On Legacy and great exemplary #courage: Muhammed Ali #muhammedAli

The greatest #MuhammadAli has left us a #Legacy of REAL COURAGE, showing #courage when it mattered most and for the benefit of all. To Echo the Obama's "He showed courage when others wouldn't, he stood up for his beliefs"

We are all better off for his being here and for him being himself. He is indeed the greatest example of a #Hero for our children to emulate, regardless of where in the world you are from.

Mr. Ali IS a hero of mine and lived a life I aspire to, in courage, conviction and leadership. Regardless of the consequences, he stood up and spoke out, even to his own detriment, if that is not courage, I don't know what is. During his opposition to the vietnam war, he expected to be executed for his stance, yet he did it, remember, in the 1960s assisination was commonplace, JFK and Martin Luther KIng Jr both fell to assassins plus the US armed forces could have court marshalled him and sentenced him to a firing squad, yet, just like my other hero, Nelson Mandela, He did it anyway. he stood up and spoke out. and famously said "what did those vietcong ever did to me? NO vietcong ever called me #nigga, why should I go over there to fight them." around the same time George W. #Bush was draft dodging, also not wanting to go to vietnam, but for very different reasons, not courageous at all in my opionion.

Would you be willing to put your life on the line for your beliefs? think about that a moment, and now you really begin to see the measure of Muhammed Ali. We all hear horror stories of the way black people was treated in this country, for hundreds of years, right into the 1960s, this aplifies the nature of his stance.

But to be clear, he was #courageous his entire life, it takes courage to aska police officer to train you, at 10 years old anyway, he was courageous when he represented the #USA and won #Gold at the #Olympics, he was courageous and some say outrageous when he decided the fight the toughest heavy weights in the world, from #Frazier to #Forman. He was courageous everytime he lost and came back to win. He spoke like a hero and he fought like alike Hero his whole life, in every arena.

We now must create comics books and videos, and more movies and classroom lessons for our kids about this, the greatest hero of all, a most exemplary of men, Mohammed Ali. #Prophet Mohammad himself, on whom be peace, is looking down and and marveling at the chance to finally meet his namesake. A hero for all, a Hero for all time.

TRINIDAD #DOUBLESDOWN ON #DIWALI WITH 10 DAYS OF CELEBRATION #India

That's Right #India, your #CaribbeanCousins in #Trindad and #Tobago (T&T) have doubled down on Diwali. while in India you celebrate for 5 days, in Trinidad we do 10 days, In 2015 it began with the opening of the of the Diwali Nagar (Diwali village) on November 1st. Today November 7th, 2015 #Diwali is the #1 trending topic on #Facebook. To say that Diwali is big in T&T, is like saying that we need air to breath. Regardless of Race or religion, it's a national event that's become highly commercialized and ritualized. while the Hindu folks still fast and pray and do their Pujas, the entire nation revels in the 10-day "Diwali Season", with both businesses and politicians going nuts to be seen as a supporter of Diwali.

The Diwali Nagar is also the first Diwali Theme park created in the world and is now being "imported" by at least one Indian municipality we know of, Trade missions from India is always brought to the Diwali Nagar, where the T&T Government shows off our massive theme park, which lies dormant during the rest of the year, save for the occasional concert and the annual "Hanuman ChanTTing". Diwali is loved so much by the Indo-Caribbean peoples' of Trinidad and Tobago, they bring it with them whenever they migrate, here in New York City this is evident by the annual Diwali Motorcade in South Richmond Hill, Queens.

In T&T, the 10 days is replete with activities that only happen at this time of year, the creation of Bamboo scapes (using bamboo to make designs and structures to hold and present Deyas), please see photos below. Deyas are the ubiquitous vessel made of clay that holds a wick and a couple ounces of oil, that was used to light the way for Ram and Sita as they return victorious from the forest. In T&T, coconut oil is the most common fuel used for the Deyas. There are competitions that reward winners for their Bamboo Scapes. In most towns and villages, the entire community gathers at the local #Cricket ground to build their Bamboo scapes, It doesn't matter your #race or #religion, in T&T, Diwali is a national event, everyone participates. while only #Hindus go to temple and pray for Diwali, everyone is involved in all the cultural events including plays and skits, singing and dancing and maintaining the Deyas during the night on Diwali day, just as I was when growing up in Trinidad.

