Food for Life Global – JAPAN - BATJ

Food for Life Global – JAPANNot just food, yoga seminar were regularly arranged to provide mental relief to victims.more than once a day!! People were so happy withthe hot full course opulent meal served by FFLG.I would request all interested to support FFLG tohelp the cause.All said and done, most important thing tolearn was the way everybody maintained disciplineand cleanliness while living in not so comfortableevacuation centers. People were positive andlooking ahead towards days to come. When we leftfor Tokyo, my heart was full with only one thoughtin mind. That is to support as much as I can.”Immediately after the catastrophe, a group ofNepali students from Sendai university approachedthe temple for shelter. They were provided withfood, shelter & warm beddings for couple of daysin the temple premises. Ambassador of Nepal toJapan personally called to express his gratitude andappreciation.The unique feature of this drive was that peoplefrom all walks of life regardless of their affiliationand apparent differences, united to offer the bestpossible selfless and dedicated service, which wasthe need of time. Everything got managed so verywell without much effort, as if a superior powerworking in the background. Each group fromdifferent vicinity or organization took lead to planand execute. Due to the extent of damage and lackof system in affected areas it was difficult to start.Who to contact, whom to help, how to help, etc. Butonce it picked up there was no looking back. Therewere instances when volunteers were in waitinglistto offer service but there was not enough roomto accommodate all. Sometimes reservations weredone. It was a sight to behold and the energy-levelto experience when the volunteers gathered tostart their mission. Some starting their day as earlyas 3:30 AM and ending only at 1:00 AM. Drivinghundreds of kilometers, loading & unloading heavystuff, distributing hundreds of meals, cleaning-up &winding-up. Approx. 18+ hour day. Then next dayto work.Initial help is always not that difficult butsustained support, not only food/finance butemotional, spiritual & psychological would be achallenge. With time, past events are forgotten oratleast de-prioritized. So will be this tragedy. Hencewe need to put a system in place for sustainedsupport for this cause for a long time to come.For more details, please refer towww.ISKCONJapan.com and www.ffl.orgDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 43

Memories- Anirvan MukherjeeThe tragedy that befell Japan this year, lead meto write a very personal essay. This essay is notabout the ongoing crisis, about which – much hasbeen written. Instead, I thought of writing abouta few of my childhood incidents. It is not that Ihad a very special childhood – it was perhaps verysimilar to yours, with its own share of “joy and woe,woven fine”. But I hope that, as you read about myincidents, you are reminded of your own and reflecton your past …I spent my entire childhood at Rama KrishnaMission Narendrapur, a boarding institution about15 kms south of Kolkata – from Grade 5 to College. Inthis respect, my childhood might have been a littledifferent from yours. Most of you might have spentall those years with your family. I used to go homeonly during vacations. Even more, since my fatherchanged jobs and moved to different cities, I hadlimited opportunities to make friends in each newneighborhood (the Bengali word is ‘Para’). So in asense, the only constant in my life was Narendrapur,which was in essence my home. As a result, mostmy childhood incidents have a “Narendrapur bias”. Ihope you will excuse me for that!He: “Excellent, looking forward to it!”In a few weeks’ time when I joined Grade5, Irealized that he was Santosh da, our Maths teacher!I was extremely embarrassed and after the firstclass, I told him “Sir, I was so stupid! I really believedthat you were in Grade 5”. Then he smiled at me andtold me “Believe me, I will always be in Grade 5”. Thusbegan a long and very loving association betweenme and Santosh da, during my entire academiclife. I was never the best or smartest kid in myclass, but Santosh da always used to single me outfor love and affection. Whenever there were otherteachers around us, he used to entertain them withthis story. Every passing year he used to tell me“Anirvan, how wonderful you are getting ahead – butpoor me, I am still in Grade 5”. And I used to get evenmore embarrassed! I remember the final day whenI completed my Bachelor’s degree in Statistics andwent to meet Santosh da to convey the news thatI will be finally leaving Narendrapur in order topursue my Masters in Computer Science. Santoshda told me “Good for you, but poor me! Who will nowhelp me in getting promoted?” I replied “Santosh da, youare impossible … you will never change!” and askedhim to bless me.Santosh daIt was a cold misty evening in Dec 1979, when I– a young 10 year old kid was strolling in front of the“Headmaster’s office” in Narendrapur. My parentswere inside completing my admission formalities.As I was standing there, an elderly man came nearme.He: “Son, will you be studying here?”Me: “Yes”.He: “Good, then we can be great friends”Me: “I am not sure how can we be friends, I am 10 yearsold and you are so much older!”He (becoming very serious): “I am actually yourclassmate”.Me: “But how is it possible?”He: “I have a sad story. I got admitted in Grade 5 manyyears ago – but I don’t get promoted”.Me: “I don’t quite understand - why is it so?”He: “Because I am very weak in studies. I need a friend,who can help me in my studies so that I can pass exams.Will you be my friend?”Me: “Of course, I will be your friend. We will studytogether so that you get promoted!”Words fail to describe the ambivalence offeelings that I experienced that final night inNarendrapur. On one hand, there was the excitementof entering an outer world – of which I knew verylittle and was rather naïve. On the other hand, therewas a tinge of sadness for I was leaving this “cocoon”forever. I vividly recall that hot and humid nightin May, 1991 when I packed my suitcases, called acab and finally left my beloved Narendrapur as astudent forever! I am sure that you the reader musthave also had these moments!I really wish that life was perfect and myrelationship with Santosh da remained just the same.But alas, life is anything but perfect! About twoyears later I visited Narendrapur and met Santoshda again. Just as we were chatting, the discussionsteered around a recent incident called “BabriMasjid demolition”. (For young readers, this incidentinvolved the demolition of a mosque on Dec 6, 1992. Itwas such a major incident that, for our generation, thatday has become a reference point in our lives).As we were discussing I realized that Santoshda and I had divergent political views on the subjectand the friendly banter ended up in a heatedDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 45

Memoriesargument. After a while I excused myself and left- with a very bitter feeling, as if I had been deeplywounded. What is even worse, I never got to meethim since! I have often wondered, why did I haveto argue so much with a man who had showeredso much love on me for all these years? Now that Iam much older and maybe a bit wiser, I realize thatmy actions had to do with my young age, my newfound “independence” and a sense of arrogance that“I knew better”. For that indulgence of youthfularrogance, I had bartered away something infinitelymore precious – unrequited love from a good oldteacher! As I write these lines, I am filled with a bitof sadness and nostalgia for not having attemptedto reach out to Santosh da. The next time I go toKolkata, I’ll try harder!The Library ClassDid you ever get in trouble while at school? Idid once and would like to share the story with you.Our school consisted of 8 classes a day, dividedinto 2 halves. The 1 st half was between 9:30 to 12:30,followed by lunch break and then 2 nd half was from1:30 to 4:30.In Grade 6, we had a “Library Class”, duringwhich we were supposed to go to the library andstudy. Exactly what to study was not very clear tome. Since there were no teachers around, we oftenused to chat amongst ourselves. We had this classonce a week, between 11:45 to 12:30 – followed bylunch break. One day, a friend and I decided to skipthis “Library Class” and instead go to hostel, relaxand come back for the 2 nd half. We felt that it was asafe “crime” for the chances of getting caught wasremote. Alas, it was an imperfect crime – for littledid we expect what was in store for us. Our regularteacher was absent, and instead our Head Master(“Hari Maharaj”) came as a substitute teacher! Whiletaking the attendance roll call, he noticed that wewere absent in the previous class.Hari Maharaj: “Anirvan and Abhijit, why were youabsent in the previous class?”Us: “Maharaj, there was no particular reason….”Hari Maharaj: “What class was that?”Us: “The Library class”Hari Maharaj: “And what exactly did you do, during thattime?”Us: “We went to the Hostel?”Hari Maharaj:”Which Hostel?”Us:”Abhedananda Bhawan”Hari Maharaj: “And what did u do in the hostel, duringthat time”Us: “Err…not much, we chatted…”Hari Maharaj: “How interesting … grade 6 students46bunking classes! What has the world come to? I thinkthat there is no need for you to attend grade 6. You havealready graduated – with honors! Your parents must beextremely proud of you! Where do u live?”Me: “In Gol Park, Kolkata”Abhijit: “Salt Lake”Hari Maharaj: “Wonderful, pack your bags and tell yourparents to take you home!”We: “But, Maharaj ….”Hari Maharaj: “Not one more word, dismissed!”My friend and I were truly scared! EverySunday our parents used to come to visit us, butthis Sunday might be different - thanks to a weeklypractice called “Guardian Call”. If your nameappeared in that weekly list, your parents weresupposed to meet the hostel warden. What madethis process very suspense ridden was that untilSunday afternoon you had no clue as to whetheryou qualified for this weeks’ list. That too, the listwas announced during lunch time right after theweekly delicacy – the “Mishti Doi” (Bengali SweetYoghurt) was served on your plate! Why a servingof “Mishti Doi” had to be followed by “GuardianCall announcement” was something that alwaysbaffled me! For this process ensured that, regardlessof whether you were in the list or not – it was noteasy to enjoy your “Mishti Doi”!That Sunday afternoon, right after the “MishtiDoi” was served, I was on full alert. I hoped for amiracle, that somehow my name would not appearin the list – and looked intensely at the announcer.The announcer started reading the list and the veryfirst name was mine! I bowed my head down andall I could see was the “Mishti Doi” lying untouchedon my plate. I wasn’t sure as to what to do withthat “Mishti Doi” – to eat or not to eat, that wasthe question! But finally in an act of supreme selfsacrifice,I decided not to eat and left the diningroom and lay down on my bed.God only knows, how I spent the next fewhours. I pondered practical questions such as “WillI get expelled? What will my parents think of me? Whatwill my grandparents and uncles and aunties and cousinsthink of me? If I am expelled will any other school admitme?” I also pondered ethical questions such as “Isthe punishment proportionate to the crime?” Suddenlythere was a knock at my door – a friend told me“Hey, your parents are waiting for you in the lobby”. Andso I went to the lobby.As usual my mother came and hugged me.My little sister shouted “Dada, how are you?” Andmy father enquired “Son, how are things?” I replied“Everything is fine … come let’s sit down somewhere”.And we sat in the meeting room where my motherAnjali

Memories of the Towers- Suparna BoseWhen I moved to Wayne, NJ, from myhometown Kolkata, India, a big city likecountless other big cities in the world, Ifelt cramped in the small-town feel of the place. Likeany other American small town, Wayne didn’t havemany sidewalks. If you walked for ten minutes frommy Tudor Gardens apartment, you would reach ahighway, Route 23, I think. No more walking, thankyou. The horizon was there, un-peppered by anyskyscrapers and still I felt cramped.My only feelings of release happened when Iwent to New York City, a half-hour drive from ourplace. Every time, as soon as we crossed the LincolnTunnel, my heart would start thumping – at the sightsand sounds of NYC – the roads crowded with people,beautifully clad, strangely clad, with immaculatelygroomed pets; the roadside cafes brimming withpeople eating and chatting, musicians singing onthe street corners, the Manhattan horizon clutteredand peppered with skyscrapers like the Empire stateBuilding, the Chrysler Building and the World TradeCenter.On my first trip to the WTC as a tourist, I posedfrom all possible corners at the rooftop, looking at thedifferent boroughs of NYC, the CentralPark, the Liberty Island. I posed withthe bronze statue of thegentlema nin the park downstairs.On all my subsequenttrips, I always sat by thegentleman and I wouldusually have a brownbag full of glazed donutsbought from the Dunkin’ Donuts down the road.I left the US, thinking I would be coming backagain for a visit to the park, the gentleman and theWTC. Osama bin Laden changed it all. With a fewbrutal strokes, they were all gone. All gone withthousands of lives with them - and millions of livesthat stayed behind, only to mourn. Our photos of thetower and the park and the gentleman were archivalin nature. And so were the memories.I came back to the US and looked at GroundZero on television– as it is called now. I am far awayfrom NYC. There is emptiness in my heart – a lumpin my throat – every time I look at it. Last year, I wasboarding a flight to Mumbai from Newark. Passingby the window where I could see the NYC skyline, Ijust looked at the skyline of one of my favorite placeson earth. It was not there. They were not there. Tearsjust welled in my eyes and kept on coming. I wasglad I was not going into the city. I was not ready.May 2, 2011: Ten years have passed. Today, fromthe morning, I have been watching the television andthe Internet. I’ve been sitting on the sofa, mindlesslysometimes and mindfully sometimes, taking in allthe information. The ‘closure’ that the anchors call- has it come? Will it ever come? When will I go toGround Zero? I don’t know.9/11/2011: The tenth anniversary today. I havebeen watching the television. Tears come gushingwordsdon’t come so easily. Never forgotten. I amstill not ready to go there. May be some day...someday...48Anjali

Flashbacks and Spotlights- Sougata Mallik[This summer of 2011, we decided to take a road trip of those trails travelled and those untravelled. Oursmall family of 3, I cannot say we were back-packing, but were more car-packing. Amidst this interestingjourney, met various people – strangers, acquaintances, experienced diverse topography, encounteredsundry weather conditions. The excitement of seeing the new, the happiness of remembering the old,the exhilaration of foreseeing the future punctuated our journey throughout. Penning few reflections,experiences as ‘Flashbacks and Spotlights’.]Monsoon Days[Driving through I-81 Interstate Highway inUSA, were faced with raging thunder squalls fromthe Appalachian Mountain range. Scared as I waswith the fury of this weather, how I wished for asofter, milder rainfall.]Memories are funny. Of the billions ofexperiences, only a handful remain embedded inour grey matter. If they are pleasant, they are asource of comfort on difficult days. If the memoriesare not really wanted, they continue to haunt us,casting a shadow on happier days.A remote small town somewhere in WestBengal. The skies darken, the clouds rumble andwomen scurry to remove clothes hung out to dry.Children, asked to help their mother, are excitedat the urgency of the task. Those too small to reachthe clotheslines are asked to shut the windows. Inolder houses that have seen better times, women andchildren put pails in areas where the roof leaks.Even the breeze seems to anticipate what iscoming and its quality changes, carrying smellsthat become sharper and travel quickly. The smellof ‘rajnigandha’ with a boring English name, TubeRose, the night blooming jasmine fill the air withtheir strong scents. And then, without waiting forthe mass of humanity to be fully prepared, thundercrashes somewhere and large drops of water fall onthe dry earth. As the ground starts to grow moist,it gives off a smell that is elemental and primordial.Wet patches quickly grow and the ground becomeswet and sticky.The rain now comes down in all its fury. In theopen field, little boys take off their shirts, and a ballappears from nowhere, they kick it back and forthcasually; and then someone shouts, two teams formand the game starts in right earnest. Players runacross the field, with bare muddy feet, exhilaratedto be fighting the elements and playing the goodgame. It is a moment perhaps they will rememberand cherish later on in their lives.In most houses, the focus is also elemental, butit is on food and not sport. “Monsoon snacks” areprepared. Young girls sit in the veranda and chat;then one sings a line of a song, the other runs in andgets a harmonium, and suddenly there is repertoire.Hot snacks arrive and for the moment all senses aresatisfied!Oxford Book Store[Pennsylvania is one of the most beautifulstates for anyone who has delved into its interiors –I don’t mean the sprawling, prime cities.]Driving alongside Susquehanna river - theancient river which is the longest in United States andhistorically still preserves Iroquoian tribe culture.The tepees are still there, the animal skin clothedmen sat in one corner etching Totem Poles. A smalltepee caught my attention. It was marked ‘OxfordBook Store’. The books now on sale represent thosethat one might not find in any modern bookstore;its little walkway was replete with popular historyand travel, contemporary literature, coffee-tablebooks; alongside was a tea room and gift store. AndI venture I would never know that to find books onNagaland lamps, I could come here! Something hasnot been lost in this headlong drive for modernity.If we are here, what are they doing there[In the course of our travel, we visited an oldfriend one evening. A news surprised, startled,overjoyed me?!]Among our Indian-American friends, a 23year old son of one family suddenly declared thathe is going to India to earn his living. Born, bred,nurtured, assimilated in the American soil, hisdecision came as a bolt from the blue for his parentsand acquaintances. He was exploring motherlandopportunities. As economies convulse in the Westand jobs dry up, the idea is spreading virally in émigréhomes. Which raises a heart-stirring question: if theparents left India and trudged westward for theirchildren, if they manufactured from scratch a newlife here for them, if they slogged, saved, sacrificedto make children’s lives lighter than theirs, thenwhat does it mean to choose to migrate to the placetheir parents forsook? If we are here, what are theydoing there?Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 49

