Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Samanyaralli Asamanayaru


Swabhimani by Lakshmana S. Ballolli


Chitralekha by P.M.Inamdar


Agni mattu Male by Girish Karnad


Nadia teerada nadige by Dr. Ranganatha Kantanakunte


Kalpana by R.Savitha

These are the books i won in a competition in Sudhamurthy's Samanyaralli Asamanayaru contest.
The question was which district is called 'Kavigala Nadu', and the right answer if Dharwad.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

All About Eve



Watched this movie today.Winner of 6 oscar awards.A classic story of ambition and betrayal.Written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Its all about Eve Harrington(Anne Baxter), just a star-struck young woman, waiting outside the stage door night after night, hoping to catch a glimse of her idol Margo Channing(Bette Davis) and fianlly wins brightest new star award.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Friend's marriage in Mudhol



Attended close friend's wedding in Mudhol. Enjoyed thoroughly.

Ranna

This is in front of  'Kavi Chakravarthi Ranna memorial Library'.
While in Mudhol to attend my freind's marriage, my love towards books took me here.
Very well maintained, you get an environment to sit and read. They also avail the facility of membership with a nominal fee.





Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Mehendi



Just tried it on myself.How is it?

Saturday, November 21, 2009

All the King's Men




Have started watching the series of Oscar winner collection(1949-1955)

All The King's Men(1949) is the story of the rise of politician Willie Stark(played by Broderick Crawford) from a rural county seat to the spotlight. Along the way, he loses his initial innocence, and becomes just as corrupt as those who he assaulted before for this characteristic.
Based on the life of Huey Long (1893 - 1935), this is a gripping tale about a populist demagogue in a Southern state during the first third of the 20th century.

The movie has won 3 oscars,for the Best actor in a Leading role, Best actress in a supporting role and Best picture.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Fly high

Its fascinating to look at an evening sky with its different shades. These photos confirm that.



Saturday, November 14, 2009

Mohandas



Yet again i won an audio CD of Mohandas in the the "Radio Jhankaar Mohandas contest" held on Radio Jhankaar.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

My new companion

Yes it is my new companion now, Scooty pep+
(courtesy: my brother and sis-in-law)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Wintry morning

Photographed while in hometown, all in and around my house. Had a nice experience with winter on its start.Could feel dew drops,cool breeze,see the early birds while on morning walk on terrace. Probably this is what is called enjoying nature...




Can u spot the bird?

Hornbill

Sunday, November 1, 2009

History of Karnataka

In ancient times, Karnataka was called Karunadu, literally meaning elevated land.


The Early Karnataka

The evidence of Maurayan dynasty in Karnataka is the Ashoka's rock edicts found in the state. The great Chandragupta Maurya ruled the state and adopted Jainism at Shravanabelagola. After him many other dynasties like the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagars ruled it. These dynasties added value to the cultural and spiritual value of the state.

At Aihole in Karanataka, the Chalukyas constructed the early Hindu temples in India. These temples are regarded as the architectural wonders. Similarly, the Hoysala's who ruled from the 11th to the 13th century, built more than 150 temples having excellent architecture.


Karnataka Under Vijayanagar Empire

The most celebrated dynasty that ruled Karnataka is the Vijayanagar dynasty. The Vijyanagar kings were the greatest of all medieval Hindu empires and were lovers of fine arts. They have contributed a lot to the culture and traditions of the state. Many foreign visitors who came to this place during this period have described it as one of the most prosperous states.


The Fall of Vijayanagar Empire


The grand Vijayanagar dynasty disintegrated with its capital at Hampi after the attack of the Deccan Sultan in 1565 A.D. Therefore, Bijapur was established as the capital and many monuments were build around the city. It was ruled by the Bahmani Shahis and the Adilshahis, who have contributed a lot to the architecture, art and the spread of Islam in the state.


