Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, - 400 018. Phone : 2496 4676 Fax : 2497 3827 Newsletter Gram : NEHRUCENTR E-Mail: [email protected] Vol. 13 Issue 11 NOVEMBER 2012 Website: www.nehru-centre.org

Price Rs. 10/- Per Copy Annual Subscription Rs. 100 Events At a Glance... Constitutionalism, Democracy and Secularism in South Asia A two-days National Seminar on Musharraf made several far Pt. Nehru Birth Anniversary "Constitutionalism, Democracy and reaching popular and 'democratic' Programmes Secularism in South Asia" was pronouncements and implemented organised on February 27-28, 2012. some of them. Art Gallery Prof. Maneesha Tikekar presented a paper on Pakistan's Search for Musharraf was seen as doing more BAL DISHA than any elected leader has been able Exhibition of Childrens’ Paintings Democracy Troubled Past and Tense Present'. In her presentation she to do. He had popular support. The 13th to 19th November 2012 analysed the nature of democracy in liberal and westernized sections of Nehru Centre Art Gallery Pakistan in two sections. In the first Pakistani elite and activists in the section she focused on the historical NGO movement were vociferous in Discovery of India Exposition b a c k d r o p o f t h e c o l o n i a l their support to him. The military Quiz Competition for Students administration and in the second general who had overthrown a s e c t i o n s h e f o c u s e d o n t h e democratically elected Prime Minister 29th November 2012 developments beginning with Pervez of the country was seen a Pakistan's Discovery of India Exposition Musharraf s takeover of the country in latest saviour. To begin with Musharaf had started: he arrested Planetarium 1999 to the political crisis of early 2012. Excerpts of her presentation in Section opposition leaders, instituted corruption cases, curbed civil liberties SPECIAL ASTROPHYSICS I was covered in the monthly and banned public rallies. Then he LECTURE Newsletter for October 2012. was on the path of controlled By Prof. Smita Mathur Following are the excerpts from her liberalization. The same regime that presentation of Section II: opened the media later started 18th November 2012, 11.00 am chocking it and cracking down of Hall of Culture Musharraf and After journalists. Musharraf'ss downfall came with two SPECIAL SPACE SCIENCE General Pervez Musharrraf seized episodes in 2007 that shook the LECTURE power in a bloodless coup in October country to the core. He had started 1999 dislodging from power the By Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee messing up with the higher judiciary rightfully elected government of trying to force the Chief Justice Nawaz Shariff. Musharraf took upon 30th November 2012, 5.00 pm Iftikhar Chaudhary to resign. On the himself the title of CEO of Pakistan Hall of Culture firm refusal of the latter to comply but became the self appointed with Musharraf's dictate he was Cultural Wing President before the Agra Summit of suspended but following the July 2001 between India and Pakistan. countrywide protests was reinstated YASHWANT SMRUTI He got himself duly elected as to his office in July 2007. He got (Rendering of Powadas on the life of President in the following year. himself re-elected as the President in late Shri Y. B. Chavan) Musharraf could be described as a October 2007 by the outgoing 'liberal autocrat' who spoke of Time: 11:00 am Parliament along with four provincial 25th November 2012, 6.30 pm 'enlightened moderation' and made Nehru Centre Auditorium Venue: Ground Floor legislatures that constitute the Ataturk Kemal Pasha of Turkey as his Discovery of India Building electoral college. As the Constitution role model. contd. on page 2 Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 1