Birds in Kobe- Jyotirmoy RayIt was an unforgettable experience of birdwatching for me, the very first morning of Kobe.That was early June of 1982, when late springweather is still lingering on and rain about to setin. Nearby mountains Maya and Rokko San are intheir best seasonal attire. White fleecy cloudsare playing hide and seek with grey Nimbusbringing occasional showers. Both sun andrain made the forest cover of the mountainslush emerald green.As I got up from the comforts of earlysleep, the wide window with open curtainbrought me the wonderful view of the twinmountains.From my window on the oppositeside I could get also a glimpse of Osaka Bay (SetoNai Kai) displaying its mirror surface reflectingthe rising sun. Silhouetted structures ofinnumerable overhead cranes of Kobe Harborwere getting out of slumber pointing theirfingers towards the blue sky.I came out of the room to the fresh airof open verandah to get a closer view of thescenic panorama as it was unfolding. SuddenlyI could hear some high-pitch twittering of birdsfrom the corner of the verandah. To my pleasantsurprise I spotted a pair of Yellow Wagtail (Seki Rei)on the railing in a courtship mood merrily waggingtheir tails. As I was getting a little closer to themthey flew away to the sloping banks of the rivuletrippling by the side of my apartment and merrilyflowing from Maya San towards the nearby inlandsea. As I focused over the flowing streams, I sawa movement of brown wings and found anotherbird called Dipper taking a quick bath. In fact itwas getting ready to catch tiny snails or fish forthe breakfast. Momentarily I had a flash back inmy mind of similar sights on the rocky bank ofthe Himalayan streams during our holiday trips.Finale of this early morning event was a sweet callof a Brown Eared Bulbul (Hyodori) from the nearbyGinko tree .Left over water drops from the overnightrain glistening like pearls in its branches. Bulbul inKobe and its sweet call is the least I could expect. Itflew rapidly towards greeneries of Maya Mountainperhaps in search of its nest.That was a Sunday and there was eeriesilence all around broken by occasional rustlingof the fresh leaves of the Ginko from the gust ofwind blowing from the sea. Luckily there wasno rain .Bright sunshine flooding the sprawlingcity. While having breakfast I could not takemy eyes off the open window and enjoy thewonderful view of the distant mountains coveredwith floating mists and quiet neighborhoodfull of traditionalJapanese stylehouses eachsurroundedby well keptgardens andshrubberies.I could notcheck thetemptationof a birdwatching treknear the slopingbank of the rivuletnear my apartment .After coming downfrom my apartmentI discovered a longwinding concretepath by the side ofthe Rivulet leadingtowards Maya Mountain.I walked upstream easily over its slope and usedmy Binocular scanning the trees on its both sidesand typical Japanese style cottages with mossedred tiled roofs. Evergreen Pine Trees (Matsu) withartificially twisted branches could provide nestingsites to wild birds. In fact the first bird I could sightwas perching on one of these Pines at a distance.From the image on my Binocular it looked likeRoller. As I looked closely I saw the tell tale markof blue wings showing up brilliant bands as it tookflight perhaps for a better nesting site. Soon a flockof Grey Tits flew over the rivulet and landed onTelevision Antenna on the nearby house top. As Ilooked down towards the rivulet I was rewardedwith a pied wagtail of white and black color feedingon the crevices of the rocks. These birds are suresign of the purity of the flowing stream generallyfed by pristine underground springs.Soon I was very near the foot of MayaMountain covered with dense foliages of variety ofevergreens and Maples. The streams of the rivulet,I was walking by, got lost on its slope occasionallyglittering and reflecting against the late morningSun. This peaceful scenario was being cheered byDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 51

Birds in Kobefaint calls of birds from the upper region. I couldnot check the temptation of climbing through thethickets of Pink Hydrangea towards Maya Temple.I was told by my Japanese colleague that it set upunder the guidance of a Buddhist Indian Monk inseventh century AD. When I looked through thethickets to get a closer view of the surroundingtrees I heard the sweet endless low pitched call ofbirds with distinct notes as if coming out of a Pianobeing played in the temple. Soon I could also hearthose musical calls very near to me and saw a pairof brown bird of sparrow size on a branch swingingin the wind. There was no doubt it was a pair ofUguisu. Ornithologists call this species JapaneseNightingale.That was the most thrilling experience I everhad in my Bird Watching trek. It made me forget thetime .When I looked at my watch it was past noon. Itwas time to bid farewell to this beautiful habitat ofBirds and get back to my mundane duty of shoppingfor daily needs.J.Ray52Anjali

It’s a Beautiful World- Hemalatha AnandIt was a hot and humid summer day in India,on one of my recent trips back home. I had justbeen to visit an old relative and had spent a goodcouple of hours with him ,listening to him rambleand lament about “the good old days” –about howprincipled people were back then and how thingshave changed now ,with declining values in today’syouth ,the materialism and corruption in our societyetc. etc.I did try to argue otherwise, but my debatingskills were sadly defeated by his seemingly valid andtruthful points! I left his home feeling morose anddejected (as I usually feel after losing an argumentor even a game, for that matter:-) and I walkedtowards the Bus stop, left with little or no hope forthis “future-less world ” as uncle had called it !At the terminus, I hurriedly boarded the buswhich was due to leave in the next few seconds.Fifteen minutes passed and our driver was stillmysteriously absconding! Uncle IS right, I said tomyself. “Nothing can change this system”!!I entertained my depressed self by taking inthe ‘scenery’ outside - a barren ground, with loadsof dumped rubbish, a few pathetic looking cowsfeeding on the garbage, a couple of street dogsbarking at the passing cyclists and a little tea stallwhere workers from a nearby construction siteunburdened the heavy loads they carried on theirheads to refresh themselves with a cup of chai andsome dry loaves of bread! I sank further deep intomy depression – it was a very bleak picture indeed!!To add to it, a little girl who looked about 4or 5 years old came from window to window inour bus asking the passengers for 2 Rupees. Sherepeated her request incessantly at every windowand was ‘shooed away’ every time, sometimes witha scold. Undaunted, she kept trying anyway! Whatpersuasion skills-she’ll make a great Salesman,I thought sarcastically! Soon ,she came up to meand her unusually bright eyes looked up from herdirty little face and with her small muddy handsstretched out she repeated again and again , ‘AuntyDo Rupaya de do …...’I am usually averse to encouraging beggars, buton that day I gave in –probably just to get rid of hernagging tone!! Thrilled with her success, the girl ranwith glee to the nearby tea stall.For want of something better to do, my glancefollowed her, curious to know what she would dowith the money.I saw her buy a loaf of dry bread and runtowards a dilapidated wall nearby. There lay there,a sickly dog, literally gasping for breath and thislittle girl sat down beside him and fed him the wholeloaf, lovingly talking to him all the time!!I was speechless.I cried shamelessly the rest of the way backhome, overwhelmed with the magnitude of thatsimple,selfless deed of love and generosity! This little‘street urchin’ filled me with hope, and re-assuredme that the world isn’t as black as we often paint it!If only all of us could emulate a bit of thiswonderful girl, what a beautiful place our worldwould be!!Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 53

A Story about Fingerprint- Tsuyoshi NaraToday most people around the world knowwhat a fingerprint is, but most do not knowwho first discovered fingerprints and howthey came to be utilized for personal identification.Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930), a missionarydoctor belonging to the Presbyterian Church ofScotland, came to Japan in 1874. He settled in anarea of Tokyo called Tsukiji, where he opened acommunity clinic and established a school for theblind.During his 12 years in Japan he made theacquaintance of Mr. Edward Sylvester Morse (1838-1925), an American biologist, who happened todiscover an ancient shell mound on the OomoriSeashore (now in Oota-ku, Tokyo). This moundcontained a large number of ancient earthen vesselsalong with a huge array of seashells and animalbones.Dr. Faulds became interested in these earthenvessels and started assisting Mr. Morse as heclassified these archeological items. One day Dr.Faulds noticed fine lines looking like a humanfingerprint on the surface of an earthen vessel.While examining the line patterns minutely, an ideasuddenly came to his mind. These lines might bethe fingerprint of the artisan who made the vessel.He had previously observed with specialinterest a peculiar Japanese custom according towhich people would seal important documents –such as wills, bonds, agreements, oaths, pacts etc.– by pressing their thumbs below their writtennames. He guessed that the fingerprint-like lineson the surface of the ancient vessel were not justscratches made carelessly but rather a personal markintentionally made by a professional craftsman.To substantiate this guess work, he studiedvarious patterns marked on the surfaces of alldiscovered vessels. He also collected fingerprintsfrom a few thousand Japanese people to see ifhe could find any patterns similar to those hehad collected from the vessels. In the process, hebecame convinced that no two people have identicalfingerprints. Furthermore, he discovered that achild’s fingerprint grows with the child in size, butthe pattern never changes. Therefore, Dr. Fauldsconcluded that a person’s fingerprint remains thesame throughout his/her whole life, and everyperson’s fingerprint differs from every other person’sfingerprint.When he publicized this discovery of humanfingerprint in the science magazine ‘Nature’ onOctober 28th in 1880, he suggested to utilize thisspecific feature of human fingerprint for identifyingany criminal by examining his/her fingerprint.However, the then Scotland Yard did not accept hisidea or suggestion but rather started searching fortheir own original method of criminal’s identificationand eventually adopted it in 1901. On the contrary theJapanese police authorities appreciated Dr. Faulds’method of criminal identification and formallyadopted it for criminal investigation in 1911.Therefore, this year 2011 happens to be theJapanese Police authorities’ centenary of adoptingDr. Faulds’ method for criminal’s investigation.It is also needless to say that this method is notonly effective for criminal’s investigation but alsouseful for personal identification of any living ordead person. Although nowadays the personalidentification method based upon fingerprint isbeing gradually replaced by the personal DNAexamination method, yet Dr. Faulds’ method maycontinue to remain as the most economical, effectiveand easiest means for personal identification forlong years to come.Let me add here one final intriguing piece ofinformation and make a request. I have heard thatunder British rule, the police used to identify Indianlaborers by their fingerprints. I will be grateful toanyone who can provide substantial informationregarding how or where this was done.–September 15th, 2011-54Anjali

The Moonlit Night’s Dream- Sakuntala PandaShweta and Abhilash took an impulsive decisionon that particular day. Shweta’s forty-fifthbirthday was just a day away and she and heralmost-fifty husband decided to have an exclusivecelebration for some of their close friends.The list had to be made immediately. As Shwetasat at her small study table – her favourite place infact- her eyes strayed around. There was a cheerfulpicture of their son and daughter on the wall. On theother side of the wall was the glass bookshelf, whichhad a framed photograph of Shweta and Abhilashset amidst a stack of books. On the table, Shweta’sbrown diary with a golden border was open andthe sparkling silver pen was placed next to it. Thelamp with its cream shade completed the picture. Itwas switched on and the soft light was enough tobrighten a portion of her face and the work surface.Shweta picked up her pen and contemplated.Who all were special in their long list of friends?Whose name should come first?‘This sounds quite formal; what is special aboutsuch a party?’ She suddenly commented‘Well, that is what everybody wants – sometime to just let their hair loose.’ Abhilash replied.‘That is so boring.’ Shweta made a face. ‘Can’tyou think of something that would be different andexclusive?’A mysterious smile hovered on Abhilash’s lips.‘Sure I can. … Let us invite them with their wives.’‘What do you mean? Who are - ‘them’?’‘That’s sad! Don’t tell me that you have forgottenthem all.’ Abhilash’s words were laced with sarcasm.‘I was talking about your many boy friends. Menwho loved you.’What is love? Does anyone ever understand themeaning of this word? It is so difficult to find truelove. Shweta was pensive.‘Let us find the addresses.’‘Sure.’Soon both of them were searching the olddiaries for addresses and phone numbers of thosepeople who had a soft corner for her. Shweta alsomade a great show of preparing to make a list, butsomewhere there was a disconnect. Abhilash’scomment, though it was said in jest, or was it,disturbed her. She paused for a moment and staredat the ceiling of the bedroom. The fan was still andmotionless although the winter had come to an end.Did she actually love someone else? Aftertwenty-five years of long and happy marriedlife – a life of contentment and plenty, two lovelychildren and enviable careers, this was an unfoundaccusation. Shweta suddenly realized that evenafter the long life together, her husband neitherunderstood her nor the life they shared.Poor Abhilash!He would probably leave the bed sometime inthe night as he usually did on her birthdays andmake a great show of rushing to the bedroom inthe morning to wish her. 'Happy birthday, darling!You look as pretty as you did when we were newlymarried. How do you manage that? Oh, are youupset about what I said yesterday? I am sorry. Don’tbe unhappy today.’But what if Abhilash did not get the chance tosay all that or apologize? What if he discovered thehalf-clad body of his wife hanging from the ceilingfan, the sari around her neck, face distorted?Shweta looked at Abhilash, who was fast asleep.She sighed and walked up to the window. The worldwas swathed with moonlight; everything looked soquiet and serene, but there was an anxiety in herthat she could not fathom. Her body was drenchedin sweat.She walked away determinedly, changed herclothes and walked up to her bed. She was about toswitch off the light, when the first name on the listcaught her eye.Animesh. After all these years, where wasAnimesh? Was he still in the same house? All Shwetaknew was that he did not marry for a long time.There was a telephone number boldly mentionedat the top of his letterhead, but as there was noDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 55

The Moonlit Night’s Dreamtelephone in Shweta's house, he could not talk toher. Instead, he wrote a number of long letters to her,which went unanswered.56Later, Shweta showed the pile to Abhilash.‘How come you never replied to any of hisletters? Were you scared?’ remarked Abhilash.‘Of course, I was. Those days the mail wouldget delivered thrice every day and I would watchout for the postman always. Sometimes three ofhis letters would come in one single day. Can youimagine what would have happened if my parentsor extended family would have discovered this? Iwould have been penalized for no fault of mine. …I was young then and was not sure if it was a crimeto love or not.’ Shweta explained.‘But didn't you want him? Abhilash wascurious.‘No. Anyway, soon Animesh stopped writingletters and told me that this one-sided affair was nogood. …Well, here are the letters. You want to readthem?’Those days, Animesh was studying in DelhiUniversity and when he came home on vacations,he would rush to Shweta’s house, even though hewas tired after a long train journey. He was distantlyrelated to the family and he could visit wheneverhe wanted - there were no restrictions on him. Butfor some strange reason Shweta tried to avoid him,often hiding in the garden or escaping to a secludedcorner on the terrace.‘Didn't you see him on that day in the sari shop?He was standing so close to you and was smilingat me.’‘Really? No, I don’t remember. You should haveintroduced him to me.’‘It was only eight days after our marriage.’‘So what?’Apparently, Animesh was a brilliant studentand was also a poet and an artist. So what keptShweta away? What was she afraid of? It was amystery to Abhilash.Shweta found it difficult to explain to himher time-honoured upbringing. To her love wasforbidden – a frivolous emotion that was usuallyfound in movies and fiction. Shweta did not wantto venture in to that world, preferring to accept herparents’ decision. She was glad that she did notcause any harm to Animesh although he could haveput her in an embarrassing situation with his letters.AnjaliThen there was Vivek.Vivek was Abhilash’s friend and colleague anda very informal person. He was always at ease anddid not hesitate to speak his mind.‘Don’t you recognize me? I was a student ofyour father.’ He said when he was first introducedto Shweta.There were many students. How on earthwould Shweta remember every one?Vivek must have realized that. He changed thesubject immediately. ‘You are a great cook. Today’slunch was fabulous. I wish you could teach my peonto cook the excellent mutton curry.’Shweta had just smiled at the compliment.The compliments came in plenty – at least fromtwo other colleagues of Abhilash – Sanatan andJalal who, like Vivek, were his close friends. Thisfoursome was not satisfied with the time spent atwork; they would meet after work in their office clubhouse for a game of bridge or rummy and sometimesjust for drinks and dinner.Shweta often disapproved of the arrangementand complained.‘You never stay at home, Abhilash.’‘Just this evening, my dear, I have promisedevery one and they would be waiting for me. Bythe way, I will be back soon.’ The excuse would berepeated regularly in different forms.Everything, however, changed soon.Sanatan's wife arrived. She strongly protestedtheir evening sojourn at the club; hated card gamesand occasional drinks and dinner. Jalal's devoutparents came visiting and it was difficult for Jalalto go to the club. As if these were not enough, theclubhouse needed to be repaired and was closeddown for a few months.The four friends finally found a way out; theydecided to meet at Abhilash's house in the evening.Shweta had no choice, but accept the situation.At least Abhilash could stay at home all along -she reassured herself. Soon enough, she startedparticipating in their discussions, which ranged

The Moonlit Night’s Dreamfrom high philosophy and literature to hunting andpolitics. Unlike the clubhouse days, these eveningsended early.Once when he was on tour, Vivek invited hisother three friends with their families for an outing.The place was breathtakingly beautiful; the weatherwas perfect, but other than Shweta, no body wasmoved. It was just an outing for them – the time torelax and unwind. Abhilash preferred to play cardswith Jalal and Sanatan. Sanatan’s wife was happy tojust relax in bed with music and a light book. ‘Youare mad, Shweta. Why would you want to climb thesteep hill and get tired? And why are you so keenon going to see the river? A river is a river. It is thesame everywhere. What is so fascinating about it?’Shweta had smiled and stepped out. She triedto soak in the beauty of the cloudless blue sky,the distant hills, the murmuring river, and thesurrounding forest. And Vivek was always by herside, pointing out things of interest and helping herto take care of the two young children.The outing, however, had made the bondingeven tighter. The small sitting room in Abhilash'shouse was regularly filled with loud laughter.Shweta remembered the day when Vivekshowed up one day with twenty-five copies of areputed magazine.‘Are you going to start a magazine stallyourself? Abhilash had pulled his leg.‘This is special, my friend, and calls for a bigcelebration. Shweta's poem is published in thismagazine with her photograph and these copiesare going to be distributed among friends," Vivekdeclared with an air of pride.Although Shweta was very anxious to see herpublished work, she pretended to be nonchalant andhad walked into the kitchen to arrange the dinner.Those days were sweet, as was their friendship.But in course of time, they were separated. AlthoughVivek had gone to another town, he often used tovisit Abhilash's house and insist on taking Shwetaout even when Abhilash was tied down with workand was busy elsewhere.One evening when Abhilash and Shweta werereturning from a party in a five-star hotel, they metVivek in the lounge. He was in town to meet somepeople and had just stepped out of the bar. He wasunable to walk properly, yet his eyes beamed withjoy when he saw the couple. It was getting late andAbhilash was about to start his car when Vivek cameforward with a strange proposal.‘Why don’t you go ahead, Abhilash? I shalldrop Shweta home in my car.’Abhilash could not turn down Vivek’s persistentrequest. When Vivek went away to call his driver,Shweta was quite annoyed. ‘What is the meaning ofthis? Are you out of your mind, Abhilash?’‘Why? Will he eat you up?’ Abhilash droveaway leaving a stunned Shweta standing all byherself.While in Vivek's car, Shweta falteringlyremarked, ‘it is only a three minute drive. Why didyou bother?’Vivek became emotional and said; ‘You have noidea how precious these three minutes are to me.’Shweta quietly slipped her palm from Vivek's.On reaching home, she was furious with Abhilash,‘How could you just drive away leaving me alonewith a drunk man?’She often wondered why there was no reactionfrom her husband.Like Vivek, Sanatan had shifted to anothercity, but soon he joined Abhilash’s company andwas back in their city. Abhilash was overjoyed, butsurprisingly, Shweta did not share his happiness.Not that it bothered him, as their days of revelrywere back. The evenings stretched on and Sanatanwould rarely step out of their house before midnight.Most of these days, Sanatan would force Shwetato join them. ‘Why do you always run away? When Iam here, there would be no writing, no cooking andno indifference. You have to join us.’Shweta, though hesitant in the beginning, wasgradually swayed away by the exuberance of suchaffection and intimacy. But later, she was greatlydisturbed, as she sometimes discovered herself onthe verge of crossing the limit.Sanatan very often rang her up and said, ‘I needto talk to you. Can we meet?’Shweta was perturbed, but helpless. Oncewhen Abhilash was away from home, Sanatan cameand candidly confessed, ‘There is something I needto tell you. Do you know why I resigned from myearlier job and joined this company? It was not formoney. I wanted to be near you; to be able to seeDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 57

