Popular Culture in India

This week, Dr. Barot talks about the two "religions" of India - pop culture religions that is - in sports and entertainment.

India’s First Religion:

Cricket is the first religion of India. It is a team sport for two teams of eleven players each. A formal game of cricket can last from few hours to several days. Teams bat in successive innings and attempt to score runs. The opposing team with 11 players fields to bring an end to the batting team's innings either by catch or hitting wickets.

A cricket ball is like a baseball in size and hardness. A cricket bat is made of willow, flat on one side, humped on the other for strength, attached to a sturdy cane handle. The blade has a maximum width of 4.25 inches and the whole bat has a maximum length of 38 inches.

There are two wickets, wooden structures made up of a set of three stumps topped by a pair of bails, which are two wooden crosspieces sitting in grooves atop the adjacent pairs of stumps.

For the last month, the cricket World Cup was played by teams from 12 countries, including Austrailia, Bangladesh, Canada, Carribean countries, England, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was won by India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumai on April 2, 2011, by beating Sri Lanka.

The sense of euphoria and elation engulfed the whole of India after India won it. The victory was made possible due to unshakable team spirit.  Indian super stars like Sachin Tendulkar have broken all world records. Experience and youth combined brilliantly from Indian players in their early twenty to late thirties.

India was led by captain, MS Dhoni. He has changed the way Indian cricket is played, by taking bold, risky and rewarding decisions. Before the World Cup began, one of the players, Yuvraj Singh, was not in the best of form. But he raised his game by several notches once the tournament began, winning the award of Man of the Tournament award.

India’s Second Religion:

India boasts the largest output of films in the world, more than Hollywood. India has many languages, among them Hindi is the most popular. Hindi is the national language of India and Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. When spoken, they are almost same. But Urdu is written in Arabic script, while Hindi language script is derived from Sanskrit.

Bollywood movies are very popular in Pakistan, too. Bollywood films have won several major prizes at prestigious film festivals worldwide over the years. Bollywood will celebrate its centennial in 2013. With a current output of somewhere between 800 and 1000 films annually, it far exceeds Hollywood in the number of productions as well as tickets.

Some movies are excellent representations of the Bollywood films. This list includes ten of my favorite choice only:

1. Mother India

2. Anand

3. Moghle- Azam

4. Shole

5. Baghban

6. Devdas

7. Pinjar

8. Gaddar

9. Shahid

10. Veer-Zaara.

Most of Bollywood movies are based on myths, legends and fairytales, and fictional books. There are some historical films that provide an overview of the recent history of India’s freedom struggle,  partition or recent war with Pakistan like "Loc Kargil."  Some names of Bollywood stars with international followings include Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, and Raj Kapoor. Many of the films include songs, dance, and incredible fighting scenes lasting for three hours.

Sharing of Scholarly Ideas

During the last two weeks, Dr. Barot has been attending a variety of scholarly conferences on the sciences. Here is his summary of those activities.

I. Conference in Kochi, Kerala: The Department of Applied Chemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, organized the National Seminar on Current Trends in Chemistry on March 4-5. I was chosen as a member of the organizing committee. Dr. Girishkumar and I were in charge of a reception to welcome invited guests from all over India. The program included invited lecturers, contributed oral communications, and poster presentations related to Chemical Sensors and Biosensors, Organic - Inorganic Hybrid Materials, Nano-materials and Supra Molecular Chemistry, and Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry. Some of the chemists shared their research on helping the environment by using the catalysts enhanced chemical processes.

II. Conference in Panaji, Goa: From March 7 to 9, we went to Goa. It is one of the most popular destinations for western tourists. It is blessed by many beaches and Western food joints. Since coming to India, I was able to eat, for the first time in four months, in a Gujarati restaurant. This conference was organized by Fulbright and USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation) in Panaji, Goa. It was attended by Fulbrighters from India, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. Presentations included issues related to the environment and energy, public health, science and technology, business and economic study of India, social history of the Indian national drink, arts and aesthetics, music and Indian classical dance. The most interesting aspect was to meet bright scholars and exchange emails and ideas.

III. Conference in Changanasserry, Kerala: To celebrate the International Year of Chemistry, P.G. Department of Chemistry of N.S.S. Hindu College of Changanassery and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment organized two days of a national seminar on New Frontiers in Chemical Science & Technology. The activities and celebration commemorated the 100th year of anniversary of Marie Curie’s Noble Prize in chemistry, as well as founding of IUPAC included many technical sessions. I was invited as a speaker.

