Motivational – Page 158 – Take off with Natarajan

Out on 99 …But 100 in Second Innings … !!!

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

India opener Murali Vijay avoids a high ball during Day 1 of the second Test against Australia at the Gabba. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

How often do we see a batsman get out on 99 and score a hundred in his next innings in Test cricket?

Murali Vijay is only the eighth batsman (on the ninth occasion) to do so. Rajneesh Gupta provides the details.

Murali Vijay carried his sublime form into the Brisbane Test. He was unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved hundred at Adelaide, falling short by just one run. He, however, made amends by reaching the three-figure mark on the opening day of the second Test against Australia at the Gabba on Wednesday.

Scorecard

How often do we see a batsman get out on 99 and score a hundred in his next innings in Test cricket?

Photos from Gabba Test, Day 1

India opener Vijay is only the eighth batsman (on the ninth occasion) to do so.

Interestingly, four of the eight batsmen are Indians, Sourav Ganguly being the only one to do so more than once.

The details:

Batsmen getting out on 99 and scoring a hundred in next innings

Batsman	Score	Opponent	Venue	Year
Geoff Boycott (Eng)	99	West Indies	Port-of-Spain	1974
	112	West Indies	Port-of-Spain	1974
Richie Richardson (WI)	99	India	Port-of-Spain	1989
	156	India	Kingston	1989
Michael Slater (Aus)	99	New Zealand	Perth	1993
	168	New Zealand	Hobart	1993
Sourav Ganguly (Ind)	99	Sri Lanka	Nagpur	1997
	173	Sri Lanka	Mumbai WS	1997
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak)	99	Sri Lanka	Lahore	2002
	329	New Zealand	Lahore	2002
Sourav Ganguly (Ind)	99	England	Nottingham	2002
	128	England	Leeds	2002
Virender Sehwag (Ind)	99	Sri Lanka	Colombo SSC	2010
	109	Sri Lanka	Colombo PSS	2010
MS Dhoni (Ind)	99	England	Nagpur	2012
	224	Australia	Chennai	2013
Murali Vijay (Ind)	99	Australia	Adelaide	2014
	144	Australia	Brisbane	2014

Note: Ganguly had a sequence of 109, 99 and 173 in 1997.

Inzamam did so against different opponents at the same ground.

Boycott remains the only batsman to score a hundred after a 99 in the same Test.

Vijay is the first opening batsman from a visiting side to score a hundred on the first day of a Test at Brisbane.

The previous best was a paltry 83 by West Indian Joey Carew in 1968.

His 144 is now the fourth highest by a visiting opening batsman on the first day of any Test in Australia.

Former teammate Virender Sehwag tops the list.

The details:

Most runs by an opening batsman on first day of a Test vs Australia in Australia

Runs	Batsman	For	Venue	Season
195	Virender Sehwag	Ind	Melbourne	2003-04
185	’Bill’ Barber	Eng	Sydney	1965-66
177	Michael Vaughan	Eng	Adelaide	2002-03
144	Murali Vijay	Ind	Brisbane	2014-15
141	Herbert Sutcliffe	Eng	Melbourne	1924-25

Vijay is only the sixth Indian batsman to score a hundred on the opening day of a Test in Australia. The complete list:

Most runs by an Indian batsman on opening day of a Test in Australia

Runs	Batsman	Venue	Season
195	Virender Sehwag	Melbourne	2003-04
144	Murali Vijay	Brisbane	2014-15
132	Sunil Gavaskar	Sydney	1985-86
124	Sachin Tendulkar	Adelaide	2007-08
116	Krish Srikkanth	Sydney	1985-86
114	Gundappa Viswanath	Melbourne	1980-81

-RAJNEESH GUPTA

Rajneesh Gupta

Related News: Murali Vijay, Australia, New Zealand, Geoff Boycott, RAJNEESH GUPTA

SOURCE:::: http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Interesting Facts about ISRO’s Largest Rocket…GSLV Mark III…!!!

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Image: GSLV Mark III on the night ahead of its launch at Sriharikota, near Chennai. Photograph: ISRO/Twitter

The successful launch of GSLV Mark III makes ISRO self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation on Thursday launched its first experimental suborbital flight.

