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Vol.22. No. 1. January - 2021

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM HIS HIGHNESSSRI RAJA KRISHNA DEVARAYA (PAGE - 11)

RAMAYANA: VANA PRAPANCHAA DISCOURSE BY SHRI. K. G. RAGHAVAN (PAGE - 19)

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Dear Members & Patrons,

I wish you a very happy andprosperous 2021. May this newyear be a harbinger of happiness,health, wealth and prosperity. I lookforward to this new decade withrenewed vigor and enthusiasm.May the coming days be a witnessto numerous events and activitiesin our Kendra, enabling us toprovide a platform for educationaland cultural opportunities.

The past few weeks have beencreatively gratifying for Bhavan,Bengaluru. We celebrated the 133rd

birth anniversary of our dearMunshiji by inaugurating ‘Bhavan’sFilm Society’ on the 30th ofDecember, 2020 by screening‘Prithvi Vallabh’, a story written byShri. K. M. Munshi himself anddirected by Shri. Sohrab Modi.Bhavan’s Film Society wasinaugurated to build deepknowledge about films and filmmaking. Screenings, workshops,and discussions will be conductedto help cinephiles and film studentsto learn about the art and scienceof making films.

A piece of fabulous news awaitsbibliophiles, scholars, and researchstudents alike. Bhavan’s BengaluruKendra has taken up a mammoth

task of building a library comprisingof books and study materials tobenefit research and referencework conducted by many in certainfields of study. Books related tohistory, literature, philosophy, art,ancient wisdom, generalknowledge, spirituality, Vedas,Upanishads, Hinduism, Buddhism,and Jainism are being curated.Works of Mahatma Gandhi andMunshiji along with books inEnglish, Kannada, Hindi, Sanskrit,Tamil and Telugu will be availablefor multi-lingual bibliophiles. Weneed to thank philanthropists withbig hearts such as Prof. S. K.Ramachandra Rao, Shri. S. Mohan,Smt. Rajalakshmi and our ChairmanShri. K. G. Raghavan for havingdonated some of these books to ourlibrary.

I take this opportunity to yetagain thank all the members andpatrons for having joined hands tocreate magic with tremendousefforts and talent resulting in theimmense success of any event thatour Kendra organizes. Let’s marchahead with hope and expectationsof a fruitful year ahead.

With Best RegardsH. N. Suresh

(Director, Bharatiya VidyaBhavan, Bengaluru)

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

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BHAVAN’S FILM SOCIETY INAUGURATEDHe may be known to the world asan activist of the Indianindependence movement, apolitician, and an environmentalist,but Shri. KanhaiyalalManeklalMunshiji was also aprolific writer and a litterateurwhose wide range of interestsculminated in the form of manyliterary works. One such work ofhistorical fiction, Prithvi Vallabh,was turned into a spectacularvision of grandeur by SohrabModi. A story that featured theanimosity between twoneighboring rulers Munj andTailap, Prithvi Vallabh’s

magnificent plot and productionbecame a foundation for BhavanBengaluru’s long-awaited project.

Films have been aninseparable medium ofentertainment, and film-making haspiqued the interest of admirers ofthe art form. An effort to introducethe present generation toprodigiousfilms and their finernuances has resulted in theformation of Bhavan’s Film Societyby Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,Bengaluru.

Inaugurated on the 133rd birthanniversary of Shri. K. M.Munshiji, Bhavan’s Film Society

Shri. N. Shashidhar being felicitated

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vows to showcase the best ofIndian and world cinema to filmconnoisseurs and promises toshowcase the intricacies of film-making in the form of discussionsand workshops. Present at theinauguration on 30th of December2020 were distinguished dignitariessuch as Shri. T. S. Nagabharana,eminent filmmaker, actor andChairman of KannadaDevelopment Authority, Govt. ofKarnataka, Shri. Sunil Puranik,actor, director, producer andChairman of Karnatakahalanachitra Academy, Shri. N.Shashidhar, Vice-President,Federation of Film Societies ofIndia, Shri. K. G. Raghavan,Chairman, BVB, Bengaluru, Shri.Manandi. N. Suresh, Honorary

Secretary, Bhavan, Bengaluru andShri. H. N. Suresh, Director,Bhavan, Bengaluru. Theprogramme was hosted by Shri.N. S. SreedharaMurty, Co-ordinator, Madhyama Bharati,while Kendra CommitteeMembers, Smt. Nagalakshmi K.Rao and Shri. Venugopalintroduced the guests of honor.

