Hockey in India

  

Hockey in India is considered to be one of the most popular games in India. India has earned lot of recognition in all over the world by showing the excellence in the game of hockey. Hockey in India started its journey years back. The British introduced hockey in India in the 19th century. After this there was no looking back. Hockey in India established itself as one of the popular outdoor colonial games.

History of Hockey in India
The first hockey club in India was established in Kolkata in the year 1885-86 and soon more clubs were established in the cities like Mumbai and Punjab. The Hockey association in Bengal, the Bengal Hockey was the first Hockey Association in India and it came into existence in the year 1908. After this, several other Hockey associations were introduced in different Indian States like Mumbai in Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha and Delhi.

As the game of Hockey increased its popularity in India in a rapid pace and the Indians started to show their excellence in the game, the Indian Hockey team got a chance to play in the Olympic Games in 1928. Making debut in the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, the Indian hockey team stunned the world and clinched its first Olympic gold without conceding a single goal. The all time legendary Indian Hockey player - Dhyan Chand was the star in this great victory of India. After winning Gold in the Olympic Games, 1928, the Indian Hockey team continued its dominance for the next several years. India won six straight Olympic Gold medals from 1928 to 1956 and it also won 24 consecutive matches in Olympic Games, during this period. The period is considered to be the most glorious and golden era in the entire history of Hockey in India.

Indian National Field Hockey Team
Apart from the Olympic Games, the Indian Hockey team has also shown brilliant performances in several other prestigious tournaments. India has performed extraordinarily in the tournaments like Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, Champions Trophy, and World Cup etc. and earned a lot of reputation from the world of Hockey. Apart from the Indian men's Hockey team, the Indian Women's Hockey team has also played brilliantly in various tournaments and earned glory for the country.

With the establishment of the Indian hockey federation, hockey in India witnessed further development. India has so far produced a large number of legendary Hockey players, who have earned a lot of recognition and reputation in all over the world. The players have shown their talents in various international and regional tournaments and have won the hearts of many Hockey lovers. The players like Dhyan Chand, Adam Sinclair, Adrian D Souza, Ajit Pal Singh, Arjun Halappa,Baljit Singh Dhillon, Bir Bhadur Chettri, Dhanraj Pillay, K. D. Singh, Dilip Tirkey,Leslie Claudius etc, are considered as the all time best Indian Hockey players.

Women Hockey in India
Indian women's national field hockey team is the national women's team representing India in Field Hockey. Captain Suraj Lata Devi led the women hockey team and made a glorious history in the field of hockey. The team members of Indian women hockey team were referred to as the "Assi (Jasjeet) Jaisi Koi Nahi" or the "Golden Girls of Hockey," after the 2004 win. India won bronze medal in the eighth Women's Asia Cup 2013 as they defeated China 3-2 via penalty shootout in the 3rd/4th place play-off played at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

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Vibhuti Pada , Patanjali Yoga Sutra

  

Vibhuti Pada is the significant third chapter of Patanjali Yoga Sutra. This chapter speaks of the properties of yoga and the art of integration (Samyama) through concentration, meditation and profound absorption.

In Vibhuti Pada, the central theme of the Yoga Sutras is to realise the concept of samadhi. The notion is that samadhi appears when the sadhakas are able to let loose their mental machinations, samskaras (past psychic imprints), klesha (afflictive emotions), karma (programming), vasana (habitual tendencies), and similar customary impositions of conditioning and conditioned belief systems that support the citta-vrtti. It begins with the concept of dharana (concentration), which is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Dharana, dhyana (the seventh limb), and samadhi (the eighth limb) if merged together, compose Samyama that is the dominant theme of Vibhuti Pada.

Vibhuti Pada does not reveal a false or artificial state of reality, but it reveals the true natural unadulterated state of the Yogi - devoid of artifice, falsehood, ignorance, and fantasy. In Vibhuti Pada, Patanjali first shows the sadhaka the significance of integrating the intelligence, ego and 'I' principle. Further, Vibhuti Pada guides the Yogi in the subtle disciplines like concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and total absorption (Samadhi). With their help, the intelligence, ego and 'I' principle are eventually sublimated. This may lead either to the liberation of various supernatural powers or to Self- Realization. Vibhuti Pada states that if concentration is maintained steadily, it flows into meditation.

