Vèpèlè-la — The Neem Tree

NO EVIL CASTE IN INDENTURE DIASPORA

    It is only in the East Indian indentureship diaspora we see caste being of little or no importance.

    My great great Nanny, Phooljarria Ramnarian who arrived in Suriname in 1881, broke from India as a 28 year old widow of a pandit to escape the ravages of religious dogmas. She left India at 28 with a 14 year old son and she remarried a non brahmin in Suriname. She went on to become a pretty influencial person for Indian rights in Suriname and the first Indian woman to own her own rice mill.

    Perhaps some of you may have heard of Guyana's first millionaire, Resaul Maraj. His wife was a non brahmin and was the catalyst to his financial and business success. Today in Guyana, the USA and all over the world we see people of lower caste and women breaking barriers and achieving great accomplishments in every field and discipline.

    It is no surprise to me that my family became very matriarchial since the women were treated as equals, with great respect and reverence since the 1880's.

    I still meet many indians from India who are very educated and successful but still submit to caste as westerners do class. It is no wonder India's advance is slower than other other large democracies. In the 1960's, my parents adopted students in India of low castes to be educated and they were very strict that they must come from lower castes and deprived homes.

    Guyana's ambassador to India in the 1960's was the man who did all the selections. My aunt, who was very succesful and wealthy, adopted small entire villages and built schools for these untouchables who became educated and move forward and upward in life but India needed legislation coupled with national conversation to end not only the systems but the mindset that one indian is of higher grade than others.

    My ancestors on all sides always opposed the caste system and me and my descendents do also. We believe all men and women can aspire to greatness and great things which has nothing to do with any preconceived notions or stereotypes.

    Caste in India, as has been viewed and institutionalized, is an evil not to be equated with any other social issues of other countries since it is steeped in the hindu religion, which goes against the tenets of Sanatan Dharma.

    Varuna Singh

©JS S. Photo :
West Indian Bharat-Natyam Dancer
and Choreograph Consuelo Marlin

JUIN 08 : ANOUSHKA SHANKAR A EVIAN

VOIR LE SITE ICI

ENFANTS DE GANDHI A GRENOBLE

MALAISIE : LA FÊTE DE THAI PUSAM

SOURCE

A LA MERE : O MA TUJHE SALAAM, GREETINGS TO YOU, MAA

"I declare that my parents are my haven, my dharma and my karma.
All manifestations of God look with favor those who love and respect
their parents."

In the Vedic culture there are seven mothers:
1. the Earth
2. the rivers,
3. the Divine Mother, God as the Mother
4. the mantras,
5. the holy scriptures
6. the cows who give us milk, as the mother feeds the baby
7. the birth mother.

On this special day let us express our love to our mothers, whether they are in a physical body or they have departed.

Let us manifest motherly love, kindness, and compassion in our hearts.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, May 11, 2008:

On Sunday May 11, 2008, Hindus will join the world in the observance of Mother's Day.

In the Hindu mind, Mother's Day began with the creation of the universe.

Motherhood as an art is almost forgotten now.

Children must always respect their mothers.

But mothers must also respect and live a life that befits motherhood. They must dedicate themselves fully to this most noble task.

Hindus have always worshipped the Creator both as Mother and as Father. And so Hindus join with the rest of the world in celebrating Mother's Day.

Hindu Scriptures state unequivocally:

"I declare that my parents are my haven, my dharma and my karma.
All manifestations of God look with favor those who love and respect their parents."

Hindi song

O Maa Tujhe Salaam

From Hindi Movie KHALNAYAK

Singer(s): JAGJIT SINGH

Hindi Lyrics:

jo bhi gaya is jahaan ki nazar se dekho use kabhi ek maa ki nazar se 
(o maa o maa o maa o maa, (o maa tujhe salaam - 2) 
apane bachche tujhako pyaare raavan ho ya ram) - 2, raavan ho ya ram 