This was the test launch for ISRO heaviest and upgraded rocket, the GSLV Mark III, which is carrying the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE).

The flight took off from ISRO’s space station Sriharikota, near Chennai. Here are five things you need to know about the GSLV Mark III mission.

1) After its successful Mars mission, this is ISRO’s next step to put a man in space.

2) The Rs 155 crore mission has twin purposes — the main purpose is to test the rocket’s atmospheric flight stability with around 4-tonne luggage. The second is to study the re-entry characteristics of the crew module called Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment.

3) Other critical technologies are also to be developed for ISRO’s manned mission. These are being developed parallelly at other centres. But recovery of the capsule from out of atmosphere will be the first to be tested.

4) GSLV Mark III is the heaviest next generation rocket, conceived and designed to make ISRO self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4,500 to 5,000 kg. Once operational, this rocket will have the capability to ferry four-tonne class of Insat series of communication satellites, which are currently being launched through Arianespace.

5) This is the second mission of the GSLV rocket during the last four years after two such launches failed in 2010.

SOURCE::::www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Message For the Day…” How to Train and Command Your Senses…” ?

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Generally people get drawn to sense objects, for they are victims of instincts. And instincts come along with the body and aren’t derived by any training. The infant seeks milk from the mother, no training is needed for this. However for the infant to walk and talk, some training is necessary, because these actions are not automatic but are socially prompted, by example and by imitation of others. Training is essential even for the proper pursuit of sense pleasure, for it is the wild and untrained search for such pleasure that promotes anger, hatred, envy, malice, and conceit. To train the senses along salutary lines and to hold them under control, certain good disciplines like repetition of the name, meditation, fasts, worship at dawn and dusk, etc. are essential. When one is asked to do such spiritual acts, one has no inner prompting at all. Still, one shouldn’t give up in despair. No one has a taste for such practices from the very beginning, but constant practice creates the zest.

Message For the Day…” How to Achieve Spiritual Wisdom…”

December 18, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

The quintessence of the scriptural texts is this: Realise that the awareness of Divine or Brahman cannot be won by the accumulation of wealth nor by giving away the riches. Nor can it be achieved by reading texts, rising to power, acquiring degrees and diplomas, or performing scriptural sacrifices and rituals. The body is an anthill, with the mind inside as a deep cavity. The mind has hidden in it the serpent named ignorance or nescience (a-jnana).The serpent cannot be killed by resorting to satisfaction-oriented works (kamya karma). Spiritual wisdom (jnana) is the only weapon that can kill it. To achieve spiritual wisdom, you must have ‘Steady Faith’. Shraddhavan labhathe jnanam, states the scriptures. Meaning, that person alone, who has steady and unwavering faith, can certainly secure wisdom.

Sathya Sai Baba

Is There Life on Mars ?… Question Remains….

December 17, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Questions of life on Mars revive with methane spike

Curiosity rover has now measured a dramatic spike in methane, an organic chemical, in the Martian air, plus other organic molecules in a Martian rock.

The mystery of whether Mars has or ever had life got a boost today (December 16, 2014) when NASA announced that its Curiosity rover – which landed on Mars in August, 2012 – has measured a tenfold spike in methane in the atmosphere around the rover. NASA scientists made the announcement at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. The journal Science also published these results today.

Methane is an organic chemical, and it’s conceivable, although far from certain, methane-belching microbes on Mars might be responsible for the spike.

Overall, researchers said, methane levels recorded by Curiosity’s onboard Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) are lower than expected.

However, for about a two-month period in late 2013 and early 2014, researchers did observe a temporary and dramatic increase in methane in the Martian air around the rover.

NASA scientists are quick to point out that the source of the methane on Mars could be either biological or non-biological. For example, a non-biological source of the methane might be an interaction between water and rock.

At the same time, for the first time ever, the rover has detected other organic molecules in a rock-powder sample collected by drilling into a rock on Mars, which scientists have dubbed Cumberland. Organic molecules, which contain carbon and usually hydrogen, are chemical building blocks of life (although they can exist without the presence of life). NASA says it’s the first definitive detection of organics in surface materials of Mars. These Martian organics could either have formed on Mars or been delivered to Mars by meteorites, scientists say.

