Quest of Humanity in the Inhuman World

<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms";">POEMS OF DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR</span></b><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms";">     — Dr. B.C. Dwibedy</span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncpfXm02Sg_B9_qg5suJCskc8b8-palfS0kB8IuMTNIY1zoTYpQ4fsNwijgIjjaFbP-GcklAlj3vhxHmhuw21LKHlzq_OZiHayZ64gxoWsRqMoTMM4BUHc6pBgtxB6XMmYCSy5gVshvGT/s1600/Photo-MB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncpfXm02Sg_B9_qg5suJCskc8b8-palfS0kB8IuMTNIY1zoTYpQ4fsNwijgIjjaFbP-GcklAlj3vhxHmhuw21LKHlzq_OZiHayZ64gxoWsRqMoTMM4BUHc6pBgtxB6XMmYCSy5gVshvGT/s320/Photo-MB.jpg" width="258" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Dr. V.N.Mishra has rightly observed in his comments about Poems: for Human Dignity by Dr.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14ffdf3553b70db2__GoBack"></a>M.Bhatnagar -a translated volume of his Hindi poems: “His man fired with faith divine moves on because he is firm in his conviction that one day the heart rose shall bloom in the midst of impediments galore (Poems: For Human Dignity-Introductory cover page remark by Dr. V. S. Mishra). It is definitely a giant leap by the poet towards the quest that this small essay is going to elaborate. </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">For the last half a century the poet has been with avowed activity towards glorifying human dignity. A majority of his poems flourish with such themes in the hearts of readers who seek human dignity at every step.  It reminds us of the humanistic ideal: “the primacy of man in everything” or the Pythagorean maxim “man is the measure of everything”.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In his volume Poems: For Human Dignity at the outset the poet hoists the flag of love as the first marker of human dignity. From love has evolved life and with love life is lived and bereft of loveit is shattered. It is the driving force behind every action of man and this vital factor of life is at stake in the present world. Everything that man does looks at love.  Here everything does not include the action of human beasts or rather we can call them human demons that the present world is replete with. The poet expresses his blissful attitude for mankind. He wishes every man to be rich with the worship of love.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Let every man</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">of the world</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">indulge</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">always</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">in this pure best worship.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-1)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet has lived the life of love and dignity and has experienced the pain of undignified life for almost three quarters of a century in the social history of the country. It is not possible for him to withstand such decline. He observes that the scene of love in the life’s drama is full of infidelity that leads to hatred, separation and divorce in conjugal life.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Dr. M Bhatnagar hasunfathomed sympathy for the dignity of woman. The way man is behaving with his creator mother, loving sister, nursing wife or the offspring daughter – it’s all exhibiting only infidelity in the place of love. The poet motivates the world to revive the dignity of woman.  Moreover he is inspiring woman to keep her dignity erect on the touchstone of adversity.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Man has tried to utilize woman as a “purse purchased commodity”. The poet  rather becomes rough in his voice by using phrases such as ‘soulless slave girl’, ‘brainless  hand maid’, ‘lifeless doll’ etc. –metaphors  for woman as in the context of today’s deteriorating  life style.  He has strongly objected to the projection of woman in the world’s eyes as ‘down trodden foot wear of man’. Moreover he rejects the age old Shakespearean maxim by saying that ‘frailty is not thy name’; rather he laments the ignored dignity of woman in every nook and corner of the world.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">O, long deprived pitiable, sad,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Prisoner! You jumped in the battle field</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Taking the oath of youth</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Co-operating with the world-wide</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Lament……</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-274)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet envisions in every woman the greatness of epic character Draupadi and relates the world affair with the consequences of the fall of her dignity. Draupadi was ravished in the king’s court by Dushasan and the consequence was terrible. A tear from a woman’s eyes is not a good indication for the world. The poet’s prediction is meaningful in this respect.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">You will create horrible turmoil</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">By offering of sacrifices,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Your struggle will not stop, you</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Will shake the universe</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Have to pay price to you ……</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-274)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">She is the living embodiment of love herself; when she is ignored her dignity is shattered, love –the driving force gets humiliated, peace is invaded and man’s life becomes barren, he is cursed. The poet’s vision is seen as an eye opener for the human world.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Dr. MBhatnagar invokes integrity in man who is utterly disintegrated from home, land, self and soul for the sake of money.  This is another marker of human dignity but today’s man is divided in a hundred ways by caste, creed , religion, birth and so on; as such he is helpless, oppressed and shameful. In a good number of poems Dr. Bhatnagar uses an abusive tongue for man of this world while lamenting the fall of dignity into abysmal depth.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Bottomless fall of creation’s</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">grand creature.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mean, narrow heart vomits</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Poison creating disaster.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-80)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In a major part of the volume the poet depicts the fall of dignity.  The notion that man is the replica of god has changed its meaning in the present context. While exploring the delicacies of human life the poet finds the inhuman substances. Man is not able to recognize his own self.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Again and again</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">our god incites us</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">to kill other’s god</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">to destroy the symbols of</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">their faith</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">and thus feel that</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">paradise</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">is secure only for us.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-68)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet here definitely points at the selfish attitude of man which induces him to be involved in acts that are not congenial to human dignity.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The division of man in various branches such as caste, religion, birth, status etc. is vehemently criticized by the poet. He inspires man to be united beyond all differences since that unified state of man is a step towards dignity. Then only poverty that compels man to be naked can come to an end.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">March, march ahead!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">To break</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Bestial horns grown on man’s head</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And sharp teeth</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">To snap</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The inhuman casteism!