bachche tujhe sataate hain baraso tujhe rulaate hain 
dudh toh kya asuan ki bhi kimat nahi chukaate hain - 2 
hansakar maaf tu kar deti hai unake dosh tamaam 
ay maa ay maa ay maa ay maa, (ay maa tujhe salaam - 2) 
apane bachche tujhako pyaare raavan ho ya ram, raavan ho ya ram 

aisa natkhat tha ghanshaam tang tha saara gokul dhaam - 2 
magar yashoda kehati thi - 2 juthe hai ye log tamaam 
mere laal ko karatein hain saare yu hi badnaam 
o maa tujhe salaam - 2 
apane bachche tujhako pyaare raavan ho ya ram raavan ho ya ram 

tera dil tadap utha jaise teri jaan gayi 
itani der se roothi thi (kitani juldi maan gayi - 2) 
apane laadale ke mooh se sunatehi apana naam 
o maa o maa o maa o maa, (o maa tujhe salaam - 2) 
apane bachche tujhako pyaare raavan ho ya ram raavan ho ya ram 

o maa o maa o maa o maa 
saat samandar sa tera ik ik aansu hota hain 
koi maa jab roti hai to bhagvaan bhi rota hai 
pyaar hi pyaar hai dard hi dard hai mamata jisaka naam 
o maa o maa o maa o maa, (o maa tujhe salaam - 2) 
apane bachche tujhako pyaare (raavan ho ya ram - 3)

One looked down by world
Try seeing from Maa’s perspective

O Maa, you are revered, O Maa you are revered
Ravan or Ram, your kids are all cherished

Kids trouble you, they make you cry for years
Forget Milk, they don’t even pay back your tears

Pardon all mistakes, smilingly, sportingly
O Maa, you are revered, O Maa you are revered

Naughty as was Ghanshyam (Krishn),
Troubled was Gokuldham

But for Yashoda, jealous are people around
Blames my son for all wrong they done
O Maa, you are revered, O Maa you are revered

Special thanks to
Rajesh Ranjan (India), Paras Ramoutar (T&T), The Bhatchaman Genealogy Group, Prajnananda. Photo © Karim Sahai 2008.

Télécharger MAA.jpg

GUADELOUPE 1st HINDI DICTATION - MAY 08

   

 

DHARMA : THE FINE THROUGH THE UNCOMFORTABLE

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.

For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

Scott Peck, psychiatrist and author (1936-2005)

Commentaire de Maxette Olsson :

Je suis tout à fait d'accord.
C'est cela l´ÉVEIL !
C'est à ce moment que la cour ne dort pas.

Sé le Ansinèl lévé, mété limyè ! 

Car c'est à ce moment qu'on est en contact avec son grand soi ou DIEU.
C'est le confort qui trompe, d'où restons en alerte ! 

J'appelle cela l'opération-vigie intérieure. 

En créole c'est
Omodèhèp fo-w sa tap-zip é pa dérapé !
Ou mété-w an zafè a-w !
Mété-w si gad-aw é kyenbé rèd !

Position de méditation an kontak filing-la !
Lè-w an kontak ou an zafè-aw !

Pour les hindous c'est le dharma.

Tout ce que nous faisons pour nous occuper est pour atteindre son dharma : notre ultime nature.

La divine.

The finest moment is in the NOW.

C'est comme si Dieu nous dit en créole :

TOUJOU YENKI LA OWA'W !

Et mieux : ANDEWDAN !

WÈ ! Kréyòl-la sé on lèspwi !

WHITBY AND HESPERUS : REMEMBER MAY 5TH, 1838

FIRST SET OF INDIANS TO SET FOOT ON THE AMERICAS

    The journey to the New World begun on January 13th 1838, from the Calcutta port with 249 Indians, and lasted 5 long months, traveling half way around the world, from the Indian Ocean, around Africa and then up into the Atlantic Ocean and then to the waters of Guyana.

    On May 5th, 1838, after the abolishment of slavery in the British Caribbean, the first group of East Indians set foot in the Americas arriving on the Whitby, a British ship, where 244 Indians set foot in Guyana.

    The long voyage across the oceans brought seasick, hunger and diseases to the Indians onboard the ship, where 5 people had died and only 5 females came alive.