In T&T, Diwali has also become very commercialized. Every business worth their salt, advertises extensively during the Diwali season, offering "Diwali specials" and buys a booth at the Diwali Nagar, where you can be fed and entertained exquisitely for 10 days of celebrations. In addition to the cultural and religious programme ever day and night, popular restaurants, and individuals, cook fresh Roti and Takari (vegetable filling) and make local drinks. of-course the big food chains also get in on the act like popular T&T ice-cream maker Willie's Ice cream with coconut usually the most popular flavour requested. Diwali is also as big a revenue stream for both Radio and TV in T&T as Christmas, as advertisers know the value of advertising at this time of year. Of-course the politicians ALL want to be seen celebrating Diwali, regardless of race or religion, political photo-ops and speeches during our 10-day celebration is a nuisance we have to endure.

Like North Americans do for Christmas, in T&T, preparing for Diwali includes fasting for Hindus, most people are also cleaning, fixing, painting and decorating houses and in some cases, making their own Deyas and coconut oil. Tile red is the most popular color of paint used at this time of year, with thousands of gallons being sold during the Diwali season. Many folks install "Christmas lights" to adorn their houses, particularly the ubiquitous veranda, which stays up past New Years day. While it's only Hindus who actually adorn their homes with Deyas, usually the neighbors, and particularly their children, who helps to lay them out and maintain them during the night by refilling with the oil or replacing the wicks, regardless of race or religion.

Migrants from India has been in T&T since 1845, and the Caribbean itself since 1838. With them they brought their Indian Culture, religions, foods, plants, intelligence, innovation, industrious nature and entrepreneurial spirit to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Though T&T is a plural multi-cultural society that includes peoples from India, Africa, China, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, the middle east, the indigenous Amerindians and from across the Caribbean islands, it is quite evident that the migrants from India has had the most impact on society. Innovation by Indians in T&T include the most famous street food known as "Doubles", Buss-up-shot (T&T Paratha Roti), Dhal Puri (very different from Indian Puris), Chutney Music and Chutney Dance.

Diwali, is quickly becoming a quintessential world holiday because as the Original Festival of Lights, it bears meaning to many people, not just Hindus, plus its so much fun to be part of this tradition. If there is no Diwali celebrations where you are, please plan your next vacation in Trinidad during our 10-day festival, it will be the experience of your family's life.

photos via aesthetic.glory.blogspot.com

BOLLYWOOD VICTORY FOR POOR INDIAN LADY

By SUHASINI RAj for India Ink in NEW DELHI — It sounds like the plot of many a blockbuster movie: A group of underdogs take on a huge corporate machine to right an injustice, and in the end, the underdogs win.

On Thursday, the plot came to life, as Sampat Pal, the leader of the Gulabi Gang, a crusading pink-clad women’s group in rural Uttar Pradesh State, was able to convince the Delhi High Court to delay the Friday release of the Bollywood movie “Gulaab Gang,” which she said took her life story without compensation or credit.

photo credit: Team Gulabi at Gulabigang.in            

In “Gulaab Gang,” the #Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit plays Rajjo, a woman who sports a pink sari and fights to set up a school in her village. In an interview with India Ink, the director, Soumik Sen, said that his movie had nothing to do with the real Gulabi Gang and that it was actually a tribute to all women, including Ms. Pal.

The movie was set to be released on Friday, the day before International Women’s Day, but earlier this week, Ms. Pal swore that that “come hell or high water” and “whatever it took,” she would not let this movie open in theaters this weekend.

When asked about Ms. Pal’s threats, Mr.Sen was nonchalant, saying that he would not be heartbroken if the movie was not released on the expected date. “If Sampat Pal does anything to stop the movie, there is always a legal system in this country and we will see what happens,” he said.