Gradually, in this Pada, Patanjali guides the refined sadhaka in tracing the movements, order and sequence of each action and thought that arises, by retracing his steps through yogic discipline. The sadhaka coordinates his thoughts and actions so that there is no interval of time between them. He should reach a stage where there is absolute synchronicity of thought and action and the yogi is freed from the material limitations of time and space. This very condition generates extraordinary powers in the sadhaka. Patanjali describes these powers as the properties of yoga in the Vibhuti Pada. There are around 34 properties mentioned in this Pada.

Moment is subjective and movement is objective in Vibhuti Pada. Patanjali explains that the moment is the present and the present is the everlasting 'now'; it is timeless and real. When the moment slips from attention it becomes movement and thus, movement is time. As moment rolls into movement the past and the future appears; while the moment disappears. Therefore it is important for the sadhaka to understand the significance of moment and movement in Vibhuti Pada to obtain true knowledge and intelligence. Exalted intelligence is pure and true, fresh and uncontaminated. It distinguishes, clearly and instantaneously, the difference between similar entities without analysing them according to the rank, creed, quality and place. The sadhaka's intelligence and consciousness now rise to the higher level of the soul. All parts of the seer appear as the soul. This is kaivalya that comes when the powers, which attract the misguided, but distract the yogi's consciousness, are renounced.

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Archaeology of India

  

Archaeology is the scientific study relating to peoples of the past. The study also deals with the culture and their relation with the environment. Archaeology of India is essential as it helps tracking the historical evidences of the past days. The main aim of the archaeological study is to understand how humans in the past interacted with their environment, and to preserve this history for present and future learning. They include the study of the buildings, monuments and other material relics. The Department of Archaeology was set up by Lord Curzon under the Director Generalship of Dr Marshal in order to study the remains and find out about the existence.

Archaeology of India is best sources of History of India as they provide information on the famous Indus Valley civilisation of ancient India. Various Excavations conducted at different sites in the valley of the river Indus, Lothal in Gujarat, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, at Sind and Punjab confirms the continuation of the civilisation. According to records the civilization existed during 2700 BC. In addition to that the archaeological Excavations at Taxila give an idea about the Kushanas.

The main aim of the archeological department of India is to excavate, explore and to confirm the history. Moreover, the department also conserves and preserves the monuments or relics identified as important by the historians. Apart from monuments, pots, pottery, seals, skeletal remains all are inseparable parts that reconstruct history. In the year 1921-22, the archaeological excavation was carried out in Harappa, which is Pakistan at present throws light to the remains of an ancient city. Furthermore, the ruins of another ancient city of similar size and plan, Mohenjo-Daro, also in Pakistan were excavated. This existed to a period that corresponded to the other flourishing Civilizations of the Old World, the Egyptian, the Mesopotamian and the Chinese civilizations.

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Carnatic Music

Carnatic music, associated with the southern part of India is one of the important sub genres of the Indian classical music. Confined to mainly four modern Indian states like, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Carnatic music with its taala, laya and raga, is more than just an amalgamation of musical notes, rhythm and melody but is an eternal journey amidst the vibrancy of euphony ; a sheer musical sojourn representing the Indian heritage.

Like all art forms in Indian culture, Carnatic music is believed to have a divine origin, thus it has its origins deeply rooted in the antiquities of the Vedas. Even in the Upanishads there are references to music and musical instruments. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata also have some references to music. However, the music system which was practiced during Bharata's period can be attributed as Carnatic music in its rudiment form. Bharata's Natyashastra mentions many musical concepts that continue to be relevant to Carnatic music today. The Tamil works like Silappadikaram, Tolkappiam and other Sangam literary works offers archaic Dravidian names for the seven notes in the octave and also portrays the secrets of the technique of modal shifting of existing scales. The concept of Pann which was much in vogue in the old Tamil literature corresponds to that of the modern raga, now used in Carnatic music. The rhythmic meters found in several sacred musical forms like Tevaram, Tiruppugazh, etc., resemble the talas that are in use in Carnatic music today. However, some of the musicologist suggests that in the ancient days Tamil music was practiced by the native Dravidians in the southern part of India. Carnatic music also prevails there, hence scholars believe that the ancient Tamil music to be an important source from which the legacy of Carnatic music began.