The event started withBhavan’s anthem followed by thelighting of a lamp after which thedignitaries paid their respect toShri. Munshiji’s picture withgarlands and flower petals.

Shri. Manandi N. Suresh in hiswelcome speech thanked thedignitaries for having given theirprecious time to commemorate

(From left to right) Shri K. G. Raghavan, Shri. Manandi N. Suresh, Shri. H. N.Suresh, Shri. Sunil Puranik, Shri. T. S. Nagabharana and Shri. N. Shashidhar

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Munshiji’s birth anniversary. Heapplauded the thought behindstarting a film society in the interestof film lovers of the city.

Inaugurating the film society,Shri. Nagabharana reminiscedabout his association withBharatiya Vidya Bhavan,Bengaluru, and emphasized that itis imperative to learn about filmmaking to appreciate good cinema.He wished Bhavan’s Film Societyenormous success and urged themto screen films to influence societyand young minds.

Shri. Sunil Puranik thankedBhavan for having invited him andspoke about the challenges facedby Karnataka ChalanachitraAcademy during 2020’spandemic. He requested Bhavanto give wings to the film society sothat cinema enthusiasts acrossKarnataka can benefit from thisproject.

Shri. N. Shashidhar expressedhis happiness at the inauguration ofBhavan’s Film Society andelaborated on the influence suchsocieties will have on viewers andcine lovers.

Shri. K. G. Raghavanelaborated on the changing face ofcinema and voiced his opinionabout how production today hasbecome commercial pot-boilers.

He articulated the need for good.With the inauguration of this society,he stressed that Bharatiya VidyaBhavan Bengaluru will screenIndia’s golden stories, framed onthe silver screen, and will bring backquality viewing and understandingof the technicalities of film-making.

Shri. H. N. Suresh highlightedthe strong bond between Bhavanand the distinguished dignitaries andthanked them for having graced theoccasion. He elucidated on thefriendship that exists even todaybetween Bhavan, Bengaluru, andShri. T. S. Nagabharana and Shri.Sunil Puranik.

Following the vote of thanks,Bhavan’s Film Society screened itsvery first feature film ‘PrithviVallabh’, a historical drama basedon the same-titled novel written byShri. Munshiji. The film wasdirected by ace filmmaker Shri.Sohrab Modi, playing theeponymous hero of the novel onscreen himself.

Safety precautions werefollowed as per the rules set by thelocal authorities and government.

To be a part of Bhavan’s FilmSociety, kindly call Mr. C. N.Ashok Kumar on 9980055864.You can also mail your queries tohbcollege18@ yahoo.com orbvblivetv@gmail.com

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Let’s begin 2021 with somedelectable desserts of India. Put

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Clues Across1. Disc-shaped Rajasthani sweet cake associated with Teej

2. This jaggery and coconut filling wrapped in an outer shell of riceflour is best enjoyed piping hot with a dollop of ghee over it

3. This Bengali sweet’s name in Hindi gets translated to news or message

4. Happy Sankranti or Happy ______

5. Diamond shaped and decorated with silver foil, is synonymouswith Diwali

Clues Down1. This dessert, made from maida and khoya, and soaked in sugar

syrup, gets featured these days even in cheesecakes too

2. The version of this dessert made in Jhumri Telaiya is creamycompared to the other versions

3. Chef Kakasura Madappa experimented by mixing gram flour, gheeand sugar and named it on the spot only when his King asked whatit was called

4. Originated in Mathura and came down to Dharwad too, KrishnaJanmashtami is incomplete without this dessert

your sweet tooth to test and get thiscrossword cracking!