Is there life on Mars today, or was there ever life on Mars? These results don’t prove either speculation. However, said John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena:

We will keep working on the puzzles these findings present. Can we learn more about the active chemistry causing such fluctuations in the amount of methane in the atmosphere? Can we choose rock targets where identifiable organics have been preserved?

NASA says that Curiosity is:

… one element of NASA’s ongoing Mars research and preparation for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s.

Bottom line: Mars Curiosity rover measures a dramatic spike in methane and detects other organic molecules in a rock-powder sample collected by the robotic laboratory’s drill.

SOURCE:::: http://www.earthsky.org

Natarajan

Message For the Day…” God is Electric Current …”

December 17, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

You must know that there is no end to the incarnations in which God indulges. He has come down on countless occasions. Sometimes He comes with a part of His glory, sometimes with a fuller equipment of splendour, sometimes for a particular task, sometimes to transform an entire era of time or a complete continent of space. God is like the electric current that flows through various contrivances and expresses itself in many different activities. The wise see only the one uniform current; the ignorant feel that they are all distinct. The HolyBhagavatha elaborates His Story that transforms humanity. The subject matter of the Bhagavatha is the drama enacted by the Avatarand the devotees who are drawn toward Him. Listening to it promotes the realisation of God. Many sages have testified to its efficacy and extolled the Bhagavatha, which they helped preserve for posterity

Sathya Sai Baba .

” திருப்பாவை , திருவெம்பாவை தெரியுமா …” ?

December 16, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை பத்தி தெரியுமா?”

நன்றி-சக்தி விகடன் & பால ஹனுமான்.

ஒருநாள், பிரதோஷம் மாமா மடத்துக்குச் செல்லும்போது, திருவரத ஓதுவார் என்பவரும் தெருவில் தன் பரிவாரங்கள் புடைசூழ வந்தாராம். வழிநெடுக, தேவார- திருவாசகப் பாடல்களைப் பாடிக்கொண்டும், ‘நமசிவாய வாழ்க! நாதன்தாள் வாழ்க!’ என்று கோஷம் இட்டுக்கொண்டும் ஓதுவாரும் அவருடன் வந்தவர்களும் வர, பிரதோஷம் மாமாவுக்குச் சின்னதாக ஒரு வருத்தம். அவர், ‘அருணாசல சிவ’ எனும் நாமத்தைச் சொல்லியபடியே வருவது வழக்கம். ஆனால், அன்றைக்கு ஓதுவார் பாடியதால், அவர் சொல்வது தடைப்பட்டது.

ஸ்ரீரமணரிடம் அதீத ஈடுபாடுகொண்ட பிரதோஷம் மாமா, ஸ்ரீரமணர் அருளிய ‘அருணாசல சிவ’ எனும் திருநாமத்தை, எல்லோரையும் சொல்லச் சொல்வார். அதேபோல், ஓதுவார் உட்பட அங்கிருந்தவர்களிடம், ‘அருணாசல சிவ’ என்று சொல்லும்படி வலியுறுத்தினார். அதேநேரம் மனதுள் ஒரு எண்ணம்… ‘நமசிவாயமும் அருணாசல சிவமும் வேறு யார்? மகாபெரியவாள்தானே?!’

அனைவரும் மடத்துக்கு வந்து பெரியவாளைத் தரிசித்தனர். ஓதுவார் விடைபெற்றுச் சென்ற சிறிது நேரத்தில், ‘ஓதுவார் எங்கே?’ என்று கேட்டார் காஞ்சி மகான். அங்கிருந்தவர்கள், ஓதுவார் சென்றுவிட்டதைத் தெரிவித்தனர். உடனே, பிரதோஷம் மாமாவை அழைத்துப் புத்தகம் ஒன்றைக் கொடுத்த மகாபெரியவர், ”இந்தப் புத்தகம் எந்த வருஷம் வெளியானதுன்னு ஓதுவாரைக் கேட்டுத் தெரிஞ்சுண்டு வா!” என்றார். அந்தப் புத்தகம், திருவாசகம்!