Ms. Pal acted on her threats, filing her petition on Wednesday with the Delhi High Court. In it, she contended that the script was based on her life and the activities of the Gulabi Gang and that the Bollywood movie defamed her. She sought a permanent injunction against the release of the film and unspecified compensation for damages.

“They show women with sickles and axes in the movie,” she told India Ink. “We do not do any of this. We just wield a stick, which is only symbolic. So what kind of impression are they trying to create in the moviegoer’s minds about us?”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/victory-over-bollywood-for-underdog/

How to create a blog: A tutorial which saves you time, one paragraph gets it done!

to do this you should use the Google Chrome browser, if you don't have it on your computer device click https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/ and download it, just follow instructions. after you're done, then click or double click the icon to open it and then follow instructions below to create your blog. 

start your blog.

first log in to a Gmail account, if you don't have one then go here to create one now: mail.google.com

(you can forward all mail from this gmail to your existing account--it's free--just go to settings).

Now go to https://www.blogger.com/start to begin creating your new blog, you'll be asked to log in using the same gmail, do that, now you will see two options for creating a profile click "create limited blogger profile",

it will then ask you for a "Display name" which is your name on the blog--not the blog's name, you can use a sobriquet/nickname (or your real name) or a phrase. now click the orange button at the bottom "continue to blog", now click the grey button "new blog", a box will pop up asking you to fill in a few items including your blog's name and BLOG website address (URL), (think about this before you start creating the blog, they can be the same or different),  and to choose a template for the look of your blog, you can change the template later on so just pick one. once you're done with those selections click "create blog", and the dashboard will appear. Congratulations! you've created the blog. On the dashboard there are several buttons explore them and ask me questions--just use the comment box below.

posting articles

now click the orange button with the pencil to post the article, just copy and paste it into the box. you will see the usual formatting icons at the top of the box so you can edit accordingly. but also get used to using the online options which include links, tags/labels, photos, videos and ads. 

links: simply highlight a word, click "link" and type or paste the URL (web address). then click enter.

Tags/Labels: help readers to find all your articles with the same topic or mention of the same item.

photos: you can insert them anywhere in the article, just put the cursor where you want to insert it and click the photo icon in the formatting bar above the text box.

videos: you can add the code from any youtube video and that video will play on your blog. you can also add links to the youtube video.

Ads: you should include ads in your blog (it's automatic after you enable the widget) to earn money, you just have to sign-up for Google Adsense and follow instructions. It's free to sign-up. 

Schedule: you can schedule when your article goes live on the web, this gives you the freedom to write now and post automatically. So you could write recipes for thanksgiving now and schedule them to post on November 15th or a few days before thanksgiving. 

Comments: I recommend enabling comments for your articles, this will help drive engagement, shares and readership.

when you're done, click "publish", now the article is live on the web! congratulations! now send me a link to the article on your blog. 

Promoting 

• to help improve viewership of your articles/stories you should add links to words, names and phrases in your article, add at least 3 but no more than 7. for example, you can link the wikipedia page for Mississippi to any of the words Mississippi in your article. don't add the same link twice in the same article. 
• promote the article through social media including Google+, twitter, facebook, etc. do this every day for the first 5 days after you publish each article. but each time use a different snippet. be sure you make each posting "public". 
• create a group in Gmail (or any email service you use) of people you want to send the article to and email them a short snippet and the link to the article. but only send one email! for each article!
• ask others to share the article on social media. 
• Post it to your accounts or blogs on Buzzfeed and Huffington Post.
• you can also pay to promote your articles to thousands of people on facebook and google. 

Post questions or comments to this article. I will reply to each question, but it may not be immediate

Is Shakespeare's Macbeth based on a Phagwa legend?

By Dr. Kumar Mahabir
Assistant Professor, School of Cognition, Learning and Education,
University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)

Phagwa or Holi, the Festival of Harvest and Colour, is here!

It is signalled by the bloom of the large poui trees visible for miles because of their distinct bright yellow and mild pink colour. The bloom of the poui foresees Phagwa and the heart of the dry season when watermelons are harvested and sugarcane was cut not too many years ago.

