Visit to art gallery- Ajanta Exhibition

 ART GALLERY - AJANTA CAVES

I live in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. Bhavnagar is famous as a place of art and culture "કાલા અને સંસ્કૃતિની નગરી." It is said that a town or a city which has an Art gallery suggests that the citizens of a particular city or town are greatly interested in art and artists are respected in a particular city. Art galleries exhibit works by artists known by the general public; Exhibitions act as the catalyst of art and ideas to the public. Bhavnagar has one Art gallery named after the great artist Shri Khodidas Parmar.

   

   

SHRI KHODIDAS PARMAR

Shri Khodidas Parmar, a little- known artist of Gujarat who has greatly contributed to the fine arts. He has developed his own style of art, he was the one to introduce Saurashtra's Bhatigal style of art which is still kept alive by his students. He very significantly painted art and culture of Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat. 

 

This youtube video is of Khodidas Parmar's student's, who is talking little about his life and it has some paintings of Shri Khodidas Parmar.

Blog of journalist Tushar Bhatt about the life of Shri Khodidas Parmar

Khodidas Parmar has also tried his hands on Ajanta caves' paintings and to continue that idea and paying respect to their idol some of his students painted the caves' paintings and an exhibition was held on it. An exhibition took us towards two different eagernesses. One, to know more about Shri Khodidas Parmar and second, to know more about Ajanta Caves.

Shri Khodidas Parmar's Ajanta Painting

with his signature

                                                  
AJANTA CAVES

The current name of Ajanta is derived from a neighbouring village, the local pronunciation of which is 'Ajintha'. Approximately, 67 miles (107 km) to the north of Aurangabad in the Indhyadri range of Western Ghats lies the caves of Ajanta. The 30 caves, which are famous for their early Buddhist temple architecture and delicately drawn murals, are located in a 76 m high, horseshoe-shaped escarpment overlooking the Waghora (tiger) River. 

The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the 2nd century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship. The 29 caves were excavated beginning around 200 BC, but they were abandoned in AD 650 in favour of Ellora. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. The Ajanta Caves were gradually forgotten until their 'rediscovery' by a British tiger-hunting party in 1819.The site is a protected monument in the care of the Archeological Survey of India and since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

AJANTA HAS 30 CAVES - FIVE ARE CHAITYA (PRAYER HALL) 

& THE REST ARE VIHARA (MONASTERY).

 

PAINTINGS OF AJANTA

The Ajanta murals, owing to their inherent fragility and an abundance of destructive natural and maleficent human agents, have suffered considerable damage, often irrevocably so. Despite the depredations, the excellent craftsmanship (specifically in Caves 1, 2, 16, 17) shines through the defiled and blackened surfaces even today. The poise, poignant faces, and expressive gestures bear infinite significance. This includes those hand signals known as mudras which are core to yoga, meditation, and Indian dance drama.The carvings and sculptures at Ajanta wall are considered to be the beginning of classical Indian art. The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura's Jatakamala, and rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities. The great religious art of Ajanta through all its sincerity and refinement acts as crucial markers towards the journey within.

                                               

       

TECHNIQUE OF PAINTINGS

The technique used in Ajanta caves painting is 'FRESCO' technique. It would turn impossible to make paintings of the rugged walls of the Ajanta caves, to make the walls firm enough to hold colors the covering plaster was made, which was of ground ferruginous earth, rock grit, sand, vegetable fibres, paddy husk, and other fibrous materials of organic origin; Then a second layer of mud, ferruginous earth mixed with pulverised rock powder or sand and fine vegetable fibre helped to cover the whole interior of the cave. The surface was then treated with a thin coat of limewash over which pigments were applied.

Even the colors for murals were prepared with great care. Green color (glauconite) was obtained from the rocks present around; yellow, brown and of same shades were obtained from mud; blue color which is very rarely used was imported from Persia (lapis lazuli). Red ochre, yellow ochre, brown ochre, lamp black, white, and lapis were the main colours which were used; some say they were imported from Northern India, central Asia, and Persia. Paintings of Ajanta are mainly line paintings. 