To reach the college in Changanasserry by 9 am, I had to catch Trivandrum Mail at 6:15 am from Ernakulum Town. It was too early to get any public transportation, so I asked a university employee, Mr. Somesh, to arrange a cab for me. I reached to the railway station just in time, but the train was late. When I reached the college, I was welcomed by a hot breakfast and tea. My presentation topic was “Educational System in USA through a Frame of Chemistry.” I was presented a nice wall clock as a token of gift. I enjoyed meeting other chemists from all over Kerala.

A pilgrimage to Tamilnadu

Dr. Barot has just finished two weeks of conferences in India. But, before leaving that area, he visited the state of Tamilnadu for a pilgrimage. Here is his account of that experience.

"We took the train before midnight. It was an air conditioned train with sleeping arrangements. We were provided pillows, bed sheet and blankets. The person on the opposite sleeper was from England. He had come to watch the cricket matches, but between matches, he was going for sightseeing. We talked about the colonial days, modern UK politics, BBC news and the cricket world.

I slept until it was time to get up. After brushing my teeth, I had hot railway tea with biscuits. We got down at Madurai, a temple city in Tamil Nadu. I asked an auto to take me to the hotel. He demanded 40 rupees. From Google Earth, I knew it was within two minutes. I agreed to half of what he demanded. Within two minutes, we were at the hotel.

After looking at the room, I paid by traveler’s checks. In the room, there was no remote control or bath towel. Once asked, the service boy delivered. I took a nice hot shower and changed clothes. There is a pure vegetarian restaurant near the hotel, called Shree Sabari. I had a nice lunch, but as I poured yogurt in rice with soup, all the waiters came one by one to see it. They had never seen anyone mixing like it.

In the evening, we went around to see the seven story Gopuram, the welcoming arch of the temple on all four sides. Each arch was brightly colored with statues of gods and goddesses from Hindu mythology. The color combination was impressive. I took out my camera and took many shots.

Inside the temple, there were two lines. We paid 100 rupees and went in the special line. Within a few minutes, the prayer ceremony was done and it was time to visit 1000 stone pillars museum. It was a real artist world and took some time to observe and appreciate. Many white tourists from Europe and North America were taking pictures.

Before leaving the Meenaxi Devi Temple, we were greeted by a decorated elephant. I purchased food to feed him and he appreciated by kneeling on one front leg. I found that there was no vehicle going around the temple. Only people wearing different costumes from different parts of India were walking, and hawkers were selling religious items.

As planned at 9 a.m., the driver Om came to our hotel with Tata Indica, an air conditioned car. We were ready with video as well as digital cameras. Our destination was the famous temple of Rameshwaram. This is the last town, closest to Sri Lanka on the southern tip of India. According to Hindu religion, here Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva before invading Sri Lanka to rescue his kidnapped wife, Sita, from the evil king Ravana.

Around noon, we reached the bridge connecting mainland India with the island of Rameshwaram. The driver, who spoke only Tamil, stopped the car on the side of the bridge. We joined many onlookers to see a train coming on the railroad below. I pulled out the video camera and started shooting the wonderful scene. The train’s engine driver waved at us and the passengers kept cheering. In a few minutes, everyone dispersed and we were on our way to the temple.

First thing, I purchased a visitor’s book and read about the historical significance of the place. It is interesting to read. There are total 17 important places. Among them, one belonged to the Sikh religion showing the interconnection between the two religions of India.

The main temple has a Gopuram arch, just like the Madurai temple. Inside, there are 1200 stone pillars 30 feet in height. Each one was hand carved. In front of the inner sanctum of the temple, there is a huge stone statue of a bull with his tongue lurking outside. A chariot of pure silver with a carving is stored inside the temple. The temple has visiting time until 1 p.m. and we were late, but luckily our driver spoke in the Tamil language and requested they admit us. For a fee of Rs. 100, we were allowed in and joined a group of pilgrims from the United Kingdom.

After the temple visit, it was lunch time. We wanted a change from eating local food prepared from rice. When we inquired of a restaurant owner about north Indian food, he told us to go in the next street. We found the kind of food made up of wheat and pulses, with unlimited rice. Our driver had more than enough rice with his soup.

Before we returned to Madurai, the driver took a diversion to another place called Devipattanum. We had tea after the temple visit. The most impressive was the ocean scene from the tea stall. When we went close, the beach was too polluted to enjoy the scene. By the time, we reached our hotel in Madurai, it was 9 p.m. We had a journey of 12 hours."

Photos from Kerala

Dr. Bal Barot has shared some photos with us this week of the area he is staying in during his Fulbright experience in India. For those of us in still in winter's icy grip, these should give us hope for warmer days.

Aranmula boat races in Kerala, India

A house in Kerala

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

The beach in Kerala

Tea fields in India

A village in Kerala

Another view of Kerala

Post #3 - A day at the temple

“We decided to visit a famous temple in the northern part of the state, during the weekday. We were told not to go during the weekend to avoid rush.