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This Month That Year

1st January 1848

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitri Phule started the first girls’ schoolat Bhide Wada, Pune.

2nd January 1954

India established the its highest civilian awards ‘Bharata Ratna and thePadma Vibhushan.

3rd January 1954

The Government of India created the Atomic EnergyEstablishment, Trombay (AEET) with Homi J. Bhabha as the foundingdirector.

4th January 1881

Lokamanya Tilak started the newspaper ‘Kesari’.

9th January 1915

Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa with his wifeKasturba Gandhi

10th January 1966

Tashkent Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan to resolvethe Indo-Pakistan war of 1965.

11th January 1922

Insulin was first used in the treatment of diabetes

25th January 1971

Himachal Pradesh was given full statehood

26th Jan 1949

First draft of the Indian constitution was approved

30th January 1948

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Ghodse

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2021 Calendar

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2021 Calendar

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SUDHANVA KALAGA: AN ENCHANTINGSHADOW PUPPET SHOW

Colorfully crafted, intricatelydesigned, and poised between alight source and a white screen, theenchanting flat leather cut-outspopularly known as shadowpuppets are a sheer joy to watch.Shadow Puppetry is an ancient art-form predominant especially in thesouthern part of India. Known asTholu Bommalata in AndhraPradesh and Telangana, TogaluGombeyaata in Karnataka,Charma Bahuli Natya inMaharashtra, Tholpava Koothu inKerala, Thol Bomalatta in TamilNadu and Ravanachhaya inOdisha, shadow puppetry isrevered as a sacred art formemployed to narrate devotional and

enthralling stories chosen from thetreasure troves of Indianmythology.

It is said that the process ofmaking these puppets is anelaborate ritual in itself. Goat ordeerskin is used to prepare thesefigures. The hides are washed,dried and dyed in different colors,and then cut into intricate designsresembling characters of a story.Most puppeteer families start thisprocess with a prayer after whichthey go into seclusion to carve theirwork of art and finally celebrate ametaphorical naissance of thesepuppets a with song and dance.

To showcase the spellbindingnarrative influence of this shadow

Togalu Gombe Aata

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puppetry, the 76th CulturalOutreach Program organized byBharatiya Vidya Bhavan inassociation with InfosysFoundation staged TogaluGombeyaata helmed by a talentedartist Shri. Ramesh fromNagamangala, Mandya. This art-form has been handed over to Shri.Ramesh from his forefathers, andhe together with his teamcomprising of Shri. Dev Raj, Shri.Suresh and Smt. Nagammapresented Sudhanva Kalaga.

As a part of theAshwamedha Yaga conducted bythePandavas, a stallion is let towander which gets stopped bySudhanva, son of Hamsadhwaja.Sudhanva being an ardent devotee

of Lord Krishna, captures thehorse intending to catch a glimpseof his Lord, only to attain moksha.He then challenges Arjuna to abattle thinking that Lord Krishnawould be Partha’s charioteer butgets disappointed when the Lorddoesn’t accompany his favoritePandava. An equally skilledwarrior, Sudhanva puts up a bravefront and manacles Arjuna with hisbattle tactics, forcing Krishna tocome to the battlefield. Sudhanvafires three arrows vowing to killArjuna, out of which Krishnastaves off two and reverses thethird towards his devotee himself.Thus, Sudhanva’s desire ofattaining nirvana in the hands of hisLord was fulfilled.

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The Togalu Gombeyaataperformed by Shri. Ramesh and hisentourage had the virtual audiencebeguiled with their colorful puppets.The artists were felicitated by Shri.H. N. Suresh, Director BharatiyaVidya Bhavan and Smt.Nagalakshmi K. Rao, Member,Kendra Committee.

To watch this rivetingshadow puppetry show, scan theQR code given below on yoursmartphone.

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CULTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAMSCONDUCTED BY OTHER KENDRAS

The following programs wereconducted by Bharatiya VidyaBhavan, Gujarat as a part of theCultural Outreach Program,in consortium with InfosysFoundation.