1 bars the holders of unelected offices Memogate scandal and the NRO international financial assistance was such as army chiefs from contesting issue. The Memogate appears to have hard to come by if the army took over. elections, the Supreme Court stopped cooled down but NRO issue kept the Election Commission from brewing. A partial bench of the Conclusion declaring the result. Musharraf Supreme Court issued a warning to declared emergency, suspended the the government over its continuous Pakistan has had a great tradition of Constitution, sacked the senior judges failure to implement NRO decision active politics but there has not been a who refused to endorse his election and outlined six possible options that process of democratization of politics. and imposed martial law. Only when include permanent disqualification of This distinction between active put under pressure by the US, PM Gilani from getting elected as a politics and 'democracy' is crucial Musharraf removed his uniform, member of Parliament and instituting to understanding the nuances of appointed his successor, General contempt proceedings against him for Pakistani politics. Some Pakistani Ashfaq Kayani and became the "persistently, obstinately and analysts like Zaidi believe that there is civilian President before lifting the contumaciously resisting" to no real constituency for democracy in emergency. Earlier in the year the Lal implement the NRO verdict judgment Pakistan and therefore he wrote in Masjid episode in the heart of the of 2009. The two episodes together terms of 'the improbable future of capital Islamabad had rung ominous had put the entire nation on trial and democracy in Pakistan'. This sounds bells that adversely affected some even expressed fears if Pakistan rather overtly pessimistic. Musharraf's popularity and his slide was collapsing. became evident. Even before 2007, The crisis in Pakistan raised Musharraf had become unpopular in T h e C i v i l i a n g o v e r n m e n t ' s considerable debate over the Pakistan due to his support on the relationship with the military prospects of democracy in the 'global war on terror' and in the west remained tense after the two sides had country. What might work better for for his duplicity in the anti-terror war. fired several shots at each other. the country a "democratic" model or As is well known his government had Gilani had charged actions of the an "authoritarian" one. The real actually never ended their support to Army Chief and Director General of question is not about democracy militant and violent groups in the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in versus authoritarianism; but Afghanistan, Kashmir and India. t h e M e m o g a t e i s s u e a s whether an "under-developed" state, Musharraf finally stepped down from 'unconstitutional' and the army such as Pakistan, can "develop" as a the office in August 2008. retorted with a warning of very capitalist democracy without going serious ramifications with potentially through a fascist phase. Pakistan has General elections held for the grievous consequences. Despite these no option left now. It either stabilizes National and Provincial Assemblies bellicose/belligerent noises made by as a democracy, or it violently fails. in February 2008 were largely free and both sides the army did not move at all There is no third choice. fair. Benazir Bhutto's killing in in a bid to take over the country. Was December 2007 did cast a shadow on this an indication of growing strength Strengthening of democracy in elections but General Kayani had of democracy in Pakistan? That would Pakistan will be in India's interest. It is decided that army would keep its be too early to assume. But there were necessary to launch a meaningful new hands off the election process. The definite reasons for army's reluctance round of dialogue between the two. coalition led by Pakistan Peoples to do so. The domestic situation in And without the improvement in Party (PPP) with Pakistan Muslim Pakistan had become ungovernable, Indo-Pak relations Indian democracy League -Nawaz (PML-N), Awami economy was far from promising and will not prosper. National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Concluded Qaumi Movement (MOM) came to power and many in Pakistan believed that the coalition augured well for What Nehru said.... democracy. And yet people of Pakistan have been unhappy with the It had always been our policy to have friendly and co-operative relations civilian regime that came to power with Pakistan because this seemed to us essential not only because of after nine long years. The prospects geography, but because of our joint history, culture, language and the many for democracy in Pakistan remain bonds that had arisen between us during the long years. We had always uncertain for a plethora of deep aimed at that and we are sure that this is the only proper relationship that rooted woes of the country that should subsist between two neighbouring countries and people who have democracy alone cannot cure. had such close bonds in the past...... The Present Scenario November 30, 1962 The Supreme Court has taken on the government on two fronts - the

Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 2 SKY SHOWS : ‘Cosmic Journey and Heavenly Wonders’

Timings

12 noon (Hindi) 1:30 pm (Marathi) 3:00 pm (English) 4:30 pm (Hindi) NEHRU PLANETARIUM MONDAY CLOSED

PROF. SUBRAHMANYAN CHANDRASEKHAR scenario, the big bang persists and all known physics just LECTURE SERIES comes to an end there.

To overcome this limitation we need an even grander, deeper theory, quantum . a promising candidate which has made very significant advances in cosmology is loop of which Ashtekar is one of the founder. The equations does not break down at Big Bang.

Prof. Ashtekar said that this is possible because in loop quantum gravity, these are major departures from Einstein's equations near the big bang: unforeseen, brand new physics.

There is a brand new repulsive force of origin in quantum Prof. Abhay Ashtekar delivering a lecture geometry that comes into play near the big bang where matter densities and curvature are very large. It overcomes Prof Abhay Ashtekar, Eberly professor of physics the classical gravitational attraction and replaces the big and Director of the institute for gravitation and the bang by a . All physical quantities remain finite at cosmos, Pennsylvania state university delivered a the bounce. Furthermore, one can now provide well- Lecture of the PROF. SUBRAHMANYAN motivated initial conditions at the bounce that lead to CHANDRASEKHAR LECTURE SERIES on "The inflation and sub sequent in homogeneities in the CMB. This very early universe: Einstein and beyond" at the loop quantum gravity provides a quantum gravity Nehru Centre on July 25,2012.We bring you here completion of the inflationary scenario by pushing the excerpts from his talk. question of the origin of space, time and large-scale structure all the way to the big bounce. Prof Abhay Ashtekar mentioned in his talk that India and the US might soon sign an agreement to SPECIAL ASTROPHYSICS LECTURE construct a new gravitational wave observatory in India that will be part of an international network. A Special Astrophysics Lecture," Where is the matter? Hide