காஞ்சிபுரத்தைவிட்டு வேறெங்கும் செல்வதில்லை என்றிருந்த பிரதோஷம் மாமா,மகானின் கட்டளையை நிறைவேற்ற சென்னை செல்லவேண்டிய நிலை. சென்னையில் ஓதுவாரைத் தேட, ஒரு துணை தேவையாக இருந்தது. தன் மீது அன்பு கொண்டிருந்த அன்பர் ஒருவரை உதவிக்கு அழைக்க நினைத்தார். அன்ப ரைச் சந்திக்கும் பொருட்டு, தான் ஏற்கெனவே வேலை பார்த்த அலுவலகத்துக்குச் சென்றார்.ரிடையர்டு ஆனபிறகு இவர் அங்கு செல்வது இதுவே முதல் முறை.

மாமாவைப் பார்த்ததும், அங்கிருந்த வேறொரு நண்பர், ”ஆச்சரியமா இருக்கு சார்! கடிதம் எழுதிப்போட்டு உங்களை வரச்சொல்லணும்னு நினைச்சுட்டிருந்தேன். உங்களுக்குச் சேர வேண் டிய அரியர்ஸ் பணம் ஆயிரம் ரூபாய்க்கும் மேலே வந்திருக்கு. நீங்க இன்னிக்கு வரலேன்னா, திரும்பவும் அக்கவுன்ட்ஸ் செக்ஷனுக்கே போயிருக்கும். அப்புறம் வாங்கறது கொஞ்சம் கஷ்டம்தான்!” என்றார்.

அந்தக் காலத்தில் ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் என்பது மிகப்பெரிய தொகை. இந்தத் தொகை கிடைப்பதற்கு, மகாபெரியவா சிறிதாக விளையாடி, அருளியிருக்கிறார் எனச் சிலிர்த்தார் பிரதோஷம் மாமா.

ஆனால், இத்தோடு முடியவில்லை ஆச்சரியம்!

பிறகு, சென்னையில் அந்த ஓதுவாரைக் கண்டுபிடித்து, நூல் வெளியிடப்பட்ட விவரத்தைக் கேட்க, ‘தெரியாது’ என்று ஓதுவார் சொல்ல, வேறு சிலர் மூலமாக விவரங்களைச் சேகரித்துக்கொண்டு, மடத்துக்குச் சென்றார் பிரதோஷம் மாமா. அங்கே, இவர் கூறியதையெல்லாம் செவிமடுத்த மகாபெரியவா, திருவாசகப் புத்தகத்தை நீட்டி, ”முதல்லேருந்து சில பக்கங்களைப் படி” என்றார்.

புத்தகத்தை வாங்கிப் பிரித்ததும், ஆடிப் போனார் பிரதோஷம் மாமா. எடுத்ததும், ‘நமசிவாய வாழ்க!’ என்று துவங்கும் சிவ புராணம்தான் தென்பட்டது.

‘அருணாசல சிவனும் நமசிவாயமும் வெவ்வேறல்ல’ என்பதைப் பிரதோஷம் மாமாவுக்கு சூசகமாக உணர்த்தி விட்டார் மகாபெரியவா!

திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை பற்றிய சம்பவம் ஒன்றையும் தெரிவித்தார் அகிலா கார்த்திகேயன்.

அது 1949-ஆம் வருடம். மகாபெரியவா திருவிடை மருதூரில் இருந்தார். ஆச்சி அம்மையார் ஒருவர், தினமும் புத்தகம் ஒன்றை எடுத்து வந்து,பெரியவாளுக்கு முன்னே பாடிவிட்டுச் செல்வார். ஒருநாள் ராமமூர்த்தி என்பவரிடம், ”அந்த அம்மையார் பாடற திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை பத்தி தெரியுமா?” என்று கேட்டார் பெரியவா.

