SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014 (PAGE-4)

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PERSONALITY Living Legend Dilip Kumar Remembering Shankar Ghose Inder Jeet S ‘Prince’ the new hero of Bombay Talkies is an anaemic addition Anshu Meshack 1990s.he had, by then, pioneered several philanthropic ini- to our film artistes. He needs a lot of vitamins and a pro- Dilip Kumar (real name Yusaf Khan) was born on Dec tiatives and was involved with a variety of social and devel- longed treatment of proteins before another picture can "We must have a sense of history", was the last conver- opment organizations. Hanging up his boots was simply not 11, 1922 in Peshawar (Pakistan). It is indeed a miracle be risked with him. He looks gaunt and famished and sation a visibly-frail Shankar Ghose had with his daughter, that a former fruit merchant went on to become India’s an option. He plunged headlong into the development sec- strikes one as a long ill treated convict who has escaped Ela, in the intensive care unit of a Gurgaon hospital. The tor fulltime, leading the prestigious National Foundationfor greatest actor Dilip Kumar’s life as an actor began from from a jail. His appearance on screen creates both laugh- man who intended to retire at 80 lost a long, determined May 1942 at Bombay Talkies Studio, Malad, Bombay. India for a successful five-year term. ter and disappointment. His acting effort in this picture battle against cancer on the night of June 14, months short Perhaps the most testing time came in 1997, when his He was merely 19 years and 5 months old at that time. amounts to Nil.’ of his 79th birthday. And yet, his remarkable eight-decade It is said that it was famous actress Devika Rani who son Sanjoy, then 39, was abducted by the ULFA while he However, destiny had something strange in store for long journey reflects a sense of historyas rich as the young was working in Assam's Majuli Island as a development spotted him at Pune’s Military Canteen. She told him to Dilip Kumar. He went on to sign one tragic film after India he saw evolve significantly during his come to Bombay and offered him his first film ‘‘Jawar another and eventually came to be crowned as the lifetime. Bhata’’. Yusaf Khan was given screen name of Dilip ‘Tragedy King’ of Bollywood thanks to tragic characters Born in Patna to a senior Gov- Perhaps the most testing time Kumar. He was playing the 2nd lead opposite a new lady he played in films like ‘Mela’ (1948), “Deedar’ (1955). ernment Officer and a feisty Mridula: However, Dilip Kumar showed his malleability in films young housewife who had came in 1997, when his like ‘Aan’ (1953) where he played a sword slashing been an active freedom prince ‘Amar’ (1954) where in the darkest role of his fighter, Ghose was the eld- son Sanjoy, then 39, was career he raped the heroine and ‘Leader’ (1964) where est of four children. He he showcased his comic genius. He was a method actor studied at missionary before the term came in vogue. His melancholic face, schools, developing an abducted by the ULFA filled with the pathos of unrequited love continues to affiliation towards haunt film lovers till today. The actor is considered on Christianity that instilled while he was working in institution in himself. in him a deep sense of Dilip Kumar, who was crowned the king of tragedy, spirituality that lent him Assam's Majuli Island himself believed that he was being type cast and want- courage in difficult ed to opt out. He said in one of his interviews in 1952 times. His well-thumbed as a development as,’’ I do not know why every producer wants me to die copy of The Bible, by his in his films, why every director wants to see tears in my bedside since the early eyes, why every screen heroine has to desert me on the 1950s,is testimony to this worker. All efforts to find screen and why audiences expect me to wear a serious, faith. Indeed, the countless The hero was Agha. Film was written and directed by tragic expression all the time. It is so monotonous ..... evenings spent singing him failed, and the void Amiya Chakraborthy. and so depressing!’’ hymns and Christmas carols Dilip Kumar’s very Ist shot required him to run so as Dilip Kumar played a lover with aplomb on screen are memories that elicit warm never quite filled. to rescue the heroine Having played football and hock- was actually a quiet, reserved soul who felt shy when it smiles from family and friends alike. came to talking to girls in college and had to overcome ey all his life, Dilip ran as fast as he could-hoping prob- Former schoolmates recall fond worker. All efforts to find him failed, and the void never quite ably to convey the urgency that only a hero could feel his fears while shooting with his heroines. memories of Shanks,as he was known to friends, in St. The love lorn bachelor who had reconcilled himself filled. For many years after, the hope that he would return while rescuing the heroine. But before he could reach Stephen's College - an institution that stayed close to his someday stayed alive. But it was not to be. Mridula, the director had called ‘cut’ “you are running to a life of single blessedness, surprised himself and the heart all his life. His respect for the institution reflected in world