Bihu's whispers: Recent Episodes
Bhavna Kandra
I am a learner of all sorts. This is where I celebrate my heart out, by reciting poems, singing melodies and reading out interesting finds.
Nashtneedh by Rabindranath Tagore was the first short story I read when I was 10. It anchored my interest towards literature, love and the hidden worlds of women. Gitanjali being my next difficult endeavour.Ten years ahead, I met my old friend Tagore through my new friendship with Samprita (fondly called Shomps) who held my hand and walked me through the edens of Bengali literature notably Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and the heavenly tunes of Rabindra Sangeet.This is an emotional tribute to my first friend Charulata as I sing along to this beautiful song by Kishore Kumar.
An attempt to sing this masterpiece by making it my own with emotion. Technically a lot more practice and work is required to be put in, which will be an active project for some time to come. Till then, this is what comes from me.
Appreciation of Dyson's bird-eye-view on the categorisation of approaches of pioneers into developing modern science.
Capturing the inquisitive riddles exchanged between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum from The Hobbit.
A poem which inspired Nelson Mandela through the struggles in his life and, through him to all of us in the times to come. Invictus is Latin for the word 'invincible'.
Of First Importance: which is the meaning of the Greek word that has been used to derive the word 'protein'. This chapter entails variety and versatility of protien as building blocks of life.
Inheritance and Chromosomes: contains a pre-science catch up at the idea of inheritance, followed by scientific logic and history of the development of the genetic theory.
I am starting a series of episodes which will encompass a book reading exercise. The book chosen is the 1963 print of The Genetic Code by Issac Asimov. I somehow luckily possess the original edition in hardcopy, thanks to the junkyard I got access to, at one of the research institution I worked in. Hope it would be a cheerful experience!
I am in love with this baritone major composition and wanted to do a sing along with the charming voice of Glenn Yarbrough. The song in the background is The Hobbit original soundtrack by Rankin and Bass. Here it is! Let me know what you think.
This is one of the most famous poems of J R R Tolkien from The Hobbit, part of which has been tuned with melody for the movie by Plan 9 and David Long. I have picked up the basic tone of the song and extended to first few verses of the poem. I have recorded it while it rained at my place, so as to keep the melancholy in place. Let me know if it added up to the whole experience.
Here are some quartets by Rumi read aloud with utmost love and care. These are English translations of Rumi's rubais by Coleman Barks, of which I possess a book about. I have chosen and read out poems from here.