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">To concentrate</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In one string</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The society and the individual.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-80)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In a major part of his poetry Dr. MahendraBhatnagar has championed the cause of those who live life in an undignified manner due to poverty, untouchability, starvation caused by injustice and suppression by the strong, terrorized and suffering from violence. These ways of life have converted the life into hell. Man leaves with a new religion –that is the religion of deception. The poet strives hard to bring a change and induce man towards human dignity, to create a new surface – a platform – on which human dignity can take a stand.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Obviously, the poet does not appreciate the naked sense of communal dignity which is a vehicle for disharmony. A sense of communality is the allied force of jealousy and violence. Every community, rather every individual should be cautious that no community, no language, no religion gets damaged due to him/them; then only man will deserve the right of safeguarding his own dignity. The same principle works here- ‘do on to others as you wish to get’. The poet observes that communal harmony itself is a part and parcel of human dignity. Tolerating others’ creed is a healthy habit since it fosters positive sentiment in man leading towards safeguarding dignity.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Live in unity,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">this is the call of Karim and Shyam,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">There should be one Hind</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">is the call of Rahim and Ram</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-80</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In order to live life the common man has to work and earn. Love for labour is another facet of human dignity. Believing in wind-fall gain is detrimental to value of life. The poet tries to inspire man to grow with love for labour and not to tame the habit of swindling. That will control a major part of the world wide corruption. He vehemently criticizes those monks, politicians, ministers who suck blood from common man for amassing wealth and show to the world their fame and pride.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Dignity gives man protection from the attack of narrowness. Dignity of culture, heritage, and citizenship of a country helps man living with honour.  Deception or a life of double standard is not regarded as a worthy way for man. The poet tries to develop in man an indomitable spirit to dominate his complexes such as greed, avarice, anger etc. However, this is a transcended level that is to be reached at with much concentration and avowed activity by man.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">                              <wbr></wbr>                  Man will love his fellow beings</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Will rise above each division</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Forgetting the difference</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Between the familiar and unfamiliar,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Will welcome all.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">               (Poems: For Human Dignity-58)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It will be a life of self-restrained liberty. The poet wants to see man in the form of a free willed, self-disciplined, controlled and balanced fellow traveller. He observesthat a man who exercises his liberty carelessly so as not to care for another’s prestige and recurrently hurts others is not a man who deserves any dignity.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">This man</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Shot dead</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">That one</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">With a bullet,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Because</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">He</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Spoke</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">A different</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Language.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-64)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Not only that but if a man worships the same god in another name, another form, another language he is abominated. The poet has an aversion towards such people who cannot understand such minimum surface differences and thus cannot tolerate others. He invokes modern man with a great hope.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Consider different languages</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And scripts</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">As the accomplishments</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Of human intellect.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Modern men!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Now don’t remain mute</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And fence sitters.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-69)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet wishes to establish a sublime human religion which will be the marker of human dignity and human identity. He gives a clarion call to go back to the age of homosapiens when man’s identity was not linked with a country, a religion, a caste, a sub caste, a language, a dialect, a colour and a race. Through ages we have developed and we have fostered a block of ego for our dignity and that has taught us all the undignified manners.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Sun gives its light equally to the flowers and weeds and that is its dignity. Man will love the rich and the poor equally- that will be his dignity. Man in his present stature gives a shabby look. It is not the Shakespearean man who is known as the paragon of beauty made in the image of God, but it is the man without dignity. The poet does not find any light in the future path of man.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">On man’s future path</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Reigns the limitless darkness,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Reigns the thick darkness!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">No moon or sun visible</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Not even alarm trumpet is heard.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">On the cliff of death</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Stands the hushed humanity</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Staggering off and on!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-151)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 2in; text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet heavily draws upon the cause of grief in the down trodden men who are deprived of all the pleasures of life and who are left with no choice but to live without human dignity. The poet advocates in support of them and makes a resolution:</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Dignity of human may ever</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Be secured and respected</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It’s our resolution!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">We ourselves be the maker of our fortune.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">(Poems: For Human Dignity-151)</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 2.25pt; border-style: none none double; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; padding: 0in 0in 11pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: none; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The poet’s perseverance towards human dignity is a theme that indicates the progressive nature of his writings.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: none; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"> </div> </div>

Quest of Humanity in the Inhuman World

POEMS OF DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR      — Dr. B.C. Dwibedy Dr. V.N.Mishra has rightly observed in his comments about Poems: for Human...