and Seek in the Universe" by Prof. Smita Mathur, Prof.Ashtekar, summarized the past efforts in Department of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, understanding the evolution of the universe. Columbus, USA on Sunday, 18 November 2012 at 11 a.m. in Presently, for simplicity majority of researchers in the Hall of Culture, Discovery of India Building, Dr. Annie cosmology say that the universe was born in a big Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400018. bang some 13.7 billion years ago. SPECIAL SPACE SCIENCE LECTURE Satellites cosmic microwave background explorer (COBE) and Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe A Special Space Science Lecture “NASA missions to (WMAP) provided us with very detailed snapshots asteroids and dwarf planets” by Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee, of the universe from the time when it was just 380,000 Director, NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, Center for years young. Inflationary scenarios provide an Space Education, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA on explanation for the tiny in homogeneities in that Friday, 30 November 2012 at 5 p.m. in the Hall of Culture, young universe which then evolved to form the Discovery of India Building, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, large-scale structure we conserve today. This is a Mumbai 400018. spectacular achievement. However, even in this

Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 3 STAR CHART FOR NOVEMBER 2012

Mercury (Budha) reappears above eastern horizon by the month end. On 29th it moves from Scorpius, the Scorpion (Vruschik) to Libra, the Scale (Tula).

The morning appearance of Venus (Shukra) above the eastern horizon is now getting over as it is sliding towards the horizon. At the beginning of the month it is a bit above the line joining Arcturus (Swati) and Spica (Chitra). On 11th thin crescent of moon is right above Venus and then next day it passes within a degree of Spica. On 17th Nov Venus is nearly on the line joining Spica and Arcturus and is within 4 degrees of Spica. Later on 27th it passes just about half a degree from Saturn. On 29th it moves from Virgo, the Virgin (Kannya) to Libra, the Scale (Tula).

Mars (Mangal) is quite close to the The map shows slightly more sky than that will be visible from a given location. Thus western horizon at sunset and the map can be used elsewhere in India at 21:00 hrs Indian Time. Hold the chart maintains nearly the same altitude. vertically before your eye sand turn it until the geographical direction you are facing One can try to catch it on 16th when shows at the bottom of the chart. thin crescent can be seen next to it.

Jupiter (Guru /Bruhaspati) is now above the western horizon at the Phases of the Moon (timings in IST hh:mm) sunrise. It remains in Taurus, the Bull (Vrishabha). Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Full Moon (Krishna Paksha (Amavasya) (Shukla Paksha (Poornima) Saturn (Shani) reappears above the Ashtami) Ashtami) eastern horizon at sunrise. It remain in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) this month. 07 Nov., 06:36 14 Nov., 03:38 20 Nov., 20:01 28 Nov., 20:16

(Disclaimer: The Indian names of the stars and planet, given in parenthesis for the purpose to remind the reader that India has a rich astronomical tradition. We do not subscribe to astrology.)

Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 4 In the Sixteenth edition of Nehru Centre's Theatre Festival - Cultural Wing Review 2012 organized from 7th September 2012 to 13th September 2012 at the Nehru Centre Auditorium, twelve dramas in different languages were presented. The festival was Theatre inaugurated on the 7th September 2012 with the Yashwant Smruti presentation of ‘Moteram’ in Hindi written by the eminent Festival 2012 writers Safdar Hashmi and Habib Tanvir based on a story by Munshi Premchand.

The other eleven dramas were : Satyashodhak (Marathi), Tirade Futi Kanpal (Gujarati), Santaap (Bengali & Hindi), Preth (Hindi & Bundeli), Aalbel (Marathi), Tumhari Amrita (Hindustani), Ghar Baar (Marathi), Nain Nachaiya (Hindi), Yumraj ji Kuchh Kariye (Hindi), Kerege Haara (Kannada) and Le Saugandh Tu (Hindi). ‘Moteram’

To commemorate the birth centenary year of late Shri Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan, Powadas on his life will be rendered by Shivshahir Shri Suresh Honaji Jadhav and his group from Aurangabad followed by Lokshahir Shri Devanand Mahadeo Mali and his group from Sangli. ‘Satyashodhak’

Lokshahir Shri Devanand Mali ‘Tirade Futi Kanpal’

‘Tumhari Amrita’

The festival was attended by the theatre enthusiastic, various theatre groups, college going students of Theatre Academy of Theatre Arts of

Mumbai University. ‘Aalbel’