There were two ways to reach there: either by a train directly going to the temple from a nearby town’s railway station or change three buses to reach there. The only catch for the train journey was we had to leave very early in the morning. So we changed three buses, asking strangers to read the bus boards for us. It worked out alright.

By the time we reached there, we had spent about three hours in travel. The line to go inside the temple was long. I was asked to wear a special loin cloth, white in color with a golden border. So we went back to market and purchased one. For women, there is no requirement. But only Hindus are allowed.  I had to deposit my camera and cell phone with the security office of the temple. After two hours of waiting in line, we reached the inside the temple.

The temple was built in 16th century from stones and it is Lord Krishna’s temple. In local language, it is called Guruvayoor temple.  After prayers, when we came out it was 2 p.m. and we understood the reason for the rush of devotees, even on Thursday. The temple door was closed at 1 p.m. for the day.

It is a common accident that often happens where people will be crushed and trampled to death in trying to enter the famous temples on a special day. We came out safely and collected our cell phone and camera. I changed my clothes and searched for a three wheel auto rickshaw.

The temple maintains a nursery for elephants. It was about five miles away and took ten minutes to reach there. We counted a total of sixty-two elephants; only two females without tusks and rest of them were males. Some elephants were violent, so they were heavily chained; a female elephant was pregnant and she was allowing little children to feed her. 

We were lucky that while returning we got a bus coming directly to a nearby town. On the way, we noticed a Christian church having a big statue of Jesus with life size elephant statues on both sides.

To return to our university house, when we got down from the local bus, it was unknown place. A fellow passenger confirmed that it was the university’s other side. She also got down and pointed the way. Before saying goodbye, she said, “The other day, when you two were lost, you asked me for direction. Do you remember?  I remember both of you!”  We had no clue about her, as we ask so many people for directions during our daily evening walk on less traveled roads.”

It Truly is a Small World

Dr. Barot's second installment from India.

I do not speak the local language, so traveling around and using local public transportation is always challenging. I got invited to a one day conference at MG University in Kottayam, Kerala, which is about 100 miles away from here. I had to change two buses, asking strangers to help me, but I was able to reach it in time.

The conference was organized to honor the young chemistry professor who died suddenly. He was only 49 years old. I met his widow. She is around 45. She felt good, assuming I had come all the way from the USA for that purpose. I did not want to hurt her, so I just comforted her. I met a retired chemistry professor, Dr. Madhavan. He has spent a few years at Wayne State in Michigan. It was nice to listen about old glory of Detroit.

Here everyone uses only one name: the first name. This way they avoid caste bases discrimination. The main invited speaker was a young chemistry professor, Radha Krishanan (RK) from the Kerala state capitol. He summarized the work of Suzuki, Negishi and Heck, the three Noble Prize winners of chemistry for 2010, before presenting his own work. I found it very interesting.

During lunch, I asked Prof. RK about one slide of X-ray crystals. He told me that the data measurement was provided by Dr. Nigam Rath from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. What a small world! Dr. Nigam Rath and I did our Ph.D.s together at Oklahoma State. We were study group partners.

Next week, I am planning to visit a town with a famous temple.

Post #1 - Tropical surroundings and Noble Laureate lectures

Here's Dr. Barot's first installment about his Fulbright experience in India.

"It has been almost one month since we have arrived here. It feels like a tropical island with all the green lush trees all around.

Most of the day, it is hot. People carry an umbrella for protection from the sun. The number of people who come out for the morning walk is just amazing. But the morning walk must be done before 7am, as there are just few roads and everyone is driving, including some students.

I am amazed by the economic progress. There is development on the campus; so much construction is going on. India has indeed progressed economically.

Now let me mention a few words about my teaching, including academic activities here. I have 11 students, 9 girls and 2 boys. I teach about 4 hours every week and attend 8 hours of seminar.

I teach synthetic organic chemistry and preparation is time consuming, as they use so many name reactions.

Seminars are extremely interesting, as I get chance to interact and listen to Noble Laureate lectures, under the erudite program. It is Scholar-in-residence program by Government of Kerala, organized by CUSAT (Cochin University of Science & Technology).

I talked to Prof. Martin Chalfie, Noble Prize in Chemistry 2008, Dept of Biological sciences, Columbia University, NY.

Another Noble Prize winner of 2003 who gave a seminar was Professor Anthony J. Leggett of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

There were other experts. Alexander Domeing from University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Rao from University of California in Santa Barbara.

In addition, they have student seminars. I am looking forward to next Thursday’s seminar.

You will be surprised that sometimes in the department meeting, they talk in local language and I don’t understand word of it. All students and faculty members are from the state of Kerala and all know the local language called Malayalam."