The Muslim Domination and The British Control


Later, the state was ruled by Hyder Ali and his brave son Tipu Sultan. They were responsible for the expansion of the Mysore kingdom. Tipu was a great scholar and lover of literature. He was a good administrator and offered expensive gifts to the Hindu temples. Tipu Sultan was also known as "Tiger of Karnataka", since he fought bravely with the British and never allowed them to overpower Mysore . He was killed in 1799 A.D. and thus the throne of Mysore went into the hands of Wodeyar's. In the beginning of the 19th century, entire Karnataka came under the control of the British.


Karnataka Post-Independence


After India's Independence, the state of Mysore was governed by the Maharaja of Mysore, who was appointed by Independent India. But later, on November 1, 1973, the integrated state was renamed as Karnataka.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Gibson Girl


Gibson Girl
Character created by Charles Dana GIBSON,who appeared in his pen and ink drawings from 1890 until 1910. The 'Gibson Girl' was tall, slender and poised, her hair piled into a chignon or tucked under a plumed hat. She wore a starched blouse and long, flowing skirts over a small bustle.

Gibson Girl sketches were the personification of the ideal young middle-class American woman and gave style to the basic high-neck, puffed sleeve blouse and long skirt look.The Gibson Girl look paved the way for the simplified, functional dress that typifies American fashion.In Britain she was personified by the American actress Camille Clifford, who first appeared on the London stage in 1904, and in the USA by Irene Langhorne, who married Gibson in 1895.



Camille Clifford as ideal Gibson Girl

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Freedom Park

Bangalore’s Central Jail has been transformed into a cultural hub and is now open to the public. Really a very good place to visit.These are some of the pictures i could catch.



Entrance


Cells at freedom park





Watch tower


Musical fountain

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Freedom at midnight



Just finished with this. A must read book for every Indian I would say.You get a complete picture of India during pre,post and at the time of independence.

One just cant stop going nostalgic reading the chapters " The Greatest Migration in History" about the aftermath of partition and 'We Must Get Gandhi Before the Police Get Us'on the conspiracy behind killing of Mahatma Gandhi.

More on Gandhiji,his weapons in bringing freedom,and what made him a famous figure among the whole of India and the world,is beautifully narrated by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Gandhiji's spiritual message

This is one of Gandhiji's famous speech,recorded in Kinglsley Hall, London 1931.Just listen to it.



Find more of Bapu,Sabarmati Ashram's snaps here

Saturday, September 12, 2009

You've Got Mail



Last night i watched this movie,
You've Got Mail( best romantic comedy of the year-1998)
by Nora Ephron starring Tom Hanks(Joe Fox) and
Meg Ryan(Kathleen Kelly).

With the tagline
'Someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life'
the movie is about two business rivals who hate each other
at the office but fall in love over the internet.

Really a good one,you wont get bored,watch it!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Few fashion terms

Toiles: Garments of muslin or linen, the first step in the development of a design idea,after a couturier's original sketch.

Avant garde: A popular term applied to the most innovative and original concepts in any art form,fashion design,art, architecture,dance,music,etc.

Haute couture: Top designs of custom-made clothes. Term originally applied to top designs in France,high class tailoring evolving in 15th century.Clothes are made by hand,individually to measurements.

Pret-a-porter: Readymade clothing designed for industrial production and not tailored to individual measurements,yet not mass produced like off the rack clothing.

High fashion: Derived from the French haute couture, generally high priced, innovative creations by well known designers or design houses for trendy,fashion conscious customers.

Knock off: A common practice among manufacturers where one copies another, usually to produce less expensive goods.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Creative strokes




Isn't it looking artistic? This is my effort in
giving those strokes a little creative touch.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Cartoonist



My first attempt in drawing cartoon

Thursday, September 3, 2009

cloudy


view from terrace during sunset

Pretty cool since two days, hope winter is nearing....

Top story


photo:Blouse with high neck and philippino sleeve.

Team this with a circular or A-line skirt to give a traditional look.


photo:Printed top with peter pan collar and puff sleeve

Goes well with a skin fit jeans or a capri.
This combination of Peter pan with a puff sleeve is giving a more girlish look.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Jinnah-India's Muslim Messiah

Bombay,August 1947:


Jinnah

As always,he was alone.Shrouded in silence,Mohammad Ali Jinnah walked through the early mornings sunlight towards a simple stone grave corner of Bombay's Muslim cemetery.There,he performed a gesture which,in days to come,millions of other Muslims would perform because of what he had wrought.Before setting off to his promised land of Pakistan,Jinnah placed a last bouquet on the tomb he was leaving behind forever in India.