அவருக்கு ஒன்றும் தெரியவில்லை. உடனே அவரை, தேவராஜ பாகவதர் என்பவரிடம் அனுப்பி, ‘திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவைப் பாடல்களை வெளியில் பாடச் சொன் னால், எல்லாரும் பாடுவார்களா?’ என்று கேட்டு வரச் சொன்னார். ராமமூர்த்தியும் பாகவதரைச் சந்தித்தார். அவரோ, ”இந்தப் பாட்டுக்கள் யாருக்குத் தெரியும்? ஒருத்தரும் பாடமாட்டாங்க” என்று சொல்லிவிட்டார்.

இதை அப்படியே வந்து மகாபெரியவாளிடம் தெரிவித் தார் ராமமூர்த்தி. உடனடியாக திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை மாநாடு நடத்துவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளைச் செய்தார்காஞ்சி மகான்!

மார்கழி பிறந்ததும் ராமமூர்த்தி என்பவரையும் கண்ணன் எனும் அன்பரையும் அழைத்து, கையில் விளக்கும் புத்தகமுமாக யானையின் மீது உட்கார்ந்தபடி, ஸ்ரீமகாலிங்க ஸ்வாமி திருக்கோயிலின் நான்கு வீதிகளிலும், திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை பாடல்களைப் பாடும்படி உத்தரவிட்டார். பிறகு, பெரியவாளின்ஆசியுடன், திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை மாநாடும் சிறப்புற நடைபெற்றது.

அதையடுத்து, சங்கீதக் கச்சேரிகளிலும் திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவைப் பாடல்களையும் வித்வான்கள் பாடத் துவங்கினர். கி.வா.ஜ. போன்ற தமிழறிஞர்கள், இந்தப் பாடல்களை விளக்கிச் சொற்பொழிவாற்ற ஆரம்பித்தனர். அதுமட்டுமா? அப்போதைய இந்து சமய அறநிலையத் துறையின் ஆணையராக இருந்த உத்தண்டராமன் என்பவரிடம், ”மார்கழியில், எல்லாக் கோயில்களிலும் திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை மாநாடு நடத்த ஏற்பாடு செய்யுங்கள்” என்று அருளினார்மகாபெரியவா.

அதே போல், சுவாமிகளின் உத்தரவை சிரமேற்கொண்ட டி.கே.பட்டம்மாள், எம்.எல்.வசந்தகுமாரி, அரியக்குடி ராமானுஜ ஐயங்கார் போன்றவர்கள், திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவை பாடல்களைப் பாடிப் பரப்பினார்கள்!

சில காலம் கழித்து, ராமமூர்த்தியிடம்… ”அந்த ஆச்சி அம்மையார் பாடின பாட்டுக்களை, யாரும் பாடமாட்டானு சொன்னேளே… இப்ப யாராவது பாடறாளா?” என்று குறுஞ் சிரிப்புடன் கேட்டார் காஞ்சிப் பெரியவா. இதில் நெக்குருகிப் போன ராமமூர்த்தி, ”பெரியவா ஈஸ்வர ஸ்வரூபம். அவா நினைச்சா நடக்காததே இல்லை” என்று சொல்லிச் சிலாகித்தாராம்.

பிறகு ஒருமுறை, தஞ்சாவூரில் யாரிடமோ பேசிக் கொண் டிருக்கும்போது, ”இப்ப திருப்பாவை- திருவெம்பாவைப் பாடல்களை, எல்லா இடத்துலயும் எல்லாரும் பாடறான்னா, அது இவனாலதான்!” என ராமமூர்த்தியைச் சுட்டிக் காட்டிச் சிரித்தாராம்பெரியவா.!

நன்றி – சக்தி விகடன்

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SOURCE::::www.periva.proboards.com

Natarajan

Indian American Vivek Murthy is Now ‘America’s Doctor’ !!! …First Indian to Hold this Post …

December 16, 2014December 16, 2014Natarajan1 Comment

US senate voted to confirm Vivek Murthy as the next surgeon general, a position often called America’s Doctor. He is the first Indian American to hold and the position, and the youngest.

The US senate voted to confirm Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy as the next surgeon general, a position often called America’s Doctor. (AP File Photo)

His confirmation also marked a major defeat for the powerful gun lobby spearheaded by the National Rifles Association, which had lobbied hard with senators to block a vote.

