaz. Lata Mangeshkar singing this great composition in Malhar for the film Jahan Ara. Bharat Bhooshan showing as much emotion as a block of wood , as always, but the lucky man had some of the best songs in Hindi cinema picturized on him

apni zulfein - from Taj Mahal, not the old version – but the unwatchable new version. The music, though, is brilliant, though it feels as it belongs to the last century. I was quite sure that the song itself was composed – in Raga Malhar – for a film made in the 1960’s meant to be sung by Rafi sahaab.  Here is Hariharan crooning the said number -in a composition by Naushad. I never watched the video – because the thought of an over  metrosexualised Zulfi Sayed playing anyone from the past was kind of off putting

Kahan Se Aaye Badra - from the film Chashme Badoor . Composed in Raga Megh – it covers the entire gamut of emotions from anticipaiton of love, to heart break and longing. Beautifully sung by Yesudas and a lovely female voice .

Ghanana Ghanana - from Lagan, once again captures the longing for rain, rain that nurtures, and renews and rejuvenates.

Megh for me, is the Raga that is associated with the longing for rain, while Malhar & all its variants, especially Miyan ki Malhar is associated with full blown monsoons – with all the power and glory of thunder, lightening and buckets of water

while you are at it, check out the Megh Malhar again by Lata – in the film Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan. The glory & the power of this rendition is in contrast, with the mellowness of the Ramdasi Malhar

Also check out Suresh Wadkar from this great song from the film Saaz . Again a very powerful rendition

But, for the full power of Miyan Ki Malhar – you can’t miss Bhimsen Joshi singing the Raga. It is almost like he will get it to rain with the power of his voice
i will leave you with a very young Bhimsen Joshi trying to single handed get the rain gods to listen and grant us their bounty !! enjoy and happy rains

copy editor - is not someone who copies from the net and pastses pastes on-line

I hope that this didn’t get printed, and is only there in the on-line edition.

And finally, to err is human. But, to put it on-line without checking is asking for trouble

I have never seen better looking orchids, in my life. growing like other potted plants

Different types of Orchids, in full bloom – and gorgeous.

More on my flickr photostream here.

As I break for the weekend, i have done a few things for this site :

a) upgraded to Wordpress 2.8 – upgrading was like smooth jazz . i remember all those times, where it was like commissioning a nuclear power plant, now it is one- click.

b) included nested comments

c) using a text editor, rather than WP’s rather clunky editor

d) included photo albumto integrate my photo’s on flickr onto this site, with the least possible effort.

The way the temperatures are soaring in Mumbai, with the air pregnant with humidity, it won’t be long before i can grow these on my window sill

When I visited Indonesia recently, one of the places i visited was the Prambanan Temple.

i was aware that the Ramayan was very popular in Java. But, i did not expect to discover a full fledged Shaivite Temple complex in Indonesia.

But, it shouldn’t have surprised me – the  Cholas- great Shiva worshippers and a seafaring empire – had come as far as Sumatra – and it is not suprising that they left their cultural footprints in this beautiful place. The Prambanan temple complex reminds me a lot of the temples at Mahaballipuram – which are from the Pallava Era.

The Javanese word for temple is Candi – and Candi Parambanan – or th Parambanan temple (pronounce bramanan temple) is one of the two major temple complexes you will find in Yogyakarta – the other being Borabadur – which is Buddhist temple complex.

The temple is also called the Ramayan temple, because of the number of scenes from the epic that are carved in stone – on the outer walls.

The Shiva Temple is at the centre and flanked on either side by the Vishnu and the Brahma temples. There are temples to the vahana or divine vehicles as well . the Nandi Temple is the first temple that you see when you enter the complex.

The Nandi Temple – is just ahead of the Shiva temple – as is customary. The structure is imposing – to say the least. The Shiva temple is supposed to have two smaller chambers – one devoted to Ganesha – his son; and the other to the great Rishi Agastya . I say supposed to, becasue the temple was cordoned off.

The temples to the Trinity were damaged during the earthquake of 2006. They are currently being restored, stone by stone. ANd, it is a painstaking effort

I am going back to Yogyakarta (i really love that name ) and to visit Prambanan Temple . The next time, hopefully, it won’t be part of a larger shoot and i will have time to absorb the majesty of that place.