In Ajanta murals the power of expression depends chiefly on the swiftness of its outlines. The bold, sweeping brush strokes portray an intimacy and sensitiveness that, even though the original lustrous colours have all but faded, reveal these to be works of adept minds and assured hands.

                                             

Cave 2 fresco above the right door

NATIVES, SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN THE ARTS AT AJANTA

The Ajanta cave arts are a window into the culture, society and religiosity of the native population of India of that time. Different scholars have variously interpreted them from the perspective of gender studies, history, sociology, and the anthropology of South Asia. The dress, the jewelry, the gender relations, the social activities depicted showcase at least a lifestyle of the royalty and elite, and also the costumes of the common man, monks and rishi depicted there. The Ajanta artworks provide a contrast between the spiritual life of monks who had given up all materialistic possessions versus the sensual life of those it considered materialistic, luxurious, symbols of wealth, leisurely and high fashion.

The early colonial era description of Ajanta caves was largely orientalist and critical, inconsistent with the Victorian values and stereotyping. According to William Dalrymple, the themes and arts in the Ajanta caves were puzzling to the 19th-century Orientalists. Lacking the Asian cultural heritage and framework that sees "nothing odd in the juxtaposition of monk and dancing girl", and with no knowledge of Jataka Tales or equivalent Indian fables, they could not comprehend it. The 19th-century views and interpretations of the Ajanta Caves were conditioned by ideas and assumptions in the colonial mind and saw what they wanted to see.

Spink states that Ajanta, "one of the most remarkable

 creative achievements in man's history".

Walter Spink: Spink's major contribution was to interpret the Ajanta Caves, He started studying the complex in the 1950s, and analysed the caves for over four decades in almost 100 publications. The culmination of his research was the Ajanta: History and Development series published by Brill in Leiden, Netherlands.

FOREIGNERS IN AJANTA PAINTINGS

The Ajanta Caves paintings are a significant source of socio-economic information in ancient India, particularly in relation to the interactions of India with foreign cultures at the time most of the paintings were made, in the 5th century CE. These foreigners may reflect the Sassanian merchants, visitors and the flourishing trade routes of the day.

                                                

                                                         Persian embassy scene

HINDU AND BUDDHIST

The Ajanta Caves were built in a period when both the Buddha and the Hindu gods were simultaneously revered in Indian culture. According to Spink and other scholars, the royal sponsors of the Ajanta Caves probably worshipped both Hindu and Buddhist gods.

That one could worship both the Buddha and the Hindu gods may well account for Varahadeva's participation here, just as it can explain why the emperor Harisena himself could sponsor the remarkable Cave 1, even though most scholars agree that he was certainly a Hindu, like earlier Vakataka kings.

— Walter Spink, Ajanta: History and Development, Cave by Cave

WINDING UP
The Ajanta paintings, or more likely the general style they come from, influenced painting in Tibet and Sri Lanka Some influences from Ajanta have also been suggested in the Kizil caves of the Tarsim Basin, in particular in early caves such as the Peacock cave.

The rediscovery of ancient Indian paintings at Ajanta provided Indian artists with examples from ancient India to follow. Nandalal Bose experimented with techniques to follow the ancient style which allowed him to develop his unique style. Abindranath Tagore and Syed Thajudeen also used the Ajanta paintings for inspiration. Painting of Ajanta caves turned into an inspiration for other artists in every form of art, many got inspired for Ballet, poem, writing etc. It became a great source of inspiration.

I support to a point that if the painters of the exhibited paintings would have visited Ajanta caves, examined the painting and if then painted the result might have been different. But still the work done by them is worth appreciating. Here, I am comparing two of the original paintings and exhibition paintings.