And nearly succeeded, delaying a vote for 10 months.

Democrats pushed the nomination through in the dying days of their leadership of the upper chamber, which passes into Republican hand next month following recent polls.

Murthy was confirmed by a 51-43 vote.

Welcoming Murthy’s confirmation as “America’s Doctor”, President Barack Obama said he will “hit the ground running” and “build on the progress we’ve made combating Ebola”.

Indian Americans, who were following the confirmation process closely, were ecstatic. Ami Bera, Indian American congressman, called the confirmation “historic” for the community.

At 37, Murthy, who was born into a family from Karnataka, becomes the youngest surgeon general in US history, something that made some senators publicly wonder if he was too young.

Considered whip smart – studied biochemical sciences from Harvard and then a combined medicine and business degree from Yale – Murthy has been working at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a physician.

But it were his political work and comments about gun control that got him into trouble with Republicans, many of whom vowed to not let his nomination go through.

Specially this tweet from him in October, 2012: “Tired of politicians playing politics w/ guns, putting lives at risk b/c they’re scared of NRA. Guns are a health care issue.”

NRA wrote to all senators urging them to block his nomination saying his confirmation would be “prescription for disaster for America’s gun owners”. Many senators agreed.

One Republican senator pointedly asked Murthy his confirmation hearing in February if he will use the office of surgeon general to push his personal views on gun control.

Murthy responded in the negative, saying he will be focussing on obesity prevention. But his critics were not convinced. They had one other issue with him.

He was an outspoken supporter of Obama’s healthcare reforms.
Some other Indian Americans nominated to high offices by Obama

Sri Srinivasan: Judge at DC circuit court of appeals (roughly a high court), which puts him in line for a Supreme Court judgeship

Nisha Biswal: First Indian American to hold the powerful position of assistant secretary of state heading South and Central Asia

Rich Verma: As the first Indian American named US ambassador to a major country – India. He was confirmed by the senate last week. Verma earlier held the position of assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs

Aneesh Chopra: First Chief Technology Officer of the United States, who has since moved on, running unsuccessfully for the Democratic ticket for Virginia governorship

Preet Bharara: Who as US attorney for the Southern District of New York has successfully prosecuted many for insider trading, including Rajat Gupta. His prosecution of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, however, did go down well with Indians

Rajiv Shah: As USAID administrator, Shah is possibly the senior most Indian American in Obama’s administration now

Puneet Talwar: Assistant secretary of state for bureau of political-military affairs. He is reported to have played a significant role in the recent thaw in US-Iran ties

Vivek Kundra: First Chief Information Officer of the US, who has since moved on

– SOURCE::::www.hindustantimes.com

Natarajan

Message For the Day… ” Understand the Divine Significance of ‘OM’…”

December 16, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Om is the sum and essence of all the teachings in scriptures about Divinity;“Om ithi ekaaksharam Brahma” states the Vedas, meaning, the one syllable Om, is Brahman, the Divine! Om is a composite of three sounds A (aa), U (oo) and M (mm). It has to be pronounced rising in a crescendo as slowly as possible, and as gradually coming down, until there remains only the echo of the silence reverberating in the cavity of your heart. Do not take it in two stages, arguing that your breath will not hold so long. Persevere until you are able to be stirred by the upward sweep and the downward curve and the silent sequel. These represent the waking, dreaming and sleeping, and the fourth, beyond the three stages. It represents also the flower of your individuality maturing into a fruit and filling you with sweet juice from your own inner essence, and thereafter the final release.

Sathya Sai Baba

Story of Rock Garden as Revealed by its Creator Nek Chand Who Has Turned 90 !!!…

December 15, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

His statues have ended up in museums around the world. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU. Source: AFP

DEEP inside his massive garden of handmade waterfalls and sculptures, Nek Chand recalls toiling away secretly in the dead of night for a staggering 18 years to create his wonderland in north India.

Riding his bicycle after dark to a state-owned forest, Chand spent night after night clearing patches of ground and transforming the landscape into a majestic garden that would eventually cover eight hectares.

