'Mausiqui Ek Khoj'- A Series on Doordarshan on Indian Classical Music

This is a very very unique programme on Doordarshan. As we all know that Doordarshan always tries to inculcate the rich heritage of India to its audience through its various programmes. Going with the same aim, this programme 'Mausiqui Ek Khoj' is made. It is a programme on Indian Classical Music, showing us the magnitude of a 'raaga' by classical singers and also referring to famous bandishes, Gazals, non filmy and Hindi film songs on the same 'raaga'.

Ustaad Shujaat Khan is the presenter of the show, who introduces the particular 'raaga' in the beginning of each episode. His introduction is really beautiful as he sings the 'movement' (/'chalan') of the 'raag' along with playing the same on his sitar. After that, the same 'raag' is presented (vocal/instrumental) in 2- 3 different ways. In between, famous film songs on the same 'raaga' are also shown. Sometime film songs are performed live by an artist :). Many eminent artists as well as new talents have made their appearances in the show.

I have watched the episodes featuring Darbaari Kanada, Desh, Hamir, Jaunpuri, Jog, Jogkaus and some more.

There are total 52 episodes in the programme, as mentioned by Ustaad Shujaat Khan in one of the episodes. Which means they have covered 52  'raagas' of Indian Classical Music. What a great endeavour!! It was made by Gyan Seth Productions in 2005 and the background narration was done by- Shammi Narang. 

I am so happy to find this series! It is so so rare, like... finding a treasure :). A treat for the lovers of Classical Music!

I want to thank the Director Produced Mr Gyan Seth for making such a gem of a programme. The name of the production house is 'Gyan Seth Productions'. The series was made on 2005. I am giving these details for the interested readers who want to watch it. 


It is very sad that the complete series is still not there on YouTube... Hope someone or Doordarshan will upload the same which has immense value for all the music lovers!

Some episodes are there on Youtube if we search with the words- 'Mausiqui ek Khoj'. Do watch them. Thanks to the uploaders for making those parts available :) 

Now a days it is being aired on DD India, every morning at 8 am. Even if it is not being aired, do keep on watching Doordarshan (DD National, DD Bharati and DD India- all the three channels) as they keep on repeating all the programmes after a while.

With lots of best wishes.

(Edit- Previously I have included some episode videos here, but removed them later due to copyright issue.)

'Drishti Pradip'- A Bengali novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay

This was my first reading of any Bibhutibhushan story. I have heard so much about his writing, this book is a nice one. Previously I have only watched 'Pather Panchali' trilogy but have never read the original story.

This story is about the life of Jitu who at first lived in Darjeeling with his parents and brother- sister. Later their life changed completely as his father lost his mental balance and they had to shift to their ancestor's house for shelter. Here they faced poverty which affected all the characters in different ways.

It is the the main protagonist of the story-  Jitu, whose narration we read in the novel. We see the things and happenings from his point of view. He observes the life around him and responds to them.

Stressed about the poverty and lack of care in his ancestral house, Jitu comes to Kolkata to pursue studies. Then we remain with Jitu during his stay in Kolkata. Later during his job and also when he travels to various districts of the state, where he meets many people. There is a spiritual quest always in Jitu as he searches for something higher in the daily mundane life. Observing the general people and their faith, he feels about God and devotion in his own way, while attending a religious fair. This topic also returns later in the novel. 


He meets two ladies- Malati and later Hiranmayee- both of them touch his life in unique ways. Malati has a powerful impression on him through her personality, approach to life and through the spontaneous spirituality which is an integral part of her. I really loved the character of Malati. A lot is there to learn by all of us from her selfless service to others, Her simplicity, warmth of the heart and dedication towards her chosen vocation- makes her stand out among all the characters of this novel.

Hiranmayee comes late in Jitu's life when his personality has almost matured. 

Jitu feels for his father- mother- brother- sister, their life struggle pains him. He tries to help them and sometimes like any other person, he feels himself incapable of doing anything for them. Still he tries to take care of his family members sincerely. There are many more characters whom he meets and we get a glimpse of the society of that time. Jitu also spends some time like an ascetic in the company of a saint.

Reading this novel, I also remembered 'Srikanto' by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, where Srikanto also was a person who did not stay in a particular place for long, who would roam from one place to another and gather experiences throughout his life. There also we can notice the absence of any permanent 'home' (/ house) in the proper sense, as Srikanto always preferred travelling in comparison to staying at a particular home like the character Jitu here.

One interesting element of the novel is the 'visions' which Jitu used to have from childhood. Sometime they were like premonition, sometime they were the dream of another world- perfect and inspiring- sometime they were like a Realisation- a moment of Bliss, of motivation- to carry on with life, to realise that everything is in their right place and creation will go on. Jitu realises God according his understanding and finds peace in those thoughtful moments. Some of the moments are so vivid that they almost emerge in front of our eyes, we look at them and feel the same as Jitu. These descriptions by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay are wonderful!!! Just fills our heart with Bliss :). The title of the novel- 'Drishti Pradip' is significant because of these wonderful visions by Jitu! 