Shivshahir Shri Suresh Jadhav

25th November 2012, 6.30 pm Nehru Centre Auditorium

Entry: Entrance Cards will be available from the Booking Counter from 10.30 am until availability of cards on 22nd November 2012 ‘Le Saugandh Tu’ ‘Yumraj ji Kuchh Kariye’

Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 5 The Art Gallery

PROGRAMMES FOR YOGESH SHIRWADKAR DEEPAK SALI NOVEMBER 2012 Yogesh has secured B. A. degree in Deepak has secured B.A. degree Fine Arts from M. S. University, from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, SALVA RASOOL Baroda; B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in Pune. He worked in Ad agencies and Fine Arts from University of Western received degree from Sir J. J. School of Salva is a graduate from Sir J. J. Sydney, Australia. He has had many Arts, Mumbai. His landscapes and School of Art, Mumbai. She works in shows in India and abroad. His compositions are in water colours contemporary Arabic Calligraphy paintings are figurative in oils and and acrylics. Art. Her Calligraphic compositions acrylics. are experimentation with myriad of colours, textures and styles. She uses Tuesday 6th November to Tuesday 6th November to material like terracotta, glass, leather, Monday 12th November 2012 Monday 12th November 2012 fabric, metal and much more in her ( AC Gallery ) ( Circular Gallery ) works. She has exhibited in India and abroad.

Tuesday 30th October to Monday 5th November 2012 ( AC Gallery ) BBAALL DDIISSHHAA -- EExxhhiibbiittiioonn ooff CChhiillddrreennss’’ PPaaiinnttiinnggss SANJIV VEDAK . KISHOR To celebrate Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's Birth Anniversary, Nehru Centre Art GOVILKAR . ARVIND Gallery organises an Exhibition of Childrens’ Art Works. This year we are RATHOD presenting three child artists.

Sanjiv secured B.F.A. in Ceramics Dev, 11 years old student of Arya from Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai. Vidya Mandir. He enjoys the feel of Presently working as a 3D Animator paints and enjoys using various with Prana Studio. His landscapes mediums, be it water colours, and seascapes are in acrylic on charcoal or oil. His paintings depicts canvas. his fascination for nature, universe and Almighty. The works are strikingly bold and ethereal. He has had a Kishor received B.F.A. in Applied couple of exhibitions in Mumbai. Art from Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai. He has worked for Ashana, 14 years old student of agencies and publications as an Sanskar Vidya Bhavan, Bharuch, illustrator. His portraits, landscapes, Gujarat. She paints animals, birds and seascapes are in water colours, oils nature in water colours. She has and acrylics. exhibited her works in Gujarat.

Arvind has B.F.A. degree in Painting from Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai. Treesha, 11 years old student of Over ten years he has been working Rajhans Vidyalaya, Mumbai. She has on 3D and 2 D Animation films and participated in many art competitions games for various studios. and won awards. She likes to paint landscapes and nature in water His portraits and landscapes are in colours. water colours and oils. Tuesday 13th November to Monday 19th November 2012 Tuesday 30th October to AC Gallery Monday 5th November 2012 ( Circular Gallery )

Nehru Centre Newsletter - AprilNovember 2011 2012 6 CHILDRENS’ ART BY DEEPAK NAGARE SHEFALI’S ART CLASSES

Shefali Raj trains children in Fine Art since last twenty three years. The children have achieved excellence in many competitions. The proceeds of this exhibition will be utilized for the education of under privileged children. This art class has been awarded ‘The Rose of Lidice’ medal by the Ministry of Culture of Czech

Republic. Painting by Deepak Nagare

Tuesday 13th November to Deepak has secured B.F.A. in Monday 19th November 2012 Painting from Jalgaon and A.T.D. ( Circular Gallery ) from Mumbai University. He has participated in many competitions and won awards. ‘DABS & JABS’ BY SHREYAS NAVARE His landscapes and portraits are in water colours. Painting by Parshuram Patil

Tuesday 20th November to school at Pen. His portraits of rural Monday 26th November 2012 people are in acrylic and oils. ( Circular Gallery )

Tuesday 27th November to HARI FULAWARE . Monday 3rd December 2012 PARSHURAM PATIL ( AC Gallery )

ARUNA MASCARENHAS

Caricature by Shreyas Navare

Shreyas is freelancing as an Editorial Cartoonist with Hindustan Times for the past five years. He has had many successful exhibitions in India.