Although Carnatic music prevailed in the age old days yet it was only after the composition of the musical treatise, Sangita Ratnakara by Sarngadeva, the word 'Carnatic' was first introduced to represent the typical style of South Indian classical music as a separate genre of music. The clear demarcation between the Hindustani classical music and the Carnatic music as two distinct forms of Classical music was witnessed during this time at the fag end of the 14th century Sangita Ratnakara therefore stands out as a link between the two new systems that gradually split and evolved separately after his period, namely, the Hindustani music and Carnatic music.

In the capital cities of South India, especially in Tanjavur and Vijayanagara Classical music flourished to a great extent. It was during this time a number of treatises tracing the concepts of Carnatic music were written. The Sangeeta Sara written by Vidyaranya was the first to classify ragas as Melas and also coined the word Janya ragas. The present form of Carnatic music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th - 16th AD and thereafter. Music as an art form was handed down from the teacher to the student through direct oral instruction and this form of imparting the education has been a special tradition in Carnatic music.

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Indian Fresco

  

Chola frescoes were discovered underneath the paintings of the Nayak period. These frescoes had an element of Shaivism in them. The frescoes and sculptures in the cave temples of Ellora and Elephanta were probably built later than the ones in Ajanta. These frescoes and sculptures depict Hindu tales and metaphors and in style they evolve from the earlier Ajanta styles. The depiction of the eyes is a unique quality in the frescos of Ajanta. The eyes of the princess, kings and celestial gods are of meditative nature in order to depict the sublime look of grace and compassion. These frescoes were painted between c. 200 BC and 600 and are the oldest known frescoes in India. Jataka stories are depicted here. They have been illustrated one after another.

Other places with valuable preserved ancient and early medieval frescoes include Bagh Caves, Ellora Caves, Sittanavasal, Armamalai Cave, Badami Cave Temples and other locations. Indian frescoes have been made in several techniques including tempera technique.

Chola paintings were discovered in 1931 within the circumambulatory passage of the Brihadeesvara Temple in India. In these frescoes a smooth batter of limestone mixture is applied over the stones, which took two to three days to set. Such large paintings were painted with natural organic pigments. The chola paintings were painted over during the Nayak period. The Chola frescos are synchronised with the completion of the temple by Rajaraja Chola the Great.

The frescoes in Dogra or Pahari paintings exist at Sheesh Mahal of Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir. Scenes from epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana along with portraits of local lords have been depicted. Rang Mahal of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh is another site of historic Dogri fresco with wall paintings depicting scenes of Draupadi Cheer Haran, and Radha- Krishna Leela .

The tradition and methods of Indian cliff painting gradually evolved throughout many thousands of years. The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is on the edge of the Deccan Plateau. The many caves and grottos found there contain primitive tools and decorative rock paintings reflect the ancient tradition of human interaction with their landscape. The oldest frescoes of historical period have been preserved in Ajanta Caves.

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Assamese Films

  

 Assamese films are an integral part of Indian film industry. It originated from the 1930s. This film industry more or less grew simultaneously with the Bengali films.

The first Assamese film to release was Joymoti by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala in 1935. Jyoti Prasad drew on historical and literary sources to depict the tragic patriotism of a princess produced his first film. Along with this he also portrayed the parallels with the situation of disorder and disharmony unleashed by the British rule on the people of Assam for aligning themselves with the National Movement. The film starred Phanu Barua, Asaideo Handige, Mohini Rajkumari, Phani Sarma, Sneha Chandra Barua, and Shamshul Haque.

However, the Assamese audience did not appreciate Agarwala's film. Although not a commercial success, it is notable that at a time when the Bombay cinema was producing mythological films, Joymoti was about an historical event.

With the movies of Bhabendra Nath Saikia and Jahnu Barua Assamese films got recognition from the entire nation. Biplabi was a film Directed by Asit Sen in 1948. This film starred Anupama Bhattachrya, Chandra Phukan, Rani Nath and Jagat Bezbaruah. The film dealt with the theme of nationalism and sacrifice. The technical quality of the film set it apart from other films of the genre.