We can clearly see the changes in the brightness of colors. But it is astonishing to see how the natural colors used in Ajanta paintings are still alive after thousands of years. At present, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is making replicas of the four main Ajanta caves in order to preserve the original caves. The paintings of the caves are being affected by the flash lights so in order to reduce tourism at original caves, replica caves are planned.

Here we see how one art exhibition took us to Maharashtra and we gained a lot of knowledge about it.

These are my outcomes; If you find any changes,your perspectives are accepted.

Thank you.

[words count- 1596; paragraphs- 18]

Francis Bacon- Prose writer of Elizabethan age

FRANCIS BACON

The Elizabethan age is called The Golden Age of English poetry and drama, it should also be regarded as a glorious age of English prose, for English prose was set on the track of glory by such great prose writers as Bacon, Richard Hokker, sir Philip Sidney, sir Walter Raleigh, John Fox, Camden, knox and Thomas North with Sir Philip Sidney on the forefront. almost all Elizabethan prose is the nearness of their prose to poetry. It is colorful, blazing, rhythmic, indirect, prolix, and convoluted. The Renaissance spirit of humanism, liberalism and romanticism found full play in the growth and development of English prose in the Elizabethan Age  .

About Bacon:

Francis Bacon was born on 22nd January 1561 at York House near Strand in London. He was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord keeper of the seal and of the learned Ann Cook (second wife of Nicholas), sister-in-law of Lord Burleigh, greatest of the queen statesmen. 

Francis Bacon was an English Renaissance statesman and philosopher, best known for his promotion of the scientific method.

Francis Bacon had four idols and they are the four main fallacies or falsehoods that prevent people from gaining true knowledge and becoming the best versions of themselves. They consequently stop civilizational progress. These four idols are those of the Tribe, the Cave, the Marketplace, and the Theater. 

Bacon stated that he had three goals: to uncover truth, to serve his country, and to serve his church. Sir Francis Bacon is called the Father of Empiricism(the theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses). He believed in scientific knowledge that was based on experimentation and interaction rather than simple logical argumentation. He is, therefore, credited with developing the scientific method of study.

Bacon's education:

Biographers believe that Bacon was educated at home in his early years owing to poor health, which would plague him throughout his life. He received tuition from John Walsall, a graduate of Oxford with a strong leaning toward puritanism. He went to Trinity College, at the University of Cambridge at the age of 12, studying for three years he Came to the belief that the method and results of Science as then practiced were erroneous. His reverence for Aristotle conflicted with his rejection of Aristotle philosophy, which seemed to him barren, disputatious and wrong in its objectives.

It Was at Cambridge that Bacon first met Queen Elizabeth who was impressed by his precocious intellect and was accustomed to calling him “the young Lord keeper.” Next year in order to continue his education he accompanied the English Ambassador to France where he is said to have busied himself chiefly with the practical studies of statistics and diplomacy.

The sudden death of his father in February 1579 prompted Bacon to return to England. Sir Nicholas had laid up a considerable sum of money to purchase an estate for his youngest son but he died before doing so, and Francis was left with only a fifth of that money. Having borrowed money, Bacon got into debt. To support himself he took up his residence in law at Gray's Inn in 1579, his income being supplemented by the Grant from his mother.

Bacon in work:
Bacon stated that he had three goals: to uncover truth, to serve his country, and to serve his church. He sought to further these ends by seeking a prestigious post. In 1580, through his uncle, Lord Burghley, he applied for a post at court that might enable him to pursue a life of learning, but his application failed. Bacon then took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1582. That he had not lost his philosophy in the measures of the law. As a lawyer he became immediately successful; his knowledge and power of pleading became widely known. The publication of his essays added greatly to his Fame; but Bacon was not content. His head was buzzing with huge schemes - the pacification of unhappy Ireland, the simplification of English Law, the Reform of the church, the study of nature, the establishment of new philosophy, Meanwhile, sad to say, he played the game of politics for his personal advantage. He devoted himself to Essex, the young and dangerous favorite of the queen, won his friendship and then used him skillfully to better his own position.