All over the world, Phagwa is celebrated with chowtal songs, music and dances. Added to the repertoire in Trinidad and Tobago are pichakaree songs on the theme of resistance and empowerment. A variety of watercolours (abeer) are mixed and sprayed on participants, with the corresponding coloured powder (gulaal) smeared on their clothes and bodies. Phagwa is also a time when Hindus, who have studied the legend of Hiranya-kashipu and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, meditate on the deep similarities between the two stories. The similarities are too peculiar and numerous to dismiss as sheer coincidence.

Both Hiranya and Macbeth were over-ambitious kings who turned into tyrants. Each plotted the murder of someone once held dear and close to him. King Hiranya planned the murder of his own son, Prahalad. Similarly, General Macbeth murdered his king, Duncan, and usurped the throne.

Hiranya and Macbeth were both granted a boon of invincibility by supernatural beings. Hiranya was promised by Lord Brahma that he would not be killed by man or animal; in the day or night; indoors or outside; and on earth or in space. Eventually, he was slain by the avatar, Narasimha, in the incarnation of a man with a lion’s head. Hiranya was defeated at twilight (when it is neither day nor night), on the threshold of a courtyard (neither indoors nor outside), and on the avatar’s lap (neither earth nor space).

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the tyrant king was assured by mystical creatures that he would not be killed by anyone born of woman, and until the forest of Birnam moved to the hill of Dunsinane. Eventually, Macbeth, was slain by Macduff, who was born by a Caesarean section. He was killed when soldiers camouflaged themselves with branches from the forest of Dunsinane.

Frithjof Schuon, the respected Swiss philosopher of religion, also notes the striking similarities between the legends of Hiranya and Macbeth. In the book Logic and Transcendence (1975), Schuon uses the story of Hiranya to illustrate the point that a prophecy cannot be entirely accurate, and, therefore, should not be taken literally. Schuon discusses the sequence of prophecy, false assurance, pride and “divine ruse” in the legend of Hiranya, and concludes that “Shakespeare took this subject or doctrine for his theme in Macbeth ...”

In an article entitled “The Invisible Saraswattie” published in a peer-reviewed journal, Sasenarine Persaud (1996) contends that “… nowhere is the Indian influence more remarkable in Shakespeare than in one of his greatest tragedies, Macbeth.”

The story of Hiranya-kashipu is narrated in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, (also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or Bhāgavata), one of the sacred literary texts of Hinduism. The celebrated text contains mainly stories of devotees and their attachment to divine incarnations, particularly Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu. Historical scholars generally agree that the Bhāgavata-Purāṇa was probably composed around 3100 BCE.

It is believed that Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Macbeth (commonly called Macbeth) sometime between 1603 and 1607. The source of the story is controversial. It is commonly considered to be based on historical accounts drawn from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1587). However, the outline of Macbeth bears little relation to real events associated with the Scottish king and Scottish history.

It seems that Shakespeare drew the outlines of Macbeth from the legend of Hiranya. There are a few of his other plays that show Indian influence. One is King Lear, apparently based on the Indian folktale “The King and his Seven Daughters,” published in my book Caribbean Indian Folktales (2005). Both stories open with a king summoning all his daughters to question their loyalty and love for him. The youngest, honest daughter does not flatter him like the others do. In shock and anger, the king banishes her without her inheritance from the kingdom. It is a mistake the king realises only at the end when they reunite.

A third example is The Merchant of Venice derived perhaps from in the Lalita-Vistara, the biography of Buddha, written in 100 AD. The “pound of flesh” motif in Lalita-Vistara reappears in this Shakespeare's play.

In his article, “The Invisible Saraswattie,” Persaud provides details of trade between Europe and India dating from as early as 2000 BCE. Persaud developed the subject first introduced by A.L. Balsham in his monumental work, The Wonder that was India (1979). This contact between the two places influenced economic, political, social, cultural and literary life in both societies. Europe’s most dramatic contact with India was the Greek invasion, starting with the conquest of Alexander the Great in 326 BCE. The romance of India attracted Europeans to the fabled land for thousands of years. In 1492, it drove Christopher Columbus to set sail across the Atlantic to find a sea-route to the land of gold, silk, spices and stories.
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