when he married ‘beauty queen’ Saira Bano in A devastated father could have chosen to let the anguish much too fast. Our camera can not follow you at that the active role he played as head of the Old Boys Associa- fester, but Ghose channelized it otherwise. The retirement speed’’ said Chakraborty. Several takes later Dilip man- 1966. He was 44 at that time & Saira was just 22. It was tion of the College for an astounding 19 years. To him, noth- rumoured that Saira was madly in love with actor Rajin- plans were shelved once again. He took on the mantle of aged the gentle trot that the director wanted & the shot ing could mar the glory of the institution; it was simply "the leading Charkha, an organization his son had launched was okayed. der Kumar. Since jubliee Kumar was already married, to College." save her daughter from mental agony, her mother three years ago, that had been floundering with little direc- The actual ‘rescue’’ happened only the next day by He imbibed a sense of responsibility early on, taking tion since the abduction. which Dilip’s embarassment had ample time to rise to Naseem Bano hurriedly married off Saira to Dilip charge as head of the family at the tender age of 18 while Kumar’s “Bairaag’’ (1976) was his last film as a hero. In For well over a dozen years thereafter, and till his last the fore. “I was too nervous to even touch her (Mridula), he was still in college, owing to his father's sudden death. breath, Ghose dedicated his efforts to Charkha. Under his recalls Dilip Kumar and adds “let alone hold her with both 80’s he started doing character roles. His memorable The family struggled duringthose difficult times together, leadership, Charkha became an established name in the hands’’. This was something his career as a sportsman films were “Vidhata’’, “Shakti’’ (1982) “Karma’’ (1986) & cementing relationships that were to stay strong right to the field of development communication, with Ghose personal- had not prepared him for. And if there was anything which ‘‘Saudagar’’ (1991) Dilip Kumar starrer “Kalinga’’ was end, with the three siblings by his side through his last ail- ly leading his team to work in some of India's most difficult would have made him give up a career in films, it was launched with much fanfare in 1991. It remained in the ing days. areas, including places where conflict had sidelined devel- this “Jawar Bhata’’ took an unusually long time to make making for a very long time and was finally shelved due Starting as a young management trainee at Caltex, right opment. and was eventually released in Bombay on Nov, 29, to financial problems. “Qila’’ (1998) was Dilip Kumar’s after graduation, Ghose moved up the ranks swiftly. His was Well into his late 70s, he continued to travel extensive- 1944. The film opened to a lukewarm response and even last released movie. The thespian has not faced the cam- a generation that was partaking of nation-building in a young ly to remote locations, urging the youth to come forward and the presence of Amiya Chakraborthy as writer director era since then and has involved himself in various char- India, brimming with promise and pride, eager to enjoy the could not salvage the film which dealt with the age old itable concerns. Now-a-days his health is posing a prob- fruits of the democracy their parents had fought for. share in the challenging task of nation-building.Concerned story of a girl torn between the love of two men (Agha lem. He is reportedly suffering from Alzheimers disease Ghose married Vijaya Rao, known to all as Viji, when he about the growing fissures in a fractured society, he instilled and Dilip Kumar) filmdom’s leading journal film India’ dis- and remained confined to his house most of time. was barely 22 and she, 21. Together for 55 years, they were in his team the urgent need for bringing congruence and missed the film as nothing outstanding but was particu- His health may have deteriorated but the actor will a much-loved couple to their culturally varied families, the harmony among faiths, making it an integral part of all pro- larly savage in its criticism of Dilip Kumar. “Dilip Kumar continue to inspire the generations to come. meat-loving Ghose's co-existing in perfect harmony with the grams he designed. strictly-vegetarian Rao's. Their two children, Sanjoy and Corporate executive, philanthropist, development work- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Ela, grew up in an environment of uncommon kindness, er, environmentalist.Ghose was all these and more, with a imbibing their father's spirited enthusiasm for life and their spirited involvement in everything he did and a humane ten- mother's pragmatic outlook and quiet courage. All beings derness that touched lives, creating friendships that were showered with equal affection in the Ghose house- remained fresh even six decades after they were formed. It hold:pedigree and stray dogs, the occasional owl and para- earned him the love and admiration of people everywhere. Of Android phones keet, and the hundreds of people whose friendship they The twinkle in his eyes and the warmth of his ready smile measured in decades, not years. will remain with those whose lives he touched in countless Yantragyan * Disable App Notifications After a successful corporate