During Elizabeth's reign Bacon head sought repeatedly for high office, but had been blocked by Burleigh and perhaps also by the Queen's own shrewdness in judging men. With the advent of James I one Bacon devoted himself to the new ruler and rose rapidly in favor. He was knighted. and soon afterwards obtained another object of his ambition in marrying a Rich wife. In 1613 he was made attorney-general, and speedily made Enemies by using the office to increase his personal ends. He justified himself in his course by his devotion to the king's cause and by the belief that the higher his position and the more ample his means the more he could do for science.

In 1617 he was appointed to his father's office, Lord keeper of the seal, and the next year to the high office of Lord chancellor.

End of Working:
Bacon did not long enjoy his Political Honors. The storm which had been long gathering against James’s government broke suddenly upon Bacon's head. When Parliament assembled in 1621, it vented its distrust of James and his favorite Villiers by striking unexpectedly at the chief advisor. Bacon was sternly accused of accepting bribes, and the evidence was so great that he confessed that there was much political corruption abroad in the land, that he was personally guilty of some of it, and he threw himself upon the mercy of his judges. Parliament at that time was in no mood for Mercy. Bacon was deprived of his office and was sentenced to pay the enormous fine of 40000 pounds, to be imprisoned during the king's pleasure, and thereafter to be banished forever from Parliament and court. Though the imprisonment lasted only a few days and the fine was largely remitted, Bacon’s hopes and schemes for Political Honors were ended; and it is at this point of appalling adversity that the nobility in the men's nature asserts itself strongly.

Bacon now withdrew permanently from public life and devoted his splendid ability to literary and scientific work.

Death:

In 1626, Sir Francis returned to England. It was a snowy day when Francis was on his way home when he suddenly thought of doing some experiments with the properties of snow. It was during this experiment that Sir Francis caught pneumonia and eventually died at Arundel mansion outside London on 9th April 1626.

Francis Bacon’s Works:
Francis through his work provided for a method of developing philosophy. In 'De Augmentis Scientiarum'(1623) (It is an enlarged translation into Latin of Bacon's The advancement of learning). Francis makes a distinction between the duty to community and duty to God. His famous work 'the Novum Organum' was published in 1620.

The title of Francis Bacon’s work is a reference to Organon, Aristotle’s work. In Novum Organum, Francis talks about a system of logic far more superior than the old methods of syllogism. This work shows the beginning of the Baconian(scientific) method. It can be therefore said that Bacon was one of the most intellectual and powerful mind ever possessed by a man.

Francis Bacon Essays:
Francis Bacon’s Essays is a collection of the essays written by the philosopher on a wide variety of subjects, such as mathematics, language, travel, history, truth, superstition, marriage and many more. He chose a vast range of topics in order to encourage people to think for deeply and analytically about everything. His essays cover a wide variety of topics and styles, ranging from individual to societal issues and from commonplace to existential. Bacon’s essays were received at the time with great praise, adoration, and reverence (Potter). From “Truth” to “Of Superstition” and “Marriage and Single Life”, Bacon covers a wide range of intriguing topics in order to challenge the human mind to think deeply; as he himself writes: “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider”

Through his essays, Bacon not only provided a solid framework for the modern genre of the essay but also provided his readers with a standard code of living free from superstitions and wrong notions.

Conclusion:

Bacon, during the enlightenment era, now, and forever, is a symbol for science and rational thought. Bacon's work spread and inductive methods for scientific analysis became more prominent. These methods, known as Baconian method, were intended to replace the methods of Aristotle.