The Moonlit Night’s Dreamyou.’Shweta was stunned. Thankfully, she came toher senses soon and turned away.Since that day, Sanatan had never visitedtheir house even once. There was no telephone calleither and when they met on social occasions, theconversation was formal.Abhilash was aware of the flow of incidentsand surprisingly, he sympathized with his friend.‘Forgive the poor fellow, my dear. Sanatan has avery difficult marriage; his stubborn and aggressivewife is very quarrelsome and her days are spentmostly with her parents. Their only son too is awayin a hostel. He lives a miserably lonely life. If youdon’t believe me, ask Jalal. He knows everything.They are after all neighbors."Ah, Jalal- Jalal Akbar. Shweta recollected andhurriedly turned the pages of an old diary. He wasquite a lovable person. Shweta looked at the dustyphotograph of Jalal with his wife Nazia. Before theirmarriage, Jalal could talk interminably about thefilm stars and other beauties he so deeply admired.Like the other two, he was very close to Abhilashand always spent their evening at their place. Nowonder, Shweta was quite free with him.She suddenly remembered the rainy evening.Abhilash was away for two days and Jalal was awareof it. Even then he came over to their house late,thoroughly drenched, past the children’s bedtime.He knocked on the door, but that went unnoticed inthe torrential rain, which was punctuated by thunderand lightning. Suddenly a car stopped near the gateand it was Abhilash. He had come back home oneday early as his work was completed before time. Heexchanged a few words with Jalal, who took leave ofhim abruptly. Abhilash took the rose bud from Jalaland gave it to Shweta. ‘Jalal had come.’‘How could you turn him away withoutletting him come inside?’ Shweta asked in utterastonishment.'I know his nature'- was his short answer.Shweta was shocked. Her abiding trust inmankind was shattered.The loud ringing of the phone startled Abhilashand he picked up the phone quickly so as not todisturb Shweta.‘Hello.’‘…’‘What!’‘…’‘How is Nazia Bhabhi?’‘…’‘I am so sorry. Yes, I will come.’Shweta stirred.‘Happy Birthday, darling.’ Abhilash tried hisbest to sound normal.‘Thanks.’ She groggily smiled. ‘You know,Abhilash, I had this strange dream. In my dreamJalal had come. He presented me a lovely red roseimploring me to forgive him. I would have, but yourphone conversation woke me up. …. Why don’t wedo something? Let us call him and surprise him.’‘Jalal is no more, Shweta. He met with anaccident while returning from Bombay in his newcar last night and died on the spot.’Shweta was speechless.(Mrs. Sakuntala Panda is a prolific writer from Orissa and she has been the Editor of aliterary magazine for more than 30 years.)58Anjali

The Island of the Gods- Tapan Das“Show me the proof! As simple as that!” saidSaachi with a faint smirk and slightly impatient andchallenging look as if humoring a child, patientlygetting the child around to admit the fact that he’swrong. She had stretched out on his grandfather’sarmchair and fiddled with a key ring as he lay there.It was one of those very rare times when Saachi wasneither on phone nor on the face book, Mr. Das notedwith pleasure and relief, as he took in his fifteenyear old grand daughter who has come to spend aweek with him. Saachi has started drumming on thearmrest of the chair now, an impatient but rhythmictapping of his finger tips and mild jerks of her headas if responding to some inaudible rap. Her poorfingers must always be itching to be tapping, Mr.Das mused, what with the continual habit of hittingkeys on the computer or the blackberry. He smiledat Saachi indulgently.“Yes, yes, I know. That’s the instantaneousand almost unanimous response to the questionof anything supernatural, malign or benign thatinteracts with the living.”“Very obvious response, isn’t it, dadu? Did anyspirit come back yet to testify to our theories on lifeafter death? Without that, you’ll have to admit that alltheories are just theories, speculations, NOT facts.”“I do agree. But life’s not just that black andwhite, kiddo! There’s more to it than we can figureout. And at times, incidents occur that makes uswonder about that realm of impossibility. Justbecause we do not know about them doesn’t makethem false or non existent, Right?”Saachi let out a sigh. “Okay, what’s the story?Get to that, dadu! I bet that’s more worth our time. Iwished my friends Misha, Tanima, Torsha, Sukriti,Ashmita and Amrita were there with me now.”Mr. Das let out a hearty laugh at the restlessyoung girl. “Sure, dadubhai. We’ll come back to thedebate when I’m done with the story. Now remember,what I’m going to tell you is not fiction. Local peopleconsider this to be a real incident.”“Well well, until the proofs are made known topublic, it will only remain real for the person whoclaims to have experienced it.”“Fine, Saachi. I’m not asking you to believe.I’m just stating the fact that this is the story of myfriend Robin San Kakoty, who has told me about hisexperiences himself.” Robinson Crusoe Dadu?” shequipped naughtily and settled down to listen.Popularly tagged as haunted, the island‘Bhayananda’ across the Brahmaputra River atPragjyotishpur fed the fear mixed imagination ofmany a curious mind. It’s largely abandoned atnights for fear of the unknown. Elders of the villagesaid that there were supposed to be two identicaltemples, about a century old, on the island, devotedto the two forms of Shakti, Durga and Kaali. Atthe time when kings ruled the place, prayers wereoffered at both the temples and offerings were made,including human sacrifices. It was believed that onlythe king himself and his priests visited and prayedat the temples, none else. As you can guess, mysteryonly deepens and gathers imagined or real detailswith stray comments and speculations and storiespassing among the curious mainland neighbors. Sowithin six or seven decades, it so happened that afew people who have ventured on the island didnot return. They were thought to be dead. Somefearful mind supposed this to be an indication ofdivine wrath on those poor fellows who desecratedthe temple island by setting foot on it. Soon, peoplewouldn’t dare touch the periphery of the islandat night, let alone get into it, for fear of angeringthe Gods. Beings any lesser than kings could notpossibly offer prayers there and now that there wereno kings, there were no visitors to the temples. Yet,to appease the gods, every Monday, Wednesday andon Friday people of that locality would offer food,fruits, live chicken, goat along with a lighted earthenlamp and ask the boatman to leave those offeringson the Island.My friend Robin was quite a vagabond. He wasfrom the boatmen community but had not taken upthe family profession. He was witty and imaginativeand loved jesting around. He found the profession ofdressing as mythical or epical beings and performingrather fun and took it up as fish takes to water. Hewould put on his make up with skilful dexterityand perform with all his heart. He also made somemoney showing tourists, scholars and researchersaround the island, many of whom came there tostudy the unique flora and fauna of the place. Likeall curious minds, he fell to imaginative speculationsabout the forbidden island now and then but neverdared to explore.One day he was busy in one of the villageshows where he had to play a role of ‘Hanuman’ themonkey God. He was just done with the final bitof his performance and had lit a bidi and squattedDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 59

The Island of the Godsdown to watch the others perform when a friendcame running. “Robin! That tall sahib’s here. Theone you worked with last November, remember?He’s waiting near the market. Hurry up!” It must beDerek Sahib, thought Robin, the one who had spentquite sometime in this village the previous year.Without changing his monkey attire, he rushed tomeet Derek. Derek was waiting near the market. Hesmiled warmly and welcomed him with a cordialslap on the shoulders and took a few pictures ofRobin in his attire. Robin noticed that Derek had asomewhat preoccupied look on his face though. Hehad a hunch that Derek was here on some uncannybusiness. Soon, Derek fished inside his backpack andbrought out a couple of pictures and showed themto Robin. Robin identified this as a picture takenof that Island during his last visit. He could see awhite form in the trees in these pictures but couldnot make out what it was.“What’s that white thing sahib?”“I’m here to find out. And you’ll help me. Won’tyou, Robin?”A quick shadow of fear crossed Robin’s face. Hemanaged a weak smile.“Don’t tell me to take you there, sahib. Youknow I can’t. You know it’s impossible.”“Come on Robin. Don’t be such a weakling. Youdon’t need to step into the island man! You just sailto a spot near enough for me to take more pictures. Ihave a camera with a telescope now. Look!”Robin’s knees were already shaking and hispalms were moist with cold sweat. He kept noddinghis head vehemently and then gave in to Derek’scoaxing, and also the currency notes that he thrustinto Robin’s hands. Derek gave him no time even tostep out of the hanuman attire. They rushed on tothe boat and headed off.It was a Friday and people had already offeredtheir prayers and all the boatmen were back afterferrying the offerings to the island. Some of theearthen lamps were still afloat, burning. Derekhad his video camera, laser lights and his licensedrevolver. He had a back pack which had a torchlight, some currency notes, a Swiss knife and a book,possibly ‘The lonely Planet’. Robin at first crossedthe rough river and made a U-turn to approach theIsland from the other side. After reaching a point,Robin stopped sailing.“I’ll go no further. You can take pictures fromhere sahib.”“But I can hardly see anything from here. Whydon’t you just go till that rock there? I’ll get a betterview from there.”Once again, Robin gave in. But this time, he’sscared out of his life when Derek, without anywarning took the camera, torch and leaped on to theIsland from the rock. Robin cried out with a loudwhisper. ‘You cannot do this sir, they will kill you.60If you don’t return within 5 minutes I will leave youand go’ cried Robin. ‘Done my friend’ was the reply.Robin could do nothing but watch in disbelief asthe fearless young Britisher slowly inched his wayinwards. Robin turned his boat to a safe distance anddecided to watch for sometime. He was shiveringwith fear. He prayed, he tried to reason that if therewere creatures, Derek can defend himself with hispistol. Yet, neither prayer nor reason comforted him.Tired of waiting and praying, Robin decided tocall out several times to Derek, but his efforts werein vain. Now he was trembling with tension andapprehension. He was inclined to sail back to thesafety of the village, his home and family. Yet a partof him couldn’t agree to just abandon Robin.He knew he wouldn’t be at peace even if hewent back .Gathering some courage, he took a stick,tied a cloth at the end, dipped it on the oil can whichhe had in his boat and lit a fire. He had to find Derek.He tied his boat to a rock and slowly tiptoed towardsthe jungle wall in search of Derek. After he went afew yards he located the camera and his backpack.He picked them up. He took out the book fromthe back pack and tried to flare up the fire. As soonthe fire began to grow, what he saw was horrendous.Derek was lying in a pool of blood, his face and torsonibbled and clawed and disfigured. His knees gaveaway and he dropped to the ground numb withshock. Suddenly, he was seized from the back by ahairy sharp clawed arm and he fainted.Mr. Das observed with some satisfaction thathis granddaughter was listening with rapt attention.Her fingers, for once, were unmoving, placed underher chin. However, her verbal pokes resume soonafter. “So? What killed Derek? The angry spirits ofGods?”Mr. Das smiled at the impatient girl. “Listen tothe rest of it.”When Robin came to his senses he found himselflying uncomfortably face down on some soft slimysurface, his throat parched dry and with a terriblepain in his head. There was an eerie silence aroundhim and for a moment he couldn’t recollect wherehe was. He dragged himself to a sitting position andsquinted his eyes and tried to make sense of where hewas. As soon as he saw two old stone walled temples,things came back to him at once and he felt a suddenpunch of fear numbing his senses. He realized thathe was actually on the forbidden island! Images ofDerek’s bloodied corpse came to his mind and hefelt sick. Instinctively, he drew back and startedstepping backwards, away from the intimidatingtemples. Within a few steps, his back touched a treetrunk and he looked back. What he saw almost madehim faint but he managed to hold on to the trunk.Anjali

The Island of the GodsHe first sensed and then saw a multitude of hairymonkey like creatures surrounding him, staring athim steadily. Robin had goose bumps when he tookin the scene around him and totally lost his nerve.He felt himself sinking down. He sensed one of thecreatures approaching him and immediately Derek’snibbled, disfigured face came to his mind. He closedhis eyes and waited for his fate. He could smell astrong wild stench as the creatures came near. Butstrangely, nothing happened. After a while he couldbear the tension no more and opened his eyes. Hesaw fruits around him. A few bananas and somepears. The strange hairy monkey-like creatures withred wild eyes were now sitting around watchinghim, waiting for him to take in the food. Robin darednot do otherwise. He sat and ate what his tremblinghands could put into his mouth.He finished eating quite mechanically. In themean time, a little curious one of the ferocious grouphas approached and was sitting very near him. Heeven rubbed his head against Robin’s legs at onepoint and Robin’s drumming heart steadied a bit.He suddenly realized why he wasn’t killed yet. Hewas still in his monkey attire, the one he had donnedfor his show the previous evening. Heartened bythis realization, he steadied for a while and lookedaround him for the first time. He took in the group ofhairy monkey like creatures around him, the temples,scattered specimens of fruits and meat, which weunderstood to be from the offerings that were maderegularly by the villagers. Still he couldn’t quiteunderstand why or how people got killed on thisisland. He didn’t of course speculate much on thissince he was himself very much in a state of shockand fear, though the initial panic had receded a bit.Soon, he spotted a particularly menacing lookingcreature squatting on a high branch. Unlike others inthe group who were now foraging around, this onelooked on steadily with his ice cold formidable look.Immediately, Robin’s heart froze with fear.In a couple of days his nerves steadied abit and he took the opportunity of exploring hissurroundings. He soon figured out that there weren’tany other creatures on the island besides these hugehairy monkey-like apes and some insects. He didn’tsee birds at all, which was very strange and ponderedwhat could be the reason. Being a look-alike, Robinwas soon spared the constant vigilance that thesecreatures had initially started for him.All but two. The little one who had rubbedhimself against his legs the first day had become anatural companion and Robin had named him ‘Fido.’And the old stoic malicious one who always seemedto be staring coldly at him.His mere presence unsettled Robin each timehe sensed it.explorations and observations that these creatureswere carnivores. Not only did he find them feastingon the chicken or other sacrificial creatures offeredto the twin deities of the island, but saw several halfeaten birds and skeletons of small animals.That explained the mysterious absence of birds.Yet, Robin couldn’t bring himself to believe that thecreatures were man-eaters. But images of Derek’shalf eaten corpse kept popping up in his mind andhe knew that strange though it was, this had to bethe truth. With realization, came relief that he wasmiraculously spared because of his costume as wellas fear of being exposed and therefore killed.Escape, however, seemed difficult. WheneverRobin strayed out of the forest near the beach,he always found the old malicious creature hadsomehow turned up on a nearby branch and waswatching him. Though the creature had donenothing but freeze him with his petrifying stare tillnow, yet Robin dared not execute any escape planwith him looking. It was a sinister omnipresence.It was years before Robin’s chance came at last.By that time he had become even stranger lookingthan the creatures, with his costume still on, aswell as grown hair and beard. He devoured on theofferings made at the temple and was quite a part ofthe group. He devised a way to make fire and thatbrought him a position of detached respect in thegroup. The chance came out of the blue one day whenduring continuous rainfall and flood, the islandmoved with a strong earthquake. In the devastationthat followed, with debris all over, uprooted trees,Robin and Fido saw a raft like structure in the water.More strangely, he saw the old sinister creature beingwashed away by the currents of the flood water withmany other monkeys. A portion of the island withinno time submerged into the river. This time, Robin,shocked though he was, did not wait but jumped onthe raft with Fido. He soon lost consciousness out ofexhaustion. Robin and Fido were later discoveredon the shores of another village at the mouth of theriver. It took Robin about half a year to get back tonormal life.“So it’s a tale of the supernatural rumors beingbusted, right? Spirits didn’t eat men, monkeys did,right? That endorses my claim,” said Saachi with asmirk of satisfaction.“Yes, Saachi, in a way, you can say that. Butpeople still prefer the aura of the supernatural andattribute human deaths on the island to the wrathof island spirits. Who has ever heard of man eatingmonkeys? Also, who was that omnipresent sinisterlooking creature that always turned up near Robinand readied the raft for Robin? Hallucination? Or theguardian spirit of the island?”It wasn’t long before Robin gathered from hisDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 61