His cartoons/caricatures have been Painting by Aruna Mascarenhas published in Hindustan Times, Painting by Hari Fulaware Mumbai Times, Sports Illustrated, Hari is a professional artist. His Aruna’s water colour paintings of Loksatta and Times of India, Thane. landscapes and seascapes are in birds and nature has a touch of acrylic and oils. He has had many Chinese art. Tuesday 20th November to shows in oils and acrylics. Monday 26th November 2012 Tuesday 27th November to ( AC Gallery ) Parshuram has secured A.T.D. from Monday 3rd December 2012 Khiroda. Presently teaching art in the ( Circular Gallery ) Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 7 R. N. I. No. MAHENG/1999/121 MH/MR/WEST/114/2012-2014 FOR PRIVATE DISCOVERY OF INDIA EXPOSITION CIRCULATION ONLY NEHRU CENTRE PUBLICATIONS Glimpses - Know Your India: BOOKS

WITNESS TO HISTORY STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM REMEMBERING EINSTEIN UPRISING OF 1857 INDIAN ASTRONOMY A Source Book The British officers' insistence that the soldiers 'bite off greased cartridges EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE: coated with cow or pig fat' was an outrageous affront, flouted with complete The Planetarium Way disregard for Indian religious beliefs. In March 1857, at Barrackpore, Bengal, Mangal Pandey openly revolted against the use of greased cartridges and was SCIENCE IN INDIA: PAST & PRESENT instantly executed. The news flashed across the country. On the 10th of May, DISCOVERY OF INDIA Indian soldiers mutinied in Meerut. Killing their British officers, they marched Abridged and illustrated to Delhi to proclaim Bahadur Shah II the Emperor of India. NEHRU REVISITED Very quickly the flames of rebellion spread across north and central India. The RULE OF LAW IN A FREE SOCIETY fiercest battled were fought in Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN INDIA Bundelkhand and Arrah. Unnerved, the British unleashed a reign of terror in the affected towns - where no one was spared. Colourful Catalogues of 1. G. N. JADHAV In September, Bahadur Shah Zafar II was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 2. ART HERITAGE OF MAHARASHTRA September 1862. 3. HAREN DAS 4. PROF. P. A. DHOND "Khoob Ladi Mardani won to ... Jhansi Wali Rani thi" 5. COLLECTOR'S PRIDE 6. K. B. KULKARNI Tantia Tope, the brilliant leader of the Marathas, harassed the British for 7. VINAYAK S. MASOJI 8. SAMAKALEEN months, till he was betrayed. (Contemporary Five Artists) VINAYAKRAO WAGH The 'best and bravest' of the rebel leaders, Rani of Jhansi, died fighting to the RAJARAM PANVALKAR end. Other prominent leaders of 1857 were, Nana Sahib, Bakht Khan, KRISHNAJI KETKAR Azimullah Khan, Begum Hazarat Mahal, Bahadur Khan and Rao Tula Ram. DATTAJIRAO DALVI GOVIND MALADKAR COMPANY TO CROWN 9. NAGESH B. SABANNAVAR 10. NARAYAN L. SONAVADEKAR After 1858 the tenor and texture of British Rule changed with the transfer of 11. "GURU-SHISHYA" power from the East India Company to the Crown. India's princely states were BABA GAJBAR & completely subordinated and became loyal allies of the British. The army was GANPATRAO WADANGEKAR augmented and British presence increased. For India it was the beginning of 12. D. G. KULKARNI (DIZI) increasing misery, poverty, humiliation, famine and despair. 13. MILLENNIUM SHOW (A Century of Art from Maharashtra) to be contd.... ART FUSION 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 Exposition open from 10.30 am to 5 pm - Every Day except Monday SANSKRUTI CD ROM : An Aesthetics of Indian Culture TO OUR READERS DISCOVERY OF INDIA Kindly write to us if there is any discrepancy in the address (or name). It is our aim to reach this VCD Version publication well before the beginning of the month, to ensure that you do not miss Set of ten greeting cards any programmes of Nehru Centre. Based on Discovery of India Exposition Published for Nehru Centre by Srinivas Krishna Kulkarni Editor : Srinivas Krishna Kulkarni Set of five assorted gift cards at Discovery of India Building, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Design & Layout : Pramod Rane & Imtiaz Kalu Designed by Handicapped children Worli, Mumbai - 400 018. Tel : 2496 4676 Fax : 2497 3827 Available at: Photographs : C. M. Karambelkar Discovery of India Exposition, Ground Floor, Printed at M/s Trimurti Enterprises, B/4, Gandhi Nagar, D. S. Road, Lower Parel, NEHRU CENTRE, Worli, Mumbai - 400 018. Mumbai - 400 013. Phone : 2494 5304 / 9820280366

Nehru Centre Newsletter - November 2012 8