Some Quotes by Bacon:

• Knowledge is power
• Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
• Money makes a good servant, but a bad master.
• Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

[word count: 1502]

Hindi Diwas- 14th Sept

HINDI DIWAS

हिन्दी दिवस प्रत्येक वर्ष 14 सितम्बर को मनाया जाता है। 14 सितम्बर 1949 को संविधान सभा ने यह निर्णय लिया कि हिन्दी केन्द्र सरकार की आधिकारिक भाषा होगी। क्योंकि भारत मे अधिकतर क्षेत्रों में ज्यादातर हिन्दी भाषा बोली जाती थी इसलिए हिन्दी को राजभाषा बनाने का निर्णय लिया और इसी निर्णय के महत्व को प्रतिपादित करने तथा हिन्दी को प्रत्येक क्षेत्र में प्रसारित करने के लिये वर्ष 1953 से पूरे भारत में 14 सितम्बर को प्रतिवर्ष हिन्दी-दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है। स्वतन्त्रता प्राप्ति के बाद हिन्दी को आधिकारिक भाषा के रूप में स्थापित करवाने के लिए काका कालेलकर, हजारीप्रसाद द्विवेदी, सेठ गोविन्ददास आदि साहित्यकारों को साथ लेकर व्यौहार राजेन्द्र सिंह ने अथक प्रयास किये।इसका मुख्य उद्देश्य वर्ष में एक दिन इस बात से लोगों को रूबरू कराना है कि जब तक वे हिन्दी का उपयोग पूरी तरह से नहीं करेंगे तब तक हिन्दी भाषा का विकास नहीं हो सकता है। इस एक दिन सभी सरकारी कार्यालयों में अंग्रेजी के स्थान पर हिन्दी का उपयोग करने की सलाह दी जाती है। इसके अलावा जो वर्ष भर हिन्दी में अच्छे विकास कार्य करता है और अपने कार्य में हिन्दी का अच्छी तरह से उपयोग करता है, उसे पुरस्कार द्वारा सम्मानित किया जाता है।

कई लोग अपने सामान्य बोलचाल में भी अंग्रेज़ी भाषा के शब्दों का या अंग्रेजी का उपयोग करते हैं, जिससे धीरे धीरे हिन्दी के अस्तित्व को खतरा पहुँच रहा है। जिस तरह से टेलीविजन से लेकर विद्यालयों तक और सोशल मीडिया से लेकर निजी तकनीकी संस्थानों एवं निजी दफ्तरों तक में अंग्रेजी का दबदबा कायम है । उससे लगता है कि अपनी मातृभाषा हिन्दी धीरे–धीरे कम और फिर दशकों बाद विलुप्त ना हो जाये। यदि शीघ्र ही हम छोटे–छोटे प्रयासों द्वारा अपनी मातृभाषा हिन्दी को अपने जीवन में एक अनिवार्य स्थान नहीं देंगे तो यह दूसरी भाषाओं से हो रही स्पर्धा में बहुत पीछे रह जायेगी । यहाँ तक कि वाराणसी में स्थित दुनिया में सबसे बड़ी हिन्दी संस्था आज बहुत ही खस्ता हाल में है। इस कारण इस दिन उन सभी से निवेदन किया जाता है कि वे अपने बोलचाल की भाषा में भी हिन्दी का ही उपयोग करें। इसके अलावा लोगों को अपने विचार आदि को हिन्दी में लिखने भी कहा जाता है। चूँकि हिन्दी भाषा में लिखने हेतु बहुत कम उपकरण के बारे में ही लोगों को पता है, इस कारण इस दिन हिन्दी भाषा में लिखने, जाँच करने और शब्दकोश के बारे में जानकारी दी जाती है। हिन्दी भाषा के विकास के लिए कुछ लोगों के द्वारा कार्य करने से कोई खास लाभ नहीं होगा। इसके लिए सभी को एक जुट होकर हिन्दी के विकास को नए आयाम तक पहुँचाना होगा। हिन्दी भाषा के विकास और विलुप्त होने से बचाने के लिए यह अनिवार्य है।

 

Hindi diwas from Jheel Barad