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No meeting between PM Modi and Sharif in US: MEA

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>New York (SAT):</b> Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during his current visit to the US, officials said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "As of now there is nothing, no bilateral meeting on the schedule," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi and Sharif are staying in the same hotel in the city - the iconic Waldorf Astoria. When asked if there will be a "deliberate attempt" to ensure that paths of the two leaders do not cross, Swarup replied in the negative.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "There will be no deliberate attempt (at paths not crossing). If a hand shake happens, you will get to see it. If a pull aside happens you will get to see it," he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sharif is slated to reach New York Friday evening.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi will address the Sustainable Development Summit hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on September 25, when the new and ambitious post-2015 development agenda will be adopted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sharif is scheduled to address the high-level meeting on September 27.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi will be in California on September 26 and 27 and will return to New York on September 28, when apart from meeting US President Barack Obama, he will attend the high-level Peacekeeping Summit at the UN headquarters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Since Sharif will also be attending the summit, the multilateral gathering will provide a forum for the leaders of India and Pakistan to come face-to-face.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi, who arrived here on Thursday for his second US visit, will depart for India late September 28 or the early morning of September 29 but Sharif will remain in the city.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He will address the annual debate of the General Assembly on September 30, a day before India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the gathering of world leaders on October 1. (With Agency inputs)</div>

No meeting between PM Modi and Sharif in US: MEA

New York (SAT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during his curr...

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No meeting between PM Modi and Sharif in US: MEA

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <img alt="Narendra Modi with Nawaz Sharif" src="http://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/july-15/modi-sharif-meet.jpg.image.784.410.jpg" /><b>New York (SAT):</b> Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during his current visit to the US, officials said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "As of now there is nothing, no bilateral meeting on the schedule," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi and Sharif are staying in the same hotel in the city - the iconic Waldorf Astoria. When asked if there will be a "deliberate attempt" to ensure that paths of the two leaders do not cross, Swarup replied in the negative.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "There will be no deliberate attempt (at paths not crossing). If a hand shake happens, you will get to see it. If a pull aside happens you will get to see it," he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sharif is slated to reach New York Friday evening.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi will address the Sustainable Development Summit hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on September 25, when the new and ambitious post-2015 development agenda will be adopted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sharif is scheduled to address the high-level meeting on September 27.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi will be in California on September 26 and 27 and will return to New York on September 28, when apart from meeting US President Barack Obama, he will attend the high-level Peacekeeping Summit at the UN headquarters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Since Sharif will also be attending the summit, the multilateral gathering will provide a forum for the leaders of India and Pakistan to come face-to-face.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Modi, who arrived here on Thursday for his second US visit, will depart for India late September 28 or the early morning of September 29 but Sharif will remain in the city.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He will address the annual debate of the General Assembly on September 30, a day before India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the gathering of world leaders on October 1. (With Agency inputs)</div>

No meeting between PM Modi and Sharif in US: MEA

New York (SAT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during his curr...

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Sri Lankan Navy arrests 6 Tamil Nadu fishermen

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <img alt="Fishermen" src="http://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/just-in/images/oct14/fishermen-ap.jpg.image.784.410.jpg" /><b>Colombo (SAT): </b>Sri Lanka Navy on Friday said it has arrested six Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in Lankan waters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Navy said it assisted the Sri Lankan coastal guards in the seas off Kovilan Point to nab the fishermen last night.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "When the arrest was made the Indian fishermen had been fishing 3.5 nautical miles and 5.2 nautical miles off northwest of Kovilan Point," the Navy said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The arrested fishermen and their two trawlers have been taken to Karainagar to be handed over to the fisheries authorities, it said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The arrests came days after the Lankan northern fishing organisations rejected a request from their Tamil Nadu counterparts to discuss the recurring issue of poaching by Indian fishermen in the Sri Lankan waters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> (With Agency inputs)</div>

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 6 Tamil Nadu fishermen

Colombo (SAT): Sri Lanka Navy on Friday said it has arrested six Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in Lankan waters. The Navy said...