Overall this novel is a journey, we take with through the ups and downs of his life, sharing his experiences of real life along with his ideal/ dream life- which exists in the mind of all of us. The element of Spirituality- inspired by nature, or from everyday life-  is another speciality of this novel.

(Here I have uploaded the cover page of 'Drishti Pradip' published by Dey's Publishing. Photo is used for the purpose of appreciation only. No personal profit intended.)

Sadhusanga: A Book in Bengali by Gajendra Kumar Mitra

Sadhusanga is a compilation of tales about saints and monks, experienced by the author or by the friends, relatives, acquaintances of the writer. This book delves deep into the lives of monks, their life stories, philosophies. The stories amaze us, make us think and look more minutely in our life. Some stories are so astonishing that you need to read the book to experience it!

The ascetics are also from this world around us- we realise it while reading the book. Many stories have left an impression on me. From beginning to the end this book makes us walk with the saints, feeling their emotions, realising their life, their aim, daily details of their existence- very very fascinating book it is indeed. On one hand the stories are spiritual or ascetic if we consider their inner essence, on the other, yet not so in the sense that the stories also narrate the incidents of very ordinary family life, the life we lead normally, still they have the elements of sacrifice, renunciation and contentment in them, an aim to reach the Highest.

Another reason why I enjoyed this book so much is because many of the stories describe Haridwar and along with it many more famous religious places, how they were a hundred years ago. I felt this is so unique feature of the book as we have visited Haridwar many times and know many of the places described in some of the stories. While reading the book, it was amusing to imagine those known places in old days, with so few people around!

Do read the book to bring a new aspect in your life which will enhance your 'vision' by letting you see the world in a new light :).

Jai Shri Krishna.

(Here I have uploaded the cover photo of Sadhusanga by Mitra O Ghosh Publishers. Photo is used for the purpose of appreciation only. No personal profit intended.)

Bishwasghaatak: A Bengali Novel by Narayan Sanyal

This is a story of Manhattan Project, that is, the making of Atom Bomb in Los Alamos Virginia.

The plot is a mystery story, to find the person (scientist) who also supplied the formula of the bomb to Russia, while working in the team in America.

The story tells us the point of view of the scientist why he took the decision.

It is to keep the readers guessing that I am not mentioning his name here :D

At first about the writing. The very thing which attracts our attention while starting the novel, is the explanations of all the tough chemical formula/ theory in Bengali. Narayan Sanyal has done such a wonderful job here! Lucid language makes it easy for even a lay man to understand the difficult scientific procedures. How the energy inside the atom is released is narrated with step by step inventions by the scientists as well as with illustrations by the writer himself. I personally enjoyed this part of the book very much. Before starting the main storyline, Narayan Sanyal introduces us to the process of how actually the bomb is made.

Then in the story, we meet so many famous personalities! Famous in history or scientific world, like- J Oppenheimer, R Feynman, Max Planck, L Szilard, Niels Bohr, Hans Bethe and many more.

Many life stories by eminent writers or the autobiographies of the scientists themselves were the source of this novel, according to the Index at the back of the novel. Thus we can find so many amusing incidents about all of them in the story. Really enjoyable and astonishing! They tell us about those persons, their habit, their genius, way of working, their faith- we get amazed while reading them! We feel as if we are present when all these we were happening :).

The story unfolds itself in a very interesting manner. At first the probe begins about the probable traitor. Then the writer takes us back to the early days how the plan to make a nuclear bomb was first conceived. Then contacting the famous scientists and the various stages of research work. Then actual making of the bomb and all the discussions on the part of the Government and the scientists. We get a glimpse of the different characteristics of all those persons involved in the work from 1942- 1946. So many aspects are there in the whole story that it is impossible to write about all of them. You need to read the book to realise the full implication of the nuclear bomb. How some of the scientists were concerned about the well being of the world, how the endeavours of Einstein went in vain, how the wrong assumption about the research work going on in Germany led the scientists of America work harder, how the World War forced so many people along with the scientists to leave their motherland in Europe and take refuge in America and work for them (America). Life presents such difficult situations in front of us!

One interesting thing also is the way the scientists of Germany were working, how they coped with the existing situation there and decided to continue their work in an intrigued manner. We feel the emotions of all those characters while reading about them.

I enjoyed the story because of its unique storyline, detailed information and the way the case is dealt with.

At the end there is a Timeline also, so that the reader we can look at the happenings with reference to history. Another list of the spellings of the original names of the personalities  mentioned in this book along with the Bengali spelling which Narayal Sanyal used in the novel is also there. Some more Notes are also there at the end of the book which are very helpful for the readers.

Really a wonderful work by the multifaceted Narayan Sanyal!

(Here I have uploaded the cover photo of the 2014 edition of the book by Dey's Publishing.

Cover photo used only for the purpose of appreciation, no personal profit intended.)