U.S. College Admission – Do’s and Don’ts- Sanjeev GuptaBy the time both my children entered into U.S. colleges, I came to learn a lot about the realities of the application process.I am often asked by parents for advice on how to “train” their children to successfully gain admission in the collegeof their choice. I noticed many parents had the same questions, and this seemed an apt opportunity to summarize myexperiences with American colleges.It is no doubt that college admissions in the U.S.are getting increasingly difficult, and may seemlike an overwhelming feat at times. However,there is one way any student can gain admission inthe college of their choice – high SAT scores, goodgrades and as many extracurricular activities as theycan fit in their free time. Guaranteed formula right?Wrong… or at least partially. Of course, it istrue that academic success improves one’s chances,but it is important to realize that with the increasingcompetition and immensity of qualified candidates,this just isn’t enough anymore. It is simply the firststep. In fact, every year admissions offices rejectmore and more high school valedictorians.Furthermore, while extracurricular activitiesmay be important, it is not required nor recommendedto undertake every single extracurricular activityoffered. It is important for students to partake inactivities that truly interest them and convincinglydemonstrate this to colleges. Admissions officerswould rather see you excel in one club, rather thanjust show up at ten.One of the greatest things I learned was thatcolleges don’t necessarily want well-roundedstudents; they want a well-rounded class. Specializedstudents that can bring something new to campusare of particular interest to many schools. Collegestend to value students that prove themselves to beout-of-the-box thinkers.I also believe building an attractive applicationrequires commitment. Many students start thinkingabout ways to embellish their resumes fromfreshman year. Colleges like to see a student activethroughout his high schools years, even duringvacation time. In fact, many applications specificallyask about a student’s summer activities.Another reason it is imperative to get an earlystart is that developing meaningful relationshipswith faculty goes a long way. In my opinion,the single most-overlooked aspect of the collegeapplication is the recommendation letters. Theseletters say a lot more about a student than one maythink. Not only is it the sole insight a college hason your integrity and character from a relativelyunbiased source, it also demonstrates your people’sskills.On the other hand, the essays are an aspectof the application that I feel is given too muchattention. Often times, students proofread, and overproofread their essays until they sound formulaicand dull. Admissions officers can usually tell whichof the students’ essays have received immense help.So unless your writing is especially interesting orcreative, you can expect the reader to skim throughyour work in a matter of seconds. After all, theymust get through 1000’s of applications per day.Having said all of this, the college “madness”my children went through seems silly in hindsight.I sincerely believe that when all is said and done,every student finds his niche and settles happily intowhichever university he or she chooses (as clichéas it may sound). All the recognized schools in theU.S. provide an almost identical level of education.Plenty of students have gone to top-notch schools,and plenty haven’t, but in my experience, thatdoesn’t seem to have any bearing on their eventualsuccess – however you may define it.62Anjali

A Book for All Ages- Rita KarEvery few years, my books outnumber my shelfspace, and it becomes time to pack a box ortwo to be donated at the annual school fair.Sorting through the pile is a bit like encounteringold friends, and the more creased the spine, themore dog-eared and yellower the pages, the betterthe friend. Suddenly a job that should take only anhour has taken up a day, lost in the beloved chapters,and revisiting the pages that bring a smile to the lipsor a tear to the eye. Even the books I say goodbye torequire a diligent flick through and reconsideration:will I really never read this again? Will there neverbe a rainy Sunday when I want to revisit Provencein Spring or Showa-era Japan? Fewer books makeit to the box than I intended, but there is space onthe shelf now for newer additions. I anticipate theirfilling: a new book complete with the “new booksmell” and crisp unread pages, or a used book witha sentence underlined that would have escaped mynotice but is now what makes the book amazing. Ofcourse, there is an easier solution to my dilemma:the e-book reader.From Kindle to the iPad, the choices keepgrowing and the temptation is indeed great. Afterall, I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to any of mybooks, and storage would be wonderfully small (andeveryone knows that small is beautiful). But thereis a hint of regret as I consider the digital move:there would be no new-book smell, no underlinedwords, and no well-thumbed pages that I return toby force of habit. Yet change is inevitable, and I mayeventually adapt to—perhaps even appreciate—thenew way of reading.After all, in light of a struggling publishingindustry and falling sales in books, perhapstechnological innovation will bring new readersto the fold. Though I can’t help but wonder whathappened when people stopped writing on papyrus.Did anyone rue losing the “new papyrus smell” orwax nostalgic over the unfurling of a scroll? WhenGuttenberg’s press enabled the mass production ofbooks, were there some who mourned the loss ofhand-copied books?Even though its form has changed, perhaps itis too early to mark the end of reading. Rather thanagonize about how we are reading—books, e-booksor even audiobooks—perhaps we should appreciatethat people still enjoy the stories that are told. Afterall, writing can be considered a technologicaldevelopment that allowed our ancestors to writedown and pass on the stories that were earliertransmitted orally. It is really storytelling, thatuniquely human entertainment, that is then at theheart of reading—of books, physical or virtual. AsI return to my box of books, I start to realize thateven though I part with the books that I have read,what stays with me are the stories—even the onesI disliked. They are stories of love and despair, joyand grief; whether stories of French aristocrats orIndian peasants, the words convey the infinite,intimate human condition.Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 63

Virgin Galactic: A Revolution or a Risk?- Shoubhik PalWe, as a generation, have grown up witnessing vastchanges in aerospace. Many movies have depictedspace travel; some of them have grown to be cultclassics, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odysseyand Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 prime examples ofthis. While my generation has grown up havingmainly one omnipresent event/date (9/11) spark offintense opinion and a subsequent chain of events,our parents had several important worldwide eventsgovern their lives. Examples of this are the buildingand subsequent destruction of the Berlin Wall, theVietnam War and last but not least, Neil Armstrongbeing the first man to set foot on the moon, utteringthe forever ethereal words: “This is one small leapfor man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was thesewords that united all mankind for a split second,leaving their differences and achieving universalpride. Ever since then, it has been a small desire inpossibly each one of our hearts to travel to space.Sir Richard Branson has always been adebonair, a man who seeks to achieve the impossible.Therefore, it is fitting that he is the person who is theclosest to making these dreams of ours come true.Unbelievably enough, this project has already been5 years in the making, and is still a long way frombeing completed. In fact, currently, there is only onepilot capable of achieving the feat Branson hopes toachieve with this Virgin Galactic experience. Thisshows that Virgin Galactic is not only visionary, butalso quite risky. Pilots who opt to join this programare said to undergo 3 years of intensive training,because not only do they have to be equipped withflying at sub-orbital pressures, they also have tohave medical training because there will be nodoctors or medical staff on board. Despite all thepressures associated with this job, pilots considerit the zenith of their field and there is incredibledemand for these positions.Test launches are currently taking place in64the Mojave Desert in Nevada, and Virgin Galacticexpects initial passenger flights to embark fromthere. Since February 2007, Virgin Galactic has hadfull compliance with NASA to help them with theirgoals. Like every new technology, Virgin Galactichas several competitors in the race to gather moredemand. However, Virgin has two facets that theseother companies don’t: brand value and exclusivity.Whenever we think of Virgin, there’s an outlandishfeel to it, which may attract suitors towards themrather than the others. Also, the exclusivity thatSir Richard Branson offers is indelible. Duringdevelopment, it was suggested that there wouldbe 12 seats in the spacecraft, however Bransonrejected that immediately and made it into 6 seats,ensuring that every passenger on the plane wouldget a window seat to have the optimum experienceof travelling in space. Call it the Virgin experience,if you will.Surprisingly, without a single pilot ready tofly the spacecraft, bookings have already started,with a mammoth $200,000 dollars to get a seat, with$20,000 deposit at the current moment. What will allof this provide? After a weekend of space training,passengers will embark onto their spectacularjourney, ranging from 15 minutes to get into orbit,following by 6 minutes of stoppage with no gravity.Here, passengers can remove their seatbelts andfloat around. After 6 minutes, they will take a steepdescent which will last for about 19 minutes. Theoverall journey will be approximately 40 minutes.This poses another risk to Virgin Galactic. While theglitterati and the well endowed will find $200,000to be paltry for them, would be upper middle ormiddle class actually trade $200,000 of their hardearned money for 40 minutes of ecstasy? Virginplans to have 10 flights a day. While it will be nodoubt initially successful, whether it will or will notsuffer from burnout is an interesting concept.Whether or not it will be a constant success,Virgin Galactic promises to provide an experiencethat words cannot describe. I already know 2 friendswith aerospace majors who want to become VirginGalactic pilots. Interest is simmering in this projectever since its inception. Kubrick’s 2001: A SpaceOdyssey highlighted a realistic dream back when hemade the movie in 1968. While it has been delayedby some time, Kubrick’s vision seems to be comingto fruition. In around 5 years, a normal person withminimal experience in space training can go toAnjali

Virgin Galactic: A Revolution or a Risk?space, albeit for 6 minutes, and enjoy the vividnessof our galaxy. But whether Virgin Galactic will besuccessful by the end of it all is a case of extremeagony and ecstasy. Because while Virgin Galacticpromises to be spectacular and indescribable, thequestion remains on whether it is profitable andfully safe. A Window to the Spiritual WorldInauguration of ISKCON New Gaya Japan Center at Funabori, Tokyo.It was in the year 1970 when His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya ofInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) first visited Japan. He translated and published over 70Vedic books which are available at many universities and libraries throughout the world. They have been translatedin to different languages including Japanese and are accepted as authoritative literatures. His Divine Grace and hisdisciples till date have established over 550 centers worldwide and the number is ever increasing. Through SrilaPrabhupada’s inspiration, this “Hare Krishna” or “ISKCON” movement continued in Japan and witnessed a historicmilestone on the weekend of July 2nd & 3rd, 2011. A grand new temple inauguration ceremony took place to establishISKCON New Gaya Japan temple, Pure Vegetarian Govinda’s restaurant and Vedic Culture Center at Funabori,Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. This opening ceremony gathered an audience of 1,500 people from different cities like Osaka,Kofu, Nagoya, Kyushu, Yamanashi, Niigata, Chiba, Yokohama, etc. Various dignitaries and important people attendedthis event including the Ambassador of India to Japan.ISKCON has made big strides and has become more visible throughout the world and now in Japan throughthe social services it provides through its scripturally aligned meditation and yoga techniques, counseling on selfmanagement, spiritual book distribution, sanctified food charity, pure vegetarian restaurant, promoting ancientVedic culture through music, art, drama, discourses, etc. This is to foster the ‘happiness’ formula of “Simple Livingand High Thinking”.Mr. Junsaku Nakamura and Mr. Sanjay Krishnachandra (080-5412-2528), co-presidents of ISKCON New GayaJapan mentioned that this is an ambitious undertaking, costing more than 200 million JPY, and will serve society ina unique way that will be most satisfying to the heart, creating universal harmony and peace in this stressed andchaotic world. It will educate people to understand the real goal of human life and live by it.This institution is established to attract a wide variety of people depending on their interests and be trulyinternational with a specific flavor to serve Japanese people. For those who are spiritually inclined, there is marvelousbeautiful temple. Vedic philosophy and its application in today’s world are shared through demonstrations andencouragement for the ancient spiritual process of Mantra-Yoga (Japa & Sankirtan) to promote spiritual advancement.Vedic Culture Center would serve as an embassy of tradition and culture.On the charity front, Food for Life Global – Japan (FFLG-J), a voluntary food distribution organization servedabout 6,200 opulent lunch/dinner and more than 6,000 kilograms of fresh fruits & vegetables to affected people everySunday for three months. Total spent on this charity till date is about 5 million JPY. Govinda’s restaurant went extramiles while providing food for relief victims at Miyagi. FFLG-J is also sponsoring 1,000 fresh hot meals everyday tofinancially challenged school children in Mumbai and around. Mr. Shrikant Shah (090-1469-6129), Director of FFLG-J,says that every strata of the society should be served by this project without any discrimination and reservation.“You are what you eat”. To promote social well-being, rich, healthy, vegetarian, karma-free andsanctified cuisine to satisfy body, mind & soul is provided at Govinda’s restaurant(http://govindas-tokyo.com). Japanese have offered a lot of praise for this service and offeringsat Govinda’s restaurant, which is an integral part of this temple.After the new temple opening, next big event at this temple was Shri KrishnaJanmashtmi (Appearance day of Lord Shri Krishna), which was celebrated on August20/21/22. Around 1,500 guests attended this celebration. Looking forward for anopportunity to have your association at the new temple in the service of the Supreme Lord.Please visit www.ISKCONJapan.com for more details.Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 65

Home is where the hearth is.... Is it?- Anagha RamanujamIam a very proud Indian.No, I am not saying this when Indians allover the world are returning home for the bigbucks that are now in their homeland, I am notsaying this now, when conveniences have comewithin arm’s length of most educated, workingIndians, I am not even saying this because Indiansrun businesses all over the world or author booksthat make Oscar winning movies...I am stating this now because out there in theworld, there are those who question India and whatshe offered them.I am a proud Indian. Proud - of my parents, myfriends, my family, my upbringing, my education -my schooling, my university, my land, her history,art, culture and her people. People - yes, they arefundamental to my identity and sense of pride. Theyare the ones who make my land what she is, theyembrace one and all, they welcome a foreigner withthe same warmth that they welcome family andtoday, they are even willing to abandon their landand identity to adopt a foreign land and culture, one,that doesn’t necessarily welcome or want them...They say home is where the hearth is, for manyin my family the hearth burns abroad... I spoke to acousin after several years and once we exchangedpleasantries, she said - “Just got back home from amonth of vacation in India.” “Home?” I ask. “Yes,the US is my home now. I am well settled here. Lifeis so convenient. You get everything, you can goanywhere... I send my son to school here, it’s sucha different world out here, teachers are so lovingand caring, and I just love it!” If I had been patientenough to let her carry on, I am certain she wouldhave concluded with “I am so fortunate to be marriedto a green card holder, I never wish to return”! Inhind sight, I wish I had allowed her continue, I couldhave responded with you aren’t married to a greencardholder Madame; you’re married to the greencard.Yes, a green-card!! The be-all-end-all of youridentity – A mere card.... You complain of being anunknown face in India’s crowd, I really wonder ifyou haven’t reduced yourself and your family toan unknown number in an ever growing, deeplyscrutinized, unwelcome list!I am not in any NRI bashing mode. No, don’tmistake me. I have a lot of respect for people whohave the courage to stand up and take charge oftheir existence instead of accepting everything just66as it is, those who have the strength of personalityto endure the hardships of being away from familyfor years on end trying to improve the lives of thosethey love - for these people respect their land andher people and understand what it takes to changethings for the better. These people also know that ifthey had collectively worked just as hard, they wouldhave brought about a big change in India, peoplewho are today returning with a sense of nostalgiaand to imbibe the spirit of India in their family’sidentity... But I am unabashed in challenging peoplewho still have a condescending attitude to India andher people to a brawl of words and wits - people whohave it easy, who are nestled in the comforts of aforeign land and didn’t see what it took to get there,people who look at India and their origin as a banerather than a boon. For them, school was stressful;college was a drab and day-to-day existence - anunforgettable endurance test.Bihar is a lawless land, not the capital ofChandragupta Maurya or the land where theBuddha attained enlightenment; Tamil Nadu isthe land of drought, not one which preserves theoldest classical language till date and UP - the landof corruption, not the richest Mughal kingdom ofAwadh or the land where Sufi saints and Urdupoetry flourished and prospered.... Perhaps theybarely remember these details for they never listenedin school or read beyond ill-forgotten text books...They hated history and geography because it was“cool” to like science and math, and hated languageclasses for they were never told that language wasan expression of human identity, not a subject toscore points in. Therefore, when they were given achoice to pursue a selection of subjects, they eithervoluntarily chose science and math or the ones withan element of doubt (like me) were shunted into thescience wagon in an attempt to permanently shuttheir soul’s window to the world of history, art andculture...You probably think it is ironical that I say this -someone who has trodden the beaten path, studiedscience and math, gone on to become an engineerand for all practical purposes, has moved abroadwithout a clear intention of returning to the land sheis now raving about. I say “Think again!”I’ve been traveling quite a bit of late and I cantell you this for sure - every time my flight lands inIndia - no matter where it is - my heart always leapsinto my eyes that shine with a glint and say “Aah..Anjali

Home is where the hearth is.... Is it?this is home”... Indeed, home is where the hearth is,just that my hearth still burns in the heart of India.Anywhere else that I live, no matter how convenientor empowering it is, it isn’t my “home”. I am andwill always be a foreigner in every other land andthis is a fact that cannot be changed. Indians areknown to be very accepting - of culture, of people, oflands yet I must know that I will never be acceptedin any country the way I am accepted in my own.No green card, red card or yellow card will changemy identity or my memories... memories of home....Home is waiting at the bus stop at 7 am with5kgs of books in a back-pack that’s ready to tear apartfor a bus that would turn up half hour late, homeis walking back from school in the rain, jumping inpuddles on the way, home is going to play in the parkwith the kids - kids borne by the maid who bondedwith us just as much as we bonded with each other,home is hot summer evenings spent in the aangandrinking aam ka panna, home is making clay toyswith the black earth from the garden with the maalion a winter afternoon and learning to swim in theriver while the washer women bathed and did theirlaundry, home is mum’s cooking, pouring overbooks, fearing the math teacher’s reprimand for notknowing 19 x 7, home is the friendly neighbourhoodand the art, music and dance class, home is whereevery festival was celebrated with much fan-fare bythe whole community, home is mum chatting withthe newspaper boy who won’t deliver paper for aweek as he going to bring his wife from the villageand home is shedding a tear with the fruit-seller wholost her husband to tuberculosis last night ... home isthe dusty lanes, bicycles and rickshaws, priests andmonks, home is what gives me my identity ... clearlyI am getting very nostalgic, but home is none otherthan where I grew up.And that is why I say I am proud - for I amproud of where I am today and know that it ismy land that has brought me here, a country thathas taught me to brave hardships and establish anidentity for myself.I often wondered why so many of my professorsin university came back to India after a few yearsabroad. They said they wanted to come back home...and going by the narratives of the developed world...I couldn’t imagine why they would want to...Today, I know, for if I were to wish for a collectionof childhood and growing-up experiences for mychildren someday, they would be identical, in everysingle way to the one I had - in every single way!Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 67