    Shortly after the arrival of the Whitby in Guyana, another ship known as the Hesperus, which left India on January 29th 1838, arrived in Guyana with another 165 Indians, where only 6 females came alive and 13 Indians died at sea.

    See Brian Ally's full article here
    Photo : Guadeloupe, Pointe-à-Pitre market place.
    ©JS Sahai, 2008.

CONSUELO MARLIN, MARTINIQUE INDIAN DANCE STAR

EN CHAQUE FEMME REPOSE DEVI

 

 

 

 

   

    In March 2008, Consuelo Marlin was busy supporting L'Union des Femmes Martiniquaises, a feminist association providing support to the distressed on Martinique island, the French West Indies. 

     On March 27th and 28th she graced the Municipal Theatre of Fort-de-France with two evening performances on the theme In every woman dwells Devi the Goddess. Consuelo offered the moneys collected to support UFM's social work.

    Consuelo is the daughter of Monsieur Luc Marlin, a famous martinican painter, and Madame Michelle Mondesir, an officer at SERMAC, Fort-de-France's renowned Center for Culture and the Arts created by late Monsieur Aimé Césaire.

    She started learning various forms of Classical Indian dance there as a young girl under the guidance of pioneer teacher Madame Suzy Manyri and Pondicherry dancer extraordinaire, Sri Raghunath Manet.

    Then she left for England to study Bharat Natyam for three and a half years under her Master Sri Prakash Yadagudde, at the renowned Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London, where she performed her Arangetram in 2002.

    Later on, in 2004 Consuelo went to Chennai, India for six months to get further training under famous dance guru and choreographer Smt.Chitra Visweswaran.

    Having been requested to perform at many an official event on her island and abroad, Consuelo Marlin has now gained full-fledged consecration as a French West Indian Bharat Natyam specialist.

    An active certified Hatha Yoga teacher, she is currently running  Apsara, her own blooming Yoga, Dance and Culture Institute in Fort-de-France.

    Interestingly, she is not of indian descent. After her secondary studies, her now proud parents had to bend and accept her aspiration to become a professional Indian Dance étoile.  

    Consuelo's recognition as high-ranking artiste has been instrumental in bringing various aspects of the culture of India to the Martinican people who hold her talent in great esteem.

  Texte et photos :
  J.S Sahai ©2008.
  Photographs were taken at the March 28th caritative performance. Click to enlarge.

 

BAUDELAIRE : TO A SOUTH INDIAN LADY

À une Malabaraise

Tes pieds sont aussi fins que tes mains, et ta hanche
Est large à faire envie à la plus belle blanche;
À l'artiste pensif ton corps est doux et cher;
Tes grands yeux de velours sont plus noirs que ta chair.
Aux pays chauds et bleus où ton Dieu t'a fait naître,
Ta tâche est d'allumer la pipe de ton maître,
De pourvoir les flacons d'eaux fraîches et d'odeurs,
De chasser loin du lit les moustiques rôdeurs,
Et, dès que le matin fait chanter les platanes,

D'acheter au bazar ananas et bananes.
Tout le jour, où tu veux, tu mènes tes pieds nus,
Et fredonnes tout bas de vieux airs inconnus;
Et quand descend le soir au manteau d'écarlate,
Tu poses doucement ton corps sur une natte,
Où tes rêves flottants sont pleins de colibris,
Et toujours, comme toi, gracieux et fleuris.

Pourquoi, l'heureuse enfant, veux-tu voir notre France,
Ce pays trop peuplé que fauche la souffrance,
Et, confiant ta vie aux bras forts des marins,
Faire de grands adieux à tes chers tamarins?
Toi, vêtue à moitié de mousselines frêles,
Frissonnante là-bas sous la neige et les grêles,
Comme tu pleurerais tes loisirs doux et francs
Si, le corset brutal emprisonnant tes flancs
Il te fallait glaner ton souper dans nos fanges
Et vendre le parfum de tes charmes étranges,
Oeil pensif, et suivant, dans nos sales brouillards,
Des cocotiers absents les fantômes épars!

— Charles Baudelaire

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