Jinnah was a remarkable man,but probably nothing in his life had been more remarkable of more seemingly out of character than the deep and passionate love which had linked the austere Muslim leader to the women beneath that tomb-stone.

Ruttie Jinnah

The wife of India's Muslim Messiah had not been born into the faith of Mohammad.Ruttenbhai Jinnah had been born a Parsee,the descendants of the Zoroastrian fire worshippers of ancient Persia.Jinnah had been 41,seemingly a confirmed bachelor(he in fact,been married previously to a child bride he'd never seen,picked out for him by his family before his departure to London for his studies. She had, according to Muslim custom, been represented at their wedding by a male relative and died of illness before his return from England)when he fell madly in love with Ruttie,the 17-year-old daughter of one of his close friends,during a vacation at the Mount Everest Hotel in Darjeeling.Ruttie had been equally mesmerized by Jinnah.Her furious father had obtained a court order forbidding his ex-friend to see his daughter,but on her eighteenth birthday,with only the sari she was wearing and a pet dog under each arm, a defiant Ruttie stalked out of her millionaire father's mansion and went off to marry Jinnah.

Their marriage lasted ten years.Ruttie was a spectacularly beautiful women,a woman of legendary attractiveness in a city known around the world for its beautiful women.The difference in their ages and temperaments produced their strains. Ruttie's flamboyance and outspokenness often embarrassed Jinnah and inhibited his political career.For all his passionate love for her, the unbending Jinnah found it difficult to communicate with his mercurial,blithe-spirited wife.Jinnah's dream collapsed in 1928,when the beautiful wife he'd loved but failed to understand,walked out on him.A year later,in February 1929,she died of an overdose of the morphine which she had been taking to ease the pain of chronic colitis.Jinnah,already hurt by public humiliation of her departure,was grief-stricken.As he threw the first fistful of dirt into grave on which he now placed his bouquet,he had wept like a child. It was the last time anyone had ever seen a public display of emotion from the Quaid-e-Azzam.From that moment forward,lonely and embittered,he had consecrated his life to the awakening of India's Muslims.
(Text taken from Freedom at midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins)

Friday, August 28, 2009

Thirsty pigeons


meeting thirst


ended up bathing


ready to take off

It was around eight in the morning on this tuesday.
These pigeons on that chilly morn were busy meeting
thirst by the overflow water.One joined by the other formed
a group and started enjoying,thereby fluttering their wings,
taking bath.With water slowing down they too made their
way back...It was a nice scene for my eyes and thanks to my camera,
for i could zoom clearly quite a far distance from 8th floor.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Okayama





A perfect spot for nature lovers..Pune Okayama Friendship garden.
During my visit to Pune this month,i got to spend
a fine sunday morning cherishing nature's beauty and working on
my photography skills too.Find more pics here.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

VANDE MATARAM

Our National song composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee,
appears in the Bengali novel Anand Math.
The English traslation of Vande Mataram rendered by
Shri Aurobindo,is considered to be the "official" and best.
The first stanza of this song has
been given the status of our national song.

Bankim Chandra

Here is the song:
Vande Mataram,Vande Mataram
Sujalam,Suphalam,

Malayaj Shitalam.
Sashya Shyamal
am Mataram,
Vande Mataram.
Shubhrajyotsnam,Pulakityaminim,

Phullakusumita Drumadala Shobinim,

Suhasinim,Sumadhura, Bhashisim,

Sukhadam,Varadam,Mataram!

Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!


Its English version:
I bow to thee,Mother,
richly-watered, richly-fruited,

cool with the winds of the south,

dark with the crops of the harvests,

The Mother!

Her nights rejoicing in theGlory of the moonlight
Her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom,

Sweet of laughter,sweet of speech,
The mother,to thee,I bow.

Happy Independence day all....