India - The Emerging Global Manufacturing HubIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) gets placed with$12K to $20K per annum package in a good companyas compared to $50K to $80K in USA.Strength in Software & Allied Services: Indiahas emerged very strong in the field of software andIT enabled services. This has helped in optimizingthe supply chain and in reducing the overheads. Thecost of establishing an Enterprise Resource PlanningSystem in a company located is much cheaper inIndia as compared to a foreign location.Cost consciousness in product design: TheIndians are generally cost conscious. Affordabilityof the people in India to purchase a product is amajor factor in success of a product. The productsmay not be flamboyant in aesthetics but serve thedesired purpose. So each manufacturer tries tobring in better features within the budget limit topenetrate the market. Such products have foundacceptance in global markets.Influence of Japanese manufacturingprinciples: Japanese manufacturing principles areconsidered to be the best in the world for reducingcost of manufactured products. The concept ofKanban (Just-in-time concept) , Kaizen (Continuousimprovement) , Total Productive Maintenance(TPM) have proved successful on shop floors inIndia. Indian companies have proved to be quickand better in following the Japanese manufacturingconcepts as compared to many other countries inthe world. Adoption of Japanese manufacturingprinciples have helped Indian companies to reducecost of production, improve quality and enhancecustomer satisfaction.Special Economic ZonesIndia has announced Special Economic Zone(SEZ) policy with the intention of making theSEZ an engine for economic growth. These zonescan act as a catalyst in making India as a globalmanufacturing hub as they provide tax holidaysand many other incentives. SEZs also have morecontrol over infrastructure like water and powerand less regulation. They can create an appetitefor worldwide giants to come to India. Some of thebenefits to the units located in SEZ are:• Duty free import of goods for development,operation and maintenance of SEZ units.• 100% income tax exemption on export incomefor SEZ units for the first 5 years, 50% for thenext 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughedback export profit for next 5 years.• External commercial borrowing by SEZ unitsup to US$500 million in a year without anymaturity restriction through recognizedbanking channels.• Exemption from central sales tax.• Exemption from service tax.• Single window clearance for central and statelevel approvals.• Exemption from state sales tax and otherlevies as extended by the respective StateGovernments.• Exemption from customs/excise duties fordevelopment of SEZs for authorized operationsapproved by the board of approval (BOA).• Income tax exemption on income derived fromthe business of development of the SEZ in ablock of 10 years in 15 years.• FDI up to 100% is permitted under automaticroute.ConclusionIndia is all set to emerge as the leadingmanufacturing hub as global manufacturers arelooking for newer places to carry out their operations.India offers many advantages including that of largedomestic market and availability of technical, skilled& unskilled human resources at very competitiverates. Global players have already benefited fromtheir operations in India and are making expansionplans for the country. The companies are planningto expand by way of setting up manufacturing basein India, increasing the existing production capacity,product diversification, establishing research centersetc. Many Japanese companies like Suzuki MotorCorporation, Sony Corporation etc are in India forquite some time and leveraging the India advantage.Acknowledgement: Some of the Information contained in this article is from the Ministryof External Affairs, Government of India publication ‘ INDIA Dynamic Business Partner:Investor Friendly Destination’.Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 69

Japan’s most popular CEO- Ravi MathurTo most foreigners, one of the hardest thingsto understand about the Japanese is theirvoracious appetite for manga or comics.Although English translations of Japanese comics,albeit few, have been successful, the fact that middleaged men can sit with their heads buried in comicbooks on rush hour trains without any sense ofembarrassment never fails to amaze me.While in the West, mainstream comics arealmost entirely for children, in Japan there aremany types of manga and some of them are verydefinitely NOT suitable for children. Arguably, themost interesting and contemporary manga characteris Kosaku Shima.Shima first appeared in 1983 in a story about anoffice romance. Readers loved the realistic depictionof corporate life and the writer of the story, KenshiHirokane decided to feature Shima as the maincharacter of the manga series “Kacho Shima Kosaku(Section Chief Kosaku Shima)”. Over the years as asalaried employee of Hatsushiba Electrics, a giantconsumer electronics manufacturer, Shima hasrisen up the corporate ladder from Division Chiefto Managing Director to Executive Director. In 2008,when the charismatic and flamboyant Shima wasnamed as Shacho (President), newspapers reportedhis promotion as it were national news.The Shima series has sold more than 30 millioncopies in book form and spawned two serials. Whilethe comic series includes its share of fantasy andsexual encounters featuring the dashing and JamesBondish Shima-san, its relevance lies in how thebroad contours of the narrative mirror the ups anddowns of the Japanese economy. During the boomyears, Shima’s personal and professional experiencesreflected the assumptions of so many Japanesecorporate executives that Japan would keep risingand the West would decline. After the financialbubble burst, the Shima Manga series focused onJapan’s own shortcomings – factional rivalries andgroups within the Hatsushiba company, and aboveall the neglect of obligations to ordinary workers.A common theme was the consequences thatcorporate decline exacted on individual Japanese.When Shima took over as Managing Director (2005)of his company, it was facing a tough competitionfrom overseas competitors, namely, China andSouth Korea. The days of lifetime employment inJapan seemed over. Shima soon found himself in amanagement power struggle and was packed off toa company subsidiary. However, much to the reliefof his millions of readers, he was subsequentlyrehabilitated and elevated to the post of Presidentof the company. In a speech broadcast to employeesaround the world, President Shima came out witha new slogan for his company “Think Global”. Ata time when Japan needs to reinvent itself, Shima’smessage’s relevance cannot be overemphasized.Kampai to that Shima-san!Author’s remarksIt is indeed a pity that English translations of only a few selected episodes of the Shima series are available in theKodensha International’s bilingual edition.70Anjali

Life I Live I See- Shalini Mallik[Two weeks from now, I will be entering a new phase of life. Leaving behind school, known friends, comforts of home,I will be heading towards an unknown period, University and responsibilities of life.]What is the meaning of life?Well there is no specific meaning now is there?It’s about making mistakes and doing rights.Taking a leap of faith to grab that last chance of hope.Looking at your surroundings wondering if it will devour you?Screaming at the top of your lungs-I HAVE THE MIGHT TO PREVAIL.But having the confidence knowing someone is always there for you,When you plummet and cannot pick up the broken pieces.Living up to your potential.Knowing that each and every day you will embark on a task.Some you will find easy, others miserably hard.Looking at everything from different perspectives,Because there is always two sides to one story.Stop and think about your actions,Should I have done that? No? Yes?Finding the silver lining to a thread.Only you can dig deep and find yourself.[Few months ago, we lost a classmate in High School whose time ended abruptly due to wrong choices of life. I wrotethis eulogy on her behalf, for her funeral. Her mother asked me to publish it, to keep her memory alive.]Dear Mom,Sorry for the times -I looked right into your eyes and lied to your face.When I hurt you on purpose just to get my way.Screaming I HATE YOU, YOU’RE THE WORST MOTHER EVER!Sneaking out of the house at 2 am to do unanticipated stuff.Not coming home for 3 days, while you were worrying with agony.Stealing alcohol from liquor cabinet.Coming home absolutely wasted, staying in bed for 3 days.Skipping school to meet up with my stoner boyfriend,Yelling that I love him and to you to stay out of my life!Flunking History, Math and English.Getting suspended for smoking on school property.Forgetting it was your 50 th birthday.Hanging out with my friends on mother’s day.Not saying once I Love You.Dear Mom,Thank you for the times -Looking straight back at me and saying no.You stepped out of my way to let me be.Calming me down and hugging me so tight.Staying up until 4 am to make sure I came home safe.Driving around town to look for me.Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 71

Life I Live I SeeHolding my hair back while I puked my guts out.Sitting by my bed and stroking my hair for comfort.Flushing my bag of marijuana down the toilet.Staying in my life.Finishing half my assignments to make sure I pass.Stopping me from losing my life by 7 minutes, 20 times a day.Baking my favourite raspberry chocolate cake for each birthday.Buying me presents out of the blue to make me happy.Saying you love me every night.Dear Friends,Empty bed, empty roomCherish the memories worth rememberingLook past the sorrow and serenityWipe away tear drops drenching your face with griefStanding in the rain upon my soul,Upon my grave –Six feet under.Every deed taken, do no wrongs nor have regretsHang your head down, say goodbye.Yet say hello to a beautiful life lived -Six feet above.Charm Of Life- Sunil SharmaWhen the waters of the sea are serene and blueWhen the sun is rising on the grass with dewWhen you can feel that warmth of sandWith the sun rising on the morning landWhen somebody is there who cares for youWhen somebody is there who dares for youWhen all around is considerate and warmThis is when the life brings forth its charm72Anjali

Spectator- Udita GhoshMy eyes are here to behold,My mind is keen to feel,I am an observer in this vast worldOf wounds I cannot heal.Your love, your pain I’m hereTo see, to feel, to understand,You struggle to rise - I listenTo your tale, in a distant far away land.The histories are many, I seek to know them allSince one Truth shall not be hadJustice bears no meaning in stone,Her eyes covered, she stands unclad.So spin me no tales of fairies or elvesWhen they starve before my eyes --Grotesque little mutants unable to growLove-childs of your greeds and vice.If I am quick to judge your waysThen know that I am stricken by painThe burnt flesh, the scarred womanhood,The dreams they wove in vain,And judge I must what I see before me,That is why my eyes are moist.Your symbols are scratched in to my skinIn the colours of the flags you hoistI cry for your arms that raise the bricksThat you stamp into a wall,For you know not what you doAnd will not hear them call.In tears I see you on the other sideIn the ruins of your house,As you resolve in your mind to fightI see the anger it shall arouse.Why do you choose to worship greed?Why do you lighten your skin?Why do you insult a man you don’t know?Why do you kill her kin?Your beliefs are vibrating loudly in my earMust you really give it a name?I have seen the sacred altars besmirchedOne by one without shame.I am sick to my heart seeing you put him downFor not wanting to be as you,And I am choked by the mockery they make ofhuman bloodThat was spilt in trying to undo.And I feel everything, but I cannot purge your sinsI wonder if it at all can be doneWhen you have thus- slashed and raped,Mocked and killed in fun.I am an audience though I stand on the stage,I weep your tears and mine,I know and feel but I cannot break the chainsThat all our acts combine.74Anjali

A Poem for my Daughter- Ahona GuptaGiggles and smilesNaughtiness and wilesThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...Sunshine to clear every cloudSometimes quiet but mostly loudThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...A terror, a bratTears at the drop of a hatThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...A bundle of sweetness, brightness & funThe beauty of springtime, the warmth of the sunThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...Laughter that melts your heartA sloppy kiss for every hurtThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...A bear hug at the end of the dayBubbling with words she can’t wait to sayThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...A bundle of contradictions and often a teaseA creature of moods not easy to please...That’s what Kuhu’s made of...Mamma’s joy and her father’s prideTaking life right in her strideGrowing up in the blink of an eyeIndeed how time does seem to fly.And yet I knowOur journey’s just begun,Our lives forever entwined as one.Twinkling eyes, a toothy grinMischief filled upto the brimThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...Temper tantrums at the mallThe deadly calm before a squallThat’s what Kuhu’s made of...Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 75

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Jh guqeku pkyhlkAA jkeAAAA Jh guqers ue%AAvuqokn & j¨gu vxjokyn¨gkJhxq# pju lj¨t jt] fut euq eqdq# lq/kkfjAcjum¡ j?kqcj fcey tlq] t¨ nk;dq Qy pkfjAAxq#&pj.k d¢ iq“i&js.kq ls eu dk vkbuk lkQ+ djrs gq, Jh j?kqoj dh csnkx efgek dk /;ku djrk gw¡ t¨thou d¢ pkj eq[; Qy ß/keZ] vFkZ] dke v©j e¨{kÞ Ánku djrh gSAcqf)ghu ruq tkfud¢] lqfej© iou&dqekjAcy cqf) fo|k nsgq e¨fg] gjgq dysl fcdkjAA;g tkurs gq, fd eSa cgqr gh vKkuh gw¡] eSa iou dqekj ij viuk /;ku d¢afær djrs gq, fouezrkiwoZd ‘kfDr]cqf) v©j lPps Kku fd ÁkFkZuk djrk gw¡ ftLkls esjs n¨“k v©j nnZ nwj g¨ ld¢Ap©ikÃt; guqeku Kku xqu lkxjA t; dihl frgq¡ y¨d mtkxjAAKku v©j xq.k d¢ lkxj Jh guqeku th fd t; g¨] t¨ rhu¨ay¨d¨ d¨ vius ‘kqHk pfj= d¢ }kjk tkXkzr djrs gSa] ,sls dfildh t; g¨Ajke nwr vrqfyr cy /kkekA vatfu&iq= ioulqr ukekAAgs egku jke&nwr] vki fd ‘kfDr v©j ohjrk vrqyuh; gSAvUtuh iq=] iou iq= vki dh t; g¨Aegkohj foØe ctjaxhA dqefr fuokj lqefr d¢ laxhAAgs egohj foØe ctjaxh] vU/kdkj v©j cqjkb;¨a d¨ gjus okys]lUefr lnk vkid¢ lax gSAdapu cju fcjkt lqcslkA dkuu dqaMy dqafpr d¢lkAAlqugjh i¨“kkd v©j fo‘kky dk;k d¢ /kj¨gj] dku¨a esa dq.My v©j ?kqa?kjkys d¢‘k okys ÁHkq vki d¨ fugkjus ls gh78Anjali

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Jh guqeku pkyhlktqx lgL= t¨ tu ij HkkuwA yhY;¨ rkfg e/kqj Qy tkuwAAgs guqeku vkIkus cky yhyk d¢ le;] ehy¨a nwj Pkedrs lwjt d¨ ehBk Qy leÖkdj fuxy fy;kAÁHkq eqfædk esfy eq[k ekghA tyf/k yk¡f?k x;s vpjt ukghaAAÁHkq Jh jke dh vaxwBh ew¡g esa fy, cM+h gh vklkuh ls vkius fo‘kky leqæ ikj fd;kAnqxZe dkt txr d¢ tsrsA lqxe vuqXkzg rqEgjs rsrsAAgs guqeku vkid¢ v‘khokZn ls lalkj d¢ lkjs dBhu dk;Z vklkuh ls g¨ tkrs gSaAjke nqvkjs rqe j[kokjsA g¨r uk vkKk fcuq iSlkjsAAvki Jh jke d¢ igjsnkj gS] vkid¢ vuqefr d¢ fcuk d¨Ã Hkh Jh jke d¢ egy esa ugha tk ldrk ¼guqeku thdh vkjrh d¢ }kjk gh Jh jke d¢ fny esa txg ikà tk ldrh gS½Alc lq[k ygS rqEgkjh ljukA rqe jPNd dkgq d¨ MjukAAvkidh n;k ls lkjs lq[k laHko gSa v©j ftld¢ fy;s vki tSlk j{kd g¨ mlls d¨Ã Hk; lrk ugha ldrkAvkiu rst lEgkj¨ vkiSA rhu¨ y¨d gk¡d rs dk¡iSAAvkid¢ xtZu ls rhu¨a y¨d dkairs gSa] v©j vkid¢ ijkØe d¨ Hkh flQZ vki gh fu;af=r dj ldrs gSaAHkwr fi‘kkp fudV ufg vkoSA egkohj tc uke lqukoSAAvkid¢ HkDr¨a d¨ d¨Ã Hkwr&Ásr ugha lrk ldrk] oj.k vkid¢ uke ysus Hkj ls gh Hkwr Ásr nwj jgrs gSaAulS j¨x gjS lc ihjkA tir fujarj guqer chjkAAvkid¢ uke dk fu;fer tki djus ls fdlh Hkh Ádkj dh ihM+k d¨ nwj fd;k tk ldrk gSAladV rsa guqeku pqM+koSaA eu Øe cpu /;ku t¨ ykoSAAt¨ vius fopkj¨a esa] deZ esa] lnk vkidk /;ku djrk gS] mld¢ lkjs ladV vki gj ysrs gSaAlc ij jke riLoh jktkA fru d¢ dkt ldy rqe lktkAAgs guqeku vki r¨ mud¢ d;Zokgd gSa] t¨ LOk;a Js“Bre egkulezkV Jh jke gSaAv©j eu¨jFk t¨ d¨Ã yko SA l¨b vfer thou Qy iko SAAt¨ Hkh vkid¢ ikl viuh eu¨dkeuk ysdj vkrk gS] mls thoudk ve`r Qy ÁkIr g¨rk gSApkj¨ tqx ijrki rqEgkjkA gS ijfl) txr mft;kjkAAgs guqeku vkidk Árki pkj¨a ;qx esa QSyk gqvk gS] v©j vkidhÁfl)h ls lkjk czãk.M peRÑr gSAlk/kq lar d¢ rqe j[kokjsA vlqj fudane jke nqykjsAAgs guqeku vki lk/kq v©j lar¨a d¢ j[kokys g¨] vlqj¨a dk uk‘k djrs g¨ v©j Hkxoku Jh jke d¢ nwykjs g¨Av“V flf) u© fuf/k d¢ nkrkA vl cj nhu tkudh ekrkAAek¡ tkudh d¢ ojnku Lo:i vkid¢ ikl vius HkDr¨a d¨ v“V flf) v©j u© fuf/k ¼lq[k] pSu] oSHko] ‘kfDr]Áflf)] vkfn½ d¢ nku dh {kerk gSAjke jlk;u rqEgjs iklkA lnk jg¨ j?kqifr d¢ nklkAAvkid¢ ikl jke&HkfDr dk ve`r gS] vki lnk d¢ fy, jke d¢ ije HkDr gSaA80Anjali

