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Two Great Maestros Come Together in Kolkata after 21 Years, Enthrall Music Lovers
(An exoticecho.com exclusive)
January 21: Renowned classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty along with famed tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain enthralled a packed Science City audience in Kolkata with their scintillating performance. The exclusive jugalbandi by Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty together with Ustad Zakir Hussain was organized by Friend’s 91.9 FM service. The musical extravaganza witnessed two supreme exponents of classical music churning out a melodious rendition that kept the audience spell bound for nearly two and half hours.
Ustad Zakir Hussain was his normal brilliant self playing the tabla with a passion that is difficult to emulate. Pandit Ajoy Chakroborty with his masterly voice in tandem with the deft touches on the tabla by Zakir Hussain was a treat for the music lovers of Kolkata. Lauding Ustad Zakir Hussain for his exceptional skill as a tabla player Pandit Ajay Chakraborty said that Zakir was his constant companion in his nascent years as a classical singer and was in many ways responsible for his gradual rise to fame.
Talking to exoticecho.com Zakir Hussain commended Kolkata’s music lovers for their knowledge of classical music. He said that performing with Pandit Ajay Chakraborty was a rare honour for him and he was glad to perform along side him on an evening that saw the two stars together on the stage at Kolkata after twenty one years.
The song Aeya na balam keya karu sajini made famous by Bare Ghulam Ali and a revelation in the world of music was enriched by the talent of Zakir’s father Allah Rakkha Khan as a tabla player. Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty performed the same song today with Zakir as his accompanist on the tabla. The packed audience went in raptures as the song gradually unfolded and both the maestros showing their skills in their respective spheres. While Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty kept the audience spell bound with his vocal skill Zakir regaled the audience with his nimble fingers that struck the tabla at an incredible pace. At the end of a scintillating evening the audience at the Science City auditorium gave a standing ovation to two of the finest musicians that played in unison and made music sound celestial, archetypal of the ultimate maestros that have redefined music.
By ANJISHNU BISWAS
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Renowned Hydro geologist, Subhajyoti Das warns of water crises reaching alarming proportions in Bangalore
In an exclusive interview to Anjishnu Biswas, editor of exoticecho.com, Mr. Subhajyoti Das who visited the USA on UNDP Fellowship for training connected with “Integrated Use of all Water Resources” expresses his deep concern over the growing water crises plaguing Bangalore, referred to as the software hub of India. Mr. Subhajyoti Das, one of the eminent Hydro geologists of India has contributed significantly to groundwater research in the country by means of his revolutionary work and connected activities in groundwater studies. Mr. Das who visited the USA on UNDP Fellowship for training connected with “Integrated Use of all Water Resources”, in the Colorado State University (Fort Colins), US geological Survey (Tucson), American Water Foundation and Salt River Project (Phoenix) was also the Regional Director of the Central Ground Water Board of India. Mr. Das is currently the editor of a journal published by the Geological Society of India, Bangalore. In the interview to Anjishnu Biswas, the editor of exoticecho.com, Mr. Subhajyoti Das warns that if corrective steps are not taken Bangalore could witness problems of extraordinary nature in terms of non availability of water to the required extent. The following is an excerpt of the interview with Anjishnu Biswas.
Bangalore, the software hub of India, also referred to as silicon city, is a rapidly expanding territory with a populace of 8 million people and dotted with numerous multistoried buildings, housing and commercial complexes along with Malls and Multiplexes The IT boom has resulted in unparalleled commercial activities together with the need to keep the sector going . As a consequence the demand for the city’s water supply has augmented considerably. Water is a major component of the infrastructure of a city where varied forms of activities takes place. However Bangalore does not enjoy the privilege of having a perennial river in close proximity. The city has to rely chiefly on the waters of Cauvery River, transported from a distance of roughly 100 km and raised to a height of 500 m from the source. But in comparison to the water supply requirement of 1200 million litres per day (MLD), the water that the river Cauvery provides to the city is to the extent of only 870MLD, thereby leaving a difference of 330 MLD. Apart from this demand for water is the industrial necessity of nearly 60 MLD, thus, increasing the deficit further.
A considerable quantity of Cauvery water is also lost in transmission creating additional stress in the accessibility of water for consumption by the city dwellers. Following an upsurge in population growth, expansion of industries, as well as commercial activities, the difference between demand and supply by the year 2025, will be tough to fulfill. Rampant urbanization has created an adverse impact on a number of the surface water bodies, with much of the precipitation water lost as runoff with the resultant reduction in groundwater recharge and decrease in water supplies. This dwindling water supply has resulted in the city’s growing reliance on bore wells, of which there has been no appropriate evaluation so far, - 1.5 lakh to 3 lakhs by a number of assessments made so far. This has led to groundwater overexploitation, deepening of groundwater levels, jeopardizing the ecosystem in the process. This problem becomes severe every summer as reservoir levels are at the lowest. This affects the water supply, and growing stress on groundwater. Under these circumstances of dwindling water supply trade in commercial marketing of water is thriving. The burden of the suffering is endured by the low income group or the deprived as they are compelled to pay a number of times extra on water tankers than their wealthy counterparts, who live in luxurious apartments or buildings, furnished with safe BWSSB water supplies at subsidized charges.
Till the first half of the 20th century Bangalore did not encounter any water shortage with numerous flowing lakes and stream around the city furnishing continuous supplies of water to the city. Currently the city’s water supply network encounters two-pronged difficulty of dwindling surface water resource because of drying up of lakes and reducing ground water because of excessive utilization. To discover an enduring solution to the water shortage, the origin of water crisis has to be comprehended in the correct angle. Mr. Das backs the refurbishment of waste land and lakes, rainwater harvesting, and water conservation actions to cope up with the dual crisis of surface water and groundwater.
Dr. Das points to the exercise of water conservation as the only crucial answer to the uncontrolled water crisis. He envisages retrieving considerable amount of water by means of domestic level wastewater treatment and recycling as well as recovery of enormous transmission wastes through suitable actions.
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DUM Square From Hubli, Karnataka Secures India’s Most Prestigious Food and Hospitality Award
Hubli, Karnataka, India
DUM Square, a fast service type restaurant in Hubli, Karnataka prominently known for its flavourful DUM biryanis obtained "Leading self service style Indian restaurant" award for the year 2019 from Sanjeev Kapoor.
Initiated by the Merit Awards & Market Research Private Limited (MAMR), Delhi, under the category "India's Most Prominent Food & Hospitality Awards 2019".
The award was conferred on the founder and proprietor of DUM Square, Vikas Solanki by renowned Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at an award presentation event held at New Delhi on 21st November, 2019.
MAMR acknowledged 50 achievers from Food and Hospitality industry in India who has made a contribution to the society. The winners were chosen by a means of a number of quantitative, qualitative and statistical analysis.
"I was astonished when I heard about the award. DUM Square primarily focuses on bringing in a positive change in the society through unadulterated food. A recognition of this kind not just acknowledges our work but also motivates us to do better," an elated Vikas Solanki.
By ANJISHNU BISWAS
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