In the 1930s and 1940s the Assamese films that were made did have a lot of flaws. But in the 1950s the scenario altered as far as serious cinema was concerned. Piyali Phukan won the National award. The film was directed by Phani Sharma and the plot revolved around the life of a freedom fighter, Piyali Phukan. It was during these days that the Assamese director Nip Barua made his debut. His first film was Smrit Paras. He later made Assamese movies like Mak Aaru Moram and Ranga Police. These films were felicitated by the State Award of Assam.

In the year 1955 Era Bator Sur was directed by Bhupen Hazarika. This film starred Phani Sarma, Bishnu Rabha, Bijoy Shankar, Anil Das, and Chhaya Devi. The Assam tea gardens are the setting for this love story: a researcher and a flautist fall in love with the same woman. The researcher steps aside because he believes the flautist's art to be indispensable. The film focuses on the tea gardens and the folk music of the workers.

By the middle of the 1960s Assamese films were made on a regular basis. The film industry grew with time. The Assamese movies went onto win numerous national and international awards.

Dr Bezbarua was released in the year 1969. It was a crime thriller that starred Nipon Goswami, Brojen Barua, Meghali Devi, Tarun Duara, Ranjana Bordoloi, and Sadhan Hazarika. Other notable films during 1970s are Aranya (1971), Banaria Phool( 1973), Bristi(1974), Ganga Chiloner Pankhi( 1975) etc.

Papori was a film of 1986, directed by Jahnu Barua. It starred Biju Phukan, Gopi Desai, Sushil Goswami, Dulal Roy, Runjun, and Amulya Kakoti. The story depicts a man falsely accused of murder, his dying daughter tended to by his wife, the rape of the wife, the honest policeman stymied by political corruption - a grim story relieved only by the epilogue that speaks of the eventual justice for the accused and the policemen's promotion. The film was set in the year 1983 during the All-Assam Students' Union turbulence.

Surya Tejor Anya Naam(1991), directed by Dinesh Gogoi, starred Mihir Jyoti Baruah , Alok Nath, Violet Nazir, and Mridul Sutiya. The political turmoil of the state is the subject of this film, the first to clearly deal with the topic.

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Physiology of Ayurveda

  

 Ayurveda is the knowledge of life that deals in detail with conditions favourable to life, and factors contributing to the happiness, or responsible for the misery or sorrow of human beings. Ayurveda also suggests measures for a healthy living and a long life. It is the most ancient form of Indian medicine, whose origin can be traced to more than 5000 years.

The physiology of Ayurveda is based on the panchmahabhoota philosophy. This philosophy holds that every living being belonging to either the plant or the animal kingdom is made up of a living material, which has five fundamental components. Thus every living thing is an exclusive creation effected through these five basic elements- Earth (Prithvi), Water (aap), Divine Fire (tej), Air (vayu) and Universal Space (aakash). These five basic elements are known as the panchmahabhoota. These panchmahabhootas cumulatively lead to the formation of Tridoshas (tree = three, doshas = basic components or organizations), which constitute our body. The basics of the physiology of Ayurved can be found in a few ancient texts, the chiefest of which is the Charaka Samhita.

The tridosha concept in the physiology of Ayurved has been linked to the fundamental Buddhist notion of the three poisons. This view holds that, the human being exists because of the influence exerted on the uniform and undisturbed universal spirit, as it moves through the world, by the three disrupting forces: attraction (desire), aversion (hatred), and confusion (conception and misconception ). It is the eventual task of a human being to break free from these influences (poisons) and attain the ultimate objective of pure undifferentiated consciousness (nirvana). Although not visible, the doshas are an integral part of the human body and hence are studied in great details under the scope of the physiology of Ayurveda.

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East Indian Cuisine

  

East Indian Cuisine is a unique Indian cuisine that draws strength from the water resources around it and the spices that grow in the region. East India consist the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

Rice is the main item of East Indian cuisine, just as it is in South India. A regular meal consists of many side dishes made of vegetables. Deep-fried, shallow-fried and mashed vegetables are also very popular.

Bengal Cuisine
Traditional Bengali cuisine is not too spicy and not too faint. Poppy seeds are one of the main ingredients of West Bengal cuisine. General ingredients used in Bengali curries are mustard seeds, cumin seeds, black cumin, green chillies and cumin paste. Mustard paste, curd, nuts, poppy seed paste and cashew paste are preferably cooked in mustard oil. Curries are classified into bata (paste), bhaja (fries), chochchoree (less spicy vaporized curries) and jhol (thin spicy curries). These are eaten with plain boiled rice. The most popular vegetable dish of West Bengal is ‘Shukto’.