HkkX; dk [ksy& ‘kqDyk p©/kqjhgekjs ns‘k esa jsy dk lQj fdruk lq[kn v©j eu¨jatdg¨rk gS og ‘kCn¨a esa C;ku Ukgha fd;k tk ldrkA;k=k djrs gq, fdrus y¨x djhc vkrs gSa] fdrus fj‘rscurs gSa v©j fdrus eu d¢ ehr fey tkrs gSaA ;g dqNlky igys fd ?kVuk gS] tc eSa jsy esa lQj dj jgh Fkh]eq>s Hkh ,slk ,d eu dk ehr feykA eSa vius LVs‘ku lsjkr d¢ le; p

HkkX; dk [ksy[kRe g¨ x;k] ikuh d¢ ml rst+ /kkj esa os rhu¨a cg djfudy x,A Mªkboj d¢ gkFk esa ,d isM+ dh Vguh vkÃ]v©j mlus mls dldj idM+s j[kk] v©j vius Ák.k cpkik;kA ijUrq vfHkuo v©j esjs ifr dk dqN irk gh ughapyk] djhc ,d lIrkg cgqr ij d¨Ã {k¨Hk ugha gSysfdu esjs gh eu esa ,d c¨> gS dh eSa mud¢ csVs d¨mud¢ ikl y©Vk ugha ikÃA vkt vxj vfHkuo g¨rk r¨mldk Hkfo“; fdruk mTtoy g¨rk gekjs csV¨a dh rjgog Hkh fo‘ofo|ky; ls fudyrkAvxj esjs Ikfr dk nq%laokn vkrk] eSa mud¨vafre ckj ns[k ysrh r¨ v©j ckr FkhA exj vHkh esjhgkyr ,slh gS fd brus lky¨a d¢ ckn Hkh ?kj d¢ njokt+sij d¨Ã nLrd nsrk gS r¨ eSa eu esa vkl fy, Hkkx djtkrh gw¡ fd dgha os okil r¨ ugha vk,A vkt Hkh eSamud¢ bUrt+kj esa cSBh gw¡] ges‘kk l¨prh gw¡ fd os dghaij dq‘ky–eaxy ls gSa] g¨ ldrk gS mudh ;knsa xqe g¨xÃa g¨] dHkh mUkdh ;knk‘r okil vk, v©j os okilvk tk,saAlhek dh ;g lc ckrsa lqudj mldk j¨uk ns[kdjeSa vius vki d¨ j¨d ugha ldh v©j esjs Hkh vk¡[k¨a ls>j–>j ikuh >jus yxsA eSa mBdj mld¢ ikl tk cSBhv©j cgqr le>k;k fd d¨Ã fdlh d¢ HkkX; pØ d¨ugha cny ldrkA og D;w¡ muy¨x¨a d¢ HkkX; d¢ fy;s[kqn d¨ n¨“kh eku jgh gSA thou d¢ lQj esa ftldkftruk le; fy[kk gS og mruh gh nwj tk,xkA blfy,O;FkZ esa vk¡lw cgk dj D;k Qk;nkA ge n¨u¨a gh ckr¨aesa bruk yhu g¨ x, Fks dh irk gh ugha pyk dc gekjkLVs‘ku vk x;kA mrjus ls igys lhek dgus yxh fd eSausvktrd bruk [kqy dj fdlh ls ckr ugha dh] fdlhd¨ eu dh ckr ugha crkÃA viuk nq%[k eu esa Nqikdjj[kk Fkk exj bl lQj esa vkt rqels ckr djd¢ cgqrvPNk yxk] ,slk yxk tSls eq>s eu dk lkFkh feyk gSAlp] lhek dh ckr lqudj eq>s Hkh ,slk gh yx jgk FkktSls eq>s Hkh d¨Ã eu dk lkFkh fey x;k FkkA fQj gejsy ls mrjdj nqckjk feyrs jguss dk oknk djd¢ csV¨a d¢fo‘ofo|ky; dh v¨j jokuk gq,A ogk¡ tkrs gq, ;ghl¨Pk jgh Fkh dh HkkX; Hkh dSls [ksy fn[kkrk gS] dHkhfdlh d¨ dgha feykrk gS r¨ dHkh dgha lc feVk nsrkgSA ge HkkX; d¢ gkFk d¢ dBiqryh gSaADurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 83

tkikuh xhr & vius xk¡o dh ;kn& lqjs‘k _rqi.kZ¼rRlqdh rdku¨ d¢ fl) xhr ÞQq#lkr¨Þ ¼Xk`g&uXkj½ dk Hkkokuqokn½cgqr eqf‘dy gS Hkwy tkukvius xk¡o dh ;kn!os igkM+h s ;kn vkrs gSackfj‘k¨a d¢ os fnueq>s ;kn vkrs gSa>werh gokv¨a d¢ fnugj fnu esjh vk¡[k¨a esa?kwe tkrk gS esjk xk¡olp! cgqr eqf‘dy gS Hkqykukvius xk¡o dh ;kn!tc iwjs g¨ tk,¡xs esjs vjekuv©j esjs liusrc y©Vw¡xk vius xk¡o dh v¨jij ugha tkurkdc iwjs g¨axs esjs vjekaesjs liusv©j y©Vw¡xk dceSa vius xk¡o dh v¨jugha tkurkAlp! cgqr eqf‘dy gS Hkqykukvius xk¡o dh ;kn!l¨prk gw¡dq‘ky ls g¨axsesjs ek¡&ckiv©jesjs lkjs n¨Lr/khjs&/khjs eq>s Hkwyvius vki esaeSa y©Vw¡ ;k uk y©Vw¡ij eq>s ekywe gSvc esjs xk¡o d¢ ioZr¨a ijNk xà g¨xh gfj;kyhv©j ufn;¨a esacg jgk g¨xkve`r tSlk ifo= ikuh!lp! cgqr eqf‘dy gSHkqyk ikukvius xk¡o dh ;kn!84Anjali

uhan dh yqdk&fNih& lqferk HkV~VkpktÊjkr d¢ os pan yEgs]tc uhan vk¡[k¨a ij nLrd nsdgha fNi tkrh gSv©j vk¡[ksa mldh jkg ns[krh jg tkrh gSarc vkdj gesa ?ksj ysrh gSafnUk Hkj dh chrh ckrsadqN tkus&igpkus iydqN [kV~Vh&ehBh ;knsaAdqN ckrsa dgh&vudghfQj [kqn d¨ n¨gjkrh gSadqN ckrsa lquh&vulquhfQj viuk gky lqukrh gSa]fQj yxrk gS vkt vxj,slk g¨rk r¨ D;k g¨rkgj ckr vyx g¨rh dy dhdy dk vankt+ u;k g¨rkAfNih uhan d¨ ‘kk;n yxkesgeku fey x, gesa u,muls n¨ ckrsa D;k dj yhamld¨ ge cl Hkwy x,A>V v¡k[k¨a ij Msjk Mkykew¡n yha geus Hkh iyd¢a[okc¨a us ge ij fc[kjk,jax dà xgjs gYd¢Ay©V xÃa fnu Hkj dh ;knsavHkh bUgsa tkuk g¨xkvc dy gh ;s }kj [kqysaxsvc dy gh feyuk g¨xkvkt x,] fQj y©V vk,¡xs;gh iy dy jkr exjgj ckr vyx g¨xh dy dhdy dk vankt+ u;k g¨xk!86Anjali

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esjs liu¨a esa o¨ ckr ugha g¨rh& vuqjkx ik¡Ms;vHkko d¢ fnu gh lgh Fks]eSa esjs n¨Lr lc ogha Fks]iM+¨lh d¢ ve:n r¨M+ dj [kkrs Fks]dqN ehBs lcesa cV tkrs Fks]mu nk¡r¨a d¢ fu‘kku¨a dh d¨Ã tkr ugha g¨rh]vkt esjs liu¨a esas o¨ ckr ugha g¨rhAn¨ t¨M+h esas iwjk lky dVrk Fkk]Hkkb;¨a esas rc Hkh lkeku c¡Vrk Fkk]cM+s d¨ dHkh T+;knk fey tkrk Fkk];g ns[k N¨Vk j¨ tkrk Fkk]ml c¡Vokjs esas oSj dh d¨Ã ck¡V ugh g¨rh]vkt esjs liu¨ esa o¨ ckr ugha g¨rhAge vc Hkh ogha gSa]ij vc esjs n¨Lr ugha gSa]geusa [kqn ;g ca/ku dkVs gSa]nk¡r¨a d¢ fu‘kku pkj Hkkx¨a esa ck¡Vsa gSa]vc flQZ+ jkr d¢ va/ksj¨a ls eqykdkr gS g¨rh]vkt esjs liu¨a esa o¨ ckr ugha g¨rhAMj yxrk gS gj vgV ij]‘kd g¨rk gS viu¨a dh pkgr ij]d¨l¨a nwj lh lqcg yxrh gS]vk¡[ksa gSa ;w¡ viyd txrh gSa]pkgrk gw¡ g¨ iyd¢a Hkkjh] ,slh d¨Ã jkr ugha g¨rh]vkt esjs liu¨a esas o¨ ckr ugha g¨rhAdqfVyrk rc Hkh eu esa iyrh Fkh]ij iapra= dh dgkfu;k¡ tgu esa pyrh Fkh]xyr ij ;w¡ iNrkok g¨rk Fkk]nq%[k ij xSj¨a d¢ eu [kqn j¨rk Fkk]bu vk¡[k¨a ls vc vk¡lqv¨a dh cjlkr ugha g¨rh]vkt esjs liu¨a esa o¨ ckr ugha g¨rhA88Anjali

東 日 本 大 震 災 本 格 復 旧 はこれからThe Great East Japan EarthquakeFull Recovery is yet to start- 月 野 亜 佐 子(Asako Tsukino)1. 地 震 発 生3 月 11 日 午 後 2 時 46 分 、 私 は 仙 台 駅 近 くのオフィスビル6 階 におり、 机 の 下 で 這 い 付 くばっても 振 り 落 とされそうな 激 しい 揺 れが 気 の 遠 くなる 程 長 い 時 間 続 きました。やっとの 思 いで 帰 宅 後 、 自 宅 より 徒 歩2 分 の 避 難 所 へ 行 ってみました。 晩 期 乳 癌 の 宣 告 を受 け 抗 がん 剤 治 療 の 副 作 用 で 非 常 に 体 調 悪 い 私 にとっては 停 電 による 暗 闇 や 人 の 多 さよりもまず 寒 さに 耐 えられない!と 即 断 。 避 難 所 で 過 ごすことを 諦 め 自 宅 へ。と 言 っても 激 しい 余 震 の 中 マンション6 階 の 部 屋 へ 戻 る 気 になれず、 車 の 中 で 暖 をとりながらほとんど 眠 れずに 数 日 間夜 明 かし。 病 人 や 高 齢 者 にこの 寒 さは 大 打 撃 だなあと 実感 。 表 面 には 出 難 い 数 字 ですが、 避 難 したものの 寒 さで亡 くなられた 方 が 大 勢 いらしたとのこと。 私 も 背 中 合 わせの 状 態 におりました。18 日 、まだ 混 乱 の 真 只 中 、 友 人 が 駆 けつけてくれました。 自 宅 の 中 は 冷 蔵 庫 や 食 器 棚 がありえない 方 向 を向 いて 移 動 しており、とても1 人 では 片 づけられません。そんな 助 っ 人 として、 来 てくれたのです。 片 づけ 名 人 の 彼女 のお 陰 で 見 るも 無 残 だった 部 屋 はあっという 間 に 整 理整 頓 されました。 友 人 とはありがたいなあと 心 底 思 ったものです。2. その 後その 後 、 沿 岸 地 域 は 言 うに 及 ばず、 内 陸 も 毎 日 余 震と 非 常 事 態 が 続 いておりました。 物 資 不 足 ・ガソリン 不 足 でまるきり 動 けず、 昼 は 会 社 で 炊 き 出 し。やっとJRが 少 しずつ 運 行 開 始 し 始 めた 矢 先 の4 月 7 日に 大 きな 余 震 が 発 生 し、 内 陸 の 人 間 はギリギリ 持 ち堪 えていた 希 望 の 糸 が 切 れてしまい、 精 神 的 にトドメを 刺 されました。 普 段 は 絶 対 言 わないような 暴 言を 吐 くようになってしまう 程 、 人 を 変 えてしまう 異常 事 態 。 街 全 体 の 人 々が 病 んでいる 状 況 を 想 像 出 来ますでしょうか。それでも、 地 震 後 の 混 乱 がこの 程 度 ですんでいるのは 東 北 だからこそだと 感 じます。 地 震 直 後 の 停 電 により、 全 ての 信 号 が 消 えているのに 結 構 な 数 の 車 が流 れていました。 複 数 車 線 ある 交 差 点 では 誰 もが 譲り 合 い、 歩 行 者 も 普 通 に 横 断 。 譲 り 合 いの 精 神 が 根付 いているからこそですね。「 東 北 人 は 我 慢 強 い」と 言 われますがちょっと 違 う。 普 通 に 振 舞 っているだけなのだと 思 います。GWにJRの 主 な 在 来 線 ・ 新 幹 線 ・ 地 下 鉄 も 運 行 開 始 となり、 仙 台 市 内 の 都 市 ガスも 大 方 復 旧 。やっと 新 年度 が 始 まったような 気 がしました。そして5 月 下 旬から7 月 にかけて 体 調 不 良 を 訴 える 人 間 が 続 出 。 無理 をしてきた 反 動 がここへ 来 て 体 の 不 調 として 出 始めたようです。ある 人 は 気 管 支 炎 で 長 期 休 暇 、ある人 はうつ 病 で 休 職 、 私 自 身 も 乳 癌 が 悪 化 し 休 職 する等 、 人 によって 症 状 は 様 々でした。上 震 災 直 後 下 片 づけ2 時 間 後3. 沿 岸 地 域 とボランティアの 友 人4 月 以 降 東 京 や 大 阪 の 友 人 が 多 数 、ボランティア 活 動 をしに 来 てくれています。ある 人 は 単 身 「とにかく 来 てみた。水 含 んだ 畳 は 重 いね。 家 主 のおばあちゃんにご 馳 走 になったおにぎりと 漬 物 が 忘 れられない」。ある 人 は「ネットで 調 べて 知 り 合 った 人 に 物 資 届 けに 行 った。その 様 子 をつぶやいてたら 東 京 にいる 娘 さんがネット 上 で 偶 然 見 つけて 連 絡 くれた。ネットすごい」。 私 の 家 は 仙 台 宮 城 ICから 数 分 というアクセスの 良 い 場 所 ということもあり、ありがたい 友 人 達 の 拠 点 になっています。 朝 起 きたら 知 らない 人がいて「 初 めまして」なんて 挨 拶 したことも( 笑 )。 彼 らは 入れ 替 わり、 色 々な 形 で 何 度 も 東 北 へ 来 てくれます。どれほど 励 まされたことか。私 自 身 は 気 持 ちの 整 理 が 少 しずつつき、やっと 沿 岸 地 域へ 行 ってみようと 勇 気 が 出 てきたのは4 月 中 旬 頃 でした。ボランティアに 来 てくれた 友 人 の 車 に 同 乗 して 石 巻 市 へ。テレビの 映 像 以 上 の 光 景 が 目 の 前 に 広 がっていました。さらに 臭 いがひどい 地 域 も。 物 資 支 援 をしたり 炊 き 出 しをしたりしましたが、 茫 然 とする 漁 師 さん 達 の 目 。そんな 中でも 必 死 で 前 を 向 こうとしている 皆 さんを 前 に、 継 続 的 な支 援 を 決 意 したのでした。Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 89