career spanning four ways. Frustated by annoying app notifications that just keep decades, Ghose retired from the Shriram Group in the mid- Charkha Features Android is going great today. More than a half of world coming? If you don't know already, these app notifications uses android. That's a great thing. But it's performance also drain your phone's battery. If you want to turn them off, varies from 'excellent' in high end phones like HTC One, and you are on Jelly Bean 4.1 and above, here’s how : NATURE Samsung S5 and LG G2 to ' average ' on budget android Click on any of your unwanted notifications in your phones and basic Chinese phones. notification bar, long press o the notification for a mes- Make it run faster sage box to appear. Most of us find our android phone becoming slow Vanishing vulture Tap on App info>Untick Show Notifications>OK after some time especially if it is budget * Disable live wallpaper android phone. You can do following * Prefer to hear music on things to make it bit fast Taken for granted since time Disable live wallpaper by going to earphones over phones settings native speakers immemorial, few noticed the rap- * Go to settings and disable animation * Last but not the least id decline in the number of vultures effect for menu switch off the phone and go Disable unnecessary things which you sleep, Or buy a basic Nokia in India until disaster struck. Some are in Use like Gps, WiFi and auto sync. phone that doesn't have fea- frantic research and concerted Delete app cache by going to set- tures but surely serves it's tings>applications purpose of calling. efforts over the past few years have You can also download applications like Check your phone for cache cleaner, nq mobile booster, etc to update just begun to stabilise the numbers. best performance. Go to settings>About Uttara Gangopadhyay reports. Increase Battery life phone/tablet It is one area where everyone want more Tap on System updates. out of its phone. You can follow these tips to increase Tap check now to look for system updates. Their dedication to the work nature has endowed them with posal system to take care of dead cattle and slaughter house your battery life Taking Screen shots on your Android device - to rid the world of carrion - should have earned them kudos waste, the vultures keep the environment clean and disease- * Turn off mobile data if you are not using * For android 4.0 and above as virtuous workers but alas, it is the very thing that turned them free. Besides, their disappearance also encouraged the Go to Settings> Data Usage. Press power button and volume down button for 2 into villains. And their apparently ugly shape - bald and feath- increase in the number of feral dogs and rats, which were prov- Disable Mobile data by toggling the setting from ON to seconds, you'll probably hear a sound after snapshot is erless - and characteristics such as ability to spot a carcass ing detrimental to human health. OFF. from high and eat putrefied flesh have made vultures one of Supported by BNHS and other international bodies, * Keep screen brightness to lowest possible or you taken. For android 2.3 and below nature's least liked children. With the Zoroastrians leaving their researchers began to frantically search for the cause resulting can probably turn on auto brightness dead exposed to the sun and the birds of prey, mostly vultures, in the humongous decline in numbers. Samples of dead birds * Turn off cell phone vibrator if possible, it's one of These old version do not have screenshot capability has heightened the bird's symbolic association with death. The were dispatched to pathological centres to determine the cause the major battery sucker. by default, you may need to download a app for this. bird is loathed so much that during a visit to Pench National Close the apps running in background, if not in use Download this app Screenshot of death. Efforts were also being made to capture young birds * Download apps like Juice defender and other good * For Samsung phones Park in Madhya Pradesh, we found few visitors interested in from the wild and start captive breeding programmes at pres- reputed apps. Press menu button and power button for 2 seconds, observing the vultures when we happened to spot a group. elected sites. * Don't download crappy apps that have various you'll probably hear a sound. Hence, when these once abundant birds across India started Many tests later, in 2003, researchers from the Peregrine advertisements and do not work properly (Follow us on Facebook-Yantragyan for more interesting posts.) disappearing, few noticed the loss. Fund found the answer - diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflam- According to some reports, in the early 1990s, people in cer- matory drug. The drug was being widely used to treat sick cat- tain north Indian regions began to notice that a large number tle in the Indian subcontinent. Further studies confirmed their HEALTHLINES of cattle carcass were lying around; earlier the vultures would findings. When the contaminated dead cattle were dumped for dispose of the carcass but not anymore. Soon, other areas in the birds to devour, the toxicity was killing the birds. Vultures India began to notice a decrease in the number of vultures. nest once a year and lay a single egg. This restricts the growth Researchers too began to note the drastic fall in the number of in the number of birds. Now felled by diclofenac, the birds hard- Health benefits of pumpkin seeds the birds. Vibhu Prakash, a biologist with the Mumbai-based ly had a chance of survival. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), had recorded nearly After much advocacy by conservation organisations, in Dr Juhi Gulati Amla * Osteoporosis: Pumpkin seeds are very beneficial 350 breeding pairs of white-backed (white-rumped) vultures in 2006, the Drug Controller General of India banned the veteri- for women who are suffering from osteoporosis as it con- When it comes to the health benefits of pumpkin Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Rajasthan) in 1987. He found nary use of diclofenac. Pakistan, Nepal and recently tains good amount of zinc which helps to boost the seeds, they are many in number. Pumpkin seeds are only 150 pairs in 1996, which dwindled to 25 the following year Bangladesh too have enforced similar bans. It has not been high in zinc, magnesium and vitamins like K and E. Many immune system and fights osteoporosis. and in 1999 there were none. clearly understood yet why diclofenac affects the vultures but people are not aware of that and they throw away the * Prevents Cancer: One of the most deadliest and India has nine species of vultures, of which the white backed not other animals, like the feral dogs, that eat the contaminat- seeds after they prepare a pumpkin dish. Pumpkin seeds common disease which is spreading is cancer. The best (Gyps bengalensis), long-billed (Gyps indicus), slender-billed ed carcasses, the ban has started yielding results. are very beneficial for those who are suffering from long health benefit of pumpkin seeds is that it helps to pre- (Gyps tenuirostris) vultures are endemic to South Asia. Accord- Although diclofenac has now been established as the root term diseases like Arthritis, heart diseases and cancer. vent any type of cancer. ing to researchers, the number of all these three Indian Gyps cause of the drastic decline in the number of vultures, some * Diabetes: Pumpkin seeds are rich in acids, which vultures - believed to be among the most numerous birds of naturalists do not rule out the overall negative impact from helps the diabetic patients to regulate the insulin & also prey in the world prior to the 1990s - had dipped sharply in the decrease in green cover, the use of pesticides and activities protects the diabetic patient from kidney problems. decade since then; the number of white-backed had declined such as destruction of bird life around airports. * Kidneys: Those who are suffering from kidney by 99% while that of the other two by almost 97%. The birds Realising that banning the drug is not sufficient to stabilise were declared critically endangered by the International Union stones should consume pumpkin seeds on a regular the number of vultures in the wild, BNHS, with financial support for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). from the UK-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds basis or at least once in a week. These seeds will dis- Prakash and other researchers observed that in many areas (RSPB), has been instrumental in setting up three vulture con- solve the stones naturally. vultures were sitting on branches with their necks drooping on servation breeding centres at Pinjore (Haryana), Rajab- * Relieve the Pain: The Anti-inflammatory properties their chests and appeared lethargic. Vultures in India are part hatkhawa (West Bengal) and Rani (Assam). Besides, in asso- of pumpkin seeds help to reduce pain and inflammation. of the Accipitridae family; the species from this family are known ciation with Rio Tinto and BirdLife International, BNHS is all set * Super-Food: Pumpkin seeds can be termed as a for their ability to find food by sight rather than smell. The birds, to establish a Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) in the Bundelkhand Super-food, because it boosts our energy levels. their wings spread out, would fly over large areas looking for region of Madhya Pradesh. The VSZ is ideal for introducing We can consume pumpkin seeds in a lot of ways like * Heart-healthy: Those who are suffering from heart food. Hence the lethargy in the birds was strange indeed. captive bred vultures into the wild. Although one cannot be sure chewing the seeds or crushing the seeds. problems should make it a habit to consume pumpkin Researchers from Pakistan and Nepal also began to report the if the drug is still being illegally manufactured and used, * Stress Relief: The anti-stress neurochemical in the seeds which helps to get rid of coronary artery and car- decline in the number of vultures seen in these countries. researchers believe that the ban coupled with other supporting pumpkin seeds helps relieve anxiety and other relat- diovascular disease. Vultures are seen as a key species in the ecological chain. efforts have begun to yield results and the number of vultures ed conditions. (The author is Consultant Dietitian/Nutritionist) The Food Clinic) In countries such as India, where there is no large scale dis- in the wild may stabilise in the near future. (TWF)