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Joy Banerjee apologises for his EC comment

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <img height="478" src="http://newimg.amarujala.com/2015/09/21/joy-banerjee-55ff78d31ee4a_exlst.jpg" width="640" /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Kolkata (SAT) : </b>Actor-turned BJP leader Joy Banerjee on Wednesday apologised for his controversial remark that "Election Commission is in our hands" and said he uttered the words in over-enthusiam and believed that the CEC is the protector and pillar of democracy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Banerjee's apology followed his visit to the state chief electoral officer, accompanied by BJP state president Rahul Sinha, after the EC asked party president Amit Shah to explain by September 25 Banerjee's remark that the poll panel was now under the party's control.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Sir, I believe that the CEC is the protector of democracy and the pillar of democracy. Hence, I apologise for the words I uttered in over-enthusiam and beg you to pardon me. Let me tell you sir I am neither a office-bearer nor any executive of the BJP state committee," Banerjee said in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner through state CEO.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "In that meeting, I tried to say that the Assembly elections would be by CEC and would be impartial and free from rigging. But because of my non-selection of words it came out otherwise," Banerjee stated in the letter.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sinha later told reporters that he was a film actor and had joined politics only a year back. "He (Banerjee) does not have much experience. It was his slip of tongue. BJP has full respect for democracy and democratic institutions," Sinha said, adding that a letter to this effect was submitted to the EC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Banerjee had told a public meeting at Mayureswar in Birbhum on September 20, "They (TMC) had defeated us by cheating. But in the coming Assembly election it will not be possible as it will be held under Army vigilance and the Election Commission is in our hands."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a letter to Shah yesterday, the Commission referred to the purported remarks of Banerjee and also to his remarks on the security arrangements for the Assembly polls in the state due next year.</div>

Joy Banerjee apologises for his EC comment

Kolkata (SAT) : Actor-turned BJP leader Joy Banerjee on Wednesday apologised for his controversial remark that "Election Commission ...

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Rahul Rawail resigns from Oscar jury over rift with Amol

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <img alt="Rahul Rawail resigns from Oscar jury over rift with Amol Palekar" src="http://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/entertainment/images/sept-15/rahul-amol.jpg.image.784.410.jpg" /><b>New Delhi (SAT):</b> Bollywood director Rahul Rawail, a part of the 17-member jury that collectively chose Court as India's official entry for the Oscars, on Wednesday resigned from the panel over differences with jury chairperson Amol Palekar.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Soon after Court - a Marathi courtroom drama directed by first-timer Chaitanya Tamhane - was announced as India's official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 88th Academy Awards, the news of Rawail leaving the jury started doing the rounds.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When IANS asked Rawail about it, he confirmed the news over the phone from Hyderabad, saying that it's "true".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "I've been hearing that people feel that I was not happy with 'Court' being selected. It is false. I am very happy with 'Court' and I'm proud of it," Rawail said of the movie, which even won the National Film Award in the Best Feature Film category for 2014.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "I'm proud that we had a great jury and some wonderful people who have a great knowledge of cinema and love for it... There was no issue in that, but yes there was one manipulative man. His name is Amol Palekar, who is the chairman of the jury. He is a complete manipulative person."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, Rawail - who has directed films like Jo Bole So Nihaal and ...Aur Pyar Ho Gaya - clarified that he is not blaming Amol for manipulating for Court.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "It is not that he manipulated for 'Court'. People are saying that Amol must have manipulated for 'Court' because 'Court' is a Marathi film. That is wrong," Rawail said and added that Amol's "general conducting of proceeding was often manipulative".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Film Federation of India (FFI), which selects the country's official entry in the Best Foreign Film category of the prestigious Academy Awards, to be held in Los Angeles on February 28 next year, appointed Amol as the chairman earlier this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Amol's own directorial Paheli was chosen as India's official entry for the Academy Awards in 2005. But it failed to make the cut to the final nomination list.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> (With agency inputs)</div>

Rahul Rawail resigns from Oscar jury over rift with Amol

New Delhi (SAT): Bollywood director Rahul Rawail, a part of the 17-member jury that collectively chose Court as India's official entry...

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Anushka Sharma croons Adele's song

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <img alt="Anushka Sharma croons Adele's song" src="http://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/entertainment/music/images/aug-15/anushka-sharma-croons.jpg.image.784.410.jpg" />Mumbai: It seems that actress-producer Anushka Sharma wants to try her hand at singing too. In a new 'throwback' video, she can be seen belting out British singer Adele's Rolling in the deep hit.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The 30-second video, posted by Anushka on her Twitter page on Wednesday, shows the star sitting on a chair and loudly singing Rolling in the deep in a very intense way. Though she's not all tuneless as her notes and pitch went haywire.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However this might not be the only time when fans are going to see Anushka singing as the 27-year-old added that she will not 'give up' on singing.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> While sharing a tweet of Thomas Edison's quote that read: "Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up," Anushka tweeted: "Yes! And that is why I will not give up on my singing . This is a sign! Thank you Mr Edison for this and the Bulb."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> (With agency inputs)</div>

Anushka Sharma croons Adele's song

Mumbai: It seems that actress-producer Anushka Sharma wants to try her hand at singing too. In a new 'throwback' video, she can be ...

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