東 日 本 大 震 災 本 格 復 旧 はこれから• 活 動 参 加 が 難 しい 場 合 は、お 金 の 援 助 ( 義 援 金 )• 日 常 生 活 の 中 で、 東 北 産 のものを 購 入なんていう 方 法 が 挙 げられますね。 各 自 治 体 でもまだまだボランティアの 募 集 をしていますし、 首 都 圏 からのボランティアツアーバスもありますのでご 利 用 下 さい。ちなみに 私 は 復 興 応 援 するカレンダーを 販 売 しております。 壁 掛 版 1 部 につき200 円 、 卓 上 版 1 部 につき100 円 を義 援 金 として 寄 付 致 しますので、こちらもご 利 用 下 さい。義 援 金 付 きカレンダーを 販 売 しています。http://www.amazon.co.jp/shops/A37E6312PRHOE04. 今 後 の 復 興 支 援まだまだ 復 興 には 程 遠 く、 地 域 状 況 も 千 差 万 別 です。 継続 的 な 支 援 が 必 須 です。 支 援 をしたいけれどまだ 何 もしていない 方 、これからでも 十 分 間 に 合 います。それには• まずは 東 北 へ 行 き、 自 分 の 目 で 状 況 を 確 かめその 上で 自 分 が 何 を 出 来 るのか 考 えてみる( 直 接 的 なボランティア 活 動 、 援 護 射 撃 的 な 支 援 活 動 等 )5. 気 持 ちに 寄 りそう 為 に最 後 に 注 意 事 項 です( 笑 )被 災 者 の 方 を 励 まそうという 気 持 ちがかえって 傷 つけてしまう 言 葉 がありますのでいくつか 挙 げます。1)「がんばって」被 災 地 の 皆 さんはとても 頑 張 っています。 家 を 流 され、 失 業 し、 住 み 慣 れた 我 が 家 から 遠 く 離 れたり、 全 壊と 認 定 された 自 宅 の2 階 で 暮 らさざるをえない 等 、とても厳 しい 状 況 で 先 が 全 く 見 えない 中 、それでも 前 を 向 いて 生 きています。そんな 方 々がこれ 以 上 頑 張 らなければならないのでしょうか。「 一 緒 にがんばろう」でさえ、 聞きたくない 人 がたくさんいます。「 応 援 しています」と 言っても 口 先 だけではやはり 相 手 を 傷 つけてしまいます。言 葉 などではなかなか 励 ましなど 出 来 ないのです。 何も 出 来 ないのであれば「 何 も 出 来 ずごめんなさい」と 謝るか、 黙 っていましょう。2)「 気 をつけて」非 常 事 態 を 経 験 し、 激 しい 余 震 が 続 いている 中 を 毎日 生 活 してきた 方 々は 細 心 の 注 意 をもって 生 活 しています。そんな 方 々へ「 気 をつけて」と 言 うのは 失 礼 ですよね。これも 言 わないことをオススメします。3)「 私 に 出 来 ることは 何 でも 言 って」そう 言 われて 期 待 して、「じゃあ、あれをやって 欲 しいのでお 願 い」と 頼 むと、 簡 単 に「それは 無 理 」という 断 りの返 事 がかえってくることが 多 いものです。そんなやりとりをするだけで 被 災 者 の 皆 さんは 疲 れてしまいます。「だったら 何 が 出 来 るのか 教 えて!」ということになります。 従 って、「 私 は○○と○○が 出 来 るのだけど、これで 力 になれますか」という 聞 き 方 にしましょう。勝 手 な 事 を 並 べ 立 てましたが、 少 しでも 現 状 理 解 の 助 けとなりましたら 幸 いです。復 興 へ 向 けて、 皆 さまのご 支 援 をいただきたくどうぞよろしくお 願 い 申 し 上 げます。1. The earthquake strikesAt 2:46 PM on March 11, when the tremorstruck, I was in my office in a six-storey buildingnear Sendai station. The first jolt immediately threwme off balance and I somehow managed to crawlunder my desk, but the tremor was so strong andsudden that I felt it continued for an unbelievablylong time.It was a great struggle to return home afterthat. The disaster shelter nearby was a two minutewalk from where I live, so I decided to check theplace. For a late-stage breast cancer patient like90me, significantly weakened by the side-effects ofprolonged chemotherapy, I immediately realizedthat more than anything else, in such a dark placewithout electricity and with so many people around,I shall not be able to withstand the cold. It was aquick decision and I soon returned to my apartment.But due to the aftershocks it was not safe to return tomy 6th floor apartment, so instead I spent the nextfew nights in the warmth of my car, almost withoutany sleep.I soon realized how difficult it would be for thesick and the old to fight this cold weather in suchAnjali

a situation. Although there are no official statistics,a good number of old and sick people have died inthe shelters due to lack of heating. Like them I wasalso very close to a dire situation.On the 18th, amid the continuing chaos, oneacquaintance managed to come to see me. In theapartment my belongings were scattered all overand the refrigerator and the bookshelf were inunimaginable positions and it called for many morehands than my own to restore things to originalorder. My friend came in to help me with that, andwith her assistance I was able to arrange things andclean up the room in a short time. Friends in needare friends indeed.2. AfterwardsTop: Before cleanup Bottom: After cleanupNeedless to say, not only in the coastal areas butalso the areas inland the aftershocks kept comingrelentlessly and the end of the emergency situationwas nowhere in sight. Lack of materials and gasolinemade moving around virtually impossible, andforced us to cook rice during the day in our officepremises.A strong aftershock struck again on 7th Aprilwhen JR was about to restore train services. Till thenthe people inland had somehow managed to keephope alive, but this one almost wiped off the lastinner mental strength and threw everyone into totaldespair. For a while the people around lost theircomposure and became unbelievably rude in theirverbal outbursts, it was as if the whole town was sickwith an incurable disease, the continued emergencysituation dangerously sapping the last bit of energyfrom every soul around.In spite of all these, I think by virtue of theindomitable spirit of the people in Tohoku region, wehave been able to weather the storm with minimalchaos. After the earthquake there was widespreadpower outage which made all the traffic signalsinoperable. Even in such a situation many cars werebeing driven without any dramatic disruption. Inmulti-lane thoroughfares everyone driving wascourteous and paying due attention to pedestriansas usual. This was possible because people here haveingrained spirit of compromise. It is well known thatthe people of Tohoku are patient, but this is different.They were just behaving normally.During the golden week holidays most of JR,Shinkansen, and underground railway serviceswere resumed, including the city gas supply inSendai。It felt as if a new year has just started. Andthen beginning from May through July peoplestarted falling sick. Many started taking sick leavedue to various illnesses like asthma and depression,and I also had to take leave because of aggravatedbreast cancer.3. Coastal areas and my volunteerfriendsSince April many of my friends from Tokyoand Osaka came to Tohoku to help as volunteers.One friend who is single mentioned, “I just wantedto come and help, the wet tatamis felt really heavy,but the most memorable of all was the delicious riceball and vegetable pickled prepared by the elderlywoman in the house I cleaned”. Another personnoted, “I went to deliver goods to a person I cameto know through internet. When this was twitted,my daughter in Tokyo by chance came across themessage and contacted me immediately. Internet isjust incredible”. My apartment is very close to theSendai IC, and it has now become a base for myhelpful friends. Waking up in the morning one dayI was greeted “Good morning” by a person I havenever met before (laugh). These people are comingregularly to Tohoku to help us and this is highlyencouraging.Around middle of April somehow I was ableto gather enough mental strength and decided tovisit the coastal areas. My first destination wasIshinomaki and I drove there with my friends whocame to work here as volunteers. What I saw thereDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 90A

was far more devastating than what I managedto watch on TV. The rotting odor all around wasunbearable in some places. We went there to delivergoods and prepare food for the people living thereand cheer them up, but met many fishermenwith vacant looks. Even under such inhospitablecondition I met a lot of people who were lookingforward to weather the difficulties in graceful stride,and that was when I decided that I would continuemy volunteer activities here as long as needed.Selling calendars to contribute to relief fundhttp://www.amazon.co.jp/shops/A37E6312PRHOE04. Support for recovery hereafterThe real recovery is still far away. Continuedsupport is essential. People who are interested inhelping the distressed but have not yet done so, thereis plenty of opportunity to do so now. To do that hereare some suggestions:• First go to Tohoku, please have a look around tofind out what you can really do to help the peoplethere (direct volunteer activities, one time help forpeople in distress etc.)• When you find it difficult to get involved involunteer activities, you can help financiallythrough donations• For your daily necessities buy things producedin TohokuMany affected areas are still recruiting volunteers,and there are plenty of bus services from Tokyo forthe volunteers to travel to these areas.I am personally involved in selling calendars Iprepared to contribute to the disaster relief fund. Foreach wall hanging calendar sold I shall contribute200 yen, and for each desk top calendar sold I shallcontribute 100 yen to this fund.5. To align your feelings with thedistressedLastly, some things to remember when youdecide to help (laugh) are described below. Thisis because It may well be the case that when youare trying to encourage the people you mightinadvertently end up hurting their feelings. Givenbelow are some typical words that you should avoid.1)Hang onPeople in the affected areas are alreadyhanging on for a long time. Some have lost theirhome, lost jobs, forced to live in a cramped placefar away from their original dwelling, some evenhave chosen to live in the second floor of buildingsofficially designated as unfit for living. They arealready doing all their best. There are people who nomore want to hear “Let’s hang on together”. Wordslike “we are supporting you” without any tangiblehelp will only hurt their feelings. Words only cannotencourage people. If you cannot help tangibly, thebest way will be to apologize or simply keep quiet.2)Take careThese people have already experienced theworst emergency, taking utmost care in livingtheir daily lives made insecure from the incessantaftershocks that keep coming without any warnings.Is it not impolite to tell such people to take care?My advice is not utter such words in front of thesepeople.3)Do not hesitate to ask me do things you needWhen one hears such request and says “pleasecan you do this for me”, often the reply one getsis “sorry I shall not be able to help with that”. Justhearing such remarks undermines their spirit, andthe conversation naturally leads to “what actuallycan you do then?” So make it clear at the outset bysaying, “I shall be able to do this and this. Will thathelp?”I hope that you will understand the situationhere, and will not be offended by my candid remarksand advice.Please help the people in distress in whatevercapacity you can, so that they can recover theiroriginal livelihood as soon as possible. Thank you.(Translation by Sudeb Chattopadhyay.)90BAnjali

初 めてのインド- 羽 成 千 亜 希2 009 年 12 月 。 私 は 初 めてインドへ 行 きました。20 歳 頃 に、「インドに 行 ってみたい!」と 心 に 湧 いてから、 念 願 が 叶 ったのは、10 年 以 上 かかりました。「なぜそんなに 行 ってみたいと 思 ったのか?」これは、 自 分 でもありきたりな 理 由 ですが、1どんな 国 かみてみたい 2TVや、 人 の 話 を 聞 くとなお 興 味 が 湧 く3インドの 空 気 を 吸 ってみたい4 宗 教 と 共 に 生 きる 人 達 はどういう 人 達 か?5 何 か 特 別 なものがあるのではないか?そしてなにより 6なぜか 魅 かれるということが1 番 でした。現 在 私 は、インドと 切 っても 切 れない 縁 があると 思っています。 家 族 。 義 母 がインド 人 であること。 夫 が 半 分 インド 人 であること。そして、ヨガ。 義 父 は、 私 のヨガの 先 生です。こういった 自 分 を 取 り 巻 く 環 境 は、 今 はなんともインドの 一部 が、 私 の 生 きることに 深 く 関 わっていると 思 っています。まず 行 くと 決 まったときの、 高 揚 感 とはさすがに!10年 かけて、 望 みが 叶 うだけに、とても 幸 せに 思 えました。出 発 し、 飛 行 機 が 無 事 にデリー、インディラ・ガンジー 空港 に 着 陸 した 瞬 間 、 心 の 中 で 万 歳 している 自 分 がいました。 この 旅 は、 夫 と2 人 。 夫 は、 数 回 経 験 があるため、 私は、 少 々 安 心 でした。空 港 。 空 港 には、その 国 特 有 の「におい」がある 話は、 皆 さんどう 思 われるか?ここで 第 一 印 象 がくるわけだろうと! ・・・なんとも 私 は「ここは、 落 ち 着 くな~!」と、 喜 ぶ 自 分 を 感 じました。 大 丈 夫だと 確 信 しました。これを 境 に、この 旅 は 楽 しいものになるだろうと 感 じました。デリー、リシケシ、アグラ、ベナレス を20 日 間 で 周 りました。1 番 の 目 的 はリシケシ。ヨガをするためです。アシュラム 滞 在 は、とても 快 適 で、 充 実 した 日 々でした。『 環 境 』これは、 何 にも 勝 る 素 晴 らしいものと 思 えました。滞 在 所 。 窓 を 開 ければ、 目 の 前 はガンガー。12 月で 少 し 寒 いが、ガンガーの 水 面 と 流 れは、 美 しく、 穏 やかで、 太 陽 はまどろむように 輝 いて、ただ 座 り、ガンガーを眺 め、 陽 を 浴 びているだけで、インドに 来 てとても 充 たされた 気 持 ちになりました。このガンガーは『 聖 なる 河 』。TVで 見 る、「いわゆるガ ン ガ ー 」の 様 子 は、き っ と ベ ナレ ス 辺 り のも の が 多いと 思 います。が、ここ上 流 のリシケシのガンガーは、 私の 情 報 で知 っていたガンガーとは、 違 うものでした。 混 沌 ではなく、きれいで、 不 思 議 な 安らぎを 放 っていました。なんとも 静 かな、 穏 やかな、 優 しい、この 河は 見 て い る だ け で 、心 洗 われる 気 持 ちでした。 小 さな 波 が 流 れて、 流 れて、、、 何 もかも 流 れて 今 在 るものだけでいいのだな、と 思わされました。日 本 と は 違 う 時 間 が流 れている。アシュラム 滞 在 中 、 生 活 様 式も 少 々 日 本 とは 異 なるが、 正 に 陽 と 共 に 起 きて、 陽 が 暮れると 人 は 休 むのだな、という 生 活 でした。 日 本 での 毎 日は、なかなかそういう 訳 にもいかず、この 太 陽 のサイクルで 生 活 する 日 々を 満 喫 しました。このサイクルが、 自 然 と共 に 生 きる、そしてヨガ 的 生 活 だと 実 感 し、 心 地 良 かったです。アシュラムは 高 台 に 立 地 し、 静 かで、 広 々とした、とても 素 晴 らしい 環 境 でした。アシュラムの 方 々も 皆 親 切で、 気 持 ちのいい 毎 日 でした。そこにある 調 和 によって、環 境 は 生 み 出 されるものだと 心 底 感 じました。 細 かな1つ1つよりも、 全 体 から 感 じられるもの。これが、 私 のインドの印 象 の 大 きなものとなりました。そして「GAYATRI Mantra」を 初 めて 知 りました。 朝は 隣 の 寺 院 や、 河 の 向 こうから 爆 音 で 聞 こえてきました。あとでこのマントラは 何 か、どういうこと 言 っているかを 知りましたが、 意 味 は 分 からずとも、 音 階 と 音 調 が 気 になり、CDも 買 いました。「 買 うなら 絶 対 これよ!」こうしたコミュニケーションも 楽 しかったです。( 有 名 なシンガーのCDを勧 められた)Sその 後 、リシケシ~アグラ~ベナレス~デリー と 周 りました。ハプニングもありましたが、 困 った 時 は、いつもインドの 方 々に 助 けて 頂 いて、 無 事 20 日 間 の 旅 を 終 えました。景 色 、 食 べ 物 、 体 験 が、この 旅 を 作 り、 人 との 触 れあいが暖 かさをもたらしてくれました。インド 人 の 優 しい 部 分 に 触 れられたことは、とてもとても 私に 良 い 印 象 と 経 験 となりました。こういった 経 験 が 出 来 るのは 行 けたからこそ、インドへ 来られたことに 毎 日 感 謝 の 気 持 ちでいっぱいでした。そして、 楽 しく 元 気 に 過 ごしました。( 少 々お 腹 は 壊 しましたが、、、)自 分 で 見 て、 触 れて、 感 じて、もっとインドが 好 きになり、 興 味 を 持 つようになりました。この「 空 気 」を 吸 えたことが、 自 分 の 内 側 からの 喜 びとわかり、これからもまたぜひ 行 きたいです。ヨガと、 家 族 がある 限 り、この 国 に 触 れて、 学 んで、繋 がっていきたいと 思 います。Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 91