Waterfalls, gardens and sculptures dot the serene environment. Source: AFP/NARINDER NANU Source: AFP

“I started building this garden as a hobby” in the 1950s, Chand told AFP in a rare interview on the eve of his 90th birthday on Monday.

“For 18 years nobody came to know. There was a forest here, who would come here and what for? There were no roads to come and go,” Chand said nostalgically, seated in the garden that has become a major tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors a day.

Indian visitors in the Rock Garden, built by self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand Saini over the course of 18 years AFP/NARINDER NANU. Source: AFP

After the deadly violence and upheaval of partition in 1947, India set about building a capital for Punjab state, carved out of a region that stretched across the border into newly formed Pakistan.

From the tonnes of building materials and rubbish that followed, Chand carefully collected what he considered gems while working as a lowly roads inspector in the upcoming Chandigarh city.

Pottery pieces, glass, tiles and even broken bathroom sinks were used to make sculptures of men and women, fairies and demons, elephants, monkeys and gods.

Pottery pieces, glass, tiles and broken household items wre used to create this wonderland. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU Source: AFP

“I had many ideas, I was thinking all the time. I began carrying all the material on my bicycle and collecting it here,” Chand said of his garden of mosaic pathways, hidden chambers and courtyards.

“I did three to four rounds on my cycle each day. I saw beauty and art in what people said was junk.”

‘Like reliving Willy Wonka’

When his secret was finally discovered in 1976, authorities threatened demolition, claiming Chand had violated strict land laws.

But an amazed public rallied behind him, leading to his appointment as head of the newly opened Rock Garden of Chandigarh.

Chand stepped up his creation of hundreds of sculptures — mostly made from broken household material and discarded personal items including electric sockets, switches, bangles and bicycle frames.

Riding his bicycle after dark to a state-owned forest, Chand spent night after night clearing patches of ground and transforming the landscape into a majestic garden AFP/NARINDER NANU. Source: AFP

Some made of broken glass bangles show girls dancing, others of ceramic pieces depict men at a party pouring glasses of whiskey.

Ticket sales grew as word of the secret garden spread, with some 3,000 people from across the country and overseas now wandering through daily.

“It’s so amazing. It’s something like reliving Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Jasmine Paul, a resident of Vancouver who was holidaying in India, told AFP.

“It is just like the fairy tales that you grow up reading.” With no formal education in art or sculpture, Chand drew inspiration from his childhood when he played near a river flowing through his village in what is now Muslim-majority Pakistan.

Sculptures made from discarded household items. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU Source: AFP

Chand and his family were forced to flee across the border during partition because they were Hindus, finally settling in Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana states.

“That is why there is a childlike quality to the sculptures,” said Alan Cesarno, a British volunteer with the Nek Chand Foundation that was set up in 1997 to raise funds for the garden’s upkeep.

“When you look around you realise that it is actually a child’s version of a fantasy kingdom,” he told AFP standing next to one of the several waterfalls.

Self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand Saini on the eve of his 90th birthday. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU. Source: AFP

Conservation challenges

Chand’s statues have found their way into museums across the world, including at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the RIBA gallery in Liverpool in 2007.

Back home, the garden is facing conservation challenges, including a lack of funds from the state government which takes the ticket sales, according to volunteers.

Vandalism has been reported more than once and enthusiastic visitors often climb or lean on the structures, damaging their fragile pieces.

“In a country known more for slums and garbage dumps, the rock garden stands as an exceptional example,” said Mani Dhillon, a volunteer involved in the garden’s upkeep.

“It is perhaps the only place of its kind in the entire world. The administration and the people must realise its importance, they must come forward and save it before it’s too late,” she told AFP.

Magical waterfalls enchant its visitors. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU Source: AFP

While Chand still oversees the garden as its founding head with near daily visits, his age and failing eyesight mean he can no longer spend the long hours needed to create new sculptures.

He is however undaunted by the challenges facing his more than half a century’s work, saying he has faith in God from which he draws his strength.

“I am not scared of anything. Had I been scared, how would I have worked in the dead of the night in the jungle?”

SOURCE:::: http://www.news.com.au

Natarajan