Hari Kirthan

A first online program titled‘Hari Kirtan’ was organized on05August2020. The program wasfocused to spread religious spiritalong with spreading the awarenessabout how Hari Katha can benarrated in musical form & withproper anchoring. The performers

were the students of Sanskrit andBhagvad Vidyapith who arecommitted to this tradition of richIndian Culture & Spirituality. Thisoutreach program was held on thesame day as that of the BhoomiPoojan ceremony of Shri RamMandir in Ayodhya. Communalharmony & religious belief wereboth celebrated on this day. A veryyoung Katha Orator Shashtri,Shri Dharmik Janardan Purohitand his team performed RamSankirtan in a traditional way,Jitendra Jani anchored theprogram. Both were supported by

Hari Kirthan by Shri. Dharmik Purohith & troupe held on August 5th

at Ahmedabad, webcasted through Bhavan’s Cultural Centre,Ahmedabad You Tube Channel

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Vishal Mehta on vocals,

Manojbhai Parekh on keyboard &

Dhaivat Khamar on Tabla.

Shiv Mahimna Srotram

A 2nd online program titled

‘Shiv Mahimna Stotram’ was

organized on 17th August 2020

in association with Shri Kutch

Saurastra Vadnagara Nagar

Mandal, Ahmedabad. The

program was focused to spread

religious spirit with a group singing

tradition of India. Shiv Mahimna

is a century old tradition in some

communities and is performed on

many occasions. The program

was premiered on the occasion of

the first Monday of Holy Shravan

Month,an auspicious day for the

devotees of Lord Shiva. The group

comprised of young and senior

artists. The singers were Jignasa

Vaishnav, Manjari Vaishnav,

Ranjanaben Mankad, Padmini

Pota, Nidhi Vaidya, Dharit Mehta,

Archan Desai, Jogin Dhebar,

Bimal Jhala, Malay Vaishnav

and Pinak Majumdar. They were

supported on Tabla by Jignesh

Rao and on harmonium Hemang

Ghodadra.

Shiv Mahimna Strotram by Shri. Amit. K. Desai & troupe held on August 17th

at Ahmedabad. This program was webcasted through Bhavan’s Cultural Centre,

Ahmedabad You Tube Channel

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CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Clues Across

1.Disc-shaped Rajasthani sweet cake associated with Teej -GHEVAR

2.This jaggery and coconut filling wrapped in an outer shell of riceflour is best enjoyed piping hot with a dollop of ghee over it -MODAK

3.This Bengali sweet’s name in Hindi gets translated to news ormessage - SANDESH

4.Happy Sankranti or Happy ______ - PONGAL

5.Diamond shaped and decorated with silver foil, this dessert issynonymous with Diwali – KAJU KATLI

Clues Down

1.This dessert, made from maida and khoya, and soaked in sugarsyrup, gets featured these days even in cheesecakes too – GULABJAMUN

2.The version of this dessert made in Jhumri Telaiya is creamycompared to the other versions - KALAKAND

3.Chef Kakasura Madappa experimented by mixing gram flour, gheeand sugar and named it on the spot only when his King asked what itwas called – MYSORE PAK

4.Originated in Mathura and came down to Dharwad too, KrishnaJanmashtami is incomplete without this dessert - PEDA

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January - 2021

BOOK POST

MS. RASHIMI RAMACHANDRAMS. RASHMI RAMACHANDRA

JOIN NOW :

LIMITED SEATS

Bharatiya V idya Bhavan (BVB) incollaboration with Bharathiya JyothishaSamsthan will commence academiccourse in Astrology from January 2021.

The course, titled “Jyotishya Pravesha”,will be held for ten months in English,on every Saturday and Sunday.

Interested may contact Officer onSpecial Duty, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavanover phone on 9980055864.

Bharatiya Vidya BhavanNew Batch of Astrology Course

Note : Initially the classes will be ON LINE. Once the situationof COVID 19 improves the classes will be held at BVB,Race Course Road.