わっこひろば「 宙 」 開 園- 山 田 さくら1980 年 代 後 半 、 私 自 身 子 育 て 真 っ 只 中 だった 頃 、友 人 達 に 送 ったメッセージを 引 出 しの 奥 から 見 つけた。その 一 部 を 抜 粋 ・・・「 大 量 エネルギー 消 費 社 会 、 情 報 過 多 社 会 、 原 子 力 発 電所 の 乱 立 、 食 べ 物 汚 染 、 果 てしなく 続 く 自 然 破 壊 ・・・ 人間 の 飽 くことなき 欲 望 は、 生 あるもの 全 ての 糧 である 地 球を 蝕 み 続 ける。 数 えあげたらきりがない 危 機 感 の 中 で 生かされている 私 達 。 人 間 の 愚 かさの 極 限 に 立 たされている。ここに 生 を 享 けた 者 にとって、 次 の 世 代 の 子 ども 達 、幼 いいのちを 思 わずにはいられない。大 地 に、みずに、 森 に 風 に、この 宇 宙 に 息 づいている 全 てのいのちを 思 わずにはいられない。おそらく 幾 世 もの 生 を 繰 り 返 し、 旅 を 続 けてきた 私達 。もちろん 記 憶 はまるでないけれど、 魂 を 甦 らせ、 真に 大 切 なことは 何 かということをみつめて、この 世 で 与 えられた 役 割 を 見 い 出 し、 全 うしていくことが“ 今 ”というこの 時代 を 生 きている 私 達 の 務 めではないだろうか・・・・・」あれから20 年 以 上 が 過 ぎ、 人 の 意 識 に 変 化 は 見 られず、 環 境 も 悪 化 していくばかりのこの 国 で3.11 東 日 本大 震 災 が 起 こった。 大 規 模 地 震 と 津 波 が、 言 葉 に 尽 くせないほどの 被 害 を 東 日 本 に 与 えたことに 心 が 痛 まずにはいられない。そしてまた 人 間 の 想 定 をはるかに 超 える 自然 猛 威 の 前 で、 人 間 は 何 と 微 力 なのかということを 改 めて思 い 知 った。ここまで 大 規 模 な 震 災 が 起 こるなんて 想 像 もつかなかったけれど、チェルノブイリ 原 発 事 故 の 現 実 を 目 の 当 たりにしながら、 地 震 の 多 いこの 国 に 原 発 建 設 が 急 ピッチで進 められていることに 違 和 感 と 危 機 感 を 覚 え「No Nukes」 運 動 を 進 めていたあの 当 時 の 親 達 の 不 安 は、 今 回 の福 島 原 発 事 故 で 不 幸 なことに 証 明 されてしまった。人 間 は、この 広 大 な 宇 宙 の 中 では、ほんの 小 さな 小さな 点 のような 存 在 でしかなく、また 一 部 でもあるのだ。 他の 生 命 体 との 共 存 バランスを 壊 し 続 けてきた 人 間 の 傲 慢さを 捨 てない 限 り、 自 然 は 容 赦 ない。生 きとし 生 けるものの 命 を 育 んでいくことの 大 切 さ、自 然 と 共 存 しながら 生 きていくことを、 子 ども 達 に 学 んでいってもらいたいと 切 に 願 っている。そんな、 東 日 本 大 震 災 の 約 3ヶ 月 後 の6 月 に、わっこひろば「 宙 」がついに 開 園 !この2~3 年 なかなか 適 った 場 所 に 出 会 えず、 足 踏み 状 態 が 続 いていたが、やっと 手 ごろな 民 家 を 借 りることができ、4 月 には 間 に 合 わなかったが、 何 とか 開 園 にこぎつけた。「 宙 」は 神 社 に 近 く、 毎 日 神 社 へお 参 りに 行 くのが 保育 の 一 環 でもある。息 子 達 が、シャンティニケタンでパッタババンに 通 っていた 頃 、 毎 朝 授 業 が 始 まる 前 に、お 祈 りの 時 間 が 日 程に 組 み 込 まれていた。それは、インドの 子 ども 達 にとって当 たり 前 のことだったのかもしれない。 日 本 では、そういう大 切 なことが、 日 常 から 遠 のき 忘 れ 去 られている。92神 前 や 仏 前 で 心 静 かに 手 を 合 わせる、という 行 為 が一 体 どこに 結 びついていくのか・・という 説 明 も 解 説 もできないけれど、 人 間 は 人 間 の 思 いや 意 思 だけで 生 きてはいけない、という 謙 虚 な 気 持 ちを 育 んでいく 上 で、とても 大切 な 行 為 に 違 いない。こういう 行 為 が 日 常 になっていくということこそ、これからを 生 きていく 子 ども 達 にとって、 必 要なことに 思 われてならない。 震 災 は、 人 間 の 生 きていく 上での 原 点 を 振 り 返 らせてくれたような 気 もする。わっこひろば「 宙 」では、 雨 が 降 っても 雪 が 降 っても余 ほどのことがない 限 り、 神 社 へのお 参 りは 欠 かさないつもりだ。 子 ども 達 は、 習 慣 になってしまえば 何 の 問 題 もなく神 社 へ 行 き、お 参 りが 済 めば 境 内 で 遊 んだり 神 社 の 杜 を散 歩 したり、 結 構 楽 しんでいる。ここ 長 野 県 大 町 市 の 市 街 から 車 で20 分 ほどアルプスの 方 へ 向 かって 走 った 所 に、「 森 のくらしの 郷 千 年 の森 」という 自 然 豊 かな 場 所 があり、そこで 小 学 生 までの 子ども 達 に 自 然 体 験 をしてもらおうと「 宙 」の 開 園 イベントを行 った。まずは、 薪 を 使 った 料 理 を 経 験 してもらおうとキーマカレーとサブジを 作 り、かまでナンを 焼 いた。 大 量 に 作 ったはずなのに、「おいしい、おいしい」と 大 好 評 でほとんど残 らず 平 らげ 心 豊 かな 食 事 になった。火 を 見 る 機 会 も 最 近 では、めっきり 減 ってしまい、まAnjali

わっこひろば「 宙 」 開 園してや 自 分 達 で 木 を 燃 やすなんてことは 日 常 では 全 くなくなってしまっているので、 子 供 だけでなく 大 人 も 火 を 見ながら「 火 って 心 が 癒 されるなぁ・・」などと 言 いながら 食 事作 りを 満 喫 していた。この 日 は、 初 顔 合 わせの 子 ども 達 もいて 初 めはよそよそしくつまらなそうな 顔 をしていたけれど、 食 事 の 後 はリラックスしたのか、 誘 い 合 って 森 へ 行 ったりツリーハウスで遊 んだりしているうちにすっかり 打 ち 解 け、 良 いお 友 達 同士 になっていた。5 才 以 上 の 大 きい 子 ども 達 は、ネイチャーガイドの 案沢 をのぼりきった 所 に 親 達 が 待 っていて、みんな 良い 顔 で 迎 えてもらっていた。 自 然 は、 楽 しいけれど 危 険 ということも 少 しは 学 んでくれたのではないだろうか。ここ 地 方 都 市 のいなかでも、 子 ども 達 は 室 内 活 動 が主 流 で、 自 然 と 触 れ 合 うことがほとんどなくなってきている。いなかということもあって、 車 での 移 動 が 多 く 歩 くことも少 なく 転 び 方 も 下 手 だ。内 で、 沢 へ 行 き 沢 のぼりを 体 験 。 初 めはみんな 濡 れるのを 気 にして 思 い 切 りが 良 くなかったが、そのうち 全 身 ずぶ濡 れになるのも 気 にならなくなり、 靴 のまま 川 へずぶずぶ入 りみんなで 大 笑 い。「きゃー! 助 けてー」と 誰 かが 悲 鳴を 上 げれば、「 大 丈 夫 ?」と 駆 け 寄 って 助 けてあげ、 仲 間意 識 も 十 分 だった。今 回 、このイベントを 通 して 子 ども 達 は 昔 から 変 わりなく、 体 ごと 自 然 の 中 で 遊 ぶことに 抵 抗 はないということを学 んだ。 幸 せなことに、 大 町 は 少 し 山 の 方 へ 行 けば 自然 とふれ 合 える 場 所 がまだまだある。せっかくここで 子 ども 達 のための 場 を 立 ち 上 げたのだから、 自 然 と 思 いきりふれ 合 い、 学 ぶ 機 会 をどんどん 作 っていきたいと 思 っている。震 災 に 会 った 子 ども 達 、 都 会 の 子 ども 達 そして 国 境を 越 えていろんな 人 達 に 来 てもらえるような 開 放 的 な 場 所作 りを 目 指 している。Durga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 93

アジアラスベガス―マカオ- クリスティン バナルジマカオ、 今 まであまり 知 られてない 町 、 突 然 、 世界 から 注 目 を 浴 びてきました。それは、たったの 一 つの 理 由 があります - カジノです!さかのぼりこの10 年 間 で、 地 元 のカジノ、リスボアホテル 以 外 にも、 世 界 一 流 の 有 名 なカジノホテル、 例 えば、Venetian, Wynn, MGM, Galaxy 等 等 はマカオで 作られました。そして、たくさんの 観 光 客 を 呼 ぶようになりました。2010 年 に 観 光 客 は2000 万 人 に 達 成 しました。マカオは 本 当 に 小 さい 町 で、29 平 方 キロメートルしかありません、 人 口 は50 万 人 ぐらいで、こんなお 客 さんを 呼 べることがとても 不 思 議 だと 思 いました。わらず、どこでも 欧 風 のキリスト 教 会 や 建 物 がよく 見 えます。 町 の 風 景 は 本 当 にポルトガルと 似 てると 言 われています。なかなか 他 のアジアの 国 では 感 じられない 雰 囲 気です。 同 時 に、もちろん、マカオは 中 国 の 町 なので、いろいろとお 寺 もあります。その 中 で、 一 番 知 られてるのは –Ama Templeです。 昔 、マカオは 漁 師 が 多 くて、よく 海 に行 って、 魚 を 捕 っていました、アマ 神 様 は 漁 師 達 を 守 る 神でした。しかしながら、 観 光 客 の 中 の 半 分 以 上 の 人 々はカジノのために 来 ているのじゃないかと 思 われます。たくさんの 観 光 客 が 町 を 回 らないままに 帰 ってしまうこともあります。いつからかもわからないですけれど、マカオはカジノの 町 だと 思 われて、 観 光 をあまりしようと 思 わないかもしれないですね。 実 は、マカオは 本 当 にきれいな町 だと 思 います。400 年 間 ポルトガル 人 が 管 理 していたマカオは、 深い 影 響 を 受 けました。 人 口 の9 割 以 上 が 中 国 人 にもかか94マカオでは、 中 華 料 理 だけではなく、ポルトガルの影 響 で、 本 場 のポルトガル 料 理 も 美 味 しいと 言 われています。 日 本 と 違 って、 一 般 的 に 食 パンとコーヒーなどですが、マカオでは、 朝 からヤムチャとか、 麺 類 、お 粥 など 食べるとか 普 通 でしょう。カジノの 影 響 で、24 時 間 営 業 しているお 店 は 少 なくないです、なので、いつでも 食 べたい時 に、 食 べるのがマカオの 習 慣 です。今 度 、 連 休 のとき、 旅 先 はマカオにしてはいかがでしょうか。Anjali

「 私 はアジア 人 ?」- シャモント 恵 里 菜「9 年 間 、インド(バンガロール)に 留 学 していました。」と 言 うと、「インドと 日 本 、どっちが 好 き?」とよく 聞 かれる。 本 当 の 事 を 言 うと 日 本 の 方 が 好 きだが、そうダイレクトに 言 えない 様 な 人 達 ( 会 社 の 取 引 先 のインド 人 の 方 など)にはこう 答 える。「う~ん・・・ 難 しい 質 問 ですね~・・・まぁ 私 は 日 本 で 生 まれて、 小 学 校 卒 業 まで 日 本 で 過 ごして来 たから 日 本 の 方 が 好 きですが、インドも 好 きですよ!だってインドの 良 い 所 は 日 本 の 悪 い 所 で、 日 本 の 良 い 所 はインドの 悪 い 所 ですから・・・」本 音 に 嘘 を 混 ぜたような 答 えだ。では、 私 の「 本 音 」とは 何 なのか?あらかじめ 言 わせていただきますが、 私 はインド 人 と日 本 人 のハーフです。だが、インドと 日 本 という180 度 違う 環 境 を 見 てきて、その 他 のアジア 諸 国 を 短 期 間 ながらも旅 してきて 思 ったのは「 私 はアジア 人 だ」ということです。ここから 先 、インドと 日 本 の 事 を 書 いていきますが、「一 般 的 には」という 感 覚 で 読 んでください。 決 して「 皆 が 皆そうである」と 言 う 訳 ではないので、どうかくれぐれも「その国 の 人 はほぼ 皆 そうなんだ」と 頭 にたたき 込 まないでください( 笑 )さて、 先 ほどの「 私 はアジア 人 」の 話 に 戻 しますが・・・なぜ 私 がこう 思 うようになったのかと 言 うと、 血 筋 的 にはインド+ 日 本 なのに、 性 格 的 にはインド+ 日 本 +その 他 のアジア 人 みたいな 感 じだし、 見 た 目 的 にも「 地 図 上 でのハーフ」みたいになっているんです。 性 格 に 関 して 言 うと、日 本 人 ほど 時 間 にきっちりしていないけど、インド 人 ほどルーズでもない。「 人 の 事 を 思 いやる」という 点 でも、 日 本人 ほど 気 を 使 うのは 好 きではないけれど、インド 人 ほど 他人 なんてどうでも 良 いと 思 うのもどうかと 思 う。( 注 :ここで言 う 他 人 とは、 知 らない 人 – つまりStranger。ちなみにインドでは 家 族 や 友 達 にはとてもやさしい。)かと 思 えば 食 生活 やダイエットについては 日 本 人 と 同 じで 考 えるし、 金 銭感 覚 に 関 してはインド 人 の 考 え 方 に 賛 成 だ。これだけなまぁ 良 いのだが・・・実 は 私 、 日 本 にいてもインドにいても「 外 人 扱 い」なのだ。どちらかと 言 えば 日 本 寄 りの 顔 だが、それでもたまに 日 本 の 警 察 の 人 に「( 外 国 人 ) 登 録 書 見 せて」と 言 われる 事 がある。ところがタイに 行 くと 現 地 語 で 話 しかけられるのだ。 香 港 でも、マルチカルチャーな 国 だからか、 中 国語 ( 広 東 語 )で 話 しかけられることがある。 更 に 言 うと、 私が 思 う「 住 みやすい 国 」はアジア 限 定 で 言 うとシンガポールか 香 港 だと 思 っている。 細 かいことは 気 にしないが、 相手 に 不 快 な 思 いをさせるような 事 はしない。( 香 港 には 中国 本 土 から 来 ている 人 も 多 いのだが、 香 港 人 であればマナーを 守 る。)そもそも、この2つの 国 はマルチカルチャーだから、いろいろな 国 の 良 い 所 をうまい 具 合 に 取 り 入 れられているのだろう。プラス、どちらの 国 もほとんどの 人 に 英語 が 通 じるから( 少 なくとも 私 は) 不 便 な 思 いをする 事 もない。 英 語 について 言 えば、 日 本 は 外 国 人 にとっては 不 便な 国 だと 思 っている。 私 は 日 本 語 の 読 み 書 きが 出 来 るので 以 前 はあまり 気 がつかなかったが、 客 観 的 に 考 えてみたらすごく 不 便 だな~と 思 うようになった。こういう 総 合 的 に 考 えてたどり 着 いたのが、 私 はインド 人 でも 日 本 人 でもなく「アジア 人 」なのだという 事 。ちなみに「 地 球 人 」も 思 いついたのだが、アメリカ 人 の 友 達 等を 見 ていると 振 舞 い 方 が 根 本 的 に 違 うし、 考 え 方 は 似 ている 所 もあるが、やはり 違 う 所 が 多 い 様 に 思 えるからだ。さっきから「アジア 人 」などど 言 って 都 合 の 良 い 風 に名 前 をつけているが、 要 は「 中 途 半 端 」なのだ。 私 みたいな 人 間 は 時 に 困 ることがある。 先 ほど 書 いた 通 り、 私 はどちらかと 言 えば「 日 本 寄 りのハーフ」だ。だから、インドに行 けば 日 本 人 や 中 国 人 だと 思 われる。となると、インドのタクシーの 運 転 手 や 売 り 子 は 必 ず「ぼったくろう」と 考 える。なめられている 気 がして 頭 にくるので 頭 にくるので 自然 と「 私 がこの 国 で 生 きていくには 強 くなるしかない!」となる。もし、タクシーの 運 転 手 や 売 り 子 だけならまだ 良 いのだが、 同 じ 寮 に 住 んでいたインド 人 から「 日 本 に 帰 ったら○○ 買 ってきてね。お 金 は 払 うから!」といわれ、 最 初 何 もわからなかった 私 は 頼 まれたものをなるべく 買 ってこようとした。ところが 実 際 にお 金 を 払ってくれる 人 はごく 一 部 の 人 だけだし、それ 以 前 に 持 って行 くのは 大 変 だ! 一 人 や 二 人 なら 重 さもそんなでもないし、 払 ってくれなくてもそれほど 困 らないが、 人 数 が 多 いと金 額 も 重 さも 結 構 な 負 担 になる。9 年 間 の 留 学 で 日 本 に 帰 国 したのは12~13 回 ほどだったが、「 日 本 に 帰 ったら○○ 買 ってきてね。お 金 は 払うから!」と 言 われなかったことは 一 度 もない。別 の 外 国 人 と 話 して 判 った 事 だが、 外 国 人 に「○○買 ってきて!」というのはどうやらもう「お 決 まり」らしい。「お 金 を 払 うから」の 部 分 に 関 しては 払 う 人 もちゃんといるが、 数 ヵ 月 後 に 払 ってくれたという 話 も 聞 く。こういうことがあるから 外 国 人 は 強 くならなければナメられるばかりだ。(ちなみに 外 国 に 住 むインド 人 が 里 帰 りする 時 も 同 じような事 があるみたいです。)この「 強 さ」はインドに「 外 国 人 」としているときは 良 かった。ところが、 留 学 を 終 えて 日 本 に 戻 ってくると、この「 強さ」はあまり 必 要 ないのだ。 日 本 で 暮 らしていく 上 で 最 も必 要 なの「 言 っている 事 の 本 当 の 意 味 を 読 む 力 」だ。 例 えば、 日 本 人 が 言 う「 近 くに 来 たら、 是 非 家 に 遊 びに 来 てくださいね!」これはほぼ 社 交 辞 令 だ、 中 には 本 当 に 心 から 招 待している 人 もいるが、 特 に 都 会 ではごく 一 部 の 人 達 だ。 外国 ではこの 様 な 事 はあまり 無 い 様 だ。 海 外 では 急 に 遊 びに 行 っても 歓 迎 されるし、そもそも 遊 びに 来 て 欲 しくないと思 っている 人 には「 是 非 遊 びに 来 て 下 さい」なんて 言 わない。「 社 交 辞 令 」と 言 う 日 本 のカルチャーは 非 常 に 面 倒 くさい。 昔 と 比 べればまだマシにはなっているのかもしれないが、 世 界 的 に 見 ればやっぱり「 心 にも 無 いことを 言 う」という 行 為 は 理 解 しがたいと 思 う。もちろん、インドにも 日 本 にも 良 い 部 分 はある。インドは 何 と 言 っても 家 族 の 絆 が 強 いし、 言 語 をマスターする 能 力 には 驚 かされる。日 本 はマナーを 守 るとか、 勉 強 よりも「 生 活 力 」があDurga Puja 2011 www.batj.org 95

「 私 はアジア 人 ?」る 人 が 多 い 気 がする。( 日 本 で 家 政 婦 さんを 雇 える 人 はごく 一 部 の 人 ですからね!)皆 さんはこういう 事 をじっくり 考 えたことはあるでしょうか?私 はこういう 事 を 考 えすぎるので 悩 める 子 羊 みたいになっていますが、それを 乗 り 越 えてそれぞれの 国 の 良い 所 を 取 り 入 れられれば 最 高 ですよね!あと、 色 々な 国に 訪 問 したり 人 々と 交 流 する 事 で 物 事 を 客 観 的 に 考 えられる 様 にもなります。みなさんも 是 非 一 度 じっくり 考 えて 見 て 下 さい。 面 白い 発 見 があるかも 知 れませんよ!96Anjali