Odisha Cuisine
The popular vegetable dishes of Odisha are ‘Dalma’ and ‘Santula’. ‘Pakhala’, a dish made of rice, water and yoghurt, that is fermented overnight, is very popular in summer, particularly in the rural areas. Some of the major dishes of Odisha are Buta Dali, Mitha Bhata, Kaanika, Mooga Dali, Alu Potala Rasa, patalghanta chutney, Beshara, etc. Common desserts of Odisha are Arisha Pitha, Chakuli Pitha, Chandrakanti, Chhena Gaja, Chhena Jalebi and many more.

Bihar Cuisine
Bihar and Jharkhand cuisines contribute to the East Indian cuisine with their colourful platter of seasonal vegetables. In addition to that the region is influenced by Buddhism and consequently a wide assortment of vegetarian dishes originate. A regular meal of the eastern region consists of rice dish accompanied with various side dishes. In Jharkhand people also consume green leafy vegetables that form a part of staple diet.

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Indian Football Clubs

  

Indian Football Clubs have contributed immensely towards the betterment of Indian Football.

Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Liverpool, there are innumerable European clubs that have made their mark all around the world. It might startle many when they are told about football clubs in India.

However, like the European Clubs, Indian Clubs too have their own fan following, and several loyalists still cheer during the matches, only thing is the numbers are rapidly dwindling. Even the National Football League is trying to glamorize and revive the Game; however, due to lack of infrastructure to improve player fitness, tactics and techniques, football clubs, still continue to remain largely obscure.

Although the Indian national football team occupies a bottom rank in FIFA rankings, the country boasts of a prosperous domestic circuit, thanks to a number of good quality football clubs. These football clubs serves as the stepping-stones for all players aspiring to make it big at the highest level. The initial journey of club formation began from home of Indian football- Kolkata.A number of clubs originated in the pre-independent India itself like; Mohun Bagan.

Going back to pages of history, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian club to break the stranglehold of British teams (based in India), over the IFA Shield. This victory helped Indian Football in a major way and announced its emergence in a big way. The East Bengal club is one of the recent clubs in India, which has registered enviable record both in India and abroad. AIFF, in 1996 the started the National Football League to give a fillip to club-level competition in the country. In order to grab the top NFL honours, Indian clubs have invested heavily on overseas players and coaches.

Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
The oldest Football club in Asia was founded in India, the Mohun Bagan AC, in 1889. Since its inception, the green and maroon club has earned the reputation of being one of the finest outfits in the country. In 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian team to win a major tournament, when they clinched the IFA Shield by defeating the East Yorkshire Regiment. In those pre-independence days, the historic win over an English team sparked off widespread jubilation and has since become a part of Indian football folklore. In 1989, during the club's centenary year, the Government of India issued a postage stamp to commemorate the 1911 victory of the team. The Government honoured Mohun Bagan with the title the "National Club of India" for the spurt in nationalism created by that famous win.

Kingfisher East Bengal FC
East Bengal Club established on August 1, 1920, stands tall among its peers by virtue of an enviable record both in India and abroad. Over the years, East Bengal's classic battles with city-rivals Mohun Bagan have become a part of Indian football folklore. In 1942, East Bengal club secured its first league triumph, and the following year it won the IFA Shield. Since then, the red and gold brigade has only got better and has earned the reputation of being one of the most outstanding clubs in the country. The Club has made it a habit of rewriting record books. East Bengal was the first team to win the coveted National Football League in back-to-back years (2002-2003 & 2003-2004). In 2003, East Bengal became the first Indian club to win any Asian level football tournament when they demolished Thailand's BEC Terro Sasana 3-1 in the final of the LG ASEAN Cup in Jakarta.

Mahindra United
Mahindra United is sponsored and managed by automobile giants Mahindra Group. The club was founded in 1962 as Mahindra & Mahindra but was rechristened as Mahindra United in 2000. The club is fondly known as India's Manchester United after English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United. The 2005-06 seasons proved to be a watershed for Mahindra as they became the first club in the history of Indian football to win the Federation Cup and NFL Premier Division double in the same season.

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