debarath das blogspot

  The celebration of the New Year has deep roots in human history, evolving through various cultural, religious, and astronomical influences. This essay will explore the evolution and history of New Year celebrations. The concept of celebrating the New Year is closely tied to the natural cycles of the Earth. In ancient times, many societies based their calendars on lunar or solar cycles, and the New Year often corresponded with significant celestial events, such as the winter solstice or the vernal equinox. These moments marked transitions in seasons, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Religious influences have played a crucial role in shaping New Year celebrations. For example, in ancient Mesopotamia, the new year was linked to the spring equinox and was dedicated to the rebirth of nature. Similarly, the ancient Egyptians celebrated the New Year in conjunction with the annual flooding of the Nile, a vital event for their agricultural calendar. The Romans,...

I've developed an unusual interest in watching parallel films from Hindi Cinema in the last few months. Yes, 'unusual' because, as a fan of this genre, one typically explores big regional-international films first, rather than the works of Shyam Benegal or Govind Nihalani. The film under scrutiny is "Ardh Satya" from 1983, directed by Nihalani, which has recently gained prominence. While it has been compared to the more recent film 'Animal' for its exploration of psychological projection, the focus of this article diverges. The primary interest lies in understanding Om Puri's character and his struggle against a consuming society and his own ideals. In the film, Om Puri portrays Anant Welankar, a sub-inspector in the Maharashtra police, who initially joins the force with idealistic intentions. However, as he spends time in the Chowki, Welankar grapples with the sordid world of crimes and criminality. His haunting past and familial background, where his...